Rakuzen @ Hartamas Shopping Complex

Sri Hartamas is a town area where you can see Japanese and Koreans wandering around the township and shopping malls. From that, you can see quite a number of Japanese and Korean restaurants in Hartamas. Rakuzen is one of the japanese restaurants which I visited quite a few times in that area and I was craving for Jap food. And since I thought of having it somewhere near my home, so, Bran suggested to go for Rakuzen in Hartamas shopping complex.

It was written there 'Shuka no Umami' - the beverage and wine list

Wide varieties for the Lunch Set & Lunch Bento Special Sets

Japanese Table Settings

Photo taken on the ambience and seatings of our opposite tables which looked exactly where we're seating on.. Nice isn't it?

Salmon Maki coated with Fish Roe, served with Japanese Mayonaise. Myself and Bran love salmon, and I would say the fresh salmon slice was nicely wrapped with the seaweed and fish roe. (RM 16)

Chicken Katsujyu Zen Lunch Bento Set (RM22)

Bran's choice for his lunch set, side dishes include: fruits, chawanmushi and some pickles (cucumber, white radish and cabbage)

Mini Udon with Soft Shell Crab Zen Set (RM28)

This is a HUGE brunch set for me..It has a mini udon, a bowl of japanese rice, chawanmushi, crispy fried soft shell crab, special mirin mixed with vinegar sauce, some pickles and white radish and fruits.

This is my favourite dish - crispy fried soft shell crab. Look at the nicely presented soft shell crab. With a bite of it, the texture of the crispy crab tasted like potato chips.

As far as I know, there is alot of Japanese customers who visit this restaurant as the sashimi here are fresh and are well presented. Also, this restaurant is often crowded with customers during weekends and during 'peak hours'. So, to be on the safe side, it is wiser of you to make a table booking.

Tel: 03 - 6201 2060

Address: Rakuzen Hartamas, P-17, Plaza Ground Floor, Hartamas Shopping Centre (Near Toys' R US)

'Perfectly Heaven' Chocolate Cupcakes with Oreo Cream Cheese

Chocolate cupcakes or Chocolate Cakes aren't my favourite dessert flavour. But, it's Bran's favourite dessert. So, I did promise myself that down the road, I have to be a good baker in Chocolate desserts that can drool him and that he will say to me 'THIS IS DELICIOUS!'.. Well, this time is another attempt of me baking chocolate 'cake'. I found this recipe from a famous baker blogger through the net and I thought it was a good idea to have some Oreo flavours in it too.. It was Bran who suggested that I make some Oreo Cream Cheese for the frosting instead of a normal Buttercream. So, here is the result...

Fresh from the oven - Hershey's Perfectly Heaven Chocolate Cupcakes with my own addition of Oreo bites in it.. Yummy~~ Trust me, the smell of it is irresistable...

My first attempt to add in some frosting on top of the cupcakes since I've got myself Wilton's piping tips. It was rather disappointed as I guess it was the cream cheese abit too runny, should've added more powdered sugar to create more consistency and to stiffen up the frosting. Also, it was the oreo bits which are not being processed finely that caused the failure of the swirl. Will try it better the next time.

Here's the recipe for the above end result if you're interested in caking.

Ingredients:

- 2 cups sugar
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa (* I used the Natural Unsweetened Cocoa)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
- 8-10 Oreo cookies, crushed or put through food processor (optional) - My addition

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans (For cupcakes or other pan sizes, see variations listed below.)

2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.

3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.


VARIATIONS:

ONE-PAN CAKE: Grease and flour 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Heat oven to 350° F. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely. Frost.


THREE LAYER CAKE: Grease and flour three 8-inch round baking pans. Heat oven to 350°F. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost.


BUNDT CAKE: Grease and flour 12-cup Bundt pan. Heat oven to 350°F. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 50 to 55 minutes. Cool 15 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely. Frost.


CUPCAKES: Line muffin cups (2-1/2 inches in diameter) with paper bake cups. Heat oven to 350°F. Fill cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake 22 to 25 minutes. Cool completely. Frost. About 30 cupcakes.

Oreo Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 8 oz package of cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/4 C butter, room temperature
• 3-4 C powdered sugar (use more or less depending on how stiff you want the frosting to be)
• 1/2 t vanilla extract
• 3/4 C crushed Oreos (I crushed them in the food processor to be sure the pieces would be really tiny and wouldn't get stuck in my piping tips. If you are going to spread the frosting, it might be fun to use bigger chunks of Oreo.)