Throughout the past year, we’ve been intrigued by a trio of young chefs who’ve invaded one restaurant after another, staging pop-up dinners that have earned them a rising number of admirers across the Klang Valley. This month, we finally sampled what Miki, Daniel and Amanda have to offer under their Pop Up Dining KL initiative, which is partnering with F&N Sarsi Malaysia for a series of degustations at IDC Cafe. The collaboration showcases risk-taking recipes that highlight the Pop Up founders’ personalities and passions, while also illustrating how Sarsi is a beverage that capably complements a wide breadth of cuisines.

1. Pop-up Dining KL

The theme of this specific meal was crepes, reimagined by Pop Up Dining in unique approaches: Crunchy-thin bread, layered and studded with butter and Daniel’s homemade kaya (an homage to Malaysian kopitiam toast classics); tender rolled crepes filled with whimsical stuffings like Asian pesto with salad, ikan bilis tempura, and prawn with dill mayo for fun flavours and textures; soft spinach pasta sheets blanketed with shrimp, hints of nutmeg, mascarpone, parmesan and coconut milk bechamel sauce (inspired partly by Daniel’s 10-month stint working in Piedmont, but tinged with Malaysian inflections).

2. Pop-up Dining KL

3. Pop-up Dining KL

An elaborate ensemble

A relatively elaborate ensemble of duck in two ways with pickled white radish and apples, white chocolate sauce, and cornflakes with thyme and sea salt; Miki’s own kueh lapis (a nod to her Indonesian heritage), crowned with cream, seeds, nuts and edible flowers, accompanied by a grape with Mojito jelly and Nutella sauce; and finally, a fresh, warm beignet with IDC’s speciality of Kapiti ice cream and a splash of Sarsi.

4. Pop-up Dining KL

5. Pop-up Dining KL

6. Pop-up Dining KL

7. Pop-up Dining KL

Overall, the dinner shone a promising spotlight on the Pop Up Dining team’s potential, making us hopeful that these three will be chefs to watch for many years to come. There are no public seats remaining for the Sarsi collaboration this month, but no fear: Pop Up Dining KL has other future sessions in store, including one at Paramount Garden’s BRATS cafe in July and at various venues in Penang for the Georgetown Festival in August.

8. Pop-up Dining KL

They’re also on the lookout for other interested parties to work together with; keep an eye out for them through facebook.com/PopUpDiningKL and instagram.com/popupdiningkl.

Location & Details

Pop Up Dining KL

Tel: 010-766-9708