Red Kettle at Taman Desa: Restaurant Review

Colouring up Taman Desa’s culinary landscape, Red Kettle could become a boiling-hot new neighbourhood hangout, thanks to its warm crew – led by married couple Enzo & Theresa & their long-time friend Desmond – & their cool, comfort-food creations.

Red Kettle marks the fulfilment of a decade-old dream by the three Malaysians, who first met while studying in Sydney, to open their own casual outlet together. Head to this bakery-restaurant, peek inside if the shutters are unbolted, & watch crusty baguettes & bacon-laced loaves being freshly baked to feed curious residents strolling in from their nearby homes.

Signature Pork Chop

The hog-heavy menu pays homage to Asian traditions, with a Red Kettle twist to every recipe. The signature pork chop is Hainanese-inspired, featuring loin slices marinated for 12 hours & pan-fried – thin but tender, well complemented by old-school gravy that evokes home-style cooking, buttered green peas & hand-cut seared potato wedges. RM15+.

Herb-tossed Bucatini Pasta

Red Kettle gains a crucial edge by showcasing kitchen-crafted components as much as possible, making everything from its own moist-&-meaty pork sausages & tomato-based, tangy-not-tart sauce to shower on herb-tossed bucatini pasta (RM18+) …

… to hand-moulded pork patties & own-cured, own-smoked bacon for its burgers, bolstered by tomato-salsa ketchup (RM16+). We liked the patty – textured & tubby – but the bacon was surprisingly stiff & dry, while the bun proved stodgy & dispensable.

Red Kettle’s most enjoyable success might be this on-fleek East-West combo of angel hair pasta, cloaked in a buttery broth, crowned with juicy roasted pork shoulder & a ramen-type soy lava egg, served steaming with sesame seeds & oven-dried tomatoes (RM18+). Not into pork? Red Kettle also promises lime-lemongrass lamb chops, chicken chops & pan-fried snapper.

Hot Vietnamese Coffee or Cold Soft-serve Vanilla Ice Cream

Choose your own ending: Hot Vietnamese coffee (RM7) or cold soft-serve vanilla ice cream (RM3.80). And keep an eye out: By next month, Red Kettle expects to cook up many more offerings, from banh mi to mantou, all coupled with pork, of course.