WE saw what the chef was about to have for lunch at Fat Olive Food Garage and jokingly asked if we could have some of that. He then came to our table to serve us half of his Iberico pork bacon and egg sourdough pizza!

The thick sourdough base was crusty and the topping was generous with slices of Iberico bacon, runny egg, and rocket leaves. It was a yummy change from the usual thin crust pizza. Spanish chef Enrique hopes to put this on the menu at Fat Olive, which is in Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur.

We couldn’t get enough of the Arugula Salad with Pear and Balsamic Vinaigrette olive oil dressing (RM26). Fresh pear “noodles” perfectly balanced the arugula with a nutty, bitter edge and together with the parmesan and the dressing made for a pleasing salad.

We also had a serving of sourdough with balsamic and olive oil dip which was on the house. It was a very good olive oil that was served.

I can never resist salt beef when I see it on the menu, so Sous Vide Salt Beef Sandwich with Mustard Sauce (RM30) was our order. The portions at Fat Olive are truly hearty and meant to be shared. Our Salt Beef Sandwich could have fed at least three people as it also came with a bowl of chips.

Eight slices of salt beef sat on a base of salad, mustard, mayo and caramelised shallots, on top of sourdough. They made delicious bites, though at one point we had had too much bread and just picked the tender salt beef with the sauces and salad. There was sweetness from caramelised shallots and a tangy flavour from mustard which went so well with the salt beef.

The mushroom risotto with semi-dried tomato sauce (RM28) was not quite what we expected. The risotto rice had the perfect texture but the tomato sauce dominated, leaving a tangy aftertaste. Shiitake mushrooms, French beans, and cherry tomatoes were in the risotto which tasted more like a paella.

Buttermilk Fried Chicken Strips (RM18) with a spicy mayo dip would be really good with beer. It was like eating crumbed, well-fried chicken.

Dessert was Creme Brulee and Flourless Dark Chocolate with Berries Coulis. The creme brulee was fine and smooth. I loved the flourless dark chocolate which gelled so beautifully with the berries coulis. Both were only RM8 each.

It was inexpensive dining at Fat Olive Food Garage, which offers Spanish Mediterranean food. It has a casual ambience and an industrial feel about it. Diners have been raving about its Wagyu Beef Burger with semi-dried tomatoes, caramelised onion, melted mozzarella, bacon, romaine, and aioli and the Iberico Pork Burger which has coriander-green apple shreds and Jalapeno Aioli. Both are RM38 each.

There’s the Tapas Platte which has Serrano ham and cold cuts, smoked chicken croquettes, baked eggplant, mussels in spicy tomato sauce and sautéed tiger prawns among the 10 items on it and which serves two to four people, at RM150.

Specials of the day are on the board and these include Pan Seared Foie Gras on red wine, caramelised apple, orange and arugula salad (RM78) and Grilled Iberico Collar on roasted pumpkin, French beans and Home Dijon Mustard (RM76), among others.

Fat Olive Food Garage is at G-3, VERVE Shops, No 8 Jalan Kiara 5, Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, and can be contacted via telephone at 03-6419 5868. – January 26, 2019.

* Eu Hooi-Khaw has been writing about food for the longest time, covering all aspects, from restaurant reviews to cooking and recipes, as well as the healthy side of it. She has written for major newspapers and magazines, published the cookbook Fresh Ingredients, and also writes for her website hooikhawandsu.com.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.