Clarified Bloody Mary
Cover Clarified Bloody Mary

Goat cheese-flavoured gin, a tower of tomato rasam, and other playful, palatable creations at Nadodi remind us to look at the lighter side of life amidst dark times

With the economy taking a massive hit from the pandemic, fine dining restaurants the world over have scaled down their operations.

Not Nadodi, however. Despite entertaining the idea of introducing stand-alone dishes, the team has decided to continue doing what they do best, which is to serve epic dégustations.

"I wanted to introduce à la carte offerings. After all, you need manpower to execute a tasting menu," says head chef Sricharan Venkatesh. "But sometimes, the locals take you by surprise."

Heavily bearded, as is de rigueur during lockdown, he gazes at a group of revellers across the room. A customer, whom we can only assume is celebrating her birthday, sports a sparkly tiara that matches her toothy smile. She isn't the only one who's excited to be out of the house; tonight's reservations have surpassed the restaurant's expectations—Nadodi is operating at full capacity for the first time since CMCO.

See also: The Top 20 Restaurants In Malaysia 2020

'gallery right' 'gallery right'
'gallery right' 'gallery right'
Photo 1 of 3 Confit Duck Puff
Photo 2 of 3 Rojak Tart & Nasi Lemak
Photo 3 of 3 Dosa, Sambhar & Chutney

Granted, Nadodi now seats less customers to comply with social distancing measures, but no longer is it a husk of a restaurant; life has flowed back into the dining room, which hums with life and energy.

We place ourselves in the able hands of the team, who introduces us to a series of South Indian street snacks, from moreish duck puffs redolent of miniature hand pies to fermented rice pancakes presented as cutesy 'ice cream cones'. Not unlike Massimo Bottura's dish dubbed The Crunchy Part of the Lasagna, Nadodi's Dosa, Sambhar & Chutney is all about maximising the best part of the dosa—the delightfully crispy circumference.

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Mango Kombucha & Peated Whisky
Above Mango Kombucha & Peated Whisky
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Pumpkin 3 Ways
Above Pumpkin 3 Ways
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Nadodi's 'tower' of rasam is an absolute showstopper
Above Nadodi's 'tower' of rasam is an absolute showstopper
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Tomato Rasam, Red Quinoa, Finger Lime
Above Tomato Rasam, Red Quinoa, Finger Lime

Vilified for its vagueness in the world of wine and spirits, the word 'drinkability' is nevertheless what comes to mind when I meditate on Nadodi's dishes and drinks.

Tonight, liquid enlightenment comes by way of Nadodi's renowned rasam. Undersold as Humble Broth, it is anything but. Every state in South India, every household even, has its own recipe for rasam. Three types of tomatoes, garlic, coriander, and curry leaf go into Nadodi's. Sour and extremely well-balanced, the soup is served in a fancy filtration system with a round-bottom flask. As kids say these days, it's "so extra."

A pastry chef in his past life, Akshar Chalwadi, who spearheads Nadodi's beverage programme, takes pleasure from embellishing his cocktails with small snacks. Whether it's wild coriander tempura, fruit 'leather' or tomato chutney atop an itsy bitsy cracker, some sort of tidbit almost always accompanies Nadodi's cocktails.

"Goat cheese-flavoured gin, did you say?" Wide-eyed with wonder, my dinner date chomps down on a cheese cracker dusted with dehydrated strawberries before sampling his grog.

I've said it before and will say it again: Nadodi's cocktails are strong enough to hold their own ground; should the restaurant ever decide to open a separate or an attached bar, I'll be first on their bar stools.

 

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Hokkaido Scallops & Truffle Sodhi Brule
Above Hokkaido Scallops & Truffle Sodhi Brule
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Iberico Lamb Chops, Comte Mash, Spiced Jus & Charred Carrots
Above Iberico Lamb Chops, Comte Mash, Spiced Jus & Charred Carrots
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Crusted Madai, Nellai Fish Curry, Black Garlic
Above Meen Curry with Crusted Madai, Nellai Fish Curry, Black Garlic

Of Nadodi's mains, the Pumpkin Erussery sticks in mind—and to my teeth. Apricot meringue affixes itself to my incisors, a quenelle of sorbet melts in my mouth, and shards of sugar glass lend the dish an auditory aspect.
 
Hums of approval follow the Hokkaido Scallops and the Meen Curry with Seabream, but I am most titillated by the translucent bodies of sakura shrimp that have been spun into Keema, a dish historically linked to the Mughals.

"Keema literally means minced meat as it's usually prepared using beef or goat, but I use prawns as our clientele is comprised of many pescatarians," explains Venkatesh. Surprisingly meaty for seafood, the dry stir-fry reminds me of rendang, and proves that dietary restrictions can yield contributions to the culinary canon.

Save for some Iberico lamb chops that skew 'Western' (almost as surprising as meeting a Caucasian monk in Lumbini), the progression of dishes flows to tell the tale of Indian culture and civilisation. Like the Ganges, which holds the collective memory of her people, Nadodi allows itself to be carried along by the current (trends) while underpinning ancient rituals.

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Short Grain Venison Biryani, Aubergine Salna, Yacon & Cucumber Raita
Above Short Grain Venison Biryani, Aubergine Salna, Yacon & Cucumber Raita
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Sricharan Venkatesh, head chef of Nadodi
Above Sricharan Venkatesh, head chef of Nadodi

Fragrant as a spice bazaar and spicy as the 1MDB scandal, venison curry and biryani round out the savoury segment of The Nadodi Experience.

"You know that guy who complains about needing mamak or McDonalds after fine dining? This is the meal to shut him up," groans my plus one, flashing the crew a grateful smile.

The Nadodi Experience

Experience Menu | RM 490+
Wine Pairing | RM 280+
Liquid Dégustation | RM260+

Nadodi
Indian   |   $ $ $ $

Level 7A, Four Seasons Hotel, Jalan Ampang, City Centre, 50450 Kuala Lumpur

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Photography  

Ong Ning-Geng

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