Secret of Louisiana is a Cajun-style seafood and steak restaurant opened up by a chef who used to live there. Word is, he wanted some authentic Louisiana food in KL (or rather Petaling Jaya) and a star is born. Or so it goes.
I’ve never been to this place before – it’s really nice, situated beside a lake (didn’t even know there was a lake in Plaza Kelana Jaya and I lived there a couple of years back) with covered al-fresco dining by the pier. I was invited by Connie and Ayu to come sample a couple of their signature dishes.
Seafood Gumbo (RM 22.90)
Sauteed assorted with thick creamy sauce, rich in herbs and cheese, served with garlic toast. Gumbo has been called the greatest contribution of Louisiana kitchens to Americans cuisine!
This is the appetizer and I must say, a great start to the dinner! I love the rich, gummy seafood gumbo. It’s a hearty combination of seafood and you can taste the chunks of deep sea lovin’ right inside. You’re supposed to eat it on top of garlic bread but I found myself just spooning the seafood gumbo by itself. Highly recommended.
Louisiana Famous Shrimp Scampi (RM 30.90)
Buttery and lush with fresh garlic, fresh herbs, tomatoes, and lemons, topped with 5 pieces grilled large prawns, the most popular pasta dish among all our pasta dishes.
I was entranced with the pasta dish too. The prawns are HUGE and fresh and everything tastes garlicky, which is something I dearly love. I would come back for this and the seafood gumbo again.
Seafood Jambalaya (RM 33.90)
An authentic Cajun dish, it’s perhaps the most versatile main dish that Louisiana has to offer, our version is rice cooked with fresh assorted seafood, sausages, tomatoes, corn, celery, mushrooms and fresh herbs.
This came off as sorta like a wet paella. I love seafood and I like the chunks of fish, shrimp and squid. It’s mixed nicely with rice too, which reminds you of the soupy rice that you get fed as kid when you’re sick. Heartwarming food for the soul.
Red Fish (Red Snapper) (RM 38.90)
Dredged Snapper fillet on Cajun spice mix and seared on hot cask iron with butter. Blackened style with Cajun vegetables.
I found a lot of people who enjoyed this dish but for some reason it didn’t quite agree with me. I found the style of cooking to be too dry, maybe it’s just a personal thing.
Nut & Seed Layered Chicken (RM 32.90)
Grilled chicken breast with Cajun spice, sliced with and layered with organic nut & seed, served on lightly mashed potato and carrot. Drizzled with Fig chutney sauce.
I also found this selection from the Poultry menu to be a tad too dry for my tastes but it’s named the favorite dish of Suanie’s friend (who’s unfortunately allergic to crayfish). I really love the sweet fig chutney that goes with it though – it’s absolutely mouthwatering.
…and the various nuts scattered around! Lovin’ it.
Louisiana’s Mud Pie (RM 16.90)
We begin with a large slice of our rich Hot Chocolate Cake and top it with our hot fudge and big scoop of vanilla ice cream. This is covered with whipped cream and topped with sprinkle of crusted walnut and cherry.
This is really good mud pie. I’ve had some great mud pies and this ranks up there with them. Hot chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream, it’s hard to argue with that. I ended up eating most of this. Heh.
L-R (from back): Suanie, Eiling, Shah, Huai Bin (me)
I’ll love to go back to Secret of Louisiana again. It’s relatively close to where I live and I didn’t know such a chill place existed. It’ll be nice to just lounge by the pier and eat some of the seafood dishes. I loved the first two and dessert.
There will be a wine pairing dinner on the 14th of January which features a Cajun culinary feast, a tour of the State of Louisiana (not literally – there’s going to be features and videos on that day), a folk dance performance, a special cooking demonstration plus a speech from the US Embassy to Malaysia.
The event kicks off at 6:30 pm and there will also be wine appreciation tips and mystery gift giveaways. If you’re interested, the tickets are RM 250 per pax, you can get them by calling Sharine Chua (019 983 0230) or Ayu (012 234 7066). You can also surf over to their website.
I’ll be going to check it out. Last I heard, 1/3 of the tickets are already sold and that was a week ago so give them a buzz if you wanna join us in this wine pairing dinner. The food will not be the same as the one that we ate, it’ll be a specially prepared menu for the occasion, just passing along the info. 🙂
Last trip to KL, I think I was staying at a shoplot hotel in the vicinity but I did not have time to check this place out. Food certainly looks good. Hi, Eiling!!!
Yeah, I’ve lived in the area for about a year and I didn’t know about this place too. Heh.
It was way back in 2008 though.
I like the dining-by-the-pier concept, it’s very tranquil. Cheers buddy! 🙂
Your writeups never fail to impress.
Heh. I just commented on the dishes. Thanks mate!
Red snapper! Good to have you there that day bro.
I liked the first two dishes and desert. Cheers! 🙂
The food looks GOOOOOD! Didn’t know there’s such lovely restaurant hidden at Kelana Jaya!
Yeah, the food is really good! I particularly liked the seafood gumbo (very awesome appetizer) and the Louisiana Famous Shrimp Scampi.
The latter is fabulous if you’re partial to garlicky pasta. Magnificent!
I didn’t know about this place until I went too! It seems to be a hidden gem in that aspect.
Cheers Constance! 🙂
mouthwatering pics! it’d be nice to see more new orleans-style restaurants open in KL, so that we can all conveniently get some gumbo and jambalaya whenever the craving strikes. real comfort food for a dinner after a long, miserable day at the office 😀
Cheers mate! 🙂
Yup, it’ll be good to see more of these places opening up.
Heh! I agree, it’s comfort food to the max. Nothing beats hearty seafood gumbo. 😀
That Seafood Jambalaya looks like Spanish Seafood Paella to me and the dishes certainly looked good!
Yup, it looks a lot like paella but doesn’t taste like paella at all.
It’s more soupy in texture.
Yup, most of the dishes are good to me but some I didn’t quite like.
Cheers Ken! 🙂
HB, blacken red fish is famous dish but also dry. I had many Louisiana style dishes in states must be how they like to cooked it dry. Jambalaya is still most popular and Gumbo also. Too bad you did not had Banana Foster it most famous from Louisiana and pecan pie but can be a bit too sweet.
Interesting! Thanks for the information! 🙂
I didn’t know it’s cooked dry, I for one, do not like dry fish. Heh.
Banana foster eh? Not sure if it’s one the menu. Cheers! 🙂
I love how you took the food photos! So mouth watering and your review is always pleasant to read =)
Thanks Sherrie! 🙂
I just used a lot of Vivid modes to take food photos – high contrast stuff.
Appreciate the kind comments! 😀
Seafood Jambalaya looks like my kind of comfort food. Something I now crave especially after runs!
Yeah, I imagine it’ll taste good after a nice run! 🙂
I love the comfort food categories too – seafood gumbo, jambalaya etc. I thought it’s rather good to be having that, I’ll certainly go back for the former.
Cheers! 😀
Oh American cuisine, I never know they are this style, I always thought of Chili’s and TGI Friday only. Haha. Gonna try it one day!
Heh! Yeah, those are more towards the QSR type of restaurants, I do like their margaritas though. Pretty good and consistent.
Yeah, this is located at Plaza Kelana Jaya, I haven’t heard of it until that day too.
Cheers Nick! 🙂
Dude, OMG in a bad way..come on ! When you visit the States, you must visit New Orleans Louisiana, and see the difference yourself. And of course you have a place to stay in L.A. and Chicago .
Haha! Sure buddy, I’m saving up for a total US-Canada-South America trip. I figured if I’m going to get there I’m not going to do it like the UK (where I went 3 different times) but just do the entire thing in one trip (continental US, Great White North and parts of the South).
I’ll come visit you and FF mate!
L.A., Chicago, N.Y. and some parts of Canada accommodation’s sorted so I can factor that in.
Cheers buddy, send my regards to FF! 🙂
And a place to stay in San Francisco. You can’t leave out Northern California! We have great wine, good food, good looking people and awesome weed. Ha
Thanks for that! 🙂
Haha! Of course, I’ll be sure to drop by Northern Cali. Your plan sounds like a great one!
The only problem is getting a long duration visa e.g. longer than 30 days so I can go around.
Cheers and I’ll buzz you when I’m going! 😀
I think I know where the place is..
Went there a few years back..
I am not sure whether that is the restaurant….
it is nice lake and a good place too..
Yup, it should be the one since there’s only one lake in Kelana Jaya. 🙂
I didn’t know that until I went to Secret of Louisiana. I’m going back on Monday for the event.
I reckon it’s a pretty chill place too.
Cheers buddy! 😀