Amazonas, TRX

When I reflect on our three-year romantic relationship, I fondly reminisce how Ben had lovingly held my hand through all the challenges I had to go through – job loss, divorce, surgery. He lent me his strength to survive it all and build a new life. Ben deserves more than a token of appreciation. When his birthday arrived, I wanted to show the immense gratitude I felt for having him in my life. Thus, a dinner date at Amazonas, TRX, was my gift to him.

I wanted us to let loose tonight, eat and be merry, indulging ourselves with delicious food and delightful drinks. Anything his heart desires, I wanted to grant it to him. He humbly obliged me, insisting always ‘ladies first’. The dinner at Amazonas turned out to be a pleasurable evening as well as a gesture of our continuing closeness.

The dinner started off with a typical South American appetizer with a spicy twist, Raise the Dead Guacamole. Amazonas presented this dish not only to whet our taste buds, but also as a visual demonstration for us to relish. The waiter amused us with a show of smashing the avocado with chili and a sprinkle of salt, then serving it to us with fried plantains. Not only were we impressed with that little piece of entertainment, the guacamole also did not disappoint. We were left hankering for more, enthusiastically anticipating what Amazonas was serving us next.

The Mexican Prawn Esquites followed suit. Soft tortillas eaten with warm charred corn salad garnished with large, juicy prawns was an enchanting entre to our meal. The corn was fresh and sweet, carefully seared with burnt bits that gave a delightful contrast to its freshness. I scooped a little of the guacamole over the tortillas, handpicked the prawns and took a big bite of this esquites, Ben downing it with a sip of red wine. The Malbec was slightly sweet, but it was still a nice interlude to a spectacular evening, especially considering that we enjoyed it for a fair price during the happy hour.

Then came the star of the show, the Patagonian Lamb Ribs. At first sight, I knew this dish would win me over. The outsides looked perfectly blackened, opening up to tender, soft-to-the-bone meat that simply melted as I bit into it. Every moment of eating the lamb felt like a heavenly experience, especially biting the rind off the lamb that was slightly crispy and sweet. As the fats mingled with my tongue, I could taste its luscious meat juices playing with my taste buds.

One glass of wine was surely not enough for us to be merry, so we ordered a drink from their cocktail menu. Rum or tequila or a mixture of Peruvian beverage, Prisco, Ben finally decided on Coco de Melon. As the name suggests, it was a cocktail of melon and coconut rum that can transport you to the beach with a single sip.

The finale to this elaborate and lavish dinner was the well-known Mexican dessert, the churros. We were presented with four pieces of long, just-fried churros dipped in melted dark chocolate and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. At this point, the whole room was lighted up with our laughter and smiles, a genuine portrayal of our happiness as a couple.

As we were enjoying this special occasion, the sun was mellow outside and the sound of children’s laughter was music to our surroundings. The seating at Amazonas is partially outdoor, opening up to TRX’s roof garden, a perfect ambience for this semi-formal dining experience. The bill didn’t come to be too bad, a total of RM499.90 for two hefty appetizers, one opulent main dish, three drinks and a dessert. We came out of this dinner with our union reaffirmed and feeling immense gratitude for having each other in our lives.

Food: 8/10

Price: 8/10