Live to eat or Eat to live?

Urban Spoon Bistro @ Sri Hartamas

2012-01-14T20:20:00.001+08:00

Urban Spoon Bistro

About a month ago, I received an email from Sean of Urban Spoon Bistro for an invitation to have a taste of what Urban Spoon has to offer. Little did I know that in fact my sisters also received the same invitation, so we picked a date and did this together.

It's relatively quite easy to look out for Urban Spoon as they are at the new Plaza Damas 3, just opposite Hartamas Shopping Center and facing the main road. For that, I don't think they have problems with getting walk-in customers.

Cocktails - Apple Mojito, Watermelon Margharita, Soho La, Lychee Gimlet (RM25 each)

We were greeted by Sean who is the co-owner of this new establishment which is about a quarter-of-the-year-old. With the play of colours - stripey blue diner booth-style seats, brick walls at a corner, a bar counter that's grey but not gloomy, and curtain laced walls, Urban Spoon did not fail to impress at first glance.

After we were comfortably seated, the waiter whipped out the menus to us. Of course, we studied the menu to see what are the 'extraordinary' dishes that no other restaurants would have attempted - but decided that we will leave it to the chef to decide what goes in our stomach that day. We took the liberty to order the drinks though.

Soft shell crab tempura (RM18)
with apple-papaya som-tam, garlic lime dressing

Stuffed Jalepenos (RM18)
with cream cheese

Roast beef salad (RM18)
with French beans, shallot, lemongrass, chilli, eggplant, with lime & fish sauce dressing

The starters that Chef Steven picked were soft shell crab tempura salad, stuffed jalapenos and the roast beef salad. We enjoyed all three starters as they really whet our appetite with the potpourri of sourness (that comes from the fish sauce) and spicyness. Sensing that the roast beef must be some really good meat, we asked Chef Steven what type of beef was used - he said it is a aged beef and they are all hand sliced, there is no sight of a slicer in the kitchen! Wow, talk about skills!

Carrot and orange bisque (RM14)
with seafood ceviche and braised leeks

The soup was very delicious too, creamy, slightly thick but not starchy and came piping hot. It would have been mistaken for a pumpkin soup from the colour. I like the use of caramelised shallots and leeks which gives a crunch to the soup.

Emperor Tang duck confit (RM38)
with roasted potato, seasonal vegetables, maltose, soy, calamanzi reduction

Pandan chicken & 'kam heong' angel hair (RM28)
with guacamole, leek compote, baked onion

Yaki fillet of cod (RM55)
with sauteed tomato, oyster mushroom, seasonal vegetables, wasabi mayo, anise-mirin glaze, bonito flakes

Cajun wagyu beef burger (RM38)
with homemade spicy tomato chutney, cheese, fried egg

Sunshine is halved

Chef Steven's pick for us for the main courses were a duck confit, cod fish, angel hair pasta, and beef burger. That's quite a balance of seafood, poulty, carb and protein. The mains bear more of a fusion theme, i.e. the duck confit which not only named after a chinese emperor but the method of preparing this is through steaming. Unfortunately, it didn't go too well as the meat was stiff though I did read elsewhere that somebody else had a good experience with this dish.

The kam heong angel hair pasta was something different, the guacamole was the saving grace from the too-dry pandan chicken (according to the menu, soft shell crab is used, but Chef changed it to a chicken side as we already had the crab for starters). The cod fish was alright, though in my humble opinion cod fish is still best cooked via the chinese way of steaming and soy sauce! The best mains of the day had to be the wagyu beef burger which all of us really enjoyed. The minced patty is perfect, sunny side up was a bonus and the buns was soft - a must order.

Zesty crepe with vanilla ice cream (not in menu)

Black pepper tamarind macerated strawberry & peach (RM14)
with chardonnay au gratin & watermelon-basil slashy

Chocolate cherry fondant (RM18)
with vanilla ice cream and alcoholic option

Desserts time! We were first served with the crepe & vanilla ice cream which was not in the menu. Then we got to taste the dessert that caught out eye in the menu due to the complicated name 'Black pepper tamarind macerated strawberry & peach'. It does look like a very complex dessert, appearance wise it looks like mochi but actually it's crepe covered with what I think are breadcrumbs and underneath there's foam, peaches, and strawberries. With this, there's the watermelon slash to go with it. Interesting, but complex.

The other more straight forward dessert is the choc cherry fondant that will make any chocolate desserts lover squel in delight. Warm and chocolate oozing centre, pair it with the cold ice cream and cherry chunks - sinful. Make it a double sinful dessert with the alcoholic option where Grand Marnier is used as an ingredient for this dessert.

Cafe latte (RM10)

We ended the lunch with coffee and exchanging stories about kitchen affairs with the chef. Overall, there are some hits and misses. Improvements I'd like to see is the expansion of the desserts menu and hope the consistency issue can be addressed.

Urban Spoon Bistro
Plaza Damas 3,
Jalan Sri Hartamas 1,
50480 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-6201 2108
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/urbanspoonbistro
Business hours: Mon - Sun 11:am - 11:00pm

* Visuals by iPhone 4

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

Mods Cafe Melaka

2012-01-08T19:42:00.001+08:00

Mods Cafe

Sometimes the best places are discovered by chance, not the long queues spotted from a mile away.

I am sure most will not disagree.

And this rare gem of a find is in Melaka, it's actually a quaint historical shoplot called Mods Cafe. We stumbled upon it when we were doing our usual 'touristy' Jonker Walk-around. Mods Cafe is not exactly along Jonker Walk though, one needs to get out to the street branches and look for one that shows Jalan Tokong.

What attracted us and prompted us to 'have a look' is the brightly coloured VW van parked inside the shop! Next to it are tables and chairs, so we'd figured it's a cafe. The decorations are as retro as you'd imagine - those spinning barber lights, old skool tv and stereo sets, miniature figurines of Vespa scooters, and adorning the wall is about 200 empty beer cans from different parts of the world! (Oooh love the red switches too)

Now, how can anyone not like it here?

Cafe Latte (RM8)

Cafe Mocha (RM9)

We had the Cafe Latte and Cafe Mocha and they're both nicely done with the right amount of froth and beautiful latte art. Believe the guy who served and brew our drinks was Albert, the owner of Mods Cafe (I later googled about it and discovered many who also likes and recommends Mods to be a must visit).

Mods Cafe has become our favourite coffee place in Melaka, and we will surely return when we're in Melaka the next time! We would strongly recommend to skip all the touristy places and be adventurous to find your own gem.

Mods Cafe
14, Jalan Tokong,
75200 Melaka.
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/modscafe

* Visuals by iPhone 3Gs and iPhone 4

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

Sunday Buffet Brunch @ Acme Bar & Coffee

2012-01-05T14:10:00.003+08:00

Acme Bar & Coffee

On my birthday a month ago, my sister suggested to celebrate it with a Sunday brunch at Acme Bar & Coffee (ABC) @ The Troika. For those unaware of where The Troika is, it's a new luxury condo located in the heart of KL with KLCC as its neighbour - how awesome is that. Needless to say, one can expect high standards and quality if any retail or eateries open at that location.

The array of salads

The setting of the outlet is simple yet brilliant. Instead of plain solid walls, the area overlooking outside of the building is surrounded by glass for sunshine (feng shui says sunshine is good chi), laminated wooden floor, comfortable furnitures and space for people to enjoy their meals with a good catching up session.

Smoked duck pizza and selections from the sea - mussels with chilli pesto, smoked salmon potato fritters, fresh prawns with dips

Poultry carving section - roasted spring chicken, roast leg of lamb, roast beef, salt baked fish

Desserts corner - Apricot bread & butter pudding, profiteroles, christmas fruit cake, opera cake, churros with choc sauce, sago gula melaka

Prawn bisque and mussels

The buffet is segregated into a few sections, an array of almost 10 types of salads / small chomps, the poultry carving section where roast beef, lamb, spring chicken and salt baked fish is dished out freshly from the oven, a few other trays of mains like pasta, fish, and chicken, and at the bar area lies the desserts section.

Overall, I think we all enjoyed the array of salads, my favourite being the grilled zucchini and eggplant salad, the prawn bisque is served warm and individual, and the mussels, prawns, salt baked fish, roast lamb and beef are delicious too!

My only grudge is the desserts selection which we all agreed is too limited and not exactly people's favourite type of desserts - we ended up only enjoying the churros and ice cream which was individually served as well.

Clos du Caillou 2009

The Sunday brunch buffet is priced at RM89++ per pax and does not cover for beverages.

Good company

Thank you to all who celebrated and treated me to a good birthday brunch! Cheers :-)

Read Eiling's review here.

Acme Bar & Coffee
Ground Floor @ The Troika,
Jalan Binjai,
Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2162 2288
Business hours: Daily 11:00am - 12:00 midnight, Fri & Sat till 1:00 midnight

* Visuals by iPhone 4 and Olympus XZ-1

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

Tanzini @ GTower

2012-01-01T22:43:00.004+08:00

Complimentary bread with assorted dippings

This may come by as a pretty old post, thanks to group purchasing websites, we were able to get a deal that offers a RM30 voucher for RM70 worth at Tanzini @ GTower back in mid last year (2011). It certainly does not take a genius to know that meals at any of these 5 star hotels in the heart of KL will not be easy on the pocket!

Sashimi yellowtail tuna

Frutti smoked duck

We chose the set dinners which was perfect as there were 2 options for each of the entrees, soups, and mains so it gave us the opportunity to sample all it has to offer! (The set dinner was at RM155++ if my memory serves me well)

Prawn bisque

Wild mushroom soup

Sorbet to cleanse the palatte

Lobster tail angel hair

Aged wagyu tenderloin (160g)

Done medium rare

Petite 3 desserts

I really enjoyed my wild mushroom soup and steak. A bite into the medium rare juicy tenderloin makes you wish the cut to be just a little bit bigger. The prawn bisque was very flavourful and the same flavour seems to be used for the lobster tail pasta as well, the both tasted very similar. While everything hit the right note, the only forgettable part of the almost perfect dinner was the desserts which were nothing more ordinary than 3 little pieces of cakes.

With the picturesque night view of KL as the background setting, dimmed lights and posh environment which will certainly impress any first dates, I do recommend Tanzini as a venue for any dinner dates (order the steaks!).

Happy New Year 2012 to all, may the year fill us with more good food!

Tanzini @ G Tower
Level 28, GTower,
Jalan Tun Razak,
50400 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2168 1899
Business hours: Monday to Saturday (11:30am - 2:30pm > Lunch; 6:30pm - 10:30pm > Dinner) Closed on Sundays

* Visuals by iPhone 4

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

Allo Paris @ Damansara Perdana

2011-12-28T07:58:00.007+08:00

Ahi katsu with ginger and wasabi sauce (RM15.90)
Breaded yellowfin tuna loin served with ginger and wasabi sauce

There's always a new makan place in town opening every other day and joining the foodscene in Damansara Perdana is Allo Paris. I came to know about Allo Paris through the alternate days 4sq check-in by my friend and later found out that his friend owns this new eatery and he told me he has almost tasted everything on the menu!

Cream of mushroom (RM6.90)
A classic veloute of mushroom made from fresh button mushrooms served with a swirl of cream

Since the Ahi Katsu has been tried, tasted and blogged to death, we decided to taste it for ourselves. For such serving and cuts at such pricing I would forgive that it doesn't taste great but not half bad either- perhaps because I generally do not prefer breaded food. The mushroom soup was also forgiven for the lack of mushroom taste presence, I feel it's too light and doesn't leave me wanting more.

Mentaiko pasta (RM13.90)
Pasta, cooked with Japanese daishi stock base, tossed in mayo and codfish

The mentaiko pasta was anticipated having tasted Ploy's version which received thumbs up and made us on the lookout for other eateries' version of the same Japanese fusion pasta. Unfortunately Allo Paris's version did not impress as we suspect it's not mentaiko (spicy) but ebiko being used and the mayo was a tad too much making it instantly filling.

Salmon steak with yuzu beurre blanc (RM21.90)
A peppercorn crusted salmon steak served with potatoes roasted in duck fat and a fennel salad with yuzu beurre blanc

I wanted a non-meat dish and decided to go for this salmon dish (always a sucker for fancy names but never knew what they were). Yuzu is a citrus fruit that looks a little like mandarin orange and is widely used in Japanese cuisines. Beurre blance is also known in French as 'white butter' where a whole butter is blended off with a reduction of vinegar and/or white wine and grey shallots. The salmon dish offers us some consolation and is pretty well marinated.

Apple Julep (RM7.90)
Refreshing drink with a mixture of apple juice, syrup and topped with soda water

New eateries are no stranger to hits and misses and Allo Paris is of no exception. We applaud the affordability and value for money (nice ambiance and set up, with eye candies for the boys - a luxury and supercar showroom next to it), we will definitely be back to sample other dishes... and we wish the dessert menu could be extended too.

Merry Christmas ya'll.

Allo Paris
Ritze Perdana 2,
No.3, Jalan PJU 8/1,
Damansara Perdana,
47820 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor.
Tel: 03-7732 9909
Business hours: 11:00am - 10:00pm

* Visuals by iPhone 4

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

I'm Spicy (Thai) at Seksyen 17, PJ

2011-12-23T13:06:00.002+08:00

Fried chicken wings (RM18)

People usually think of My Elephant or Khuntai when they want to go for thai food in PJ. Unknown to many that there is actually another option in PJ - I'm Spicy, which is located a little bit hidden from the main road but regular visitors to Kanna Curry House will be able to locate it as it's just the same row at the corner.

Fried chicken skin (RM12)

Tom Yam Gai (RM20)

Thai Omelette Prawn (RM15)

Thai Omelette Pork (RM15)

Deep fried tofu and minced meat (RM18)

Thai green chicken curry (RM20)

Pork Ribs (RM25)

My colleague suggested I'm Spicy to celebrate my birthday. I have always wanted to give I'm Spicy a try but has never gotten around to do so... the suggestion to have dinner here was indeep very apt! There were 9 of us and we ordered 8 dishes with the tom yam and pork ribs double portion. Food wise, it's comfort thai food - tom yam to whet the appetite, omelette just like mom's home cooked, fried chicken wings, pork ribs and chicken skin for those who don't mind some protein and extra calories, I love the silky smooth tofu and the green curry goes really well with rice.

I'm Spicy house drink (RM12/jug)

With all the spicyness from the tom yam, it's best to order a jug of their house drink which is essentially an ice blended lime lemon minty concoction that is both refreshing and soothing. Whilst the ambiance is cosy (at least I feel it's not as 'packed' as MyElephant) and the establishment is brightly lit, my only grudge is the pricing - I think it is a little too steep.

I wouldn't mind returning though as doing a walk-in at MyElephant is usually impossible without advanced reservation.

Thanks to my colleagues for the treat ;-)

I'm Spicy
No. 1, Ground Floor,
Jalan 17/45,
46400 Petaling Jaya.
Tel: 03-7954 2281 / 7954 2271

* Visuals by iPhone 4

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

Hing Ket Grill House, Kampung Jawa Klang

2011-12-20T23:07:00.005+08:00

Grilled Squid (RM6)

Read so much about Hing Ket Grill House in Klang that some time a month ago, I decided that enough is enough - it's about time I give this much raved grill house a visit!

Grilled Crab (RM30)

Fortunately, this place is near where I live though it's hidden a fair bit deep in after exiting from the highway, but nowhere is unfound with the help of GPS! Parking is quite limited though I don't think it's impossible to find any parking. We ordered a few grilled favourites to sample but the much raved and reviewed grilled lamb was the main anticipation.

Grilled stingray (RM17)

Since the grilled lamb is the main star, let's talk about it later and go through the other dishes first. We ordered a portion of everything, the grilled squid portion was a tad too small to be honest. The grilled seafood fared well, fresh and nicely grilled. Delicious but not to the extent of getting me to rave about it though.

Grilled lamb (RM19)

Then came the star. I'd say, it lived up to the expectations that I had - juicy, not too gamy, it has a nice grilled lamb-ish smell and taste with burnt chargrilled bits. There is nothing to dislike about this as we go to order a second portion for takeaway!

Stir fried vegetable - Choy Tam (RM8)

With so much grilled food, nothing more satisfying (or perfect balance) to chomping on some crisp stir fried choy tam.

The lamb was definitely the star of the night, but I find the prices pretty steep. The dinner and takeaway cost about RM100+.

Hing Ket Grill House
Lot 3569 Batu 3¼,
Kampung Jawa, 41000 Klang.
Tel: 03-3371 3913 or 3371 0861
Business Hours: 11:30am - 2:30pm; 5:30pm - 10:30pm

* Visuals by iPhone 4

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

The Hungry Hog

2011-12-17T14:51:00.003+08:00

3 Little Pigs (RM15.90)

More porky joints mushrooming in the town, ho ho ho! I first discovered The Hungry Hog via 4Square where I saw a friend, Hsu Jen checking in. Curiousity then drove us here (actually this was quite a while back, and since it's opening in June this year, many have visited this joint and reviewed about it).

Everything about this porky joint is minimal and simple - from the location (pretty well hidden within SS15 Subang), to the decoration, food presentation and menu. The 3 Little Pigs caught our eye, name probably inspired by the '3 Little Pigs' children story. This signature burger is made up of a porky patty, streaky bacon, ham, caramelised onions & melted cheese. Simple, yet delicious.

Homemade Pork Sausages (RM11.90)

We also tried the Homemade Pork Sausages which is delish too, and can get quite filling as well. The affordability for all walks of life - from college students to office workers who wants to indulge in a bit of porky goodness during their lunch and dinner time is a plus point too.

My next visit will warrant a try on their acclaimed siew yoke and desserts!

The Hungry Hog
71, Jalan SS15/4C,
47500 Subang Jaya,
Tel: 012-225 0877
Business hours: Daily except Mondays (12:00 - 2:30pm; 6:00 - 10:00pm)
http://www.hog.my

* Visuals by iPhone 4

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

Bistro à Table

2011-12-13T23:41:00.000+08:00

bistro à table

You know there's a new place in town when everyone talks about it online and offline. Joining the masses who've been here, let me give you my review on bistro à table.

Château Citran 2006

Looking for a new place to dine 2 weekends ago, I suggested bistro à table and invited my sisters to dine with Calvin and I as I always believe more people = more food we can try! We BYOB'ed a bottle of Château Citran 2006 (RSP about RM200) with a corkage charge of RM60++/bottle. Pretty expensive corkage if you ask me but we wouldn't mind if it compliments great food.

Bread & Olive Oil - where's the balsamic??

Cointreau Duck Parfait with Cornichons and Caper Berries (RM19)

Coddled Maple Syrup Egg with Crouton Dust and Fleur de Sel (RM16)

Now, this is usually where I come in to make a recommendation on what to order after going through some reviews and 4sq tips. I knew the menu is gonna be expensive, but I wasn't quite aware that they're THAT expensive, with the cheapest of entrees at RM16 and most expensive at RM40++! I ordered the two most cheapest entrees.

... which turned out to be disappointments! The Cointreau Duck Parfait with Cornichons and Caper Berries (wish they would have just worded in laymen's term of 'duck pate' - I hate pate), did not go well with us as none of us is a fan of pate! Forget about the fancy accompaniments of cornichons (??) and caper berries (??), if pate is not your thing then this is definitely not something you'll enjoy and want to pay for. The Coddled Maple Syrup Egg with Crouton Dust and Fleur de Sel did not go well with us either - issue was we didn't know how it's supposed to taste like, looks fancy yes but it's half boiled egg mixed with crouton dust (??) and fleur de sel (??) dipped with asparagus. I'd go for just half boiled egg, at 1/20 of the price anytime, thanks.

Risotto with Fresh Chanterelles, Trompete de la Mort & Morel Mushrooms with a 30-month Parmigiano Reggiano (RM42)

Stuffed Cured Quail with Parsnip Puree and Puy Lentils (RM68)

Australian Lamb Rack with Pink Pepper Jus and Crispy Savoy Cabbage (RM85)

Always have my red meat Medium / Medium Rare for the pinkish raw effect

For the mains, we ordered 3 different courses to share. The Risotto with Fresh Chanterelles, Trompete de la Mort & Morel Mushrooms with a 30-month Parmigiano Reggiano is the cheapest but also best amongst the 3 courses... fills you up with the rich creamy taste and flavourful shrooms. The Stuffed Cured Quail with Parsnip Puree and Puy Lentils didn't exactly make a memorable entrance to the table as it was taken back to the kitchen shortly after it was placed down on our table. When asked, the waiter said it was undercooked but did not tell us why when he took it away. I did not like the stuffing and the dish is just forgettable. The supposingly anticipated Australian Lamb Rack with Pink Pepper Jus and Crispy Savoy Cabbage was a letdown too despite it being the most expensive! Portion is small and although it was done medium the way I like my red meat to be (steak at medium rare), but there was no 'fireworks in the mouth' moment.

Truffled Mash (RM12)

French Beans with Hazelnuts (RM10)

If there was any right decisions that we made that night, it was to order these 2 sides: Truffled Mash and French Beans with Hazelnuts. I think the sides are executed perfectly and they're just simple delicious food. We even made a joke that we'll return for a revisit and just order these 2 sides and wonder if they will kick us out.

I like these hanging lightbulbs and orchids though

The chef did come out to ask us how the food were (we already knew who she was the moment we sat down as her voice was heard shouting "There's no more fish for tonight!!" from the kitchen - not a very pleasant experience). We provided our feedback on the food being served on a not warm plate causing food to get cold quickly, but she excused herself to bid a group of diners farewell and never got back to our table for at least a closure to the conversation.

That's exactly like if you're engaging in a conversation with your friend and she picks up a phone call and walked away without at least saying goodbye.

A revisit? Hmmm, I think I'll go spend my hard earn money elsewhere, thanks.

bistro à table
No. 6, Jalan 17/54,
46400 Petaling Jaya.
Tel: 03-7931 2831
Business hours: Tues - Sun (6.30pm - 11pm)
(Directions: If you know Decanter PJ, it's just behind it)

* Visuals by Nikon D300 & iPhone 3Gs

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

Han Lim Seafood at Tmn Midah, Cheras

2011-12-10T12:52:00.003+08:00

Prawn Teochew Porridge

To those who doesn't know me that well, my favourite food is actually dai chow - though of course I do fancy the occassional eat-out at nice big restaurants or non-Chinese cuisines, but nothing beats a simple yet delicious meal at a good dai chow.

Super big prawns

As big as a dining plate!

In the area of Cheras (predominantly Chinese area?), there is no doubt good dai chows are also centered there. I have had the chance about 3 weekends ago to try Han Lim Seafood, which apparently is pretty famous for its low priced delicious seafood.

We started off with the prawn teochew porridge (it's not exactly porridge - but rice + soup = teochew style), big fresh prawns and rice in a flavourful broth. Fills you up in a different way compared to having plain white rice with dishes. Then came the supersized prawns, they are so huge it's bigger than my face! We had it done fried, the shells are crisp and the meat is firm and because it's so huge, I had to literally eat it like a cheeseburger! Talk about the cholestrol that comes with this...

Garlic lala

Steamed juicy octopus

We also sampled the garlic lala and steamed octopus. No complains there, on top of it I'll give the steamed octopus 3 thumbs up!

Crab noodles

There was also a plate of steamed fish and fried fish cakes wrapped in fu chuk (beancurd skin) which makes great appetizers (unfortunately no picture). The last dish was the crab noodles which was worth every calorie and penny though if you do order this make sure you have some tummy space to spare!

To prove that this is indeed a cheap delicious seafood meal, the 7 dishes cost only about RM200. And best thing is you get to choose your seafood fresh from the water tanks. The not so good? You have to come early or reserve a table in advance as the premise is packed even on a rainy day.

Han Lim Seafood Restaurant
No. 12, Jalan Midah 12,
Taman Midah, Cheras,
56000 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 014-227 0062

* Visuals by iPhone 4

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

Great Coffee and Delicious Breakfast at Brew & Bread

2011-12-04T13:15:00.000+08:00

Welcome to great coffee and delicious breakfast!

What makes a good breakfast joint? Good coffee and juices, wholesome and delicious meal options, friendly serving staff and a cozy environment... and a bonus if it's 5 mins away from home!

Brew & Bread, that's what I'm talking about.

B&B bar - spot the brand of beans used for your coffee

I recently discovered this new cafe in my Kota Kemuning neighbourhood where another cafe used to be but has since closed down. I had spotted it when I went for my monthly car wash just opposite, and one fine afternoon my sister and I decided to skip the famous pork ball noodle shop for brunch and came here instead.

It was just their 1st week of opening. The ambiance and deco is cozy and earthy with the use of wood for its brown and black interiors.

Flat White - RM7

Iced Latte - RM7

Fresh Orange Juice - RM7

As of today, and their 3rd week of opening, I have returned to B&B for 3 times. You can tell I really like this place. The focus of beverage is of course their coffee, using the branded Illy beans - I like their brew, having tried their Flat White, Cafe Latte and Cappucino. On my 3rd visit, they have extended the drinks to include fresh orange juice. I'm a sucker for fresh orange juice!

Petite 4 - RM10

Truffle Mushroom Sandwich - RM9

If you want something light, danish pastries are available - lightly toasted to warm it, they make quite good bites. There are a few options for sandwiches, within the range of RM9 - RM12. I have tried the Truffle Mushroom Sandwich. I find it refreshing and light as it's meatless and bonus points for being toasted and served warm!

Eggs Waldorf - RM18

Would you Oooohh to that??

Eggs Benedict - RM18

And some Aaaaah??

At the moment, there are only 3 options for the brunch menu - Eggs Benedict / Eggs Florentine / Eggs Waldorf. I've tried the Egss Ben (with ham) and Eggs Waldorf (with sauteed mushrooms) and glad to say I'm quite impressed. The portion is big (worth the price), eggs poached like how it is supposed to be and love the seedless grapes addition for a refreshing balanced touch.

Basil Pesto Pasta - RM15

We decided to also try their new pasta option, the Basil Pesto Fettuccine. Done al dante, and delicious though the chicken chunks were on a drier side.

A good cuppa coffee makes a difference to one's day!

All in all, I hope they will extend their menu to include more breakfast options, i.e. full English breakfast or sausages & bacon, etc and more fresh juices! I urge those living in / out of Kota Kemuning to give this new joint a visit and hope it's stays to satisfy my cravings for good coffee, fresh juices and delicious breakfast.

To be honest, I think I'm beginning to really like Kota Kemuning. Lakeside for my weekend morning / evening jogs, golf driving range when I need to hit some balls, McD drive thru when I'm in need of Happy Meals, petrol station, banks, post office, dai chow, car workshops,....... and Brew & Bread!

Brew & Bread
No. 10, Jalan Anggerik Vamilla 31/M,
40600 Kota Kemuning,
Shah Alam.
Business hours: 9am - 8pm daily
(Directions: Coming from Kesas to the 1st roundabout in KK, take 3 o'clock, turn at the junction where is on the McD right, go straight, turn left at junction in front of Pappa Rich. Brew & Bread is further front on the left)

*Visuals by iPhone 3Gs and 4

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

Delicious Chinese Food at CHYNIIS

2011-12-02T23:38:00.004+08:00

Apologies for the super long hiatus and disappearing from the blogsphere. No fancy excuses, I just got lazy and remained lazy for almost half a year before it just struck me today that, "Damn, I need to revive my blog - I've got loadsa good food places that I've been to and I NEED to share them!"

Sang Har Meen - RM115 (RM15/100g)

CHYNIIS is a Chinese restaurant, it reminds me of Cubes @ Jaya One (which unfortunately has closed down, sighs). Modernized name for a Chinese restaurant unlike the typical Orientals or Imperials and Something Something Seafood Restaurants. I have always wanted to check this place out since I frequent SSTwo mall pretty often due to its vicinity to my workplace but it would be overdoing for lunch and the prices aren't exactly pleasing on the pocket to eat here without an occassion!

Finally there was a family occassion and I quickly make the suggestion to come here - turns out my sister too had wanted to try this place for the longest time.

Spinach & Century Eggs - RM18

Tofu in Soy Sauce - RM20

Just recently, I heard that CHYNIIS is actually affiliated to Green View Restaurant (next to Menara AMFirst), the Head Chef came from there that is! Those who are familiar with GV Restaurant will know that they're famous for their Sang Har Meen which is usually at cut-throat prices! I've had GV's Sang Har Meen a few times and CHYNIIS's version is thereabout the same. What is unusual is that this heavy noodles dish is classified under 'starters' in the menu.

The Spinach & Century Egg dish is a favourite with my sisters and the Tofu in Soy Sauce is as simple and healthy as it can be so that we have an excuse to indulge the meat.

Crispy Pork Belly with Rolled Chargrilled Cuttlefish - RM24

This comes recommended in most reviews I have read. While I really quite enjoy the first few bites but after awhile this dish seems a little too sinful and 'heavy', albeit the kerabu additions. Probably makes a great snack best to go with beer, not rice?

Tea Smoked Village Chicken - RM38/half bird

I love anything and everything smoked - salmon, duck, ham, sausage, etc. Not too sure when I first had a smoked chicken but I liked the one at Cubes, and in comparison I think CHYNIIS did very well in this too. Smoky flavours and tender meat with gravy that makes anyone want to order another bowl of rice.

Surely this place deserves a revisit, waiting for another occassion to dine here again!

CHYNIIS
G45 - 47, SSTwo Mall,
40, Jalan SS2/72,
47400 Petaling Jaya.
Tel: 03-7956 7288
(Directions: Overlooks main road, opposite residential area. Next to Belanga cafe)

*Visuals by iPhone 4

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

Ad Hog @ Kota Damansara

2011-07-02T17:16:00.004+08:00

Same table, different chairs

Saturday is inarguably my favourite day as I sleep through the effects of Friday night Happy Hour drinks and laze all day in front of the tv only answerable to my growling tummy. Many Saturdays has passed since my last post on Male, Maldives and I know it is high time I get up from the couch and jump start my blog!

Chicken Pogs - RM49

This visit to Ad Hog dates back to Nov last year and surprisingly I could still salvage the receipt from my messy drawer for the prices and dish names! Ad Hog (Hog = Pork, geddit?!) is a very hidden gem somewhere in Kota Damansara, a shop with no apparent sign board and located within an industrial area... but somehow people still manage to find it and there was a time where reviews were all over on the internet.

Enchilada - RM19

Deco and ambiance remains minimalistic, a few tables but a variety of chairs and with no proper menu. Well, I guess you won't need one especially when a google search will tell you what to order (and vice versa). Following the recommendations I read over the internet, we tried the Chicken Pogs, Enchila and Pork Ribs.

Pork Ribs - RM39

While I prefer not to go into details of each dish, I would recommend Enchilada and Chicken Pog as appetizers to share, but the Pork Ribs may need to take a back seat as we found it too dry. Ad Hog is also perhaps one of the few places where you can find Babi Guling (if you've been to Bali, you will know what it is) on the menu though I was told it's not a fixed item in the menu.

Good luck trying to locate the restaurant without GPS though!

Ad Hog
25, Jalan PJU 3/45,
Sunway Damansara,
Kota Damansara,
47810 Selangor.
Tel: 03-7804 7813

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

Malé, Maldives

2011-03-27T11:15:00.005+08:00

Malé - the capital of Maldives

Sorry for my long spell of silence. After returning from Sri Lanka (3 weeks ago), there's some adjustments at work (new role, greater responsibilities, and stress). I wouldn't use the 'no time' excuse as there are always time for anything and everything, it's only whether one is lazy or not. In this case, I won't deny I am (abit of) the former heehee.

Anyway, I shall move on to my next travel posting on Maldives. SL posts will be resumed when I feel like writing them.

Every. Single. Maldivian. has a cool pair of shades. Seriously.

Let's face it - unless you and I are rich & famous, Maldives remains as a dream for a holiday destination. Bali would be the cheaper and preferred destination instead (which reminds me... I've got long overdue Bali & Bandung travels to blog about too!) However, once you've been to Maldives, you'll have a different definition of what 'paradise on earth' means.

It is jaw droppingly BEAUTIFUL.

Jumhooree Maidan - the republic square of Maldives, a popular spot for social gatherings

For the unknown, Maldives was one of the affected regions when the 2004 Tsunami hit, although said to be less badly damaged than Sri Lanka and Andaman, but bad enough to alter the map of the paradise cluster. Words have since spread that one must visit Maldives at least once in their life as some of the smaller islands could possibly sink in 50-100 years time. I am not in the position to tell whether it's true or not but with the current changing climate and natural disasters happening globally, it is better to believe than living in denial.

I'll leave the googling to you on the city of Malé (pronounced as Ma-leh) and the paradise nation of Maldives... while I bring you some images of the little city with just over 100,000 Maldivians.

People's Majlis - Maldives Parliament

The Presidential Palace of current Maldives President, Mr. Mohammed Nasheed

Hukuru Miskiiy - The oldest mosque in Maldives, it's architecture is entirely made out of coral stones

Mausoleum for the very important people, tombstones entirely made out of coral stones too

Grand Friday Mosque (Masjid-al-Sultan Mohammed Thakurufaanu-al-A "z" zam) is the biggest mosque in Maldives where majority of Maldivians are Muslims

Sultan Park

Fishing boats lining the shore of Malé, all ready to unload the day's catch at the fish market

This is a tuna fish

Maldivians filling up water in these striking yellow plastic containers at the fish market

... and of course the obligatory food picture:

The BEST Tuna Fried Rice ever (and expensive too) at Food Bank Restaurant

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), Sri Lanka

2011-03-09T20:43:00.000+08:00

Kandy Town

Kandy is a countryside city located in the central region of Sri Lanka. Less commonly known as Maha Nuvara, its Sinhalese name, Kandy is the 2nd busiest city in Sri Lanka, with 1st being Colombo. The city lies on top of hills (unfortunately it doesn't have the cooling temperature like Nuwara Eliya) and is home to tea plantations and the world famous Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic or Sri Dalada Maligawa, one of the most venerable places for the Buddhist community.

Plumeria and Purple Nil Manel flowers for praying

The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a very holy place rich in religion and national history. Legend has it that the Sacred Tooth (which if you have not figured out by now, it belongs to Siddharta Gautama a.k.a. Buddha) is safeguarded by the monarchs and over time it became a symbol that 'whoever has the tooth, he shall be in power' (just like TVB Chinese dramas in the emperor era). According to Wiki, the precious Tooth relic is encased in seven caskets engraved with precious gemstones making it undoubtedly a national treasure.

Sri Dalada Maligawa

The temple was partially destroyed in the 1998 bomb blast attack when Sri Lanka was still in the midst of a civil war with the LTTE (Tamil Tigers). However, the architecturals has since been restored. Legend has it again that the Tooth is so powerful that the people will take it out when they face draught and there will be rain pour soon after.

Cooling holy water

The sacred tooth is kept behind the gold doors

One can read the story of the Tooth Relic presented in the form of paintings and English and Sinhalese captions

Rajah, the world's only stuffed elephant

There is an admission fee for foreigners at Rs. 1,000 (RM28) which also comes along with a mini CD that (I have yet to check out what's in it) but I would suspect some pictures, and descriptions of the temple lah. One has to go in the temple barefooted as well. Photos are allowed. Make sure you put Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic on your visit list the next time you're in Kandy!

After all, you've not been to Kandy if you've not seen the temple!

Paradise Road and Green Path Art Gallery

2011-03-01T13:05:00.000+08:00

Paradise Road Studio @ Alfred House Garden

Paradise Road (trademark) is the brainchild of Udashanth Fernando and is also famous because all the galleries/ cafe/ studio are located in buildings designed by famous European-Ceylonese architect Geoffrey Bawa. A google search brought me to a Wikipedia page dedicated to him and these words "among the most influential architects in southeast Asia in the last decades of the 20th century, he is the principal force behind what is today known globally as ‘tropical modernism’" says alot about his works and contribution to Sri Lanka. Unfortunately he has passed away in 2003, but there's no doubt his designs and works still lives on and I'm glad Paradise Road has brought a new lease of life to the premises.

Before I went to Sri Lanka, I had a colleague who kept insisting I have to visit Paradise Road. He told me that in a state of drunkness and I actually thought he was fooling around (Me thinking: Paradise... Road? Is it a road where drug addicts gather to 'feel' like they're on paradise? Or where magic mushrooms are available?) Of course I didn't pay much attention to him and brushed aside the drunken 'tip'.

When I touched down in Colombo, I was whisked to Cinammon Lakeside Hotel where I spent a month there. Everytime I passed by the lobby or waiting for my vehicle I could see hoards of European tourists carrying paperbags with the two words printed on it: Paradise Road. That was when I learnt, those are not magic mushrooms and neither it is a road name. Google came to the rescue again and I then found out about Gallery Cafe (own & managed by Paradise Road group), subsequently Paradise Road Galleries (Design Warehouse and Studio), and Tintagel.

I love Paradise Road. There's always so much to see, and I never get bored of it. There's always something that I want to buy and I'm looking forward to have my own house one day and decorate it with home decors from Paradise Road!

Paradise Road Studio
12, Alfred House Gardens,
Colombo 03,
Sri Lanka.
Tel: +94112506844
Website: www.paradiseroadsl.com/studio/Index.htm

Paradise Road @ Dharmapala Mawatha; Unmistakable black & white

Just another 10 minutes away from my apartment, there is another Paradise Road Studio which sits in a huge white bungalow opposite the Viharamahadevi Park. While selection of goods are almost the same with the one at Alfred Garden, I find this studio has a little bit more of extra stuff like kids wooden toys and food stuff (hand bottled chutneys, jams, spices, olive oil, etc).

Paradise Road Cafe; Have a slice of cake and rest your feet

Pretty hand bottled food stuff available; The White Room- you can't go wrong with white ceramics

Gift wrapping service is also available here free of charge and wrapping papers come in a myriad of colors with thin manila ropes for ribbons.

Paradise Road
213, Dharmapala Mawatha,
Colombo 07,
Sri Lanka.
Tel: +94112686043

Paradise Road Design Warehouse @ Ward Place; Ayubowan book stopper

Paradise Road Design Warehouse opened its doors in December 2010. It is more spacious and houses more antique furnitures rather than knick knacks and ornaments. Most of the furnitures showcased are of Chinese influence and there are also modern leather furnitures on the upper level.

Prices of things in Paradise Road ranges from about Rs. 50 for the smallest little thing like tealight candle to Rs. 100,000++ for antique furniture pieces. There's always something for everyone!

Paradise Road Design Warehouse
61/3, Ward Place,
Colombo 07,
Sri Lanka.
Tel: +94112691056
Website: www.paradiseroadsl.com

Green Path Art Gallery on weekends

My colleagues knew I like arts after knowing that I bought a painting at Gandhara Crafts. They recommended me to pay a visit to Green Path where there is a painting exhibition every weekend by independent artists. Coincidentally, Green Path is just 10 mins walk away from where I stayed so it was really convenient. While not all paintings caught my fancy but there were a few good ones too...

An Aliya painting sold for Rs. 6,500 to me!

... like this water color painting on an aliya (elephant in sinhalese) which was again love at first sight just like the buddhist monk painting I bought earlier. Fortunately this costs only a fraction of the first painting!

Now.......... I need to buy a house to put my paintings!

Green Path Art Gallery
Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha,
Colombo 07,
Sri Lanka.
(within the Viharamahadevi Park)

If you like this, you may also be interested in:
Yiling - The Gallery Cafe
Yiling - Tintagel
Yiling - Gandhara Crafts
Eiling - The Gallery Cafe
Eiling - Tintagel

The Famous Beach Wadiya, Colombo

2011-02-24T20:09:00.000+08:00

The famous Beach Wadiya- you have to cross the railway track to eat your meal!

I read somewhere that if you have not eaten at Beach Wadiya, then you have not been to Sri Lanka! Beach Wadiya is a very well known cheap thrills-no frills seafood place where it has managed to attract many rich, famous, powerful personalities (it's most notable being Princess Anne from England and Richard Branson of Virgin Group) and also the low rung, middle class, average Joes, tourists, travellers, expatriates, and locals alike.

Guestbook index by country; Richard 'Virgin Galactica' Branson was here!

Beach Wadiya has been in operations for over 3 decades where it was founded by owner Olwyn Weerasekara who is now in his 70s! This humble little joint with no decorations, fancy atmosphere (it's next to the beach shore, you can't see anything but you certainly hear the beating of the waves), smartly dressed waiters or even a physical food menu! The best way to describe it will be a 'scrapped off to its bare minimum seafood hut'.

Devilled crabs- Rs.850 (RM24); Garlic grilled prawns- Rs, 525 (RM15); Kangkung for fibres- Rs. 155 (RM4); Kah Yee and I with bibs ready to chomp them crabs down!

There were no menus shown, once seated the waiter brings a plate of raw seafood which the kitchen has for the day (prawns, kangkung, crabs, fish) and suggests cooking method. We opted for the famous devilled crab- everyone raves about it so we obviously had to try!, garlic grilled prawns and kangkung for fibers. The crab was delicious with the not-too-spicy sauce though I wish the crabs are bigger and meatier, the prawns were amazingly fresh so much so you can feel them bouncing in your mouth, while the kangkung is so much thinner and seemed different from Malaysia's version.

Loads of pictures of famous patrons adorning the walls; Beach Wadiya and its raw-rity; With owner Olwyn Weerasekara

Be sure to spend some time looking at the gazillions of photos adorning the walls, you may even spot your favourite cricketer/ corporate figure/ celebrity amongst the Hall of Fame crowd. If you're lucky, you may even get to meet the legendary Olwyn Weerasekara in person having tea. We managed to spend some 5 minutes chatting with him where he gave us some life advice and also a Beach Wadiya t-shirt each as souvenirs! Must be our lucky day :-)

Stamping our marks down too- Kah Yee and Yiling were here!

Be sure to ask if you could pen your thoughts in their guestbook too. We were told that when the tsunami hit, 5 guestbooks were washed away... but what is really amazing is how Olwyn manages to remember who, where and which books that some comments were penned down (he's got a few favourites) and some people even wrote stories, attached currencies and even religious items in these thick books!

I've finally got all the places I want to eat at covered, so now I can leave Sri Lanka with joy and satisfaction. See ya'll at the other side of the globe soon.

* Prices are excluding 10% service charge and 12% VAT

Beach Wadiya
2, Station Avenue,
Colombo 06 (Wellawatta),
Sri Lanka.
Tel: +94112588568
Website: http://beachwadiya.com/

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

Tintagel, Colombo

2011-02-22T14:03:00.000+08:00

Tintagel

Tintagel (Tin-ta-jel) is one of my favourite places to be in Colombo. If it is any coincidence, this historical mansion turned boutique hotel is also associated with my favourite gallery/ art brand 'Paradise Road' and (again, my favourite) The Gallery Cafe. If you can have 3 favourites in one sentence, I think hell yeah this deserves a little bit more photos than the usual posting!

Dining at The Courtyard; Paradise Road Hot Chocolate- Rs. 450 (RM12)

Located at Rosmead Place within the Cinnamon Gardens postcode which is regarded as the elite neighbourhood where embassies, government offices, and big colonial mansions scatters around, Tintagel stands tall and beautiful among all. With a history dating back to 1930 where it was the residence of Dr. Lucien de Zilwa, an eminent Sri Lankan physician, gynaecologist and writer. In the following decade, it was made the British military quarters, and later sold to Sir Solomon Dias Bandaranaike for his son Solomon West Ridgeway (S.W.R.D.). It is this point that the mansion became known as the Bandaranaike's Residence where S.W.R.D. became Prime Minister in 1956 and assassinated at the verandah of the mansion. His widow, Srimavo Bandaranaike became the world's first female Prime Minister and longest serving PM in Sri Lanka. She lived in the mansion till her demise in 2000. Subsequently, the following generations of Bandaranaike also became political leaders in the island.

A touch of 'dark' luxury in private dining

In 2005, Tintagel is leased to Udashanth Fernando, designer and proprietor of the Paradise Road group and it has since been turned into a luxurious, unique historical boutique hotel. Every little item put into Tintagel can be traceable to the items sold at the Paradise Road galleries but in a very subtle way... you will almost think that it is a coincidence. The mansion is huge, housing a beautiful courtyard for dining, a dark luxurious 'The Private Dining Room', a flawless glass-like swimming pool, a tastefully decorated library, the distinct Red Bar, the lobby which smells of fresh beautiful small white flowers, and above all 10 exclusive suites.

The scent of fresh flowers everywhere!

A room for the bookworms, The Library

Beautiful glass-like flawless long narrow pool

My favourite part of the house would be the swimming pool. It was love at first sight when I saw it during my maiden visit and I knew I have to show this to my visitors from Malaysia! It is too beautiful to even dip your foot in, just so that the glass-like illusion is not spoilt!

Tintagel Executive and Superior Suites from USD200+ onwards

I had the privilege to be shown some rooms and they are amazing- tastefully decorated with a special view for every room. I was told that rates starts at USD200 onwards and you can do the reservation here. If you're willing to splurge USD200 for a room, I would strongly suggest Tintagel as it is more private yet warm than the big hotel chains.

Inside 'The Red Bar'

Unfortunately, Tintagel does not have a lliquor license due to historical importance and status of the building, however you can BYOB and pay for the corkage. A friend of mine asked me, "I wonder what they serve in the bar if they don't have alcohol?" Virgin pina colada, virgin bloody mary, virgin cosmopolitan, virgin margarita, virgin mojito.... maybe??!

Fresh strawberries and cream- Rs. 625 (RM17); Roast pork on a bed of potato mash with sauteed vegetables, apple mousse and mustard sauce- Rs. 995 (RM27); King Coconut- Rs. 90 (RM2)

I was actually pretty happy with the food on my first visit as I wasn't expecting much (hotel food usually looks better than taste). I did not hesitate to bring my family here for our CNY reunion dinner + Eiling's birthday, I'm sure they will love it too!

Complimentary bread; Spicy Sri Lankan crab soup- Rs. 645 (RM18); Avocado, Prawn and Lobster salad- Rs. 835 (RM23); Fettuccine with lobster, prawns, crabs and spicy sauce- Rs. 1,485 (RM41)

Sri Lankan pork curry and rice; Pan fried red snapper with rocket pesto risotto and roasted cashew nut- Rs. 1,795 (RM49); Crispy duck with apricot and plum sauce, stir fried beans and roasted pistachios- Rs. 2,145 (RM59); Steamed fish; Braised pork belly topped with poached egg- Rs. 1,585 (RM44)

That said, we had a very different and western dinner this year and perhaps also very memorable as we have not sat together as a family for a meal at least in the past year!

The Tintagel High Tea- Rs. 1,750/person (RM48): Finger sandwiches; Selection of savoury and sweet pastries; Plain and fruit scones with strawberry preserve and fresh cream; Slice of 'cake of the day'; Tea/Coffee

Ceylon Tea- Have your cup and drink it too

When my friend came down for a week-long visit, this warrants a 3rd visit to Tintagel in a month! We had the high tea menu where it came in 3-tiers of pastries, cakes and sandwiches. I like the scones but felt slightly below average for the finger sandwiches and just so-so for the cakes. But I suppose the ambiance more than makes up for it if not for the super annoying and deadly mosquitoes in the evening!

Happy Chinese New Year from the Lims!

I hope everyone had a very good Chinese New Year, I'm finally coming home this Friday. But before that, I will be flying to Maldives tonight to enjoy my well deserved ho-ho-holiday (the beginning of ticking off my 2011 Travel Resolutions).

* Prices are excluding 10% service charge and 13% VAT.

If you like this, you may also be interested in:
Yiling - The Gallery Cafe
Eiling - The Gallery Cafe
Eiling - Tintagel

Tintagel
65, Rosmead Place,
Colombo 07,
Sri Lanka.
Tel: +944602121 or +944602060
Website: www.paradiseroadhotels.com/tintagel/index.php

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

Chesa Swiss, Colombo

2011-02-21T01:00:00.003+08:00

Chesa Swiss

Chesa Swiss is perhaps (in my humble opinion) one of the best Swiss/ Western restaurant in Colombo and Sri Lanka. I made my maiden visit at the end of January and since then I revisited it once every week! It's layout and setting is homely, nothing as fancy as some of the so-called fine dining hotel restaurants but attracts a steady regular expat crowd and some well to do locals. The kitchen is helmed by Swiss chef Michael and well managed by the beautiful Catherine from Paris.

Having been there 4 times in a month and different dishes every visit allowed me to sample a fair bit of what Chesa Swiss has to offer.

6-course tasting menu- Rs. 3,250 (RM89): Duck liver mousse on red onion marmalade with toasted brioche; Complimentary fried fish; Mushroom consomme with port wine; Mixed seafood risotto in lobster sauce

Tournedos of beef fillet served on asparagus crepe & green pepper corn sauce; Lime sorbet with gin; Fresh strawberries with cream

White chocolate mousse & fresh strawberries Millefeuille; Complimentary starter

During my first visit, I tried the 6-course tasting menu (the next day after I had the 24-dish degustation from Tao). I really liked all 6-courses with special memories for the lime sorbet (though it was meant for pallate cleansing) and steak done medium rare, tender and juicy just the way I love it. I didn't expect to have steak in Sri Lanka but since I had the ball rolling on this one, I just craved for a piece of steak every now and then!

Raclette- Rs. 980 (RM27); Shrimp cocktail with melon and toast- Rs. 580 (RM16)

Grilled duck breast on orange & pepper sauce- Rs. 1,600 (RM44); Pork tenderloin- Rs. 980 (RM27)

Fillet of garoupa 'Grandmother style'- Rs. 850 (RM23); Lamb rib chops- Rs. 2,200 (RM61)

The second visit was with my family where I also brought them here for our 1st day of CNY dinner. I was again craving for steak but my dad would glare at me the whole night if I did since he doesn't take beef due to religion circumstances, I had duck instead also done medium rare. I like it as well as it and I think the rest of my family likes their own dishes as well since there were no complains.

Traditional Swiss cheese fondue with white wine, flavoured with Kirsch- Rs. 1,980 (RM54)

Carpaccio of beef fillet with parmesan and rocket salad- Rs. 850 (RM23); Mussels with white wine- Rs. 1,850 (RM51)

The third visit was with a visiting friend of mine all the way from Ipoh! Though it was only 2 of us, we decided to do the expected- pig out! This time, we tried the cheese fondue (it's my first cheese fondue by the way), beef carpaccio and mussels for starters and had the 6-course tasting menu again as I raved to her about the lime sorbet and steak. My friend loves the duck liver pate and steak but unfortunately the seafood risotto was a miss that night as it was too moist and lacked texture.

Beef tenderloin (150g)- Rs. 2,300 (RM63)

Finally, since it is going to be my final week in Sri Lanka, I decided to pay a visit again to Chesa Swiss and had a 150g tenderloin myself! The steak never failed me and there is nothing more satisfying than having a piece of juicy medium rare steak on your own......

Chesa Swiss
3, Deal Place,
Colombo 03,
Sri Lanka.
Tel: +940112573433
Website: www.chesaswiss.com

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

Hotels Along Negombo Beach, Sri Lanka

2011-02-13T14:10:00.005+08:00

As with any beachfronts and coastal towns, you'll find many guesthouses, hotels (the posh & the unposh), budget hostels, villas and accommodation lining along the streets. The question is always "How much does it cost, and what's in it?"

Villa Araliya

Villa Araliya- DEFINITELY NOT RECOMMENDED!

I had initially booked a 2-night stay at Villa Araliya (apartment unit - 2 rooms, 2 bathrooms, living area, and kitchen) for USD336 (RM1,019) after seeing that it looks pretty nice and decent and would make a good place for a family getaway from Colombo when they were down to visit during Chinese New Year. The location was a little hard to find as it's not exactly on the main street. After we checked in and nearly got ourselves settled, mom suddenly stomped back to the apartment furiously. Apparently, she got into a row with (whom I suspect would be the owner) about some cups in the apartment. You see, I think it's only fair and common that if you have kitchen facilities, basic cooking utensils or at least cups be provided. The owner said that if we were only staying for 2 days then none of the facilities will be provided (even cups!) unless if our stay was for at least a month! To cut the long story short, he refuted that if we were so fussy about it, then move out!

That's a very rude way to treat your guests and I think giving some cups for use for 2 days is not life threatening or cost you in any way.... so we moved out and got my refund. Well I guess I am not surprised at this behaviour as I've also read similar aggressive and rude attitude by the owners in Tripadvisor.

As guests who are paying (it's not cheap anyways), I don't think we should be treated rudely and especially if it wasn't even an overboard/ impossible request. To save the trouble, I won't even bother giving you the address.

Goldi Sands Hotel

Goldi Sands Hotel

We found Goldi Sands Hotel somewhere 50m down the road after moving out from Villa Araliya. They were fully booked but some cancellations gave us 2 rooms for a night at USD110 (double) and USD125 (triple). It is more expensive on per night basis compared to Villa Araliya but at least the staff were more hospitable and the resort is smack infront of the beach.

Goldi Sands Hotel

I think the rooms are pretty nice and the view was great too, accessibility to the pool and beach were just 5 mins walk away. Our only grudge perhaps is the stuffy bathroom which doesn't have much ventilation.

Lunch: King Coconut; Tender Pork Scaloppine- Rs. 600 (RM16); French Onion Soup- Rs. 200 (RM5); Baked Crab- Rs. 675 (RM18); Sri Lankan rice and curry- Rs. 450 (RM12); Special Fried Noodles- Rs. 450 (RM12)

Dinner: Deluxe Seafood Platter- Rs. 1,300 (RM36); Goldi Fried Rice- Rs. 550 (RM15); Mixed Grill American- Rs. 800 (RM22); Magic show to entertain the guests

Meals weren't great and the restaurant didn't look that appealing but when you have no choice, I suppose anything goes... the breakfast spread was a little better though.

Goldi Sands Hotel
Ethukale, Negombo,
Sri Lanka.
Tel: +94332279021
Website: www.goldisands.com

Jetwing Blue Negombo

Jetwing Blue Negombo

While having our stroll down the beach, we spotted a nicer looking resort just next to our hotel and decided to check it out. It was the Jetwing Blue hotel and I know that the Jetwing group of hotels and resorts are pretty expensive. We asked the reception how much a night would cost and considered staying here the next night since we could not secure another night at Goldi Sands. It was at a staggering USD300+! Well no wonder, things are always nicer at the other side of the beach ;-p

Jetwing Blue
Ethukale, Negombo,
Sri Lanka.
Reservation: resv.blue@jetwinghotels.com
Tel: +94312279003 or +94773421755
Website: www.jetwinghotels.com/jetwingblue

Negombo, Sri Lanka in pictures

2011-02-12T18:42:00.004+08:00

My favourite picture

Negombo is a coastal town about 40km north of Colombo. For the unfamiliar, Negombo is also where the Bandaranaike International Airport (Sri Lanka's main airport and point of entry/ exit) is located. Although it is just a mere 40km away, the unsophisticated road conditions (trunk roads equivalent) makes traveling to Negombo from Colombo city not as near as the distance seems to suggest, taking at least a 45 mins - 1 hour drive depending on traffic.

There are many tourists here, most choose Negombo as an overnight stopover especially if their flights depart early in the morning or arrive late at night. The beach is not impressive (not sure if it's because of the rain earlier) and has a steep shore, not exactly the ultimate beach paradise but does makes a good enough day trip of soaking in sea breeze and sun.

Gandhara Crafts, Colombo

2011-02-09T02:21:00.002+08:00

Gandhara Crafts @ Stratford Avenue

When I visited Cafe Che in my first month in Colombo, I also stumbled upon a fantastic arts gallery located just a few doors away. I am not an avid fan of viewing antique furniture or excited over the little artifacts, neither am I a person who will purposely visit a gallery because it's 'interesting' to do so.

The building itself is an art!

But, as the saying goes "Never say never". My (almost) 3 months here has cultivated an interest in these things which I once thought to be boring and extremely ancient objects. Perhaps it's the free time that I have wandering the city alone that trigger this sudden interest. Gandhara Crafts is one of those I do not mind visiting again and again just to see 'what's new' at the store.

It houses an art gallery, antique furniture, artifacts, household deco items, coffee table books, and small knick knack souvenirs.

Arts gallery
I fell in love with this piece of grayscale junior monks painting. It's at a pricetag of Rs. 89,500 (RM2,500)! Should I or should I not??

Colourful cotton bedding/ pillow/ table sheets
Sri Lanka is a major exporter of garments and textiles. Their cotton are needless to say one of the bestest quality!

Household deco items
Candle holders never look so interesting!

Buddha artifacts and deco items

Household deco items

Even things from the sea....
Everyone can be Dora the Explorer!

There's just too many rooms to explore!

Toys made out of fabric

Say hello to the new proud owner of this painting!

Now.... where do I find a house to put this..........

Gandhara Crafts
28, Stratford Avenue,
Kirulapane, Colombo 06,
Sri Lanka.
Tel: +94112596329
Website: www.gandharacrafts.com

"24 dish Epicurean Menu" @ Tao, Cinnamon Grand Colombo

2011-02-05T18:38:00.006+08:00

Starry starry night...

Last week, I decided to pay a visit to Tao @ Cinnamon Grand Hotel for their much publicized "24-dish Epicurean Menu" said to be the only degustation menu in Sri Lanka at Rs. 2,030 (before tax: Rs. 1,600) ~ RM56/USD18. Now, do note the punctuation marks I'm using...

I'm always up for new places and this should be an interesting one too I thought.

Pictures ahead, I'll summarize the overall rather than going through the dishes individually.

Starters

Prawn & avocado rice paper rolls with soya chili sauce

Chicken floss caesar salad

Smoked turkey with mango salsa

Cheesy green cucumber rolls with miso glaze & pickled chilies

Blue lip mussels with matsuhisa salsa

Sauteed vegetable rolls wrapped in rice paper

Smoked portobello & red bell pepper napolean on crostini

Soups

From top: Tomato & vongole soup; Chilled avocado & jalapeno pepper soup; Celery bisque with almond flakes

Mains

Asian spiced mini shepherd's pie served with red curry hinted lamb jus

Soya glazed pan fried salmon & jasmine rice with curry sauce

Lemon & lime lamb ossobucco

Roast duck on noodle cake with hoisin sauce

Green asparagus with mozzarella cheese sauce

Grilled vegetable stack with polenta on basil tomato coulis

Chili garlic lobster on potato risotto

Desserts

From left: Chocolate ginger pudding with toffee caramel ice cream; Olive chocolate cream with wild berries; Strawberry citron crunch & cinnamon pralines with berry coulis

From top: Blueberry & mascarpone tart; Espresso creme brulee

From top: Baileys banana cream with chip cheese towers; Deluxe fruit platter with raspberry sorbet

Complimentary arrack cocktail shot & icing sugar cashew nuts

Bo ho ma stuh tee & please come again!

I think they're some terribly confused food, you may see a mixture of east and west ideas in the food but there is also literally an explosion of taste, a less pleasant one that is. I think people should learn to understand that putting rice with lamb and pan fried salmon, or curry sauce with lobster does not = fusion. I wish the seafood were cooked in simple ways like steaming or grilling to retain its natural taste of sweetness rather than immersed in overpowering sauces. If I was asked to name the worst dish, it would be the ones with grilled vegetables which are overcooked and have weird sauces. Perhaps the only one item that I like out of the 24 is the small tiny strawberry citron crunch cinnamon pralines with berry. Giving fancy names to a dish also does not equate to fusion!

Despite the many flaws, here's some positive notes to my visit:
1. It's still considerably cheap even after conversion to any currencies. 24 dishes (though small) for Rs. 2000 / USD18 / RM56?! Are you even kidding?!
2. Big on bragging rights to say "I'm having 24 dishes for dinner tonight!" I posted the update to my facebook and garnered alot of comments on it.
3. The ambience more than make up the less than impressive food. If you think you're getting bad food, think of it as you're paying to eat while overlooking a koi pond and beautiful night lights.

P/s: What the heck is matsuhisa, ossobucco, coulis, polenta, anyway?!

Tao @ Cinnamon Grand
77, Galle Road,
Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Website: Tao Cinnamon Grand
Reservations: +94 11 2497 369

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

First Experience with 1-star Michelin Dinner

2011-01-29T15:57:00.003+08:00

Chef Serge Chenet

I had initially wanted to dine at Spoons (Hilton's resident fine dining restaurant), but diverted to Ginza Hohsen (the resident Japanese restaurant) after I checked out the menu and noticed they had a visiting 1-star Michelin chef. There was only 1 reason for the diversion - I didn't bring enough money! I promised myself I'll return the next evening for this, and so I did!

Complimentary bread & olive pate

I had very high expectations, or rather very hyped up and excited over the experience. After all, how many Michelin starred chefs are there in KL, now especially if there is one in Colombo! I knew it was gonna be an opportunity not to be missed. So last Sunday, I returned to Hilton again which was my 3rd night on the row (I swear the tuk tuk driver outside my apartment was starting to have this impression on me as 'the girl who goes to Hilton every night for dinner' and knew my standard offer would be 200 rupees per trip). I casually walked in to the fame restaurant, looked through the menu and picked a duck dish for mains and a mille feuille for dessert. Don't ask about drinks - usually I go for complimentary iced water but in this case I had to pay for a bottle of cold mineral water.

"Duo of Duck" Pan fried duck breast and honey lavender caramelised leg, turnips confit, and vinegar jus- Rs. 2,200 (RM60)

I requested for my duck dish to be done in medium rare, just like how I like my red meat to be. When the dish came, presentation wise it's decent. As for the taste, I like it because it taste decent too but it's not what I am expecting for a Michelin-starred chef... I was expecting more! There was no burst of flavours, melt-in-you-mouth sensations, not orgasmic definitely... just another plain and expensive duck dish in a nicer restaurant which happens to be in a hotel.

Chocolate coated mille feuille with fresh mint and fresh cream with cocoa sherbet- Rs. 750 (RM21)

Attracted by the 'mint' flavour in this dessert, I was expecting a strudel-pastry texture, crispy and fluffy with cream to melt it all down but instead (again, presentation is good, BUT...) the bottom layer of the mille feuille was just hard, the mint didn't have any minty refreshing taste I was looking for, instead with my eyes open as I was eating this it felt like a green tea cream. I was not sure if it's supposed to be hot or cold as it was served room temperature and to me desserts should either be H or C, a room-temperature dessert is as good as eating melted ice cream or unchilled beer - yucks! Despite the many huge flaws in this dessert, the only thing I love was the cocoa sherbet... cold and strong cocoa taste.

Foamy chocolate mousse flavoured with arabica and cream cheese sherbet- Rs. 750

The General Manager of Hilton was making his rounds at the restaurant and I spoke to him on my less than impressed experience with the dessert. He offered me another one which was supposingly one of the best. I accepted with good gestures, preparing to be wowed.

While it's not not half as bad as the earlier mille feuille, this does not impress me much either. I'm not even sure if it's appropriate to say my favourite item of the whole dessert was the chocolate deco (I'm not sure what is the proper term to describe it, enlighten me if you do). Certainly doesn't leave much to say when you like the little side dishes/decos more than the star of the dish iteself, huh?

In my most humble opinion, it was a disappointment.

Spoons @ Hilton Colombo
2, Sir Chittampalam A. Gardiner Mawatha,
Colombo 2, Sri Lanka.
Tel: +94 11 2544 644
For the regular menu, refer to here

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

The Bayleaf Restaurant, Colombo

2011-01-25T07:30:00.002+08:00

The Yuletide season decorations adorned The Bayleaf ; White furniture and brown wooden planks... these are a few of my favourite things

On Christmas day last year, I spent the afternoon at The Commons Coffeehouse and the evening dinner at The Bayleaf Restaurant. While the cuisines on offer at both eateries is a world of difference, the former a coffeehouse with sweet and savoury rotti and western style burgers and sandwiches on its menu, and the latter is an Italian themed restaurant with a more exquisite dining environment, both are connected by a single line to the Harpo's F&B Group. Visiting The Bayleaf actually completed one of my gastronomic resolution here which is to dine at all 4 of the Harpo's restaurants.

Wooden staircase and a Christmas tree; Ravioli di Anatra- Rs. 1150; Soup of the day: Mushroom Soup - Rs. 400; The Grand Colonial mansion

I love colonial buildings and mansions. There is something about them that exudes architectural charms and character, history and nostalgic values that modern buildings lack. The Bayleaf is a winner in terms of dining ambience, after all, where better to have a 'cultured' meal than a 'cultured' place? I chose to sit at the upper balcony overlooking the big garden (one more reason to like colonial buildings, they always have big gardens and long driveway!) and Christmasy lights lit up the rather dull Gregory Rd.

While ambience takes full points, the food is less than inspiring in my humble opinion. I had a struggle to choose either from the special Christmas menu or from the regular menu. Since it's not exactly cheap even after currency conversion and with the mentality of 'seasonal menu are often a rip off and food quality is always low due to mass production', I opted for a soup of the day and a ravioli dish from the regular menu. It was mushroom soup- looks and taste as ordinary as the can of Campbells at home. The ravioli portion was generous but the skin is thick and the duck stuffing tasted like pate (and I don't like pate) though the tomato + cream + oregano + vodka sauce was right, not overpowering.

I decided to save my bucks and skip desserts. Perhaps I would return again to give it another try, on a non festive day that is.

Also read:
Cafe Che at Stratford Avenue
The Commons Coffeehouse at Flower Road
Park Street Mews at Park Street

The Bayleaf
Gregory's Road,
Colombo 07, Sri Lanka.
Website: www.bayleafcolombo.com

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

Park Street Mews, Colombo

2011-01-22T17:08:00.004+08:00

Park Street Mews

Having been to all the eatery options from the Harpo's F&B Group, I find Park Street Mews the most plain Jane of all. Or perhaps the word to describe it is 'casual'. While Cafe Che has a certain Che Guevera theme to it, The Commons Coffeehouse has a home-away-from-home ambience, and The Bayleaf with it's colonial charms, Park Street Mews didn't quite fit in to any of the categories simply because it just seems like any other cafe to me. Unfortunately when I visited the cafe it was quite empty and it's emptiness magnified especially when the space it occupies is considerably huge. On the positive side, it would make a great hangout place for big groups of people.

Tortilla wrap of baby shrimps tossed in garlic mayonnaise with chillie, mango, coriander, onion and tomato- Rs. 500

I had a humble birthday lunch celebration for myself here last year. Park Street Mews menu is similar to Cafe Che's but has a more extensive dinner options of steaks and seafood. The tortilla wrap option I chose was simple, perhaps even out of this world combination of shrimps and mango but it tasted fine though I would love the shrimps to be bigger in size and juicier and the tortilla wrap thinner.

Tiramisu ice parfait- Rs. 340

Since it was my birthday and I usually skip desserts especially when dining alone, I decided a birthday cake/ dessert would be appropriate. I love tiramisu (the authentic ones with mascarpone cheese, rum/ brandy/ coffee soaked layers of biscuits and cocoa powder dusting- yums) but the ice parfait option didn't quite cut it. Perhaps I should known better that coffee flavour ice cream is NOT tiramisu.

Oh well, Happy Birthday to me last year and the Year of Rabbit beckons.... My Year, My Way!

Also read:
Cafe Che at Stratford Avenue
The Commons Coffeehouse at Flower Road

Park Street Mews
50/1, Park Street,
Colombo 02,
Sri Lanka.
Business hours: Mon - Fri : 8am - 11pm, Sat - Sun : 8am - Midnight
Delivery service is available: 486 9000
Website: www.parkstreetmewsrestaurant.com

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

Coco Veranda, Colombo

2011-01-15T20:27:00.006+08:00

32 Ward Place; Order & pay; Menu board; Cakes cabinet

I'm always on a lookout for places to chill, have my lunch, do a bit of web surfing and basically spend my weekend afternoons. I found Coco Veranda on the god's greatest gift to mankind: the internet and ~~Godgle~~, oops I mean Google.

Virgin Chocolate Frappe- Rs. 340 + 80 for whipped cream; BFB Beef Burger- Rs. 700; Teriyaki Chicken Ciabatta- Rs. 420

Coco Veranda is said to be the local coffee place alternative to the likes of Coffeebean and Barista. Much to my dismay there is no Starbucks in Sri Lanka, not because I love the coffee so much but it gives me a comfort feeling that there are things that I can associate back home just like how spotting a McD is in a foreign land (yes I know Starbucks and McD are not Malaysian brands)

May I digress a little.

I have never loudly proclaim to be a fan of homegrown/ Made in Malaysia products but when you're away from the country, the slightest sight of a Malaysian brand or product or even spotting descriptions at the back of the cornflakes box in Bahasa Malaysia is enough to put a smile on my face (Knowing that hey I can read and understand the descriptions!)

At the 'veranda'; Virgin Vanilla Frappe- Rs. 340; Coco Veranda's version of the Starbucks lady; Peach Crush- Rs. 410

Back to Coco Veranda, it's located at Ward Place which I understand is an area to want to be seen and is mostly populated by expats and the rich... though so far I've never seen much foreigners in this area, but I have noticed that people who patrons Coco Veranda are usually the English speaking, young and modern Sri Lankans. It is a nice place to have a meet up with friends over a piece of cake and a cup of coffee.

Death by Chocolate- Rs. 390; Hazelnut Rocher- Rs. 380

The food is nothing spectacular to shout about, you get the usual sandwiches and burgers and a little selection of pasta while the beverages usually dominates the menu with an array of juices, frappe, ice blended, hot tea and coffee. I like the Virgin Chocolate Frappe but was disappointed with the Vanilla version and the Peach Crush was refreshing but really expensive! As for the cakes, though Death by Chocolate came highly recommended from the internet and Foursquare tips, I thought the Hazelnut Rocher was the better of the two as it feels like eating a melt down big piece of Ferrero Rocher. The burger and sandwich was ok.

I wouldn't mind returning again for a 3rd visit, especially when it has free wifi :-) 32 Ward Place also houses a few boutiques.

Coco Veranda
32 Ward Place,
Colombo 7,
Sri Lanka.

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

The Commons Coffeehouse, Colombo

2011-01-09T18:23:00.006+08:00

The Commons

There is something common about The Commons with Cafe Che. It's another cafe concept from the Harpo's Group and it's all about providing a common place for people to chill, eat and meet up.

Bottom L-R: Rotti with Devilled Crab Meat- Rs. 265, Mandarin Juice- Rs. 295, Rotti with Brownie and Chocolate Sauce- Rs. 235, Mandarin Frappe in the background- Rs. 285

Coincidentally, this coffeehouse is a walking distance from the place I am staying put. I've been here on 2 occasions on the weekend. I must say I quite like the comfortable and cozy environment where one can choose to sit at the couch areas (great especially if you're with a bigger group) or at the normal tables and chairs area (the only downside is there fit too many tables at one place and can get slightly congested when there's more customers).

The cuisines are not anything extraordinary, you get the usual cafe offerings- sandwiches, wraps, burgers and pasta which are all very modern Western fares. Apart from that, you also get the rotti variety- Rotti: If you're familiar with Malaysian or Singaporean cuisines, it's the same as Roti Canai or Prata. Usually rotti is eaten with sambal or curry but here they offer a slight twist to cater to the non-Sri Lankan customers. There are a variety of savoury and sweet fillings to choose from. I had the Devilled Curry and Brownie with Chocolate Sauce versions. Both taste good and definitely simple but satisfying.

Baked Crab- Rs. 560

On my second visit, I tried the Baked Crab dish which proves to be a combination of crab meat, onions, cous cous and a host of other spices, and cheese baked. It was quite comforting especially eating them with the toasted garlic bread and hot potato wedges.

The beverages are towards the pricier end in my humble opinion, but this is where I get my fix of Mandarin Frappe. There is nothing more satisfying to a meal than having a glass of chilled Mandarin juice or frappe.

Free wifi is also available here. Perhaps my only grudge is that the VAT + Service tax which amounts to 25% of the meal! Expect to spend at least Rs. 800 - 1000 for a decent meal.

Also read:
Cafe Che, Colombo

The Commons
39A, Flower Road,
Colombo 7, Sri Lanka.
Biz hours: Sun - Thu 11am - 10pm, Fri - Sat 11am - Midnight
Delivery available: 4869000
Website: http://www.thecommonscolombo.com/

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

Celebrating NY in Colombo

2011-01-06T23:16:00.002+08:00

Are we at the right place? It was kind of sponsored by an airline, hence the theme

Being away from Dec - Feb means I'll be missing out on all the major celebrations back home: Firstly it was my birthday, Christmas, NY, CNY, Valentine's Day and not including a few major celebrations/ parties at the work place. It's true- there's always parties, major events, and celebrations when you're not around!

And me being socially inactive (I usually choose to hibernate on 31st and sleep through till 1st) thought I'll just be hanging out at my apartment balcony, maybe have a solo toast to the year of rabbit (my year btw), watch some fireworks and snooze through the night. But then my colleague asked if I wanted to join her in the celebration at one of the hotels. It's never polite to say no to hospitality and who knows the Sri Lankans usher in the NY differently, right?

NY party at Inter Continental Hotel Colombo

Well, apparently hotels here tend to organize parties in conjunction with major commercialized celebrations like Christmas and NY, and these parties are done ala your high school prom / annual dinner & dance style. One would need to purchase tickets to get in and boy they are not cheap too! I've heard some of the better hotels were selling their party tix from Rs. 10,000 (RM280-300ish) and usually includes dinner. My colleague got a cheaper deal of Rs. 3,000 (RM80ish) which includes breakfast.

Now I had the same question in my mind as you have: Breakfast?? Doesn't the party starts at night?

Party like it's the last day of the year!

Well, then I found out... the parties usually starts at 8pm and ends about 6am! That's why you have breakfast- can't be partying till 6am without any food, huh? Anyway, I think you get what you paid for. The DJ (claimed to be from Down Under but seemed like a local dude to me) was horrible, the only consolation was the band (coincidentally the same band the company hired for the family day) but after the 12am countdown, they started belting all the Sinhalese songs... there were few other activities and some lucky draw giveaways but you bet I was already yawning. Also, I had in mind that it was going to be a poolside kind of party with fireworks- not staying inside a ballroom!

We left at 4.30am and I would have been happier snoozing my way through NY.

p/s: Another colleague told me this is NOT the way Sri Lankans party. Hmmm, I have no idea but it was definitely an 'enriching' experience!

Unawatuna, Poya Festival and Hikkaduwa

2011-01-04T19:00:00.001+08:00

Unawatuna beach

Unawatuna is one of the many other coastal villages in Sri Lanka located 112km down south from capital Colombo. However, among the other southern coastal areas, Unawatuna and Hikkaduwa are the two more popular locations and here you will find more foreign presence, interestingly many European travelers especially Germans love to come here for vacation. Some of the locals can even speak German!

Unawatuna beach

I talked to one of the restaurant & guesthouse manager and he told me that there are many foreigners especially Europeans who are regular visitors here and even bought lands to build their summer villas! What a life! I also met a German who has since made Sri Lanka and Unawatuna his home and even have a resort & dive center business here.

Poya Parade

During the duration I was here, there was also a Poya Festival, which is a monthly Buddhist festival to celebrate full moon (there is a Poya public holiday every month- so that gives the Sri Lankans an automatic 12 public holidays a year!). There was a Poya parade and it was nice to see one as I doubt I would have the chance to see it in Colombo. During Poya, the people generally abstain from alcohol and all entertainment places are closed.

Hikkaduwa beach

Hikkaduwa is another famous beach, 98km down south from Colombo. Here, you'll find alot of guesthouses, budget inns, and landmark hotels lining the roads. I find the waves considerably strong here while the sea is blue and beautiful. Again, like the beaches in Matara and Unawatuna, there is only a thin fringe of sandy strip and you don't see a sea of beer bellies, beach chairs and umbrellas too! (read: Phuket)

Lunch stop at Refresh Restaurant; Grilled Shark Steak- Rs. 890; Default drink: Ginger Ale!

On my way to Matara and back to Colombo, my driver dropped me at Refresh Restaurant at Hikkaduwa for lunch (suspect that he is paid a commission for it). I know how much most of us fancy and get excited at the thought of dining at the beach side (like the famous Jimbaran Bay in Bali) but here, you'll get to dine in front of the sea and hear the waves pounding at the bay too!

Refresh Restaurant at Hikkaduwa; Hot butter calamari- Rs. 990

I had a shark steak on my first visit and a hot butter calamari on my second visit- am feeling the cholesterol! The food are priced at the lowest of Rs. 800 for mains and can go up to Rs. 2000-ish for seafood like crustaceans.

Although both Unawatuna and Hikkaduwa are considered touristy, I think it is still peaceful and less congested than the Patong @Phuket and Kuta @Bali. At least you won't trip over a beach chair and lost amongst the thousands of beach bummers here.

Also read:
Sri Lanka- Matara

Refresh Restaurant
184, Galle Road,
Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka.

2010 and looking forward

2011-01-01T14:00:00.000+08:00

It is always interesting how we tend to look back in the year that has just passed and realized that there are so many things we could have put a little bit more effort and done better, did differently, or wish never done at all.

2010 has been a fantastic year despite all the comments going around that it's going to be another tough and challenging year (it is but I always believe that after every storm, there is a rainbow). There were times when the year just whizzed by but also slow and dreadful moments, whatever it is "in a blink of an eye" we have already stepped into 2011 and to sum it all up, 2010 was a great year!

Great times indeed!

Well, let's put the year behind in pictures!

> Been to the overcrowded, overrated and definitely oversunburnt Phuket

> Been to Hangzhou & Shanghai

> Could have gotten a super duper trooper epic swarm badge here at the Shanghai World Expo 2010

> Been to Bandung, Indonesia for shopping and just shopping

> Been to the magical Bali and had some best BBQ ribs in the world!

> White water rafting at Sg Padas, Sabah

> Currently posted to Colombo for 3 months, and it has been nothing but an eye opening journey

> Diving was in my 2010 NY Resolution list, got it fulfilled when I was in Unawatuna last week... in fact I failed cos I couldn't cope in the water but at least I've tried, and not lovin' it!

> The only sorrow that 2010 brought was the passing of grandma after months of coma. And I also lost a friend to a road accident.

Moving on to 2011, with years of experience in making empty resolutions, I've come to learn that I should just stick to those that is achievable (by spending a bit of money) and not vague stuff like 'be more hardworking and get more A's' - that is so high school.

So with this blog as my records keeper, my 2011 Travel Resolutions and things to achieve are as below:

> Visit the paradise of Maldives (since I'm gonna be in the region till end Feb '11, might as well make it happen?)

> Bungee jump at the world's tallest jump location- The Macau Tower (233m)

> Visit Cambodia & the breath taking Angkor Wat (which is happening in June- highly likely to achieve this)

> Perhaps revisit Hong Kong or Taiwan for a gastronomic adventure

> Tryout for the Amazing Race Asia Season 5! I know it sounds ambitious but it would certainly be a once-in-a-lifetime experience that money can't buy!

How does your 2011 list looks like?

Baked Crab at Raffle's, Colombo

2010-12-29T23:56:00.006+08:00

Raffles Restaurant; 100 year old building

Continuing on my journey in search of the best of Colombo is Raffle's, a not-so-old restaurant in a very old over 100 years premise. While new restaurants and cafes are booming in the post-war Colombo and choose to be at the more happening and recognizable addresses such as Ward Place or Galle Road, Raffle's is itself nestled within colonial settings and well secluded from the heat and rush of the city. Entering the restaurant, one gets transported back to the old British colonial days.

The interior; Ceasar Salad with Cajun Chicken- Rs. 385

With such colonial setting, one can only expect to have a bar that has that similar feel and environment. The thing with these old and historical establishments is perhaps not the food but the ambiance itself speaks a thousand words.

Personal wine locker; Signature Baked Crab- Rs. 425; French Onion Soup- Rs. 225

I came here with the sole intention of savoring the famous signature Baked Crab. It comes in two serving options, as appetizer or mains with the latter being a bigger crab obviously. I had the appetizer portion instead as I was also having a soup and salad. Judging from the pictures, the salad is nothing spectacular and the soup is just so-so. However, if there was a smell to the word 'baked', you bet I could smelled it when the crab arrived. The smell of baked fresh seafood is so distinct... I had a few bites but it was too salty and was going to give an unpleasant verdict but the waiter volunteered to have the kitchen whip me another one when I gave him the feedback. The second crab was indeed just nice, the smell, the baked taste of fresh crab meat, a tinge of saltiness from the mustard seed.

If there's any way I want to eat my crab, I want it this way without the hassle of using my fingers, pliers and hammer! So, come for the crab and skip the rest.

Raffle's Restaurant
35, Bagatale Road,
Colombo 3, Sri Lanka.
(next to Malaysian High Commission)
Website: www.rafflescolombo.com

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

Matara in pictures, Sri Lanka

2010-12-26T22:44:00.010+08:00

During the weekend (my weekend actually stretches 10 awesome-day long, with weekends, a couple of annual leaves and the Christmas holidays in between), I headed down south from the hustle bustle of the city to the more peaceful and serene seaside of Matara. It is about 3.5 hrs journey by car.

My way, your way or the highway

The distance from Colombo to Matara is only about 140km, much less than KL - Ipoh which only takes about 2.5 hrs. The issue here is the roads, unlike M'sia where all the states are connected by at least 4 lane highways, to get around the country here is through what we call trunk roads back home: 1 lane to and 1 lane back. The driver skills and precision is put to test when overtaking slow vehicles especially lorries, buses and tuk tuks.

Scenic journey

While a journey on the M'sian highways may seem boring (all you see is trees, trees and trees), the scenic journey here makes up for the lengthy car ride. Now, I know most of us get excited at the sight of passing by the seaside, and that's what you get here! Clear blue seas, the locals having a frolicking good time, fishermen hauling up their trade, and the colorful tuk tuks parked at the roadside... just to name a few sights.

Well, less words and enjoy the pictures of Matara- these are some of my favourite shots!

The locals having a splashin' good time at the sea during sunset

This was the view I wake up and sleep to every day

And when sunset takes place

The iconic stilts fishermen of Sri Lanka

Fisherman of Matara

Fishmerman of Matara clad in sarong

A lonely fisherman trying to have some small catches

Nature taking its course

Boys catching fish

Smile for the camera!

Look what we've caught!

I've got some fishes too!

A typical seaside village

********************

I've dedicated a label on 'budget hostels' which aims to provide other budget travelers an honest and pictorial review of the budget accommodation that I've stayed in. I usually book my budget stays through hostelbookers.com or hostelworld.com. Most of the time, it is price vs. comfort, you can't have both on two extremes. What I ultimately look for in a budget accommodation is hygiene, condition of the place, price and location. I'm not too bothered with service criterias or the facilities. I have had a few experiences with budget accommodation when I traveled to Vietnam and China so I didn't hesitate to go budget again in Matara.

Beach Inns surrounding

I had initially wanted to go to Hikkaduwa or Unawatuna but all of the budget hostels in the two towns were fully booked and finally I found Beach Inns in Matara which coincidentally also runs a diving school. There wasn't much reviews on it but it was going on a steal of only USD14 a night, so I did not hesitate further and placed my booking for 4 nights with a 10% deposit (which only equate to about USD5).

Beach Inns; breakfast in the morning; clean bathroom; decent and basic room

Beach Inns is located at the Polhena beach front. Matara itself is less touristy and popular compared to Unawatuna or Hikkaduwa, hence it is generally quiet and serene and a few of the budget holidaymakers that I spoke to told me that is the reason they enjoy their stay at Beach Inns. The rooms are basic and decent, refurbished due to the destruction caused by the tsunami a few years ago, with clean bathroom and an amazing view. The service staff is helpful, courteous and polite and the manager is also a dive instructor who is well traveled, hospitable and speaks good English. Beach Inns also has a working kitchen so there's always food available. Perhaps the only grudge I have is the annoying bugs at night (mosquito net is readily available though)! I think overall, Beach Inns has surpassed my expectations of being not only value for money but also a great place to meet other like-minded travelers and having a taste of the local non-urban culture.

Excel World, Colombo

2010-12-24T16:00:00.005+08:00

Keeping the distance between the elephant & me

I am always delighted to meet people who tells me that they've been to Malaysia or KL. There is an instant connection in the conversation- as though we have done something together and he/she understands what I am talking about. In one of my earlier conversations with one local colleague who is coincidentally a traveling auditor, he mentioned that we have nice theme parks such as Sunway Lagoon.

Unknowingly, I brushed off the comment with an 'Oh really? I think it's just normal..."

Well, that was before I came to know what the standards of a theme park in Sri Lanka is like.

I think the Sri Lankans can sing really well

2 weeks ago, I had the opportunity to see for myself what the local theme park, or rather I would call it an amusement park looks like as the company was organizing the annual family day at Excel World. To manage my expectations, my colleague warned me that it may not be what it is like back home.

Inflatable castles- nothing extraordinary but kids love it!

Excel World is the first and only amusement place in Colombo. Sad to say, it is run down and not properly maintained and perhaps have seen better days. I was told that it is not a culture to have theme park outings amongst the Sri Lankans, perhaps because it won't be cheap and people usually visit Excel World for the food court rather than the entertainment section.

Some of the pictures I took around Excel World and the stuff we did for the family day:

A game of basketball shoots- the traditional way, not the arcade version!

The candy floss man

Adventura- hmmm

Drawing & painting competition going on

I think these are some very good paintings

What rides does your theme park has?

The usual suspects in a theme park- Merry-Go-Round

Myself with few other colleagues

The clown needs to be entertained

Strikes 'Bowling alley'

I think those are Mars bars up for grabsss (I'm sure you know machines like this is a con!)

The arcade is popular amongst the kids- I would too if I was a kid!

Entrance to Snow World... perhaps the only place you'll ever find 'snow' in the whole of Sri Lanka besides the freezer at home

Kids love snow and ice

And last but not least, you know you're in a Sri Lankan theme park when........

... the tellytubbie mascot is skinny!

obviously he doesn't eat much McD compared to the real American tellytubbie!

After a visit here, I definitely feel lucky that our theme parks are of better standards and have higher entertainment value.

Excel World Entertainment Park Colombo
383, Darley Road,
Colombo 2, Sri Lanka.

Café Che, Colombo

2010-12-12T00:33:00.008+08:00

I love discovering new places to eat and it even surprises my colleagues here that I've been able to get around and visit some of the famous places. Well, what can I say... if you give me a web-browsing enabled device, internet access and GOOGLE, I'll be able to find anything and everything!

On my 2nd weekend I visited Café Che, which is one arm of the 5 restaurants/cafes of the Harpo's group founded by Harpo Gooneratne, a former entertainer to now restaurant(s) proprietor. Under the Harpo's Restaurants & Cafes are 5 different f&b concepts- The Bay Leaf which is said to be one of the places to go for Italian, The Commons is a coffee house, The Park Street Mews is a fusion concept, Harpo's Pizza creating a local branding for pizzas, and last but not least the rebellious Café Che.

As the decos and pictures suggest, it's a theme cafe based on the legendary revolutionary and rebellious activist Che Guevera.

Ginger Ale- Rs. 100 (RM3)

Complimentary bread

Soup of the day: Italian Minestrone- Rs. 250 (RM7)

Marinated strips of chicken, lettuce, tomato & mayo wrap- Rs. 350 (RM10)

Chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream and rice chocolate sauce- Rs. 325 (RM9)

The menu comprises the usual sandwiches, salads, soups and pastas but also a selection of Mexican and Cuban favourites and also local cuisines like rotti. The food is pretty straight to the point, nothing pretentious and appropriately portioned.

Café Che is also located along Stratford Avenue neighboring a few antique stores and galleries- Gandhara and Hermitage.

Café Che
60, Stratford Avenue,
Kirulapone, Colombo 6,
Sri Lanka.
Website: http://www.cafechecolombo.com/

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

Barefoot Gallery & Cafe, Colombo

2010-12-11T19:54:00.006+08:00

Barefoot Gallery & Cafe

Coming to my 4th week in the city of Colombo, I realize that this place has its charms but also dull moments. Charms in the form of the cafes & restaurants and strangers you meet on the road or at the dining table (most probably because of the foreign face). Dull kicks in when you're in need of some retail therapy - none to be found, the best mall here barely matches to KL's worst mall. But the retail therapy part, it's ok as I am not here to spend my monies on more clothes... though grocery shopping here is a pain as well (supermarkets are small and variation is limited).

Barefoot fits into the charm part of Colombo.

"Barefoot is full of beautiful handwoven vibrantly colored fabric, toys, bags and household linen. A gallery of contemporary at frangipani gallery cafe. A bookshop and Sri Lankan made artifacts."

Unlike Paradise Road & Gallery Cafe, Barefoot does not allow photography in the gallery though the cafe is ok. Still can't understand the paranoid but anyway I managed to snap one and a very colourful one too! The layout of Barefoot in order from front entrance to the back door:

1. Fabrics and home deco - cotton colourful table runners, mats, napkins, cushion covers, ornaments, silverware, tea, aromatherapy incense etc.
2. Cotton and silk clothes - colourful sarongs, traditional Sri Lankan style clothes
3. Bookshop - Travel, architectural, and also a selection of books from local authors
4. Cotton bags, more ornaments
5. Barefoot cafe

Can you guess what animal is the metal sculpture depicting?

Trojan horse

Barefoot Cafe

The bar- there's something about gray cement bars...

Coke and colours

The menu of Barefoot Cafe is pretty small, just a couple of choices for mains, some light snacks and drinks.

Live jazz on Sundays

If you're a fan of jazz, the cafe is a great place to spend your afternoon as there is a live jazz band and it's pretty good and the location is a favourite amongst foreigners and locals... though my only grouse is that the chairs are not that comfy :(

The colourful backdoor

So if you're in Colombo, don't forget to pay Barefoot a visit!

Barefoot
706, Galle Road,
Colombo 4,
Sri Lanka.
Website: http://www.barefoot.lk/home.htm

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

The Cricket Club Cafe, Colombo

2010-12-06T22:38:00.005+08:00

Aside from the lovely cafes and wonderful beaches, the only thing that irks me is the weather- it has been raining from day 1 until day 16 (today) and it's gonna continue raining... and when it rains, it really rains for hours!

So after I walked out from Gallery Cafe, it started to rain again... I just got in time to hop over to Cricket Club Cafe which is thankfully just across the street to get away from the rain. You should know that by then I would have been stuffed and not planning to have a 2nd round of lunch! But obviously I couldn't get away from the rain, chilling at the cafe and not ordering anything!

Peekaboo!

Cricket Club Cafe is everything and anything about cricket. In a country where cricket is like a religion, the cricketers are the biggest celebrities and a sport that is known to every Sri Lankan (though I am sure you didn't know that the official sport of Sri Lanka is Volleyball), I guess it makes perfect sense that there is a cafe/ bar that is dedicated to this sport.

Signatures of cricketers

The ambience and setting is welcoming... flags, merchandise and memorabilia adorn the walls. The tv is showing cricket matches and I was stuck there for about 2 hours, I guess if a person doesn't know about cricket, it will just take 2 hours of watching these matches to roughly guess what is going on.

Bedi's Brownie with Vanilla Ice Cream- Rs. 280 (RM8)

I had a Bedi's Brownie and it is sinful.... imagine, a chocolate brownie with peanuts, vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce......... hmmmm.

Cafe Latte- Rs. 195 (RM5)

And pairing it with a Cafe Latte, I had wanted to go for the hot choc but reckon that I will be chocolate overdose at the end ;-)

Cricket Club Cafe offers the best place to watch every Sri Lankan's favourite sport- cricket and a great place to dine, and chill.

The Cricket Club Cafe
34, Queens Road,
Colombo 03,
Sri Lanka.
Tel: +94 (0) 11 250 1384
Website: http://thecricketclubcafeceylon.com/cricket_club/home.html

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

The Gallery Café, Colombo

2010-12-05T03:04:00.010+08:00

Paradise Road Galleries

Paradise Road is listed as one of the must-visit places in Colombo. Not to be mistaken as a road name- in fact it is located on Alfred House Road, Paradise Road is a concept design store - studio - gallery - cafe. For those who appreciate arts and quality dining experience, Paradise Road is the place to spend a lovely afternoon.

I'll let pictures do justice.

Champagne Risotto with Broccoli and Mushrooms- Rs.895 (RM25)

Tomato gazpacho- Rs. 495 (RM14); Pan fried pork chops- Rs. 985 (RM27)

Lemon meringue pie- Rs. 575 (RM16); Cinnamon ice cream- Rs. 625 (RM17)

* Prices are exclusive of 10% service charge and 13% VAT

The Gallery Cafe
2, Alfred House Road,
Colombo 3,
Sri Lanka.
Tel: +942582162
Website: www.paradiseroadsl.com/cafe/Introduction.html

[Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. Please don't sue me, I don't have money. Kthxbye.]

Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka

2010-12-01T00:11:00.007+08:00

View inside the tuk tuk

Since arriving in Colombo, I have learnt to do alot of things alone- eat, sleep, watch tv, linger around, etc. And when my first weekend in Colombo came, I thought I will have to find my way around town alone... then I met a Belgian dude at the breakfast table on Saturday morning.

While I will not bore you guys with details on how the opening conversations went, it turns out Nicolas was in Colombo for the weekend and has been here some time back before the ceasefire and seems to know certain places like the back of his hand. The rest of the weekend was history but I got a one day tour guide in exchange for a bottle of coke and a couple of new friends found (which includes one film director-producer, an athlete and a radio presenter).

Mount Lavinia Hotel

Nicolas brought me to Mount Lavinia (I have to constantly tell everyone it is NOT a mountain), if you google 'places to visit in Colombo/ Sri Lanka', you will most likely find Mount Lavinia on the list of places to visit. Just about 15 mins of tuk tuk ride from Galle Road, the landmark of this seaside area is none other than the unmistakable white Mount Lavinia Hotel. Just like Malaysia and other Commonwealth countries, Sri Lanka, or Ceylon was formerly ruled by the British, hence it's not surprising that many buildings still exudes the colonial charm and architectural.

Mount Lavinia Hotel is a must visit

The hotel has its own seaside/ beach but I was warned against any swimming as the sea is pretty wild here, additionally, the beachside is steeper than the usual beaches and it's not exactly the Redang white sandy beaches type.

Mount Lavinia Hotel private beach

Though swimming is not encouraged, sunbathers are more than welcome. Since this is part of the private beach, Mount Lavinia charges a fee for non-hotel guests who would like to utilize their part of the beach. There is also a popular seafood restaurant here called 'Seafood Cove' which is recommended as one of the places to go for seafood!

The Terrace

After a visit to the beach, we headed to The Terrace for a drink, and to absorb all the fresh sea breeze, great view and enjoy the Saturday afternoon. The Terrace is a wonderful place to chill out, pool on the left and the sea just right in front of you! Cloudy blue skies thrown in for free if you're lucky too.

Lion Beer- doesn't that look like Lion King??

From my observation, the locals here predominantly love their Cokes. Here, Coke is still sold and served in the classic ol' skool glass bottles. For the foreigners, beer is always the first choice especially if it's cheaper than your own country! The 2 most popular local brews are Lion Beer and Three Coins. A big bottle like this usually cost about Rs. 400 -450 (less than RM15) in a hotel/ club/ high-end environment but I am sure it will cost only 3/4 of the price in convenience shops.

Hello- meet my new friend, Nicolas

The one day tour ended with a visit to the Colombo Swimming Club (CSC) located at Galle Road, one of the most happening streets in Colombo. The CSC also functions as a hotel and I was privileged enough to be taken on a tour to the rooms. I was told that they're as cheap as USD60/night but the rooms are fantastic especially if you love the wood furnitures from the colonial era and a simple view that overlooks the pool, railway tracks and the sea, I know my mom would love it!

Love that uniform!

At night, my colleagues brought me out to dinner and night spot visit. But that's another story for another day! Till then, I must say I'm loving it here and wish to paint a better picture of Sri Lanka to everyone back home reading this that though it's a road less traveled, it's certainly one that is WORTH traveling ;-)

Cheers.

* Updates on food (on my 3rd visit):

P.R.S. - Rs. 750 (RM21)
Crispy fried prawns dressed in creamy curry sauce

Mt. Lavinia Crab Cakes- Rs. 850 (RM23)
Spicy lump crab meat with watercress salad & chili mustard sauce

Pork Chop [350 - 400gm] - Rs. 1,700 (RM46)
Mexican spiced double pork chop, finished with chili & tomato salsa

Fried Garupa- Rs. 850 (RM23)
Whole fried garupa stuffed with coconut & avocado rice finished with sweet chili mojo

Whole Young Chicken- Rs. 950 (RM26)
Boneless roasted baby chicken marinated with balsamic, rosemary and garlic over truffle mashed potato & sauteed greens

Food was not too bad, not cheap definitely especially when factoring in another extra 25% worth of taxes, but dining ambiance more than makes up for it in my opinion.

Mount Lavinia Hotel
100, Hotel Road,
Mount Lavinia,
Sri Lanka.
Website: http://www.mountlaviniahotel.com/front/index.php

Hello from COLOMBO!

2010-11-25T20:41:00.004+08:00

World Trade Centre, the Cargills building and tuk tuks

Hi guys, I am currently on a 3-month work secondment to Colombo, Sri Lanka. More updates and insights to this Paradise Isle soon!

Cheers.

Fat Spoon @ Damansara Uptown

2010-11-06T10:59:00.002+08:00

Fried Ulam Rice- RM11.90; Nasi Goreng Kampung

Fat Spoon is another one of the latest offering in D'sara Uptown (it's about 4 mths old now). Besides being notorious for the parking, Uptown is also a food hub in PJ. There are dozens of food outlets out there which I have not tried, but Fat Spoon was one of the few which I have tried from a friend's tipoff that they serve good coffee. These days, either food has be to really really good or the ambience have to be really fantastic to attract people to your outlet... Fat Spoon has the quality of the latter, though the food didn't hit the highest note, it was comforting to say the least.

I love the deco here- old rustic charm, mish & mash, dangling kitchen ware, antique wood cabinets, stained glasses, classic classroom blackboard, chinese teacups... does it sound like your grandma's home? But that's exactly the point! We all want to feel like we are eating at our grandma's home once in a while... it's nostalgic! And it's like being in a scrapbook that came to live!

I had the Fried Ulam Rice and I love it! The fried rice was infused with the flavours of ulam. Ulam is the Malay style of salad usually eaten raw or with sambal belacan, cencaluk, budu or sometimes with rice. While the fried chicken was on the dry side, the flavour was good. It's an excellent value for money lunch meal. My lunch friends enjoyed their meals too...

Fresh Orange Juice- RM7.90; Fat Spoon Hot Choc

Ironically, I didn't have any coffee here but was distracted to have The Fat Spoon Hot Chocolate instead... very rich in cocoa taste. I also had the Fresh Orange Juice which is by far the freshest (so good, I think they squeeze it with hands!) no-added ice or sugar.

The only 'miss' about here is the long waiting time for food to arrive... unless you work nearby, or have all the time in the world for lunch, Fat Spoon is most recommended.

Oh did I mention about Peter & Jane books as menu?

Fat Spoon
73, Jalan SS21/1A,
Damansara Uptown,
Petaling Jaya.
Tel: 03-7728 3323
(same row as Hon Kee Porridge and +Wondermilk)
Check out their Facebook page here

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

Typica Cafe... not your typical cafe

2010-11-02T21:53:00.003+08:00

Know Your Coffee Beans

Do you know that if you smell too much off perfumes (especially after sniffing on so many test samples looking for the scent that best suits you), sniffing coffee bean in between test bottles 'clears up the air', literally. I have always enjoyed coffee, but I am not really a fan of black ones (shamelessly, I quite like the 3-in-1 coffeebags). Usually I will get a latte or caramel machiato from Starbucks on the way to work as I feel a little bit more motivated with a dash of caffeine in my system.

Cream cheese cake- RM10; Aroma Blend- RM16; Local Blend- RM25

Lately, however I have started taking this caffeine beverage a little more serious, though not at the level of buying a nespresso machine yet! I'm beginning to explore the vivid styles of making a cup of coffee, but most often than not, I'd rather leave it to the experts to brew me a good one. Recently we found Typica Cafe at Shaw Parade and while the place is typically small (sorry, there's no room to host a party here) but it appears to be well equiped with tools and coffee experts. I overheard that the proprietor learnt the trade from Taiwan (correct me if I'm wrong?) and she was having some coffee tasting/ discussion with a few others while I eavesdropped.

We tried an Aroma Blend and another local blend, and boy it wasn't cheap! At RM25/cup for the local blend and RM16/cup for the Aroma blend, it could buy me 3 bags of instant coffee! I am no good when it comes to explaining the taste and I suppose, coffee, like whisky and tobacco, taste different to each individual tastebuds. The cheesecake was very nice as it reminded me of what mom used to make too... the speciality of the cake is that it doesn't go through baking, merely refridgerated. I also saw that Typica offers Kopi Luwak, which is the most expensive coffee in the world- at RM180/cup!

Have your coffee and drink it too!

o_O

Typica Cafe
Ground Floor,
Shaw Parade,
Jln Changkat Thambi Dollah,
Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2145 0328

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

Mr. Tom Yam @ Sunway Giza

2010-10-31T23:06:00.004+08:00

Tom Yam Fire Pot- RM19.90

When I first stepped foot at Sunway Giza which was almost about 5 months ago, one of the first food outlets that I tried was Mr. Tom Yam. The signboard was very inviting, with a cartoonish figure of a chef (resembles Mister Potato), white-ish deco and it looks like a fun Thai food concept.

Stir Fried Chicken with Cashew Nuts- RM15; Thai Fish Cake- RM9

Well, anyway I guess we got deceived. One quick glance at the menu, we knew it was another one of those Thai chain restaurants from the same management of Absolute Thai, Thai Nudle, Basil and Flying Chillies. The menu was exactly the same as how I remembered Absolute Thai's was.

Crispy Cat Fish with Mango- RM12; Stir Fried Baby Kailan with Salted Fish- RM14

The Thai Fish Cake which is one my favourite Thai appetizers was a great disappointment as it was soggy and not springy as I would love it and lacks the taste too. The Crispy Cat Fish with Mango was another big disappointment as well as I found the shredded mango too sour and I accidentally ate a cili padi! While we have two big misses here, the rest were just so-so.

There's still much to discover at Sunway Giza, I've already marked Movida as the next place I would like to dine at (besides drinks).

Mr. Tom Yam
Sunway Giza Block D
G08 & G09, No. 2 Jln PJU 5/14,
Kota Damansara, PJ.
Tel: 03-2272 3708

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

Lucky Dessert at Sunway Giza

2010-10-27T21:44:00.005+08:00

Lucky Dessert

Sunway Giza has been the place to be for Friday chillouts, family dineouts or just grocery shopping recently. My initial thought of the place is that it tries to recreate another 'The Curve' but would need some really good tenants to attract people here instead. I think the occupancy rate is slowly but surely improving with more and more food and drinking holes opening up such as the ever packed Movida, Fullhouse, The Beer Factory, Bola Bistro, Overtime, etc. Recently to join in the Giza family would be a dessert house from HK - Lucky Dessert.

A quick Google search on Lucky Dessert tells me that it's one of the 'must-go' dessert shop besides the mass Hui Lau Shan or Honeymoon Dessert. Thriving on the concept of healthy dessert where fruits is the main ingredient, we were told that fruits are sourced as closely as they can get from the same suppliers of the HK outlets, but due to certain import restrictions, sometimes ingredients are locally procured. The menu is extensive, so you'll certainly be spoilt for choice!

Mango Roll - RM12

Don't be fool by the simplicity of the name as this was pretty good and an excellent choice to 'wow' us where first impression does matter especially for desserts! The Mango Roll has real mango chunk enveloped with glutinous rice roll and finished off with grated coconut.

Mango Wrapz - RM10

This was supposed to be a Durian Wrapz but it was changed to mango instead. I don't think anyone is a stranger to this dessert as we've seen it elsewhere but I must commend that the big package packs a punch, mango chuncks and whipped cream... mmmm, need I say more? Just a shame that it's not durian filling.

Trinity Mango Delight - RM11

Still on a mango-mania, we proceeded to the Trinity Mango Delight which is a combo of mango, pamelo and sago (yes, I notice that they rhyme!). Nothing out of the ordinary as this is now widely available in many chinese restaurants too.

Italian Herb Jell-o - RM13

If you're puzzled with the name, so was I. It turns out that the name 'Italian' is after the long strands of herb jelly made to resemble pasta. Great name but didn't match up with the taste as the herb jelly taste was too overpowering, the milky broth was bland and the fruits were just wrong to be there. I would rate this a 'Miss'. More tasting work needed to improve on this one!

Trinity Durian Delight - RM11

Being a durian lover, I love this! It's my favourite dessert for the night. The only difference from the Trinity Mango Delight is instead of mango chunks, this has big chunks of fresh durian flesh. Who knew durian will go so well with pamelo and sago? I was told that the durians are sourced locally as Malaysia is known to have one of the best produce. On the flipside, those who only likes durian mildly will rate this as overpowering.

Durian Krisp - RM15

I'd rate the presentation as excellent to pass off as something you'll get at a fine dining restaurant, but warm durian in a filo pastry? I like my king of fruits to be cold. So, it's a 'Miss' for me on this one too.

Purple Rice - RM8

Last on the list was Purple Rice dessert which is essentially made up of black glutinous rice and corn. While I think my mom will like this kind of dessert, I find it too boring and filling.

Overall, there are some hits and misses, hopefully in due time they will be able to find a balance between presentation, taste and price as I find it a little steep especially if it's just fruit based desserts. Thanks to Suan from Lucky Desserts for the invite.

* This is an invited food review

Lucky Dessert
C-11-G, Sunway Giza,
Jln PJU 5/14, Kota Damansara,
Petaling Jaya.
Tel: 03-6148 3798
(same row as 1977 Chicken Rice)

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

Hyotan Japanese Restaurant

2010-10-23T23:03:00.005+08:00

Sake rack; Smoked Salmon Calpaccio- RM24; Kani Karaage Spiky Roll- RM16, Ocha Pot- RM4

True to the economics basics of demand & supply, there is a particular street in Subang Jaya that is mushrooming with Japanese restaurants due to a large Japanese community presence there. To be honest, I don't remember any Jap companies setup in Subang... so where did all these people come from then?

But I digressed.

Besides the hugely famous and popular Rakuzen (believe it's one of the earliest outlets around), there are a few others side by side on the same street overlooking Subang Jaya Medical Centre. By far, I've visited Rakuzen, Ryu Men Tei, Sumi-Ka and Shun (another street within same vicinity), and adding to the list is Hyotan. The rest are still in the list of Jap places I 'aspire' to visit but reading some reviews on these restaurants already burnt an imaginary hole in my pocket.

Chirashi Sushi Set- RM38

Besides eggs and potato, Japanese food is my comfort food too albeit being an expensive one (most of the time). I love my salmon sashimies and cold soba, sometimes an agadeshi tofu or soft shell crab maki will make my day, but often times diggin' in into some cold raw cuts or sushi pieces is all I need to feel better. At Hyotan, food is not overly great, and prices are not quite affordable (it was about RM100 for this meal incl taxes), but it is better than Ryu Men Tei and definitely doesn't need a pre-book like Rakuzen. You still get a little bit of that Japanese feel but that's just about it. For RM50/head, I think I'll go to Hanazen @ Jaya One instead.

Well, here's one for the spirit of 'never try, never know'. Kanpai!

Hyotan
No.63, Jln SS15/5A,
47500 Subang Jaya.
Tel: 03-5636 0326/ 0328

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

Sumi-Ka Yakitori

2010-10-16T22:36:00.001+08:00

Satumaimo (baked sweet potato)- RM8; Oyakodon (chicken with egg on rice)- RM16

Taking a change from the usual Japanese fare, my sisters and I tried a Jap place that specializes in yakitori instead. It's hidden on the first floor of a row of old shops in SS15, Subang. Easily missable but perhaps that's the beauty of it and why it's called a 'hidden gem'.

From Top Left- Gyutan (beef tongue)- RM6; Nankotu (chicken soft bones)- RM4; Gyuniku miso and Pirikara Gyumiso (beef ribs with hot/ miso sauce)- RM9; Mentaimaki (pork slice with mentai)- RM10; Tukune orosipongu (chicken meatball with orosipongu)- RM4; Kawa (chicken skin)- RM3; Ika (squid)- RM4; Teba (chicken wings)- RM5

There're a variety of yakitories available from the parts that you don't usually eat (soft bones??, beef tongue??) to the more normal grilled skewer items like beef ribs, chicken wings, squids etc. The beef tongue is a recommended item, I like the chicken wings too and the chicken skin never taste this good.

But...
Pricey? Yes.

Restaurant Sumi-Ka
No.19, Jln SS15/4,
47500 Subang Jaya.
Tel: 03-5632 9312

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

Shanghai World Expo 2010 in Pictures

2010-10-02T17:57:00.010+08:00

1. Pavillions @ Expo

The theme of Shanghai World Expo 2010 is based on 'Better City, Better Life'. Therefore, many structures are built based on this theme using environmentally friendly and sustainable materials. The contents of every pavillion is almost similar playing around with the country's culture, attractions and the nation's initiatives moving towards being an eco-friendly country. We bought a 3-day pass at RMB400 (about RM200) and only managed 2 days as the area is far too big for our legs to handle the walking. If you've heard it from others, yes I would like to reaffirm that the QUEUE IS CRAZY, too many people every single nook and cranny! The longest that we bothered to queue was about 1.5 hours to get into Australia Pavillion.

Warning: Loads of pictures ahead with my face.

Malaysia Pavillion (the good side)

Malaysia Pavillion (the bad side- from top L: fake coconut trees and blue background to portray our sandy beaches, virtual golf game that is ROSAK, handbags and traveling luggage, and what has bathroom, bedroom and living room furnitures got to do with our culture and M'sia???)

Singapore Pavillion- nothing extraordinarily fascinating either

China Provinces Pavillion- the landmark of Shanghai World Expo 2010

Chinese Provinces Pavillion- the insides that showcase specialities of each province

Australia Pavillion- do you know the structure is made of rusted metal planks?

Australia Pavillion

Africa Pavillion

Belgium EU Pavillion

UK Pavillion- still one of the bestest looking structure

Spain Pavillion

Serbia Pavillion- love the colours! It's made of plastic blocks

Portugal Pavillion- the structure is made of cork

Polska Pavillion

France Pavillion

Germany Pavillion

Some random pavillion that I can't remember...

Egypt Pavillion- I know whatcha thinking... why isn't it a pyramid structure?

South Korea Pavillion- massive structure and love the colourful Korean words. The queue was crazy, about 5 hours long

Uzbekistan Pavillion

Japan Pavillion- Another crazy queue that's 5 hours long!

Vietnam Pavillion- I like this though, it's entirely made of bamboos!

UAE Pavillion- Another consistently super crazy queue...

Other Pavillions- Pakistan, Israel, Taiwan, HK, Macau, Tunisia, Thailand and Sri Lanka

2. Food @ Expo

These are food from Germany and Belgium's Pavillion (tasty but super expensive!)

3. Other Misc

Engrish and look at the sign showing how long the queue is...

The Shanghai World Expo 2010 is still ongoing until 31st October 2010, so if you don't want to miss this opportunity to experience the massiveness of structures and people, book your tix and make your way to Shanghai before the month ends!

The China experience ends here and coming up it will be a journey to Indonesia. Stay tune!

Of Coffee & All-Day Breakfast @ Departure Lounge

2010-09-29T23:08:00.005+08:00

Bagel Smoked Salmon- RM13.90; Mocha Latte- RM9; Cappuccino- RM8.50

Do you experience days when all you wanna do is laze on the couch, have a breakfast set for lunch, sip on good coffee and daydream? That's what I wanna be doing everyday!

7-item DIMY Breakfast- RM13.90; Fresh OJ- RM7.50; 5-item DIMY Breakfast- RM11.90; Mint Coffee

I have come to know about Departure Lounge since when they started in Aman Suria but never had a chance to give the place a visit as Aman Suria was never in my radar for food places (simply because I am not very familiar with it), but I have a colleague who loves Orange Juice (we call it 'OJ') and recommended Departure Lounge as having 'one of the best OJs around town'. I know I have to make a visit sometime soon somehow!

The nearest Departure Lounge would be D'sara Uptown as the outlet in Aman Suria has since closed down. I like Uptown but hate it for the rarity of a legal parking spot. Anyway, back to the OJ, coffee and all day breakfast oh yesss. The Do It My Way (DIMY) Breakfast has 3 options to choose from: 3 items, 5 items, 7 items and has everything from sausages, eggs, mushrooms, bacons, toasts, pancakes and grilled tomato. I also enjoyed the Smoked Salmon Bagel, surprisingly it was my first every bagel and I love the chewy texture and smoked salmon being my favourite salad/ sandwich accompaniment.

Salsa Wrap; Mocha Coffee; Mushroom Sandwich; Tuna Melt

The OJ was fresh but later on I found another cafe that offers better fresher OJ... so fresh it's like 'peeling it yourself'. The coffee is a must try as I learnt from a fellow coffee aficionado that they use 5 Senses coffee beans from Australia which apparently is a name associated to quality coffee beans. Yes, definitely beats having a quick cuppa from 3-in-1! If not for the difficulties of getting parking, I'll be 'parking' myself at Departure Lounge every morning for the great coffee, decent breakfast and cozy ambience.

I'm slowly finding and experiencing the wonders that is coffee. And proud to say I've already tried the most expensive coffee in the world- Kopi Luwak! More about that when I start on my Bali posts. Till then, have your coffee and drink it too ;-)

Departure Lounge
10, Jln SS21/39,
Damansara Utama,
47400 PJ.
Tel: 03- 7725 1682

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

Discovering Shanghai

2010-09-26T19:51:00.006+08:00

Shanghai 'The Must See' View

Believe me that Shanghai has always been in the list of 'Cities I Want to Visit' besides London, NY and Paris. I hope you can imagine the excitement of having that struck off in the checklist, I could... but I guess I'm happy it's now off the list as I did not enjoy the city as much as I thought I would.

1. Shanghai's MUST See

Monument to The People's Hero at The Bund

It's a developed modern city, big cosmopolitan, boasting a 19 million population, tourists flocking from left right middle up and down... but that's about it.

The 'Famous' Bund at night

I do enjoy and am glad to have finally been able to visit The Bund, or known as 'Waitan' in Chinese. It is a stretch of 52 beautiful architectural buildings housing some of the most important agencies such as consulates and banks with a mix of architectural influence and styles such as Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Neo-Classical, Art Deco, Romanesque and Beaux-Arts. Cliched but true that if you've never visited The Bund, then you've never truly been to Shanghai!

2. Shanghai Streets

People everywhere!

If you have Anthropophobia which translates to 'fear of people', then Shanghai is not the place for you. Why? Above picture explains it all. Before embarking to Shanghai, we were abit afraid that communication will be a big problem as it's a known fact that Shanghainese has a different lingo but we were surprised to find out that there aren't much 'original' Shanghainese around, most service staff are from other parts of China (much less similar like KL, where most KL-ites here are from all over M'sia), so we did scrape through with the language.

Anthropophobic yet?

Shanghai streets are typically flooded with people especially the more famous areas like The Bund stretch and shopping areas (Nanjing Rd).

Nanjing Road

For shopping, Nanjing Rd is the most famous. Here, you'll find big and small brands but honestly- I could walk the whole street but still can't find anything to buy cos it's expensive even after conversion! For a city as big as Shanghai, I could only manage a grey basic tee from MNG. Oh woe is me.

* I was told that counterfeits and fake goods are sold in different areas, Nanjing Rd is for the more upmarket.

3. Shanghai Food

Xiao Long Bao is synonymous to Shanghai as Tom Yum is to Thailand. I had wanted to try the apparently world-famous Nanxiang Xiao Long Bao (believe it made a short entry to M'sia once at The Curve but exited soon after) but we were told by a M'sian friend on a 6-month internship stint in Shanghai not to waste stomach space at Nanxiang, there's a much better one just across the outlet in In Point Mall @ Wu Jiang Lu.

The outlet's called 'Yang's Fried Dumpling' and has an unmistakable pink signboard with long queue. Our friend said he usually gets his lunch here, takeaway of 6 dumplings at a time, cheap, tasty and filling. The skin base is crispy as it is pan fried and has a juicy pork meat filling, similar to xiao long bao, expect to slurp on loads of piping hot broth! At only 5 Yuan (or RM2.50) for 4 pieces of these yummy dumplings, Yang's Fried Dumpling is a MUST TRY.

Having a guide around is really useful as you don't have to waste stomach space for bad food! Before we had Yang's Fried Dumplings, our friend brought us to a round of seafood feasting which comes in trays and eat till you drop. I can't remember where it is exactly but it seems that the whole street offers the same thing. We feasted on mini lobsters, clams, abalone, mussels, grilled meat and more seafood... and it's only apt to finish the feast off with a Tsingtao. It's cheap too!

Cold noodles, wanton soup and streetside lamb satay

Assorted noodles and kebab in mantou

More dumplings and porky noodles

We chanced upon 'Shanghai First Food Store on Nanjing Rd and was really excited about it but I was really disappointed as there wasn't much in the building except a food court, supermarket and some fast food restaurants. So I wouldn't recommend coming here and don't even waste your time.

4. English, anyone?

Cliocoddie haha

No China experience will be complete without some laughs on their English translations. I supposed things have really improved since the Beijing Olympics and now the World Expo, in fact I am really surprised that most signboards on the streets and metro have an English translation to make it easier for us tourists but most eating places only have menus in Chinese, you'll be lucky if there're pictures you can point to while ordering! If not, McD's is always the safest ;-)

Next up....

Stay tune if you want to have a sneak peek of what's inside the M'sian Pavillion and the Shanghai World Expo 2010 ;-)

* awesome photos brought to you by calvingsc

Pao Xiang BKT

2010-09-16T14:57:00.003+08:00

Bak Kut Teh in bowls not claypots- RM9.50 each; Mini fried crullers- RM4; Choy Sum with oyster sauce- RM8.50

For many of us, BKT is a comfort food. Most often than not, when we run out of ideas on what to eat or something that will please everyone (excluding non-Muslims, vegetarians, and non-pork eaters of course) BKT comes into mind.

Good BKT is hard to find. The really good ones are often hidden in the outskirts of Klang or somewhere else unconvenient (my favourite one is at Pandamaran but I haven't been back for a long time since I don't know the way), the mediocre ones are sprawling everywhere but there are also the bad ones with no herbal taste and diluted broth!

In my humble opinion, Pao Xiang is the name to be reckoned with when it comes to BKT at above mediocre taste and convenience. Originated from Tmn Berkeley Klang, the so-called 'Land of BKT' you can find a Pao Xiang outlet in Subang, Pavillion, 1 Utama, Puchong, Centro Mall... etc. Price-wise, it's affordable too if you do not wish to share, as they have set meal options at RM9.90. Ambience wise, the setting is clean and well ventilated, so if you have been eating mediocre BKT and sweating at the same time, perhaps it's time to try Pao Xiang!

Ok, taste-wise... we had a serving of Luan Kuat (soft ribs?), Sum Chan Bah (3 layers meat?) and intestines and managed to lick the bowls clean. The soup is thick and herbalish and comes heated too. The mini fried crullers are a recommended order as well as they taste different than the normal ones used for BKT.

Overall, it was a pleasant visit and I will definitely return if I am craving for this porky cuisine.

Pao Xiang Bak Kut Teh
No. 56, Jln SS15/4,
46500 Subang Jaya.
Tel: 03-56211779

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

A Dummy's Guide to Hang Zhou

2010-09-06T23:02:00.010+08:00

Hang Zhou West Lake

My recent trip to Hang Zhou- Shanghai was a very last minute booking. I had always wanted to pay a visit to the World Expo which Shanghai is hosting this year till 31st October 2010. Got the AA flight booked and accomodation arranged a month before July and the next thing you know, we're off to HZ! My previous only experience with the Chinese (aka 'Tong San' as our politicians would call it) territory was HK and Shenzhen when I was about 7-8 years younger.

Now I've really 'balik Tong San'! (literally meaning "went back to China"... where the M'sian Chinese should belong, if we're not happy with the country, said our circus-politicians).

1. Accomodation

My Inn Hang Zhou (我的客栈)- budget rooms on offer at as low as 99 Yuan (RM50/night)

As we are on a tight budget (especially when this is an unplanned trip! and since we were going to Bandung in August and Bali in September), we opted for a budget hotel- nothing fancy schmanzy, just enough to put our heads to rest and shower. My Inn HZ is a very affordable budget hotel, clean and is quite popular amongst the younger travellers within China itself as besides ourselves and a Korean boy, the rest of the check-in occupants were Chinese. The first 2 nights we got a small room (big enough to accomodate a double bed and some space for luggage and an ensuite bathroom). The final night when we rechecked-in upon returning from Shanghai, we were lucky to get a much bigger room (about 3 times the size of the initial room) for only 99 Yuan. Internet is available at 20 Yuan/day and there is a computer in every room.

My Inn Hang Zhou (我的客栈)
Address: 264, Qiutao Road (opposite of South Long Distance Bus Station or 'Chang Du Qi Che Nan Chang' 长度汽车南站)
Address in Chinese: 杭州市上城区秋涛路264号
http://www.myinn.cn/

2. Getting Around Hang Zhou

Motorized bikes are a norm on the streets, but despite that the air still feels stuffy and polluted

Cars- yes alot. People- yes alot. Bad air- yes alot. Rude cabbies- yes alot.

Just like another other cities outside your own country, the best and most convenient way to get around is by taxi/cab. There are plenty of cabs available and easily spotted (usually in Hyundai Sonata or Volkswagon) and they have a green light flashing 'For Hire' if they are available. Be mindful though that you cannot flag down cabs whereever you want as there are designated taxi stands in some areas. Most cabbies cannot speak English and cannot read road names translated into English (i.e. My Inn Hang Zhou (我的客栈- Wo De Ke Zhao) is situated at Qiutao Road or 秋涛路 in Chinese- you have to tell them in Chinese 'Qiutao Lu'). The cabs do charge by meter but there are some instances where they will charge at their discretion.

Don't be surprised if they start to scold you for not speaking Chinese! I don't think they understand the concept of 'looking like a Chinese but I am a tourist who can't speak your putong hua goddamnit!!' but lucky for us, we can hear/ speak enough to scrape through). Oh and point to note, even in hot scorching summer, the cabs don't turn on their air cond- you'll just have to be patient with hot stuffy air blowing your face.

3. Getting Out of Hang Zhou

Hang Zhou Train Station

The cheapest, fastest and most comfortable way to get to Shanghai from Hang Zhou is by train, or at least this is what every travel website would recommend. It is important that you do a little bit of homework on what travel time, train class, and destination you want to head to before going over to the train station ticket counter to get your tickets. As they have so many people to service to each minute, the attendants will not be too happy if you hog the line by not knowing what you want. Moreover, customer service in China is generally non-existant even if there's obviously someone dedicated to answering enquiries.

Not wanting to compromise on the level of comfort and hygiene, we opted for the most expensive train class at 64 Yuan/way (RM32) to Shanghai. It is recommended to get the Dong Che Zhu (动车组), as it is the fastest, clean and most comfortable, so do lookout for trains that carries the 'D' initials, for i.e. D5668. The journey to Shanghai takes about 1.5 hour and takes off/ arrive very punctually, so remember to be early at your departure gate!

Points to remember:
1. Ask for Hang Zhou Railway Station (Hang Zhou- 杭州). The other railway station in HZ is called Hang Zhou East (杭州东) which is known to be run down and old- so try to avoid arriving here if possible.
2. Ask for Shanghai South Railway Station (Shanghai Nan- 上海南).
3. At Hang Zhou Railway Station, there is a counter window that can be easily differentiated as it has a English signboard that says "Ticket Window". If you cannot speak Chinese, do queue at that counter instead as it is dedicated to tourists.

Hang Zhou Railway Station ( Hang Zhou Hua Che Zhan- 杭州火车站)
Located at Shangcheng District

Shanghai South Railway Station (Shanghai Nan Zhan Hua Che Zhan- 上海南站火车站)
Located at Xuhui District

Train timetable- http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china-trains/hangzhou-schedule.htm

4. Food at Hang Zhou

Local streetside delights- pan fried dumplings and rice noodles

Much to our dismay, food is not as easily to come by in Hang Zhou, perhaps we were a little picky on the level of hygiene at some stalls. Dumplings are a common staple for the Chinese and it's something we would love to give it a try too! Food is generally cheap though.

PTime Dessert: Red Bean Ice with Condensed Milk- oh yums; Mango Dessert; Guilin Gou with fruits and milk

Looks very much like a homecook meal- available at Intime (Yintai) Department Store food court

Hotpot option?

The Chinese love their hotpot or steamboat. So if you're a fan of swishing meat, boiling soup and dipping meatballs into the many types of sauces, then you can try Paradise Hot Pot as it offers decent hotpot and clean establishment.

Paradise Hot Pot
Address: 501, Qingtai Road
Address in Chinese: 清泰街501号

Mini lobsters; Steamed prawns; Fish and toufoo soup

Steamed scallops; Grilled lamb in skewers; Octopus; Bamboo clams

This is a seafood dinner place that we stumbled upon by chance while taking a walk near the hotel. It is known as Jinjiang Seafood Street and as the name suggests, one whole street dedicated to pick-your-own seafood. While we are not sure which shop offers the best deal, there just seems to be equal distribution of diners for all the shops. Food is good and cheap here, so remember to put this in your list if you're looking for something local.

Jinjiang Seafood Street (近江海鲜美食街)
Address: Jinjiang Street (next to Jinjiang Trust Mart)
Address in Chinese: 近江路 (近江好又多超市旁边)

5. Shopping at Hang Zhou

For grocery or convenience:

Trust Mart (similar to Wal-Mart)
1-3 Fengqi Road (凤起路1-3号)
1, Jinjiang Street (近江路1号)
Huang Long Sports Centre, 138 Shuguang Road (曙光路138号黄龙体育中心)

For shopping:

Intime (Yintai) Department Store
530, Yan'an Road (延安路530号)

Hang Zhou Department Store Mansion
260, Yan'an Road (延安路260号)

Hang Zhou Tower Shopping Center 杭州大厦购物中心
1, Wulin Square (武林广场1号 )

6. Hang Zhou Scenery

Hang Zhou Night scene and the famous West Lake

Hang Zhou is famous for the West Lake (西湖 Xī Hú) and have been immortalized in many poets', painters', artists' works. It is best to come at night when the city lights are up and the dark background exudes more feelings than a bright sunny day. See the famous pagoda across the lake and the one that I love most is the lighted hills at the background of the lotus lake. It's quite nice to take a walk after dinner here and you will see that even the locals love it here.

Point to remember: Do your research on where you want to visit. If you can't speak Chinese, it's best to print along travel cards with the Chinese name of the place so that the cab driver knows where you want to go.

Next up....

* awesome photos from calvingsc

Nero Fico @ Damansara Heights

2010-09-03T23:46:00.003+08:00

Insalata di Cesare Romaine- RM30

Mention Italian and instantly the Nero Group of Restaurants will be in mind. About a month back, I unexpectedly paid a visit to Nero Fico, an Italian restaurant brought to you by the very same people that brings Nero Vivo and Nero Teca to the dining scene in KL.

For appetizers (I'm not a fan of raw greens but I could tolerate with Ceasar salad), we had the Ceasar Salad- which is quite a common thing in every Western menu. Nero Fico's version has the usual fresh crispy Romaine lettuce tossed in Cesar dressing, topped with anchovies, parmesan flakes, poached egg and beef bacon in cube blocks. I'd rather the more simple bacon streaks or bits that doesn't require much of jaw exercise, really... & yes, RM30 is too expensive for a plate of raw fiber.

Veal Scaloppine alla Valdostana- RM68

The menu is small, there were only about 7 types of poultry mains and I didn't want to go for pastas, so I opted for the veal chop. 'Veals' are meat of young cattles and is known to have tender texture. I went for my usual 'Medium' and was quite pleased with the outcome- pinkish and juicy meat. The veal chop came with turkey ham and fontina cheese (not for the lactose intolerant as the cheesy taste is strong) and served with rosemary sauce and roasted potatoes.

Homemade Ravioli- RM26; Pizza Valtellina- RM30

The Homemade Ravioli is stuffed with crab meat and supposingly served with some kind of mushroom truffle sauce but it was too bitter for consumption and we had it sent back to the kitchen. Not sure if the chef re-cook it or tweaked the sauce, but the second serving was alot better.

We love the parma ham pizza from Il Padrino and tried our luck on the Pizza Valtellina hoping it'll be something similar. The Nero Fico's version uses bresaola instead of parma ham. Bresaola is air-drief salted beef, named after the originating place Valtellina (a valley in the alps of Northern Italy) and is thicker in nature compared to paper thin parma. Essentially, the Pizza Valtellina has tomato, mozarella, bresaola, rocket salad and parmesan. This would be a better deal compared to the equally expensive Ceasar Salad.

Nero Fico has great ambience, dim lights, dark layout, candles and smell of wine with live band later in the evening as well. Just like any fine Italian places in KL, this will set you back a couple of hundreds for a fine wine & dine evening where ang moh is ready at your service instead ;-)

Nero Fico
Lot G-01 Ground Floor,
Wisma Perintis,
47, Jalan Dungun,
Damansara Heights 50490 KL.
Tel: 03-2089 5312

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

Be LOHAS Cafe

2010-08-30T22:49:00.002+08:00

Bamboo charcoal dried noodle- RM9.90; Cantonese style yee mee- RM9.90 (ala carte) / RM13.90 (set meal)

Amidst all the meat and sinful food that I enjoy indulging in, sometimes eating healthily can be a good option too. A fellow colleague had her farewell today and was not feeling too well, hence we decided to go for an organic vegetarian lunch. Moreover, you know how heavy and sinful lunches make you want to fall asleep at work (i.e. especially after a session of heavenly char siew....).

Be LOHAS Cafe may be a quirky name but it is actually a very meaningful acronym- Lifestyle Of Health And Sustainability, which is a recognized term for healthy lifestyle and sustainability of the environment. The term is also translated by the Chinese to mean "Le Huo" or Living Happily. I suppose when you eat healthily, your body automatically feels more energetic, lively and hence you will feel happy too- it's a chain reaction from the things you put into your mouth to emotions.

Nasi lemak- RM8.90 (ala carte) / RM12.90 (set); Purple Beauty Drink- RM4

The menu boasts a variety in terms of ala carte dishes or set meals. If you're in a big group, then you may want to order dishes and share but individuals can also have their fix of noodles or rice dishes in set format which is more value for money as it comes with a vegetable soup (not a drop of oil in sight!) and healthy drink. My fellow colleagues had the Bamboo Charcoal Dried Noodle and Cantonese Yee Mee while I opted for the Nasi Lemak. The charcoal noodles may look frightening but in actuality, the noodles does not taste as funky as it looks. My colleagues commented that both noodles were pretty good, and generous in portion. The Purple Beauty Drink is very wholesome as well- using soya milk and wild rice as ingredients, you can be sure it's bursting with nutrition!

The Nasi Lemak that I had uses wild rice instead of the usual coconut laden white rice and I really like the sambal bawang that accompanies it. Because this is a vegetarian option, hence the 'chicken curry' is actually flour balls. The portion is quite huge too! This is definitely a refreshing change from the usual sinful Village Park Nasi Lemak nearby.

The cafe is actually half of the shop, while the other half is dedicated to retailing organic foodstuff, so if you want to Be LOHAS, come early to avoid disappointment!

Be LOHAS Cafe
37, Jalan SS21/60,
Damansara Uptown,
Petaling Jaya.
Tel: 03-7722 5686

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

Kokopelli Travellers Bistro

2010-08-14T23:40:00.003+08:00

Tomato Soup- RM9.90; French Onion Soup- RM12.90

Fridays are always looked forward to as it means LONGER lunch hours! Or at least nobody's really in the mood to keep track of what time you're back from lunch as everyone's already on a weekend mood ;-) I've recently discovered a lunch place gem which is just nearby my office. However, this place has already been publicized by some of the food blogs out there...

Mousaka- RM20.90; Butter Fish- RM29.90; Lamb Shank- RM32.90; Bangers & Mash- RM22.90

The soups made great starters to warm the soul. I love French Onion soup, so when I saw this on the menu... I knew I had to order this! The only downside of this is I wish it came with just the soup and no bread underneath the cheese as the bread soaks up my soup!! The mains were good nonetheless and the food presentation made us feel it's already yummy even before tasting. I has the Mousaka which is a Mediterranean dish with aubergine, mashed potatoes, minced beef, and baked with egg and cheese = delicious!

Pasta E Funghi- RM20.90; Apple Juice & Orangeale

The fruit juices were fresh and not your average diluted and artificial fruit juices.

Besides great food, the ambience is very cosy and laidback as it sits on a bungalow lot with great service too. The only downside? Parking is a problem- but you can choose to park over at 3Two Square and walk over.

Kokopelli Travellers Bistro
No.6, Jalan Bukit,
Section 11/2, PJ.
Tel: 03-7956 7505

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

The Yogitree @ The Gardens

2010-08-05T21:49:00.002+08:00

Grilled Mediterranean vegetables with superfoods salad with pine nuts, home made pesto & organic beans- RM23; Carbonara with Smoked Salmon- RM27; Panfried Halibut served with red pepper sauce and mixed salad- RM38

Early last month, I was in The Yogitree to celebrate 2 colleagues' birthday. I had previously read about this place before and the concept of 'organic and fresh food'.

Carbonara with bacon, mushrooms & egg- RM22; Spaghetti prawn served with spicy cream sauce- RM28

The food were so-so, nothing that blows my mind off but we were disappointed with the Smoked Salmon Carbonara. The pasta simply didn't make the cut as it was tangled and confused like a plate of over-braised Yee Mee. While I appreciate the lighter option of non-cream carbonara, I wish the kitchen could have put more consistency in the cooking as the same carbonara in Bacon, Mushrooms and Egg were more presentable and palatable.

Mixed mushroom tart with truffle oil- RM14; Chocolate creme brulee- RM12; Birthday cakes

Though the food was nothing great, service was excellent as the serving staff was attentive, observant and thoughtful enough to notice that we were celebrating 2 birthdays- we had a complimentary slice of cake on top of another slice that we ordered earlier.

The Yogitree
Lot F-237B, 1st Flr (Isetan side)
The Gardens, Mid Valley.
Tel: 03-2282 6163
www.yogitree.com

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

The Pink Sage Diner & Pantry @ Solaris Dutamas

2010-07-25T13:04:00.005+08:00

Food for Brunch- Linguini and Meatballs Pasta (RM19); Big Breakfast (RM27.50); Eggs and Spinach Florentine (RM10.50)

A couple of weeks back, we met up with Jen and David and 2 other friends for a lazy Sunday brunch. Jen suggested The Pink Sage Diner & Pantry as it offers All Day Breakfast. Not very familiar with Mont Kiara areas, it took us quite a while to finally locate this place. Solaris Dutamas has quite a cosy setting, still fairly new as the occupancy rate is still low but already booming with few popular dining outlets and Pink Sage is one of them.

Classic Nachos with Guacamole (RM18.50); Greasy Breakfast (RM14.50); Classic Cheeseburger (RM18)

Overall verdict is the food's pretty much on the classic diner menu- cheeseburgers, pasta, salads, breakfast... but the food is nothing to shout about in my humble opinion. Ambience is great for meetups, chit chats or just spending your lazy weekend there. I was especially disappointed as they claimed to have out of stock for smoked salmon which is my favourite when I intended to have the Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon.

Better luck next time, I guess.

The Pink Sage Diner & Pantry
A4-UG-01 Solaris Dutamas,
1, Jalan Dutamas 1,
50480 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 016-205 2023
www.thepinksage.com

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

Good to have left and be back

2010-07-20T00:49:00.003+08:00

Over the last week, I was in.............

Spectacular night lights piercing the sky

Amazing colonial buildings beautifully litted up at dusk

to visit.............

Colorful & carerful

I was also in..................

Breathtaking view

...... and there were ALOT of people.

'People Mountain People Sea'

Write more soon. Cheers for now, it's great to be back!

Pork Noodles @ SS3

2010-07-08T07:41:00.004+08:00

Delicious Pork Noodles- RM4.50 (small), RM5.00 (big)

Lunch affairs these days are always a porky affair due to the lunchgang's mutual love for our short 4-legged friend. Pork noodles, like fish and chips can be as simple and straightforward as the name suggests but most often than not, you'll find yourself having something that wasn't in your mind in the first place.

For i.e. My expectations of Fish & Chips: Battered to golden brown, flaky and piping hot! But some places are misleading when the kitchen comes out with a breadcrumbs coated fish fillet and dares to call it Fish & Chips! Grahhhh... so when it comes to Pork Noodles, I do not expect to see pork balls but real minced pork patties, pork slices, pork lard etc.

While I still think the Pork Noodles in Ipoh is still the best, this one takes the cake for PJ/ KL. I love the generous usage of fried pork lard, making the soup flavourful. I enjoy the minced pork patties and intestines too but usually leaves the liver out.

This place is quite busy especially during lunch hours and parking is horrendous- but it'll be worth it :-)

Restoran Kean Fatt
Lorong SS3/59E,
Petaling Jaya.
(row of shops next to Tmn Bahagia LRT Station, facing main road and residential houses)

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

CTNF: It's a FISHY Cookout!

2010-07-03T23:57:00.004+08:00

Baked Bacon wrapped Salmon with Red Wine Sauce

The Cookout! session is back... This time, ala 'Iron Chef' the main ingredient is fish (no rules on what type of fish). I chose a salmon dish to cook after a spontaneous inspiration watching Asian Food Channel's 'Cook Like a Chef' program. My partner in crime chose the Halibut and we were in for a cookout!

It's a very simple dish with very simple BUT not cheap ingredients. The salmon cut costed me almost RM20 and bacon streaks weren't cheap either... plus, I had to purposely open a bottle of red wine for this. But I must say, it was all worth it :-)

The salmon is wrapped with streaks of bacon and left to bake for 20 mins in 180°c, and the sauce is made up of caramelised shallots, red wine and butter. Sides can be anything but I've decided to go with baby spinach and roasted baby potatoes. You can see how flaky the salmon is and oh how well bacon goes with fish!

Seared Halibut with Lemon Cream Sauce

The Halibut was seared and accompanied with a lemon cream sauce. My partner in crime firstly seared the fish, and then used cream, lemon, butter, grounded black pepper to make a killer lemony creamy sauce. It's quite simple actually- it's all about putting everything together!

What should be the main ingredient for the next cookout?

Delicious Food @ Delicious

2010-07-01T23:04:00.005+08:00

Balsamic Wild Mushroom Salad with Baby Spinach, Feta Cheese and Pine Nuts- RM22.90; Ceasar Salad with Anchovies, Turkey Bacon, Poached Egg and Parmesan (add Chargrilled Chicken) - RM27.80

'Delicious' is such a common adjective to describe delicious food - and perhaps that is all it needs. Shameless to say that I have never had a real proper meal at Delicious despite all the hype, rave and known fact that their food is good. *shy*

But better late than never, as they say! I love their Balsamic Wild Mushroom with Feta Cheese salad. Normally I am not a fan of raw vege but this one just blows my mind off- it was really good. Love the warm mushroom and pine nuts and baby spinach (I hate Rocket though). The Caesar Salad was just so-so and I find the portion too big! Maybe some people eat it as a meal... but definitely not me!

Thai Crabmeat with Aromatic Herbs, Spices and Olive Oil- RM24.90; Smoked Salmon Angelhair tossed in Cream served with Caviar and Parsley- RM27.90

Pastas were good too. We had two types- one that is a little Thai-ish with crabmeat and spicy and the other was Smoked Salmon with cream based. Love all things salmon so that can't go wrong either.

English Fish & Chips served with Homemade Tartare Sauce and Garden Greens- RM29.90

Last but not least, a fish & chips dish. The fish was fresh and piping hot. All's good!

* Updated with desserts-

Melting Pot with Marshmellows- RM8.90; Chocolicious Sundae with Fresh Strawberries- RM14.90; Chocolate Brownie with Chocolate Sauce & Vanilla Ice Cream- RM11.90

p/s: Check out their website. I love it!

Delicious
Lot GF-1, Ground Flr Bangsar Village 2.
Lot G(E)-011 & G-001, Ground Flr Mid Valley.
Lot1.1, Ground Flr Dua Annexe.
Lot G316 Ground Floor 1 Utama.
A-6-01, Ground Flr Marc Residence KL.
www.delicious.com.my

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

La Cocina @ USJ

2010-06-21T21:10:00.000+08:00

Baby Squid in Cream Sauce- RM11.90; Baked Mussels with Cheese Tapas- RM9.90; Caramelised Rich Custard- RM7.50

La Cocina has been in USJ Taipan for ages, but I have never gotten around to pay it a visit until few days ago. It was a pretty quiet Wednesday night at the restaurant. We ordered 2 tapas to try- Baby squid sauteed with shallots, garlic, herbs and cream sauce. The sauce was creamy and compliments the lightly toasted bread well. The mussels were claimed to be from New Zealand and was cooked in tangy spanish sauce and baked with cheese, I could taste something like pesto sauce though.

Negres Paella (2 pax)- RM66

Our main objective was to have the Negres Paella or in simpler description- Spanish rice cooked in black ink squid, large prawns, shrimps, fish fillets, squids, mussels, clams and vegetables. The portion was just right for 2 persons' consumption. It was a different taste of sorts compared to the normal paella. Do not let the blackness scare you as it is quite tasty and the prawns were very fresh too.

We had wanted to order one of their desserts but were told that it was unavailable. To our surprise, the waiter brought to our table a Caramelised Custard (similar to Creme Brulee) and said it was complimentary on the house. Wow, a penny saved from desserts!

We would definitely return to La Cocina for their other tapas. They are also currently having some combo promotion, for i.e. Paella and Tapas combo. Do check it out!

La Cocina
38, USJ 9/5P,
UEP Subang Jaya.
Tel: 03-8023 2395
www.la-cocina.com

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

Bulgogi BBQ House

2010-06-15T20:08:00.000+08:00

Assorted appetizers; Pork & Beef BBQ Set- RM75.90

In the spirit of the Koreans thrashing Greece in their first match of the WC 2010, we decided to support our Asian countrymen by having Korean :) There were few places that came in mind after a google search but we opted for Bulgogi in Kota Damansara instead because I feel I have not explore the area much yet.

Grilled Pork; Seafood Beancurd Stew- RM13.80

We ordered the Pork + Beef BBQ set which comes with corn drink (for acquired taste only, like burnt corn flavoured drink, urgh), rice and soup. The beef was a sirloin strip and we like the tenderness of the meat and the grilled marks too. The pork was okay as well, good that the fatty strips tasted like lean meat after a good grill. The complimentary appetizers were just so-so, Daorae still ranks top for their variety and taste. The Seafood Beancurd Stew was a disappointment as it was not really what we were looking for :/

Bulgogi is managed by a Korean couple and has a very small and cosy feel. Service is good and they serve complimentary fruits and mint candies too :D

Bulgogi BBQ House
12A-G, PJU 5/20B,
The Strand Damansara,
Petaling Jaya.

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

Sanbanto Premium Pork

2010-06-13T20:28:00.004+08:00

Butcher at Work, Do Not Disturb; Meatball Tomato Broth- RM10; Corn Soup (set lunch menu)

Surfin' through food blogs during moments when you're bored is a good way to discovering new places to have lunch the next day. Sanbanto Premium Pork is making waves as another alternative place for a porky affair. The downside however, is that the shop can only house less than 10 tables of 4 each as 1/2 of the shop is a deli and advanced booking may be needed if you want to get a table. Based on an open concept, you could either be watching the open kitchen or the butcher at work.

Pork Belly Salad- RM13; Caesar Salad with Caviar- RM19.80

I was at Sanbanto with my usual lunch kakis who enjoy eating as much as I do and we would always try new places if time permits, thus making lunch time an hour we look forward to. The menu at Sanbanto is just right- not too extensive to have you scratching your head on what to eat. The Pork Belly Salad is a healthy mix of fiber and protein, the Caesar Salad with Caviar proves to be a bit too steep on the price considering those are no Beluga caviar, just Ebiko.

Portobello Mushroom Cheese Burger- RM19.50

I had the Portobello Mushroom Cheese Burger, which fares much better in comparison with the burgers at Cristang. Love the juicy burger patty and melted cheese on top! Even the buttered bun tasted good that I would give up fries space for the bun.

Pork Bolognese Pappardelle Pasta- RM17

My foodie colleague had the Pork Bolognese Pappardelle Pasta. Pappardelle is a type of broad fettuccine pasta. Seeing that she cleaned the plate, I'm guessing it must be good too.

Bacon n Cheese Burger- RM17

The Bacon n Cheese Burger is a Chef's Recommended item. I think it is similar to the Portobello Mushroom Cheese burger without the portobello mushroom of course.

Pork Chop Pasta- RM15.90 (set lunch menu)

The Pork Chop Pasta is part of the set lunch menu (Corn soup + Mains + Drink for RM15.90). My colleague commented that the pork chop was good stuff!

Overall, it was an enjoyable lunch though I would agree it was a pricy lunch affair but well at least there's a pork place to go if you're in need of some pork therapy! ;-p

Sanbanto Premium Pork
32, SS2/63,
Petaling Jaya,
47300 Selangor.
Tel: 03-7876 1728

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

La Suisse @ Bukit Damansara

2010-06-10T20:44:00.003+08:00

Appetizers- Raclette cheese; Garden Salad with bacon; crab bisque sharks fin soup; baked escargots

La Suisse sounds like a really fancy name for a restaurant but in fact is a humble little shop in Bukit Damansara, deco with little and no resemblance to a high class pay through your nose steakhouse but food with flavours that packs a punch!

The Raclette cheese was something new to me- typically heated and scraped to the diner's plate as the name is derived from French, meaning "to scrape". It has a creamy mild taste but too much of this can be a little difficult to stomach! The crab bisque sharks fin soup was something special as well as I didn't expect to see a Chinese delicacy in a Western style soup.

Medium grilled steak; Vege sides

The mains was a big slab of medium grilled sirloin to share. It was really good as the outsides were charred but the insides still tender, juicy and pinkish. Man, what I'd do to have this for dinner!

Desserts- Walnut Parfait; Red Wine Cherries Crepe

These two desserts are the chef's specialty, each with its own distinctive difference as the Walnut Parfait is cold ice cream block with bits of walnut, topped with chocolate and caramel sauce and the match made in heaven combination of strawberries with whipped cream. The crepe, on the other hand is a combination of hot (the cherry sauce) and cold (the vanilla ice cream) drowned in a little bit of red wine flavour.

La Suisse
8, Medan Setia 2,
Bukit Damansara,
50490 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2094 6587

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

Sup Gearbox

2010-06-08T16:53:00.000+08:00

Sup Gearbox- Bull's Bone Marrow Soup

I never really have Malay-style soup before although passing by those Malay tom yum shacks was a routine. Not exactly your usual Sup Ayam or Sup Kambing is this special soup which goes by a very special name too- Sup Gearbox. I know, the Westerners and carmakers will be proud. If I was the inventer of this soup, I would have cut a deal with one of the carmakers to name the soup after them, i.e. Sup Gearbox BMW. Then again, I would probably need to pay royalty for every bowl sold :S

(p/s: I'm in love with Bimmers!)

BBQ Daging

Essentially it's the bone marrow of the bull which resembles the car's gearbox. It is said that a bull's bone marrow will be better as they have more muscles (from working hard at the farm??) than the cow's. Cows are better off be made steak I guess. The soup is rich and flavourful which is actually quite delicious and it goes very well with rice too. The normal way to finish up the soup is to put a straw in the bone marrow and suck it up *slurp*.

I was brought to the famous Sup Gearbox in Kota Bahru which also specializes in BBQ Daging. Pity that I don't really know where this place is but it seems that it's very popular among government officials and have even appeared in Malay dailies.

Sang Har Meen @ PJ

2010-06-06T13:28:00.005+08:00

Sang Har Meen for 10 pax (RM125)

Sang Har Meen is inarguably one of more pricey noodle dish amongst the noodle family due to the usage of Sang Har or Fresh Water Prawns. A Sang Har Meen meal can be a very pricey affair depending on where you can have it and the size of the prawns. Ever since I discovered a place that offers delicious noodles and sizeable fresh prawns, a serving of this scrumptious noodles never looked so affordable and easily accessible before!

Sang Har Meen per portion; Tung Po Pork- RM30

This comes off as a surprise finding as my initial intention was just to gather a group of colleagues for lunch where we wouldn't have to crack heads over transportation issues. There was a new restaurant near our workplace at Section 19, same row as Greenview Restaurant (the other restaurant famous for Sang Har Meen but at cut throat price). It was opened a few months back but business seemed to be lacking and they somehow changed the menu and setting of the restaurant. It now spots a very huge and distinct red 'Sang Har Noodles' signboard so there's no way anyone can't see it!

The Sang Har Meen is very affordable at only RM12.50 per pax as we ordered for a 10 pax portion. The delicious succulent huge prawns and sinfully egg roes is the reason for drooling! We also had a serving of Tung Po Pork which was served with fried mantous and a serving of Claypot Chinese Cabbage with Yam (RM20) which received widespread thumbs up around the table.

Thong Kee Sang Har Meen

Another place which offers Sang Har Meen is Thong Kee, which is a couple of shops away from the famous Seapark Sunrise Duck shop. However, this one comes off slightly expensive compared to Richwell, if I remember clearly is about RM20 per pax.

I read that Greenview's is at about RM28 per pax.

Restaurant Richwell
24G & 26G, Jalan 19/3,
46300 Petaling Jaya.
Tel: 03-7955 5855

Restaurant Thong Kee
33, Jalan 21/12,
46300 Petaling Jaya.
Tel: 03-7874 2444

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

A Wholesome Dinner @ Imbi Palace

2010-05-30T11:56:00.005+08:00

Prawn Salad on Crackers; Honey Glazed Char Siew; Transluscent Century Eggs

I'm a sucker when it comes to free food (of course with certain standards haha) and parasiting over lavish (and unlavish) dinners. Last 2 weekends, my sister Eiling invited me for dinner with her other friends at Imbi Palace.

I love Chinese food, to begin with- regardless whether it's home cooked, 5-star restaurant, or streetside tai chow. The thing with Chinese cuisines is the versatility of the cooking and preparation, the myriad of ingredients and sauces and there are one million and one drinks you can pair your dinner with.

We had quite a few appetizers but the one that really captured my tastebuds was the century egg. Although it looks and seems simple, I think it takes skills to prepared one which has a semi runny yolk that is so creamy. The prawn salad was nothing out of the ordinary but the char siew was pretty good too though Eiling said she has tasted better.

Double Boiled Chicken & Abalone Soup

I'm a HUGE fan of soups, in fact if I were to be on diet, I will go for a liquid soup diet! This Double Boiled Chicken & Abalone Soup fares high on my rating scale. The soup is rich with the natural sweetness of the abalone, scallops, chicken and other herbal ingredients used. Can I have another bowl pleaseeeeeeee??

Cheese Baked Tiger Prawns

Now, on to something more sinful and artery clogging but I love it- the Cheese Baked Tiger Prawns. There were 1/2 a dozen of huge succulent Tiger prawns in the pot covered with mozarella cheeeeeese and baked to perfect golden brown perfection. The prawns were tangy and rich in golden roe, the melted cheese complimented the whole dish perfectly and the golden orangy sauce would have made a great accompaniment to white rice. Such a perfect east meets west dish.

Crispy Fried Frog; Stir Fried Vege with Pork Liver

Still on the sinful note is the Crispy Fried Frog. Now, not everyone is a fan of this amphibian but it just takes one to try it once to instantly fall in love with it. Then imagine this, smooth muscled meat batter fried... This would have been a wonderful snack with a chilled beer. After all the sinful dishes, it's time for the first vege dish to arrive- Stir Fried Kau Choi with Pork Liver.

Porridge Goodness; Abalone and Fried Crullers

Just when you think the dinner is coming to an end, the waitress brought in a big claypot complete with a portable stove. Another pot of treasure awaits and it's a pot of porridge! But this is no ordinary porridge, just look at the amount of ingredients and accompaniments in it to make the broth sweet- crabs, frogs, scallops and abalone. Now, I wouldn't mind getting sick everyday just to have this............

Different glasses for different drinks; Stir Fried Tau Miu; Birds Nest

The second vege arrived and soon the final 'dish' for the night appeared and it was a pot of birds nest- the best possible ending for the night :)

Hermitage; Opus One; Krug; Dom Perignon

We also tried quite a few selection of white, red and champagnes that night and this is what I really mean by "there are one million and one drinks you can pair your dinner with" when it comes to Chinese dining and here are just a few examples.

Cheers to Chinese food!

Imbi Palace
8, Jalan Barat,
Off Jalan Imbi,
55100 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2145 4822

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

CTNF: Cheese Baked Seafood Pasta

2010-05-22T13:50:00.001+08:00

Cheese Baked Seafood Pasta (before going into the oven); Refreshing ice cold lemonade

It's another one of those days when I had nothing to eat at home and decided to whip something up. Took a trip to the supermarket with nothing concrete in mind what I wanted to cook.

Tadah!

Inspired by all things cheesy and baked, this is what I did. Baked the tomato based angel hair pasta with assorted accompaniments in it- salmon, shrimps, french beans, squid, potatoes and melted mozarella. It was pretty filling actually, and complimented by a glass of very refreshing lemonade......... cheers!

Another cheap thrills, no frills meal for the day :)

Salero Negori @ TTDI

2010-05-16T12:47:00.004+08:00

Nasi Padang

I'm usually not an avid fan of Malay-style food but I do take it once in awhile to give a bit of spice to the sometimes routine lunch hours. My colleague recommended Salero Negori for its Nasi Padang. It works something similar like the Economy Rice or Nasi Campur where you choose your picks from the spread and have them served to you later on. Best to go in a group so you can sample a little bit of everything.

We ordered the Ayam Kampung Goreng which comes with those fried bits that everybody loves. There were also some chicken curry, fried fish, sambal brinjal, long beans, and tempe.

Tapai; Sago Milk

For drinks, I had the Jus Apukat (Avocado Juice with Chocolate Syrup) which is my favourite drink when I have my Indon food but unfortunately the avocado that day was too bitter! Another famous Indon drink would be the Teh Botol (also unfortunately not cheap). We tried two desserts- Tapai with Vanilla Ice Cream and Sago Milk. The Tapai (fermented rice) is quite strong on alcohol, for the acquired taste only.

Overall, it was a great lunch but would have been better if the avocado was sweeter :-(

Salero Negori
42, Lorong Rahim Kajai 14,
Taman Tun Dr Ismail,
60000 KL.

* Also available @ Amcorp Mall.

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

Pradi Prada @ Kota Kemuning

2010-05-12T20:07:00.002+08:00

A hearty dinner; Fried Chicken with Kunyit; Fu Yong Omelette; Kedondong Juice

Pradi Prada has been around longer than I had expected it to survive. Back in those days when the Kota Kemuning township was ready, the financial crisis hit and the commercial area became dead. Anyone shops/businesses that opened rarely lasted more than half a year. Those who survived and thrived on were a handful- Pradi Prada was one of them.

Specializing in Penang style Nyonya food, it is a neighbourhood favourite for a casual weekend dine out. The dishes are simple fare, tasted very homely and affordable too. My family dined here a month back and had Fish Head Curry, Assam Prawns, Paku Pakis Belacan, Fu Yong Omelette and Fried Chicken with Kunyit.

Fish Head Curry; Assam Prawns

It was indeed a hearty and satisfying meal followed by a very refreshing Kedondong Juice. The whole bill came to about RM60. There is also a complimentary hot dessert of the day- ours was Sweet Potato tong sui.

Pradi Prada
4, Jalan Anggerik Vanilla Y/31Y,
Kota Kemuning,
Shah Alam.

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

CTNF: Smoked Salmon & Co

2010-05-07T21:44:00.002+08:00

Smoked Salmon & Co; Cookbook inspiration

I have recently found my motivation to cook and it was during a visit to the bookstore that I stumbled upon this enticing mouth watering recipe which was at the 'breakfast' recipe section of this cookbook. I bought it immediately seeing that it wasn't too expensive (oh yes, bought a cookbook just for one recipe) and turned the recipe to a heavier one for dinner!

Smoked Salmon & Co- not really like what's shown in the cookbook

Conveniently, I then made a trip to Cold Storage and bought what I needed. Actually I bought more than what I needed- ha haha, the potatoes, bacon, shrimps and beef sausage were not even in the recipe! Anyway it was a pretty simple but expensive meal- the smoked salmon and smoked beef are expensive.

Taiwan Noodle House @ SS2

2010-05-06T08:22:00.002+08:00

Beef Noodles with Pork Chop- RM5.50

My colleague introduced this eatery place to me awhile back when we were faced with "The Most Difficult Question of All Times"... which is "Where to eat???"

Located next to The Cave Restaurant, which has now closed down and turned into something else, hopefully not another themed restaurant with bad food, I am impressed that this kopitiam lookalike has quite a number of Taiwanese noodles and rice on their menu. My normal item on the menu (actually it is the only thing I've eaten so far ha haha), is the Beef Noodles with Pork Chop.

If you're craving for Taiwanese Noodles or Rice next time when you're in SS2 area, do give this a try!

Taiwan Noodle House
20, Jalan SS2/61,
Petaling Jaya.

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

Avillion Port Dickson

2010-05-03T22:19:00.006+08:00

Breathtaking night scene of lights and water

Nothing beats a good getaway. But how do you define 'good'? To me, 'good' is a combination of wonderful company, relaxing setting and an awesome room to stay. I didn't have to go far for it- I had it all at Avillion, Port Dickson.

The cosy room- Water Chalets

There are a few types of accommodation- Garden Chalets, Water Chalets, Premium Water Chalets and Beach Studios. Then there are Water Villas too- 1 bedroom or 2 bedrooms. I think the cheapest would be the Garden Chalets but Avillion in general caters to the premium segment of holidaymakers.

Open air shower

As with everyone else, my favourite part of the room would be the bathroom. It is spacious and well segmented- an open air shower area (there is an opening on the roof and opening showcasing the sea next to the shower area), a bathtub which I bet nobody uses, a closed area for the 'usual' business and a wash up area. The bathroom is bigger than the sleeping area!

Cochin Pool- For Adults Only

There are 3 types of pool for guests to enjoy- catering to both kids and adults. The Cochin pool is specially dedicated for adults only- perhaps it's deeper and also bigger for morning laps.

Village pool and kids pool

The village pool is for sharing with jacuzzi as well and there's also a kids pool for the kids to have some splashing fun! This area is also popular amongst guests for sunbathing and afternoon cat nap.

Main building that houses everything else

There is also a spa building which I will blog about it later, but for everything else- karaoke, bar, restaurant, souvenir shop, buffet line etc, it is all in this building which lights up perfectly at night. For animal lovers and pet loving kids, there is also a pet farm which is very well maintained with assorted pet animals such as tortoises, rabbits, chickens, peacocks and pigeons to name a few. There is a feeding session daily which kids love it!

I wish everyday is a getaway.

Avillion Port Dickson
3rd Mile, Jalan Pantai,
71000 Port Dickson,
Negeri Sembilan, M'sia.
Tel: 06-647 6688
www.avillionportdickson.com

Cristang 'P for Pork Burgers'

2010-04-30T00:58:00.004+08:00

P2: Pork Patty + Back Bacon- RM19.80

This place was raved and reviewed by many food bloggers out there some time back. So, how could I not pay a visit here when it's so near to my office? Cristang is famous for it's 'P' grade burgers- which I suspect 'P' here means 'PORK'. And who could ever say no to the 3-alphabets lovely animal that has 4 short legs, starts with a 'P' and ends with a 'G' :)

There were a selection of Western, Portugese, and Malaysian food in the menu but we were not easily distracted. "Aim for the 'P'!!", we kept reminding ourselves. So here we are, with the P2, P3 and 'Urban Legend' P7. Actually these grades are reminding me of my ACCA studies- I'm taking the P3 paper now :p

P3: Pork Patty + Minced Pork Chilli Con Carne- RM23.80

Honestly? The burgers came a little disappointing. The pork patties were just so-so. In fact, they came a little bit dry and cold.

P7: 'The Urband Legend' Pork Patty + Minced Pork Petai- RM28.80

Even the P7 did not impress me much. I know it's special with the inclusion of petai but it left me feeling bloated over a burger rather than wanting more. Considering that these gourmet burgers are not cheap and is just 'meh', I guess a revisit won't be too soon. I think I'll go back to my Ramli-s special.

Cristang Restaurant
B-G-19, 8 Avenue,
Pusat Perniagaan Seksyen 8,
Jln Sungai Jernih 8/1,
Petaling Jaya.
Tel: 03-7956 7877

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

CTNF: Mango Mojito

2010-04-25T22:05:00.004+08:00

Mango Mojito- The Weekend Drink of Champions

I just went to The Library the other night (no, it's not the place with books) and was amazed and amused at the same time with the variety of cocktails available on the menu. While I appreciate the myriad of choices and groupings by alphabetical order in the menu, I am not exactly very adventurous when it comes to cocktails. I swear and stick by one & only one cocktail- The Mojito.

Cheers!

Inspired by Bermuda & Onion's Mango Mojito which I read/saw somewhere but hasn't the priviledge to try, I thought I'd give this a go ala home made. I googled some recipes for this and most suggested mango puree. As I was too lazy to set up the blender, I whisk this up myself (arm's abit sore now haha).

Tall clinging glass, mint leaves, lemonade, lemon peel and crushed ice- that's all you need for a refreshing after dinner drink!

* Decided to go non-alco on this, but if you decided to turn this alco, just substitute lemonade with a fruity flavoured alco (i.e. Bacardi Limon or Absolut Mango?) and sugar syrup.

Read here for Nojito.

Sushi Tei @ Tropicana City Mall

2010-04-22T23:04:00.003+08:00

Paper Hotpot; Thinly Sliced Beef; Salmon Sashimies

I am a very simple person- I like Japanese food but if you were to ask me which Jap place is my favourite, I will say it's Sushi Zanmai. It's got a really nice big menu with appetizing pictures, the ambience is nice, food is good and price is affordable. Recently I discovered another Jap outlet that offers the same 'feelings' I have for Sushi Zanmai, spotting similar concepts and even very similar menu- Sushi Tei. I'm not sure if they are both from the same management, though I found out that Sushi Tei originates from our Southern Neighbour and has franchises all over AsiaPac.

Mango Dragon Roll; Seared Salmon Belly Sushi

Sushi Tei is located in Tropicana City Mall and is quite popular especially with the lunch crowd. On my maiden visit, they were running some promotion and I instantly spotted the Salmon Sashimi in the promo menu. If there is anything more happy than having Japanese for me is to have the whole platter of Salmon Sashimies alone. It was pretty cheap too @RM18- 4 types of salmon sashimies with 3 thick cuts each. I had 12 pieces myself in total- BURPPPP! The hotpot was pretty cool too but it takes awhile for the broth to heat up.

On my second visit, I managed to try a few other items but the spotlight were on the Mango Dragon Roll and Seared Salmon Belly Sushi recommended by my dear colleague.

I'm looking forward to have lunch here again.

Sushi Tei
Lot G-16, Ground Floor,
Tropicana City Mall,
Jalan SS20/27, Petaling Jaya.

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

Dowish Seafood Restaurant @ KK

2010-04-15T22:18:00.002+08:00

"Tung Fung Loh"- RM22/kg

Dowish is a 'cute' name for a chinese seafood restaurant. You may question and laugh about the name but once you have tasted the food, Dowish will probably be stuck to your mind.... it's worst when it's alllllllllll the wayyyyyyyyy in Kota Kinabalu and you're here in KL. I was first introduced to Dowish during my last trip to KK with my ex-company, but subsequently was lucky enough to fly back to KK on 2 occassions for work with my currect company and had Dowish on both occassions. This time, I knew I must spread the 'love' to my other friends and I brought them here on our recent visit to The Land Below The Wind.

I was tasked to order- yay for me as I get to order my favourite dishes! The Tung Fung Loh is a must, it's a type of shell fish that needs to use toothpick/little forks to those yummy little buggers out of their shells. Yes, it's somewhat like escargots but this one is just boiled or lightly blanched and served with mustard sauce. It's addictive!

Salted Egg Crabs- RM30/kg; "Pak Cheok Har"- RM30/half kg; Sabah "Shu Chai Choi" Vege- RM12

Of course no seafood feast would be complete without the appearance of our friendly crustacean friends- the crab! While I love 'em done in salted, I equally love it with the salted egg. If I know who is the master behind recipes using salted egg, I would hail him for creating the most perfect combination! The salted egg goes well with anything and everything- pork ribs, prawns, squid and crabs. The "Pak Cheok Har" is also my favourite- big fresh succulent prawns, all freshness and sweetness of the meat still retain by just boiling/steaming (not too sure which method). You can really taste the freshness in every bite.

The Sabah "Shu Chai Choi" vege is another winner in its own category. When I was young, I remember this vege used to be available at the Pasar Besar Ipoh (Ipoh Big Market) and my grandma used to cook this and it was just the best tasting vege everrrrrrr. Then supplies for the vege diminished and I used to think that if this was to come from Sabah, then "Damn, I'll never be able to eat this again!" cos I never thought I'll have the chance to set foot in Sabah. I don't think anyone can understand this feeling I had when I had this for the first time after more than a decade of missing out on this! (I know it sounds a little drama, but really I was estatic) What differs the Shu Chai Choi from the paku-pakis we can get around here is that the former is crunchy, smaller and doesn't have that gooey texture. Best to stir fried with sambal belacan :)

Seeing that I can dedicate the whole paragraph to this vege just shows how much I love this.

Special "Shu Chai Choi" and Salted Fish Fried Meehoon- RM12 and Happy Faces :)

We initially ordered a mantis prawn but it was not available and the ladyboss recommended this special "shu chai choi" and salted fish meehoon. Initially I was a bit skeptical, how good can a meehoon get, seriously? We weren't too impressed when the dish arrived too... it's too fair for a fried meehoon! However, never judge a meehoon by its colour as after our first bite, it was too good to be true! The chef managed to whip up an ordinary noodle to one that is soft, perfect moisture and blends well with the vege and traces of salted fish. I was impressed!

One of my motive to eat at Dowish was also because they have coconut pudding on the menu but I was left disappointed as they didn't have the dessert on the menu that day :( Luckily I managed to satisfy my cravings for it at Kg Nelayan.

We were guessing the bill for the night with some of us guessing RM200 - RM300 but total bill inclusive of rice, tea and braised groundnuts appetizer came at RM127.60 for 4 persons. That's an average of RM32/person- Peng, Leng and Cheng! (Cheap, Nice and Good!)

Dowish Seafood Restaurant
Mile 5, Jalan Bundusan,
Penampang,
88853 Kota Kinabalu,
Sabah.
Tel: 6088 718 387 / 721 387
Fax: 6088 710 387

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

Kampung Nelayan Seafood @ KK

2010-04-11T11:22:00.003+08:00

Kg Nelayan Seafood

Early last month, I participated in a white water rafting activity with my co's sports club and the we flew all the way to Kota Kinabalu for the adrenaline rush (& short getaway). It was a really good deal since the activity was partially subsidized (from the monthly sports club fees deducted from our paycheck- RM4/month for a year's long of fun filled activities!), I remember we only needed to pay RM70 for 2 nights stay at a backpackers hostel, white water rafting package and a sumptuos dinner at Kg Nelayan! Since this was already planned more than half year ago, we got our air tickets at a unreasonably cheap price of RM62/return.

Would be silly not to join, I'd say.

Fried Calamari; Steamed fish, Spinach leaves; Butter Fried Prawns

I suspect Kg Nelayan is one of those dining places where tour agencies bring the tourists for dinner as evidenced by the load of buses there, including ours. Dinner menu was pre-ordered, the last thing anybody wants is to contemplate and dilly-dallying on what to order since we were all starving from the day's traveling (Side note: To get to our water rafting location from KK, we had to travel about 3 hours by bus and another 45 mins of old-school locomotive train and the same amount of traveling back to KK).

The common seafood fare were served- calamari, fish, prawns, vege and I think I missed an egg dish. Quality of food was okay, not too bad for a touristy place. I was told that on certain hours of the day, there is a cultural dance but we missed that. Nevermind, I guess we were too hungry to be interested in anything else but food!

Coconut pudding

Oh my... I never expected to have this here and I am so glad this was part of the menu. I first had this at another seafood restaurant (Dowish- watch out, at the next post!) in KK, introduced by a friend and since been lingering for the great taste! So so good, must try when you're in KK :)

Kampung Nelayan Seafood
Taman Tun Fuad, Bukit Padang,
Luyang, Kota Kinabalu.
Tel: 088-256001
www.kampungnelayan.com

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

Quinn Seremban Beef Noodles

2010-04-07T21:39:00.006+08:00

Traffic Lights- Ice Lemon Tea; Sour Plum; Watermelon

2 weekends ago, I was invited to a colleague's wedding (luckily it's not exactly considered a 'bomb' since it's a Malay kenduri style) in Seremban. My foodie colleague & her boyfriend and I took a drive down to the siew pao famous town, but before that we already did our homework on where to have Seremban Beef Noodles!!!

Beef Noodles Soup

The shop is actually a branch from the famous beef noodles stall at Seremban Central Market. I read that the owner opened 2 branches- one a King, the next one naturally a 'Quinn'. Sometimes can't help to wonder what 'inspire' people to put a certain name to their biz or even name themselves with some really funny names, i.e. Fruit Chan??! Kinky??! Fish Leong??! My hairstylist name is one of the funnier ones I've come across- Wormie. Nice guy but seriously??!!

The shop was packed. On the facade and interior, nothing fancy. What's really amusing though is a few DSLRs spotted on a few tables (including mine teehee)- I told my friends that the owners probably thinks, "Meh... sammore few bloggers today take picha of my noodles. Bleh sien oredi." The wait for food was really long and we even had to wait like 20-30mins for our drinks to arrive! The beef noodles soup was just so-so in my opinion, nothing great to shout about.

Beef Noodles (Dry)

The dry version is a more popular choice. Similar to the one I had in Section 17, the famous Uncle Cheng beef noodles, it has nuts, tripes, tendon, preserved vege, and beef slices. There is also a gooey sauce that seems to give the noodles and its beefy accompaniments some texture. The dry version fares slightly better than the soup counterpart.

Yummy Beefballs

I found the beefballs to be the best. Springy and meaty they were pretty good- I would appreciate if they're bigger size and has those juices coming out as I bite into them as seen in Stephen Chow's really old movie 'God of Crockery'. In total, we paid about RM40+ for 3 bowls of dry and 1 bowl of soup, 1 bowl of beefballs and a few drinks.

As I'm writing this, I'm already craving for beef noodles. Anyone knows if Uncle Cheng is still in same old coffee shop at Section 17?

Quinn Seremban Beef Noodles
108, Jalan Toman 6,
Kemayan Square,
70200 Seremban.

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

Pantai Seafood @ Kg Sg Kayu Ara

2010-04-05T21:16:00.003+08:00

Cheese Baked Japanese Snails- RM1.50/pc; Yin Yang Kailan- RM12

Just like most of you out there, meal times are my favourite time of the day. And I especially love it when someone suggests for a pig out session or food adventures. Recently I found that a friend/colleague who shares the same passion for food as I do (although she doesn't blog like I do but is very supportive of my blog heehee) and lunch was our favouritest time at work!

My friend suggested to try out Pantai Seafood @ Kg Sg Kayu Ara. For those who do not know Kayu Ara area... don't be intimidated by the name, it's actually somewhere tucked in between SS2/Uptown - Bandar Utama area (before BU toll).

My friend ordered a few dishes she read over the net- Cheese baked Japanese snails at RM1.50/pc. I always enjoy having escargots and shellfishes so I like this one as well, but having 1 pc is not enough and not really cheap too, so we rationed at 2 pcs each. The Yin Yang kailan has gained popularity in the recent years that you can find this almost everywhere at every Chinese restaurants. I love both the deep fried leaves part and the crunchy stir fried stems.

Scotland Clams with Garlic- RM138/kg

Well this one, guys, is really a very expensive clam. At RM138/kg these clams were probably rare with crystals and diamonds. It was so expensive that each person was only limited to 1 pc. To be honest, I don't think it's worth that price- would rather spend the same amount of money for a big bowl of lala instead. Oh well, there's always a first time anyway.

Sweet and spicy crabs; Claypot butter cream crabs; Fried mantou- RM3/bun

We ordered 2 styles of crabbies- in sweet and spicy gravy and butter cream. Both styles were nice, the gravy excellent with the mantou/ white rice. The crabs though not very excellent were good nonetheless to complete our seafood meal.

In total, we paid about RM50/head for the 6 of us- the bulk of the bill contributed by the very expensive clams from Scotland.

Pantai Seafood
Jalan Cempaka,
Kg Sg Kayu Ara,
47400 PJ.
Tel: 03-7725 5099

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

Damansara Village @ Imbi

2010-04-04T22:00:00.001+08:00

I was pre-booked by my sister a week ago on a food review and without knowing heads and tails, I just agreed- afterall, who could ever resist an invitation to pig out? On the way to the venue only did I found out it was an invitation by Patrick Teoh (the one and only- who can possibly not know The Voice over the radio) with a bunch of other invited bloggers (KY, Suanie, Fireangel, Kimberlycun, ShaolinTiger, Bangsar Babe, Cumi&Ciki, A Whiff of Lemongrass & few others that I don't really know...) to Damansara Village @ Imbi. The first outlet is in Kayu Ara, the second outlet just opened at Jalan Imbi, KL about 2 months back.

What is different between the Kayu Ara and Imbi outlet is that the former has only al fresco dining but Imbi offers both al fresco and air-conditioned.

Bamboo Clams; Village 'Cho Kai' Organic Chicken- RM49 for half, RM98 for whole

The chicken was the first dish to arrive. It was done in a very traditional and simple style- steamed. Simplicity they say is always best as you can really savour the freshness and smoothness of the meat. According to Patrick, the chicken and duck are rare from their own poultry farm and therefore quality is guaranteed even before they are cooked! The bamboo clams were a nice appetizer dish while waiting for another meat dish- ze duck!

Village Steamed Duck- RM60/kg; Village Special Steamed Clams- RM20

Steamed duck is hard to come by as they are usually roasted (i.e. Peking duck, roasted duck or braised duck, salted lap ngap). Similar to the chicken, steaming allows us to savour the juices and taste the tenderness of the meat. I think my dad would love this very much. Another shellfish after the bamboo clams is the steamed clams which has a generous taste of shaoxing wine, ginger and wolfberries (kei zhi).

Pig's Trotter with Vinegar; Pig Stomach Pepper Soup

Next came the Pig's Trotter with Vinegar. Normally I am not a big fan of this pig dish but this one really blew me away- the gravy was awesome! Darn I wish we had some white rice to go with it. The soup is one of my favourite as well, I love pig stomach and intestines (don't take liver and pork blood though). The soup is normally peppery based to emit the innards smell. Can I have a 2nd bowl of this please?

Salt Baked Crabs- RM48

The crabs were one of my favourite dish as well for the night. Again, simplicity rules the night- salt baked to retain the freshness and taste of the meat. The crustacean were appropriately sized to make sure you have just enough to remember to order this again in your next visit!

Crabbies for flavouring of the soup; Mysterious 'Sashimi'; Snakehead Fish 'Sang Yu'

The fish was our last dish.... for appetizers. The Snakehead fish (sounds scary and gangsta at the same time) was steamed and drenched with soy sauce (my favourite style of cooking fish). The meat is flaky and sweet, best eaten warm but you know what happens with food when bloggers come together for a meal....... ;-)

The Mysterious 'Sashimi' is given this nickname due to the mysterious taste and texture. Patrick gave us a challenge to guess what it is, after a bite, everyone guessed 'geoduck', 'abalone' and 'clam' but we were all wrong. These are actually tofu slices which taste like abalone! I don't know how it they are made to taste like that but this just gives me an idea for my future wedding dinner ha hahaha!

Essential ingredients for the soup

At Damansara Village, a steamboat set cost RM18.80/pax with additional RM12 if you want to change the clear soup to herbal base. Our soup was a herbal based one with loadsa herbs like dong guai, ginger, wolfberries and black fungus.

Steamboat's accompaniments; Mussels & Sliced 'Abalone-taste alike' Tofu

Patrick and Tiger ~~Woods~~ Prawns- RM23 for 300g

There's no steamboat without prawns. Fresh and big prawns makes a good steamboat. This is a good steamboat :)

Steam, steam, steam your boat... gently down the stream... merrily, merrily, merrily life is better than a dream!

Mama MINi Cooper

If all the good food is not enough, Mama Min surprised us with her dream car sculptured from a cake for us all to share the same dream teehee! It was just too cute to be cut and eaten.

The blogger babes & Patrick himself

Thanks for hosting the dinner and entertaining stories, Patrick & Mama Min!

Niamah! (ha haha)

Also read (for now):
Eiling

Damansara Village @ Kayu Ara
No. 1067, Jalan Jenjarum,
Kg Sg Kayu Ara,
Off Jalan SS23/10,
47500 PJ.
Tel: 03-7803 1832
Biz hours: 5.30pm-12.00am (daily)

Damansara Village @ Imbi
32 & 34, Jalan Utara,
Off Jalan Imbi,
55100 KL.
Tel: 03-2141 1678
Biz hours: 5.30pm-3.00am (daily)
www.damansaravillage.blogspot.com

Mama Min Cakes
"Happiness is Homemade"
info@mamamin.com
www.mamamin.com

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

Moussandra Mediteranean & Tapas

2010-04-01T20:45:00.005+08:00

Moussandra... a quaint little Mediteranean restaurant, a hidden gem

Once in a while we crave for different food- and it was one of those days when tapas came to mind. In the hunt for tapas, we found Moussandra on someone else's blog. Moussandra claims to be the oldest Mediteranean and tapas restaurant in KL and is such a tuckaway gem that I would have never found it on my own. The setting is abit of old and rustic with melted candles, canvas paintings and wooden furnitures adorning the space.

The lights are dimmed and candles lit...

Starters & Tapas
Sopa De Calabaza (Pumpkin Soup- RM15), Salchicas Con Mostaza (Grilled Beef Sausage with Mustard Sauce- RM10), Aceitunas Marinadas (Marinated Mixed Olives- RM8), Mejillones Con Almendra (Baked Mussels with Almond and Parmesan- RM20)

There're an array of tapas to choose from- vegetarian, meat, seafood, and assorted mezze. The selections we had were good nonetheless. I didn't take the olives as I am not really an olive-eater unless it's those preserved ones from China (heehee) but my makan partner claimed they were good. Well none for me, more for him then!

Paella Valenciana- RM38
Saffron flavoured rice with seafood, chicken, chicken sausage and vegetables

When it comes to Spanish dining, Paella would normally make it to our table- having had Paella at La Bodega and El Cerdo previously. For those who have not tried paella, cut the fancy schmanzy things out, it's actually Spanish Fried Rice and it's not your typical 'dai chow' RM5 per serving fried rice. If anyone asks what you had for lunch next time, instead of answering 'chau fan' or fried rice, I suggest you say 'Paella'. Damn, doesn't that give you a bit of confidence??? Hehehe :p

Eat and play
Torta De Chocolate (Freshly baked chocolate cake with homemade vanilla ice cream- RM20), a used bottle of Magnum and classic wood game

For desserts, we opted for chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. If you think that was a chocolate waffle, you're so getting yourself into abit of trouble finishing that by yourself! That harmless dessert is capable of filling you to the brim.

Candlelight affair

A good place for dining out where food and service is commendable. Also it's suitable if you're looking for somewhere quiet so that you and your dining friends can make all the noise. The only downside perhaps is if you're not very familiar with KL Plaza, then it may be abit difficult to locate the restaurant.

Moussandra Mediteranean & Tapas
Sub Lot B-8, Ground Floor, KL Plaza,
179, Jalan Bukit Bintang,
55100 KL.
Tel: 03-2144 0775
Biz hours: Mondays - Saturdays, 12-3pm and 6-10pm
www.moussandra.com

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

Phuket Seafood, The Big Buddha and Sunset

2010-03-25T04:59:00.004+08:00

Sunset at Kamala Beach

On the 3rd day of our beachy trip, we decided to do some exploration and rented 2 motorbikes to go about the island. Motorbike rental was about RM30 for whole day usage. It was quite amusing that my travel buddies have no experience in riding motorbikes but they managed to manouvere the machine well (U-turns were the hardest) for one whole day on a foreign land- and we didn't even use the map!

Hilltop view- spectacular!

We managed to travel to a few places such as Karon, Kata, Rawai, Surin and Kamala. Since Patong is the most popular and overcrowded beach, other beaches have a more quiet and serene surrounding with definitely much less beach chairs and umbrellas and also shorter beachside. However, it is not near to get from one beach to the other.

The Big Buddha of Phuket

Our exploration brought us to The Big Buddha which was situated on a hill top, hence it's spottable from far away and with big signs in the vicinity. The Big Buddha is still under construction and yes, it is BIG!

Sunsets and silhouettes

The 1 day motorbike excursion really burnt us- we were too smart not to put any sun block ha haha! The air was humid and the sun was scorching hot coupled with the burning wind... on the last day, we became charcoals but it was a bold and brave experience nonetheless- it was a great experience to see things on a two-wheel instead of four.

Of Tom Yum and cooling Coconut juice

Left to Right: Butter fried prawns, Fried Fish and Stir fried curry pork

Last meal before we bid our beach holiday a farewell....

Food in Phuket is not awesome and not cheap too, with the exception of McD Samurai Pork Burger. I would suggest those who have never been to Phuket not to have high expectations when it comes to food (and 6 packs hot bodies).

Will I return to Phuket? Hmmmm, maybe not.

I'm now excitingly waiting for my next holiday trips- Bandung in August and Bali in September! Meanwhile, I'm still looking out for affordable holidays before August arrives- any recommendation, guys?