Three Meals Of Goodness

2007-10-01T11:16:00.000+08:00

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2007-04-18T01:27:00.000+08:00

I've moved to WordPress.

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http://www.3-meals.com.

DRAGON-i

2007-04-01T08:09:00.000+08:00

Four chinese characters stand proudly on the logo of DRAGON-i.

龍的传人

Being the banana that I am, I can't read what it says ... ok, maybe 2 out of the 4 characters. Anyway, I found out that it reads ... "Long De Chuan Ren" which simply means Descendants of the Dragon. Chinese people often use the term "Descendants of the Dragon" (龍的傳人) as a sign of ethnic identity. As you walk into Dragon-i, you can't help but to wonder if you're walking into an ancient chinese hall (not that I've been to one) or probably into a museum. The many rows of chinese writings on the walls as depicted in the images here probably means a lot but I am just settling at admiring it's beauty (can't read ... again). On the other side, 3 Terracotta warriors stand guarding the entrance walkway to Dragon-i ... perfectly accentuates the ambiance of ancient Chinese culture.

If you are think casually strolling into the restaurant would get you a seat immediately ... dream on! Dragon-i is usually packed to the rim, on most weekends. Utilizing a systematic way for queue management, you register at the reception area and is given a queue slip. You are then shown to the waiting area, consisting of a row of bench ... which probably is already filled with eagerly waiting customers.

As you stare impatiently and unblinkingly at the LED sign, waiting for it to display your queue number ... you can't help but feel your stomach growling. By now, the person sitting next to you would have probably heard your audible tummy grouses ... and gave you the funny look. But you couldn't care less, because you just noticed the LED displayed your queue number. Almost instantly, you stood up ... flashed a "nyeh..nyeh.. I am going in first" look to the person who gave you the funny look earlier ... and walked proudly to your table, led by the waitress.

Finally ... time to enjoy a good lunch! As you flipped through the menu booklet ... you noticed their specialties ... their Xiao Long Bao, La Mian and Szechuan Tan Tan Mian. And also, a handful of other items which looks equally interesting. Of course, I ordered the Xiao Long Pao ... and some other items on the menu but deciding to skip La Mian and Tan Tan Mian.

The first to be served were the Shanghainese Steamed Meat Dumpling, or more widely known as Xiao Long Bao (direct translation : little basket bun). Xiao Long Bao are traditionally steamed in bamboo baskets, hence the name. It is filled with soup and meat, wrapped in jiaozi wrapper (a thinly rolled piece of dough that turns almost translucent after being steamed) which is then sealed by pressing the edges together. Shanghai steamed buns can be recognised by their unique design, as the filled wrapper is gathered up into fine folds at the top, prior to steaming. The soup inside is created by placing some meat gelatin inside the dumpling before steaming. The steam heat melts the gelatin into soup.
Caution : Fresh Xiao Long Baos are very hot; the soup can scald your tongue if you're not careful. Unfortunately, quality declines as it cools down. Picking up Xiao Long Bao can be quite a challenge too ... since the jiaozis are quite thin. If you're not careful, the jiaozis will tear ... and there goes the delicious soup.

Generally, Xiao Long Bao is widely available everywhere but to-date, my vote goes to DRAGON-i for serving the best ones. The servings are naturally well proportionated , and the soup is very well-prepared. But I have to make sure I don't waste any of it when picking it up !!! Hmm ... maybe a straw might help ... to scald my tongue, that is ...

And finally, just add a touch of their Special Chili Oil for flavor and you're in for a treat!

Now, with the Xiao Long Bao aside, time to have some more starters. We will begin the starters course with the Jellyfish. I first learnt to eat Jellyfish in a sushi restaurant. Since then, there's no turning back ... and here I am .. with a wholesome plate of Jelly Fish with Sesame Oil. For a start, it's good to know that Jellyfish toughens if excessively cooked, so it's generally quickly blanched in boiling water for only about 15 seconds. It's customarily shredded and served cold in salads for a crunchy texture. In Dragon-I, the chefs must've put in quite some effort .. for the Jellyfish is both very crunchy and very, very appetizing.

From Jellyfishes, we move on to Eels ... and no, this is not a reality show about exotic seafoo dining. Again, I picked up the love of Eel dishes through my sushi dining experiences. Eels are synonymous with Shanghai cuisine. If not properly cooked, Eels may emit some certain fishy smell. Those who fear the fishy smell will love the Honey Glazed Crispy Eel. Actually, it's so crispy it doesn't even taste like fish. A good dish as snacks or even with your main courses.

After downing some of those good stuff, you may want to also try their fried rice. You will want to have some rice to go with the mouth watering dishes. There's a good variety of fried rice in the menu ... and I ordered 2 different types, to try. Firstly is the Fried Rice with Shrimp and Preserved Vegetable ... something plain and simple, without any meat.

As I mentioned, it's quite plain especially without the presence of meat but goes well with any good dishes. The next one however, caught my taste bud ... it's the Fried Rice with Ham, Prawn and Fish. The ingredient combo must be working very well for I fell in love with it on the first smell. Well, I do admit I can hardly spot any ham and fish ... but the prawns were aplenty. If only it were a little spicy ..I'd go there for lunch and dinner everyday, for a week !

Of course you have to down the rice with some good dishes for a complete meal. What better dish to have than the Special Sauteed Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs ... and trust me on this .. if you're a meat lover ... well then, this is your thing ! Every piece of rib is so well marinated that when it's cooked, the sauces are saturated into the ribs. As you sink your teeth into the ever so tender meat ... and take your first chew ... you will want to enjoy it slowly, for as I mentioned earlier .. the meat is so tender and juicy and the sauce is sweet with a slight taste of saltiness. And when you swallow ... the meat just slides down your throat ...gracefully.

All meat and no vegetable isn't a good idea of a well-balanced diet. To strike balance, we had Stir Fried String Beans with Minced Meat (yes, I know .. more meat) ... and what I love about this course is the crunchiness of the string beans and the minced meat, that adds to taste.

Finally, you mustn't leave the place before having their famous desserts. I ordered 3 different types of desserts to try ... which is the Deep Fried Minced Meat & Sesame Pastry, Deep Fried Durian Pancake and Pomelo Mango Cream Sago. From the list of 3, the ones I'd go back for more would be the Durian Pancake. When you take a bite on the Durian Pancake, you will be surprised to discover that the skin is actually very crunchy and crispy .. and more surprised to find that the durian fillings are actually cold. Another experience to leave you coming back for more. The 2 other desserts however, will need more work. For example, both the Pomelo Mango Cream Sago and the Deep Fried Minced Meat & Sesame Pastry are pretty tasteless.

Here's what I paid for my lunch ...

Jelly Fish with Sesame Oil - RM14.00
Honey-Glazed Crispy Eel - RM16.00
Shanghai Steam Meat Dumpling - RM8.00
Special Sauteed Sweet & Sour Spare Ribs - RM20.00
Fried Rice with Ham, Prawn & Fish - RM16.00
Fried Rice with Shrimp & Preserved Vegetable - RM14.00
Stir-Fried String Bean with Minced Meat - RM14.00
Pomelo Mango Cream Sago - RM12.00
Deep Fried Minced Meat & Sesame Pastry - RM6.00
Deep Fried Durian Pancake - RM12.00

Dragon-i is located in 1 Utama new wing and I am pretty sure getting to 1 Utama shouldn't be any problem for most of you. Here's the exact location.

Dragon-i Restaurant (1U) Sdn Bhd
Lot S313A, 2nd Floor HighStreet,
1 Utama Shopping Mall,
No. 1, Lebuh Utama, Bandar Utama,
47800 Petaling Jaya.
Tel : 03-7725 8822
Fax : 03-7728 6886

Other branches are located at

MidValley Megamall, Cititel Lobby
CentrePoint Bandar Utama, G115, Bandar Utama
Sunway Pyramid, G1.43. Ground Floor
The Curve, Lot 136 & 137
Cheras Leisure Mall, G22-22A, Ground Floor
Penang QueensBay Mall, Lot 2F-77, 78, 79 & 81, 2nd Floor Centre Court
Pavillion KL, Lot 1.13, Level 1

Chocz

2007-03-25T12:37:00.000+08:00

Have you ever seen a chocolate fountain? I've seen one recently, while walking at KLCC shopping mall. Like a fountain, a chocolate fountain is a constant flow of melted chocolate flowing endlessly ... of course without the sprinkles and splashes. I was later told that chocolate, with enough cocoa butter, flows gently over a chocolate fountain for serving fondues.

If you are a chocolate lover or worst ... a chocoholic (chocoholism is a facetious portmanteau of "chocolate" and "alcoholism," referring to an addiction to chocolate. A person who is "addicted" to chocolate is often described as a chocoholic), you can never withstand the sight of a chocolate fountain!!! If you still can't imagine the sight of one ... refer to the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory acted by Johnny Depp ... notice the chocolate river ....

Anyway, I found the chocolate fountain at Chocz Cafe / Boutique on the 3rd level of KLCC. Fascinated by the uniqueness of the establishment, I decided to check it out. From the menu, their tagline says

"Our Chocolate, Our Passion"

A plethora of taste, with an excitingly wide and tempting range of flavours, the pralines from Chocz. are exclusively handcrafted to explore taste, aroma and the infinite creativity in fine European tradition.

Sounds interesting ... words may say it all until you try it, so I decided to order something. Flipping through the menu, I spotted the very first item on the page ... Nectar. From the image on the menu, the set consist an "oil-lamp" looking thingy, some chocolate platlets and milk. I read on and it says ...

Nectar is the epitome of all hot chocolate drinks. An intense and powerful shot of pure indulgence.

Whoaaa.... interesting. It's hot chocolate. Yeah. And I read further ..

"the divine drink, which builds up resistance and fights fatigue. A shot of this precious drink permits a man to walk a whole day without food" - Aztec Emperor Montezuma

Right. No wonder those Aztec fellows didn't survive. I mean, how can you rely on hot chocolate? Actually, I think they did ... they became Spaniards, didn't they? Ok, I shall leave those poor Aztecs alone and focus on Chocz. Anyway ... this Nectar thingy sounded interesting, so I placed an order for it.

My "Nectar" was finally served and for a moment ... I didn't know what to do. Good thing there were instructions in the menu. Imagine that ... you actually need an instructional guide to make this "Nectar" thingy. Anyway, to make this Nectar thingy ... you will need the "lamp pot" ... candles below it .... chocolate chunks and milk.

Now ... the 4 Steps to Chocolate Heaven

Step One
Select the preferred chocolate chunk flavour. There are 3 to choose from ... dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate. I personally prefer the milk chocolate ... the white chocolate is a little too sweet for my tastebud.

Step Two
Add chocolate chunks until desired density is achieved. This is how "thick" you want your beverage to be ....

Step Three
Stir constantly with spoon until smooth. This is to ensure the chocolates are all evenly melted.

Step Four
Sit back and suck the sweet Nectar with "straw". This is a very special straw as it's the very same straw that was used to scoop the chocolate chunks into the pot and stir it.

Finally, tasting the Nectar is an experience. It is rich and creamy ... of course depending on the types and quantity of chocolate chunks. As for my preference, I love the milk chocolate as it's just nice. The dark chocolate would be a little bitter while the white chocolate is a little sweet.

To end the article, here's some more information on chocolate.

Research indicates that chocolate may be effective at preventing persistent coughing. The ingredient theobromine was found to be almost more effective than codeine, the leading cough medicine. The chocolate also appears to soothe and moisten the throat. (not an established fact. Articles available from Wikipedia)

A Little History on Chocolate

The word "chocolate" comes from the Nahuatl language of the Aztecs of Mexico. The word is derived from the Nahuatl word xocolatl, which is a combination of the words, xocolli, meaning "bitter", and atl, which is "water". It is associated with the Mayan god of Fertility. Mexican philologist Ignacio Davila Garibi, proposed that "Spaniards had coined the word by taking the Maya word chocol and then replacing the Maya term for water, haa, with the Aztec one, atl."[verification needed] However, it is more likely that the Aztecs themselves coined the term, having long adopted into the Nahuatl the Mayan word for the "cacao" bean; the Spanish had little contact with the Mayans before Cortés's early reports to the Spanish King of the beverage known as xocolatl.

Contact Details

Chocz

Kiosk K31, Level 3 Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur
50088 Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Tel: 03-2382 0366

Opening Hours: 10am-10pm

Choon Yien Restaurant

2007-03-16T17:41:00.000+08:00

Char siu (Chinese: 叉烧), also known as char sau or Chinese barbecued pork, is a Cantonese cuisine using barbecued pork.

Char siu is usually made with long strips of boneless pork, typically pork shoulder. The distinctive feature of char siu is its coating of seasonings which turn the meat dark red, or occasionally burnt and black during cooking. The seasoning mixture for char siu usually includes sugar or honey, five-spice powder, soy sauce, red food colouring (optional) and sherry or rice wine (optional).

Before you start salivating away, let me introduce a place for you to get some really good char siu. The place mentioned is Choon Yien Restaurant, which is tucked deep in a corner of section 17, PJ ... a place called Happy Mansion. When I first heard about this place, I was like .. is there a place named Happy Mansion in PJ ? Apparently there is ... it's the name of the flats in that area. If you refer to my previous article on 6 to 10 Grill and Food Foundry, that's exactly where Choon Yien is. But worry not, I'll provide the map to go there down below.

A word of caution though ... this is a restaurant ala coffee shop i.e. not air-conditioned and it's pretty much open-aired. But somehow that doesn't stop me from going back there again ... and again ... and again ... and again ..... ok, ok .. I am sure you would've gotten my message by now. Anyway, back to the topic ... Choon Yien do serve very good char siu, if not the best. I never asked the name of the chef (I think he's the chef ... i.e. he's the moustache guy who does all the chopping on the chopping board) but I usually make my orders through James 'Ayam'. First impression of him ... very cocky (he's a little loud) but once you're familiar with him, he's ok.

Everything seemed quite process oriented here ... from the moment you take your seat. James or some other guy would approach you to take your order and usually they would know how much you 'can' eat i.e. the portion of meat served would be just nice.

There really isn'y much option to choose from ... char siu and chicken. And maybe some boiled vegetables.

I think ....

I don't recall any other dishes from there. Anyway ... orders were taken swiftly and your food is served promptly. Hmm... that came out like a tagline eh ... wonder if I can recommend this tagline to them.

Alright, now over to the char siu. Your first experience with it will be memorable....

Everything turns quiet as you grab your fork ... thrust it forward and sink the pointed edge into the meat.
You lift it up ... and move it towards you ... and as it approaches, you can already smell the perfectly barbequed pork. The effort, the passion of a chef in creating this beautiful piece of work ...

And finally, the moment comes when you sink your teeth onto it ... your first time .... feels ... juicy .... tender .... sweet ... and finally just slides down your throat ....

. . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . .

And you're ready to order some more ! Please don't forget about the rice ... it's equally good. The rice and the char siu ... it's like bread and butter ... has to be accompanied.

But before you start making your rush out the door to get there, please allow me to remind you that the precious char siu is very limited. Please go early if you want to get your share of it. Better still, call James 'Ayam' and drop your order with him before going there. Else, you will end up with a plate of chicken and probably some vegetables ... which would be a equally suffice for a simple lunch. Then again, we are not traveling all the way there, braving the heat and traffic to just have a 'simple lunch' ... are we ?

Well ... words are spoken, I let your imagination run wild .... while I present my reviews to you.

Contact Details
Restaurant Choon Yien
Happy Mansions, Jalan 17/13
Section 17, Petaling Jaya

Ratings
OVERALL RATINGs : * * * * (Yes, I am biased when it comes to rating, but I'd give anything for another piece of that char siu ... !!! And I couldn't care less if I have to sweat it out ...)
Environment Ratings : * * (I can't help you much here, James ... the truth is the truth)
Food Ratings : * * * * (Only selective ones are good)
Service Ratings : * * (Inconsistent, I do get different comments)
Value Ratings : * * * (Average pricing for a cuty restaurant)

Operation Details
Average Price : Pay RM10 to be a happier person
Business Hrs : Lunch hours only (please be early). Close on Sundays.
Accepted Cards: Oh come on, you're asking too much !

Miscellaneous Details
Halal : HA HA HA .. you think ?
Dining Method : You can dine anyhow and anywhere ... I doubt they care as long as you pay.
Food/Cuisine : CHAR SIU ..... chicken (who cares) ...vege ....
Ambience/Features : The only luxury would be a shade from the sun.
Reservations : Only for food. Bring collapsible table and chair la .. if no more seats.

Restaurant Capacity
I think I can estimate around 40 pax ?

Here's some recipes on making char siu :

Lily Wai Sek Hong
Recipeland

Izzi Pizza, Pasta & Coffee

2007-03-14T09:02:00.000+08:00

If you drive along Jalan Sultan Ismail, pass Sungai Wang .. you will come across a bright colored three storey building, almost next to Lot 10 shopping mall.

And if you stop your car next to the building, there's usually an guy in blue that'll run towards you. Don't worry, he's not about to mug you ... he's just the parking jockey for Izzi Pizza, Pasta and Coffee restaurant. And guess what ? It's free ... ! Yes, free jockey parking ... I think that scores, man. To have a restaurant along this ever busy street in Jalan Sultan Ismail ... it sure helps. And something else, the joint provides 'free wi-fi' too. I mean, yeah ... everyone does nowadays, but free AirZed .. that's quite cool. I could very very be posting this blog right from the restaurant...

And as you walk into the restaurant, you will probably like their interior decor and design. Simplistic furnishings and especially the bright blue glass ceiling makes the place look modern. As mentioned earlier, the restaurant has 3 floors ... and it comes with an ... elevator ! Gosh ... I mean, these Indonesians sure know how to enjoy life huh. Consisting of three floors, the place can easily accommodate more than 100 patrons. Their design concept is stylish, clean, artistic yet comfortable. The guests can even enjoy a rare view of the restaurant’s pizzaiolos (pizza makers) as they twirl and flip their pizza dough in the air from the show kitchen on the ground floor ... (that's pretty much like our local roti canai fellow)

Pizza or pizza pie is the name of an oven-baked, flat, usually round bread covered with tomato sauce and cheese with other toppings optional. While it is a typical dish of Neapolitan cuisine, it has become an extremely popular dish all over the world.

As mentioned in their tagline "Great Italian & Asian Cuisine", you will be expecting a great range of pizzas, pastas, local delights and even mee goreng !

Pollo Tropicale Pizza was the first order to arrive. Pollo Tropicale comes with smoked chicken, mushroom, red bell pepper, pineapple, garlic oil, dried chilli, mozarella cheese and tomato. That .... is a mouthful ! I am never a fan of pizza but I have to try some ... for sake of you guys, my readers. My first reaction ... it tasted good. I like the thin, crisp crust which is like .. super crunchy. But it does smell a little burnt. But for a non-pizza lover like me, it's got my vote.

After the Italian, it's time to make a comeback ... for oriental taste. It's the ever popular and favourite Mee Goreng (tasted a little like mee goreng mamak though). TO serve a popular dish such as this would require a certain amount of skills. The more popular a dish is .. the harder it is to meet the standards. Izzi prepares them well though ... very large portion and plenty of ingredients. A little squeeze of lime, aa few drops of sambal, and it's a complete meal ! Unfortunately, the chicken chunks were a little hard to swallow .. as it's equally huge ... otherwise ... a favourite.

Izzi offers a range of local delights in their asian menu. There's Ju Hu Char which is stir fried chinese radish, carrots, shitake mushroom with ginger sauce, served with crispy vermicelli and lettuce cup. There's also the local favourite, satay that comes in either chicken or beef meat. Deep fried Calamari with seasoning flour, served with Bangkok sauce and Izzi dressing sauce ... is something you shouldn't miss either. And then there's the Vietnamese Spring Roll ("po piah") which is Spring vegetable wrapped in rice paper, rolled fresh.

Spoilt with so much choices, sometimes it's quite difficult to choose. But comes Asian Platter to save the day .... it's a combination of all the dishes above served in a single platter. It's good, except that the calamari is a little ... salty for my comfort. Others may love it.

Izzi must love food fusion, from the example above. Another one is the Chicken Steak with Pasta. This is favourite in Izzi, noticeable from the thumbs up sign in the menu. It's Grilled Chicken served with mushroom sauce and linguine. I like the smooth linguine and the tender grilled chicken ... but the mushroom sauce tasted a little funny. Maybe I am not a mushroom fan but it tasted a little "slimy" ....

Pasta lovers would looooove the Fettucini con Funghi ... it's topped with olive and sun-dry tomato. The creamy texture ... with some parmesan cheese ... wouldn't it be heavenly ? Let's just say it's ... Creamily Delicious.

From the antipasti list, the Izzi Dough Balls are the perfect choice, especially when you’re starving and can’t wait till the waiter delivers your main course. The eight dough balls arrived freshly from the oven accompanied with garlic butter. The balls tasted a bit yeasty (no pun intended!), but the butter, which instantly melted on the smooth surface of the balls, added a delicious zest of garlic.

And here's what we had and the pricing :

Fettucini Con Funghi - RM15.80
Chicken Steak with Pasta - RM18.80
Pollo Tropicale Pizza (regular) - RM21.80
Asian Platter - RM20.80
Mie Goreng - RM12.80
Cheese Dough Ball - RM5.80
Soft drinks (refillable) - RM5.90
Strawberry Shakes - RM7.80
Peppermint Tea - RM4.80

Here is our usual reviews.

Contact Details
Izzi Pizza, Pasta & Coffee KL
44-2A, Jln Sultan Ismail,
50250 Kuala Lumpur
Tel : 03-21415808

For Delivery and Reservation Call:
Delivery No: 1-300-88-5555
Reservation No: 03-2141 5808
Events/Functions No: 03-2141 4111

Ratings
OVERALL RATINGs : * * * (Generally a nice family place)
Environment Ratings : * * * * (Effortlessly worthwhile)
Food Ratings : * * (Only selective ones are good)
Service Ratings : * * (Inconsistent, I do get different comments)
Value Ratings : * * * (Average pricing for a cuty restaurant)

Operation Details
Average Price : RM20 & above
Business Hrs : Monday - Friday: 11.00 am - 12.00 am, Saturday - Sunday: 11.00 am - 1.00 pm
Accepted Cards: major credit cards accepted

Miscellaneous Details
Halal : Yes
Dining Method : Dine in, take-away and delivery
Food/Cuisine : Italian and Asian, Fusion
Ambience/Features : Modern and cosy
Reservations : Yes

Restaurant Capacity
Restaurant size : 305 m2
120 seats (including bar)
Full bar set up

Yee Sang

2007-02-18T09:56:00.000+08:00

Yusheng or yee sang (Chinese: 鱼生; pinyin: yúshēng) is a Chinese-style raw fish salad. It usually consists of strips of raw fish (most commonly salmon), mixed with shredded vegetables and a variety of sauces and condiments, among other ingredients. Literally translated, "yusheng" means "raw fish", though it can also be taken to symbolise abundance, prosperity and vigor.

The delicacy was invented 1,500 years ago in southern Chinese coastal areas such as Chaozhou and Shantou, during the Song Dynasty. According to legend, a Chinese female deity known as Nüwa (女娲) created mankind from clay and mud on the seventh day of the first month of the Lunar New Year. From then on, this day was known as the "Birthday of Man". It is believed that the fishermen and seafarers of ancient Southern China were very observant of this myth. On this day, yusheng would be prepared in feasts or religious ceremonies, not just to commemorate the event but also to show respect to Nüwa. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, many of these fishermen immigrated to Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia and Singapore in search of a better life. They brought this traditional dish along with them.

In modern times, yusheng is most commonly served in Chaozhou and Shantou. Recently, some Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong have re-introduced this dish, naming it "Lo Hei". The dish is, however, particularly popular in Malaysia and Singapore, where it has come to be associated with the Chinese New Year festivities. It is a custom for families and friends to gather around the table and, on cue, proceeding to toss the shredded ingredients into the air with chopsticks while saying 吉祥话 (Jíxiáng Huà, auspicious wishes) out loud to mark the start of a prosperous new year.

Typical ingredients include: fresh salmon, daikon (white radish), carrot, red pepper (capsicum), ginger, kaffir lime leaves, Chinese parsley, chopped peanuts, toasted sesame seeds, Chinese shrimp crackers (or fried dried shrimp), five spice powder. The dressing is made primarily from plum sauce.

As for the tradition of eating yee sang during Chinese New Year, this is a recently invented “tradition” of the Chinese in Malaysia (and Singapore). Yee sang – a dish of raw fish slices mixed with crunchies and other ingredients plus sauces of various kinds – is not part of New Year cuisine among the Chinese of Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong etc. Part of the attraction or fun of eating yee sang comes from audience participation or participant observation, i.e., all those present at the dinner table, whether young or old or men or women, are supplied with chopsticks and are actively encouraged to indulge in boisterous mixing of the ingredients simultaneously. Thus, a feeling of family togetherness/bonding/affirmation of ties/social solidarity is created at the same time. I suppose one could also say that the kids enjoy this because it allows them the rare chance of playing with their food without being reprimanded for it by adults!

Marco's Pizza

2007-02-01T17:35:00.000+08:00

Marco's Pizza.

The restaurant is vibrantly surrounded by bright red walls, tables and of course ... how can you miss the metallic red bar stools. With mirrors covering the walls of the restaurant ... one might take a look from outside and thinks this is a huge place. But once you're in there, you can't shake off the feeling of a cosy family restaurant. Very much like the feeling you had when you visited Burger King for the first time. A little "fireplace" adds to the uniqueness of the place.

The Marco Polo theme was chosen because of the idea that “what is noodles in the east was brought to the west and called pasta”, and Marco’s has brought back pasta from the west to the east. Marcus Kam is the owner of Marco Pizza chain of restaurants as well as the president and CEO of the Kam Holdings group of companies that ranges from Pathlab and a medical centre to MGM Entertainment Sdn Bhd that runs Marco’s and a Chinese restaurant called King Crab, along the LDP highway in Taman Bukit Emas. He studied in Australia and has deep passion for cooking, mainly in French and Italian food. Much of what’s on the menu has been done according to his recipes, under his supervision. He is strict about quality control. He has even brought his chefs to Melbourne, Australia, to hone their skills further in Italian cooking.

Contact Details
MARCO'S PIZZA
8, Jalan 52/4,
46200 Petaling Jaya
Tel : 03-79548323
MGM Entertainment Sdn Bhd.

Ratings
OVERALL RATINGs : * * * (Good food, but weighed down by lousy service)
Environment Ratings : * * * * (High score for nature 'feel')
Food Ratings : * * * * (Surprisingly good)
Service Ratings : * (Poor fellows working in the jungle, no motivation?)
Value Ratings : * * (Quite pricey)

Operation Details
Average Price : RM30 & above
Business Hrs :
Accepted Cards: major credit cards accepted

Miscellaneous Details
Halal : Yes
Dining Method : Dine in - who would wanna go all the way to Bukit Tinggi to 'tar pau' ?
Food/Cuisine : Japanese a la carte and set
Ambience/Features : Japanese setup wannabe with nature surround
Reservations : No

Ryo Zan Tei in Berjaya Hills

2007-01-28T19:33:00.000+08:00

Berjaya Hills (formerly known as Bukit Tinggi Resort) is just 40 minutes' drive from Kuala Lumpur and 10km off the East-West Karak Highway. Berjaya Hills covers 16,000 acres of rugged hills and mountains crowned with lush tropical rainforests.

Stepping through a rustic gateway and a winding Japanese footpath leads you through a beautiful garden to a waterfall, over a bridge spanning a Koi pond and up to a Japanese Tea House. Further down the path, you will come across Ryo Zan Tei Japanese Restaurant. At 2,700 - 3,500 feet above sea level, the air is cool, fresh and rejuvenating. The only Japanese restaurant in Malaysia that is located in the midst of a tropical rainforest high up in the hills of the Main Range.

My last visit to Berjaya Hills was on New Years Eve and not surprisingly, the place was crowded. As we hiked along the Japanese Garden, we arrived at Ryo Zan Tei slightly early and the place was pretty quiet. But within 30 minutes, which is around lunch time .. the place was already swarmed with people.

We placed our orders and waited patiently for our food to arrive although the tummy is already growling. But sitting there in the restaurant that is surrounded by the cool jungle really makes your feel peaceful and relaxing. Sounds of chirping bird and buzzing insects adds to the natural 'feel'.

Tori Teriyaki Set (RM30.00)

Finally our food arrived, the first being the Tori Teriyaki Set which is Grill Chicken with sauce. The set comes with Miso Soup, pickles, salad and Chawan Mushi (Steamed Egg Custard). The tender pieces of chicken cooked with teriyaki sauce was pretty good since I cleaned off my plate within minutes !

Unagi Set (RM45.00)

The next item on the list is the Unagi Set. Grilled unagi is a delicacy in Japan, popular not only for its flavor but also for its stamina-giving properties. The ingredients in the sweet basting sauce are important to the final taste of the unagi, and different restaurants have their own secret recipes. As for Ryo Zan Tei, the Unagi set was favorably rich with an appetizing texture, crisp on the outside but tender on the inside. It takes an experienced chef with the right cooking process to really make the eel both crisp and tender. And of course, lightly sprinkle your unagi (or dojo) with sansho, a powdered aromatic Japanese pepper for added taste.

Saba Shioyaki Set (RM35.00)

Saba shioyaki or grilled mackerel is the most commonly ordered dish in a Japanese restaurant. Slow grilled to perfection, the flesh of the mackerel is thoroughly cooked yet retains the juiciness from the fat. The skin of the fish is intact, brown to a crisp yet not burnt. Doused it with a squeeze of lemon to cut the oiliness, a complete meal with japanese sushi rice.

Contact Details
RYO ZAN TEI Japanese Restaurant
Japanese Tea House
Berjaya Hills Resort

Ratings
OVERALL RATINGs : * * * (Good food, but weighed down by lousy service)
Environment Ratings : * * * * (High score for nature 'feel')
Food Ratings : * * * * (Surprisingly good)
Service Ratings : * (Poor fellows working in the jungle, no motivation?)
Value Ratings : * * (Quite pricey)

Operation Details
Average Price : RM30 & above
Business Hrs :
Accepted Cards: major credit cards accepted

Miscellaneous Details
Halal : Yes
Dining Method : Dine in - who would wanna go all the way to Bukit Tinggi to 'tar pau' ?
Food/Cuisine : Japanese a la carte and set
Ambience/Features : Japanese setup wannabe with nature surround
Reservations : No

Wendy's Bistro @ Sunway

2007-01-25T00:09:00.000+08:00

I am finally back after taking a looooooooonnng break. Nah ... it's just my excuse to get away for being lazy to logon to the computer. After all, I am behind the console 8 hours a day .. anymore than that, I'll go cuckoo.

But what the heck, as someone wise once said .... The Show Must Go On ... so here it is.

Another new venue that I've tried recently... although I don't believe I am the first to feature them, and rest assured .. I won't be the last too. The mentioned place Wendy's Bistro is located somewhere near Sunway Mentari. It's not hard to find at all, once you turn into Sunway Mentari, you'll spot the outlet almost immediately.

So, what's so special about this 'Bistro' ... ? Cafe's ... bistro's ... they're a 'dozen-a-dime' especially in Subang/Sunway area but one which serves non-halal food, now that's something to 'chew on'.

With a tag line that reads "Where People With Good Taste Meet" ... one would really like to find out more about this place. Wendy's is pretty well decorated ...black and white tiles form part of the interior, lending contrast to the tall, imposing wooden-framed glass door. Jefri Cheong, the chef in Wendy's works in an open concept kitchen. The kitchen occupies a small corner filled with all the required utensils for him to create his masterpieces.

Although Wendy's has a variety of dishes in their menu, Jefri's specialties are from the pork menu. Pork belly, pork chop, pork rib and even pork sausages are served to satisfy the craves of porky fans out there ... only regret is they don't serve Bah Kut Teh, that would complete the collection.

Now, back to our meal ... we decided on our food, ordering as many varieties as possible. Finally, after some hard-thinking (the food looks delicious from the menu) we decided on our meal.

Grilled Portabello Mushroom

The first order served is the Grilled Portabello Mushroom with garlic butter and melted cheese. I heard it's one of Wendy's favourite .. but unfortunately I am not really into mushrooms and definitely not cheese ... by the way, there is also another option for the Portabello - that's with bacon bits and melted cheese.

A little something about the The Portabello mushroom (sometimes Portobella) ... It's a large brown strain of the same fungus, left to mature and take on a broader, more open shape before picking. Portobello mushrooms are distinguished by their large size, thick cap and stem, and a distinctive musky smell. Because of their size and the thickness of their fleshy caps, these mushrooms can be cooked in a range of different ways, including grilling and frying.

Next on the menu list that is served is the Grilled Streaky Bacon. This consists of 5 pieces of well-grilled Streaky Bacon served with mashed potatoes. A little on the dry side, but otherwise .. it's a beautifully crafted dish.

Grilled Pork Chop

Chef Jefri prepares his Grilled Pork Chop the traditional way, with pepper rub and salt and served with either Apple or Creamy Black Pepper sauce.

My favorite is the Grilled Pork Belly, this is marinated with Maripur sauce, a sweet sauce made from a mixture of onion, tomato and garlic that gave the meat it's savoury appeal. And this is served with side salad, mashed potato and harissa chili.

Grilled Pork Belly

A little bit of heads up though ... there's a little bit of fatty on the meat, but remove the fat bits and you can still enjoy the juicy and tender taste of this dish. Trust me, don't skip this item ....

Generally, I would summarize this article to 2 words. MUST TRY. After all, how often do you find a place that serves pork ... with style?

And here's my review ...

Contact Details
WENDY'S BISTRO
20 Jalan PJS8/18,
Dataran Sunway Mentari, Petaling Jaya
Tel: 03-5630 1699

Ratings
OVERALL RATINGs : * * * * (Decent value, good food, nice ambience. What more?)
Environment Ratings : * * * * (Classy, I like the open-kitchen concept)
Food Ratings : * * * (Some dishes do really score high)
Service Ratings : * * * * (Chef Jefri does good PR job)
Value Ratings : * * * * (Decently priced)

Operation Details
Average Price : Ranging between RM20 - RM40
Business Hrs : Daily 11am - 11pm
Accepted Cards: All major credit cards

Miscellaneous Details
Halal : NO ! Porky, porky.
Dining Method : Dine-In . Takeaway
Food/Cuisine : Grilled Pork Belly (must-try), Portabello Mushroom (good stuff)
Ambience/Features : Stylish
Reservations : Yes

Shrimpz Prawn Farm @ Langkawi

2006-11-21T23:13:00.000+08:00

The Langkawi archipelago is a cluster of 99 islands just off the coast of Kedah, close to Perlis and just south of Thailand.

Pulau Langkawi, noted for its legends and beautiful views, is the most developed in the group. It has good beaches, abundant marine life and offers an idyllic retreat from the urban jungle. A duty-free port, this island of scenic, tranquil landscapes, has become a favorite destination for local and international visitors alike. For locals, Langkawi is a haven for cheap liquors, cigarettes and of course ... not forgetting chocolates. And this ... brings me to my favourite topic, good food. Most traveller resign themself to hotel food which is very unfortunate indeed. With very little effort, you can rent a car and drive around the island which in actual fact, is dotted with really good cuisine, both local and international ... and not to mention, lot's of fun !

During my recent trip to Langkawi Island, I was lucky enough to locate a good spot, Shrimpz Prawn Farm - which I must insist that you visit ... on your next trip to Langkawi Island. Shrimpz, is located less than a kilometre from Underwater World, about 5 kilometres away or 10 minutes drive from Kuah town.

Shrimpz is not difficult to find, but of course you will need to find the signage as you drive along the road. Once you've spotted the bright green signage, you proceed to drive down the slope towards the farm and almost instantly noticing the acres of wetland, almost similar to a padi farm. - which I think is probably swarmed with live prawns.

As the name suggests, it serves fresh prawns, hand-picked from some 300 acres of prawn farm and cooked to your liking! The restaurant features 10 wooden pondok (gazebos), all aptly named after legendary places on the island. These overlook the glistening waters of the sprawling prawn farm. Shrimpz serve a great variety of food ranging from local, chinese, fusion and BBQ. Guests can sit on the floor in the pondok with gentle sea breeze blowing while having their meal Malay style, on wooden furniture underneath an attap roof. For foreign tourists in particular, it's a unique dining experience.

The most popular dish in Shrimpz is the Nestum Prawn but unfortunately it's not available so we had to order other dishes but they are equally good ! Since Shrimpz is a prawn farm after all, majority of the dishes ordered were .... prawns. We started with the Steamed Prawns, then proceeded with the Buttered Prawns and then with Tom Yam Prawns. As you can see from the 'photographic evidence' below .. the prawns were HUGE and FRESH. Do note the capitalized words ... they really are ! Of course, to cover our guilt of "over-cholestrolling" ourselves, we ordered some vegetable and toufu dishes.

Just a mental note ... it took them quite a while to prepared those dishes, despite us being their only customer that afternoon (customers usually comes in the evening). But all of us agree that the wait was worth it, so prepare your camera ... the sceneries are breathtaking.

Shrimpz Restaurant and Sea Breeze
Mukim Ulu Melaka
Jalan Bukit Malut,
07000 Langkawi
Kedah Darul Aman
Tel: 04-9663211/9663210
Fax: 9663220

Operating Hours:
12pm - 2.30pm
6pm - 10.30 pm
Closed on Tuesdays.

Italiannies Pasta Pizza & Vino

2006-11-05T14:25:00.000+08:00

Fine dining restaurants are easy to come by these days, drive around Bangsar, Sri Hartamas, TTDI, Damansara ... and they are dotted all over the place. Italiannies Pasta Pizza & Vino is such a place and that's where we will be discussing today. Their tagline says "So Much, So Good, So Share" .... means the food portion is HUGE ... so share your food. I couldn't really imagine how big the portion was until the food was served. And, yes .. it was enormous !!! Ok, enormous means really big, enough to feed 2 persons or more... not 15, so please don't quote me if your Fettuccine with Shrimp in Carbonara sauce can't feed your whole family.

Italiannies is very well decorated ... very Italian, I would say. Ok, I've never been to Italy ... but the setup in Italiannies reminded me of something out of The Godfather movie ... complete with plaster walls etched with wise words such as "Eat Well, Live Long ... and wooden panels, dimmed lightings and whispering waiters. Suddenly, you heard a gunshot and some men in black suit rushes out from kitchen chasing ... ok, ok ... I was hallucinating a little, my imagination ran wild.

To cut the story short, it's very Italian.

Anyway, the place was crowded ... just check out the queue. The ambience is nice ... if it's a little more quiet. You could bring your partner there for a quiet dinner for two, dimmed lighted .. some fine Italian music ... yeah, you could do that. But, please, please .. make your appointment on a weekday. Trust me.

Let's switch the scene to the food. To begin with, your will be served fresh bread or Ciabatta with Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar. Ciabatta is an Italian white bread made with wheat flour and yeast. In Italian, ciabatta means ‘slipper’ hence the loaf is somewhat elongated, broad and flattish: of course cut when served. I can't remember if I am hungry then, but the ciabatta tasted deeeelicious! when dippied in the olive oil with balsa vinegar. As I stuffed myself with the italian bread, I almost choked ... fortunately my Strawberry Colada arrived. Ahh .... the most feminine beverage I've ever ordered... complete with a little strawberry and a slight piece of banana, perched on the rim of the glass ... don't ask ... I just need to get in touch with my sensitive side and hoping the Strawberry Colada might help.

As I was 'unchocking' myself, the waiter served the Spaghetti Meatball ... admittedly some of the 'huge'st meatballs I've even seen ... not to say I've 'seen' many. They were pretty much the size of a tennis ball ... so, go swallow on that ! Despite the 'monstrosity' .. the meatball was actually very good, meaty and juicy .. as some would comment ... and the spaghetti ... perfetto, perfectly boiled.

We continue to 'down' the balls and proceeded to the next course which was the Lasagna. Yeah, Garfield would kill to get near this next course. What better way to have your Lasagna, than to take it with seafood .... Yummy !!! The thick, smooth and creamy top is irresistable and of course ... we we all ready with our fork and knives as the waiter serve the course. And gosh ... it was quite a record time for us to relieve the Seafood Lasagna.

As we watch the waiter clear the empty Lasagna platter ... we were already quite stuffed ... not to mention some of us had this bottomless Ice Lemon Tea .. you know, the ones where you're allowed to refill your drink.

Marsala Mushroom Soup, from what I found out ... is mushroom soup with Marsala wine. Marsala is the name for a wine produced in the region surrounding the Italian city of Marsala in Sicily. You may have heard of Chicken Marsala and Mushroom Soup with Marsala .. hey, that's my first experience ... and may I say, a very good one too.

The last course for the day ... is Spaghetti & Artichoke Fomrmaggio which is Parmesan cheese blended with spinach, artichokes and mushrooms. Served with toasted homemade garlic bread. Although this course is listed under the Starters section, it's quite a serving ... considering the 7 pieces of garlic bread.

Finally, from a dear friend's blog ... I read about this special dish which is not orderable from the menu. Apprently, look for KC ... and ask for Insalata ala Ringo & Jasiminne. Sounds delicious, don't you think ? Read more here ... Cheeserland on Italiannies

Anyway ... I'd say, generally the place is cool for ambience, nice food and decently priced.

Here's what we had to pay for our last visit.

Bottomless soft drink (RM6.80)
Strawberry Colada (RM7.90)
S & R Formag\D (RM28.90)
Seafood Lasagna (RM25.90)
Spaghetti Meatball (RM29.90)
Marsala Mushroom Soup (RM11.90)

Total Bill for 6 person (RM143.70 tax inclusive)

And here's my review ....

Contact Details
Italiannies Pasta Pizza & Vino
F355/356/357, 1st Floor, Rainforest,
1 Utama, Lebuh Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya.
Tel : 603-77271399
Fax : 603-77103411

Ratings
OVERALL RATINGs : * * * * (Good balance of food, value and ambience)
Environment Ratings : * * * * * (Italiano ... Ciao)
Food Ratings : * * * * * (Excellente ..)
Service Ratings : * * (food may take a little while to get prepared if crowded)
Value Ratings : * * * * (Share the portion, share the bill)

Operation Details
Average Price : Slightly below RM30
Business Hrs : 11am - 12pm daily 7 days a week, kitchen closes at 10:30pm
Accepted Cards: All major credit cards

Miscellaneous Details
Halal : Yes
Dining Method : Dine-In . Takeaway
Food/Cuisine :
Ambience/Features : Italian Restaurant ala cottage
Reservations : Yes

6 to 10 Grill & Nasi Lemak

2006-10-29T22:18:00.000+08:00

Before posting this article, I decided to run some search on this food establishment .. just to gauge some idea on the receptance of general public. I googled the name "6 to 10 Grill & Nasi Lemak" and it returned with some results. Apparently, quite a handful of "reviews" were made already.

Right ... I am slow. Very slow. Probably all the eating has made me slow down. I have a whole load of backlog articles to publish ... and this article alone is probably 3 weeks old !

But what the heck ... here it is anyway, backlog or not ...

6 to 10 Grill & Nasi Lemak isn't any posh establishment ... not airconditioned, no sofa seats or even Cliff Richard singing in the background .. although you could probably request them to play something romantic on their radio if you happen to bring your partner .. you know, just to get the mood going (amongst the other crowded patrons). But you're there probably because you've heard of this restaurant within the flats in PJ Section 17 or about their RedWine Pork Rib. And you won't regret your visit after trying it out.

Imagine....

A huge slice of tender, juicy ... perfectly grilled pork rib, layers with a big round slice of pineapple and finished with delicious special redwine sauce. and as you sink you teeth into the soft yet tender meat with that slight red wine tingling taste ... you can't help but imagine where in seventh heaven are you ...... hungry yet ?

Eric Lim aka "The Chef" is the brainchild behind this gastronomy delight and of course, other favourites such as the Redwine Lamb Chop and the yummy chicken chop. You must also try their legendary Special Nasi Lemak - which is very wellknown and has been around for the last 20 years or so.

The Special Nasi Lemak comes with mouth-watering Curry Chicken or Spicy Sotong (squid) .. and you can be sure your order arrives very generously portioned. Ask around the Section 17 neighborhood for this popular nasi lemak stall at the flats and chances are they will point you to "6 to 10 Grill & Nasi Lemak".

All the talking and visualizing will not compare to the real thing ... go on and pamper your tastebuds. Tip of the day .. weekends can be quite packed, you can try but do go early to book your spot! Alternatively, check them out on weekdays but stay off Mondays and Tuesdays ... Mr. Eric takes his beautiful rest on these days. And due to "high" demand from their customers, they are now opened for lunches as well ... so add this spot to your usual lunch destinations.

Price Guides

Red Wine Lamb Special (RM21.00)
Red Wine Pork Ribs Special (18.00)
New Zealand Grill Lamb Chops (RM13.00)
Grill Chicken Chop (RM9.50)
Grill Pork Chops (RM12.00)
Special Chicken (RM10.00)
Nasi Lemak Special with Chicken (RM6.00)

More reads

Honey Star Masak-Masak dDoinkster Speaks Pandalogy Kyspeaks

Contact Details

6 to 10 Grill & Nasi Lemak
BG-1, Block B, Happy Mansion,
Jalan 17/13, 46400 Petaling Jaya.
Tel : 03-79554993 (Eric)

Ratings

OVERALL RATINGs : * * * * * (You'll have a satisfied meal)
Environment Ratings : * * * (Coffeeshop style)
Food Ratings : * * * * * (Excellente ..)
Service Ratings : * * * * (food may take a little while to get prepared if crowded)
Value Ratings : * * * * * (it's good value for what you're getting)

Operation Details

Average Price : Let's just put it at below RM30
Business Hrs : Wed to Sun. Lunch from 12 noon - 2:30 pm. Dinner from 6 pm - 10:30 pm
Accepted Cards: not sure

Miscellaneous Details

Halal : No
Dining Method : Dine-In . Takeaway
Food/Cuisine : Local - Nasi Lemak is terrific / Western - Go for the Red Wine Chops !!!
Ambience/Features : Open-aired Coffeeshop concept
Reservations : Accepted on weekdays

Padi House Cyberjaya

2006-10-27T16:12:00.000+08:00

During my last visit to the Old Town Kopitiam in Prima Avenue, Cyberjaya .. I spotted a cafe next to the Kopitiam. Eventually I found out the cafe name ... Padi House. Pretty interesting and creative name, I would say. So I decided to schedule one of my Friday lunches there .. which is today.

I guess Padi House did score some plus points for being so close to my office. That means I don't have to travel more than 10 kilometres to the nearest "mixed rice" source.

Arriving Padi House, I encountered my first problem ... the parking lots are not accessible ... apparently you can only access it using a smartcard or something. Guess what I did next, there was a huge gap beside the carpark exit barrier .. I drive right past it and parked my car. I know, I know ...I shouldn't do that ... but for some reasons, I did.

The cafe has an open-air concept, pretty much like any coffee shop but the seats are quite comfy. We sat right next to a landscaped fish pond, with the fishes swimming right next to you while you enjoy your course of salmon fish....

Ordering process, unfortunately ... is via pencil and form, here we go again ... with the tickings. And I guess the form was too small, the waiter brought us a large piece of A4 paper to write our orders, ourselves!!! Anyway, to cut the story short, we got our orders in and waited. And waited. We were the first few to arrive. By the time the restaurant filled up, we were still waiting.

Then eventually they brought our drinks and then the snacks that we ordered. The first to arrive were the Onion Rings and then the Deep Fried Sweet Potatoes. The Crispy Duck Noodle was considerably alright. The noodle tasted very much like instant noodle probably because it is one but fortunately the duck meat was very good, though! Soft, fat-free, very tasty without any of that sou mei (overly strong meaty taste).

One of the item found in the western favourites section is the Chicken Chop Rice. This, apparently is a fusion of western (Chicken Chop) and oriental (rice) and happens to be the favourite among the patrons. Another item from the western section is the Grilled Lamb Chop, which is also a favourite order. You can choose between the black pepper or the mushroom sauce but I personally like the black pepper sauce as it brings out the taste of the lamb, with a slight touch of spicyness although some commented that the sauce is a little salty. That aside, the lambs are as tender and juicy as it can be.

Those who would like to try something different can opt to order the Grilled Salmon Fish Rice. Topped with black pepper sauce, this item should have scored high on the chart but unfortunately the Salmon is a little dry. I had to request for extra black pepper sauce for the salmon dressing.

Here's our bill for the day ...
Drinks - RM2.50 - RM2.90
Chicken Chop Rice - RM5.90
BBQ Chicken Noodle - RM6.90
Crispy Duck Noodle - RM6.90
Mushroom Soup - RM3.90
Onion Rings - RM6.90
Deep Fried Sweet Potato - RM5.90
Grilled Lamb Chop RM14.90
BBQ Honey Chicken Rice - RM5.90
Grilled Salmon Fish Rice - RM8.90

Contact Details

Padi House
Block 3503, Jalan Teknokrat 5,
63000 Cyberjaya, Selangor D.E.

Ratings

OVERALL RATINGs : * * (Average food ... average everything)
Environment Ratings : * * * (Open-aired - plus point for the pond with fishes)
Food Ratings : * * (there's a lot of room for improvements)
Service Ratings : * * (I got pissed, what do you think?)
Value Ratings : * * * (affordable for 2-3 visits a week)

Operation Details

Average Price : RM10 could get you a good square meal
Business Hrs :
Accepted Cards: not sure

Miscellaneous Details

Halal : Yes
Dining Method : Dine-In . Takeaway
Food/Cuisine : Local / Western
Ambience/Features : Open-aired Coffeeshop concept
Reservations : Accepted (I still don't have the phone number ....)

Old Town Kopitiam Cyberjaya

2006-10-24T10:00:00.000+08:00

Finally !!! A decent food establishment in Sahara .... I mean Cyberjaya. For the last 3 years of my employment term in Cyberjaya, I have visited countless number of food establishments in and out of Cyberjaya (more outs than ins). Let's just say working in Cyberjaya is different, very different from working elsewhere. Be it the working lifestyle, dressing sense and even eating habits will have to change. No more frequent Bah Kut Teh sessions (the one in Dengkil doesn't count... it's far away!!!), I doubt you can find a decent stall with deliciously fried Hokkien mee ... poor those hokkien fellows ... that includes me!

The opening of Oldtown Kopitiam in Cyberjaya of course, is not my dream come true .. but it provided us fellow Cyberjayans with a sense of hope. A hope that someday, we don't have to organize a Guided Tour Package just to go for lunch. Or visit that "Lego land" foodcourt. Or that overpriced Bistro ... in my workplace. And I heard that a chinese coffee shop has opened next to the Oldtown Kopitiam as well ... Padi House, I think. Thank you ....

Anyway, reverting back to Kopitiam .. after all this article is about them. Smacked right in the middle of the hot, hot Cyberjaya - behind DHL ... stands the Old Town Kopitiam and apparently that area is known as Prima Avenue (I never knew). I heard froma friend, who heard from another friend about this new place - I think they opened about a week ago, somewhere in early October 2006. The place looks cool with little fountains on the front - with this huge OldTown signage. You'll never miss the road.

There are 2 sections, outdoor if you choose to fry and sizzle in the hot sunny Cyberjayan lunch noon or indoor with the almost comfortable airconditioned area. I wish they'd fix that problem, airconditioning is a neccessity not a luxury (yes, i know it's not true ... you go sit in the sun then).

Food ordering, like the rest of the HK themed restaurants and also kopitiams .. is a hassle with the pencil ticking on a list of paper menu. Why can't they just take the order like any other decent food establishments - just because they've taken off service charges?

Anyway we ticked and ordered. Some of our food came and we ate (forgive our manners, firstly it's Cyberjaya.. what manners, secondly it's lunch and we're starving) while the even hungrier ones waited and waited for their food. Finally we couldn't wait and reminded the waiter, which he eventually said .."Hah, not yet come ah ... wait ah, I check" ... subsequently ALL the food came. No further comments on the service quality.

The OldTown Coffee which I presume is from Ipoh, is good, especially the "Cham" or better known as YingYong, the ice ones of course. By the way, they do sell the coffee powder, if you feel like making one yourself back in your office. The rest of the coffee are pretty much the same. I believe the Oldtown Nasi Lemak Special is their speciality, almost every customer that visited this place ordered that. Me, as usual .. ordered something else .. just so that I have more variety when I take my food shots. I ordered the most pathetically expensive Nasi Rendang Chicken, rice, with a dry piece of Rendang Chicken ... a little patch of sambal and cucumber. Go imagine.

Generally, the food is somewhat common, with "kopitiam" concepts mushrooming all around town. Nevertheless, it's a welcoming concept ... think of it as a 'chinese' mamak if you may.

Our meal details :

Oldtown White Coffee (Ice) - RM2.50
Oldtown "Cham" Coffee - RM2.50
Oldtown Ice Blended White Coffee - RM5.80 !!!
Ice Lemon Tea (Ice) RM3.20
Lemon Coke (Ice) - RM3.20
Fruit Juices - RM3.20
Drinking Water - RM0.60 !!!!
Thick Toast Peanut Butter - RM2.80
Nissin Noodle w/Egg & Sausage - RM4.80
Oldtown Nasi Lemak - RM5.80
Oldtown Curry Chicken Rice - RM6.80
Oldtown Rendang Chicken Rice - RM7.80

Contact Details

Old Town Kopitiam Prima Avenue
Block 3503 Jalan Teknokrat 5,
63000 Cyberjaya
Tel : 03-83181988

Ratings on this particular outlet

OVERALL RATINGs : * * * (Ample parking - convenient for Cyberjayans)
Environment Ratings : * * * (thumbs down on warm airconditioning)
Food Ratings : * * (the "Kopitiam" usuals...)
Service Ratings : * * (They forgot our food!!!)
Value Ratings : * * * (stick to your Dengkil "chap fan" if you can't afford it!)

Operation Details

Average Price : Slight more than RM10 if you want a square meal
Business Hrs :
Accepted Cards: not sure

Miscellaneous Details

Halal : Yes
Dining Method : Dine-In . Takeaway
Food/Cuisine : Local
Ambience/Features : Open-aired / Indoor Airconditioned
Reservations : Accepted

Food Foundry

2006-10-20T07:55:00.000+08:00

Thinking of a place to have your meal can be quite an uphill task at times. I know it sounded absurb, especially coming from a self-proclaimed "food reviewer" such as me... . I was somewhere in PJ at that moment, and "abundance" is an understatement when it comes to food establishment in PJ. Alas .. due to the lack of food, or probably a little low on brain air ... I can't come up with any place to eat. Fortunately, with what's left of my thinking brain cells .. I manage to churn out a fellow food blogger's link ... and many thanks to Joan Chew or simply nicknames "FOOD Lover" for her suggestions, I manage to have dinner!

FOOD FOUNDRY is located in Jalan 17, PJ ... somewhere near ... geesh .. I really can't think of any popular landmark there to describe to you. Let's just say, this cafe is not an easy place to find .. especially if you aren't familiar with PJ. But once you find it, chances are you won't regret what you see. As I mentioned, it's tucked in a corner .. in between some low cost flat/apartment in Jalan 17 ...

My first impression of the place? Whoaa ... wayyy cool .....
it's somewhat cozy yet stylish. Even the signboard is quite happening as some would say. With a big screen latched in one corner, one can already feel so much at home when hanging out here. And apparently, this is IS quite happening ... I tried googling for "Food Foundry" (like I always do, for my research before posting my articles) and came up with this name "Project OMG!"

Here's an excerp from Project OMG!

Project OMG! stubbornly tries to exist beyond being 'just another art scene' in a nook of the Klang Valley. Opening its doors every last Saturday of the month to all and sundry, this event is a platform for poets, singer- songwriters, short films and non-hazardous flame jugglers to showcase raw and original material for all to listen, see and enjoy.

Anyway, getting back to the topic of food ... very quickly we found our table, sat down and ordered our food. The menu is gorgeous, with very deliciously shot images of their dishes .. and superb layout. Not too many varieties, therefore choices are limited although not necessarily bad .. since you go straight to the point and order, especially when you're hungry!

We started off with the appetizer, the Kerabu Mango ... which is a little sour, with a a little tingle touch of sweetness. Now, that will definitely whet your appetite. Then came our soup, yes ... the Ox-Tail Soup 'ala Kampung style. Unlike the usual Ox-Tail soup you find elsewhere, this looked like the ones you get from your local mamak stall, nice .. hot ... and spicy!

While waiting for the main course, we ordered some Tapas ... just for some 'inbetweens'. Tapas, a Spanish cuisine ... are small quantities of food sold with a drink in. They can be taken as a snack or combined to make up a full meal.

I guess Tapas must be one of their speciality here since there's quite a range of it, from Lamb Meatball to Thai Chicken with Pumpkin. As for us, we settled for some Eggplant in Spicy Sauce and Grilled Prawns .. both served with Pita Bread. For the uninitiated, Pita Bread is a round, wheat flatbread made with yeast (apparently so, according my my faithful source, the Wikipedia). For a Spanish cuisine, both our tapas dishes tasted way too 'oriental' .. so to say. I guess this is where the "fusion food" terminology kicks in. Heads up for those with mild tastebuds .. they can be a little spicy ...

For main course, we had Carbonara with Turkey Ham spaghetti ... which, is an Italian dish. It's thick and creamy .. should be a favourite among cheese lovers. Did you know, Carbonara an Italian pasta sauce ... comes from carbone, which is Italian for coal, and many believe the dish derives its name because it was popular among charcoal makers.

We also had the Pan Fried Dory with pepper marmalade ... the fish, is a little dry but fortunately the pepper marmalade complimented the taste which made the meal, simply wonderful !

Somewhat stuffed, I just had to make that order of Mille Crepe (mille = million) ... ! I know very little about this Mille Crepe, but they did say that .. one must not miss the opportunity to taste it, at least once!! My slice of crepe finally came ... and as I sink my little fork through it, I began to wonder what is so special about this Mille Crepe. You'll know it the moment you take your first bite ... through 20+ layers of fresh chocolate cream and thin layers of crepe ....

I would like to quote this from another fellow blogger Jason Mumbles who manage to describe the feeling quite dramatically ...

“很有质感!” Soft and thin crust, sandwiched with milky cream, and the thousand layers texture feeling that melts inside your mouth, it is definitely a hero among all heroes (蛋糕中的英雄豪杰)

More Reviews From Others

FOODLover
boo_licious
Honeystar
Tiny World
Jasonmumbles

Contact Details

FOOD FOUNDRY by Asianage Holdings S/B
BG-8, Happy Mansion, Jalan 17/13, 46400 Petaling Jaya
Tel : 03-79553885

Ratings

OVERALL RATINGs : * * * * * (5 stars for cool ambience, not overcrowded and ample parking spot)
Environment Ratings : * * * * (Perfect hangout spot)
Food Ratings : * * * * * (thumbs up recommendation from me!)
Service Ratings : * * * * (friendly smiley chaps although a little quiet)
Value Ratings : * * * * (for the food quality, it's value for money)

Operation Details

Average Price : Slight less than RM20 per person for a satisfying meal
Business Hrs : Mon - Sun 11:30am - 10:00pm
Accepted Cards: not sure

Miscellaneous Details

Halal : Yes
Dining Method : Dine-In . Takeaway
Food/Cuisine : Fusion
Ambience/Features : Open-aired Classy Cafe. Features? Big Screen?
Reservations : Accepted

Manhattan Fish Market

2006-10-11T06:18:00.000+08:00

I've always thought Manhattan Fish Market is from Manhattan, New York. Heck, I was wrong ! This bugger is actually a "made-in-Malaysia" product !!! I've tried googling for it, this is the only result ... http://www.manhattanfishmarket.com/ and after some extensive digging, I managed to find out more.

Revenue Valley Sdn Bhd, which owns home-grown restaurants Manhattan Fish Market and Hainan Kopitiam set up its first Manhattan Fish Market in Malaysia at the Mid Valley Megamall in November 2002 and now owns a total of 13 outlets, mainly in the Klang Valley, and one each in Singapore and Bangkok. The Manhattan Fish Market, a casual dining seafood restaurant, was founded by Dr Jeffrey Goh, a dentist-turned-politician and businessman, and a Singaporean partner.

Derived from the legendary Fulton Market (largest and oldest fish market in Manhattan) established since 1822 in Manhattan, this Malaysian chain is similar in many ways, namely in terms of the quality and freshness of its seafood.

Interior decoratives were cosy, and waiters were friendly eagerly waiting to serve you the best seafood in town. After some menu browsing and recommendations from the ever grinning waiter, we put in our orders. Our food arrived ina zip and with our seemed like bottomless pit stomach, we savored our Fried Country Mushrooms ($9.90) with delight. The giant-sized golden-brown juicy mushrooms were coated with a batter so crunchy, you just can't stop yourself from reaching for another one. Then came the Sizzing Louisiana Prawn, huge whole prawns - dipped in creamy Luisiana shrimp sauce ... deeeelicious !

Our main dish was the Fisherman's Giant Fried Platter for 2, deep-fried fish fillet, calamari, mushrooms and fried shrimps served with chips and garlic rice. The melted, sweet and sticky sauce complemented the sliced prawns. Although the menu did specify that is was a 2 person course, 3 of us could share the meal and end up overstuffed. Then again, we are probably small eaters. This is a must-try for seafood lovers who would like to sample a variety of items. Other specialities you can order are Baked Pacific Dory, prepared with special butter plum sauce. Since the fillet wasn't fried, the freshness of the fish really stood out, and the understated sweetness of the plum sauce helped bring out the wholesomeness of the dish. The garlic rice was delicious: Non-greasy, firm and very tasty.

Other reviews on MFM

Sparklette from Singapore
Tastebuds from Faces Magazine
Ahmok.com

Contact Details

The Manhattan FISH MARKET MID VALLEY
LG-060 Lower Ground Floor
Tel/Fax : 03-22840448

Alamanda Putrajaya Tel/Fax : 03-8889516

Subang Parade Tel/Fax : 03-56370121

Suria KLCC Tel/Fax : 03-21711303

Ikano Power Center Tel/Fax : 03-77284248

Sogo Tel/Fax : 03-26971303

Centre Point BU Tel/Fax : 03-77253303

IOI Mall Puchong Tel/Fax : 03-58821493

Ampang Park Tel/Fax : 03-21669303

Sunway Pyramid Tel/Fax : 03-74913683

Jusco Tebrau (JB) Tel/Fax : 07-3549303

Plaza Singapura (Singapore) Tel/Fax : 02-68359300

Ratings

OVERALL RATING : * * * (It's like the seafood of fastfood)
Environment Rating : * * * * (Makes you feel a little like being in a fisherman's shack .. with a/cond)
Food Rating : * * * (mai hiam, be phai .... - it's not bad if you don't complain much)
Service Rating : * * * * (Like I said .. very eager)
Value Rating : * * * * (a little pricey, but it's fun for the family...)

Operation Details

Average Price : RM 40+ for 2 person
Business Hrs: Standard Mall Hour ...

Accepted Cards: : Of course ! Master? Visa? Diners?

Miscellaneous Details

Halal : Yes
Dining Method : Dine-In . Takeaway
Food/Cuisine : Seafood
Ambience/Features : Nice, cosy ... family friendly

Features? Seashells, fake fishes ... fishnets ...
Reservations : Accepted

Strawberries On Sticks 岩石糖草莓

2006-10-04T06:24:00.000+08:00

Everyone likes strawberry. Ok, not everyone but most people do. For those who don't, you don't know what are you missing out from this world.

What’s the first thought that comes to your mind, when you think of strawberry?

It is probably of a mouth-watering dessert of strawberries mixed with fresh cream? Or some fresh juicy strawberries dipped in thick melted chocolates. There’s nothing that says "Hello Summer" quite like eating a juicy vine-ripened strawberry that has been ripened to perfection in the early summer sunshine. Strawberries serve more than just fulfilling the sweet tooth. It is packed with hordes of health benefits, making a nutritious fruit for mind and body.

In this article, we steering a a little away from our usual restaurant and cafe visits. I would like to tell you a little something about strawberries. Not just any normal strawberries that you can buy off the shelf in Jusco or Metro.

Ok, imagine this .... think of a hot sunny afternoon, you're dying to have something cold down your throat. You help yourself with some nice, juicy Strawberry On Sticks 岩石糖草莓. The moment you sink your teeth on it, you can feel the sweet crispy crush of the melted rock sugar, followed by the slighty sourish cold strawberry and the taste is ..... glorious ! And if that doesn't make your tastebud go tingling, I don't know what else can. Come on, trust me on this and go try it out ...

Strawberries On Sticks are available from Sunway Pyramid, LG level and also MidValley Megamall, also on the LG level.

Some nutitional facts about strawberries ....

Strawberries are not only good to eat, they are also "good for us." They are an especially tasty source of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). In fact, one cup of fresh strawberries provides about 88 milligrams of ascorbic acid, which more than meets the Recommended Daily Dietary allowance of 45 milligrams for the average adult. Vitamin C is well retained when the strawberries are handled carefully. Capping, injuring, cutting, or juicing, however, will reduce the vitamin content.
Strawberries are low in calories: one cup of unsweetened strawberries has only 55 calories. So if you are on a reducing diet, use strawberries to add flavor, food value, and pleasure to meals. You can even eat some as a between-meals snack.

Check out Linda's favorite Strawberry Recipes

Restoran K.T.L. 啤律光头佬

2006-10-03T14:07:00.000+08:00

Somewhere within Taman Segar, about a stone throw away from Leisure Mall ... lies something totally different. As you drive along Jalan Manis, opposite the Petronas Station .. you will come across a row of stalls by the roadside. If I am not mistaken, there should be 3 stalls along the road. Check out the one in the middle ... I don't think there's any signage but do ask around for the stall that is famous for their "Fei Chou Jiong Jeng Yee" which pretty much translates to "Steamed Talapia Fish with Black Bean Sauce" (酱蒸非洲鱼). Of course, that's not the only dish that's good there. I got the name from the namecard provided by them, it's called Restoran K.T.L. or 啤律光头佬 (Pi Lu Kuang Tou Lau) or Baldy from Peel Road. I guess they probably used to be from Peel Road, Cheras and now relocated to Taman Segar.

Word of advice though, I believe the only fish you'd get by 8:00pm are fish bones. I don't know if it's packed every night but I've been there twice and it's as pack on both times. Like i said, don't expect a nice environment or airconditioned restaurants. It's a stall by the road, under a big tree. That's about the nest "ambience" you can get there.

As far as service in concerned, I've had good experiences so far .. although my colleague commented otherwise during her last visit. I do agree that the waitress aunties may not provide the best service possible but I think it's bearable. There's this granny working there who speaks very good english and in fact, she translated all these fish names for me. I am quite a banana when it comes to chinese ... he he...

Some of the good fishes they sell there are Snake Head (it's Sang Yee, not some WWF character), Catfish, Talapia and fish head as well. A word of advice though, to order the fish head .. you'll need to call in earlier, as it takes 20 minutes to prepare the dish. As for the cooking style, there's the ginger and garlic, steam with black bean sauce and plain steam. Other dishes available there are cold or hot tofu, steamed vegetable and some others which I have yet to find out. Now that you're done with the ordering, waiting for your food to arrive can be quite a task. Just look at these patient diners...

Now you'd probably think this is gonna cost you a bomb, but surprisingly I paid around RM20+ for a fish, a dish of vege and drinks. Now, that's a good deal for a satisfying dinner, won't you agree? Stories aside, let's get on with my opinion of this place ...

Contact Details

Restoran K.T.L. 啤律光头佬
Gerai No 3A, Jalan Manis,
Taman Segar, 56100
Cheras
Tel : 017-8727567, 012-3087311

Ratings

OVERALL RATING : * * * * (this is good stuff, must try !)
Environment Rating : * (I can't really say much about it, can I?)
Food Rating : * * * * (definitely ichiban!)
Service Rating : * * (can laa...)
Value Rating : * * * * (go ahead, bring the whole family...)

Operation Details

Average Price : RM 20+ for 2 person
Business Hrs: Daily, 10:30am - 2:00pm then 5:00pm - 8:30pm (depends on the availability of fishes or ... rice). Closes earlier on Sunday.
Accepted Cards: : Err.. you must be kidding...

Miscellaneous Details

Halal : No
Dining Method : Dine-In . Takeaway
Food/Cuisine : Fish
Ambience/Features : Roadside stalls. Features? Umm.. under a big tree ?
Reservations : Accepted

Food & Tea Restaurants (欢喜地茶餐厅)

2006-10-01T23:50:00.000+08:00

Hong Kong themed restaurants are pretty much a dime a dozen nowadays. From "Char Chan Teng" to "Kei Tak Sek" and there's even a coffee shop in Bandar Sungai Long with the name "Wan Chai". As much as I enjoyed the food in these establishments, I don't know how close they are to the "real" Hong Kong food ... because I've never stepped foot on the shores of Hong Kong. If then, who am I to comment on the food since I've never tasted real HK food? Rest assured ... I do seek 3rd party critics and advices. Those who've actually been to HK or lived there ... and better still, actually love HK.

Anyway, our story today brings us to another HK themed restaurant, Food & Tea Restaurants (doesn't score much creativity point in the restaurant naming dept eh?) ... in Berjaya Times Square, KL. 欢喜地茶餐厅 reads (Fun Hei Tei Char Chan Teng) should directly be translated as Happy Land/Ground Coffee House. There are a couple of other outlets, one in Cheras and 2 others in JB. We'll discuss about the one in BTC since I've only been to this one. The outlet is located adjacent to the GSC cinema - in fact, right next to it. The owner must be real smart, choosing such a strategic location. Cinema goers would probably drop by for a quick bite before going to the movies. The restaurant has pretty decent setups, I noted 3 different types of seatings ... my favourite are the bright red ones. Generally, the deco exerts a very strong modern feel ... but then again .. isn't it typical among the HK restaurants and cafes?

Fortunately, we don't need to fill up some forms to order our food although I might add that the restaurant's probably shorthanded. I sat there for almost a good 10 minutes and no one is aware of my presence. A little irritated at first, I finally managed to put in my orders ... and waited for my food to arrive, which is surprisingly fast!

Food and drinks in this joint are quite interesting, especially the desserts. This is what I ordered, for me and my partner... I had Roasted Honey Spare Ribs Rice, Fresh Lemon Honey drink and Mango & Yam "Tong Sui" while my partner got the Pork Chop Black Pepper Spaghetti and the Mango "Tong Sui". As I said, I particularly like the "Tong Sui" presentation ... and it taste pretty good as well. As for the foods, Roasted Honey Spare Ribs Rice was good - the meat is tender and juicy ... The Pork Chop Black Pepper Spaghetti is a little dry but other than that .. it tasted quite decent. Overall, I would say that the place is quite commendable ... only if they improve their service a little.

Now for the ratings :

Contact Details

Food & Tea Hong Kong (BTS)
3rd Floor (Postel No. 03-108)
Times Square, Kuala Lumpur
Tel/Fax : 603-21452518

Cheras Branch
67, Jalan Manis 4,
Taman Segar, Cheras,
Kuala Lumpur.
Tel/Fax : 603-91325488

Johor Branches
2nd Floor (Lot 5.74)
AEON Tebrau City Shopping Centre, JB.
Tel/Fax : 607-3513488

Ground Floor (Lot G05)
Jusco Permas Jaya Shopping Compleks, JB.
Tel/Fax : 607-3070948

Ratings

OVERALL RATING : * * * * (good food, fair priced)
Environment Rating : * * * * (nice setups, comfy)
Food Rating : * * * * (commendable)
Service Rating : * * (need improvement)
Value Rating : * * * * (affordable)

Operation Details

Average Price : RM 12 - 15 per person
Business Hrs: Daily, 11am - 10pm
Accepted Cards: : Master Card . Visa Card .

Miscellaneous Details

Halal : No
Dining Method : Dine-In . Takeaway
Food/Cuisine : Hong Kong
Ambience/Features : Cosy . Family . Air Conditioned .
Reservations : Accepted

Vietnam Kitchen

2006-09-29T15:58:00.000+08:00

This is my second visit to a Vietnamese restaurant, and coincidentally both times to the same restaurant ... Vietnam Kitchen. Vietnam Kitchen now has 5 outlets, – besides 1 Utama and Leisure Mall it is also in Taipan USJ, OUG in Jalan Klang Lama, Kuala Lumpur and also in Sungei Wang Plaza. Vietnam Kitchen offers authentic Vietnamese cuisine as their Executive Chef Hiep used to work for The Equatorial in Ho Chi Minh City for 15 years.

If you are new to Vietnamese food, and don’t know how to order, I would recommend a very special combination set of Banh Hoi Thap Cam, which is a DIY spring roll with rice paper, pork, chicken and vermicelli, fried spring rolls, minced shrimp on sugarcane and pork balls. These make a good introduction to this delicate cuisine. The rice paper is specially flown in from Vietnam, so expect a fragile texture. Served on a platter, matted by banana leaves, it comes with fish sauce and sweet sauce, both of which are used as dips. As the platter serves up to four people, it can either be an appetiser or eaten as a full-course meal. For less than RM25, it definitely is worth a bite.

There are also the broken rice dishes, using fragrant rice from Vietnam. You could have rice with lemon grass-flavoured chicken and pork chop and egg, or rice served with beef in tomato sauce. It doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket eating at Vietnam Kitchen. The huge bowl of Special Beef Rice Noodles is RM9.90; Mixed Vietnamese Ham, RM8; Flat Rice Rolls with Minced Pork, RM6.90; Soursop Milkshake, RM4.90; and the combination set RM21.90.

Vietnam Kitchen Outlet List
39, 41 & 43 Jalan USJ 9/55 Subang Business Centre UEP, 47610 Subang Jaya (Tel: 03-8024 8475)
34, Jalan SS2/66, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor (Tel:7873 5624)
Lot G12, Ground Floor, Citrus Park, Plaza OUG, Jalan Klang Lama, 58200, Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan (Tel:79803970)
Lot S 312, 2nd Floor, 1 Utama Shopping Centre (New Wing), Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama, PJ (Tel:7724-1336).

Ratings

OVERALL RATING : * * * *
Environment Rating : * * * * (average setup, varies between outlets)
Food Rating : * * * (average)
Service Rating : * * * (average)
Value Rating : * * * * (not too expensive)

Operation Details

Average Price : RM15 - RM25

Operating Hours : 11am to 3.30pm and 6pm to 9.30pm

Accepted Cards: : Cash, Visa, MasterCard

Miscellaneous Details

Halal : Non-halal

Dining Method : Dine-In Takeaway

Food/Cuisine : Prawns cooked in a coconut, Combination of vermicelli, Beef carrot stew (French influenced),
Special beef noodle soup, Pork ribs in caramel sauce, Braised pork in coconut juice, Assam fish fillet (a recent addition to suit the Malaysian taste), Vietnamese seafood salad, Vietnamese grilled chicken with preserved, bean curd Prawn wantan (fresh and sweet prawns marinated and wrapped in wantan skin, then deep fried to perfection and served with a special sauce)

Ambience/Features : Family . Air Conditioned . Business Friendly.

Reservations : Accepted

Bumbubali Restaurant

2006-09-26T23:17:00.000+08:00

Influences from all corners of the globe make up Balinese comestibles. Curries, cucumber, eggplant, Indian mustard and cow peas came from India; the Chinese brought the wok and stir-frying, Chinese mustard, and vegetables such as brassica and Chinese cabbage; from Arabia came kebabs and mouthwatering goat stews, while the Europeans introduced avocados, peanuts, pineapples, guavas, papayas, tomatoes, squashes, pumpkins, cocoa, soybean and cauliflower.

Travelling to Bali just for a meal isn't something everyone can afford but fortunately for us, restaurant owner Eddy Tan has brought a taste of Bali closer to home. Bumbubali Restaurant, double-storey shoplot in Bandar Puteri Puchong, has the most serene Balinese ambience with soothing traditional Balinese music and sounds from Bamboo windchimes to add to the feel. Most of the furnitures and the rest of the items in the outlet were brought in from Bali. such as contemporary paintings, artistic wood panels. Balinese figurines and sandstone carvings are displayed to add to the ethnic touch.

Restaurant settings aside, it's the uniqueness of the dishes that attracts. Dishes such as Siap Mepanggang, which comprised two pieces of barbecued Balinese chicken served with sautéed kangkung (water spinach), repemyeh (crackers made from anchovies), Sambal Matah and Sambal Belacan. This dish was served with Nasi Kuning (yellow rice), a traditional Balinese rice steamed with coconut milk and turmeric. There's also Nasi Campur which has Nasi Uduk, a Balinese-styled Nasi Lemak steamed with sweet potato served with Chicken Rendang, barbecued squid, dory, prawns, sauteed kangkung and a sprinkling of fried shallots.

Besides the Balinese cuisine, the Western and Malaysian selections are interesting too, starting with Beef and Lamb Combo. Although the dish was pretty standard fare, what made it interesting was the lemony flavour because the meats were marinated in lemongrass before they were grilled. And if you have never tasted what jackfruit tasted like in a drink then this would be the best place to discover the Nangka Shake was fresh jackfruit blended with vanilla ice cream and palm sugar. Lastly, don't forget to complete your meal with the Hot Fudge Brownie made of hot chocolate fudge served with vanilla ice cream topped with fresh mint leaves which leaves an unforgettable experience.

Contact Details
BUMBUBALI Restaurant
18 & 18-1 Jalan Persiaran Puteri 1
Bandar Puteri, Puchong, Selangor
Tel: 03-8061 8699 Fax : 03-80626698

Ratings

OVERALL RATING : * * * *
Environment Rating : * * * *
Food Rating : * * * *
Service Rating : * * *
Value Rating : * * *

Operation Details

Average Price : RM 21 - 40
Business Hrs: Daily, 11am-midnight
Accepted Cards: : Master Card . Visa Card . American Express . Diners Card

Miscellaneous Details

Halal : Yes
Dining Method : Dine-In . Takeaway
Food/Cuisine : Authentic Balinese . Malaysian . Western.
Ambience/Features : Cosy . Family . Air Conditioned . Alcohol . Kid-friendly . Special Functions .
Reservations : Accepted

Peng Heong Hakka PAIKUT

2006-09-26T01:10:00.000+08:00

I practically grew up in Klang, but if it wasn't for KP ... I wouldn't even knew this place existed. All I know about Klang is for it's Bah Kut Teh and seafood of course. Then one fine day, KP brought the whole load of us to this stall, near the Panggung Seri Intan (cinema) somewhere in Klang town. Well, I don't exactly know how to tell you where it is, but I'll provide you the contact details. Trust me, it's worth the effort !!!

The stall actually has a name, Peng Heong Hakka Paikut Restaurant ... that's what it's called. The owner, William Yong runs the place and he's also the Head Chef there. Now, let's dive in to the menu shall we ? We begin with the speciality, the most popular "Pai Kut" - also known as spare rib in english. Interesting enough, the spare rib dish ... is boneless. Now if you ask me, the usual Pork Rib King ... or more commonly known as "Pai Kut Wong" is available almost anywhere and taste pretty common. But what you get here is really ....good.

Imagine yourself smelling the delicious aroma of the "just-served" Pai Kut dish .... taking a piece of it and then sinking your teeth into the tender and soft meat ... and finally the heavenly taste ... just before letting it slip down your throat ...... I think I'll order another plate of that .... and another one for take-away please !!!!

Now, your gourmet experience doesn't end here. The Vinegered Pork, Assam Fish and especially the Curry Chicken ...... deeeeeeelicious ! Somewhat special, the Curry Chicken is similar to Chicken Rendang ... only better. Not getting enough of the chicken, we ordered another serving of Mutton Curry ... which is equally as good.

Finally, a word from the author ...that is myself. Please do yourself a favor and go try this out. A gastronomical experience you wouldn't want to miss, as some would say.

Contact Details :

PENG HEONG HAKKA PAIKUT RESTAURANT
William Yong Yok Pin
Tel : 019-2600855 / 012-2369855
Address : No, 21, 22, 23, 24, Jalan Cox, Batu Tiga Solok Baharu, 41300 Klang, Selangor.

Ratings
OVERALL RATING : * * * * (good food, good value)
Environment Rating : * * (Roadside stalls, not hygiene friendly)
Food Rating : * * * * * (good stuff, recommend to friends)
Service Rating : * * (what service?)
Value Rating : * * * * * (not too pricey)

Operation Details

Operating Hours : no information

Miscellaneous Details

Halal : Definitely Not
Dining Method : Dine-In Takeaway
Special Dishes : Hakka Paikut (Pork Ribs), Assam Fish, Vinegered Pork Ribs
Food/Cuisine : Chinese
Ambience/Features : Family . Open air
BYO Allowed? : Yes
Reservations : Accept pre-orders

Gastronomical Adventure in Jakarta

2006-09-01T12:45:00.000+08:00

I just got back from Jakarta ... and after settling down ... finally managed to get some time to start writing again.

First off .. to those of you who haven't been to Jakarta .. it's a big .. no.. that's an understatement. It's a Huge city. You don't see that many high rise lots in the city, that is because the buildings are spread out all over the city. Population ... ? Let's just say it's crowded. Economically ... there's a big gap as what the people would say. Meaning .. the rich are filthy rich and the poor are ... hoohum....

To find food in the J city is not at all difficult. To find good food ... firstly you'll have to pick up some Indonesian slang. "Selamat siang, pak!" is a common greeting term. Then you learn to take the Bajaj, a local transportation that will bring you to the most corner of the city. Finally, you may want to learn how to read Indonesian menu ... of course, if you're heading to a hotel or fast food joint, that doesn't apply, although the currency exchange might have some shocking effect. The Rupiah's are great currency ... you can see that by the amount of zeros it has on the behind. Alright, now that the cultural thingy is settled, let's move on to the topic of food.

Food in Jakarta city, I would split it into a few category ... this is according to my analysis.

First in the chart would be the exclusive hotel/restaurant/fastfood which is easily accesible (i.e. no problem ordering). The food here are easily understood, menu are usually in plain english and mostly international food.

Then, there's foodcourts in shopping malls which is also easily accesible and language barrier shouldn't an issue since most of them working in malls do speak english.

Finally there's the millions of tiny stalls dotting around the big J city. Every corridor turn, every pavement alley, under bridges .. you name it, there they are.

Serdang AHEKO Hot Soup Restaurant (Lat Thong)

2006-08-27T14:49:00.000+08:00

Where I work, we get 2 hours off for lunch on Fridays and since I work in Cyberjaya ... it's really a blessing i.e. there aren't much dining experience to look forward to in Cyberjaya. Usually we tend to get a little adventurous in Fridays ... going out in packs, hunting for a good meal. From Cyberjaya .. we venture further to Kajang for Ice Kacang and Chi Cheong Fun ... to USJ, Taipan for Italian food ... Sungai Long for Pan Mee. This round, we headed to Serdang for some nice hot Pig Intestine Pepper Soup ! AHEKO Hot Soup Restaurant is located next to South City Plaza in Serdang. Head towards South City Plaza, there are 2 rows of shop, right next to the Mall. AHEKO is right in the middle ... if you drive along the shoplots .. you'll never miss the big red signboard ..... here's also a little satellite map to guide you.

Hot Soup is the speciality in this restaurant .. the Pig Intestine Pepper soup. Non-Asians might get a little turned off by the name of the soup, but trust me ... try it and you might get hooked to it. It's really good especially in cold weather ... imaging sipping this hot pepperish spicy soup in a cold winter night. YUMMY ! (Not that I've tried that before .. I imagine a lot). Besides the soup, another speciality is the Wine and Black Sauce Spicy Chicken .. another delicacy ! As the name mentioned ... the dish is a little spicy with a little wine taste ! A reminder though .. drink lot's of fluid after this meal. In chinese ... we would say .. this meal is a little "heaty" ... if you know what I mean.

The prices here are not at all expensive .. the soups are between RM8.00 to RM12.00 which serves from 4 to 8 person and averagely, the dishes are between those pricing too. You would probably fork out approximately RM100 ++ for a table of 8 - 10 which is quite reasonable, I would say.

For those adventurous diner who like to try preparing the Pig Intestine Pepper Soup on your own, here are the instructions. Good luck with the intestine though .....

http://chowtimes.com/2006/07/pig_stomach_pepper_soup.html

Anyway, here's my review ....

Contact Details

AHEKO HOT SOUP
No. 6-3, Jalan SP2/2,
Taman Serdang Perdana,
Seksyen 2, 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor.
Tel: 03-8941 1337

Ratings
OVERALL RATING : * * * * (good food, good value)
Environment Rating : * * * * (fortunately it's airconditioned, else you'd be perspiring! restaurant's a little plain .. a little touch up could help brighten up the place)
Food Rating : * * * * * (good stuff, recommend to friends)
Service Rating : * * * * (not bad, waiters missing at times)
Value Rating : * * * * * (not too pricey)

Operation Details

Operating Hours : 10.00am ～ 11.30pm(Weekday)；10.00am ～ 10.00pm(Weekend)

Miscellaneous Details

Halal : Definitely Not
Dining Method : Dine-In Takeaway
Special Dishes : Pig Intestine Pepper Soup, Wine and Black Sauce Chicken
Food/Cuisine : Chinese
Ambience/Features : Family . Air Conditioned .
BYO Allowed? : No
Reservations : Accepted

Tim Sum @ Restaurant Mexim Connaught

2006-08-24T19:46:00.000+08:00

Taman Connaught, Cheras has always been a food haven and not surprisingly ... I went there to seek out some tim sum for breakfast last Sunday. After all, I just got back from Jakarta and after spending a week on Indonesian food ... I crave for some nice, hot piping tim sum. Someone told that there's this restaurant in Taman Connaught which serves pretty good tim sum. It's a corner lot shop along the beginning of the the Wednesday Night Market in Taman Connaught. Those night market seekers would be familiar. Anyway, true to the believe ... the tim sum were really good ! Trip worth taking .......

Just a little on the pricing, 5 adults having a good breakfast will cost you around RM50++ for about 20 items. Averagely, the tim sum are priced between RM2.20 to RM6.00.

Contact Details

Restaurant Mexim Connaught
No.2, Jalan Cerdik,
Taman Connaught,
Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel : 91016679

Just to share some experience .. here's what I had ...

Movenpick Marche Restaurant

2006-07-31T16:49:00.000+08:00

The motto – “Eat in a colorful market-place atmosphere” – is certainly meant to be taken literally in Mövenpick Marché restaurants. Marché is a totally FRESH concept in dining pioneered by Mövenpick in Europe in 1983.

Marché ( pronounced ‘Mar-Shay’) is an extravaganza – a hive of culinary and market activity where the only constant is change. It abounds with color from the mountains of produce, baked goods, meats, fish, pastries, fruits and other foods. Colorful tiles, flagstone flooring, bright awnings and ceiling hangings, barrels, baskets and wagons create the flavour of a bustling European market.

Marché opens its doors every day at 11.00am and virtually everything you see in the way of raw foods, prepared foods and ingredients are brand new. All breads and pastries are fresh baked continuously. Wherever possible, produce, meats and seafood are fresh from the market. Pasta is prepared right in front of your eyes.

Located at the ground floor of The Curve in Mutiara Damansara, Marche provides a totally different dining experience .. at least for me it is. Imagine this, before entering the restaurant .. you are given a Marche market passport .. like this one here. Please do bear in mind that this little card actually cost you RM200 if you ever lose it. Well .. unless your food costs you more than RM200, it's quite a painful experience. Once you're in the restaurant, you will see something quite familiar, a marketplace of some sort. You can wander around different market stands and freely select whatever food that appeals to you. You get to see for yourself the freshness and quality of the produce; smell what’s baking in the ovens; hear the food sizzling; and watch the food being prepared right in front of your eyes, fresh from the “market”.

When you're done choosing your food from the stations, more selection lies ahead. It’s time to choose which of our seating areas go with your mood of the moment. La Poterie is reminiscent of the pottery-making cottage, while the Bistro is typical of a Parisian tavern. The Swiss House has the flavour of a Swiss mountain inn.

You pick and eat all you can, most of the food are deliciously prepared. I guess the only thing about this is when it comes to the bill. Remember the market passport I meantioned? Yes, everytime you pick and choose the food the card is stamped. When you "check out" from the restaurant, you pay based on the stamps on your card. Let's just say, not only the food is european ... the price is also as such.

The key to the Marché concepts is the collection of market tables and stations where daily specials are prepared and cooked to other. Its fun to discuss techniques and recipes with the chef’s and you can actually buy raw ingredients and others to take home with you if you wish. (After all, Marché is a market too!) The extensive food offer includes Meat and Seafood Grills, Salads and Delicacies, Pizza, Rösti, Pasta, Roast, Sausages, Vegetables, Sushi, Bread & Pastries, Desserts, Coffee, Fresh Pressed Juice, Wines and Beers. New items are always cooking.

Contact Details
Lot G87, Ground Floor,
The Curve, Mutiara Damansara,
47800 Petaling Jaya
Tel: 03 7728 9200,
Fax: 03 7727 5660

Ratings
OVERALL RATING : * * * * *
Environment Rating : * * * * *
Food Rating : * * * *
Service Rating : * * * *
Value Rating : * *

Operation Details
Average Price : approx RM100++ for 3 person
Operating Hours : From 10am daily
Accepted Cards: : Master Card , Visa Card

Miscellaneous Details
Halal : Yes
Dining Method : Dine-In / Takeaway
Food/Cuisine : Casual Dining, Cuisine: Swiss, Pastries, Pasta, Fruit Juice, Seafood
Ambience/Features : Family . Air Conditioned . Alcohol . Casual Dining .
BYO Allowed? : No
Reservations : Accepted

Heavenly Hor Fun

2006-07-26T13:44:00.000+08:00

It's time for me to get back to my mainstream topic, food review after a short break. We're back to another round of local delight, and I bring you one of Malaysia's most popular meal, Ipoh "Kai Xi" Hor Fun (Shredded Chicken Rice Cake String). As in the name, this meal is most popularly known in "Ipoh" (a town in Northern Malaysia) but due to public demand, it is now available almost anywhere in Malaysia. Tucked away in a little corner lot along Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur is this little coffee shop known as Kedai Mei Sin that sells one of the best Ipoh "Kai Xi" Hor Fun in town. The shop has been operating for more than twenty years. The taste of the food they serve reflects the experience that these people have in preparing the dish. It's really, really good ! Besides Kai Xi Hor Fun, the rest of the stalls sell good stuffs as well such as the Chicken Rice, the "Char Kuey Tiow" (Fried Rice Cake String) and also not forgetting the local delight .. the Toasted Bread or more commonly known as "Roti Bakar" - the actual translation meant "Burnt Bread" but trust me, it's definitely not burnt in any way. It is actually very good, toasted bread layered with butter and "kaya" (locally produced jam made with coconut and egg).

Ratings

OVERALL RATING : * * *

Environment Rating : * *
Food Rating : * * * *
Service Rating : * *
Value Rating : * * * * *

Operation Details
Operating Hours : Mon - Sun 8:00am - 2:00pm

Miscellaneous Details

Halal : No
Dining Method : Dine-In / Takeaway
Special Dishes : Ipoh "Kai Xi" Hor Fun, Chicken Rice, Char Kuey Tiow
Food/Cuisine : Local chinese
Ambience/Features : Well, it's a coffee shop. Imagine oily floors and char kuey tiow smell all over
BYO Allowed? : Yes
Reservations : Definitely not.

A little something on Hor Fun

Shāhé fěn (Chinese: 沙河粉), colloquially called hé fěn (河粉), is a type of wide Chinese noodle made from rice. While Shāhé fěn and hé fěn are transliterations based on Mandarin Chinese, there are numerous other transliterations based on Cantonese Chinese, which include ho fen, hofen, ho-fen, ho fun, ho-fun, hor fun, hor fen, sar hor fun etc. In addition, shāhé fěn is often called kway teow (粿條, lit. "rice cake string," transliteration based on Min Nan Chinese) or guo tiáo (corresponding transliteration based on Mandarin), as in the name of a dish called char kway teow.

Shāhé fěn are believed to have originated in the town of Shāhé, now a district of the city of Guangzhou, in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, from whence their name derives. Shāhé fěn is typical of southern Chinese cuisine, although similar noodles are also prepared and enjoyed in nearby Southeast Asian nations such as Vietnam and Thailand, which both have sizeable Chinese populations.

Shāhé fěn noodles are white in color, broad, and somewhat slippery. Their texture is elastic and a bit chewy. They do not freeze or dry well and are thus generally purchased fresh, in strips or sheets that may be cut to the desired width.

Shāhé fěn noodles are very similar to Vietnamese pho noodles, which are likely derived from their Chinese counterpart. Although the pho noodles used in soups are generally very narrow (similar to linguini in width), wider pho noodles are also common in stir fried dishes.

Special "Lou Shi Fun" @ Yoke Heng

2006-07-25T20:17:00.000+08:00

The direct translation for "Lou Shi Fun" would have to be "Rat Noodle" which of course does not exactly means the same. It's probably named that way because the noodles are similar in shape and size to rat tails. But one thing is for sure, it doesn't taste anything like a rat's tail ... not that I've tried a rat tail myself !

Jokes aside, let's bring our attention back to a more serious note. In this session, we shall be talking about this fantastic new restaurant that I've visited recently. Just a "stone-throw" away from Astro TPM Bukit Jalil is Yoke Heng Restaurant which serves a very special "version" of Nga Pou Lou Shi Fun. "Nga Pou" in cantonese means Claypot, in this case Claypot Lou Shi Fun.

Contact Details

Ratings

OVERALL RATING :
Environment Rating :
Food Rating :
Service Rating :
Value Rating :

Operation Details

Operating Hours :

Miscellaneous Details

Halal : No
Dining Method : Dine-In / Takeaway
Special Dishes : Claypot Egg Lou Shi Fun
Food/Cuisine :
Ambience/Features :
BYO Allowed? : Yes
Reservations : Accepted

Eric Deli Paradise

2006-07-23T17:09:00.000+08:00

The 'Eric' mentioned in Eric Deli Paradise is referring to the Hong Kong celebrity Eric Tsang famous for his popular SuperTrio game show , if you really must know. But I do believe Eric Tsang do not own Eric Deli Paradise, well not wholely but having his image pasted all over this red and white themed restaurant as a part of deco does attract curious diners such as me.

http://shw.fotopages.com/11458673.html

Eric Deli Paradise is located on the ground floor of Hartamas Shopping Centre covering a huge chunk of the right wing ... from unit G11B - G15 to be exact, right next to the entrance of the parking lot. Just check out the map provided above. The place is huge therefore not a problem to find a table. I guess the restaurant could easily fit 350 people or so ... with private function rooms too.

Anyway, since I was there to try out the 'tim sum' ... I didn't had the chance to review their popular Sze Chuan dishes (noted in my next to do list). The ordering style is exactly like what you get in some other popular Hong Kong based restaurants and cafe .. a paper menu with pencil for you to start ticking away. Call me old-fashioned but I still don't feel comfortable ordering stuffs that I can't visualize. Not having much of a choice, I made some choices and 'submitted' my orders to the ever-smilling service personnels dressed in all-red. A glance-thru the crowds ... my next table, 2 couples - probably rich (expensive sunglass stuck on hair nited) with screaming babies, sigh! Looked the other way, an old couple ... quietly enjoying their lunch ..probably felt irritated at my staring .. also rich looking. Seriously, I should review my observations. I am probably biased ... everyone looking rich just because I am in Hartamas area :-S

ANYWAY ... this is what I've ordered .... with a couple of other stuffs and the total bill for 2 person came up to about RM64.00. Quite a hefty amount ... I would say. But then again .. it is Hartamas!

New Paris Restaurant PJ

2006-07-20T14:08:00.000+08:00

New Paris Restaurant

Here's my 'experience' during my last visit to the New Paris Restaurant starting with the typical hunting for a parking practice, especially on a weekend where everyone's too lazy to even visit their kitchen. Once you have secured a parking, you will need to find a table next. Entering the restaurant, you will be greeted by this 'uncle' asking for total number of people coming in to dine. He then 'registers' your name in his big "buku nota" or notepad.

He will subsequently shouts through his "karaoke" looking microphone for a free table and chances are he will ask you to move aside and wait for some 10 minutes or so. Okay, now you have 10 minutes or more to spend .. either standing around staring at people. You'd probably notice quite a number of yuppies eating there. That is because New Paris Restaurant is strategically located in a very busy office location (then again, all outlets in SS2 ARE strategically located, hence the sky-high rental !!!) which is why you see most of them dine there after work, usually bitching about work, how unfairly they're treated by their bosses or how cute the new secretary is.

Then you hear your name being called ... asking you to proceed to table 20 or some table numbers which doesn't really matter to you. Only when you know your table is located halfway outside the road did you realize that you should've asked to sit upstairs - airconditioned, that's why. Usually the "Uncle" will politely comply to your request - requesting you to wait for another 10 minutes. Of course, the trembling feet and growling tummy sends a totally different message and your mind seems to go on cruise control - you proceed to tell "Uncle" "Okay, okay .. I take lah ... the table. Where ah?"

"Uncle" something get's in a nice mood and changes his mind. "Okay, fast fast ! Table 5 got place oledi ... go go!" Yup ! upstairs ..... aircond. Yippee !!!

Good ... now that you're seated at your table, getting ready to order ... I can only recommend 1 very popular dish here. The Watermelon Porkrib is something you shouldn't miss out. Other than that, I can't really remember the other dishes since the last time I went there was ... err.. a couple of months ago. Ha ha ha ... anyway, if I ever go there again ... I will get down more details and post it here. As for now, you know how to go, you know how to order your first dish ... I will let your creativity fulfill your hungry tummy !

Contact Details

New Paris Restaurant (formerly Paris Restaurant)62, 64, 66 Jalan SS2/72, 47300 Petaling Jaya
Tel: 03 7955 9180, 03 7955 0186

Ratings
OVERALL RATING : * * *
Environment Rating : * * *
Food Rating : * * * *
Service Rating : * * *
Value Rating : * * *

Operation Details

Average Price : approx RM100++ for 5 person
Operating Hours : can't remember ...
Accepted Cards: : Master Card , Visa Card

Miscellaneous Details

Halal : Nope, definitely not !
Dining Method : Dine-In Takeaway
Food/Cuisine : Chinese
Ambience/Features : Family . Air Conditioned . Alcohol . Casual Dining .
BYO Allowed? : Yes
Reservations : Accepted

Ka-Soh Seafood Restaurant

2006-07-19T13:05:00.000+08:00

KA-SOH (sister-in-law in Cantonese) owes its name to the belief that this person in the Chinese patriarchy is usually filled by someone quite dedicated, diligent and hardworking.

Ka-Soh Seafood Restaurant is situated in a car park opposite the Ritz Carlton entrance and behind The Westin. Ka Soh sounds so ordinary but rumour has it that there has been loads of Chinese celebrities from abroad and local who've sat and ate here. Proof comes in the form of celebrity photographs on their notice board as a testament to their visit.

Ka-Soh is famous for their Fishhead Noodles (鱼头米粉), Kah-Soh curry fish head and the special Prawn Paste Fried Chicken (虾酱鸡).

Deep fried frog with ginger

Kah-Soh curry fish head

Kah-Soh deep fried prawn paste chicken

Chef special bean curd

Other specialities

Ka-Soh sang yee (toman) fish head and fillet noodles Kah-Soh steamed song yee (silver carp) head with black bean sauce Kah-Soh braised sang yee (toman) head with black bean sauce Kah-Soh deep fried red tilapia with special Thai sauce Deep fried pork intestines Pan fried braised pork belly Kah-Soh stir fried bean sprouts with intestines

:P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P

More information coming up later ... stay tuned !

Restoran Sri Karak

2006-07-18T21:02:00.000+08:00

Durian Bomb, originally uploaded by timlow2002.

Steamed Assorted Eggs, originally uploaded by timlow2002.

House Special Claypot Chicken, originally uploaded by timlow2002.

Boiled Spinach Soup, originally uploaded by timlow2002.

Be The First To Eat. That's the tagline for Sri Karak Restaurant.

If you have been to Karak town or frequently drive along the Karak Highway, you must have come across or at least heard of the famous Yik Kei Restaurant which is very much praised for its durian puffs as well as hearty Chinese food.

Yik Kei has now expanded it's business into Klang Valley in the form of Sri Karak Restaurant offering the same delicious cooking as the orriginal Yik Kei. While Yik Kei in Karak is a non-halal outlet, Seri Karak is pork-free. The food is pretty much the same, though, and showcases some of the produce that Pahang is famous for: thin French beans from the highlands, deliciously smooth and slippery patin fish and, of course, the king of fruits, the durian.

Most pastries in Seri Karak are self-baked The building has a separate section in the front of its multi-storey, bright-coloured restaurant that is dedicated to baked products. Products are baked only once in the morning and only sold while stocks last. There are homemade Swiss rolls slathered with coconut jam, Portuguese egg tarts, durian-flavoured egg tarts and the famous Durian Bomb, wherein creamy durian is mixed with sweet potato and then deep-fried until it is crispy on the outside but meltingly soft on the inside.

The pricing are very reasonable in Sri Karak. Here's a list of what I've eaten and the pricing.

Boiled Spinach Soup (regular sized) - RM7.00
House Special Claypot Chicken (regular sized) - RM12.00
Steamed Assorted Eggs (regular sized)- RM8.00
Durian Bomb - RM1.60 each
Portuegese Tart - RM1.20 each

With drinks and plain rice, the bill came up to about RM46.00. I'd say it's quite ok for a 3 person meal. By the way, they do charge service/tax charges.

Contact Details

RESTORAN SRI KARAK

No. 17 Jalan 52/8, Section 52, Petaling JayaSelangor

Tel: 03-7958 3280

Ratings

OVERALL RATING : * * * *
Environment Rating : * * *
Food Rating : * * * *
Service Rating : * * * *
Value Rating : * * * *

Operation Details

Operating Hours : Mon-Sat (10am-10pm; Sunday, lunch (11am-3pm); dinner (6pm-10pm)

Miscellaneous Details

Halal : Yes

Dining Method : Dine-In / Takeaway

Special Dishes : Durian Bomb / Durian Tart

Food/Cuisine : Serves Chinese food, with influences from Pahang Malay culture

Ambience/Features : Cosy . Family . Air Conditioned .

BYO Allowed? : Yes

Reservations : Accepted

Three Meals Of Goodness

I've Moved

DRAGON-i

Chocz

Choon Yien Restaurant

Izzi Pizza, Pasta & Coffee

Yee Sang

Marco's Pizza

Ryo Zan Tei in Berjaya Hills

Wendy's Bistro @ Sunway

Shrimpz Prawn Farm @ Langkawi

Italiannies Pasta Pizza & Vino

6 to 10 Grill & Nasi Lemak

Padi House Cyberjaya

Old Town Kopitiam Cyberjaya

Food Foundry

Manhattan Fish Market

Strawberries On Sticks 岩石糖 草莓

Restoran K.T.L. 啤 律 光 头 佬

Food & Tea Restaurants (欢喜地茶餐厅)

Vietnam Kitchen

Bumbubali Restaurant

Peng Heong Hakka PAIKUT

Gastronomical Adventure in Jakarta

Serdang AHEKO Hot Soup Restaurant (Lat Thong)

Tim Sum @ Restaurant Mexim Connaught

Movenpick Marche Restaurant

Heavenly Hor Fun

Special "Lou Shi Fun" @ Yoke Heng

Eric Deli Paradise

New Paris Restaurant PJ

Ka-Soh Seafood Restaurant

Restoran Sri Karak

Strawberries On Sticks 岩石糖草莓

Restoran K.T.L. 啤律光头佬