Happy Friday the 13th - Mango Lolo from KTZ, SS2, Petaling Jaya

mango lolo in its full glory

A quick one for today, something to cheer up today. Seems to be such a double-edged sword today - it's Friday meaning the end of the work week BUT today is the thirteenth! Hope nothing bad happens to me or you, today and the Friday passes like a breeze.


I love thee my mango, Splashie Boy's honeydew version

Today, I decided to highlight one of favourite ways to beat the heat. The weather nowadays is as usual a little crazy - super hot in the afternoons and then rain in the evenings. For me, my favourite way of relaxing on a Sunday hot afternoon is the mango lolo at KTZ, SS2. Packed with blended fresh mangos with sago pearls and mango cubes, this tops a mountain of shaved ice. Slowly eat it from the side to enjoy the sweet mango taste with the icy cold shaved ice. Yums! Splashie Boy prefers the honeydew version (he does love his honeydew!) but give me the mango version anytime. One can understand why KTZ does such booming business, as the food is excellent there (love their fried rice) and these mango lolos - prepare to wait a very very long time especially the night time (we once did and was counting the number of lolos emerging from the dessert counter!). Strawberry, kiwifruit, redbean, mixed fruit lolos are also available.

So what's your favourite way to beat the heat? Cendol, Ais kacang or just something simple whipped at home?

Taiwanese Food @ Zhen Shan Mei, Soho KL

Prawn with mayonnaise salad (RM38)

I'm always a fan of Taiwanese food since to my tastebuds, it's very similar to Chinese food but with an edge that makes it also very distinctively different. While I've never travelled to Taiwan, my yardstick on Taiwanese food has been Formosa Restaurant in SS2 (a place I grew up with) and in recent years, Fong Lye - a place we regularly dine.

3 combination platter - mochi foie gras, scallops and mullet roe (RM28)

Thus I was excited to read from Eat Drink KL's blog (the go-to blog for new places to try) about this new place at Soho KL, opened by the same owners of Michelangelo's. A quick word with the very friendly captain revealed this place did open for a very short time in Sunway Pyramid but relocated here. The chef is from Taiwan and it seems even the ingredients are imported from Taiwan to keep it as authentic as possible.


1. Papaya pickles with passionfruit (RM4) to whet the appetite, 2. lu ro fan or braised pork rice (RM3), 3. Black chicken with lotus soup (RM18)

Unfortunately two subsequent visits to this place yielded one general response - if you're on a lookout for Chinese food presented in a more refined way then this place is great BUT if you're seeking extraordinary Taiwanese food with the wonderful aromas and flavours like I've experienced in Fong Lye, then sadly you won't find it here.


Steamed cod with cordia seeds (RM58)

Chiefly the place failed the sanbei kai or 3 cup chicken test in terms of Taiwan authenticity i.e. an utter lack of the heady aromas you get when the waiter opens the claypot lid, as the chicken sizzles in a sauce made from soy sauce and rice wine, mixed with fresh basil leaves with sliced ginger. Instead, the dish fizzled out to be just an ordinary braised soy sauce chicken. We reckon they must have adapted this dish for the locals as usually the authentic ones is a little drier while their version has more sauce.


Stewed chicken with wine (sanbei kai) - RM36

That's not to say we didn't enjoy our other dishes, as the steamed cod served with beancurd was beautifully executed with silky smooth beancurd with the Taiwanese cordia seeds to give you a burst of saltiness to an otherwise quite bland tasting dish. Another favorite was the sinful pork belly slices that crumble into the mouth when bitten in paired with Taiwanese mui choy that is not overly salted.


1. Pork belly with mui choy (RM28). 2. US Short ribs on hot stone (RM68)

This place serves some unusual dishes like the appetisers - a soft yet slightly chewy mochi filled with foie gras and vegetables, the mullet roe and scallops served with a tangy sauce and ikura. My favourite was the mullet roe that reminded me a little of salted egg yolk but less of a saltier edge. Savour each slice slowly with the raw leek thinly sliced to balance out the salty taste. My only complaint about the mochi roll would be it was a shame to use foie gras that way though since you don't really taste it within the roll in one bite.


Stir fried loofah with scallops and clams (RM28)

Some dishes are beautifully presented like the prawns with mayonnaise, served in passionfruit "cups" as the mayonnaise coated prawns are lightly tossed with a passionfruit sauce. That combination made the prawns less overwhelming creamy and easy to munch down. Topping each golden prawn was shredded seaweed, while at the bottom of each "cup" was canned pineapple.


Fish rolls with shrimp paste (RM16)

Other dishes we also tried that didn't wow the tastebuds was the loofah (not too old) topped with crispy scallops and clams , the black chicken soup with lotus root, US short ribs with black pepper sauce and the fish roll with prawn paste. One problem I noticed that they had was when the food arrived on the table, it's more of a tepid temperature vs a nice hot one I prefer. If the service is a little more slower, I can imagine more complaints coming. However, if you're eating the sizzling items like the US short ribs or the san bei kai, you don't need to worry, as they come piping hot to the table.

The menu also features dim sum (available even at night) that looks very similar to their Chinese cousins. Some are given luxe touches and touched with sliced truffles. Citibank is also running a promotion for their cardholders - 50% for selected dishes like wok fried scrambled egg with shark's fin, abalone dishes for lunchtime until 3pm from Mondays to Fridays. Good chance for one to sample the more pricier dishes. More details are found in the Star newspaper article. Full set of pictures can be found in the flickr set.

Zhen Shan Mei
Lot J-OG-13, Ground Floor
Solaris Mont Kiara
No. 2, Jalan Solaris
50480 Kuala Lumpur

Tel:03-62037071

(Non Halal. This corner lot is below Boston and faces the row of shophouses behind Public Bank. Outdoor seating is also available.)

*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. This review is time sensitive; changes may occur to the place later on that can affect this opinion. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from this place for writing the review.

Tagged with: Taiwanese Food+ SohoKL

Dining Out @ Gu Yue Tien, Chulan Square, Kuala Lumpur

the cold seafood platter from a 4-person set for RM268++

Gu Yue Tien is fast becoming a family favourite of ours. Ever since my luxe steamboat experience there, we have been back twice for dinner. My mother - the one with the very discerning and sophisticated palate (she often eats at Hua Ting, Lei Garden in Singapore, Beijing, London and etc) loves this place and no matter, where we go we end up comparing to this place. What we also like about Gu Yue Tien is, it's just not all about luxe items and unusual flavour pairings, as we were also very impressed with the traditional Chinese and simpler dishes like poached prawns (very fresh) or the pan fried prawns (similar to kon cheen har) - a delectable and toothsome dish served with an aromatic soy sauce. Even plain vegetables were well cooked with very little oil, something my family loves.

Cold dish course from RM99++ per person set: 1. ham I am - iberico ham with rock melon topped with avruga caviar, 2. giant clam with kumquat sauce served with cherry tomatoes and water melon. 3. smoked salmon & onion crab meat roll

Hence, when my friend asked me to sample their new set dinners, I didn't hesitate and joined them for dinner on a stormy night. It was a set dinner the waiter had earlier recommended to us the last time we dined here (the kobe beef is so good!). Ever since then, I've been thinking of returning to try that set since the portions are served Western-style like a tasting menu making it ideal for the 2 of us.

Hot combination course from RM99++ per person set: 1. crispy oyster with chili sweet potato, salsa and vinegar glazed, 2. soft boiled egg with foie gras, 3. "mo mo" duck roll

We sampled two sets that night - a 7-course set priced at RM99++ per person (minimum order of 2 persons) and a 6-course set priced at RM268++ for 4 persons. The seven course meal consisted of a cold dish, hot combination, shark's fin soup, seafood, meat, rice/noodles and dessert. Portions are individually sized and more generous than Western-like tasting menu. You get a choice of three items for each course - a great way to hook you in to coming back a few more times to try all the various dishes, as most of them are equally good.

Shark's fin soup from RM99++ per person set: 1. double boiled golden coin shark's fin soup with chin hua ham & cabbage, 2. braised golden coin shark's fin soup, 3. braised shark's fin soup with crab meat from the 4-person set for RM268++

We kick off with the cold seafood platter from the 4-person set of RM268++, where you are served a combination of large Pacific oysters, prawns and cold crab to be eaten with black vinegar or soy sauce mixed with wasabi. Everything is super fresh and my favourite is the sweet crab meat eaten just on its own or dipped with just a smidgeon of black vinegar for an extra tangy taste.

seafood course from the RM99++ per person set: 1. wok fried pineapple prawn cake (also available in the 4-person set for RM268++), 2. crispy soft shell crab with mousseline pumpkin, 3. fresh water eel with avocado mousse

Nothing prepared us for the rollercoaster of flavours that assaulted us next, as each course came out for the RM99++ per person set. I loved the combination of the Iberico ham wrapped around a sweet and juicy rock melon topped with a generous dollop of Avruga caviar. Equally good was the smoked salmon wrapped around onion crab meat and drizzled with a sweet basil sauce. My favourite out of all the three items - the tangy and slightly spicy pairing of a kumquat sauce (a combination of kumquat, bunga kantan or ginger flowers with bird's eye chillies) with a slice of the giant clam, cherry tomato and watermelon. Starting the meal with that is so ideal, since the tangy taste kicks in the appetite for you to finish off the 6 courses that follow.


Meat course from the RM99++ per person set: 1. pan fried black pig with wasabi and butter shoyu sauce, 2. wok seared sliced sirloin with marinated oriental spice, 3. wok charred rack of lamb (also available under the 4-person set for RM268++)

The hot combination course is just as exciting that it was so hard to choose which was my favourite. I loved the crispy oyster with the tangy sweet potato and chilli salsa and vinegar sauce. We were playing a guessing game on what was used to make the sauce with suggestions like reduced balsamic vinegar and etc. Gu Yu Tien's owner, Frankie stumped us with his revelation, it was Teochew braised sauce known as loh sooi mixed with Chinese black vinegar and reduced. A classic Gu Yu Tien dish is the soft boiled egg topped with the decadent foie gras sauce. Yummy till the last drop and I was given the not very difficult task of finishing this. Last but not least, it was the mo mo duck roll - a lovely combination of pressed duck, sweet mango, hoisin sauce, mustard and spring onions.


the luxurious mun fan that you'll want to eat all day long - braised abalone with rice and assorted meat from the RM99++ per person set and the 4-person set for RM268++

The 7-course set also comes with shark's fin soup, which is great value considering if you order this on an individual basis, it's about RM70 per person. We were oohing and aahing over the prospect of a peppery pig stomach soup with shark's fin but instead we were blown away by the sweet and delicate flavours from the double boiled shark's fin soup with chin hua ham and dried cabbage. Simply good till the last drop!


rice/noodles course from the RM99++ per person set: 1. braised rice with seafood and egg sauce, 2. "hainan" noodles

Looks are often deceiving hence when you see the simple grilled fresh water eel slices served with avocado mousse on the side, you'll brush the avocado portion as just decoration or even something just on the side. Combine the two items in your mouth and you get an explosion of flavours - smooth avocado with a tangy tone from blended pickled green chillies and the melt-in-the-mouth texture. Brings to mind, how avocado can be paired with the most unlikely things like the fried tempura avocado with pan-fried foie gras served in Sage that also blew me away.


our melt-in-the-mouth kobe beef

Another item within that RM99++ per person and also the 4-person set for RM268++ is the wok fried pineapple prawn cake. The moment the plate is placed in front, you'll be hit with the aromas from the bacon and jackfruit used within. The prawn cake is stacked high on top of sliced red cabbage with strawberries and a light creamy sauce that tastes so good with the bacon. The other item within the set is the light and crispy soft shell crab paired with a slightly saltish pumpkin creme.


1. mushrooms with foie gras sauce, 2. bean sprouts are a must for shark's fin 3. braised golden coin shark's fin soup

We're all groaning from all the food but when the tender slices of meat is placed in front of us, we can't resist. Everything is so good, I can's decide between the tender black pig served with the unusual wasabi soy sauce with butter or the wok charred lamb rack (beats a fine dining restaurant with its melt-in-the-mouth texure) or the sirloin topped with a generous portion of mushrooms.


incredibly finger-licking good soy sauce pan fried prawns

Even noodles and rice is elevated to the higher ground with Gu Yu Tien's versions. I loved the Hainan noodles - thick yellow noodles served with a thickish broth that got its soury tang from sliced pineapples, pickled onions and chillies that you don't need to add any extra vinegar. Braised rice is not something new and comforting like the braised eggy sauce served with seafood and rice. However, the ultimate comfort food must be the braised abalone rice, served with a very aromatic sauce made from abalone sauce, smoked tea duck and chopped vegetables. Utterly sublime stuff.


light and refreshing chilled mango pudding served with grass jelly cubes

Last but not least its the dessert course - the unusual pairing of bittergourd pudding or the light tasting mango pudding topped with grass jelly cubes that makes a refreshing end to a very good meal. Avocado cream is also served in this selection that I found a little too sweet for my liking.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself and vowed to come back to try the dishes again as they're all so incredibly good with unusual flavour pairings. For those who wish to see the full menu, please click on this link for the information on the various courses. More pictures of each of the courses and what we ate the last time my family had dinner is also found in the Flickr set.

Gu Yue Tien
Lot B5-A
Chulan Square
92 Jalan Raja Chulan
Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-2148 0808

(Non Halal)

*Notice: The reviewer declares that part of this review was by invitation from the restaurant.

A guide to Hairy Crabs in Kuala Lumpur - 2009 edition

hairy crab picture pinched from my previous King Crab post

Tis that time of the year when our cholestrol levels get a double boost from this highly coveted crustacean aka the hairy crab (tai cheok hai in Cantonese). Usually available from October to November onwards, most of the Chinese restaurants in town are running promotions for this delicacy prized for its rich and creamy roe. From what I read, it seems crabs harvested in October are said to be meatier while the crabs caught in November are said to have creamier roe.

In the midst of searching for a place to indulge in this decadent treat, I decided to compile a list of places that offer them for an easy reference plus comparison. It's not an exhaustive list of places but hopefully it's a start to get you on the right track. Note that the restaurants are alphabetically listed. Some have set menus, promotion offers while others only offer a la carte options.

1. Ah Yat Abalone Forum
Avenue K, Tel:03-2166 3131 & Section 13 PJ, Tel:03-7960 4988

Set menu one: RM148++, no minimum order
abalone, fried cod fish, steamed hairy crab, sharks fin soup, fried rice, kailan, ginger tea and dumplings for dessert

Set menu two: RM288++, no minimum order
abalone (kon pau chee), deep fried prawn roll, seasonal vegetables cooked with crab meat and stock, steamed hairy crab, fried cod fish, birds nest and shark's fin soup, braised mushroom noodles, ginger tea and dumplings for dessert

A la carte: Small (175g for RM65++), Medium (250g for RM138++), Large (300g for RM238++)

Availability: Dependent on supply. Best to call ahead to check.

Origin: Shanghai

For more information on this promotion including pictures, see the Star write up as per this link.

2. Dragon-I Restaurant
The Curve, Tel:03-7728 6888; Pavilion, Tel:03-2143 7688 & 1 Utama, Tel:03-7725 8822
Hairy crab is only available at these outlets only.

Set menu: RM128 nett, minimum 3 persons order
Consists of steamed hairy crab (5oz), steamed Shanghainese dumpling with crab meat, double-boiled superior chicken soup, fresh vegetable cooked with crab meat, Yong Chow fried rice and sesame dumpling in ginger soup.

A la carte: RM55++ (5 oz)

Availability: From now onwards until further notice

Origin: Tai Wu Lake

3. Elegant Inn
Menara Hap Seng, Tel: 03-2070 9399

Set menu: RM98++ (RM112.70), minimum 2 persons order
Consists of appetizer (ginger/prawn/pumpkin), chicken soup with shark's fin, hairy crab (7oz), vegetables, glutinous rice with dried scallops, double boiled milk and crunchy water chesnut for dessert.

A la carte: 7oz for RM63++, 8oz for RM88++

Availability: From now until end of December

Origin of crabs: Tai Wu Lake

4. Mandarin Palace
Federal Hotel, Tel:03-2148 8744

A la carte: RM60++ (about 5-7 oz). Cooked in various styles: steamed, steamed with glutinous rice, cooked in a salt soup, ginger

Availability: Until 30 November, 2009

Origin: Shanghai

5. King Crab
Petaling Jaya, Tel:03-7808 2388

A la carte: RM38++, RM78++, RM128++ (Size ranges from 90g to 170 or 180g) Crabs are served steamed. Slight different in price for male and female crabs

Promotion: Buy 3 crabs and get 1 free crab

Availability: Until end of November

Origin: Yong Sheng Lake

6. Li Yen
Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Tel:03-2142 8000

A la carte: Price ranges from RM170++ to RM210++ (Size ranges from 270-300grams)Steamed hairy crab variety only.

Availability: Until end of November

Origin: Shanghai

7. Shang Palace
Shangri-la Hotel, Tel:03-2074 3904

Set menu: RM248++ per person, minimum 2 persons order
Consists of hairy crab roe, steamed hairy crab, prawn with hairy crab roe, beancurd with hairy crab roe, noodles and sweet ginger tea with gingko nut for dessert

A la carte: RM180++ (7 oz)

Availability: Until 15 November, 2009

Origin: Shanghai

Note: Shang card members get a 20% discount for the hairy crabs whether for the set menu or a la carte order.

8. Shanghai
JW Marriott Hotel, Tel:03-2719 8288

Set menu: RM123++, no minimum order
Consists of hairy crabmeat soup, two xiaolongbaos: one with hairy crab meat and one without, steamed hairy crab, spring onion and soy sauce noodles, ginger soup with mai lai koh as dessert

A la carte: RM130++, RM160++, RM180++, RM210++ (Size ranges from 280g to 300g)

Availability: Until end of November 2009

Origin: Tai Wu Lake, Shanghai

Best ever Ice Milo (Milo Ais) from the Milo Van

still so incredibly good - Milo Ais from the van

Mention Milo and I immediately think back to my childhood days - queueing up in the hot sun during sports day to drink the icy cold frothy drink. It tasted so incredibly good that I often wonder, was it just a figment of my childhood imagination??


1. Milo is good for you, 2. Milo on the tap! 3. Stirring the ice around

Last week, I had a chance to relive my childhood memories as I spotted the Milo Van making its rounds (they're doing it in support of our Malaysian contingent for the SEA Games for Dec 9-18). It brought a big smile immediately. A taste of the frothy icy drink brought back a flood of sweet memories for me. Amazing! It still tasted just as good as I remembered - a rich chocolatey taste that was not too sweet and chilled just right. Honestly, nothing beats the ice Milo (Milo Ais) from the van I reckon. Not sure what their secret is but I'm glad some things never change in life like the incredibly good Milo Ais from my childhood days.

For this Friday, why don't you share what's your memory about drinking from the Milo Van? Of if you never had that experience, where's your best ever Milo drink? It could even be your own home concoction or somewhere you drank it at?

Vegetarian Food @ Gandhi's, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur

the best thing at Gandhi's - the cannot-stop-eating cauliflower with curry leaves

I must admit, I never tire of dropping by Brickfields especially on lazy Sundays. It's fascinating to walk down the streets, to spot a kind bystander help the blind man cross the street or people flurrying around in colourful saris with laddus wrapped in colourful glass paper emerging from a happy wedding.


1. fake assam fish, so not happening 2. "chicken" tikka with the yummy spinach. 3. Someone sports his prized BrawnGP t-shirt that I bought for his birthday, which went all around London and KL

I was curious to try out Gandhi's, that pristine looking place I spotted the last time I did my walkabout. Sadly food failed to impress (one does not like pretend chicken that was dry and tasteless) and I had to compare it with Gopala's that seemed much better. The set up here, is quite similar to Gopala's - a vegetarian dishes "chap fan" or economy rice style, where you pick the food you wish to eat from an array of dishes, yong tau foo on the side and supposedly vegetarian satay at night.


1. Pick something please. 2. Pictures of Gandhi is everywhere. 3. Love the t-shirts the servers wear with the picture of Gandhi

I had better luck hitting the streets. It was chaotic that Sunday, as the cops had decided to issue tickets to double parkers along the busy roads. As usual, the fried snack stall was heaving with the demand of customers, waiting patiently for their fried goodies.


1. Temple down the road and next to the river. 2. You get scenes like these, helpful passerbys showing the way for the blind

I was actually on a mission, as one of my readers, Eveneverland (all the way from Whitton, Twickenham) had asked about the nonya kuih lady in Brickfields.


I'm guessing this person is a Liverpool football fan????

It was a great tip, as I found her peddling her wares just off the busy fried snacks fella. People will keep coming, buying her goodies - yam cake, white cake, kuih talam, lor mai chi, popiah, curry puffs and etc.


the aunty that has been selling her wares for 20 years

I settled on kuih talam that was given a very natural green tinge and the white cake or pak koh with preserved radish. I had it my car the whole time and believe me, the preserved radish was very fragrant that I could smell it throughout the car journey. I only managed to eat it much later and both were fantastic - soft and very natural vs those artificial Nonya kuihs you often find nowadays.


Crispy deep fried popiah and various nonya kuih

One more observation of the day - Peter's Pork Noodles also has another stall at the corner coffee shop where these stalls are located in front of. Looks like it is run by his wife or a female relative. If you do have a little time, drop by Brickfields and be fascinated with the going ons there (and pick up the fried goodies and nonya kuih). For more on Brickfields, see my previous crawl here.

Gandhi's
Scott Sentral Serviced Apartments
Jalan Scott
Brickfields

Tel: 012-61 8267

(Pork free. Open from 8am-2am daily)

*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. This review is time sensitive; changes may occur to the place later on that can affect this opinion. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from this place for writing the review.

Tagged with: Brickfields + Vegetarian food

Venicia Restaurant @ Bangsar Puteri & Casa Venicia, Kuala Lumpur

Jiang Nan prawns (RM40 for 2 pieces) were fingerlicking good

People & food - that's a formula which works all the time. Every weekend, when we do our chores and drop by the pet shop to stock up on cat food & litter, the conversation always seems to turn towards food. "Where's a good place?" and we'll end up trading recommendations. One of these recommendations turned out to be this interesting place - a restaurant based within the confines of a residential condominium.


Venicia's version of sang har yee meen

Eateries housed within condominiums are not a new thing - they kinda cater to the residents for quick and easy food. As word gets around about their food, outsiders also start walking in to try their food. Great examples of condominium eateries we love are the value-for-money Japanese restaurants at Vista Kiara and Mont Kiara Pines (they're related and also own Zakuro at Plaza Mt Kiara), Bijou with its breezy and great pool view at Mont Kiara Damai and etc.


buttery crabs with a hint of mild curry powder

This particular place was way off the beaten track for both of us - all the way in Selayang. Luckily with all the network of highways (even though you pay through your nose, no wonder I can earn that 20% rebate!), you get here relatively quickly. The original restaurant Venicia is housed within a pretty spacious condominium known as Casa Venicia (there's a kinda pond there, which I guess they're trying to pass off as a canal).


salted egg yolk crabs

Even though we're quite early (about 7pm), it's almost packed with families munching down their Sunday meal. Everyone's table has similar items - the deep fried freshwater prawns, butter crab in a startling brown yellow sauce and etc. We have our list given to us by our friends and it almost matches what's on their tables. Food arrived quickly (within 30 minutes) despite the many tables. We loved the Jiang Nan prawns - deep fried till very fragrant but a little oily. I detected just a hint of Chinese herbs, that added a lovely aroma to the sweet prawns.


one huge claw

Our order for the clams in superior soup (siong tong lala) - RM7 for small portion, was mediocre, maybe we should have ordered the kam heong style. Last but not least came the butter crabs (RM32 for 1 crab) coated in a thickish rich sauce with a hint of mild curry powder taste. While I didn't think the crabs was very fresh, I enjoyed the buttery sauce with rice. The mild spicy taste seemed to cut through the richness of the sauce, making it easy to drizzle loads of the sauce on the white rice and gulp it down.


1. fluffy sotong, 2. sweet potato leaves, 3. twirling the noodles

Rather than just try the Selayang place, we decided to also try out their Bangsar outlet, just opened about a year ago. It seems the restaurants are a family business (the brother runs Bangsar while the sister takes care of Selayang). Due to its location within the condominium, they don't serve pork and instead an emphasis is placed on seafood dishes. I kinda suspect they started with seafood because of their proximity to the seafood shops/restaurants in Selayang.

The Bangsar Puteri restaurant is a little better than Selayang - less stuffy looking with an option to dine on a deck that leads to the swimming pool. There's not much to the interior of the place - looking like it still harks back to the 1980s! Green tablecloths seem to be their trademark, as we spotted them in Selayang and on certain tables in Bangsar. Food is also the same but we decided to try other items, I've read about in other blogs. Sang har meen (RM15 for 2 prawns) was a big surprise. I expected the eggy version with crispy noodles but got a braised version with yee mee, which turned out to be quite good. Even the salted egg yolk crab (RM55) was very different - coated liberally with egg until it stuck to the shells but it had very little salted egg yolk taste. We both enjoyed the crabs as it was very fresh and sweet tasting. Deep fried sotong (RM8) wasn't the crispy type but still very enjoyable as the fluffy fried batter was nice and light. I also enjoyed the sweet potato leaves (RM6) topped with teeny weeny fried anchovies.

If we had to compare both places, I reckon Bangsar is better, as it's so much nearer for us. Even though it's slightly more pricier for the food (drinks are more expensive in Selayang though!), I felt the food was nicer, the ambience a little more nicer. Since spying on other people's food is always a great way to know what else is good, I spied the butter prawns - peeled prawns in the butter sauce the crab was cooked in. Am sure that will taste good, so that'll be the next order, for the next round. More pictures are in the Flickr set.

Restoran Venicia
1st Floor, Casa Venicia Club House
Jalan Bukit Idaman 1/3
Bukit Idaman
Batu Caves

Tel: 03-6136 2010

(Pork free. Open from 12-2.30pm, 6-10pm for Monday to Thursday, 5.30-10pm for Friday and Sunday.)

Restoran Venicia
41-02-02, Level 2
Bangsar Puteri Condominium
41, Jalan Maarof
Bangsar

Tel:03-2094 2010

(Pork free. Open for lunch and dinner. Closed on Tuesdays and Sunday lunchtime.)

*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. This review is time sensitive; changes may occur to the place later on that can affect this opinion. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from this place for writing the review.

Tagged with: Selayang+ Bangsar

Other reviews:

• Mouthwatering Food
• May-niac Blog
• Dish with Vivien
• Karen Khim's blog (in Mandarin)

Dining Out @ Eat Work Shop, Glenmarie, Shah Alam

yummy crab cakes (RM20.80)

Working in Shah Alam often means limited choices for dinner, as most of the eateries seem to cater instead for lunch. Luckily there's this place, well hidden in an industrial area that offers good restaurant food.


lovely caesar salad with fluffy parmesan cheese

We first discovered this place in 2006 and that blog post sparked off an interest for this eatery, that it was blogged to death. Suprisingly, it has survived through the times and recent visits to there confirmed it still serves generally good food.


squid ink pasta with seafood

Our recent visit was very promising as we simply loved their Caesar salad - crunchy romaine lettuce topped with feather light grated parmesan cheese and topped with beef bacon. Simply yummy, was how Splashie Boy described it. Even my squid ink pasta with seafood that came with a tinge of spiciness was very good.


grilled rib-eye steak

However last night when we dined there, it was a different ball game for us since we sampled other items. My braised lamb shank (RM32.80) was good but not exceptionally fantastic. It was fork tender but the sauce seemed to lack much spices and oomph. Even the grilled rib eye was a dissapointment as it was not tender but on a slightly chewier side. Luckily their home made crab cakes saved the day but we did leave feeling a little unsatisfied with the meal. Am not sure whether it was just our "spoilt" tastebuds or we had just picked the wrong items. Nevertheless, I reckon we should have stuck with the safer choices - pasta and salad as that never seems to dissapoint.

Eat Work Shop
No. 9, Jalan Peguam U1/25
Glenmarie Business Park
Shah Alam

Tel No: 03 - 5569 7763

(Pork free, as they serve alcohol here. Place is open for lunch, teatime and dinner.)

*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. This review is time sensitive; changes may occur to the place later on that can affect this opinion. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from this place for writing the review.

Tagged with: Shah Alam Food+ Caesar Salad

Steamed Fish @ Restoran Yap Yin & Bak Kut Teh, Seri Kembangan

reminds one that Halloween is round the corner...

I just realised I've yet to blog about this place. How weird, as I've been here numerous times, but never got around to putting it down on the blog. Here's another gem in Seri Kembangan village, a place on the main road that serves superb steamed sang yue or snakehead.

the superb steamed sang yue

Originally a bak kut teh joint, they expanded their menu to include tai chow like dishes after the JE scare affected their business. Bak kut teh is still available in the mornings but instead, people make a beeline for their sang yue dishes. Well known for the smooth texture but extremely troublesome to eat with all the teeny weeny bones, Yap Yin's version makes life so much easier - boneless fillets (RM26 for a small portion) tenderly steamed that you can pop in the mouth to enjoy.

head me up, cheong yoke pau with a sticky spicy sauce

Aside from the steamed version (one of their most popular requests), they also do a porridge steamboat (boiled with sang yue bones to give it a sweet flavour) where you can dip plus swish the sang yue sashimi slices like shabu shabu.



tummy tickling yellow rice wine chicken

Aside from the fish, Yap Yin also serves one of the most tummy comforting Hakka yellow rice wine chicken dish (RM20 for a small). It got the approval of my aunties and mother when I brought them here one day to sample the steamed fish. More of a Hakka traditional dish, it is made unique because of the fragrant homemade rice wine. On my last visit, I bought a bottle of the rice wine for RM15 home, hoping to recreate this wonderful dish at home. Other great items you can also order - their signature stewed pork trotters, intestines and chicken feet (RM15 for a small portion), a delicious combination of sinful melt in the mouth fatty bits of the pork with a hint of Chinese herbs. We also tried a new dish - the cheong pau yoke (RM16 for a small portion), pork belly slices coated in a sweet but spicy sticky sauce.



stewed sinful pork trotters, intestines and chicken feet

Parking is quite a nightmare here though, since the restaurant faces the main road. The owner tries to make it up by setting up spaces at the houses nearby but it's quite limited. Nevertheless, I don't mind walking a bit further to get here, as the food's good.

Yap Yin Restaurant & Bak Kut Teh
1231, Jalan Sekolah

Seri Kembangan

Tel: 03-8943 5426

(Non Halal. The restaurant is open from 11.30am to 11pm daily.)

*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. This review is time sensitive; changes may occur to the place later on that can affect this opinion. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from this place for writing the review.

Tagged with: Chinese Food+ Steamed Fish

Japanese Food @ Benkay, Nikko Hotel, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur

1. brocade cloth decorations, 2. benkay 3. bright place to dine at

I never tire of Japanese food. Throw me in Japan and I'll be one happy camper since I love all kinds of Japanese food, whether it's raw sashimi, home cooked food like niku jaga (potato and beef stew) or yakitori. What I'll probably won't enjoy is the Windows 7 Whopper - Burger King Japan's tribute to Windows 7 launch. There's 7 burger patties all together for Yen777, for 7 days. Luckily it wasn't Windows 6, or else it'll be the devil's favourite numbers which will be so appropriate for Halloween. Eat Me Daily (my current favourite daily click of the day!) has pictures and a video of the Whopper. Watch how 2 people tackle the giant with various eating styles. Love the quip at the end, when the fella said he's glad it was not a Windows 95 launch.

1. smooth chawan mushi, 2. tangy corn salad

Since we don't have Windows 7 Whoppers here, it's all about Japanese food at Benkay, one of the places I've heard quite a lot about but yet to try. Being new to the place and because the prices here are more akin to hotel ones, we decided to be a little "kiasu" and go for the set lunch first. My theory was if the sets wowed us, we'll be back for the more expensive items and etc.

we love thee....humble chicken meatballs

Surprisingly, we were bowled over the simple yet delicious Chicken Yosenabe Set (RM55). Believe me, it's comfort food for your senses - large fluffylike minced chicken balls with finely chopped ginger and cabbage within. In fact, the soft texture reminded me a little of Taiwanese lionhead meatballs.

1. miso soup, 2. braised dish, 3. tuna and salmon, 4. my "hill"

My sashimi set (RM65) was artfully presented with lots of different coloured seaweed and even some purple cress on the side. I especially liked how they shaped a small little "hill" in shaved ice for my simple piece of cuttlefish. The sets all come with a braised dish of chicken with daikon and carrot, smooth chawan mushi, a tangy corn salad and fruits.

While prices are definitely on a higher side compared to other places, I must admit we were very satisified and would not mind returning again. Set lunches were also available during the weekend, which is a plus point. They have a new Japanese chef who used to helm Zipangu and Mizu, hence I'm sure food is good here, since we both love the other places.

Benkay Restaurant
1st Floor
Nikko Hotel
Jalan Ampang
Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03- 2161 1111

(Pork free. Open for lunch and dinner.)

*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. This review is time sensitive; changes may occur to the place later on that can affect this opinion. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from this place for writing the review.

Tagged with: Japanese Food+ Sashimi