Tutti Frutti Frozen Yoghurt @ Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur

frozen yoghurt - chocolate and strawberry with banana

Every weekend, we inevitably gravitate towards Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) to stock up on the feline essentials. Thus, we spied this new frozen yoghurt shop that opened a few weeks back, looking a little forlorn tucked between the magazine shop and Ayamas. How weird, we were all discussing at the pet shop that why would anyone open a frozen yoghurt shop here, since walk-in customers will be lower here versus the malls.

juicy fruits poster and M&Ms at the toppings counter

Last Sunday, the neighbourhood seems to have warmed up to the place, as we spied a steady stream of customers pushing through the glass doors to get their frozen yoghurt fix. After checking with the pet shop owners, if the place was worth checking out (they gave their thumbs up!), I decided to pay a quick visit. The place is spartan white with a row of machines on one side, pictures of juicy fruits on the walls and a counter where you select your toppings.

tutti fruitti cups but everyone goes for the clear plastic ones (less weight?), the machines you pull down your frozen yoghurt from, gummies as topping

The place works on a "do-it-yourself" concept - go to the machines and select the flavours you prefer (I remember my choices were a basic flavour, vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and banana, lychee) by pulling the handle down yourself. I was aiming for 3 flavours - being all eager to try out something new but I realised, you had to be snappy with the pulling as before you know it, the container gets filled up quickly. I did manage to get 2 flavours - the chocolate which was delicious and the strawberry banana that was dissapointing since it lacked any strong flavour of either fruit. Once you are done with piling your cup with the frozen yoghurt, you can add any toppings you wish - a choice of M&Ms, oreo bits, peanuts, a large selection of fresh fruits, gummy bears and etc. Then it's time to pay as they weigh what you have taken and charge you RM5.30 for 100 grams. My cup of 2 flavoured frozen yoghurt was about RM10, quite a hefty price I felt especially since gelato at Bar Italia is about RM8.30. Even though we're not comparing apples to apples since frozen yoghurt is healthier with less fats and etc, but I honestly think Malaysians often look at the bottom dollar (RM in this case) more.

Seems this is owned by the Naza group who bought the franchise over from the USA, hence the sprouting of outlets everywhere (Sunway Pyramid, IOI Mall, Berjaya Times Square, Capital Square and Bangsar Shopping Centre) with their financial muscle. What we noticed was none of the locations are prime hence I'm not too sure how high their walk in traffic will be. For instance, the Bangsar Shopping Centre outlet is so well tucked at the back of Times Bookshop, you won't notice it unless you use the other bookshop entrance. From a financial and business point of view, kinda suicidal I reckon especially since the frozen yoghurt is not cheap in price and if I remember correctly, no frozen yoghurt place has survived long in Malaysia (maybe we all prefer eating ice cream and gelato!). If you wish for more information, visit the worldwide site as it has more information vs the Malaysian website that is under construction. Do check out the world map on the website and see how Tutti Frutti has conquered almost the whole world, kinda like world domination of frozen yoghurt.

Tutti Frutti Yoghurt

No. 11, Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 3

Taman Tun Dr Ismail

Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-7725 2101

(Pork free. Same row as Ayamas and KFC. For a list of all the other outlets with addresses, see the Klue's website.)

*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: Frozen Yoghurt+ Tutti Frutti

Italian Food @ Favola, Le Meridien Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

Love the Favola logo with the various pasta shapes that you can even find on the lift doors

Apologies for not blogging for so long - work just got a little crazy that after working those long hours, I didn't feel like going home to edit pictures and write blog posts that I let things slide. Now there's a mountain of pictures to edit and a whole lot of blog posts to write about. Will definitely work hard in clearing that backlog - one of the many resolutions I'm making mental promises to keep.


1. Favola all over. 2. divine bread. 3. heavenly potato truffle dip

One of the most important things I learnt from last year is people absolutely love gifts. After meeting my Amedei chocolates winner & fellow foodie, Eliana Lee to pass her prize, I've found that feel-good factor a little addictive that I've got another little surprise for all of you at the bottom of the post. Hope you will like it - just call it a tiny payback for all those Nuffnang RM that you help me earn from those clicks. It's only a tip of the iceberg versus the top bloggers earnings, but it is just enough to fund a few gifts here and there for my loyal readers.

1. red Murano chandeliers add some dolce vita. 2. panzerotti - resembles our curry puff on the outside but it is Italian to it's core. 3. sardines from the appetizer plate

Back to this review - the much anticipated replacement dining establishment at Le Meridien Hotel for the magnificent Middle Eastern Al-Nafourah. I must admit, I was a little skeptical when I heard it was an Italian eatery coming our way - thinking to myself, "do we really need another Italian place opening up here when so many are sprouting up everywhere?" Nevertheless, judging from the people crowding here to sample the food (we returned on a Saturday night without a booking and had to sit at the temporary side table as it was pretty full of people) - I guess there's no such thing as too much Italian food as Malaysians are lapping it all in.


1. mussels with chicken served with tomato sauce. 2. scallops served on a bed of cauliflower masquerading as risotto topped with truffle

From the moment you step out of the lifts to the eighth floor, you will be greeted by the wait staff chiming out "Buonasera" who will lead you to the dining area. The restaurant is given an Italian feel with a large painted mural on one side depicting a masquerade ball and rustic painted wooden beams on top where jewel red Murano glass chandeliers hang from. Along the corridor leading into the restaurant, you will be greeted by a wall hung with a variety of Venetian masks. Chairs decked in red allow you to lean back in comfort.

1. lobster risotto. 2. comfy laidback chairs to place your butt. 3. baked pasta shells

While you unravel their uniquely presented scroll-like menu - you will be given complimentary breads and three kinds of dips that changes flavour on a daily basis. Each table is given a small foccacia loaf studded with tomatoes, ciabatta bread and three types of grissini or breadsticks - two hard ones and one flaky puff pastry variety. The dips can vary from my absolute favourite - the truffle scented potato to other varieties like the anchovy potato, eggplant and the absolute basic olive oil with balsamic vinegar. With those delicious dips, you inevitably end up filling most of your tummy space with the fluffy breads - we do suggest some resistance especially if you're on a no-carb diet but honestly, it's kinda futile with such deliciousness in front of you.


wagyu beef lasagna - 1. dressed down. 2. in layers.

There's a long list of antipasti available, about 16 cold (freddo) and hot (caldo) varieties that cost RM20 each. If you don't want to pick and choose, there's always the sampler plate for RM35 where you get 5 antipasti to try. The selection ranges from classics like caprese - the must have mix of tomatoes with fresh buffalo mozzarella, breasola aka shaved dried beef that is served with fresh fig, pink peppercorns and rocket salad, bruschettas topped with cured salmon, portabello mushrooms and etc. My absolute favourite out of the cold varieties - the sardines sauteed with onions and raisins in olive oil and vinegar. Don't miss out on the hot varieties especially the divine roasted scallops served on a bed of cauliflower florets chopped so finely that it resembles risotto and dusted with black truffle shavings (Pssst it's so good, I reckon this will be my must-have everytime I visit here!). I also enjoyed the unusual pairing of fresh mussels with a minced chicken and herbs stuffing in one side of the shell. My other favoruite were the crunchy cod fritters served with a divine creamy garlic sauce. If antipasti is not your cup of tea, they also have three types of soups available - a hearty minestrone, a seafood tomato and saffron soup and a clear beef consomme served with egg, parmesan cheese and croutons. One very unusual item in the menu is the little known panzerotti - resembling curry puffs, this is mini calzones stuffed with either mushrooms or vegetables that are deep fried versus baked in an oven. You can order this more for the novelty value but honestly give it a miss as it tends to be a little too oily and a non-event in terms of the taste department.

1. Venetian masks. 2. Roast lamb shoulder. 2. Veal osso bucco. 3. Veal escalopes done two ways

For the invited review, we didn't get to sample their 10 inch pizzas but in my revisit, we finally did and was bowled over by the texture even though the toppings were a little sparse. Simply lovely especially with the thin crispy crust from the wood fire oven. Six varieties for RM35-RM45 are available that include traditional tomato, one topped with fresh mozarella and basil pesto, grilled artichokes, spicy lamb sausage, grilled chicken and a Venetian seafood one. We sampled the Venetian one topped with lobster, scallops, prawns, calamari and clams.


tiramisu that will give you an ultimate "pick-me-up"

No Italian meal will be complete without pastas! Here you get a pick of freshly made pastas - black ink tagliolini, linguini and the thicker parpadelle. Dry pastas are also available like spaghetti, vermicelli thin capellini and penne. Choose which sauces you wish to eat the pastas with - bolognese, polpetta aka meat balls in tomato basil sauce (huge portion but the minced meat was a little less springy and a bit too dense), spicy arrabbiata, aglio olio pepperoncino that has bird's eye chilli, creamy funghi or mushrooms and gamberetti or prawns served with pine nuts, tomato sauce. The pastas are priced between RM30 to RM40. They also serve potato gnocchi and baked conchiglioni shells in a tomato seafood based sauce (yummy stuff!) Also within the pasta and risotto section, you have one of their signature dishes - lasagna al forno (RM40) made with luxe braised wagyu beef cheek, chicken ravioli and scallop and lobster tortellini. Three types of risotto are available - we sampled the lobster variety that tasted like Neptune's catch.


dolci dolci....1. fruitti di miso. 2. almond pannacotta

If you have room after the primi or first course of pasta (that's why portions are not huge for your pastas!), there's the secondi or main courses. A variety of chicken, lamb, sword fish, veal, prawns and black angus beef is available from RM50 to RM90. We sampled three items - the veal osso bucco, veal escalope served two ways: panseared with lemon butter sauce and breadcrumb coated and roasted lamb shoulder. The veal osso bucco won me over with its fork-tender meat and rich beefy sauce.


A must to end an Italian meal - a little grappa to grimace over before heading home!

Last but not least - leave room for desserts especially the ultimate pick-me-up in town aka Favola's tiramisu (RM20) - sponge drenched with Illy coffee, soft billowy mascarpone cream and these cutesy crunchy cookie croutons that gives you a teeny "pop" in the mouth after you have eaten them. Also good is the frutti di bosco - fresh ricotta cream with berries and the wobbly almond-scented panna cotta. Make sure you also end the meal with some grappa just like the Italians do. You get a variety of grappa here - the lighter milder ones with limoncello or the chocolate milk one. For a head spinning effect, go for the Grappa Alexander Platinum - guaranteed to make your head pop and wake up for the journey home based on the grimaces from those who sampled it.

mural is located at Favola, Le Meridien Hotel

On a final word, despite my initial negative feelings about the place (another Italian again!), I must admit I do like the food at Favola. It's definitely a feed-good dining place and I love the pizzas, the scallops, sardines, the veal osso bucco and the rock-me tiramisu. Thumbs up to the breads and dips too! On the cards here for lunch, you have a value-for-money antipasti buffet that you select from the crudo bar for RM35++ i.e pickles, fresh breads, cold appetizers to eat to your heart (or tummy) is contented. For more pictures, see my Flickr set.

Favola
Level 8
Le Meridien Hotel
Sentral
Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-2263 7434

(Pork free. Restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner except for Saturday lunchtime. Reservations is highly recommended as the place can get quite full especially for dinnertime. The restaurant can seat up to 95 persons and also has two private dining rooms).

* Part of this review was sponsored by Le Meridien Hotel who invited us for dinner. We did return again on our own for a second meal, hence the review encompasses both dinner experiences.

Other reviews:

• a lil' fat monkey
• cumidanciki
• fried chillies
• ahmok
• The Butterfly-mess
• aly's wonderland
• eat drink KL
• quirkymalaysia
• have your cake and eat it too

Last but not least, to celebrate the start of a new year, I'm giving away two complimentary dining vouchers for Favola, Le Meridien Hotel Kuala Lumpur worth RM150 nett each. The vouchers are valid until 23 June, 2010. To be one of the winners for the dining vouchers, it's very very simple. You just need to come up with the funniest conversation between the two characters in the mural in the above picture.

Rules of the competition:

1. Multiple entries are allowed, so keep them coming in to increase your chances of winning.
2. Keep the language to PG-13 please (kids are watching!).
3. Make it as witty and funny as you can - you need to make your judges laugh till they pee in their pants!!
4. Originality counts towards winning, so no copying please.
5. Send in the entries to masakmasakcomp1@gmail.com by midnight, 8 January, 2010 (Friday)
6. Judges will run through the entries and announce the winners on 13 January, 2010 (Wednesday).
7. The competition is open to everyone. In the event, the winner is from overseas, the voucher will be mailed to you. Alternatively, you can nominate a resident in Malaysia to collect the same on your behalf, if preferred.

Good luck everyone!! Go forth and be creative!!

Christmas Giveaways Cookbook Winners

picture of sparkler Xmas tree from www.123rf.com

Thanks for all the entries for the cookbook contest! I must admit, it was very hard to judge the winners and I roped in the help of lyrical lemongrass, Splashie Boy and the mysterious Mr. A@A to help me out.

Ta Da! drum roll please, the 5 lucky winners are:

1. Sue Ann Cheong
2. Gwen Hew
3. Valerie Yow
4. Puvanes Ramadas
5. a lil' fat monkey

Will be emailing all of you, to get your details so they can send you the cookbooks. Merry Xmas and Happy New Year!! Enjoy your cookbooks.

Pssst, am sorry about the lack of posts. Been very busy but I hope to rectify all this soon.

Christmas Giveaways Part 1 - Winner Announcement for Amedei Chocolate

Thanks for the overwhelming responses for the Amedei Chocolates. We have picked a winner and it is:

Eliana Lee (no relation to me!)

Will be contacting Eliana by email to arrange for delivery of her chocolates. In the mean time, don't forget there's still the cookbooks to be won, so do send your entries in before the closing date which is the 28 December, 2009

The Delicious Group is now on Facebook - with gifts to giveaway

There seems to be an influx of goodwill everywhere - presents to give out and gifts to be won (Have you submitted your entries for the chocolates and cookbooks??? Quick! An entry always represent a chance to get your hands on the gifts!).

The Delicious Group is running a competition on their facebook site as per this link - just be the first person to tag the items in the picture and you stand a chance to win. Very simple but it does mean you have to haunt their site on facebook like a hawk. You stand to win festive goodies perfect to fill your tummy or just give to family and friends. The competition runs until Christmas and the pictures are from their catalogue - the delicious Christmas Wonder Emporium. One good tip for all of you readers, pick a copy of the catalogue up from delicious ingredients and hopefully get a headstart on the tagging to win!

Christmas Giveaways Part 2 - Cookbooks by Kylie Kwong, David Rocco and Willie Harcourt Cooze

More gifts galore for all of you readers, this time cookbooks courtesy of Discovery Travel & Living. These wonderful cookbooks will make ideal Christmas gifts for yourself or any close friend or relative. The giveaways are in conjunction with the premiere of two wonderful festive television shows on the channel 707 on Astro - Nigella's Christmas Kitchen 2 that starts today (14 December) on 7pm (repeats on Mondays at 2pm, Tuesdays at 2am and 5am, Saturdays at 2am and 2pm) and Willie's Perfect Chocolate Christmas that starts on Wednesday (23 December) on 9pm (repeats on 24 Dec 11pm, 25 Dec 9am, 26 Dec 5pm, 27 Dec 8pm, 28 Dec 12 midnight, 31 Dec 3pm). Willie who runs a chocolate factory in Devon also has another show known as Raising the Bar: Willie's Chocolate Revolution that is shown on Wednesdays at 9pm, repeats on Mondays at midnight and Tuesdays at 6pm.

I must admit I'm looking forward to both the shows - Nigella has always been an inspiration for me in the kitchen with her stress-free recipes. In fact, my friend swears by Nigella's recipes and every year for Xmas, we often sample goodies made from Nigella's cookbooks at her festive spread. Moreover, Nigella often brings much needed Christmas cheer with her wonderful spirit. With this new television series, she gives you loads of tips and much needed short cuts to make the festive season bearable. There's also trips to Paris and Salzburg. The series has 5 episodes that sees Nigella whipping up Roast Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Soup, mincemeat pies (made them before and they're utterly divine!) and Lamb and Date Tagine that freezes well. Then she gives little tips on stocking fillers - wouldn't it be nice to receive homemade Beetroot and Ginger Chutney, Chilli Jelly or decadent Spiced fruits steeped in Sherry. Christmas won't be the same without chocolate and Nigella takes us to Paris to explore the shops. She also shares a Christmas Pavlova - a must for any Nigella fan. Parties are incomplete without canapes and Nigella helps us get it right with crab cakes, creamy goats cheese and figgy wraps. Last but not least, it's turkey time with all the sides like gingerbread stuffing, maple syrup parsnips and etc. For the full episode list, see this Discovery Travel & Living link.

Christmas won't be the same with some indulging and chocolate is definitely something great for the festive season. In Willie's Perfect Chocolate Christmas, Willie Harcourt-Cooze has a festive food feast with his wife Tania and three children in Devon. There'll be a holiday menu full of mouth watering chocolate themed recipes, boozy chocolate mince pies (sounds like a great combo!), a classic chocolate tart and party treats like a quince chocolate cheese and chocolate and celementine cheesecake. Sounds like a decadent and the most ideal way to enjoy the festivities. Fans of Willie can also catch him in Raising the Bar: Willie's Chocolate Revolution that is also showing on Discovery Travel & Living. Willie also starred in his earlier television show Willies' Wonky Chocolate Factory.

Festivities will not be complete without presents and Discovery Travel & Living has kindly given me 5 cookbooks to giveway:

1. Two copies of David Rocco's Dolce Vita that takes you to Italy and is an extension of Canadian celebrity chef David Rocco's television series.

2. Two copies of Willie's Chocolate Factory Cookbook by Willie Harcourt-Cooze that describes his chocolate factory story and delectable recipes that include sweet and even savoury dishes.

3. One copy of Kylie Kwong's My China Cookbook where Kylie Kwong journeys around China to trace her family roots. The book is beautifully photographed with recipes inspired by dishes she tries on her journey around her ancestors' homeland.

To win a copy of the cookbook, you just need to answer a simple question, "What is Christmas to you?" Email the answer to masakmasakcomp2@gmail.com. The best answer will win one copy of the cookbook. Unfortunately, this competition is limited to residents in Malaysia. You are also entitled to one entry only. This competition will run until 28 December, 2009 midnight, so make sure you send your entries in early. Late entries will not be entertained. Winners will be announced on 31 December, 2009. (Note the deadline changes from 31 to 28 December, 2009)

Remember to tune in tonight to Nigella and on Wednesday for Willie on Discovery Travel & Living (Chanel 707 on Astro). I know I'll be glued to the television tonight waiting for Nigella to teach her little secrets on managing the stressful Christmas entertaining period.

Christmas Giveaways Part 1 - Amedei Chocolates

Tis the season for presents with two weeks to Christmas. As a big thanks to all of my loyal readers, here's a chance for you take away a little something to enjoy for the festive season - Amedei chocolates. Highly sought after, these Italian chocolates are produced by the brother and sister team of Cecilia and Alessio Tessieri who searches all over the world for the best cocoa for their chocolate creations.

Chocolate connoisseurs will love the highly prized Porcelana chocolate made from Criollo cocoa that come from Venezuela, where only 3,000 kilos are made available every year. Amedei only produces 20,000 Porcelana chocolates and each bar is numbered. The complex 70% bittersweet dark chocolate has a toasted almond aroma and subtly spicy flavors like cinnamon, coriander and nutmeg. The chocolate has also won a number of awards.

Also in the giveaway for those who don't prefer the bitter taste of chocolate, I have also included a Toscano Brown milk chocolate bar with hints of vanilla, cream and honey. Price value for this gift of chocolate bars is RM100. Amedei chocolates can be purchased at delicious ingredients located at Dua Annexe on Jalan Tun Razak and Bangsar Village II.

To win these chocolate bars, all you need to do is answer this very simple question, "Which part of Italy is Amedei chocolates from?" Email your answer to masakmasakcomp1@gmail.com and I'll pick a winner from the correct entries. As these chocolates are quite fragile, I will have to limit the prize to residents in Malaysia. You will have 7 days from the date of this post to revert with your entries. Good luck everyone!! Keep tuned this whole week, as there'll be more giveaways.

Kampar Noodles @ Restaurant Park Way, Subang Jaya

Apologies on the lack of posts as I have been quite busy plus a little tired every night to edit pictures. Only managed to pull out this short one on a place I decided to try when I was driving from Subang Jaya to Shah Alam. Nothing fancy but this is the more unusual Kampar fishball noodles stall. Run by an old uncle and his Indian helper, the food here is very "cheng" or delicate taste, as the soup is a clear soup sprinkled with a generous helping of bean sprouts.



Even his hor fun or the rice noodles is a little unusual - almost transculent but silky smooth (it comes from Perak, he advises). I especially love the unusual fishballs, a specialty from Kampar that he doles out for each order of noodles - the fish skin covered one, the minced meatball, fu chok, the bouncy saito fishball and the tofu stuffed with minced meat. These kind of noodles that originate from Kampar always serve a variety of these fish and meatballs in their bowls of goodness.

For the price of RM4, I thought it was a good for a very light meal. My favourite was the char yuen or fish skin version - slightly chewy and deep fried that you had a nice contrast of textures with the minced meat within. Even the minced meatball was yummy with a slightly gummy taste when bitten into. If you're a fan of fish and something a little more delicate, give this a try when you're in Subang Jaya. He also serves a kick ass chili sauce on the side, that will delight those who love to spice up their noodles.

Kampar Noodle Stall
Restaurant Park Way
SS19
Subang Jaya

(Non Halal. Open from morning till lunchtime. Closed alternate Mondays. Place is round the corner from the mee hoon kuey stall)

*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: Kampar Fishballs+ Subang Jaya

Japanese Food @ Chuka Cafe, Saujana Villa Condominium, Petaling Jaya

comforting eggplant with minced pork

I never really realised it but I often find myself eating solo most of the time purely for convenience sake - it kinda seems easy to just go grab something rather than plan with a friend where to eat. Dining alone often brings upon some weird situations - the disbelief on the waiter's face when they ask how many people are they sitting, the "trying to look like busy when you're waiting" look (A tip for novices: bring something to read or twiddle with your handphone to LLB aka look like busy) and most recently the most hilarious one ever -someone trying to pick me up for a free meal when they saw I was dining alone. Seemed apt that I should blog about this place where I recently noticed that it is very singles friendly.

gyozas are filled with minced pork!, the tonkatsu served with the sweetish brown sauce

This cafe hidden within Saujana Villa condominiums seems to be a great singles hangout especially during quieter weekday nights. On weekends, it is peppered with families and boisterous kids playing at the nearby swimming pool. As the condominium caters for the Japanese expatriate crowd (the Japanese school is just up the road), expect to see loads of single or even groups of Japanese guys sitting at the tables chain smoking away throughout dinnertime.

divine tummy happiness - a large bowl of ramen in miso broth with corn and char siu

On to the food, this small cafe is part of the Shokudo, Oh Sushi!, Ozeki group. They're a little different than other cafes within condominiums that are usually pork free - this small place serves sinful buta or pork in many ways - cooked in vegetables, served in noodles and rice. The cafe has a simple set up but food is hearty and tasty. I loved the ramen there - so crunchy and bouncy that I was slurping down those strands without trying to sound too rude. Paired with a robust miso laced broth and topped with corn niblets and two slices of char siu, it was great for a rainy night. Gyoza is also good here - filled with minced pork and spring onions. My other favourite was their comforting eggplant with minced pork - more veering towards Chinese food but nevertheless still very good. Tonkatsu is pretty average tasting though with the sweetish and tangy brown sauce served on the side. Prices are pretty reasonable and won't break your bank but sadly no receipts issued means I can't remember the prices.

If you're ever in this neighbourhood, drop by for a satisfying Japanese meal served in a simply decorated cafe. No promises though on whether it will yield you a Japanese other half though since my matchmaking record is full of zeros. Have a good weekend everyone!

Chuka Cafe
Saujana Villa Condominium
13 Lingkungan Golf Saujana

Subang

Tel: 03-7846 7664

(Non halal. Cafe is located at the club area next to the swimming pool. Beware though it gets smoky within so if you don't like to inhale second hand smoke, opt for the chairs placed near the pool. You will need to sign in at the guardhouse and they'll give you a slip of paper that the restaurant needs to chop. To get here, drive down the subang airport old road, take the turn off to ara damansara/saujana on the left hand side, take a left turn, you will come to a small roundabout, take a left turn. Drive straight, you will pass by the Japanese school on your left and Saujana resort on your right. Condominium is after The Club by Saujana Hotel.)

*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+ Ramen

Others who have also visited here:

• Babe in the City
• Bing & Gorge
• Fried Chillies

Balinese Food @ The Waterlily Bistro, Mutiara Tropicana, Petaling Jaya

Balinese painting upstairs, refreshing mint lemongrass mojito

Checking out this place was more like a mission for my friend who has been searching for a suitable venue to throw a full moon party for her new baby. Loads of new places within the Aman Suria, Mutiara Tropicana area (as this row of shophouses is called) and even at Sunway Mas. I often get updates from my ex-colleague and a colleague of mine who live around here. So far, you have Betty's Kitchen (a place that serves Midwest non halal food that this lady learnt when she stayed with her daughter in places like Iowa and Minnesota), Rosemary Bites (seems to be more towards Italian), Char Siew Zhai (that flipping wantan noodles with char siu) and this place, Waterlily.

minced lamb with rice, chicken soto

Balinese food in the Klang Valley seems to be solely dominated by the people who first started out Bumbu Bali in Puchong. After the success of that place, they opened up a Waterlife Cafe also in Puchong. Subsequently other outlets in Sunway Pyramid and Solaris Mont Kiara was known as Ole Ole Bali while this is their latest addition. I suspect they decided not to use the same name for all their outlets since the perception of "being a chain of restaurants" will mean a drop in quality and etc. However, if you see their menus they're literally the same items - grilled seafood and meats served in various ways: over pasta, with mashed potato, with rice and sambals or in sandwiches. They're also the only place I know that serves sate lilit, minced seafood wrapped around lemongrass sticks.

grilled seafood with linguine pasta

Like their other outlets, the eateries are all decked out in Balinese items to give a kinda resort feel when you're dining out here. This particular restaurant tries to emulate that peaceful retreat feel but gets hampered as it faces the main road (they counteract it by pulling wooden chicks blinds to block out the sound). They also have the unfortunate luck to be next to a fella who fixes tyres, so occasionally you hear the whirl and wind of the machines used to remove the tyres from the car, breaking through the soothing rhythms of the Balinese music. Nevertheless it is still quite pleasant dining here. They usually open downstairs for daytime dining while upstairs seems more private (there's an air-conditioned are and a non air-conditioned area). You get to peek into upstairs when you walk up the staircase (no railings just the top part wrapped in rope, so beware those with small kids) lit up with floating candles as the toilets are upstairs.

Bits of Bali with the lemongrass ice tea

On to food, we have sampled their chicken soto (RM11) - chicken soup with bits of chicken and vegetables served with compressed rice cakes and weirdly enough, sliced garlic bread. Squeeze the lime given on the side to add a refreshing taste to the soup which tastes quite comforting. Their most popular order is the Nasi Campur - a mix of their specialties with sate lilit on the side. Having sampled that on numerous occasions in the other outlets, we went for the more unusual minced lamb. It is also served in a platter with yellow rice, the sambals and a keropok. The minced lamb was really good - tender with loads of chopped coriander all over it to give it flavour. Since I have not tried any of their western items, I decided to try their grilled seafood pasta (RM28). They're very generous with the amount of seafood - grilled squid, dory fish and prawns (that weren't very fresh!) that the plate seems to be overloaded with food. Underneath the bed of seafood, you find linguine tossed in a brownish sauce with chopped tomatoes and fried shallots. There's not much taste to the pasta sauce in terms of tomatoes but it's still a pleasant dish to chow down to with all the grilled seafood.

A large variety of drinks are also available here, including Monin syrup mixers. Tried their Mojito mixed with mint and lemongrass (RM11) that was refreshing but seemed to lack much taste of mojito syrup. The lemongrass tea we had the first time we ate here, seemed to be also missing much flavour as the chopped lemongrass in the sweetened tea wasn't adding any flavour to the drink. I guess the verdict is would I come back here again - personally I wouldn't mind since the food is pretty decent with a nice atmosphere. What I do notice is throughout the years from eating Bumbu Bali and Ole Ole Bali, the taste of the food seems to drop more and more. Initially Bumbu Bali was so tasty (but then I discovered it had MSG) hence I guess now they have omitted the MSG taste thus the food can be kinda bland tasting unless you add the sambals to give it more flavour. On throwing parties here, they do entertain this but sadly there's no special snacks or a catering menu. Instead, you have to order the a-la-carte dishes from the menu. The most they can entertain you with is a buffet spread based on their nasi campur dish (i.e. the yellow rice, grilled seafood, rendang, keropok and sambals). For a full set of pictures, see the Flickr set.

The Waterlily Bistro

No. 11-G, 11-1 & 11-2
Jalan Mutiara Tropicana 3
Mutiara Tropicana
Petaling Jaya

(Halal. Place is at the same row of shophouses where Jaya Grocer is located. To get here from PJ, if you are driving from Damansara towards the NKVE highway, just before the toll gate, take a left turn to Tropicana. Follow the road and you will see these row of shophouses on your left hand side.)

*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: Balinese Food+ Tropicana

Others who have also visited here:

• thenomadGourmand
• hAppY HapPy
• i'm saimatkong

Vegetarian Food @ Buddhist Temple, Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur

my colourful plate of vegetarian selections

I thought this post should be appropriate after the excesses of the long weekend - some vegetarian food found at one of the most unusual places, a stall located within a Buddhist temple grounds. During my days of working in the culinary-desert land of Damansara Heights, we used to escape to Jalan Ipoh to enjoy yong tau foo at the shack near the river (now moved into the bungalow across), wait for kingdom come at the seafood noodles in Segambut (I used to eat the sambal just to tide my hunger pangs) and this simple stall.

1. incense burning, 2. the stall that is on the side of the main entrance, 3. dragons guard the temple, 4. postal address for those lost

I was recently at Jalan Ipoh and decided to revisit old memories by dropping by here. Food is just as good - a mix of simple cooked vegetables or deep fried rolls filled with yambean that you select from a variety of dishes like an economy rice stall. Parking is relatively easy at the temple's big compound and you get tables and chairs under the shade of a big tree. Aside from the dishes you pick, the other alternative is vegetarian fried beehoon - delectable thin strands that often make me crave for more. One wonders what goes into those noodles, as they taste so incredibly yummy. Drop by here, if you're ever in the neighbourhood and discover a simple yet tranquil meal.

Vegetarian stall

Buddhist Temple

Jalan Ipoh

(Pork free. Place is open for lunch only and gets very busy on the 1st and 15th day of the month when devotees come to the temple to pray. To get here, it is on the left hand side, when you come down from Jalan Ipoh from HSBC, just before the turn off to Segambut.)

*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: Jalan Ipoh+ Vegetarian Food

Thanksgiving Malaysian-Style - When Jerry Met Tom the Turkey

1. crunchy siu yoke, 2. homemade chicken liver pate, 3. Meet Jerry or Jellyfish hidden in the bowl.

As the US will be waking up to the start of the Thanksgiving celebrations, I thought it'll be nice to share my recent Thanksgiving experience in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. We kinda do the celebrations differently in Malaysia but one thing is sure, the gist of the dinner is still the same like a traditional Thanksgiving - to give thanks and express gratitude. This time round, the Chans were doing the honours for friends who have supported their restaurant, Chef Choi at Jalan Ampang. It was indeed a privilege to be invited for the dinner, where I managed to meet new friends who are also fellow foodies and catch up with old ones too.

creamy decadent roe from hairy crab

Unlike the typical sit down Thanksgiving meals with a roast turkey, the sides and a pie, this was by far the most unusual variation I have eaten. Literally an east-meets-west version, we started off with some crunchy siu yoke as a starter and the restaurant's own-made chicken liver pate with some crackers.

1. help yourselves on the turntable, 2. roast turkey, 3. divine stuffing

Once everyone gathered, it was time to meet Jerry! Since the menu had mentioned a "jerry fish" we were all curious on what new specimen it will be. Turns out he's just a crunchy bouncy jelly fish thus named because they messed up the spelling. Anyway, dear Jerry was out for a surprise, since Tom the turkey (his old nemesis from the ever famous cartoon) was just two courses away.

east meets west - chopsticks used to select the stuffing

We even managed to get a taste of the hairy crabs - incredibly decadent creamy technicolour orange roe that you scoop up and relish. Once you have devoured the richness, it was time to slowly enjoy the sweet crab flesh within. Usually people only eat the roe but due to the crazy prices for these fluff covered crustaceans, we also eat the sweet tasting crabmeat rather than throw it away. After enjoying the crabs, a must is the hot ginger tea to get rid of any "wind" from consuming the crabs. I loved the strong hot ginger tea served to us and could have just drank that the whole night if I had an option.


the beautifully decorated plate of goodies

Next it was a prawn bisque followed by the main star of the dinner - Tom the Turkey and his co-stars: divine stuffing, sausages, roast potatoes, salad and sweet peas cooked in a garlicky sauce I couldn't stop eating! Served on platters and placed on the glass turntable, there was an air of communal sharing (kinda reminds me of Chinese New Year!) with everyone helping themselves. While forks and knives were available, some were even using chopsticks to pick the food. In fact, I ate my turkey dinner with chopsticks!!


1. lightest ever tiramisu, 2. cameras were welcomed of course to take the gorgeous alfajores from Argentina

Last but not least, we wrapped up with dessert - Chef Choi's signature tiramisu that is light and fluffy. The secret we discovered to its incredible lightness - only beaten egg whites are folded in and there's no mascarpone cream. Simply gorgeous! As another treat, Alfajores (chocolate sandwich cookies with a dulce de leche centre) all the way from Argentina was shared by my friend S, who had just visited the place a few weeks back. She gave me a stash too and I have been slowly savouring them as they're incredibly good.

Thanks so much to the Chans for the invitation! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Hakka Food @ Restoran Yap Chong, Pudu Ulu, Kuala Lumpur

melt in the mouth kaw yoke - pork belly slices with yam

Time for some old fashioned goodies and a little sprinkling of Hakka heartiness. My late father was an ultimate foodie in my eyes. Whether it was his love for down-to-earth Hakka dishes that he grew up with in his large family of 13 siblings or high flaunting French food in Lafite, he wouldn't mind spending on the family to make sure we all ate well. Every new country he visited, the first thing he'll do would be visit their wet market as that's where he'll discover the soul of their food, touching the ingredients and just absorbing the smells.

char yoke done old style but damn delish

Yap Chong would have been a place my dad would have approved since they serve traditional Hakka dishes like char yoke and kaw yoke that he loved. While my mother always frowned on these dishes (too much fat and so unhealthy!), no matter how much she controlled my dad's diet he always managed to get his fair share of these dishes some how some where.

steamed fish

Started in 1966 by Yap Chong (hence the name of the restaurant), the establishment is now run by his grandsons who continue their grandfather's legacy. Old school items like the char yoke or braised pork is actually based on a recipe passed down through time. Here pork belly slices are lightly battered with a good balance of nam yue (fermented bean curd) used in the gravy. Simply very comforting food that I could have just eaten for a few days, especially with a bowl of white rice. One can also imagine my aunties and uncles tucking in these kind of simple meals during their childhood.

claypot mutton dish

The kaw yoke - belly pork slices with yam had that decadent feel in the mouth (a combination of melt-in-the-mouth fats and meats) but was missing a much needed addition of five spice powder in the sauce. Instead, they seemed to have added that much needed sprinkling of five spice powder in the claypot mutton dish, since the spices were just way too overpowering. Steamed fish is also a specialty here and the restaurant keeps their fishes in containers for a few days to get rid of the muddy taste. While no mud smell was evident in the perfectly steamed fish, I did feel the cheong cheng sauce was also a little imbalanced - more soy bean paste and not enough kick from the chillies added. Definitely can't beat the ultimate steamed fish cheong cheng that we discovered in Fock Kee, which is nearby this place. There the sauce is just perfect with the right blend and a sinful twist of fried lard pieces.

Restoran Yap Chong
No 1618, Old Pudu Ulu

3 1/2 miles, Jalan Cheras

Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-9284 9649

(Non Halal. To get here, drive from Jalan Peel and go straight towards Jusco and Cheras. You will come to a traffic light that turns into Shamelin Perkasa and Menara PGRM. At the traffic light go straight and you will see a row of single storey zinc roof buildings. Yap Chong is on the left hand side. Parking can be a little tricky here but do be aware, they also give out parking fines.)

*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: Steamed Fish+ Hakka Food

Others who have visited here:

• Daily Rantings
• Places and Foods
• I Just Wana Eat

Homemade Truffle Potato Wedges

inspired by Delicious' truffle fries

Last week, we got embroiled in something pleasant (even though it was a threat to the waistline) - giving feedback to Delicious on their proposed menu items. They're in the midst of revamping the menu and prior to unrolling out their newbies, it goes through a few road tests - among their own chefs, their family members and also tasters from the general public. We were privileged to get an invite (thanks to PL!), as among our group there were friends of the management and regular diners to all their outlets. We also sat among a group of fun loving individuals that kept us entertained the whole night, making it a great pleasure even though we were technically "working"!

Taste testing 25 items ranging from breakfast, salads, Asian items, desserts and drinks was pretty serious business. After every tasting session, we had to give feedback on the taste and the visual appearance. Needless to say, we were as honest as we can regarding every dish that passed through our mouths. Am not sure what will be the final outcome but we will wait with bated breath. One of the items we tasted, inspired me to whip this dish last weekend. It's more of a variation since this is more homemade but it was just as delish with the truffle oil that adds a luxe taste to it.

Homemade Truffle Potato Wedges (Makes 1 portion)

1 russet potato, washed and cut into wedges
oil
parmesan cheese, grated finely
a dash of truffle oil

Preheat an oven to 220 degrees Celsius. Cut the potato into wedges. Toss in some oil and bake in the preheated oven for about 30-45 minutes or until browned around the edges. You may need to turn the wedges halfway through the cooking time. Remove from the oven. Finely grate parmesan cheese and drizzle with a dash of truffle oil. The wedges get their heady aroma from the truffle oil. Serve and eat immediately.

Dining Out @ High Tide, Menara Taipan, Off Jalan P Ramlee, Kuala Lumpur

smoked monkfish with fennel shavings and a citrus dressing

When I first read Sean's review of High Tide, I was appalled with the prices (RM48 for a salad with no seafood!). Ouch! That will definitely burn a huge hole in the pocket especially if I wanted to sample more items here for a good review, that I shoved the idea of dining here for about 2 months. Then a week back, a chef I knew raved about the place so much that I knew I should make an effort to sample the food prepared by Belgian chef Evert Onderbeke, who had trained under a 2-star Michelin chef, Roger Souvereyns.

oysters galore: 1. Fin de Claire, 2. Belon, 3. Irish or Pacific varieties

Luck was on my side as I called up and discovered they're doing lunch specials (2 courses for RM75++ and 3 courses for RM95++) from Tuesdays to Saturdays (they're closed on Mondays). It sounded good and definitely more affordable for us especially since we both wanted to sample the food first before forking out more monies.

the pretty pea shoot decorates shooter glasses of potato and spinach soup with foam

We felt a little lost since we have not been to Menara Taipan (it's so well tucked on Jalan P Ramlee opposite Menara Hup Seng that we never noticed it!). At the moment, parking is non existence within the building itself but the restaurant is trying to arrange for some so cross your fingers. However, you have open-air parking across the road under the shadow of KL Tower or you can even park at the Weld and walk across to the restaurant

1. Tuna tartar too pretty to eat, 2. the cosy interior of High Tide with fish staring at you while you eat their cousins

The place is very comfortable with plush brown seats and crisp dot linen on the tables. Keeping with the aquatic theme, aquariums filled with colourful fish dotting around their watery home surround the diners. Its dining area is not too large, probably about 10-15 tables giving it a pretty cosy feel. Light pours in from the tall unadorned glass windows on the side. The kitchen is kept hidden behind glass walls sandblasted to offer some privacy for the chef except for a tiny window at the bottom for service.

pan seared ocean trout with spinach, turned potatoes and pumpkin puree

Service was impeccable, helmed by their French restaurant manager, Carole Pinel who kept us well informed about our dishes. We were the only diners there hence we also enjoyed their undivided attention. Not many people know of this place even though it opened 2 months ago but they have been getting diners through word of mouth recommendations. Plans to advertise are in the works soon, hence hopefully people will start recognising this little gem of a restaurant.

kingfish served with mushrooms, roasted eggplant and tomato puree with roasted potatoes

Feeling decadent, we went for a platter of oysters to accompany our set lunch. There are three varieties available - Belon, Fin De Claire and Irish or Pacific oysters. We decided to give all types a taste run and ordered an assorted platter (RM135 for 12 oysters). Oysters were very good (but weirdly enough, still not as fantastic compared to the Canadian ones we had at Sage!) - fresh, creamy with a briny taste of the sea especially eaten plain with a squeeze of lemon juice. Gorgeous! Our favourite was the Belon with its briny mineral taste while the Fin de Claire and Irish ones were more creamier.

1. strawberry bavarois with milk sorbet, 2. chocolate bar with mango ice cream

Our food just kept coming in, we actually started off with the chef's amuse bouche, salmon tartare, parmesan crusted seafood and a potato and spinach soup with mushroom foam. The soup served in a shooter glass was excellent and so pretty with the pea shoots. Then it was our starters for the set lunch: a gorgeous tuna tartar arranged like a flower for him that looked almost too pretty to eat and a smoked monkfish for me. Plating here is reminscent of the landscapes, Michel Bras is famous for making us go Aaah! at every plate we were presented with.

an assortment of petit fours to end the meal

Mains was a choice of ocean trout or king fish, we don't usually see on our Malaysian tables. Both fishes were cooked to perfection and incredibly good when paired with their side sauces, pumpkin for the ocean trout and a mix of roasted eggplant and tomato for the kingfish. We end with dessert - a decadent chocolate bar served with mango ice cream and a pretty ordinary tasting strawberry bavarois for me served with a milk sorbet. At the end of the meal, we were also presented a selection of petit fours (more desserts!) - a chocolate and nut square, fruit tart (I love the sweet raspberries and blueberries) and my favourite, this almond and apple cake.

Ingredients are top-notch with the seafood flown in from Europe, Japan and etc almost on a daily basis hence the hefty prices that reflect the top quality of the ingredients. Depending on what they get, they will recommend you the daily fish specials. Menu items may also change due to availability of items, hence it is best to check ahead what they have. Prices are RM48 for the salads, starters are around RM98, mains are around RM98 onwards. They do a seafood platter with oysters, lobster, mussels, langoustine, prawns, clams to share between two diners or more, that costs RM248 per person. For both of us, we definitely will return for the menu items and dinner again (just have to wait for the moo-lah first!), as we both loved the food. For more pictures, see my Flickr set.

High Tide

Ground Floor

Menara Taipan

Jalan Punchak (on the way to KL Tower)
Off Jalan P Ramlee
Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-2072 4452

(Pork free. Open for lunch and dinner. Closed on Mondays. Place is under the Nero group who also owns Italian restaurants and a deli at Changkat Bukit Bintang and Damansara Heights, like Nerodeli, Neroteca, Nerovivo and Nerofico.)

*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: Seafood+ High Tide

Bak Kut Teh @ Subang Teow Chew Claypot Bak Kut Teh, Subang Permai, Shah Alam

my claypot bowl of porcine goodness

Let's end the week with a little community service announcement aka Subang Teow Chew Claypot has now shifted from their ramshackle shed into a proper shophouse. They now join a legion of bak kut teh shops (at last count 3 bak kut teh shops). It's just a hop and a skip away from their old place, since it's just at the shophouses just off the right hand turn (coming from Shah Alam) at the traffic light.

Unlike the other bak kut teh places nearer to the main road, Subang Teow Chew is tucked well within the shophouses and nearer to Big Plate. Located at a corner shop, parking is relatively easy and the place feels a little less packed compared to the previous location. Tastewise, it was still the same, a nice light brown herbal tinged broth that will keep your tummy warm during these rainy days. Unlike the other bak kut teh shops, they offer quite a lot of variety serving up tofu, fish and vegetable dishes also.

Subang Teow Chew Claypot Bak Kut Teh
45, Jalan Alfa U6/F
Subang Permai
40150 Shah Alam

Tel: 019-2615303/012-3559219

(Non Halal. To get here from Shah Alam, take a right turn at the first traffic light after the old place. Go straight and take the second left turn, make an immediate left turn at the shophouses then a first right. Go straight and you will see the shop on your left hand side.)

*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: Bak Kut Teh+ Subang Permai