Sarawak Home Cooking @ Pucuk Ubi, TTDI Plaza

toasted sago pearls to go with the umai, to give it a crunchy texture

Dining at TTDI Plaza during the weekends for lunch is definitely a very quiet affair. Am really not sure how the dining places here survive as the place is literally empty. The only place that seems to be occupied by people is Frames (which serves pretty good Nasi Dagang). We spied this Sarawak home cooked food place when we dined at Frames hence we returned back to give it a try.

Sarawak-style ceviche - umai melanau (they also do a prawn version here)

To be honest, I was a little hesistant of eating the food here since I have no benchmark on the authenticity of the items served here. Weirdly enough, Sarawak is the only state I have not visited hence I am a dunce when it comes to Sarawak cuisine. However, since we were curious and needed a place to eat during the weekend, we ended up here.

pounded pucuk ubi topped with fried onions

Even though they served familiar Sarawak stuff we see everywhere like Mee Kolok and Sarawak Laksa, I was curious to try the other stuff I have only seen or read in cookbooks before - umai and kacangma chicken. They also serve Terung Dayak, a different kind of aubergine here, which looks interesting.

steamed chicken kacangma with a little too much onions

We enjoyed the pucuk ubi Bidayuh - sweet potato shoots pounded until tender and topped with fried onions. Reminds me a little of spinach since there is not much fibre in these vegetables. Not too spicy, this made a good start to the meal. If you rather have something spicy, the umai melanau is just right. Thinly sliced fish is tossed in pounded red chillies and lime juice. Similar to the Latin American ceviche, the citrus juices "cook" the fish slices when left out for the while. Toasted sago pearls are served with this dish, adding a nice crunch to the refreshing fish slices.

Last but not least, we had the steamed chicken kacangma, a kind of herb found in Sarawak. While the dish was quite tasty resembling something from mum's kitchen, I did think the use of the herbs was quite subtle. From what I read in another review of this place, this is definitely different from the versions found in Sarawak, as they usually add rice wine and ginger to this dish. Even the pucuk ubi Bidayuh is a little different here, as they use the wrong type of onions.

Even though, this may not be the most genuine of all Sarawak food, I felt it was good to try something new and different. However, be warned this place is not cheap. Even though food may look ordinary, I felt they overcharge for the food here especially since the plate of steamed chicken was filled with quite a lot of chopped onions versus meat. Does anyone else know where I can get to try all these Sarawak specialties in the Klang Valley? Would be great to try genuine versions over at this side of the ocean.

Restaurant Pucuk Ubi

A-1-13, TTDI Plaza

Jalan Wan Kadir 3

Taman Tun Dr Ismail

Kuala Lumpur

Tel No: 016-6046355

(Pork free.)

*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: Sarawak Food + Umai

Pepper Pig Stomach Soup, Lai Mian and Dumplings @ Restaurant Hong Seng, Section 17, Petaling Jaya

delicious tasting lai mian with plump shui jiao (all for RM4)

To kick off this week, I thought it would be nice to highlight this great value-for-money stall at one of my favourite coffeeshops in Petaling Jaya. Located at the corner opposite CIMB Bank Berhad, Restaurant Hong Seng is a favourite stop over for my mother and I. We both absolutely love the roast pork and the teochew duck porridge here. Even the curry laksa and yong tau foo is pretty good but I never seem to get round to blogging about it.

great value - 8 pieces of pan fried juicy dumplings for RM4.80

My mother was recently introduced to this stall by her friends, hence I decided to give it a try. Manned by a Mainland China woman, she sells lai mian, pepper pig stomach soup and dumplings (the boiled and pan fried versions). Communicating to her may be a little problem especially if you don't speak Mandarin like me, but I got by since she seems to understand my Cantonese. She also has photos of her dishes on her stall, so I reckon if there is a communication breakdown, just point to what you want.

not too impressive pepper pig stomach soup for RM4

For the pepper pig stomach soup (RM4), you can opt to have it plain or with noodles (a choice of her own made lai mian or kuey teow). While the soup does not qualify for greatness since it lacks the fire I like from loads of white pepper, it was still pretty decent tasting. The lady mixes the strips of pig's stomach with tofu puffs and chopped vegetables; giving a little variety to the soup.

What I really liked and totally enjoyed were her dumplings. She sells the boiled version (shui jiao), which you can order with the handpulled noodles. I got a bowl of noodles with 4 juicy and plump filled shui jiao for just RM4!! Definitely a steal, I reckon. For the pan fried version (wor tip), she sells 8 pieces for RM4.80 - another fantastic deal. Stuffed with minced pork and chopped chives, each dumpling is so juicy, you have to be extremely careful while eating them. Even though the noodles are nothing fantastic, the bowl of dumplings with the clear soup and chopped vegetables feel extremely healthy. Do give it a try, as I reckon this stall offers very good value-for-money food. While it lacks the detailed refineness of the restaurants, it still tastes pretty good since it has a homecooked feel to it (and lack of MSG!).

On another note, I've also noticed a couple more changes to the food and beverage scene. Silom, the Thai restaurant at Plaza Damansara seems to have closed down and there is a new cafe called Moxie (owned by the same people from Cava and Opus) at where Sandias used to be. Yo! Sushi at Pavilion KL, has closed for renovations. Not sure if the Midvalley outlet is also going through the same renovations. And, I noticed Marche now does not sport the Movenpick logo anymore plus they stopped serving Movenpick ice cream at their dessert counter replacing it with Nestle ice cream! Does this mean, they are no longer part of the Movenpick group? The website seems to mention Movenpick still but I wonder why they changed the ice cream brand used. Anymore changes you have noticed recently?

Pepper Pig Stomach Soup & Dumplings Stall
Restaurant Hong Seng
Along Jalan 17/29

Section 17

Petaling Jaya

(Non Halal. Stall seems to be opened from breakfast to 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: Noodles + Dumplings

Godiva Chocolatier Cafe @ Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

chocolate decadence here....

Sugar High Friday!! I reckon this is the best post to kick off the weekend - a little chocolate indulgence for the soul. Last week, when we visited Pavilion to meet up with my friend to collect my Michelin Guides, we saw this from the top - the cafe nestled in between the luxury boutiques. Owned by the Valiram group, the same people who bring in all those luxe brands that surround this cafe, the cafe seems to have sprouted overnight at this space.


pour your heart out.....rich dark chocolate drink

Prices are definitely cheaper than a Gucci or JP Tods' handbag BUT it will still burn a hole in your wallet especially since we should be tightening our belts now (prices for the drinks range from RM16++ onwards). Most of the people hanging around are tourists or even the Valiram management (spied them indulging in the desserts) during the weekends. On weekdays, the place is ghostly empty just like the whole of Pavilion after the festive season.


white chocolate cake, for those who love creamy richness

At the cafe, you get to relax with hot and cold chocolate drinks including their famous Godiva Chocolixir. Weirdly enough, it is cheaper to drink it here (RM16) versus the takeaway in Suria KLCC (RM22). Not sure if the size of the glass or taxes are included, hence the price difference. There are also cakes you can choose from the counter or a selection of truffles and chocolates, you can order. If you don't fancy chocolate items - there are teas, coffees and other non-chocolate cakes like carrot cake, pistachio macaroons and etc.


chocolate overload, baked dark chocolate ganache tart

Sadly, I wouldn't say everything is super nice here. For instance, while the baked dark chocolate ganache tart (RM17) is great value for money considering the amount of dark chocolate you get (ganache, a large dark chocolate disc, slivers of white chocolate), the slightly hard pastry didn't impress at all.

For me, the winners was the white chocolate cake topped with a Godiva truffle and the white chocolate creme brulee. Although the cake is very simple with its thick white chocolate ganache topping with a sponge base and a mousse like filling - it tasted really delicious the day we ate it. However, I wonder if it will suffer the same fate cakes have in our country - being kept too long in the fridge (half cut) until it hardens and dries up into something quite inedible. We both also liked the creme brulee, which was a tiny portion but just nice since it was very rich tasting. I also tried the carrot cake - not as fantastic as Alexis' version but pretty decent tasting.

The drinks are pretty good too - we really like the Dark Chocolate Raspberry Chocolixir. The combination of tangy raspberries complement the sinful dark chocolate well. If you want it sweeter, add whipped cream but it tastes nicer without it. The other drinks we tried - the dark chocolate and chili chocolate were pretty good too. You get the subtle taste of chili more after you leave the drink to sit for a while though.

While I wouldn't mind dropping by for the drinks, I reckon the cafe does need some improvement more on the cakes especially the tart. Maybe a shorter biscuit crust instead and leaving the tart to thaw out a bit so the ganache is not super hard but silkier? For more pictures, see my Flickr set on the cafe. Sorry about the prices though, only have one receipt only since the other one was in my lost wallet.

Godiva Chocolatier Cafe
Level 2
Pavilion
Jln Bukit Bintang
Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03 - 2142 5252

(Pork free. Chocolates are also on sale here. The cafe is located where the designer labels are located, in front of Gucci, Ferragamo and Sincere Watch. You can also buy Godiva chocolates at Suria KLCC and KLIA. The Suria KLCC also serves Chocolixir drinks for take-away.)

*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.

Other reviews:

• Food4thot
• 3iLing

Tagged with: Godiva Chocolates + Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

The Elusive Tenji

Never underestimate the power of "the word of mouth" or blogs. Ever since Tenji opened late last year, they had not spent any monies promoting the Japanese buffet restaurant, but everyone in Klang Valley and beyond seems to know about it.

I reckon it has something to do with people telling friends & family and an email circulating around the offices, which includes the write-up and pictures by Precious Pea. She mentioned in passing to me about the email but I didn't know how far reaching it was, until yesterday my colleague beckoned me over and asked for directions to Tenji. He then showed me the email....from his friend asking him to go for this value for money Japanese buffet. His aim - eat as much of his favourite sashimi for 1 hour (without talking!) at the price of RM29.90++ per person.

Coincidentally, friends of mine asked me to visit Tenji today. They told me it was impossible to get through the telephone number provided as it kept going to the voicemail. Hence, I told them I'll go ahead to the restaurant and see if I can get a booking for all of us. When I got to the place, there was a small queue ahead. Hmmmm, don't tell me it was full on a weekday! I joined the queue and after a few minutes, a couple walked by and said, "I can't believe it is full." Aiks! Being very curious and since I was already there, I waited a little while longer as I wanted to check if other dates were available.

Can you believe it? According to the guy at the counter, the place is booked solid until January 15th (the day the promotion ends)!!!!! I guessed everyone and anyone has heard about it and made it a point to check the whole deal out. BUT from I gather from Precious Pea just now, she has heard claims that some managed to walk in without any bookings...am not sure if those could be odd hours or did they take the VIP packages??? Oh well, I guess I have no karma with Tenji. I'll just salivate over the pictures Precious Pea took of the buffet instead.....sigh!

I hate change...

wtf! happened to Weng Hing - that institution off Jalan Imbi???

I know it is the new year and we should be ringing in the changes but I personally hate it all. Call me old fashioned, but I wish in terms of food quality and restaurants, things remain status quo.

Maybe it is just because I have not been having a good start to the year - I accidentally dropped my purse on Monday afternoon, which meant I had to do a lot to get back all my documents. On hindsight now, I reckon it could have been a blessing in disguise, as when I went to the police station to do my report, this girl was also there reporting a snatch theft from the same bank I had planned to take out monies from!! Crime is pretty bad in town - for the past 2 days I have been hearing how people get snatched when they leave the bank (thieves target them as they were withdrawing large sums of monies) and how this woman from China pushes her victims at the SS2 morning market, to pick their bag....sigh! what is the world becoming.

Enough about me griping about all the hassles I have been going through and back to what is happening to food quality. Don't you hate places you like changing in terms of their quality? We ended up at Yellow Cab Pizza yesterday for lunch (since there was no parking at Kampung Baru) and it was a very dissapointing lunch. When they first opened, the crusts were thin and crisp. Now, the pizza crust has an uneven thickness - one side crisp and another side thick and filled with stodgy uncooked pizza crust. Definitely shows someone within the kitchen is not doing a proper job. Maybe the original person the master franchise people taught has left especially since I saw the manager frantically interviewing people outside. Anyway, they should really look into that before they lose more customers. Even Jasmine had this problem recently.

Then, on the way back I spied this from the car - Weng Hing, the red coloured institution off Jalan Imbi has changed its name to Win Heng Seng! I didn't stop by but I saw some renovations and repainting within, as the other stalls were closed. Yikes, I hope the pork noodles (sam kang cheong), char kuey teow and mini egg tarts, goreng pisang stalls will still be there. I still remember how the corner SS2 Lim Mee Yoke closed a while back due to gambling debts and all those stalls dissapeared. Will try and investigate this matter during the weekend, when I am free. If anyone knows what happens, pray tell.

All this got me thinking about how fast things change, hence I have added a time sensitive clause in my disclaimer. This was also triggered off by another comment by a person, who visited a place recently in Section 17. Food was horrible versus what it was almost a year ago. Nowadays, I reckon when places open in the beginning, food is always good and so is service. After a few months, they start slacking in terms of quality (you see them downgrading the brands they use and etc) especially since costs go up but they can't raise prices. I'll try and revisit places to see how it is. However, as it can take some time, if you do know quality has dropped or changed in a certain place, do alert me. Thanks and sorry for griping! It just has been 2 days of amazing coincidences....

Steamed Fish @ Lan Je, Rawang, Selangor

eat me pleaseeeee!!!

Holidays always seem to be great times to catch up with family and friends. For lunch on New Year's day, it was all about family. My mother wanted something different from the usual places we eat at, hence she requested we visit Pan Heong at Batu Caves, especially since my uncle and aunt has yet to savour their fantastic sang har (water prawns) noodles. Once we got there, we realised it would be an incredibly long wait since we had 10 tables ahead of us.

Thus, we decided to give up and head further down the road to Rawang. A quick google search on 3G, got me Lan Je's telephone number and subsequently, I managed to confirm they were opened plus book a steamed fish for each person.

crackly crunchy super fresh prawns

The drive was pretty smooth especially since the road to Rawang from Selayang has been widened. Right before we hit the town, I had to get my bearings right before I recognised the small low stalls on the side of the road, where Lan Je is located at. Couldn't miss the crowd of people hanging there. Luckily we got a seat quickly but the waitress took a long time to clean up the place since it was laden with bones and fish remnants all over the place.

Long long ago, Lan Je used to sell economy rice to the workers from the nearby cement factory. She started selling steamed tilapia fish, which got a good response from her customers and ever since then she has been famous for that dish. Nowadays, Lan Je does not get involved with the day to day running of the stall. Instead it is manned by her sons and daughter-in-laws, who have also perfected the art of steaming the fish.

At the stall, small black tilapia fish vs the more common red tilapia fish is used (around 300grams) hence you order one fish per person. This means you don't have to fight for your fish and you can take your time eating it. Topped with a slightly spicy topping of garlic, ginger and chillies (you can adjust how spicy you want when you place your order), the fish is steamed just right, yielding flesh that is silky smooth. My favourite bit is when you turn the fish over and you get the not so dry fish flesh underneath. Even Splashie Boy and my aunt who both hate eating fish with bones ate their own portions with relish. My mother, uncle and I were in heaven since we love eating fish and sucking the bones until everything is clean.

The menu here is pretty standard and pork free. It seems even Malays patronise this stall as they love the steamed fish. Aside from the steamed fish, they also do a salted dry fried prawns very well. The very fresh prawns are fried till the skin is all crunchy and edible. The fried vegetables (yau mak), which we had was also very good and crunchy. The only let down was their chicken with dried chillies. We all felt it was a little hard. Total damage for 5 of us was RM118, which we all thought was worth it especially since it was such a satisfying meal. You'll definitely see us returning for the steamed fish here, and to be honest now with the highways interlinking everything together, it is not that far away. For more pictures, see my Flickr set.

Lan Je Steamed Fish

27-28, Block C, Jalan Rawang

Gerai MPS, Batu 16

Rawang

Tel No: 012-227 0037

(Pork free. To get here, drive down from Selayang towards Rawang, you will pass by Templer's Park on the way there. Just before you hit the town area, you will see these low stalls on both sides of the road. After the BHP Petrol Station, make a U turn and you will see Lan Je on your left hand side. Open from 11.30am to 3pm, 6-10pm. Closed on Tuesdays. It is advisable you call ahead and book your fish especially during peak times, as they tend to run out of food if you are late.)

*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.

Other reviews:

• @h Phen's Confession Room
• absolut ginger
• My Gastronomic Adventure
• Cumi & Ciki (with a map even!)

Tagged with: Malaysian Food + Steamed fish

Mamma Mia New Year Party @ Maukitten's, Kuala Lumpur

party time just started....

Happy New Year! Am sure everyone had a roaring time partying to usher the new year, especially from all the photos I saw in Facebook. We celebrated at our friend Maukitten's house. Her food is always amazing, hence we were looking forward to it.


delish nasi kerabu tinged blue

Every year, it is a different theme; Japanese, Italian pasta and pizza and this year, it was all kinds of rice with satay. I liked the nasi kerabu tinged blue and mixed with tiny eggplants you usually find in Thai green curries.


the satayman provided yummy chicken and lamb satay for all of us

Next was Japanese inspired rice with hijiki seaweed and edamame beans. We also had edamame beans for snacks before the rice dishes were ready.


Japanese inspired rice with edamame beans

My favourite was the mushroom black rice. Maukitten got the black rice from Thailand itself, doubt it was coloured like the hoo-hah over locally bought Thai black rice, which they found is coloured (see NST report here). We added fried bacon bits for extra flavour - really yummy stuff.


mushroom black rice, you could add bacon bits to this for extra flavour

Of course we had salad - loads of leafs tossed in olive oil and juicy satay - chicken and lamb. Really good stuff of course, especially eaten hot off the grill. To cool off, we had Dennis' wicked fruit daiquiris - hidden by the blended fruit but laden with vodka. For entertainment, we had the Mamma Mia movie on big screen projector with speakers even. I had fun with the movie since it was my first time watching it. We even had fireworks from nearby, when the countdown began. Overall, a great party and thanks very much to Maukitten for inviting us. For more pictures of the food and party, click on my flickr set.

So how did all of you spend your New Year? Do share with me the wonderful parties, get togethers and celebrations you all had. Would be fun to compare notes.

Breakfast @ delicious ingredients, Dua Annexe, Jln Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur

magnificent brekkie - oozing poached eggs on top of ham with a diluted hollandaise sauce

Long breaks are definitely the best time to enjoy lazy leisurely breakfasts. We discovered the newly minted delicious ingredients at Dua Annexe, when we visited Kirishima. Sporting the unmistakable turquoise blue coloured sign, this is a deli filled with a mix of gourmet ingredients and day-to-day items since it acts as a kind of store for the Dua Residency occupants. There is even a dry cleaner, baking and cooking equipments from Cuisipro, Cuisinart and Kitchen Aid here.


Splashie Boy's gorgeous looking blueberry pancakes with crushed honeycomb

Although they carry the same items like Bangsar Shopping Centre(BSC)'s new food hall, items here seem a little cheaper by a few RM. Weirdly enough, the people at BSC seem to have adjusted their prices downwards after Christmas, so the difference now is not as big as before. My favourite item was the Kshocolat chocolates - a premium chocolate from Glasgow. I went a little crazy over the white chocolate with lemon and pepper; a fantastic combination I must re-create in a mousse soon. Other brands they have are TWG Tea (teabags and pick your own tea selection from the jars), Butler's Grove with its selection of jams and preserves, Jones the Grocer (spaghetti sauce, preserved lemons, marinades and etc), Spanks and etc. They also have fruits, fresh vegetables, meats, seafood, dairy products and etc. Take-away whole cakes are also available.


the christmas train chugs on...

At the moment, the small deli serves all day breakfast, plans are in the works to allow for lunch and dinner items where you pick from the meats selection to cook. We dropped by for a very late breakfast one day. The menu selection is not a lot and some items look familiar since we have seen them before in delicious' breakfast menu.

We went for items not found in the other menu: eggs benedict (RM12.90) and blueberry pancakes (RM15.90). I loved my eggs benedict - my all time fav indulgence. Soft poached eggs that oozed sinful egg yolk to mix with creamy hollandaise sauce. My only gripe was the sauce was a little thin and they didn't use English muffins for the base. They also do another version called Eggs Royale with smoked salmon instead of turkey ham. Splashie Boy enjoyed every bite of his blueberry pancakes. Very thick and brown, they had bits of crunchy honeycomb scattered over them. Do go and enjoy yourself, one lazy morning. Great way to start the new year I reckon. If you prefer something heavier, run upstairs instead to delicious. For more pictures of those luscious blueberry pancakes and everything else, see my

Flickr set.

Enjoy yourself with all the festivities, I know we will be with Maukitten's fantastic food for her annual New Year Eve's bash. Happy New Year everyone!!

delicious ingredients
Dua Annexe
Jalan Tun Razak
Kuala Lumpur

Tel No: 03 - 2166 2066

(Pork free. Open from 8am to 6pm.)

*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from the restaurant for writing this review.

Tagged with: Eggs Benedict + Dua Annexe

Japanese Food @ Kirishima, Dua Annexe, Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur

pick from the Japanese inscribed paper for Kirishima's specials

I have been very slack (head down in shame!) in posting.....very sorry, readers. Work and getting ready for the party for Xmas has meant, I abandoned the blog for a whole week. Yikes, very bad habit indeed. I don't even have pictures of the Xmas party spread, as I was so busy running around getting ready, collecting the turkey, preparing desserts the whole day (the lemon sabayon tart went down well plus the Valrhona white chocolate mousse) and etc, that we didn't get there in time for the party.

dobin mushi, madam? my fav clear soup filled with mushrooms, leeks, gingko nuts & chicken

During the long long break, we did get to relax and check out new places to eat, so I have a lot to blog about. On my list of to do places, has been Kirishima at the newly opened Dua Annexe, opposite US Embassy on Jalan Tun Razak. Located just next to Delicious, Kirishima is part of the restaurant chain, which also owns Ninja Jones and Yuzu at the Gardens, Mid Valley City. What made visiting them very attractive during this period, was their opening promotion discounts (valid till 31 December, 2008) - 10% discount for set meals, 15% discount for a la carte, 15% for chef recommended sashimi fish and 25% discount for shabu-shabu.

7 kinds of chef selected sashimi (RM98 for 2 pax - RM83 after the 15% discount)

Since we didn't get a booking at the hottest place in town at the moment (aka Tenji, the mega Japanese buffet, which you can eat till you literally roll out of the door) and it was fully booked during the long break, we opted for this instead. Eventually, we did 2 visits here, after we discovered the promotional prices and brought my mother here to try the food.

silky smooth cold beancurd

For our first visit here, we zoomed in on the sashimi moriawase (7 kinds of specially selected fish) - really good stuff but don't ask me what they served since I am a dunce with Japanese names. I did spot salmon, scallop. clams, snapper and etc. The next day, when a friend ordered the same thing, they were given a different selection, which had toro (tuna belly). We also had a cold tofu, something I preferred compared to the agedashi tofu they serve here with eggplant. A wagyu beef sesame salad was added - nice and refreshing together with my favourite soup - dobin mushi.

juicy and succulent wagyu saikoro steak

For our second visit here, we tried the sets - I had the really value for money Kirishima Gozen (RM48) and my mother had the Saba Shioyaki Set (RM25). My Kirishima Gozen set was packed with goodies ranging from a small portion of wagyu saikoro steak, 3 varieties of sashimi, 3 varieties of sushi, tempura moriawase, dobin mushi soup, assorted pickles, fried beancurd, a piece of chicken and fruits for dessert! Everything was very good except that piece of chicken, which tasted like it came out from the fridge hard and unappetising. My mother's grilled saba fish was also good - a pretty decent sized fish, which was juicy. Splashie Boy had a bigger version of Wagyu Saikoro Steak, which looked much better than the Wagyu Ishiyaki Steak.

If you are around that neighbourhood, go check out that place, tucked at one corner. It sports chandeliers (weird in a Japanese restaurant), Japanese fabric curtains and lots of mirrors plus one wall of those salt lamps in front. They also do an izakaya style spread for dinner (pick from the counter the food) and serve oden (a set for 2 pax) here. You may want to skip desserts here (the matcha tiramisu looks like an ordinary cream cake!) and head next door for Delicious' desserts instead. For more pictures of the other items we ordered, you can view the Flickr set.

Kirishima Japanese Restaurant
Lot 1.2, First Floor

Dua Annexe
211 Jln Tun Razak
Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-2162 8127

(Pork free. Open from noon to 2.30pm, 6-10pm daily. If you are coming from the Smart tunnel, this place is just after Bombay Palace and next to Dua Residency, before the Singapore High Commission.)

*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from the restaurant for writing this review.

Tagged with: Japanese Food + Dua Annexe

Tangkak Beef Noodles @ De Happyland Restaurant, USJ 14, Subang Jaya

Sorry readers, but I have been extremely busy with work, hence the abandonment of blogging recently. Trying to finish off early, but somehow instead of the work finishing quickly, it seems to pile up more, as the days go by. Sigh!! Didn't manage to eat anywhere interesting this weekend but we did stumble upon an amazing find - Daiso at the Curve, right next to Nichii. For those who love the 100 Yen shop and its knick knacks, this is even better - about 4 shoplots of Japanese stuff i.e. crockery, cutlery, pet stuff, home decorative items, toiletries, car accessories, stationery and etc, prized at RM5 for each item. We went a little crazy there yesterday and bought a pile of stuff, since I am enamoured with anything Japanese.

On to food, I stumbled upon this stall one day, after eating the char kuey teow next door. I eventually went back and tried the beef noodles. Run by an old man, it was pretty good stuff. Not knock your socks off stuff but decent enough, as you could taste the beefy soup. He was also pretty generous with the beef, tendons and stomach bits so I was quite happy. What I also observed at this coffeeshop, the pork noodles were also very popular hence I ordered it for my next visit. Not sure why people order it as it was so dissapointing - full of soy sauce until the sweet taste of the pork broth was killed to death. Don't order it, instead save your tummy space for the other pork noodles place at Restaurant Ten-Tien Fatt, further up the road.

Tangkak Beef Noodles Stall

De Happyland Coffeeshop
USJ 14
Subang Jaya

(Non-halal. Place is directly opposite the Lorong Selamat Char Kuey Teow place.)

*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from the restaurant for writing this review.

Tagged with: Malaysian Food + Beef Noodles

Lam Mee @ Restoran Mei Sin, Off Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur

home made taste

A quickie post, as I realised I am super dead tired after a long day fighting with traffic, crowds in the mall and etc. I have been faithfully ticking off places to try from the same guide book that led me to the wantan mee place. Next was the Lam Mee stall at Restoran Mei Sin, Imbi. To be honest, if the guidebook didn't mention they sold Lam Mee, I would have ignored that stall as it seemed to be more popular for its curry mee.

While the Lam Mee didn't wow my tastebuds for me to call up the whole world to try it out, it was still pretty decent stuff. What I liked about it - it felt very homey and luckily, not overdosed with MSG. The chili sauce served with it was suitably sour and spicy, adding a needed kick to the noodles. Overall it was a decent bowl of noodles to partake, if you are around the area. However if you plan to specially make a trip here, I suggest May King at the busy streets of Pudu instead as despite the commericalization of that place, the noodles taste much better there. Read about other stuff from Restoran Mei Sin here.

And since we are talking about Lam Mee, has anyone tried the new place at 1 Utama, near Kluang Station, called Lameeya (I think)? Looks interesting but it was super empty today while Kluang Station was packed with people.

Sunday Roast Lunch @ Chinoz on the Park, Suria KLCC

superb roast lamb with yummy roast potatoes and yorkshire puddings

One of my fondest memories in England was the Sunday roast lunches. No matter how awful the meals were during the whole week at my dining hall (I had to stay in a catered hall of residence for my first year), I always waited in anticipation for Sunday. It was a day to laze around, catch up with assignments and savour one of the best meals - roast beef, lamb or chicken with lotsa gravy, roast potatoes and vegetables. It makes up for Sunday dinner, which is usually a let down though (since the cooks go off to church) - cold cuts and salad.


delish chocolate bread and butter pudding with vanilla sauce

We did the new Tastings menu by Chef Haffiz quite some time back and was very impressed with his Slow Braised Daube of Beef Cheeks. Just imagine fork tender beef that melts in your mouth paired with a smooth potato puree - simply heavenly stuff! I didn't blog about it, as I wanted to do a trio of tastings - the dinner menu, the Friday lunch menu (4 course meal with wine for RM120) and the Sunday roast lunch. Work and everything got in the way, so I didn't get my chance until yesterday to try the Sunday offerings.

Since we were at KLCC (for the PIKOM fair, just like the whole world as Splashie Boy was stocking up IT stuff including a terrabyte hard disc for my Xmas pressie!), we decided to try this. We didn't regret stepping in here and trying the buffet even though we tend to avoid buffets. It may not be a lot of food but the taste of certain items blew us away.

I've heard raves of Chef Haffiz's soups before from a friend who tasted it during his Friday lunch offerings, so I was keen to try his garlic aioli soup. Gosh, it was the best soup ever for me - so smooth and rounded, with the distinct taste of garlic. Not overly creamy and heavy like other soups and simply so fantastic, I felt like drinking the whole pot!

There is an array of appetisers - salads (caesar and potato), cold cuts and vegetables, fish cakes and a small platter of assorted maki and sashimi. We didn't want to eat much, hence we only picked a few makis to try and the sashimi (a mix of salmon and another white fish I was not familiar with). Makis were good - with a hint of spiciness within the roll and the sashimi was also nice and fresh.

Both of us were leaving tummy space for the main event - the roast meats. Splashie Boy came back with a fully loaded plate - slices of roast lamb, a chunky Yorkshire pudding, vegetables and roast potatoes. Even though there were other selections - roast beef and chicken, we were recommended the roast lamb as it was nice and tender that day. Splashie Boy gave his thumbs up hence I had the same items with lamb jus, mint sauce and a little wholegrain mustard on the side. Oh man, it was damn good stuff - the lamb leg was stuffed with garlic cloves, hence you had the tender meat with slightly softened garlic bits. I also loved the roast potatoes. Usually the ones you get are hard and overcrisped - this version was slightly fluffy. Although we would have preferred roast beef with our Yorkshire puddings, we were warned that it was a little tough today (we tried and they were right).

To cap off our great meal - we had the bread and butter pudding. Sprinkled with chocolate bits, it was also delicious, not too heavy on the custard but still yielding a rich taste especially with the chocolate bits. If you love solid English Sunday lunches like both of us, do visit Chinoz and who knows, you may see us both enjoying the lunch almost every Sunday here.

Chinoz on the Park
G47, Ground Floor
Suria KLCC
Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-2166 8277

(Pork Free. Sunday Roast lunch is RM69++ per pax, RM35++ for children below 12 and starts from 12 to 3pm on Sundays, of course! The soups and appetizers change weekly but the roast selections are: lamb, beef and chicken all the time. If you want to read more about their tastings menu, visit Julian's blog and A Whiff of Lemongrass. Note that the degustation menu offerings change every month and its only available during dinnertime.)

*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from the restaurant for writing this review.

Tagged with: Sunday Roast Lunch + Suria KLCC

Tex-Mex Food @ Nachos Nachos, Kota Damansara

strawberry and mango margaritas - but beware, no alcohol within (RM6.90+ each)

Trust Splashie Boy to find a new Tex-Mex place to try out especially since it is his favourite food. He spotted this place when he explored the new Giant hypermarket at Kota Damansara last Friday, hence he brought me here yesterday. The huge hypermarket houses quite a lot of food - J Co Donuts, Wendy's, Kiliney Kopitiam, Korean BBQ Chicken, Noodle Station, JM Bariani, KFC, the yet to open Otak-Otak place (which is linked to Pick & Brew) and etc etc.

nachos chili beef (but weirdly no beef?) - RM11.90+

The no-frills restaurant is painted dark green including the ceiling (which is covered with aluminium zinc) and a few Mexican touches in the form of black and gold somberos on one wall. The menu is quite simple - a few varieties of nachos with different toppings, quesadillas, tacos, main meals with Mexican rice, fajitas and etc. We ordered nachos of course - the chili beef version but instead we were served the chicken variety. Kinda weird but I didn't realise the mix up, until I just looked at the receipt since I didn't order. Anyway, we weren't complaining as it was tasty stuff especially with the not spicy jalapeno chillies on top. We were given a pot of sour cream to dip the nachos in, which we almost finished up.


combo fajitas (chicken and beef) - RM18.90, check out the smoke

The place here reminds me a little of Chillis, as kids below 12 years old get to eat free (so there were loads of families eating here. Am not sure if any other terms apply though, as I didn't read the fine print) and they bring the tray next to your table when they serve your main meals.


grande chicken tacos (RM13.90+) - a little plain with fries but nice

I ordered the combo fajitas - a mix of chicken and beef strips that topped onions and sliced capsicums, which arrived sizzling hot that I even managed to capture the smoke arising from the hot plate. With it, they served three soft tortillas, sour cream, grated cheese and chopped tomatoes. We also ordered a side order of avocado. We had to pile the meat high on the tortillas since the platter had more than enough to go around.

Splashie Boy ordered the chicken tacos, which were also good - not dry and slightly juicy. His plate was a little plain though with just french fries with his taco. French fries weren't anything fantastic either. We both enjoyed our meal and definitely return to try more stuff again. Oh, they also do non-alchoholic margaritas here - a bit weird especially if you prefer the other version but it is still very refreshing, tangy and extremely pretty with the blue sugar coated glasses.

Nachos Nachos
Lot G2 & G3
Giant Hypermarket
Kota Damansara
Petaling Jaya

Tel: 03-6142 4009

(Halal. Place is located at the ground floor of the hypermarket, opposite Wendy's. Their first outlet is located at SACC Mall, Shah Alam.)

*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from the restaurant for writing this review.

Tagged with: Nachos + Kota Damansara

Nasi Ambeng @ Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur

the small stall trading in front of the house

I never tire from exploring Kampung Baru - it is like every nook and cranny there has good food, if I look hard enough. For me, the contrast between the old kampung houses and the modern skyscrapers always reminds me of how far we have come in development. Parts of the village has gone through some sprucing up with new pavements but to me, it is still a great place to search for Malay food.

delicious ayam masak merah using ayam kampung

We wandered there last weekend, to search for this Nasi Ambeng stall. A Javanese dish, Nasi Ambeng or Ambang is usually served during weddings and parties (aka kenduri). Traditionally, you place 4 portions of rice, fried noodles, chicken, serunding, tempe and etc on a tray lined with banana leaves. Everyone is encouraged to share this platter. Nowadays, the stall owners serve a different variety - single portions that you eat like Nasi Campur (mixed rice). Some varieties also see them packed like nasi lemak bungkus except the packets are larger. Here, the rice is packed tightly with all the accompaniements in a banana leaf, which infuses the rice with a fragrant aroma.

splashie boy's selection of ayam kicap and of course, his favourite bergedil

Located along the quieter stretch of the main thoroughway of Kampung Baru i.e. Jalan Raja Muda Musa, it is not hard to spot this stall within a house as they have a banner proclaiming they sell Nasi Ambeng. Only available from Friday to Sunday during lunchtime, you get a lovely view of the Petronas towers, if you sit there and dine.

the view to kill

We had a choice of fried tempe (cut in chunks versus thin slices), fried tofu, serunding kelapa, ayam kicap, ayam masak merah, green beans fried with tempe and tofu - a kind of sayur lodeh, ikan keli, bergedil and etc. This place also serves lontong every morning using most of the same ingredients - sayur lodeh, tempe and serunding kelapa.

I loved the chicken here as they use the tougher ayam kampung for their dishes. A little tough but still much better than the mushy and soft type of meat you get from antibiotic injected chickens. The meal was very satisfying and pretty reasonable - two portions with drinks cost us less than RM11. While the food was not totally genuine, it was still a very good meal.

Nasi Ambeng Stall
44, Jln Raja Muda Musa

Kampung Baru

(Halal. Near the community hall and the religious school. Drive down busy Jalan Raja Muda Musa, past the entrance to the flats and the LRT Station, go down further until almost the end of the road. This place is away from the main stall areas. Only available from Friday to Sunday from 10am to 3pm. Other days they sell lontong.)

*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from the restaurant for writing this review.

Tagged with: Nasi Ambeng + Kampung Baru

Teatime @ West 57th Street Cafe, Parkson Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur

the chairs here get all dressed up in the label

Last weekend, we did a little retail therapy - a little hard to resist especially when every shop you walk into was having those magic words - "sale" that seems to make you reach deep into your wallet. After a long day zipping through town from Kampung Baru, KLCC, Pudu and finally Pavilion, we settled for a teatime snack at this cafe nestled within the department store.

even the glasses that fill a tangy fruit tea punch (One for RM6+) are "labeled"

Unlike the other outlet in Sungai Wang Plaza, this place was nice and bright - all white with chairs dressed up in grey outfits with the Zang Toi label. Opened by the ever famous Malaysian designer - the only one who has made it big overseas, the cafe serves pretty good food. From what we spied at the next table, their set meals are definitely good deals (the sandwich looked enormous). Unfortunately since we were quite full, we opted for drinks and a snack instead.

pandan flavoured sponge cake with cream, chocolate sauce and bananas (RM8 per slice)

Since we needed a cool drink, it was their tangy fruit punch we ordered - a delicious concoction made from tea and loads of diced fruits to give it extra flavour. Really refreshing stuff that I could have drank more.

decadent chocolate banana cake (RM8 per slice)

A must-have is the chocolate banana cake - rich layers of chocolate cake with sliced bananas. What I loved about the cake is it is rich and chocolatey plus the bananas are just ripe. You can opt to eat it with ice cream but this time round, we decided to eat it a la mode. Another version they have of this cake is made with pandan sponge cake - very delicate flavour drizzled with a cream sauce and also filled with banana cakes. Unlike the rich chocolately taste of the other cake, this one was more subtle and will suit someone who prefer a lighter taste.

For fans of the label, they also sell decorative flowers, mirrors and leather items to keep stationery, photos and etc. around the cafe.

West 57th Street Cafe

Lot 4.42

Parkson Pavilion
Jln Bukit Bintang

Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-2145 7701

(Halal. Place is located inside the department store, open from 10am to 10pm daily.)

*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from the restaurant for writing this review.

Thai Street Food @ Restoran Hatyai Street, One Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur

the beginning

Originally the plan was to sample hairy crab, which is now in season BUT when at least 3 people who are all foodies, come and tell you within a span of 2 weeks, that this newly opened (about 2 months) is very good, you know you have to visit it straightaway. Hence on a rainy night, we discovered porky heaven (only for us, and obviously porky hell for those piggies!).


braised pork trotters in a row - the display counter in front of the restaurant

Taking over Montien's spot at One Bangsar, Hatyai Street Food serves a slightly different menu from other Thai places in town - braised pork trotters, crispy pork trotters, Thai laksa, mango kerabu with salted egg, pork rind kerabu, kailan fried with pork belly slices and etc...


simply delicious and decadent braised pork trottter with hard boiled egg (RM45)

This place serves the popular Thai street food, braised pork trottter - some thing unique you don't see in other places. However, this version is not entirely like the one served in Thailand - the sauce is thicker and darker and instead of using salted cabbage (ham choy), they use the preserved mustard cabbage (mui choy) here. Since I have never tasted the one in Thailand before, this information was shared to me by Precious Pea - the expert on the Thai braised pork trotter version. Nevertheless, this version is still very delicious, decadent (all that melt in the mouth fat!) and great with copious amounts of white rice.


crispy pork knuckle (RM45) served with sauces - green chili and thick soy sauce

Another yummy treat is the crispy pork knuckle, which we enjoyed with the slightly spicy green chili sauce and a sweetish thick soy sauce. Eat the skin as it is definitely the best part since it is nice and crunchy.


creamy Thai laksa with fish (RM12)

We also enjoyed the Thai Laksa - not as thick compared to the one I have eaten before at the Gasing Hill stalls but still very aromatic and rich with coconut milk.


mango kerabu topped with salted egg (RM12)

The shredded mango kerabu came topped with pieces of salted egg and crunchy small prawns. Unlike other places, the mango seems to be drenched in quite a lot of dressing here and has lost its crunch. Luckily the prawns give the crunch needed.


even the kailan is fried with sliced pork belly (RM12)

The menu here is very non-halal and even the vegetables get a dose of pork belly slices.


water chesnut dessert with nangka (RM5)

We were practically rolling on the floor after that full meal hence we shared two desserts from the menu - the classic red rubies dessert with water chesnut and nangka. Pretty good and here they use fresh coconut milk versus those places that replace it with the packeted variety.


sinfully rich durian glutinous rice (RM8)

However the winner for the desserts section was the strong tasting but very creamy durian glutinous rice. A little rich for dessert especially after a full meal but try not to miss it, as it is very good especially if you love durians.


the end....till now

Since the crisis in Bangkok seems to be ongoing at the moment, this is definitely the next best thing to get your cravings for Thai street food satisfied.

Restoran Hatyai Street
No. 63E, Jln Ara
One Bangsar
Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03- 2283 3116

(Non Halal. Open for lunch and dinner only. Closed on Mondays. The restaurant is located at One Bangsar and took over Montien and is next to Cungdinh.)

*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from the restaurant for writing this review.

Tagged with: Pork Trotter + Thai Street Food