PasanKia

Car Accident

2007-03-27T11:14:00.000+08:00

My bad luck is not end yet. Car got rapped from the back during my way to work. Feel hurt for my 6 months old car.

Picture taken in Police station.

Vietnamese @ Co Do, Mid Valley

2007-03-26T17:38:00.001+08:00

CỐDỐ is a Vietnamese restaurant located in 3rd floor, mid valley, on top of the Little Vietnam. The restaurant run by the same owner of Little Vietnam, with serve of different food menu. Some items might be duplicate but CoDo emphasis on Vietnamese Dim Sum.

I went there some time ago, I didn't order the dim sum, instead I their cold vermicelli grilled set. They claim to be authentic Vietnamese and it's a "must try" item. RM35++ with free Ice Lime Tea, enough for 2 person. The set are cold vermicelli, raw bean sprout salad, cucumber, tomato, basil leave, pickles, spring roll, chicken ham, chicken meat skewer, fish cake, Chargrilled Lemongrass beef (or chicken). I like the grilled beef, it's well marinated, grill garnish with sesame seed. The beef taste sweet and tender with mild lemongrass taste. To eat, take some vermicelli to your bowl, and mix with the salad, fish cake and the rest, then add some grinded peanuts, deep fried shallots and put add a lot of fish sauce (taste sweet). With no surprise, this is Vietnamese.

I've been missing from blog space for more than a month, not even returning to my blog to reply the comments left by you. Sorry for some of you who keep coming back to my blog to check new posts. I was running a project for since the last 2 months, it's hard to stay sane under such awful pressure. In fact the mental stress has disrupted my hormones system, I"m currently under medication and need to continue for the next 4~6 months. I couldn't eat out that often...

Co Do
Lot T-052, Level 3, Mid Valley
59200 Kuala Lumpur

Xiao Long Bao @ Nanxiang Mantou Dian, The Curve

2007-03-05T16:56:00.001+08:00

People went to Shanghai say that Nanxiang have the best Xiao Long Bao, some people say that Nanxiang is better than Din Tai Fung. Well, Nanxiang is more famous as it's started in Shanghai since year 1900 where Ding Tai Fung is originated from Taiwan. If I happen to go to Shanghai, I must give it a try, I want to taste if Taipei Ding Tai Fung better or Shanghai Nanxiang is better.

Nanxiang went into international business since 2003, Nanxiang has open in Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong and thank god, the famous Xiao Long Bao is available in Malaysia now at The Curve. I went there last Sunday to have some bite before my workout.

Xiao Long Bao (6 pieces, RM12)

Since it's a Xiao Long Bao shop, the shop offer varieties Xiao Long Bao compare to others Shanghainese La Mian and Xiao Long Bao shop. It has total of 7, i.e.

Xiao Long Bao with vegetable
Xiao Long Bao with pork (6 for RM12)
Xiao Long Bao with mushroom pork (6 for RM12)
Xiao Long Bao with shrimp pork (6 for RM15)
Xiao Long Bao with sauteed crabmeat pork (6 for RM16)
Xiao Long Bao with fresh crabmeat, crab roe pork (4 for RM20)
Xiao Long Bao with imported matsutake mushroom pork (4 for RM32)

Judging from the look, the Xiao Long Bao look nice, at least 18 folds for each dumpling, and filled with plenty of soup and meats filling. The dumpling skin is slightly thick, but still within my acceptable range. The soup is fine, but the pork meat filling kind of dry, maybe it's insufficient pork lard. I doubt the quality is same with Shanghai main outlet standard, otherwise Nanxiang should not consider the best xiao long bao.

Crabmeat, Crab Roe Xiao Long Bao (4 pieces, RM20)

The Crab roe Xiao Long Bao is nice. The soup and the filling are sweat, due to the crabmeat and roe in the dumpling. Guess what, the crabmeat and roe is taken from Hairy Crab, imported from Shanghai. 4 pieces for RM20 is quite expensive though.

Dumpling Soup (RM15)

Have you ever drink soup with a straw? This is something new to me. I have seen this on TV and now I've try it myself. This is Steamed dumpling with crab roe soup. It's look like a giant Xiao Long Bao, with full of soup. The soup is sweat and ginger spicy, it's pricey but not bad. The soup was extremely hot, it's still hot even leave on the table for 5 minutes. The waiter did advise to be careful when sucking the soup.

Overall, the quality of the food is fine but service is bad. I waited 20 minutes to get my food served. I might give it a try again during off peak for other food. A lot customer ordered the fried rice, I guess it must be special or nice.

Other Review:
sooyindotcom

Nanxiang Mantou Dian 南翔馒头店
The Curve
Lot G41a, Ground Floor, Mutiara Damansara
47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Chili Pan Mee @ Face to Face Noodles House Damansara Perdana

2007-02-23T15:28:00.001+08:00

Restoran Face to Face is located same row as TK Chong. This shop opened early of the year of 2007. The shop's sign was pulling my attention, green color sign with big Chinese POP designed name, and it's unusual to see a Chinese sign name bigger than Malay in Malaysia.

The sign tell that it's a pan mee specialist, since it's a "specialist" then I would expect it's good. All the noodles are house made, the shop is selling 9 types of noodle, i.e.

House Specialty Hot & Spicy Pan Mee (Soup/Dried)
Curry Pan Mee (Soup/Dried)
Braise Pork Noodle(Soup/Dried)
Chef's Special Pan Mee in Soup
Creations Minced Pork Pan Mee
Black Pepper Pan Mee
Sarawak Noodle with Dark Soy Sauce & Chili Sauce
Sarawak Noodle with Dark Soy Sauce
Traditional Sarawak Noodle

House Specialty Hot & Spicy Pan Mee is the most famous item, I have the dried version.

House Specialty Hot & Spicy Pan Mee (RM4.30 (R) RM4.90 (L))

The pan mee serve with minced meat, anchovies, poached egg and spring onion. Chili is on the table, I added a spoonful of dry chilies. Dried pan mee is normally no surprising me, after all it's just noodle make from flour, cooked and mix with soy sauce, dark soy sauce and sesame sauce. The chili is hot , minced meat was great, but noodle is a little bit hard to me. It's delicious but not surprise. I never try the famous Restoran Kin Kin Chili pan-mee at Jalan TAR, can't comment if it is better.

House Specialty Dumpling (RM3.50)

The dumpling is really big size, with a lot of minced meat and fresh prawn, serve in delicious sweet stock. Can't remember if that was MSG, it's really nice.

Restoran Face to Face
11A-1, Jalan PJU8/51,
Perdana Business Centre

My New Gadget - Heart Rate Monitor

2007-02-22T22:44:00.000+08:00

I bought this Polar F6 heart rate monitor from Amazon, just arrive on time! You know what, for the first 3 days of CNY, I gain 3kg of weight! OMG. I'm so envy people like tekko, no matter how much he eat, he is still under weight, what an unfair world.

Heart Rate Monitor, the name tell what it is. Quote the following description from Polar website.

Why use a heart rate monitor?
By monitoring heart rate, the simple observation that the harder we exercise, the faster our heart beats is put to good use. Professional athletes and amateurs alike have for decades been relying on the information provided by their heart rate monitor for the following reasons:

A heart rate monitor is like a rev counter, giving a precise measurement of exercise intensity.
Training at your own ideal pace is made possible with a heart rate monitor.
Direct measurement of heart rate during exercise is the most accurate way to gauge performance.
Progress can be monitored and measured, increasing motivation.
It maximizes the benefits of exercise in a limited amount of time.
It introduces objective observation. Are you on the right track? Are you improving?
It is a tool for regulating frequency and intensity of workouts.
Because of the immediate feedback it provides, heart rate monitoring is an ideal training partner.

How does it work?

When you start training, your heart rate increases rapidly in proportion to the intensity of the training. In Polar Heart Rate Monitors, the transmitter belt detects the electrocardiogram (ECG - the electric signal originating from your heart) and sends an electromagnetic signal to the Polar wrist receiver where heart rate information appears.

The heart moves blood from the lungs (where the blood picks up oxygen) to the muscles (which burn the oxygen as fuel) and back to the lungs again. The harder the training, the more fuel the muscles need and the harder the heart has to work to pump oxygen-rich blood to the muscles.

As you get fitter, your heart is able to pump more blood with every beat. As a result, your heart doesn’t have to beat as often to get the needed oxygen to your muscles, decreasing resting heart rate and exercise heart rate on all exertion levels.

I like this Polar F6 heart rate monitor, it keep track my workout progress and calculate how much calories burned based on my age, height, weight and the heart rate, and keep the past 12 daily and 12 weekly exercise records in the watch. To keep a longer period, Polar provide a free online workout log, just need install a client application on my computer. Polar use SonicLink to transfer data between the watch unit and PC, how it does is aim the F6 to the PC microphone, and send using sound. That's simple, it send my workout information to PC and from PC to the web, information includes workout date, time duration, mim/max heart rate, calories burned, fat % burned and etc.

I did 2 exercises last Saturday and a exercise today. 1508 kcal burned in total, not too bad. Last Saturday was my first usage, I recorded 2 extra exercises by mistake.

It's Chinese New Year, and my resolution is to reduce to body fat to 17% (current is 22%) by end of June and 14% by end October 2007! Hmm.... should able to train my six-pack by then :D

Polar F6 also come different color and different size for female, it's also available from Fitness Concept for RM475

Restoran TK Chong @ Damansara Perdana

2007-02-15T14:34:00.000+08:00

Been to Damansara Perdana lately and notice this Chicken Rice and Ipoh Hor Fun restaurant. It was Saturday lunch time, the restaurant are full house and people is queuing up to take out.

I order the Ipoh Hor Fun (flat rice noodle), serve in a chicken and prawn (or pork bone?) broth with shredded chicken, prawn, spring onion and add a splash of chilies oil. Guess what, it only cost RM3.50 per bowl, very good price. The hor fun is so soft and smooth, it's like melting in my mount. The chicken shreds I got was taken from chicken tights, it's tender. The soup is very sweet, I can't help to think of MSG, however I don't feel particular thirsty after the meal where I normally would after taking a lot of MSG. I didn't clarify the shop owner or waiter. If you happen to visit this restaurant, tell me what you feel.

Overall, TK Chong is a good try.

Restoran TK Chong
5-1, Jalan PJU8/51,
Perdana Business Centre

Luk Yu Tea House @ Starthill Gallery

2007-02-01T23:17:00.000+08:00

I tried a dim sum restaurant in Melbourne China town many years back, which I thought it was the best. Although I might have different taste preference at that time, I remember their dim sum color, fragrance, taste, shape and size are just great.

Cantonese dim sum is not something that I eat very often here and therefore have not been to many dim sum restaurant in Klang Valley. Among those I've tried, there isn't one that I can consider as superb. Always wonder which restaurant serve the best Cantonese dim sum in town. If you know one, please recommend ya.

Someone told me Luk Yu Tea House is consider as one of the best, and I went there.

If you been to Hong Kong, you might aware Hong Kong most famous traditional tea house in central district also named as Luk Yu Tea House. I'm too sure, but I suppose there are no relationship between that Hong Kong Luk Yu and the Luk Yu Tea House in Starhill gallery. Both English named as Luk Yu Tea House, however Chinese name is different. Hong Kong Luk Yu called 陸羽茶室 and Starhill is 陸羽茶馆. I forgot to clarify with the staff in Starhill.

Luk Yu Tea House located under the escalator at Feast floor, the decoration is quite quaint, mostly dark color with white marble dinning table and wooden chair. Like other restaurant at Feast floor, the kitchen is open concept.

We went there late evening, just want to have some simple bite. Notice it's a Halal Dim Sum, so we just order 3 baskets.

Har Kau (RM8.50)

The Har Kau and Siew Mai size are double than usual, of course the price is double than normal. Each Har Kau has 2 big prawn, I must say this Har Kau is absolutely delicious.

Siew Mai (RM9.00)

Notice the 3 Siew Mai with 3 different topping? It's sea asparagus, pacific clam and dried scallop. It's not usual to have these topping, therefore 9 bucks per basket! Taste wise.... err... if compare to other halal dim sum, I must say it's nice; But compare to the real one, this obviously a looser.

Xiao Long Bao (RM7.00)

Look at the xiao long bao, judging from the size and texture, it looks good. Taste wise... again, if compare to Tian Shan Restaurant in TimeSquare, this one is superb; But compare to the real one, it's no way to close, you get what I mean? After all, it's chicken dumpling.

My advice: if you happened to go there, try their seafood dim sum such as Har Hau, Crab Meat Xiao Long Bao, Scallop dumpling, Shark's fin dumpling and etc.

Luk Yu Tea House
Feast Floor
Starhill Gallery
181, Jalan Bukit Bintang
Kuala Lumpur

Izzi Pizza, Pasta & Coffee @ Golden Triangle, KL

2007-01-26T22:00:00.000+08:00

Kind of busy lately due to some working and family issues. No time to blog and no time to read other people's blog, so sorry about that.

I want to do this post quick. Today is my colleague Cindy's birthday, 5 of us go to Izzi Pizza for a good lunch. The restaurant is located at the junction of Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Sultan Ismail, it's easy to spot it when you take KL Monorail. Izzi Pizza is a chain store from Indonesia, this is the first store they venture to Malaysia F&B industry. There is an interview with Izzi Pizza in the Nov~Dec 06 flavours magazine, they also talk about their plan to open few more branch in Malaysia in near future.

I like the cozy interior design, like boo_licious said, even the toilet is nice decorated.

Ju Hu Char with shrimp and chicken (RM15.80)

Ju Hu Char is a nyonya appetizer, stir fried radish, carrot, shitake with ginger sauce, serve with crispy vermicelli, wrap it with lettuce to eat.

Some of my colleague do not eat beef, hence no beef in our order.

Spicy BBQ Chicken (Regular RM23.80)

So call Spicy BBQ Chicken is not spicy at all, smoked chicken, onions, coriander leaves and BBQ sauce.

Marinara Pizza (Regular RM25.80)

Shrimps, mussels, garlic, chilli, mozarella cheese and tomato, the waitress suggested to add extra cheese but we don't, otherwise the girls will feel even more guilty after the meal.

Pollo Tropicale Pizza (Regular RM21.80)

Pollo Tropicale are pizza with smoked chicken, mushroom, red bell pepper, pineapple, dried chilli, mozarella cheese and tomato. I must say all the 3 pizza are delicious, thin crust and right combination of ingredients.

Spaghetti Carbonara (RM13.80)

I must say sorry to my friend who don't eat beef. The ham is actually smoked beef and I wasn't aware when ordering. I'm guilty to make them eat that.

I usually don't take spaghetti with white cream sauce because I afraid it's too creamy, however this spaghetti is just right, the sauce is light enough and yet with nice milky cream taste.

Chocolate Dome (RM8.90)

Since it's a birthday meal, so I request for a birthday candle when serving. The waiter and waitress sing her a birthday song! It was a surprise to my colleague. Chocolate Dome is chocolate mousse with a praline crunch base. 2 more dessert I ordered:

Chocolate Caramel (RM8.90)

Sweet Pleasure (RM9.90)

Thanks Mei Yen for the information, we enjoy this meal with 60% discount for citibank card holder. Maybank card holder can get 50% discount.

Izzi Pizza, absolutely love it.

Other Reviews:
Bitch About Food
Da Wheel of Life and Happiness
Honey Star
masak-masak
KL情報！マレーシア、ご案内いたしま～す！

Izzi Pizza, Pasta & Coffee
44-2A, Jalan Sultan Ismail
50250 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +603 21415805

Klang Seafood

2007-01-16T15:37:00.001+08:00

I realize that I've never post anything on Klang/Port Klang seafood in my blog!

Port Klang is famous for seafood, at least few 10s seafood restaurant in this area. Among these places, Teluk Gong (near to west port) and Tanjung Harapan (near to north port) are popular by Subang/PJ/KL foodster as I notice quite some cars with federal territory number plate at these 2 places. Pandamaran is another popular place to have seafood, usually visited by local people. My comments on these 2 places from my past visit:

Teluk Gong
Location: West Port, easy to access, all the way from Kesas Highway.
Restaurant numbers: Should be handful, not eating in Teluk Gong for long time.
Uniqueness: Restaurants are surrounding with palm tree.
Average Food Quality: Medium to bad
Price: Very Cheap

Tanjung Harapan
Location: North Port, easy to access. From NKVE or Federal Highway, exit at Bukit Raja and take Shapadu Highway, all the way toward the end.
Restaurant numbers: Should be handful to 10+
Uniqueness: Restaurants located at seaside. Sea view.
Average Food Quality: Medium to good.
Price: Relatively pricey compare to other place in Port Klang.

Pandamaran
Location: Pandamaran, hard to access. This place used to call seafood village, where Klang seafood is famous starting from this place.
Restaurant numbers: handful
Uniqueness: Nothing special
Average Food Quality: Medium to good.
Price: Cheap

I've the brunch at a seafood restaurant in Pandamaran called Klang Seafood, 6 people order 6 dishes and these are what we had:

Fried bean noodle (RM12)

This is the best fried bean noodle I tried so far. a lot of ingredients, squid, dried shrimp, minced meat, vegetables and etc, it's full of flavor. I always order this dish when I have meal here, apparently fried bean noodle is one of the famous dishes.

Deep fried seafood bean curd(RM6 discounted price)

I like the seafood bean curd, make from very fresh seafood by the restaurant, very big piece and only cost 50 cents per piece due to promotional items.

Fried Oyster Egg (RM20)

The oyster egg is quite expensive at the moment, the flood in Johor is causing the oyster cost went up. Still, I like this fried oyster egg. The oyster is quite big size and the chef put quite a lot of the oyster in the dish.

Claypot seafood soup (RM20 discounted price)

Claypot seafood soup are fish maw,vegetables, mushroom, fish slices, shrimps and cook with ginger. Nice.

Salt Baked Crabs (RM30)

I'm trying to eat crab cooked in this way, not bad, can taste the sweetness of the crab meat.

Kam Heong Crabs 甘香螃蟹 (RM30)

Despite the crabs is smaller than usual and more expensive, this is the best seafood meal I ever have in this restaurant. Could it because it's still early? We were the fist customer of the day where arrive at 11:30am.

Due to the flood and the fisherman strike, seafood is more expensive than usual. One thing I must mentioned, the restaurant selected few dishes as daily promotional item, which is 50% cheaper than usual. The seafood bean curd and seafood soup are promotional items.

Klang Seafood
1330, Jalan Nipah,
Pandamaran, 42000 Port Klang.
Selangor Darul Ehsan
Tel: +603-3168 0171

Technorati Tags: Seafood

Ah Loy Curry Mee @ OUG

2007-01-12T17:28:00.001+08:00

What do you see in the photo above? A bowl of curry chicken? No, it curry laksa! The curry is so rich, creamy and thick. Unlike other curry laksa where the curry soup is cook separate for the laksa, this one is the real curry with mixed with noodle!

I know this shop for long time yet this is my first try, believe no other stall is selling this thickness of curry laksa. The ingredients chicken, cockles, deep fried pork skins and noodle of your choice. I can't remember if bean sprouts is included, certainly no green veggies, no fish cake/fish ball. Taupok (deep fried bean curd) has run out at the time I went, otherwise people would recommend to have that.

It's not ordinary, and just for the price of RM3.80 per bowl, good try.

Kedai Makanan Ah Loy
No 11, 13, Jalan Hujan Rahmat 3,
Taman Overseas Union,
58200 Kuala Lumpur

Fondue House @ Desa Sri Hartamas

2007-01-11T12:36:00.000+08:00

This restaurant has been around for a while, probably a year plus. Fondue House, the name tell it's a Fondues specialist. This is my first time to try cheese fondue. What is so special of fondue is the sauce, a cheese fondue is melted cheese in a hot pot, and warm with fire to keep the cheese always in liquid form, and you dip the food into the cheese. Fondue is a French and Swiss dishes.

If you love cheese, you will absolutely love it. To order, you select which cheese fondue you want, choose from original, garlic, bacon, chicken, bacon, mushroom, sweet corn, mix veggie and either with wine or without. then select which side dishes you want to go with the cheese (or the other way round, select the dishes then select which cheese sauce). To make life simple Fondue House group up 4 set for easy to order, Set 1 is all vegetables; Set 2 is Chicken Fillet; Set 3 is Sirlion Beef Cubes and Set 4 is Lamb Cubes. All set serve with a vegetables(Broccoli, Carrot and Celery) and a basket of breads and crackes

I'm not sure if I can accept it at the begging, so I just order the chicken cheese fondue with wine and set No. 2 (RM29.90). It was marvelous on my first bite, then I order lamb cubes (RM19.90) from a-la-carte menu to go with. Dip everything into the cheese, chicken, lamb, veggie, bread, crackers, keep dip and dip and dip, end up I start to feel disgusting, too cheesy :P

Besides the cheese fondue, they serve chocolate fondue as well. Chocolate fondue is chocolate sauce in hot pot and dip fruits into the warm chocolates. The chocolate fondue here doesn't seem to be interesting. Chocolate fondue is more common in Malaysia, where Häagen-Dazs is selling Chocolate fondue too, Häagen-Dazs is even better, you can dip ice cream ball into the chocolate source, read other review to talk about chocolate fondue from Häagen-Dazs.

Other Reviews:
Memoirs of a Chocoholic
Fairy Tale of The Baby Princess
The Galactic Ambassador
lildevil nikky
and many more...

Fondue House
5 Plaza Prisma Ville,
Jalan 26A/70A,
Desa Sri Hartamas
Tel: 03-6203 3346

update 13/2/2007: The restaurant has shut down for business

I love Penang Hawker Food - Continue again..

2007-01-03T14:40:00.000+08:00

Went to George Town, heading Joo Hooi Cafe at Penang Rd (near Komtar building). This is my second visit to Joo Hooi Cafe for the same food, assam laksa and cendol!

This is another assam laksa that I would recommend, it's nice. Normally assam laksa do cook with pineapple but this assam laksa stall give additional fresh pineapple when serving. If you're in George Town and you want a nice assam laksa, give it a try. It taste more sour compare to Kek Lok Si assam laksa, and Kek Lok Si assam laksa has more fish flake and sweeter due to more prawn paste.

Cendol is another "must order" item, it has a lot of cendol and red beans. Taste less sweet compare to Indian cendol in Klang Valley. Which is good, Chinese prefer "kurang manis". The stall located outside the restaurant named as Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul and Ice Kacang, order to eat in restaurant is possible.

I believe it really famous, look at the crowd, I can't approach closer to take a better shot.

I love Penang Hawker Food - continue..

2007-01-03T12:40:00.000+08:00

I forgot to talk about this stall next to the assam laksa at Air Itam market. Fried Ice! It's actually a ice blended drink, kind of interesting.

She has a special make "frying pan", the pan was so cold, should be below 0°C. What she does is pouring the drink I ordered to the pan, and the water freeze into ice immediately, then she use a spatula to "stir-fry" the ice so doesn't turn into ice cube. The ice was very fine, unlike normal ice blended drink which can feel the roughness of ice. It was a hot sunny day, nice to take the fried ice.

I love Penang Hawker Food

2006-12-31T13:52:00.000+08:00

Went to Penang during the Christmas break for a short stay. Penang is a street food heaven, you can find almost every Malaysian nice hawker food in this island. I wish I have a better digestive system to allow me to eat all the nice food here. :(

Went to Air Itam Market area for famous Penang Assam Laska, located along the street in front of Kek Lok Si Temple; Some people call this stall as Kek Lok Si Laksa; Some called it as drain side laksa (because the stall is set a side of a drain). This laksa stall had been mentioned among a lot of foodster, and believe they are one of the best assam laksa in Penang.

I arrive at late afternoon, still the stall was crowded with people ordering laksa. Notice the laksa mee in the huge pot? Not sure how many pots are they selling in a day, but they work at very fast speed in preparing the laksa and you can see the laksa mee is finishing fast.

Look at the assam laksa, it's full of ingredients, including lots of fish flake, red chilies, ginger buds, onions, cucumbers, lettuce, prawn paste and etc. The mixture of these ingredients give very complicated taste, the assam is sour and the prawn paste is sweet, chillies is spicy, it's full of flavor and it's hot!

There are many other hawkers stall across the road,I've order the Char Kuey Teow. I was not impress with the Char Keuy Teow here as I expect more tasteful here. The Char Kuey Toew looks nice though, with big prawns (bigger than the usual in Klang Valley), bean sprouts, Chinese sausage, spring onion and right amount of dark sauce to make the right color. Even though, I believe a lot of Penang Char Kuey Teow is better than this.

I also order curry laksa at the same area. Curry laksa is mee in coconut-based curry soup. Again, Penang curry laksa is slightly different than the normal laksa in Klang Valley. The soup is more watery, serve with pork blood pudding cubes, tofu puffs, bean sprouts, cockles and serve with a spoonful of sambal chillies sauce. Mix all the chillies sauce to get the nice looking red color soup.

Tu-Long La Mian Xiao Long Bao @ Mid Valley

2006-12-21T13:55:00.001+08:00

Shanghainese La Mian Xiao Long restaurant have mushroomed in this 2 years. Interesting, it seem to be a new formula in Malaysia food and beverage industry. At least I can recall quite a number of La Mian and Xiao Long Bao restaurant that open this 2 years:

Crystal Jade at Lot 10
Dragon-i (Mid Valley, 1-Utama, Centerpoint, Sunway Pyramid, The Curve, Leisure Mall, Pavilion KL)
Chui Heng at Jalan Imbi
Lim Meng Kee at Imbi
Tu Long at Mid Valley City

Tu Long is a new restaurant open a week ago, located at the Boulevard office, right opposite of Starbucks Coffee. The restaurant decorated with traditional Chinese theme, ie red and black. With open kitchen concept, it make the restaurant look elegant. It could be due to the restaurant still new, the restaurant serve all customers at first floor and leaving ground floor unoccupied, even though the kitchen and furnitures at ground floor is ready. Not all the menu items is available.

See, all these restaurant are offering similar food beverage menu, and most decoration are similar i.e, open kitchen concept and using dark color furniture! It's not hard to related them to have a same formula and replicating each other.

Funny enough, I always order similar food when visit to these restaurant. This are what I ordered in Tu Long:

Xiao Long Bao (RM 8)

I notice they have lobster and crabs meat xiao long bao in the menu, however these 2 items are not available at the moment. The dumpling here are just ok, no surprise.

Golden Scallion Yin Yang Seafood Dumpling (海鲜鸳鸯饺 RM 6)

This Golden scallion Yin Yang seafood dumpling is a mixture of pork meat with fish, and garnish with spring onion (green color) and carrot (orange color). A good mix in color and filling!

Shanghai Pan-fried Dumpling (RM 6)

La Mian with Big Prawns (RM 18)

Braised Pork in Special Sauce (回锅肉 RM16)

The pork dish is actually stir-fried pock slices with vegetables and a so call special chilies oil. The dish taste odd, it smell like smelly bean curd (臭豆腐). If you like smelly bean curd, you probably will like it but not for me.

Overall, I don't like Tu Long, even the hot tea taste like make from low quality tea leaf. If compare with Crystal Jade for the same item, Crystal Jade stand a better marks, therefore I probably will not return.

Tu-Long Xao Long Bao
25-G, 25-1, 27-1
Mid Valley City
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2283 3115

Technorati Tags: Xiao Long Bao

Bakerzin @ Bangsar Village

2006-12-15T23:25:00.000+08:00

Claira

I've been noticing Bakerzin since the last post from masak-masak in April, yet I'm not visiting due to Bangsar and 1-Utama is not my usual hang around place.

I could not resist to nice looking dessert. Last Tuesday, had my dinner at Bangsar Village then dessert at Bakerzin. I was quite full, end up just order 2 mousse. The photo above is a mousse named Claira, it's layers of coffee cremeux, caramel mousse with macadamia nuts and coffee dacquoise. The caramel mousse is quite sweet, and I think the macadamia base is not a good match.

Jivara

The other mousse I order is Jivara, a milk chocolate mousse with a praline crunch base, topped with raspberry sauce and fresh slice of strawberry and a blueberry. It's a nice one.

Cafe Latte

Nice dessert must company with nice coffee. Notice the coffee art on the photo above? It's make from frothed milk with good skill. Amaze with the coffee art? Find out how it created here and some other example here.

I'll return to Bakerzin again for their Chocolate Cake and Soufflé.

Bakerzin
G5 Floor Level
Bangsar Village
No. 1, Jalan Telawi 1
Bangsar Baru
59100 Kuala Lumpur

Sticky Fingers Cafe & Restaurant @ Bukit Bintang

2006-12-04T15:38:00.000+08:00

Baby Back Rack (Full Rack, RM 28)

Dinner last week at Sticky Fingers, was there for their famous ribs. I ordered a full slab (Full Slab RM28, half RM21) of pork ribs with Original Stick BBQ Sauce. The ribs is tender and juicy and it really nice with the BBQ sauce. There isn't many western restaurant in Klang Valley that sell pork ribs, Sticky Fingers definitely a place that I would recommend, at least I think it's nice.

Sticky Fingers serve Lamb Ribs besides pork, which is quite rare in Klang Valley.

Beef Fillet & Bacon(RM35)

This beef fillet is actually grilled tenderloin wrapped with pork bacon. Tenderloin is the tenderest part of the loin of beef, it's still a delicate bite even it's grill to well done.

Sticky Date Pudding (Ice Cream and Pudding, RM9)

We end our dinner with a dessert. The pudding just taste normal.

Sticky Fingers Cafe & Restaurant
23 Jalan Mesui,
Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.

Re-visit King Crab @ Taman Mewah

2006-11-30T00:18:00.000+08:00

Re-visited King Crab last week for a dinner with a old friend. My friend does not eat poultry and meat, what's left is seafood and vegetarian. I'm not interested in vegetarian, so end up in King Crab. My last visit was 1/2 year ago, the restaurant is bigger than last, occupied 3 shop lot now (2 last visit).

Hairy Crab

Autumn and winter is the only time we can eat hairy crab. I ordered 2 of these crabs. The best way to cook hairy crab is to steam.

Waitress is cutting the crab for us

Female Hairy Crab, look at the crab roe!

King Crab is having promotion for hairy crab, which is quite cheap compare to the rest. The restaurant offer authentic Yang Cheng lake hairy crab and Tai Hu lake hairy crab. The price starting from RM38 to RM98 (Usual price is RM78~RM168)

Clay pot Butter Crabs RM 33

Other than the hairy crabs, I order my favorite creamy butter crabs, the sauce is so creamy and it taste really good with deep-fried mantou.

Fresh Prawn Bean Thread (生虾粉煲) RM 49

Bean thread with fresh prawn is a dish recommend by waitress. I reckon this is a nice one, it's soupy, savory with strong taste of ginger and pepper, syok!!

Restoren King Crab
No. 103 - 107, Jalan SS25/2
Taman Mewah Jaya
Petaling Jaya

Tel No: 03 - 7808 2388

Other Reviews:
Makan Kings
masak-masak
Memoirs of a Chocoholic

Diamond Engergy Water

2006-11-24T23:41:00.000+08:00

Do you have a Diamond Energy Water System at home? You probably want to see this video clips.

Lim Meng Kee La Mian & Xiao Long Bao

2006-11-17T23:36:00.000+08:00

I could not resist Xiao Long Bao (小籠包 Shanghai Steamed Pork Dumpling). Every time I found a restaurant that sell Xiao Long Bao, I must go and try it. There was a day I took Imbi road home, notice Lim Meng Kee has open a restaurant opposite of their BBQ dried meat shop to sell Xiao Long Bao and La Mian. With no exception, I have gave it a try.

Xiao Long Bao (RM 6.00)

Look at the Xiao Long Bao in the picture, you can see the dumpling is full of soup inside. However look at the folds on dumpling skin, it's uneven. It show that the chef is not skillful enough in making the steam dumpling. The thickness of the dumpling skin was fine, yet taste wise does not meet my expectation. The taste of the meat and soup are sweet but artificial, they probably put too much of sugar.

Shanghai Pan-Fried Dumpling (RM 5.00)

We ordered pan fried dumpling as usual. This pan fried dumpling is over size. Taste wise, there are room for improvement. Like the Xiao Long Bao, the sweetness is not natural to me.

Beijing Dumpling (RM 6.00)

The Beijing Dumpling is a total disappointment. The dumpling skin was too soft. You see from the photo above, the dumpling skin has broken when it serve. I think is over cooked, taste was disappointed too.

La Mian with Stewed Beef in Chili Oil (RM 6.00)

The La Mian is value for money, a lot of beef was given. I can't say I like it, the taste was just fair.

The items offer in Lim Meng Kee are more or less similar to Crystal Jade and Dragon-i with much lower price. Location wise is not very good, road side and hard to find a parking space during peak hours.

If you like Xiao Long Bao too, feel free to check my previous post on my favorite Xiao Long Bao. Human's taste buds are quite subjective. You might disagree with me, I just say what I feel. :)

Kedai Makanan Lim Meng Kee La Mian Siao Long Bao
Jalan Barat, Off Jalan Imbi, 55100, KL

Riblee's @ Desa Sri Hartamas

2006-11-09T16:50:00.000+08:00

I was disappointed on my last visit to Tony Roma's, due they don't serve TR famous Baby Back Ribs! The feeling is just like McDonald's without Big Mac. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining their food taste bad, but lacking of the famous item is a pure disappintment!

Since then, I'm looking forward other place which serve nice baby back ribs. I know Checkers and The Ribs Shop have, but I'm looking for others. Found this restaurant in Desa Sri Hartamas named Riblee's does serve it.

Smokey Rolls (6 pieces RM 16.80)

Our starter is Smokey Rolls. Smoked streaky bacon wrapped around tiger shrimps, cucumber, carrot sticks and celery and deep fried. I like this very much, the bacon is not salty, and the filling has neutral the bacon taste.

Riblees Baby Ribs (RM 28.80)

This probably Riblee's signature item (first item in the main). Charbroiled and specially marinated baby back ribs served with corn on the cob and curly fries. The ribs were tender and juicy, and very strong in black pepper taste.

Roast Wild Boar Ribs (RM 36.80)

This red wine glazed wild boar ribs, slow roasted to perfection and serve with Brazilian salsa and mashed potatoes. Good try, but I'm not really like it. The taste is not as strong, and it's wild boar, the meat is leaner than other ribs. I suppose some people will like it, it's just not my preference.

Riblee's is specialist in ribs, they have beef, pork and wild boar. If you like ribs, worth to try it, especially pork ribs, when hardly find in Klang Valley.

RIBLEE’S
41-1, Wisma CKL
Jalan 23/70A
Desa Sri Hartamas

One day in Tanjung Sepat

2006-11-07T00:56:00.000+08:00

Tanjung Sepat, a small fish village located at southwest part of Selangor. Tanjung Sepat becoming a tourist attraction after commercialize seafood restaurants open in this area. Nowadays, people came here for fresh seafood and various orchards farms, including Dragon Fruits Longan, mushroom and Ganoderma (Chinese Ling Zhi) farm.

She-oak Tree

My sister is having her maternity leave and resting at her parent in law place in Tanjung Sepat. Family and I pay her a visit during the last weekend. Unlike other visitor to Tanjung Sepat, we didn't visit to those places, we just have simple meal instead.

Having our lunch at Restoran Hong Seng Bay Seafood. It's was around 1:30pm, there are 4 buses stop in front.

This is not the most famous restaurant in this area yet it's full house during the lunch time. Food wise, it taste reasonable good. I truly believe their pricing is reasonable as well (brother in-law pay for it :D). These are what we had.

Bamboo clam in "Kam Heong" style

Fried Oyster

I like this fried oyster. You see a lot of tiny yet juicy oyster fried with egg and batter base. Unlike the usual fried oyster I had in seafood restaurant in Port Klang. Normal seafood restaurant pan fried the oyster with flour and eggs, where this one doesn't has flour at all.

Deep fried seafood beancurd, another good item

Stir-fried Kai-lan

White shell clams, I don't see this often

Pomfret in Teo Chew style

After the lunch, go to the famous Hai Yew Hin to buy the Hainanese style steamed Chinese buns.

Hai Yew Hin

You can see the cloud in the photos, and everyone is carrying a bag of pau in hand. During the weekday, they sell over thousand buns in a day, weekend is out of imagination, tour buses is sending tourists for huge purchase. Something must be special right?

Pork meat buns (RM1.80 each)

The buns is handmade, I reckon the the dough is not make from the usual all-purpose flour, look at the pau color, is natural yellowish (normal pau has whitening). The bun is soft yet does not stick on teeth.

The bun's filling is make from lean meat mostly, yet it is not dry. According to Tanjung Sepat resident, Hai Yew Hin's pau taste better last time.

Fat boy visit

According to a uncle who sell fish ball in Hai Yew Hin, the buns business boost another 80% after the fat boy visit. This 3 "Hong Kong Eat King" posters is a good advertisement.

海友興包點
Restoran Hai Yew Hin
405,Jalan Pasar

Peng Heong Hakka Paikut Restaurant @ Klang

2006-11-06T11:06:00.000+08:00

Have Bak Kut Teh brunch with old schoolmates. Caker asked what other nice food does Klang has?! It's a good question indeed, I'm Pasankia yet most of the food I mentioned in my blog are KL and PJ's food. Mentos said Xuan Gong(璇宫) pork ribs can be consider, I agreed that.

A lot of Klang Chinese will know Xuan Gong pork ribs, but most of the people do not aware the actual name is Peng Heong, that is because Peng Heong Hakka Restaurant is located at the next to Seri Intan Cienema and the cinema's Chinese name is Xuan Gong(璇宫). Xuan Gong was popular in the old day. Like all other old style cinema, Xuan Gong is fighting for surviving these day.

Due to hygienic reason, my family do not come to this place often. However on my recent visit I notice their tableware and cutlery is cleaner than last, yet location wise is still a problem, as it's located at road side. Dine with my family, 5 of us.

This is the pork ribs which Peng Heong is famous for. This Pork ribs also known as pork loin rib chop or "Pai Kuat Wong" in Cantonese. Seriously, I've never taste a better pork rib chop than this. The meat is sweet and so tender. The chef must be marinate the rib in long hours before frying it. You can notice every table has order a plate of this pork rib chop.

Hakka clay pot vinegar pork leg is another popular item. It doesn't surprise me, even though we ordered every time we are here.

We order this clay pot chicken curry, my complain is too oily. You can see from the picture, there are so much chili oil floating. The other dislike is the cutting, some of the chicken has very big cut.

Vegetable, quite fresh. Just light boil in water and serve with mixture soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame sauce and top with shallot crisp. Besides the dishes above, Peng Heong do serve other food like mutton curry, asam kampung fish, roasted chicken.

Peng Heong special make chili sauce, light spicy, sour and sweat. The reason I mentioned here is usual chili sauce on the table are quite watery. For their usual customer, they serve with "special" chili sauce. The picture shown is the "special" one. The special version is thicker than normal. I didn't taste the normal chili sauce, I think the differences is watery vs thicker. Try to request on your next visit, they might give you.

Not forget to mentioned the soy drink, just like home make, soy bean and sugar, nothing more. It's fresh. Total damage: RM46.00

Other blogger who has mentioned this:
Tham Jiak
KYspeaks
Three Meals of Goodness

Peng Heong Hakka Paikut Restaurant is quite hard to find if you're not familiar with Klang. Ask Chinese about Xuan Gong Cinema, they will tell you.

Unknown Flower

2006-11-03T14:05:00.000+08:00

I found this special flower during my time in London. Don't know what's the name.

Update 8/11/2006: Thanks Jasmine for the comment, the flower called Passion Flower

Tony Roma's @ Sunway Pyramid

2006-10-14T23:13:00.000+08:00

Eatinout told me Tony Roma's has opened in Sunway Pyramid. What a surprise, thought to go with Tekko, but end up I go myself without him, sorry Tekko, we'll go again.

I didn't plan to go Tony Roma's initially. I have a dinner appointment with JC, and we meet up almost at Buka Puasa time. It was bad timing, all restaurants was full. We end up at Tony Roma's.

Tony Roma's is famous all over the world for their flame grilled ribs. I have put a lot of expectation for this outlet. However then when I read the menu, I was kind of disappointed. Only 2 kinds of ribs (beef ribs) in the menu and the world's famous Baby Back Ribs is not in the menu, OMG! This must be a HALAL restaurant!

Anyway, we still dine in Tony Roma's. The light in the restaurant was quite dim; I did not manage to catch a nice shot. Let see what we had..

Half Onion Loaf (RM12.90)

We have the Onion Loaf as starter. It's Spanish onions coat with bread crumbs, deep fried and served with BBQ dipping sauce. I reckon this is a nice one, the onion taste natural sweet.

Bountiful Beef Ribs (Roma Rack, 3 pieces RM 48.90)

Boneless Beef Ribs (Roma Rack, 2 pieces RM 48.90)

We choose mashed potatoes and coleslaw as the side dishes, from the picture you can see the serving is not too large, in fact I was quite full after the meal. The boneless rib claimed to be the first in Malaysia where serve rib without bone. The ribs is marinated with TR's sauce and grilled until tender, it's just nice. But then when talk about nice ribs, it's better to be pork ribs.

Cosmopolitan Martini (RM19.90)

I've this Martini called Cosmopolitan, It was drink of the day, the usual price was RM 22.90. Cosmopolitan is classic martini mixed with ABSOLUT CITRON, Contreau, and cranberry juice, not bad.

Conclusion: if you like beef ribs, Tony Roma's at Sunway Pyramid is a good try. If you looking for pork, Checkers at Bukit Damansara still a better one.

Tony Roma's
Lot LL 1.43, Sunway Pyramid,
No. 3 Julan PJS 11-15,
Bandar Sunway,
46150 Petling Jaya, Selangor

Honda - The Power of Dreams

2006-09-28T15:42:00.000+08:00

For those who read my previous post, I being through a tragedy with my car. Since then, the car is troubling me...

Finally, I've resolve all the problem for good. I've trade in my old car to get a new ride, power with this Honda L15A VTEC engine.

Honda L15A VTEC

City - Where Style Meets Performance

Update 2/10/2006: It's a Honda City VTEC.

Asia Cafe @ Subang SS15

2006-09-27T00:08:00.001+08:00

Asia Cafe food court has been mentioned many time among blogger and forums. I probably very late in blogging this. When I read boo_licious post few months back, I've already decided to go this place after once I return. I managed to pay a visit finally.

Dumplings in soup

I like dumpling. This one taste really good and better still, it selling at very reasonable price. I hope the owner would have make the dumpling skin slightly thinner and that will be fantastic.

Pan Fried Pork Dumpling (Guo Tie)

The Guo Tie is delicious too, the meat is sweet and juicy, my only complain is it fried with too much of oil. I prefer the guo tie from crystal jade, but then course crystal jade is selling the dumpling at 2x expensive than this.

La Mian in hot and spicy soup

I also ordered La Mian in hot and spicy soup from the same stall. This is not spicy enough.

Beef noodle and Beef Soup is a disappointment

Deep fried chicken breast (I asked for extra hot)

Deep fried chicken breast remind me the time I had in Taipei's night market. It's originated from Taiwan and it's available in all the night market there. It's a big piece of chicken breast, dip in batter make from flour, peppercorns, cornstarch and etc, then deep fried. When biting it, it should feel soft, not as dry as ordinary chicken breast.

I don't see much people is selling this in Klang Valley, I normally would order this if I have the chance. Howerver, this deep friend chicken breast at Asia Cafe is not as good as I hope for. I suddenly feel like having KFC Hot & Spicy extra. :p

Restoran Mee Papan @ Kota Kemuning

2006-09-24T14:21:00.000+08:00

Sorry for not food blgging for long time. I always want to resume the food blogging after my return from London, yet I didn't do so due to my car incident. That car really trouble me, it happened almost a month back and yet haven't resolve all the problem cause.

Visited MNG and my god daugther at Kota Kemuning, then lunch at this newly open pan mee restaurant.

The decoration is cozy, like Little Penang or new kopitiam, and it's air conditioned.

Chef's Pan Mee (Soup) RM4.50

MNG was not well, she order the soup pan mee no spring onion, no shallot crisps and no dried anchovies. You can see from the photo, only black fungus, dried purple seaweed, shredded meat, vegetable and pan mee.

Chef's Pan Mee (Dry) RM4.50

I ordered the dry pan mee, the indredient including anchovies, minced meat, tree fungus and vegetables. The pan mee is not bad, but RM4.50 for pan mee is slightly expensive than normal, isn't it?

Bubur Cha-Cha RM2.50

The bubur cha-char is below average.

Restoran Mee Papan
56-G, Jalan Anggerik Vanilla M31/M
Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam,
Selangor

Technorati Tags: Pan Mee

Vacuum Freeze-Dried Durian

2006-09-04T17:29:00.000+08:00

BlowWater has good comment on "Andy Lau" dried durian, so I decided to give a try. My colleague GY went to Thailand, I emphasis I want this from her. Thanks BlowWater for recommendation and thanks GY for bring this back.

MF was right, the chinese translation is "lao dai wah", just like "Andy Lau", I suppose they do it on purpose. BlowWater has describe what is it and how it taste like. I have no plan to repeat.

To me, I like fresh durian, but not for any other durian product. This dried durian is an exception, it taste ok. If you like durian, do try it if get the chance.

Flash flood hit my car :(

2006-08-28T16:31:00.000+08:00

Last friday, KL flash flood again. I'm one of the victim this time. Flooding at the open air car park where I park my car. It's damn shit, look, The water level is up to my dashboard meter level! My colleague's Altis is worse than this.

I don't know how much will this cost me yet, definitely going to hurt my wallet. Can somebody tell me if I can sue the car park management or Mayor of Kuala Lumpur and how?

My New Gadget - Part 2

2006-08-24T10:41:00.000+08:00

You think I'm going to talk about mobile phone in "New Gadget Part 2"? Wrong! I want to show another new toy of mine, a virtual laser keyboard (VKB)!

My boss in London bought me this toy, as a gift for visiting London office. VKB uses both infrared and laser technology, the laser beam project a full size virtual QWERT keyboard and infrared sensor key pressed. Cool right!?

The keyboard size slightly shorter than a mentos fresh mint box, easy to carry.

VKB uses bluetooth to connect to devices, it work with PC, Macintosh, PDA and Smartphones. To me, this is a very cool gadget, but impractical. It does has key press sound when a key is press, but still, why do I need to use this Virtual Keyboard? I can't type as fast (and precise) as a normal keyboard.

Technorati Tags: Virtual Keyboard

My New Gadget - Part 1

2006-08-22T17:29:00.000+08:00

I was looking for a phone for months. The criteria for the phone I want:

3G (UMTS) (will not compromise)
Less than 100g in weight (will not compromise)
Expandable memory card slot (will not compromise)
Camera (will not compromise)
MIDP 2.0 (will not compromise)
MP3 Player (will not compromise)
FM radio (nice to have)
Affordable price

I found this Sony Ericsson K610i is closer to what I need, except it doesn't have the FM radio, I've settle for this K610i at RM1200, with 256MB Memory Stick Micro (M2). This phone has a blogger tools inside.

After I bought this, then only realize there are no Maxis 3G coverage in Klang yet. What a waste, should have wait for some more time for buying a new phone.

I'm Back!

2006-08-21T23:51:00.000+08:00

I've not blog for a month plus, life was kinda busy :(

Whatever, I"m back finallly. I return on Sunday before last, 2 days after the terror plot in London. You know, the security was tight, every passenger need to go thru the hand security search. Can you imagine, I need to queue for 1 hour 45minutes for the security check!

Due to the security rules, I"m basically not allowed to carry any thing extra back, (even notebook PC need to put into suite case for check in!) I can only bring my travel documents (clear plastic bag is provided from airport). So.. no souvenir for you(sound like an excuse huh).

Duty free shopping is allowed except for passenger to USA, hence I only bought 1kg of Belgium chocloates for colleagues and another 1kg for family, that's all. See, how un-creative am I :p

Short Break at Paris

2006-07-18T21:24:00.000+08:00

I take some time off last week, been to Prague then Paris. Friends was asking how was the Paris trip, so I post my Paris photos first. Spent 3 days 2 nights in Paris.

I must say, Paris is too commercialize, not really my type of place, it's a city after all. Language is another problem for me. Most French don't speak English, not very tourist friendly... Even the Resturant's menu in French.. too bad, I didn't try any serious French cuisine due to that.

I don't like to travel in summer, the weather was too hot.

When travel to western european country, there isn't many thing that I can do. Just visit to museum, church and monument.

Arc De Triomphe l'Etoile

Fountain at Place de la Concorde

Jardin Des Tuileries

Basilique du Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre

The view from Montmartre

The legendary Moulin Rouge

Place De La Republique
(The stature is Napoleon I)

Fountain in front of the Centre Pompidou

Palais Du Luxembourg

Notre Dame

Hôtel National des Invalides

Use the stair case to go up Eiffel Tower
This picture taken from 1st floor, 8:30pm

The sun set very late, probably 10:30pm

View from 2nd floor of Eiffel Tower

The city start to be lovely after sunset

View of Champ De Mars from 2nd floor of eiffel tower

Seine

France celebrating Bastille Day on 14th July, fireworks at Eiffel Tower area

Christmas Tree?

Tour Eiffel is gorgeous at night

Musée d'Orsay at night

I think this is the most beautiful of Paris, Musée du Louvre

My last day in Paris, the weather was hot, lazy to go out.
Spend a day in Louvre Museum, met Mona Lisa (by Leonardo da Vinci), Venus de Milo (probably by Alexandros of Antioch) and many more

Food is what I've missed off, due to language problem. This is one of my meal.
Duck pâté as starter

Main course is half chicken in french tarragon sauce

Dessert is Chocolate Mousse

EuroPride London 2006

2006-07-07T03:20:00.000+08:00

The EuroPride happened last Saturday 1/7/2006 in London. There were around half a million of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and straight people join the parade in Oxford Street and Regent Street. Probably the best gay scenes in the world, hehehe.

I didnt' not missed the event, there parade was around 2hours, I shoot over 300 photos. I like to show all the interesting photos, obviously I can't. I've filter out most and put it here, still sorry you if your internet connection is slow, the photos is going to take out a lot of your network bandwidth.

The start of the parade

Rainbow banner, represent gay/lesbian

I can't believe, Gay Police Association

Good one, Not Evil Just Gay

Shell is supporting EuroPride

Mayor of London is supporting EuroPride

Latino Club

London Fire Brigade

Transport of London

They could be chinese

Older Lesbian Network

Friend ask me to show lengchai photo.
Here you are, sorry they are gay :p

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered Muslim does exist!

Gay Scottish

Gay Punk

Not sure if these 2 are gay/lesbian

....

This is a special request from a friend
he want to see lesbian kissing

Technorati Tags: EuroPride

Rock And Sole Plaice @ Covent Garden

2006-06-23T22:10:00.000+08:00

When you go to a foriegn country, you want to try at least one of their local food. In London, you can find almost every cuisine available all around the world, American, Italian, French, German, Chinese, Hong Kong, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Vietnamanese, Indian, Mediterranean and etc, but what is the local food here?

One thing for sure, fish and chips restaurant is still going strong (fish and chips is famous in Australia as well). I read MF's blog and come across this fish and chips shop call Rock and Sole Plaice. Knowing they are probably the oldest and best traditional fish and chip in town, they started since 1871 and serving fish and chips over five generations.

Haddock & chips

I ordered haddock and chips. It taste really good, but it's consider normal here.. put it this way, any fish and chip shop in London is better than I can get in Kuala Lumpur. Compare those in KL, it definitely deserve a GOOD; Compare with other traditional Fish and Chips in London, it's just rated slightly better to me.

White Wine and Orange Juice

Tatar sauce, ketchup, vinegar, pepper, salt and sugar

Rock and Sole Paice
47 Endell Street, London
London WC2H 9AJ

Technorati Tags: Fish and Chips

Gourmet Burger Kitchen

2006-06-23T02:30:00.000+08:00

It was a Saturday noon in a month back, meeting my ex-colleagues in Richmond for lunch. This lovely couple brought me to Gourmet Burget Kitchen for gourmet burger, thanks for the lunch!

According to what I've read in the restaurant, GBK is started by 3 New Zealander, they were craving the way/the taste of how people enjoy this convenient food in New Zealand and therefore they start GBK in London. I never been to NZ, not really sure if this is the NZ taste.

GBK offer extensive range of burger, it was 23 type on the menu! From classic beef burger to chicken and lamb burger. From normal salad to avocado, cranberry. From cheddar cheese to garlic mayo, Camembert, blue cheese and etc, all kind of combination I never thought of. Let's see our food.

Avocado Bacon, Jamaican and Blue Cheese Burgers

Avocado Bacon: 100% Aberdee-Angus Scotch beef, avocado, streaky bacon, salad & ralish (£7.40)
Jamaican: 100% Aberdeen-Agus Schotch beef, mango and ginger sauce, salad & relish (£6.95)
Blue Cheese: 100% Aberdeen-Angus Scotch beef, aged stilton dressing, salad & relish (£6.90)

I had the Avocado burger, at least 5" tall
conclusion: avocado taste odd with burger :p

Coke, World Cup special edition

After the lunch, I had a walk in Richmond. Richmond is an affluent suburb in the South West London, probably one of the most expensive residential area in London.

River Thames

There was a fun fair on that day I been

The World Heritage Site of Bath

2006-06-21T23:58:00.000+08:00

Another World Heritage Site I've visited. This compact city named Bath located at south west England. It's a beautiful city, due to very short stay in the town, I did not manage to capture many photos.

Bath Abbey

Bath is the only place has hot spring in England. During Roman Britain time, Romans build the Roman Baths and a big temple around the baths. The temples is gone, what we seen now is the ancient site of the baths and temple, it is a Museum today.

Ceiling of The Georgian Pump Room
It's the entrance to the Romans Bath

Great Bath

Part of the temple pediment

A wooden model of the temple

Day trip to Brugge

2006-06-19T22:50:00.000+08:00

Joined a day trip to Brugge (Bruges) in Belgium. Brugge is one of Europe's most appealing and picturesque cities, described as the "Venice of the North". Brugge boasts a labyrinth of canals which dissect the medieval splendor of the buildings. Brugge has classified as a World Heritage City, it need to preserve the outlook as much as it is.

It was a tiring trip, but I think it's worth, cost me £39 only.

5am in the morning, catch the first tube to town

It took 2 hours+ to reach Dover, and catch a ferry to France.

Boading to ferry at Dover

Can't remember what is this structure call, it's to block the wave

Upper deck of ferry

Away from Britain

Having my Costa coffee in the ferry
This Thai girl is planning her walking route in Bruges

Took 1.5 hours to reach French, and another 1hour+ to Brugge. The landscape in north France is pretty flat, a lot of wheat farm.

Wind Turbines in a wind farm, France

Arrived to Brugge, some of the roads are traffic free. The road is builded with stone bricks

Chocolate shop. Chocolate is Belgium famous

Lace shop, Belgium also famous for handmake lace

Hand lacemaking, Bobbin Lace is a speciality of Brugge.

Town center, tourist make the crowd

Brug

A lot of canals in Bruges.

Flea market at canal side

Church of Our Lady

Madonna with Child by Michelangelo

Inside Church of Our Lady

I had my lunch very late.

Mushroom Soup and Bread

Bruges Beer. I had the blond version
6.5% Alc yet very smooth

Very cheesy Lasagna

Ice Cream as dessert

This meal cost me 16+ euro. After the lunch, shop for some souvenir and chocolates. Spot this candy shop, handmake candy and lollypop.

Colourful candy dough

Making candy

Candies

The lollypop I bought

That's it, spend 4 hours+ in Brugge and make the way back with coach->ferry->coach to London

Stonehenge

2006-06-13T21:24:00.000+08:00

Visited Stonehenge last weekend. Stonehenge is a World Heritage Site, probably the most outstanding prehistory monument in British. Scientists has prove Stonehenge was build over 5000 years ago. There are always debate on the purpose, some scientist relate the Stongehenge to outer space; some believe that was a temple made for worship of ancient earth dities. No one ever know, however, we sure that it is for some important purposes as Stonehenge was build in 3 phases spanning 2000 years!

Stonehenge is surely Britain's greatest national icon, represent mystery, power and endurance.

Stonehenge has been shortlisted as one of the new 7 wonders of the world. Read more description on Stonehenge in wikipedia.

London summer

2006-06-12T18:17:00.000+08:00

Last weekend was hot, the hot summer weather has arrived to London finally. Weather report forecasted 28° Celsius, but I certainly believe the temperature is higher than 28°. The feeling is like returned to Malaysia. Everywhere is green and all flowers from previous post has fallen.

Hyde Park

The weather on last weekend was great to enjoy sun bathing. I had a walk to Hyde Park in London city center last Saturday, you can see lot of people are enjoying the sunlight, a lot of bikini babes too. :p

Sun bathing..

Lake in the middle of Hyde Park

The swams are gorgeous

Boating on the lake

Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park is joining together and right opposite of Green Park and St James’s Park, all these form the largest park in London City center. More photos taken in Hyde Park:

Princess Diana Memorial Fountain

The water was cold.
People are soaking their legs in the fountain. It's refreshing.

This little girl was so happy.
She keep tumbling on the park

I was at the Oxford Street in the same day and witness The World Naked Bike Ride by chance. There are hundreds of naked guys and girls riding bicycle or roller blade on the street. I was shock (or rather syok?) to see this :p

Some are wearing short, undies, bikini and some are completely naked.

Light lunch in Lodon

2006-06-07T21:10:00.000+08:00

In KL, a normal office worker usually have hawker food or restaurant food for lunch, there are varieties to choose from. Mixed rice, char kuey teow, chee cheong fun, laksa, wan tan mee, pan mee, pork noodle, nasi kandar, nasi lemak, mee goreng, pizza, pasta, McDonald's, KFC, sushi, teppanyaki and many more. Malaysian really enjoy food, it's a food heaven.

When I come to London, I notice most of the office worker eat very light for lunch. The normal lunch are sandwiches (all type of sandwiches, including normal sandwich, wrap sandwich, panini, baguette, roll and etc). Among different type of sandwiches, there a lot of different in term of fillings: beef, chicken, lamb, pork, ham, fish, vegetables. I can't really accept the truth of a big English man is eating only sandwich for lunch when I first come across!? I've accepted now b'cos I'm eating sandwiches for lunch these day. :D

McDonald's and KFC are selling sandwiches too.

Friends asked me what do I eat during lunch, well, I eat sandwich from Subway, McD and local sandwich stores. Sometime I make my own sandwich. These are bagels I make.

Bagel with chicken ham, chesdale cheese and iceberg lettuce

Another bagel, just replace the chicken ham to 2 pork sausage

London City Center

2006-06-07T19:11:00.000+08:00

Friends were asking why my blog has no update for so long.. I'm really sorry for them to visit my blog and see nothing is new.. trust me, I really like to update if I could.

I've arrive to London for a month, these are photos taken from London city center.

I show photos only, to keep the post short. I would elaborate each of these place next time whenever possible.

Tower Bridge

London City Hall building

'Big Ben' and Houses of Parliament

London Eye
(Millennium Wheel)

Another view of British Airway London Eye

Westminster Abbey
Watched The Da Vinci Code? You should have seen this Church

Tower of London

Buckingham Palace
The official residence of the Queen
British Museum

Inside the British Museum

National Galleries at Trafalgar Square

Malaysia Tourism office at Trafalgar Square
M'sia government is spending a lot of $$$ to rent a place here.
Probably one of the hottest place in London City Center

London China Town

A restaurant name 中华楼
I thought 中华楼 only appear in movies or comics :p

Temple Church, over 800 years of history
You should have note this if you watch The Da Vinci Code

Inside the church, stone effigies of 9 knights

Another view inside the church

The stained glass is beautiful

Dim Sum lunch at Yi-Ban

2006-05-26T22:15:00.000+08:00

LL left the company on February and started her adventure in London. If you do remember the name LL, we had our farewell in Luna Bar on the week she left.

WL and I met her in London last weekend, she buy us dim sum lunch in this cozy Chinese restaurant named Yi-Ban at east London. This probably one of the most “high class” restaurant I ever go after 3 weeks in London.

We have arrived quite early, not many people in the restaurant yet.

Raining day

The restaurant located next to a dockside of River Thames, very nice view. The balcony section is open during summer time, should be more joyful to sit outside. I’ve a feeling of returning to KL. The waiter and waitress are Chinese, most diners are Asian and it’s broadcasting Chinese songs.

We’re here for dim sum. Check out the menu, there are more than 70 items including the weekend special!

And these are the dim sum we had:

Egg Tarts and Char Siu pastries

Fried prawn dumpling, taste real nice with mayonnaise

Chee Cheong Fun with Char Siu, Scallop and Prawn

Chee Cheong Fun with Oil Stick

And dessert

Coconut Mousse

Sweet Mango Pudding

Mixed Fruits with Tapioca

All the dim sum cost £2 ~ £2.50. The tastes are ok and look very nice. The chef really spends the effort into these dim sum to make it look tasty.

Yi-Ban Chinese Restaurant
Dockland Branch
London Regatta Center
Dockside Road
London E16 2QT
Tel: +44 (020) 7473 6699

Technorati Tags: dim sum + Yi-Ban + London

London Spring? Summer?

2006-05-25T21:39:00.000+08:00

I really dunno what season is UK now. A colleague told me summer hasn't arrive yet another colleague say it's summer now. The air temperature came as low as 8°C and goes warm as 25°C.. really no idea. MF said it should be summer at this time, but weather still like end spring, due to winter was too long. I thought spring should be flowery, so I taken some flower photos. This post is going to be flowery.

This is the flower outside of the place I stay.
It's right in front of me when I open the door

This look like a Plum Blossoms, found it on my way to office

Another Plum Blossoms, also on my way to office

Most English garden has Tulips.
Tulips has all colors under the sun..

Tulips in pink.

Light purple Color

Dark purple, this is gorgeous!

Orange color

White, it's noble, isn't it?

White with red line, like English flag

Yellow mixed with Pink

Very big Rose flower

Don't know the name of these flow, look like a Peony flower
More unknown flower below..

Yellow flower with a British phone booth at background

Spotted this outside of the office

Eat in Bellinis Pizzaria

2006-05-23T01:58:00.000+08:00

TY, WL and I had a dinner on the night before TY heading back to KL. We gone to this restaurant called Bellinis Pizzeria located in East Sheen. This restaurant near to the place I stay, I've walk pass this restaurant for n number of times and yet never expect it’s such a nice place inside. It’s very comfortable inside. I forgot to take photos, too bad. I would like to sit outdoor at garden area if it wasn’t rain.

We had a complete meal, first time ever in London :p

A bottle of rose wine

Appetizer
Topped up with parmesan shavings

Americana
Pepperoni sausage, mozzarella and tomato

Don’t remember the name of this pizza;
make from minced beef, onion, gren pepper and mozzarella cheese

America Cheese Cake with ice-cream

Chocolate Fudge Cake with vanilla ice-cream

Passion Fruit ice-cream

Bellinis is confident that their price are in town, all above cost less than £40, very cheap indeed.

Bellinis Pizzaria
313 Upper Richmond Rd West
East Sheen
London SW14 8QR

LS, Sleep well...

2006-05-22T01:24:00.000+08:00

LS, a girl who used to sit besides me has gone... She has buried on 20th May 2006.
LS, sorry I can't make it to your funeral.
LS, Sleep well...

Greenwich - Part 2

2006-05-11T22:15:00.000+08:00

Continue with my Greenwich tour..

The Cutty Sark

The Cutty Sark was built at Dumbarton in 1869 to be the fastest ship capable of sailing the perilous route from England to China to collect Tea. There are admission fee apply and don't seem interesting to me, so I didn't go in. Check out wikipedia for more information on Cutty Sark.

The Painted Hall

The Painted hall exterior look normal, but interior is a WOW. I shoot a lot of photos inside, most of the photos didn't appear in the right color, I wish I could show you how surprise when I was there.

The color is incorrect in the photos above

This are much closer to the real color

It took 19 years for the painter to paint the hall. Don't know how to describe the feeling there, must experience oneself to feel this wonderful piece of work. Read some of the history here.

The Chapel, right opposite of painted hall.
It's symmetrical to The Painted Hall

The Chapel, originally designed for a congregation of sailors now become an active place of prayer. Public services of worship are held every Sunday at 11am. More information on The Chapel here.

The Chapel Hall

Ceiling and pillar of The Chapel

Organ loft with six fluted columns. It's superb acoustics make it a regular venue for public concerts and recitals.

That's it, end of the Geenwich trip. I notice the speed limit traffic signs are cute, I snap following pic when the bus is moving. It say do not speed and a kid is blocking a car.

Greenwich - Part 1

2006-05-10T00:57:00.000+08:00

I'm damn busy in office, no time for blogging, no time to read blogs, no time to read newspaper, and worse enuff, there is no internet connection at home, otherwise I would able to do my personal after work.

I read MF blog on Greenwich, what an intersting place, so I pay it a visit on last weekend. Greenwich, England has been the home of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) since 1884. GMT is sometimes called Greenwich Meridian Time because it is measured from the Greenwich Meridian Line at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. Greenwich is the place from where all time zones are measured.

The Royal Observatory is located in the Greenwich park

Greenwich Park
The building in the photo is Queen House

Royal Oservatory

Kuala Lumpur at east Longitude of 101° 42"E

Prime time Meridian of the World

Hang around a the Greenwich suburb, it's a nice place.
a Street in Greenwich

The back street

Greenwich arts and crafts market

A vegetables stall in the crafts market?

OMG, I was amaze when I see this, an Italian nougat stall!

A lot of soft nougat cakes.

A closer look

I bought one piece, cost me £5++
Too sweet to me, it'a good try though

That's it for today... stay tune for part 2 of Greenwich..

Four Seasons Restaurant @ Bayswater

2006-05-09T02:55:00.000+08:00

I'm not been writing for days, life is freaking in London! So, keep it short.

I manage to visit to London city center last weekend, and we have lunch at this restaurant name Four Season, recommended by boo_licious. Thanks boo. It took us a while to found this shop cos I"m not familiar with the place.

Snap some pics before the food is served

Here is the food!

Cantonese Roast Duck, £6+ per portion

Char Siu Rice £5+

Siu Yoke Rice £5+

BBQ Mixed Rice £5+

It's nice overall, my only complain is the rice, it's too soft and wet. Four Seasons is one of the famous Chinese Restaurant in London City. I reckon there is another famous Chinese Restaurant in the same area, will pay a visit if I have chance.

Four Seasons Restaurant
84 Queensway
Bayswater
London, England W2

Eat in a pub

2006-05-04T19:15:00.001+08:00

Friend was asking if I have a post today.. I have nothing to show seriously.. haven't have time to visit around. Well, I did go to London city center yesterday, it was a rush, didn't take any photos at all.

Just to post something to show you how poor am I here, to keep this blog alive. My office is located in a center of no way. The nearest shop lots is 20 minutes walking distant; nearest train station is 20 minutes of walking distant and 25 minutes from home to office every trip.

I've very limited choice of food unless walk to the shop lots. There is a pub and a cafe next to the office building, that's about it. The cafe open late morning and close early evening. The pub has less than 10 main courses choose from, can almost try all the items in a weeks time time.

Had my dinner in the pub, ordered the Gourmet Burger, the first item in the main courses menu.

Burger with chips and salad (£5.25)

It's quite a big serving. I'm not sure what meat was that. It taste like beef, or it could be a mixture of beef and chicken. Unlike steak burger, this is make of minced meat with herbs. It juicy and taste fine. How nice if the same burger is selling at RM5.25 in KL..

First day of work

2006-05-02T20:26:00.000+08:00

First day in London office. Seriously don't know what to write. Just post some photos taken from office area. Office is located in Bank of England Sport Clubs

Office located in this building

The view from office.

Another side of office, Wimbledon tennis qualifiying tournament is held in this place

I'm writing this post during my lunch time, and this is my lunch: Roast Chicken Sandwich.

Not forgetting the weather, quit nice, early summer around 15°C on the time of writing

Trip to London

2006-05-02T19:47:00.000+08:00

I'm flying on labour day to London for business purposes. I shall be here for next 2 months+.

KLIA Terminal Hall.

Corridor to boarding gate in KLIA

Flying with Boeing 747-400P

Lunch's main course is lamp stew with potatos
I've no complain on the airplane food for the first time. Maybe I was hungry

Some where at Afghanistan or Iran.
Maybe Osama is hiding down there

Dinner is beef pasta, not nice.

Arrived to London Heathrow airport after 13 hours of flying time

I'm staying here, a small place

What's next?

2006-05-01T00:19:00.000+08:00

I've have been writing for 2 months and I'm really happy to blog on the food I ate. However I must stop blogging on Malaysian foods for a while due to assignment in London. I shall be there for next 2 months. Not sure what can I post during the time in London, but certainly I don't want to close this blog, just don't know what would happen next..

Counting down.. few more hours to go London.

Promotional Dim Sum at Tai Thong Klang

2006-05-01T00:05:00.000+08:00

Tai Thong is having a promotionfor Dim Sum. Diner who dine in during Saturday 11:30am ~ 2:30pm get to order the dim sum for RM1.95 per basket.

Tai Thong Klang used to my favourite dim sum place in Klang, that promotion is a good news to me. I tried it on Saturday, but disappointed.. I guess due to promotional price, they drop that quality, even the prawn in Ha Kau is tasteless. I'll ban Dim Sum in Tai Thong Klang for now on.

This is a very short post, I don't want to say anything about this.

Fei Kay Bak Kut Teh @ Klang

2006-04-30T23:50:00.000+08:00

Klang has over hundreds of Bak Kut Teh (BKT) shop/stall. As a PasanKia, I can only name handful of the popular BKT shop, what an embarrass. The fact is, I seldom dining out in Klang.

My sister in law bring the whole family to this BKT shop name Restaurant Fei Kay (aeroplane) for BKT. There were a lot customers when the time we arrived, waited quite some time before the foods is served. Fai Kay is not in my "popular BKT" shop list anyway.

Chinese Tea

I notice there are more and more Klang BKT shop/stall sell dried BKT lately, but none of the BKT shop in my popular list does that. I have totally no idea how a dried BKT cooked until today, I chat with the owner and see how the dried BKT being prepared. First, put the BKT meat in a claypot together with some BKT soup, then add some dried chilies, dried sotong and lady fingers, follow by dried BKT sauce (it's their secret recipe, mainly dark soy sauce). Let it cook for a while then thicken the soup. That's it. Dried BKT cooked from BKT, but no more BKT taste.

Dried BKT

Claypot BKT

Oil stick, taste good with claypot BKT

Steamed rice with shallot crips

Conclusion: Fei Kay Bak Kut Teh is not my type, I like BKT with strong herb taste, Fei Kay Bak Kut Teh is kinda flat to me.

Restoran Fei Kay Bak Kut Teh
No. 95, Persiaran Pegaga,
Bayu Perdana,
41200 Klang,
Selangor, Malaysia.

Technorati Tags: Malaysian Food + Bak Kut Teh

Pork Noodle @ Restoran Hong Cha, OUG

2006-04-30T02:00:00.000+08:00

Another pork noodle post. I want to compare the OUG pork noodle after my visit to Quilin. It's has years since my last visit to OUG

The owner of this shop is selling pork noodle in a coffee shop during day time; then sell pork noodle in another shop called Restoran Hong Cha from evening till night. Both the shop in OUG, and funny enuff, both the shops are just nearby. This is my first visit to Hong Cha restaurant for pork noodle. Hong Cha serve pork noodle, seafood noodle, Sushi and Tempura. Do you ever wonder what the heck a pork noodle resturant sell Sushi and Tempura? I heard this story, the owner used to work in Japanese restaurant, then he run the pork noodle stall and shop after left the Japanese restaurant. Hence, he sell Japanese food, even the pork noodle, it's Japanese influenced. The pork noodle is different from others, the noodle is cooked with squid and prawn. The seafood does sweeten the soup.

I can't find the taste I used have last time... (last visit was the other coffee shop), maybe just because of my poor memories, couldn't remember well. Compare this to Quilin, Quilin's version is sweeter (could it because of msg? not sure) and spicy, Hong Cha's soup is relatively flat. Ingredient wise, Hong Cha is winner due to seafood. Hong Cha has more shredded pork and Quilin has more minced pork; Qulin has pork lark and Hong Cha don't (I don't like the lark anyway). Both the pork noodle taste good to me, Quilin has strong taste and Hong Cha has more natural taste.

One more thing I must mentioned, the Hong Cha's waiter/waitress are very friendly.

Restoran Hong Cha
Shop lot behind the Steven's corner, OUG

Checkers @ Bukit Damansara

2006-04-27T18:24:00.000+08:00

I have a copy of FriedChillies Foodsters Guide. This particular restaurant really caught my attention. Checkers is hiding in a housing area in Bukit Damansara. Lucikly I have a copy of Street Directory, otherwise I wouldn't able to find it.

Most of the people come here for their ribs. I can't find many blog talking about Checkers, Foodsafari has an entry 2 years+ back, she has mentioned that Checker's ribs is comparable with Tony Roma's. There isn't any Tony Roma's restaurant in Malaysia, but Damansara do have another ribs specialist called The Rips Shop. I can't comment if Checker is better than Tony Roma's or The Ribs Shop, cox I never try any of them, I don't order ribs usually, hehehe.

I had my dinner with eatinout and MF and Checkers yesterday. It's very hard to find the place if you're not familiar with Bukit Damansara, eatinout and MF took a long way to find it. This is what we had.

LOTR (Lord Of The Ribs, RM88)

Jamar an Chicken (RM35)

I food not bad, just a bit pricy. I will return for thier porky's best.

If u like to visit checkers, please call to make the reservation, otherwise you may end up eating somewhere. Call after 6pm

Pigs on the cashier counter

Checkers Restaurant
19, Lorong Setia Bistari 2,
Damansara Heights, 50490 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +603-2095 3304
Operating Hours: 6pm ~ 10pm, close on Monday

Click map to enlarge, map link from sun2surf.com

Technorati Tags: Checkers + Damansara Heights

Revisit to Bumbu Bali

2006-04-26T15:58:00.000+08:00

My best friend MNG called to meet up, she is expecting her first childbirth in 2 weeks time and I may not around for the next 2 months. I can see the excitment of a pregnant women. As usual, I meet her up in Kota Kemuning and have our lunch somewhere nearby. During our last meet up, we promise to go Padi Prada again but end up we didn't because I really can't resist Bumbu Bali at Puchong. This is the second visit to Bumbu Bali in a month time.

I had an over charged mixed rice in Aseana Cafe, I rather want to spend a 20 over bucks of mixed rice in Bumbu Bali, so here I am.

Nasi Campur Special (RM28.50)
Yellow rice with rendang chicken, squid, fish, prawn, a skewer and water morning-glory

Iced lime juice tea, come with Nasi Campur Special.

Bubuh Injin (RM6.00)
Black sticky rice with banana and rich coconut milk. Taste nice but too sweet.

I like the Hot Fudge Brownie (RM7.50)

Till now, I've tried the steak, lamp chop, seafood platter and nasi campur special. There were using more or less the same recipe to prepare the food and hence the I can find the similar taste among the those I tried. Anyhow, Bumbu Bali still a nice one for me to recommend.

Bumbu Bali
18 & 18-1, Jln Persiaran Puteri 1,
Bandar Puteri, 47100 Puchong.
Tel: 03-8061 8699

Aseana Café @ Suria KLCC

2006-04-25T11:07:00.000+08:00

We always have problem to decide what to eat when step into Suria KLCC during lunch time. Normally will end up in the Signature food court or Burger King. I'm kind of sick with it. Suria KLCC has quite a number of restaruants, most of them are on the high price side.. what to do, this is Malaysia most popular shopping center.

Having our lunch in Aseana Café, a cafe hiding in the Aseana's Home & Gifts galleria. It has been around since year 1999, nevertheless we've never dine in here. I always see some mat salleh or rich aunties having their meal here during lunch time. The whole idea of Aseana galleria is Asean, the decration is mixture of Thai, Bali, Vietnam, Malaysia and etc, created a "tropica" and yet relax environment. No wonder foreigner love here. Since it awarded as the Best Café Restaurant 2005 by the Malaysian Tourism Board, we decided to give a try. Let's see if they worth for the title.

Vietnamese Srping Roll (RM9.95)
TY live in Vietname for months. He complain this is not authentic on his first bite. Still taste good though, maybe they have modified to suit Malaysian taste

Aseana Fish Curry (RM19.95)

Nyonya Fish Asam Pedas (RM19.95)

Nasi Lemak with Chicken Rendang (RM16.95)

Beef Curry (RM19.95)
Beef cooked with ground spices & red chilies.

Nasi Campur Aseana (RM20.95)
I'm a bit greedy, I want to try all on above, so I ordered this Nasi Campur. The beef rendang is seriously good, fish is a bit fishy, bad.

Cafe Latte, Iced Coffee and Sky juice

Overall the food are nice, just that price on the high side. No wonder rich people go there. It's ridiculous to spend 20 over bucks for this mixed rice, better spend in Bumbu Bali, their mixed rice also 20 over bucks. :p

Aseana Café
G15, Ground Floor, Suria KLCC
Tel: +603-2382 0395
Open Daily, 11am ~ 8:30pm

Technorati Tags: Aseana + KLCC

Black Sesame Cheesecake

2006-04-24T12:18:00.000+08:00

When I first seen this recipe from my recipe book. I was wondering how is the taste, can a black sesame and cheese a match? I want to find out the answer, therefore I make it.

Sponge Cake Ingredients

(A)
200g Sponge Mix
1 teaspoon vanila powder
3 Eggs
40ml Water

(B)
40ml Coocking Oil

Cheesecake Ingredients

(C)
250g Cream Cheese
40g Sugar

(D)
150ml Milk
35g Sugar
15g Black Sesame, toasted and ground

(E)
1 Egg

(F)
1 1/2 teaspoons Gelatine
60g Warm water

(G)
160g Whip topping cream, whipped

Steps to bake the sponge cake base

Pour (A) into mixer, and mix well.
Beat the mixture until creamy and flufty.
Add (B) slowly and mix well.
Pour into 9" square mould. Bake at 180 ºC for 35 minutes.
Invert cake into a wire tray for 5 minutes. Then turn over to prevent cake from sinking in the middle.

Steps to make cheesecake topping

Beat (C) until light and smooth.
Bring (D) to the boil. Pour it into (E) slowly. Stir until well blended. Cook over low heat while stirring constantly. cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
Mix (F), Stir until gelatine dissolves. Add it into the sesame and egg mixture and mix until well blended.
Place it in an iced water bath. Stir until the temperature drops down to 25 ºC.
Add it to (C) and mix well combined.
Fold in (G) and mix until well blended.
Fill the cake mould with cheese filling.
Refrigerate for 4 hours or until firm.
Remove the cake mould. Spread some glazing gel on top.
Cut into small pieces, decrorate with cream rosettes and mints leave. Try to avoid "ready to whip" whipped cream, otherwise will end up like mine, the whip cream melted before I can take a good shot.

Comments from my fellow colleagues who has try out:
eatinout: The taste is ok, black sesame and cheesecake is not a good match.
GY: ...The milk taste is strong...
SJ: The cheese topping and sponge base have very clear distinct taste.
PW: I can't find the cheese flavor at all.
TY: Very Chinese.

My comment: Toasted black sesame seeds has very strong nutty flavour, it gave off the fragant odor once it's grinded. I relate this to black sesame paste (黑芝麻糊, a Chinese dessert) when smelling. Well, this is something new to me, I've very complex feeling on my first bite too, it taste good after all, and I ate 2 slices immediately.

If you love cheesecake because of the strong cheese taste ( like American or Marble cheesecake), then you may not like this. The sesame flavour and milk taste (due to milk and whip cream) are stronger than cream cheese, therefore it will not give you strong cheese flavour.

Do you wonder how does a black sesame cheesecake taste?

Technorati Tags: Cheesecake

C-Jade Express @ Mid Valley Megamall

2006-04-21T19:15:00.000+08:00

Crystal Jade Group is a Singaporen restaurant group began 16 years ago. Crystal Jade open their first Hong Kong style Cantonese restaurant in 1991. They have now diversified it's product lines to Shanghainese, Teochew, Korean, Hong Kong, Cantonese dim sum, steamboat, and even pastry and bread. Crystal Jade also has different restaurant type to cater different product line, including Crystal Jade Kitchen, Crystal Jade Steamboat Kitchen, Crystal Jade Golden Palace, Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao, Crystal Jade Cakery, Crystal Jade Ginseng Chicken, C-Jade Express and others that I'm not aware of. Most of these Crystal Jade group of restaurants can be found in Orchard Road, Singapore.

C-Jade Express Restaurant is one of the latest concept from Crystal Jade, the first C-Jade Express open in Wisma Atria, Orchard Rd on November 2005, the second has open in Mid Valley Magamall in December 2005. There are three type of cuisine available in C-Jade Express, i.e. Chinese, Korean and Japanese. You can find some similiarity to Hong Kong Cafe & Restaurant which popular in Malaysia these day (something like Kim Gary).

C-Jade Express is the second Crystal Jade Restaurant in Malaysia, the first one is Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao at Lot 10.

I managed to pay C-Jade Express a visit after it opened for 5 4 months+.

Roasted duck
(per serving: RM14, Half bird: RM25, Whole: RM50)

Roadted duck is one of the C-Jade express popular dish. I order half bird due to their popularity.. sigh, I put too much expectation and end up with disappointment, it's just taste like a normal roasted duck, nothing fancy. I think it's popular because everyone judge by the look, it look so nice when it hang on the display.

Roasted Pork is a nice one, the pork skin is crispy, fat and meat are distributed in clear layers and the meat is not too dry.

Roasted Pork
(RM13.80)

Fish cutlet in hot plate
(served witih borsch soup & soft drink, RM14.80)
Just normal fried white fish fillet with tomato sauce.

Minced beef Korean stone rice
(served with kim chi & soft drink, RM14.80)

Korean food is another cuisine that I'm not familiar with. The minced beef rice is ok for me, but I don't know why they need to serve it in stone bowl. To keep warm? or just for the sake of displaying.

C-Jade Express
Unit LG-048 Lower Ground Floor
Mid Valley Megamall Kuala Lumpur
Tel +603-2284 8113

Technorati Tags: Crystal Jade + C-Jade Express + Mid Valley Megamall

Nice place, quality pizza in avenue K

2006-04-20T07:55:00.000+08:00

eatinout need to send a postal to US, so we go to KLCC due to the nearest post office is there. It was lunch time 1pm+, as usual, not sure what to eat in KLCC. Thought to eat at Nando's Chicken, waited more than 10 minutes , no seat available.

I suggested to go Roma Pizza Club in avenue K, eatinout been there once, it seem to be a good choice. Maybe it's late or it's weekday, no much customers at the time we arrived.

chef is putting a pizza to oven

The menu is simple and clear, Roma Pizza Club offer varieties of thin crust pizza. We've no idea and don't mind to eat anything, so eatinout make the order.

This is what eatinout has ordered for us:

Classic Caesar Salad (RM8.00)

1/2 Dozen Chicken Wing (RM12.00)

Pizza Frutti De Mare (RM30.00)
Top with tomatoes, Mozzarella, Mixed Seafood sautéed with Garlic & Fresh Basil

Pizza Alla Hawaiiana (RM26.00)

Garlic Bread (It's a complementary)

Not forgetting the Iced Lemon Tea (RM4.50). It's too sweet, taste like syrup than an Iced Lemon Tea. :p

Roma Pizza Club @ Avenue K
Tel +603-2164 3373

Technorati Tags: Roma Pizza Club + avenue K

Restoran Mee Yoke Lim @ Cheow Yang area

2006-04-19T16:27:00.000+08:00

I was at Cheow Yang area last weekend, notice this restaurant named "Mee Yoke Lim", it's name after prawn mee. I guess the prawn mee must be good so I decided to stop here to have my late lunch.

Prawn mee is the name we use in Klang Valley, it's orginated from Penang. Penang people call this as Hokkien Mee or something referred as mee yoke. Not sure how it become "Prawn Mee", maybe not to confuse with Hokkien fried noodles (check out my previous post on lien bee hokkien mee for Klang Valley hokkien mee).

I prefer prawn mee served with mixture of yellow noodles and rice noodles. The key for good prawn mee is the soup. This clear soup usually make from fresh shrimps, dried parwns, prawn head, shell, stock bones or chicken and chilies. Usually garnished with prawn, water morning-glory, bean sprouts, shredded pork and shallot crisps. The prawn mee in Mee Yoke Lim is a good one. I reckon there are branches in SS2 as well.

We also order Assam Laksa in the same coffee shop. Taste bad.

Technorati Tags: Prawn Mee + Hokkien Mee + Cheow Yang

Pork Noodle at Quilin - SS15 Subang Jaya

2006-04-18T11:50:00.000+08:00

MF has mentioned the pork noodle in Quilin to me and eatinout more than half a year back, finally I have the chance to try the pork noodle here. This is the second I visited to Quilin in fact, during the first visit, I was asked to wait for 40 mintues, It was late and I need to go for other appointment (It was Saturday 3:20pm!) therefore I decided to go.

The second visit, I waited 35minutes and this is my bowl of pork noodle:

Pork Noodle RM 4.50 (small), RM5.00 (big)

You can see, there are shredded pork, pork liver, pork lark, pork intestines and quit a lot of minced meat. I dont' usually eat intestines, but I still try it for the sake trying.. it was over cooked, it was hard. The soup was rich, can taste the sweet of pork stock, and it season with white pepper. It taste so good and I end up with lapping all the soup :p

The owner is cooking pork noodle

Perhaps this is the only decent pork noodle in this area, hence it always full of people who is willing to wait. The uncle has no helper to cook the noodle and yet the business is good, therefore got to wait for so long.

Well, when talk about of pork noodle, I still prefer the one in OUG, the soup is sweeten with seafood. I will re-visit one day, stay tune.

Restoran Quilin
Jalan SS15/2A
47500 Subang Jaya
Business Hour: Morning ~ 4pm

Technorati Tags: Pork Noodle

My Thai @ Starhill Galary

2006-04-17T17:26:00.000+08:00

My Thai
photo taken from Starhill

My former boss recommended My Thai after she read the post for Bangkok Jam, thanks for it. I love thai food, so I ask colleagues to go My Thai with me after work.

Starhill, probably is the most luxury shopping center in Kuala Lumpur. Interior design is great, things are expensive and security is tight. You can find all the high price fashion here, including Patek Philippe watches, Louis Vuitton, DKNY, KENZO and etc. Starhill always give people the feeling of prestigious. This really not a place for me, I can't afford any of the brand above :(

The Feast Village consist of 13 restaurants, each restaurant has it's own unique theme. However you can dine in Thai Restaurant and order food from mediterranean restaurant and end with one bill. hmm.. suddenly thought of food court..

My Thai is located at Feast Village in Starhill Galary, nice ambient. The light is dim in feast floor, it create a romance and quiet dining environment.. I wonder if people easier to fall in love in this kind of place?

Let's look at what we had:

Tom Yaam Ghong (RM20)
Spicy and sour clear soup with river prawn and herbs

Tom Kah Gai (RM15)
Spicy and sour coconut soup with chicken and herbs

Gaang Khew Waan Gai (RM16)
Green curry with chicken and eggplant

Poo Nim Pad Prik (RM30)
Soft shelf crab in black pepper style

Phad Pak Boong (RM11)
Stir-fried morning glory with oyster sauce and soya bean

Khao Souy (RM3)
Steamed jasmine rice
wtf, 3 bucks for steam rice?

Khao Naew Muang (RM15)
Sticky rice in coconut milk and mango

Tub Tim Grob (RM6)
Crispy water chestnut in coconut milk with ice

Guil Buad Chee (RM7)
Steam banana in coconut milk

You can see, foods are pricy here, it taste good though. However Bangkok Jam taste better. I don't mind to pay more $$$ for better food, paying more than Bangkok Jam and get something worse is not wise..

Technorati Tags: Starhill + My Thai + Thai Food

My Thai, Jim Thompson
JT Restaurant Sdn Bhd
LG7, Lower Group Floor
Starhill Shopping Center
181, Jalan Bukit Bintang
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 603-2148 6151

KLCC Convention Center Food Court

2006-04-14T18:10:00.000+08:00

It's PC Fair again, colleague and I go to KLCC convention center to shop for some gadgets during lunch time and we had our lunch in the food court there.

There isn't much choices there.
I don't know much about Japanese food, gone to this ramen stall and ask for recommendation. The staff recommend something and I just take his recommendation. Damn, it's a Tom Yam Ramen with Chicken Cutter. Taste bad, the tom yam taste has overtook the chicken stok taste.

Colleagues order food from a stall named Asia Delight, the food are suck:

Seafood fried rice.

Chicken Rendang Rice

Conclusion: no nice food in KLCC Convention Center food court.

Pick-Me-Up (Tiramisu)

2006-04-13T10:50:00.000+08:00

Today I’m going blog something different, a recipe! I was craving for something sweet, so decided to make a Tiramisu!

I do have few Tiramisu recipes on hand, all have slightly differe in ingredients. Some is using egg white; some is using egg yolk; some is not using egg at all. I don't know which is the most original Tiramisu recipe, thus I choose one of the simplest I have.

Ingredients

A)
2 Egg Yolks
50g Sugar

B)
1 teaspoon Gelatine
35ml Water

C)
250g Mascarpone Cheese

D)
150g Whip topping cream

E)
150ml Warm Water
80g Sugar
4 teaspoons Instance Coffee Powder
2 teaspoons Kahlua (or any coffee liquer)

F)
6 pieces Lady Fingers (Sponge Fingers)

G)
Cocoa Powder

Clockwise from the top left: Mascarpone Cheese, Lady Fingers (Sponge Fingers), Ingredients for Coffee Syrups (Kahlua, instant coffee powder, sugar), Gelatine.

Whip Topping Cream

Method

Whip the whipping cream and set a side for later use (keep in fridge)

Whisk (A) over a pan of simmering water until it thickens.

Mix (B) and place over a pot of hot water. Stir until gelatine dissolves. Add it into (A) and mix until well blended. Set aside to cool for a while.

Beat (C) until smooth. Fold it into the above mixture and mix until well blended.
Fold in whipped cream (D) and mix until well combined. (Caution: Fold it lightly or else you will spoil the texture!)

Mix ingredient (E) to make coffee syrups. Let it cool down.

Cut the lady fingers into sections.

Prepare 6 serving glasses (or any container you want to keep the tiramisu). Fill the glasses with some cheese filling. Dip the lady fingers into coffee syrups and place it on the cheese filling. Fill some more cheese filling and top with soaked lady fingers. Top it with cheese filling and refrigerate until firm (forgot to snap photo for this step).

Remove from the fridge and dust with cocoa powder.

That's it, my Tiramisu. Simple yet yummy!

Technorati Tags: Tiramisu

King Crab Restaurant 蟹皇海鲜楼@ Taman Mewah

2006-04-12T10:35:00.000+08:00

Have you ever notice this restaurant in Taman Mewah, right opposite of Kelana Jaya LRT Station? The restaurant painted in yellow and shine with spotlights at night. It caught my sight everytime I drive thru the LDP. Since I have some free time on Monday afterwork, so decided to give it a try.

I make a mistake actually, this is not a good time to eat crabs as there are full moon out there. Crabs tend to softer and less meat when full moon. Should have look at the sky or check out the Chinese lunar calender before ordering crabs :p

Anyway, this is what we had:

Claypot Butter Crab (RM30.00). I love this, it's comparable to the same dish from Wong Poh Restaurant at Dataran Prima.

Salted Duck Egg Crab (RM30.00). This is the first time I eat crab prepared in this way, not bad.

Stir Fried Brussels Sprouts (RM8.00) It look so greenish, according to the waitress, this was prepared by master chef.

If normal crab can no longer satisfy your appetite, they have others for you, try out their king crab, selling at RM269 per kilograms! Well, if that is still not enuff, try their "Value for Money" set menu. "Value meal" selling is at RM8,888 for a table of 10, OMG!

"Value Meal" make up of:

Speciality Four Seasons Appetiser – RM400
Stewed Superior Shark’s Fin Soup (individual serving) – RM2,400
Geoduck Sashimi / Superior Boiled – RM400
Lobster Sashimi / Superior Boiled – RM520
Superior Stewed Abalone (individual serving) – RM2,000
Steamed So Mei (fish) in Hong Kong Style – RM1,000
Speciality King Crab – RM1, 500
Hong Kong Style Roasted Young Pigeon – RM340
Braised Noodles with Lobster Head – RM40
Stewed Bird’s Blood Nest with Rock Sugar (individual serving) – RM2,400

The total value: RM11,000
Can somebody buy me that dinner? :p

Restoran King Crab
No. 103-105, Jalan SS25/2
Taman Mewah Jaya
47301 Petaling Jaya
Tel: +603-7808 2388
Business hours: Daily, 11am to 2.30pm, 6pm to 11pm

Technorati Tags: Taman Mewah + King Crab

The Original Klang Bak Kut Teh (non-halal)

2006-04-10T00:17:00.000+08:00

Bak Kut Teh(BKT) is one of the most popular Malaysian food. Klang, where PasanKia live is famous of BKT, there are over 200 BKT shops and hawker stalls in Klang! (unofficial count)

A lot of people believe Klang is the origin of BKT, you can see some BKT shop branded as Klang BKT in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru, or even in Singapore! Well, some story telling that BKT is acutally invented by a guy from Guan Zhou, China. The BKT recipe then passed to a friend, and the friend of the inventor came to Klang and commercialize the BKT. Hence, everyone is believe Klang was the origin because Klang was the first place to sell BKT.

From what I know, there are at least 2 variation of BKT:

Soupy, savoury with strong taste of herbs. Almost all BKT in Klang are classified in this type.
Soupy, savoury with less taste of herbs. You can find this type of BKT in KL, JB and Singapore.

On serving style, there are 2 type:

Serve in octagonal bowls. This is how BKT was serve originally.
Serve in clay pot. Clay pot become more popular these day as Clay pot can keep the head, plus normally serve with other ingredients like vegetables, button mushrooms, golden needle mushroom, fried bean curd strips and etc.

Octagonal bowls BKT usually taste richer than clay pot BKT. This is due to clay pot added other ingredients to neutralize the taste.

Saturday morning, eatinout and SG drive all the way to Klang for BKT, it was 7:30am in the morning! We went to the original shop where BKT started, call Kedai Makanan Teck Teh, it's commonly known as "the store under the bridge" in Klang. Teck Teh has been around for more than 60 years (I dunno the exact age), the current owner is the 3rd generation.

Teck Teh restaurant occupied in a pre-war building. Can you see the Ah Pek in front of the photo? He told me he has been eating Teck Teh BKT since young. I do notice all Teck Teh's customers are older generation too :p

Uncle is preparing BKT for customer

The BKT we ordered

So, how does the Teck Teh BKT taste? Well, the soup was fine with me, but the meat was too dry and hard, due to I ordered the non-fat meat :p I can't comment much, do check out eatinout for his comment.

Kedai Makanan Teck Teh
Last shop in Jalan Stesen Satu, 41800 Klang.

Technorati Tags: Klang + Bak Kut Teh

Hot Mama @ Sungei Wang Plaza

2006-04-07T23:27:00.000+08:00

Hot mama is not hot woman, Hot mama is a restaurant in Sungei Wang Plaza.

Friday lunch, everyone asked to go out for lunch 2~3 hours due to office carpet is under cleaning. Since it's a big group of us, we need to find a place big place to host us and pricing must be affordable. Hence, Restaurant Hot Mama. Sadly, I don't see any "Hot Mama" in the restaurant. :D

Eatinout order Beef Carrot Stew Rice (RM8.90)

TY order Roast Beef Rice (RM9.50),
beef was over cooked, not recommended.

Lemongrass Chicken Chop Rice (RM8.90)

Balinese Coconut Fish Rice (RM8.90)

Vietnamese Fried Rice (RM7.90)

Ayam Percik with Rice Ball (RM8.90)

Thai Pineapple Fried Rice (RM8.50)

Fried Kuay Teow? No! is Chinese Pasta (RM8.90)
Fried Fusili in fried kuay teow way :p

I order Parisan Chicken (RM16.90 plus one drink)

Eatinout buy everyone Crispy Shrimp Bananarama (RM5.90)
I like it, is prawn, banana, mango wrap and fried lightly

Overall, Hot Mama offer normal food with normal price.

Restaurant Hot Mama
E-50, 4th Floor, Sungei Wang Plaza
Jalan Sultan Ismail
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03- 2148 1366

Technorati Tags: Hot Mama + Sungei Wang

Popiah Dinner

2006-04-06T16:36:00.000+08:00

My family has a tradition of making Popiah during Qing Ming Festival and Ghost Festival. Yesterday was Qing Ming, so its popiah time. Mom has prepared quite a lot, my sister was bringing her colleagues and friends home for popiah.

I return home late, too bad, I can only can eat the left over.
These are the left over, some of the ingredients already finished, still taste good though. :D

To make a popiah, first spread the sweet sauce (we use Lee Kum Kee hoisin sauce) and homemade chillies sauce on the popiah skin.

Place all the ingredients together, jicama (sengkuang) filling (mixed with minced meat, prawn, carrots, string beans, chinese sausage, tofu, mushroom), deep fried onion, grinded peanut, bean sprouts, vegetables, cucumbers.

Wrap and that’s it. It’s yummy.

My mom’s popiah is fantastic, therefore I’ll hardly want to order popiah from restaurant outside, the quality has no way close to homemade popiah :p

Anyway, these only some left over food for me, check out boo_licious blog, she has a wonderful popiah party last week.

Technorati Tags: popiah

Nasi Lemak at Pantai Dalam

2006-04-04T23:42:00.000+08:00

Another Tuesday, have my regular workout at Menara Summit. Today is slightly differnt, I took New Pantai Expressway(NPE) and stop by Pantai Dalam on the way to USJ for the purpose of Warung Nasi Lemak Rindu. FriedChillies.com gave very good comments on this nasi lemak shop, so I think it's worth to pay a visit.

Nasi Lemak Ayam (RM 3.50)

As you can see, nasi lemak with a piece of fried chicken is very cheap! I like the sambal.

Nasi Lemak Biasa for take out (RM1.00)

* I did not turn on the flash light when taking photos, hence the photos are deficient in brightness.

Warung Nasi Lemak Rindu
Turn Right into an alley just Opposite Pantai Dalam Komuter Station (Just ask Around), Pantai Dalam
Pantai Dalam
Wilayah Persekutuan

Technorati Tags: nasi lemak + malaysian food

Dim Sum Buffet at Toh Yuen (桃园)

2006-04-02T23:10:00.000+08:00

Sunday is family day, me and family went to Toh Yuen Chinese Restaurant at Klang Executive Club for dim sum buffet brunch.

Toh Yuen serve halal dim sum buffet daily. They have been selling dim sum buffet since I was a kid.. probably the very first restaurant selling dim sum in Klang. The dim sum quality is comparable to dim sum shop at SS2/Sri Petaling/Happy Garden but it's way far from fine Chinese restaurant like Tai Thong Group. What to expect? It's buffet style after all.

Fried dim sum section

A lot of dim sum
(click photo to enlarge)

Gwei Ling Go(Herbel Jelly) and Desserts

Tai Chi, a PasanKia creation
(sauce for dim sum)

This Toh Yeun is not the same Toh Yeun in PJ Hilton. Dim sum buffet serve daily from 8:30am to 2:30pm. RM18.88 per head, senior citizen (55 years old and above) enjoy 50% discount.

Toh Yuen Chinese Restaurant
Klang Executive Club
Persiaran Bukit Raja 2,
Bandar Baru Klang,
41150 Klang,
Selangor Darul Ehsan

Technorati Tags: dim sum + buffet + toh yuen + klang

1 month old

2006-04-01T20:48:00.000+08:00

My blog is a month old! I would like to thank you for the support. 2000 page views in a months is a real encouragement to me.

I wasn't sure what I want to blog about in a month back, thought to talk nonsense, interesting photos, diary, food or combination of everything. End up I with just blog about food I ate. I'm fine with what it is right now, I shall keep this on..

Thank you...

Birthday dinner at Bumbu Bali, Puchong

2006-03-31T10:43:00.000+08:00

It's my birthday yesterday, I choosed this place for my birthday dinner because eatinout and BlowWater blog about this in the same week, it must be a nice place.

Bumbu Bali is a nice Balinese theme shop, it's a restaurant, a Cafe and it's also a home decor shop. They serve Balinese food, Balinese Western Fusion, alcohol and coffee. Likewise selling handcrafts imported from Bali (check out more photos from eatinout's blog). If you like to have some Bali handcraft for your home and yet you're not allow to go to Bali, you can get it from here, of course be expect to pay the price different.

Bumbu Bali is run by a young boss named Eddy, a former chef in Hard Rock Cafe Asia. He trained in Bali, stayed in Bali for a period, also a son-in-law of Bali who married with a Bali woman. Since he is so Bali influenced, I would like to believe what Bumbu Bali serve there is close to authentic Balinese food.

No talking too much, here are the food that we ordered.

Char-Broiled Ribeye Steak (RM 25.00)

Lamb Chop (RM 24.50)

Seafood Platter (RM 24.50)
Dory fish, Squid and Prwan

Es Campur (RM 8.50 )
it's actually milk shake with mixed fruits. Taste good!

The steak, lamb chop and seafood prepared the same way, marinated with their recipe and grilled. Eatinout was right, it tast so good without dipping the sauce.

This definitely a good one to me, recommended!

Sat on first floor, it was full house

Bumbu Bali
18 & 18-1, Jln Persiaran Puteri 1,
Bandar Puteri, 47100 Puchong.
Tel: 03-8061 8699

update 2/4/2006,
click map to enlarge

Technorati Tags: Bumbu Bali + Bandar Puteri + Puchong

Original Kayu @ Bukit Tinggi Klang

2006-03-30T12:14:00.000+08:00

singth called for mamak yesterday, we have never meet up in a weekday at all, so not sure what's the occacion, the gang has not meet up for long time or because is singth and my birthday today? Whatever, just a mamak session after all, we chit-chat till mid-night.

We were hanging out at Original Kayu, a nasi kandar shop originated from Penang. The Bukit Tinggi Klang branch is opened in a year or 2 ago and it become one of my favourite mamak place since then. I love the roti canai there, they have roti pisang madu, roti teluk, roti tiga rasa, roti sardin, roti planta and etc. It taste great with kari ikan, this is not something that Sri Melur Jaya can compare.

The Original Kayu is setting the next standard for nasi kandar shop in Klang, the restaurant is air-conditioned, with marble dining tables plus wooden chairs and equip with more than 4 plasma TV and a projection TV! What a luxury nasi kandar shop in Klang. The Original Kayu has other branches in in Klang Valley, I know there is one in PJ area, near to Dataran Prima.

This is what we have on the table:
singth's dinner, he say the mutton is nice.

I must introduce this roti tissue! I never seen other mamak make roti tissue in this size and shape. Could it be a trademark for Original Kayu? I don't know. It's taste good.

See? It's so long, almost same as the dining table's diameter!

Technorati Tags: Original Kayu + Nasi Kandar + Bukit Tinggi Klang

Charms Cafe @ The Curve

2006-03-26T23:55:00.000+08:00

Joan has a post on Little Penang last week, I was tempted after I read her post.

So I went to Fitness First The Curve today and hope to pop up at Little Penang after my workout. It was quite late after my exercise, Little Penang is closed for afternoon break.. Damn, it's Sunday why they want a afternoon break?!

Anyway got to hunt for other food. I found this Charms Cafe, it looks nice and the photos on their menu look delicious, so we decided to give a try.

This is what we ordered:

Charms Laksa (RM10.90)

Green Curry Noodles RM9.90

Cendol (RM2.50)

Ice Kacang (RM4.00)
What's the different between Cendol? It look almost the same!

Frankly, I"m quite disappointed with Charms, the actual food look so different from the menu. The charms laksa gravy taste ok though, but no much side dishes, only serve with 3 small pieces of chicken. Green curry noodles not my kind of food, dont' like it. Cendol and Ice Kacang are worse than those you can get in any foodcourt.

Lot G38, Ground Floor
Asian Courtyard, The Curve
Mutiara Damansara
47800 Petaling Jaya
Tel: 03-7728 2206

Technorati Tags: Charms Cafe

ikopi 爱咖啡

2006-03-24T14:26:00.000+08:00

I know ikopi from magazine, it has been around for year but never been before. Since I was hanging around in Petaling Street area, so I took the opportunity to visit ikopi.

The people here really know coffee, you chat with them on coffee beans, grinding, water quality till brewing method, they are really serious about coffee business, I like it.

Their pricing is slightly expensive than Starbucks, however they really listen to what a customer want and help you to choose the specific beans by your preference.

This is what my colleague has ordered. Ice Drip Coffee (RM12). The coffee is brew by ice-drip coffee maker, very sophisticated method. It took 6 hours to brew the coffee therefore it must prepared 2 or 3 days earlier and store in the refrigerator before serving.

For myself, I prefer something not extreme strong, preferable with fruity or flowery taste, non spicy kind. So the baristas recommend Ethiopian Yirgacheffe beans, and it's great. My coffee is prepared with syphon coffee maker.

baritas is brewing coffee with syphon coffe maker

Counting the time with sandglass, brewing time 3 minutes

Done, Ethiopian Yirgacheffe coffee (RM18)

I also take out 100g of Brazil Santos (RM12.95), I brew coffee in office.

IKOPI ENTERPRISE
No. 6, 1st Floor Jln Panggong,
50000 K.L
Tel: 603-2078 7328

Update 25/2/2006, click on map for exact location

Technorati Tags: ikopi

Lien Bee (联美) Hokkien Mee @ Petaling Street

2006-03-24T00:21:00.000+08:00

This is an unhealthy post, you may feel awful if you have high cholesterol. :p

We had our late dinner yesterday at Lien Bee @ Petaling Street. Lien Bee has been around for 60 years, the current chef is the third generation, the uncle looks young though.

Too late for dinner yet too early for supper.

Lien Bee offers authentic KL Hokkien Mee. KL Hokkien Mee is slightly different from Klang Hokkien Mee, Klang Kokkien Mee tends to wet and KL are dry, anyway the ingredients are same. I heard Hokkien Mee is originated from Petaling Street, not sure which one is the originator. Hokkien Mee in Klang valley are thick yellow noodles fried in thick dark soy sauce, together with porks, prawns/squids, fish fillet/fish cakes, vegetables, pork livers and deep fried lard. A key for good Hokkien Mee charcoal, good one must cooked over fiery charcoal stoves!

Uncle is frying Hokkien Mee with charcoal stoves

The Hokkien Mee

Hokkien Mee must eat with belacan, just like Nasi lemak with sambal

Sorry uncle, I must say your Hokkien Mee doesn't taste good! You have the right "kitchen" setting, you put the right ingediants, you have the right skills, you just need to improve in seasoning! I can't tell the exact, some taste is just missing from what a good Hokkien Mee should have.

Name: Lien Bee Hokkien Mee
Age: 60
Address: Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lok (opposite of Eon Bank)
Business Hour: 4:30pm ~ 11:30pm (close on Tuesday)

*Disclaimer: Tasting is very individual preference, it's fine if you do not agree on my comments above.

Pizza vs Satay @ USJ9

2006-03-22T18:37:00.000+08:00

I had my late dinner at Pizza vs Satay at USJ 9 yesterday night after my regular workout at FF @ Menara Summit. You know, when I first seen this restaurant, I was laughing.. what an odd name the restaurant has, "Pizza vs Satay"?? Eating pizza with satay? or Satay Pizza? whatever.. never bother to step into this restaurant at that time.

What make me step into Pizza vs Satay yesterday then? I read some reviews saying their Nasi Lemak probably is one of the best in town! This statement is convincing enuff to pay them a visit.

Great Food Served Here?

The light is warm, setting is comfortable.

You can see a lot of media has reviewed Pizza vs Satay, they frame up all the reviews from newspaper and magazine and hang on one side of the wall, I snap some of it:
Almost all the major English and Malay newspaper/magazine's food review column is on the wall, including The Star, The Edge, Berita Harian, Malay Mail, Flavours, Day & Night.. and many more. Most of the reviews talk about their nasi Lemak, due to all these, I have very high expectation to Pizza vs Satay.

This is what we have ordered:

Pizza vs Satay most famous Nasi Lemak Set
(RM7.90 with a glass of tasteless Ice Lemon Tea)

Another popular dish Satay Set - Chicken (RM6.90)

The Nasi Lemak sambal is slightly sweet, not very hot. Sambal Sotong and Rendang Ayam just normal; The rice is cooked with coconut milk, but the taste was not strong enough.

Chicken Stay, unlike satay from other places, you hardly spot any fat from the satay. The taste is ok, the kuah is average. I must say, Hj. Samuri Satay Kajang is serving better Satay than this.

Most probably I won't return to Pizza vs. Stay again. Not sure is my tastebuds different from those professional food reviewer? Or because I arrived late (~10pm) and they were not keen in serving me..

Fly with G-FORCE X anti-gravity machine (video)

2006-03-19T21:56:00.000+08:00

AJ Hackett has brought the ultimate bungy experience, G-FORCE X ("reverse bungy") to town, perhaps it's the hottest ride at the moment. I've experience it with SC on Saturday afternoon, weather was pretty hot (around 36°C), there wasn't any other customer at that moment and due to that, the crews were too free so they offered me for shooting following vidoe clips :p

If I can use one word to describe the experience, then it would be "Syok!"
If I can use two words to describe the exprience, then must be "Damn expensive!". It cost us RM120 for the 30 seconds of ride!

According to The Star: "The G Force X is the highest reverse bungy facility in Asia." I doubt it indeed, the G Froce X doesn't shot as high as I thought. It claim to be the highest maybe due to it's located at Bukit Nanas, the same location where KL Tower located. We get to see the KL scenes when we shot to the top.

Technorati Tags: G Force X + Reverse Bungy

Friday Dinner @ Bangkok Jam Thai Restaurant

2006-03-19T00:48:00.000+08:00

Friday after work, colleagues and I went to Bangkok Jam Thai @ Low Yat for dinner. Bangkok Jam is TY's favorite Thai restaurant, since he is so familiar with this place so he is volunteer to order the foods. This is what we had:

Spicy Thai Tom Yam Seafood(with coconut milk) (RM8.90)

Spicy Thai Tom Yam Seafood (clear) (RM8.90)

Green Curry Chicken (RM13.90)

Deep Fried Prawn with Tammarin Sauce (RM24.90)

Roasted Duck with Brown Sauce Serve with baby Kailan (RM16.90)

Stir Fried Beancurd with Chinese Mushroom (RM13.90)

Deed Fried Fish Cutlets (RM15.90)

Long Island Ice Tea

This is the first time I dine in Bangkok Jam. I must say I like the food, TY make the right recommendation! The only complain I have is serving size too small.. as you can see from the photos..

Technorati Tags: Bangkok Jam

Fall In Love with Xiao Long Bao

2006-03-17T12:17:00.000+08:00

When talk about Xiao Long Bao (Shanghai Steamed Pork Dumpling, 小籠包), the name Din Tai Fung must come to people's mind. Din Tai Fung is originated from Taiwan and today, they have opened up branches in USA, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia. Their Xiao Long Bao is superb, no one should doubt about it.

In Malaysia, nice "Xiao Long Bao" only available in Klang Valley in this couple of years. A nice Xiao Long Bao must full of soup in the dumpling, soup and stuffing must be tasty and and dumpling skin must be thin yet flexible enough. The dumpling skin should not break when pickup by chopstick. Traditionally each Xiao Long Bao make of 18 folds.

Most of the places in KL serve normal pork Xiao Long Bao only, it could due to Xiao Long Bao still a new to here. There are more varieties overseas where you can find Xiao Long Bao in pork with crabmeat/crab roe, Xiao Long Bao with pork and shrimp.

I’ve fall in love in first sight with this Xiao Long Bao in 3 or 4 years back at Crystal Jade Singapore (Din Tai Fung haven’t open in SG at that time), till now, I still can’t resist of this little one; I’ve visited Crystal Jade @ Lot 10 for x number of time since they open on May 2005 just because of this little one.

There are other places in Klang Valley serve decent Xiao Long Bao, I listed the names I know by my personal ranking:

Shanghai Restaurant at JW Marriot, Bukit Bintang (I don’t go often due to pricy)
Crystal Jade at Lot 10, Bukit Bintang
Dragon-I at Cititel KL and One Utama PJ
Chuai Heng at Jalan Imbi
Chef Loong at SS2 (open from evening until midnight)

I would appreciate if you could suggest for any other places serve nice Xiao Long Bao. These are the places SHOULD NOT go for Xiao Long Bao, rank from the worst:

Esquire Kitchen
Shanghai Ding Tai Feng at SS2 (this is not the real Din Tai Fung)
Jogoya Kuala Lumpur
Su Zhou Noodle House at Citrus Park, Plaza OUG
Xin Shanghai at Jalan Sultan Ismail

I've been to Crystal Jade yesterday and these are the Xiao Long Bao together with other foods we ordered:

Normal pork Xiao Long Bao(RM7 for 4)

This is a fusion one, pork Xiao Long Bao with French goose liver (RM9 for 3)

Pan fried pork Dumpling, quite nice. (RM6 for 3)

Radish Pastries (Edit on 18/3/2006)

"La Mian" with Boneless Beef Tender"

Technorati Tags: Xiao Long Bao + Crystal Jade + Shanghai Steamed Pork Dumpling

*Disclaimer: Tasting is very individual preference, I did not receive any benefits from any restaurants mentioned above. Thus, it's fine if you do not agreed on what I've written up there.

Chill out on top of the world

2006-03-15T18:43:00.000+08:00

[14/3/2005] Having a farewell dinner for our colleague LL. LL is leaving us today, she is going to start her exciting life in England very soon. Time flies, she has been working in our team for a year+. Chinese say “天下无不散之筵席” (All good things must come to an end), I guess it’s the time to say good bye.

We choose Luna Bar for the event because it’s near to our office; it’s just 5 minutes of walking distance. The bar located at the roof top of Pacific Regency Hotel Apartments, Menara PanGlobal. Luna Bar’s interior design is gorgeous, a swimming pool at the center, lighting is romantic, plus you get to see both KL Tower and Petronas Twin Tower, I wonder are there any other chill out places better than this?!

I admit that my photo shooting skill is damn poor; I didn’t manage to capture any nice photos. Please check out Tulan’s blog for the same event, he was using a SonyEricsson K750i phone for photo shooting.

Photo scanned from Luna Postcard, so sorry, I didn't managed to take a nice photos, see the following and you'll know.

The staircase to the bar.

Check out the design.

KL Tower, view from the place we sit

Beer and Twin Tower

Bar at pool side

We ordered 4 Pizzas, all thin crust. It took more than half and hour to prepare; thus I believe they are wood fire baked pizzas, it taste good (everything is tasting good when you're extremely hungry :D).

All the best LL, you'll not be forgotten, miss ya.

Technorati Tags: Luna Bar

McD Breakfast

2006-03-15T12:18:00.000+08:00

It has been 2 years I never have any McDonald's breakfast. I've missed it so much. I took Komuter train to work this morning, when I reach the Sentral Station, walk striaght down to McDonald's and take out a set of Sausage McMuffin with Egg value meal. It's still taste as great as before.

I usually order the Sausage McMuffin with Egg meal if I have McD breakfast. 2 years back when I still working for a Singaporen company, BlowWater and myself always have breakfast at McDonald's @ KLIA every flying Monday. We used to take 10:20AM flight, so normally we arrive the airport around 8:30AM, check in then breakfast. There is a problem in McDonald's KLIA, you hardly hear the airport announcement. There was a time we had our breakfast till late (we didn't know indeed), when we step out of the transit train at departure hall, an airport officer asked if we're going to Singapore and I answered "Yes" and he said, "Run!". Damn, BlowWater and I were running at 10km/h with the f**king heavy Compaq notebook to the departure gate.

I've no longer working wit the Singaporen company. therfore no more McD breakfast..

*Disclaimer: Tasting is very individual preference, I did not receive any benefits from McD, thus, it's fine if you do not agreed on what I've wrote up there.

BAYOU - The Javanese Brew & Cafe

2006-03-12T23:24:00.000+08:00

Sunday 12/3/2005, I went to The Curve for my hair cut, then drive to Plaza Mont' Kiara for late lunch with SC. Bayou always my favourite place for cakes, I think Bayou serve the best cakes in KL.

Does the cafe ambient looks familiar to you? Yes, the lastest BRAND'S Essence of Chicken TV ad shoot in this place.

Let's see what we had for lunch:

Nyonya Laksa (RM17.95), yellow noddles served with chicken, prawn, bean sprout in spicy nyonya gravy, fantastic! 18 bucks for a bowl of laksa is pricy though.

Ice Mocha with Ice Cream (RM10,95), so so only, neither the coffee aroma nor the chocolate favour strong enough, DOME cafe serve better Ice Mocha with Ice Cream.

Spanish Chikita (RM11.90), my favourite cake.

Callucio (RM11.90) it's chocolate banana. If you think Secret Recipe's Chocolate Banana Cake is the best, then you must try Collucio, it's even better.

Zabalion (RM11.90) is one of the Bayou best selling desserts. Chocolate cake stuff with non-diary whip cream. Overall Bayou's cakes won't give you the fattening feel and it's not too sweet.

If you love dessert like I do, then Bayou is a place you should not missed!

Technorati Tags: Bayou + Javanese Cafe

i'm lovin' it

2006-03-10T18:10:00.000+08:00

KLCC is within walking distant from my office, we have our lunch at KLCC on Friday as usual. Went to Signatures Food Court, arive around 12:40pm and took us a while to find a place to sit, cos we are quite a big group, total of 9.

I have Big Mac Meal lunch, obviously McD has raise the price! Filet-O-Fish/McChicken/Chicken McNuggets/Double Cheeseburger Value Meal are pricing at RM6.95, Big Mac/Quarter Paunder with Cheese Meal Value Meal pricing at RM7.75 and Ayam Goreng McD/Spicy Chicken McDeluxe/Grilled Chicken Foldover Value Meal selling at RM8.75(not including tax, same as above). Wait a minutes, McD is raising 7% from the previous price?! How daring is McDonald's, the govt. only allowed 5% price up!

Anyway, McD still the cheapest meal you can get in Signatures Food Court(not official survey), a McChicken Meal is cheaper than Chicken rice + soft drink (RM7). Remember on my children day, McD was something expensive, we can only have it on special occasion. Can you imagine McD is the cheapest nowadays? Sound like our living style is closing to western country huh.. where fast food is cheapest.

As usual, Friday shopping after the lunch, to top up the stock for snacks, candy, chocolates.

Birthday Celebration in Office

2006-03-09T17:38:00.000+08:00

My company is having a group birthday celebration whose birthday fall in February and March. Wan's birthday on Feb; Joey and Pasankia's birthday in March.

The company order the foods from a catering service, it's Malay style, these are some of the foods what we had:

The real Kajang Satay
(Chicken and beef skewers)

Naan
(kind of bread, originated from of northwest India,
made of white flour and baked in a tandoor.)

Tandoori Chicken

Nasi Dagang, a popular dish in Kelantan (east coast, Malaysia)

Other dishes not in the photo are chicken curry, prawn curry, vegetable curry and 2 Secret Recipies birthday cakes. I do not eat much today.

Biscuits/Cookies from Crabtree & Evelyn

2006-03-06T22:45:00.000+08:00

I know Crabtree & Evelyn is an international retailer for outstanding personal care, toiletries and home fragrance products, but do you know this KL Kepong Bhd company does sell fine food? I did not know until I found these Crabtree & Evelyn Cookies at home. Obviously is a gift from someone.

Organic Foffee Crunch Biscuits and English Breakfast Cookies

Both the biscuits and cookies taste good. I personally prefer the biscuits than cookies because biscuits is crunchy.

Home Dining

2006-03-05T20:56:00.000+08:00

Had dinner at home, mummy cooked. This is the true "home-style", 4 dishes plus soup.

Fried baby shark

Deep Fried Prawn

Stir-fried Cabbage

Fried la-la (kind of clam) eggs

and Lotus Root Soup.

New Les Mills Releases

2006-03-05T15:28:00.000+08:00

Les Mills group exercies are playing an important role in keeping myself to stick with my workout schedule. The new Les Mills releases is launching soon, so excited. These are the coming new releases:

BODYPUMP® 57
BODYATTACK® 52
BODYBALANCE® 32
BODYCOMBAT® 27
BODYJAM® 36
BODYSTEP® 63
RPM® 30

Start Pisces Cafe

2006-03-05T02:19:00.000+08:00

YumCha with YC and KG at Star Pisces Cafe on 4/3/2006. Star Pisces located in Taman Ann, Klang. It is a 民歌餐厅 where amateur singer or live bang have their performance every night.

The cafe open from 10AM to 1AM daily, offer verities of asian food, from laksa, nasi lemak, fried rice to Kong Kong Stlye toast, instant noddles. Pricing wise is slightly cheaper than the similar in KL.

The night still young, house is not full.

This is what he drink and what she drink.

and this is mine.

Fried Sotong, YC complain about it, not crunchy and hot enough

Fried Otak-Otak Rolls

Padi Prada

2006-03-04T18:45:00.000+08:00

I visited my very best friend MNG (not MANGO) at Kota Kemuning today. This is the first time I visit her after her 7 months of pregnancy, sorry MNG :p

We had our lunch in Padi Prada, a restaurant in Kota Kemuning, just next to KK sales office. Padi Prada offer Penang/Nyona home-style dishes. The restaurant is cozy, the lighting and table setting is just nice for home-style dining.

We order Tau Yew Bak(RM12) and Gula Tumai(RM18), and Padi Prada Special Juice (RM3) to drink.

Padi Prada Special Juice looks like a lime juice with sour plum but taste different. It's actually ambarella juice with sour plum, quite nice.

Tau Yew Bak is "3 layer" pork belly cooked in dark soy sauce together with hard-boiled eegs and herbs, normally we call this as Loh Bak. The meat is cut into a single bite size and cook until tender. Surprisingly neither the sauce nor the meat is oily, it does not really scare off those health conscious people.

Gulai Tumis, or simply call this as Asam Fish.

You see, this is really a home-style dinning. the different of Padi's version is sweet, much sweeter than what my mom will cook.. put it this way, sweet dishes tends to appetize people more, so I believe Padi Prada do it on purpose.

Complimentary dessert, green bean soup, cooked with water chestnut and barley.

After all, it's home-style, I would prefer mummy style. Still I will return for more if I pay MNG a visit next time, I want to try their Sambal Udang, Jiu Hoo Char, Otak-Otak.. so, wait for my next post on Padi Prada

Technorati Tag: Padi Prada

Boring trip home..

2006-03-02T23:53:00.000+08:00

The fuel price raise with 30 cents this time! It's too expensive to travel with car, my transportation fees is about 30 bucks/day (petrol, tol fees and parking fees).. cannot tahan if this continue, going to take train to work once or twice a week, see if this is work out.

Today is my second day to travel with train indeed. The train is slow, took me 1 hour and 40 minutes to reach office. I travel from Klang Station to KL Sentral, then Monorail from KL Sentral to Bukit Nanas, this cost is around 12 bucks/day, hmm.. does it really worth to trade the time with money in this way? I don't know.

Too boring, take out my camera and shoot.

Shah Alam station, few more stations to reach Klang.

Reflection: a passenger is sleeing..

JOGOYA Kuala Lumpur Flagship store

2006-03-02T11:44:00.000+08:00

JOGOYA has now open in StarHill Gallery Kuala Lumpur. JOGOYA is a buffet-style restaurant originated from Taiwan, they serve over 200 dishes, including Japanese, Chinese, Western and Seafood cuisines.

I been there twice, the first time go with tulan, SG, and TY. Tulan has a post on his webblog. I go second time with family and took a few shoots.

The pricing and operating hours
Brunch RM78++ *Promo Price RM68++
11:30am - 1.40pm (weekdays)
11.00am - 2.00pm (weekends)

Lunch RM68++ *Promo Price RM58++
1:40pm - 4.20pm (weekdays)
2.00pm - 4.20pm (weekends)

Dinner RM88++ *Promo Price RM78++
5:00pm - 9.30pm (weekdays)
5.00pm - 9.30pm (weekends)

Supper RM78++ *Promo Price RM68++
9:30pm - 2.00am (weekdays)
9.40pm - 2.00am (weekends)

The ambient is great, the food was so so. Some of the foods are too salty, JOGOYA need to improve on the quality control. I do taste different compare the first time and second time.

Section for salad and hand rolled sushi

Display area for grilled food. There are some sample of grill fish, prawn, squid, crab, beef, chicken and etc.

Soup section, can choose from chicken or tom yum soup, pick your ingredient, crabs, prawn, fish and vege.

Dim Sum just next to the soup section, to be frank.. it's suck!

Sample for skewers

Teppanyaki

Juices and ice cream

Fresh juices and smooties

Thai Coconuts, I love this, the size is just nice. :)

Dessert looks nice.

Sashimi: salmon, tuna, scallop, squid, and otopus, but I don't eat any of these.

Sushi, I don't eat this either.

Ok, enough for the display items.. let's see what I had for lunch.

Fresh Oyster

Seafood Tom Yum soup

Xiao Long Bao (小笼包). Very bad. no soup inside. Have you ever taste a xiao long bao with no soup? Don't ever try this.

Dumpling.

Tempura shrimps, scallops, fish fillets

Pan fries fish

Fries prawn with salt

Chilli crab, not really like it

Snails in chinese style. I took 8 pieces for photo shooting, I just ate one only.

Teriyaki Chicken, it's too salty.

Beef, black pepper style

Grilled beef, it's nice..

Enough for food, if photos above do appetize you, here is the disgusting one.. hehehehehe Urine bowl full with ice, wtf??!!! Yes! it's cool right?
No one should take photo in toilet, hopefully I don't get caught because of this :p

Shot the ice!

Technorati Tags: Jogoya

Digital Camera

2006-03-01T21:24:00.000+08:00

I just bought a camera, have been craving for one for long time. I get myself a silver color Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX9.
Summary on what is FX9:

• 6.4 megapixel CCD
• 35-105mm equiv. (3x) Leica DC Vario-Elmarit optical zoom
• 4x digital zoom
• Advanced Mega Optical Image Stabilizer
• VGA (640 x 480 pixel) 30fps movie mode
• 2.5-inch, 207,000 pixel LCD
• 14 scene modes
• Venus Engine PLUS

The camera cost me RM 1,450 with 512 SD Card.
There number of competitors in the same class, I have survey few of them, including Casio S600, Casio Z500, Sony T9, Sony T7, Panasonic DMC-FX8, Canon IXUS 55 and the latest Olympus mju 700.

It was hard to decide which model to go, all these camaras shot nice photos too. I settle for FX9 after read some reviews. This is how other people say about FX9
• dpreview.com
• DCRP Review
• cnet asia review

It's not the best among the point-and-shoot camera though, however it is sufficient for a beginner I believe.. The camera come with Mega O.I.S technology, yet I still shoot blur photo due to jitter, don't know what's wrong, the Mega O.I.S not powerful enuff or the shutter speed is too slow, or just because of my poor technique!

Tulan.. Panasonic just announce another camera in the same series the DMC-FX01, and the price is cheaper, USD$349.95 compare to USD$399.95 for DMC-FX9!