tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11899346406604401472024-03-13T20:24:23.178+08:00After GiovanniPoppy Seedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13000862304930677554noreply@blogger.comBlogger319125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189934640660440147.post-54156366202501040492012-03-18T07:30:00.000+08:002012-03-18T07:55:07.007+08:00Platinum Pork Leg Stew on Rice, Pratunam, Bangkok<div style="text-align: justify;font-weight: normal; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; ">This<b> Khao Kha Moo </b><span style="font-weight: normal; ">(Pork leg stew on rice) was a gem of a find stumbling around Pratunam while on lunch break from Death Shopper 2.0 at Platinum Shopping Mall. The dish itself is quintessentially Thai, and they're everywhere on the streets of Bangkok. I've tasted many wonderful versions of this dish, yet this remains by far the most impressionable.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E5IUawhuVhw/T1hiehX2d1I/AAAAAAAADVY/BpsO84VbwJ8/s400/IMG_2374.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717428003440850770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">The local lunch crowd packed this place to the rafters, but service didn't miss a beat. Within a minute or two, we had our orders taken and drinks served, and shortly after that, this beauty arrived...<br /><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cbNmZPsUt6M/T1hifBYn07I/AAAAAAAADVo/Crsk_EM2Uow/s400/IMG_2378.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717428012034020274" style="font-size: 100%; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div><div style="text-align: justify;font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">...melt-in-your-mouth pork, laced with buttery fat, served on top of rice drenched with pork-infused gravy with the requisite stewed hard-boiled egg and chunks of preserved vegetables. Out of this world!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E5IUawhuVhw/T1hiehX2d1I/AAAAAAAADVY/BpsO84VbwJ8/s1600/IMG_2374.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cbNmZPsUt6M/T1hifBYn07I/AAAAAAAADVo/Crsk_EM2Uow/s1600/IMG_2378.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YZBrNZrsB2w/T1hifh30TxI/AAAAAAAADV4/hZXIQ-wAMX0/s400/IMG_2380.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717428020754796306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "></div>The Khao Kha Moo stall shares the limelight here with a wantan mee stall, which appeared to be just as popular. Can't miss it, don't miss it!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">4/32-33 Soi Petchburi 19</span></span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Pratunam, Bangkok</div></div></div>minchowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14277872682111517929noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189934640660440147.post-48443032843523964202012-03-08T07:00:00.000+08:002012-03-08T07:00:00.536+08:00Sundays at Sassorosso, Jalan Yap Kwan Seng<div style="text-align: center;font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="text-align: justify; font-size: 100%; ">Sassorosso, a not-so-new, cute little Italian join</span><span style="font-size: 100%; text-align: justify; ">t, is tucked in Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, a bit unassuming on the outside but lovely once you enter.</span><span style="font-size: 100%; text-align: justify; "> </span>The good folks here (who also run <a href="http://aftergiovanni.blogspot.com/2011/05/pop-goes-wisdom-sunday-almost-liquid.html">Giovino's</a>) have a Sunday lunch deal that we finally got around to trying. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; "><div style="font-weight: normal; "></div><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PvQDDazxwPs/Tv2AKHaXm5I/AAAAAAAADPo/iw0CxzvaNP0/s400/IMG_2404.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691846415342869394" /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify; ">We went for the semi-buffet deal (includes appetiser & soup buffet, ala carte mains and dessert). Had a hard night prior so sadly, the booze option was wasted on us (top-up RM50++ for free flow of prosecco and wines).</span></div></div><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center; "><span style="text-align: justify; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><div></div></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ffn0jTBmNgk/Tv2AKrbuhDI/AAAAAAAADP0/3oGIoZ5ribM/s400/IMG_2406.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691846425012241458" /><div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left; ">Here's what we missed. If you're thirsty and you know it, clap your hands!</span></div></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><div></div></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gBob01LmLa0/Tv2ALYDlVII/AAAAAAAADQQ/CnGJmbXj7Rs/s400/IMG_2409.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691846436990571650" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left; ">Buffet spread of salad... </span></div></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><div><div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W5hpVeu8ih0/Tv2AK24Xf8I/AAAAAAAADQA/bz2ZDPM1VBo/s400/IMG_2408.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691846428085157826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left; ">... tortilla, pasta, clams in wine broth...</span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center; "><span style="text-align: left; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Ar2_F1nGwU/Tv2AMKizgoI/AAAAAAAADQY/6x0jZc1tuXM/s400/IMG_2411.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691846450543297154" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><div></div><div style="text-align: center;">...cold cuts, grilled vegetables and fresh greens. We were well stuffed by the time we worked through this. Missing in the pic was a steaming cauldron of fresh green pea soup.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aGz9OdCFOo8/Tv2AhmMMSFI/AAAAAAAADQk/ZsILpW40Cp8/s400/IMG_2415.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691846818741897298" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /><div></div></div></div><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center; "><span style="text-align: left; ">Hui's <b>Grilled Jumbo Tiger Prawns</b>. Jumbo awright!</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><div><div><div><div style="text-align: center; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RwTjD5To8Mg/Tv2Ah4FTMpI/AAAAAAAADQw/4ApqfyVLTnM/s400/IMG_2417.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691846823544828562" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><div style="text-align: left; "><div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center; ">My <b>Pan Fried Sea Bass</b> with potato crust. Truffle butter sauce was a lil' weak but not a complaint really. This was well-executed.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><div><div><div><div><div style="text-align: center; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div><div><div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K3KXnf80idQ/Tv2AiacCl7I/AAAAAAAADQ8/68Npt3yKOrc/s400/IMG_2420.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691846832767014834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><div><div><div><div><div style="text-align: center; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center; ">Mei Shean's main, <b>Pan-seared calf-liver</b>, was a formidable deposit of vitality, oozing juice, blood on a bed of mash. Too rich for a single sitting and half of this had to go back to the kitchen.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><div><div><div><div><div><div style="text-align: center; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div style="text-align: center; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KxLgD_U9WhE/Tv2GgoFT4bI/AAAAAAAADRs/gskWvLFUgaw/s400/dessert.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691853399139803570" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 367px; height: 400px; " /></div><div></div><div><div><div></div></div></div><div><div><div></div></div></div><div><div><div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left; "><div><div><div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div></div></div><div style="text-align: center; "></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center; "></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center; "></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center; "></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center; "></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span style="font-weight: normal; ">The sweets, (clockwise from top: </span><b>M<span style="font-size: 100%; ">illefuille, </span></b><span style="font-size: 100%; "><b>Pannacotta</b> and <b>Creme Brulee</b>) went largely under-appreciated as we simply were sated beyond negotiation. </span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;font-weight: normal; ">Enjoyed our afternoon at Sassorosso, and during this time, eyed plenty of families enjoying a slow, lazy ala carte lunch. The deal does come in huge portions, with great service at RM118++ per head (without the booze but with free flow of fresh juices; RM168++ with the booze, totally recommended!)</div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;font-weight: normal; "><b style="font-size: 100%; ">Sassorosso Italian Restaurant & Wine Retailer</b></div><div style="text-align: center;font-weight: normal; ">9 Lorong Yap Kwan Seng</div><div style="text-align: center;font-weight: normal; ">50450 KL</div><div style="text-align: center;font-weight: normal; ">Tel: +603-21166 6428</div><div style="text-align: center;font-weight: normal; "><a href="http://www.sassorosso.com.my/">http://www.sassorosso.com.my/</a> </div></div>minchowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14277872682111517929noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189934640660440147.post-66697607896960564172012-03-04T09:45:00.006+08:002012-03-04T12:04:19.594+08:00Eating in Bhutan<div style="text-align: center; "><span ><span style="text-align: left; ">Culinary Bhutan is defined by simplicity, in its most primitive form. Being visitors of the </span><a href="http://www.tourism.gov.bt/plan-your-trip/travel-requirements" style="text-align: left; ">government-sanctioned variety</a><span style="text-align: left; ">, however, we had to put up with tourist-standard fare throughout the trip. We relied on our guide to bring us to eateries that catered to tourists, and these were not always the most riveting of ventures. </span></span></div><div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><div style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: center; "><br /></div><span style="font-size: 100%; "><span style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OSqsgJeZ9y4/Twe65Wn63vI/AAAAAAAADTo/JKLt1lK9n00/s400/IMG_2080.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694725748321607410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span><div style="text-align: center; "><span>Our first meal, upon touchdown in Paro, was a preface of what was to come.</span></div></div><div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span>Clockwise from left: Ema datshi (national chilli & cheese dish), chicken curry, fried potatoes, red rice, buttered vegetables. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qlac9NxLpzg/Twe64GosEEI/AAAAAAAADTE/wdpYqKoUv9I/s400/IMG_2306.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694725726849994818" style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><div style="text-align: center; "><span><span>Ema (chilli of a pudgier variety, looks like chilli pepper), ennobled ingredient in the Land of the Dragon. The Bhutanese love their chillies, make no mistake.<br /></span><br /></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OSqsgJeZ9y4/Twe65Wn63vI/AAAAAAAADTo/JKLt1lK9n00/s1600/IMG_2080.JPG" style="text-align: left; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7q9n0lqRxyc/Twe66GW-2iI/AAAAAAAADT0/fgO-8SyvmRo/s400/IMG_2081.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694725761135467042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div></div><div><p style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: -webkit-auto; "></p><div style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: left; "><div style="text-align: center; "><span style="text-align: left; ">We saw Ema everywhere - on the rooftops of homes, by the road, and most extensively, in our food. I'd dare say most meals, this was the only ingredient to which our surfeited palates, used to overpowering flavours at home,<br />responded with gusto.</span></div></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><div style="text-align: left; "><div><span style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5wXzMTPnFfY/Twe9OcrBErI/AAAAAAAADUw/aNmaJzIBUps/s400/IMG_2257.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694728309745717938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center; "><span style="text-align: left; ">There were a couple of notable meals. At Bhutan Kitchen, a local restaurant in the heart of capital Thimphu, the standard tourist buffet is fresher and tastier than most.</span></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ip_GQ07kfr0/Twe9NCo_pYI/AAAAAAAADUY/UDdYMcZtEcA/s400/IMG_2157.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694728285578044802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center; "><span><span style="text-align: left; ">Upon request, our guide goes one step further and orders us Phaksha laphu</span><span style="text-align: left; "> (dried pork fat slices with turnip and of course, chillies). Dried pork is a staple in Bhutan and while it requires some heavy-duty gnawing, it adds a different flavourful dimension to the meal.</span></span></div></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left; "><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AVCEyiMO0a8/Twe9M4h9lKI/AAAAAAAADUM/6JZc_zOo5xI/s400/IMG_2228.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694728282864194722" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><div style="text-align: center; "><span style="text-align: left; ">Up over at Phobjika Valley, about 3,000m above, where we drove hours to catch a glimpse of the revered <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-necked_Cranes_in_Bhutan">black-necked cranes </a>, we were treated to a delicious, spartan home-cooked meal of white rice, red rice, Ema Datshi and a dried pork and dried/cured vegetable dish. </span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: center; "><br /></div><span style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pdXWV-1_bKE/Twe9OuTVqWI/AAAAAAAADU8/g2RQy37nYk4/s400/IMG_2351.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694728314478242146" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; "><span><span style="text-align: left; ">On our last day, en route th</span><span style="text-align: left; ">e drive to</span><span style="text-align: left; "> and from Haa Valley (worth omitting from your itinerary, by the way), we stopped for a picnic which neatly wrapped up our Bhutanese food experience. A caterer had prepared mountains of rice to go with (from top left): fried hard boiled eggs, spiced potatoes, Ema Datshi and a beautiful, milky sliced pork curry.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; "><span >For those hoping to visit Bhutan and eat well, here are a few tips:</span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><ul><li><span ><b>Research</b> and figure out what's on offer. Unfortunately, there aren't that many good, visual sites (or last I checked anyway) but <a href="http://asiarecipe.com/bhuculture.html">this </a>is as good a place to start as any.</span></li><li><span ><b>Be forthcoming and vocal </b>from the start to your guide on your food preferences and what you hope to try. The daily tariff (which is no cheap ticket by any travel standards) that covers your meals should enable your guide to work around those.</span></li><li><span ><b>Manage</b> your own expectations. Bhutan is a once-in-a-lifetime journey that requires some personal effort and investment on the visitor's part. Be prepared to embrace whatever comes your way, utterly-tasteless-meal-enroute-excruciating Tiger's Nest hike or otherwise! </span></li><li><span >If you don't like <b>chillies or cheese</b>, <b>learn to deal</b>! Both these ingredients anchor Bhutanese cuisine and you could do a lot worse than to digest them with relish!</span></li></ul></div><p style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "></p></div></div></div>minchowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14277872682111517929noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189934640660440147.post-2812079857001669432012-01-06T17:00:00.001+08:002012-01-06T17:24:30.408+08:00Cod Fish Hash & Full English Breakfast, Oriole Cafe & Bar<div style="text-align: justify;">So how did the start of your 2012 feasting go? Mine got off with a gentle Singaporean nudge in the right direction, a quiet breakfast at Oriole, nestled within Somerset.</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KuXsz-PjG1w/Twav8TtopSI/AAAAAAAADSU/DfqZNsxWlr8/s1600/IMG_2555.JPG"><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KuXsz-PjG1w/Twav8TtopSI/AAAAAAAADSU/DfqZNsxWlr8/s1600/IMG_2555.JPG"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yfZk46piYhA/Twav80BHbpI/AAAAAAAADSk/xD98mpJpb0U/s1600/IMG_2558.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XK08wagZB10/Twav9klsBMI/AAAAAAAADSs/shnfrYSWWh4/s400/IMG_2560.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694432251185202370" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Just what the doctor ordered after one beer tower too many on the first day of the new year - <b>Cod Fish Hash</b>.<b> </b>Of course, any combination of potatoes and eggs would have done the job, but to do a magnificent one, you need to pair them with beautifully smoked fish. I need to find a place to procure smoked cod in KL; requires a bit of work, but this is something the most austere of kitchens could and should attempt to whip up. </div><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KuXsz-PjG1w/Twav8TtopSI/AAAAAAAADSU/DfqZNsxWlr8/s1600/IMG_2555.JPG"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yfZk46piYhA/Twav80BHbpI/AAAAAAAADSk/xD98mpJpb0U/s1600/IMG_2558.JPG"><br /></a><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KuXsz-PjG1w/Twav8TtopSI/AAAAAAAADSU/DfqZNsxWlr8/s1600/IMG_2555.JPG"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yfZk46piYhA/Twav80BHbpI/AAAAAAAADSk/xD98mpJpb0U/s1600/IMG_2558.JPG"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KuXsz-PjG1w/Twav8TtopSI/AAAAAAAADSU/DfqZNsxWlr8/s1600/IMG_2555.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yfZk46piYhA/Twav80BHbpI/AAAAAAAADSk/xD98mpJpb0U/s400/IMG_2558.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694432238146907794" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Full English Breakfast</b> was good, not great, but good. Crispy bacon lent this some star power, because for some reason, bacon has ceased to be crispy at all pork-friendly joints in KL. <b>Bacon is not bacon if it ain't crispy.</b> Understand, muppets?</div><div><span><u><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></u></span></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KuXsz-PjG1w/Twav8TtopSI/AAAAAAAADSU/DfqZNsxWlr8/s1600/IMG_2555.JPG"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yfZk46piYhA/Twav80BHbpI/AAAAAAAADSk/xD98mpJpb0U/s1600/IMG_2558.JPG"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KuXsz-PjG1w/Twav8TtopSI/AAAAAAAADSU/DfqZNsxWlr8/s1600/IMG_2555.JPG"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KuXsz-PjG1w/Twav8TtopSI/AAAAAAAADSU/DfqZNsxWlr8/s1600/IMG_2555.JPG"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KuXsz-PjG1w/Twav8TtopSI/AAAAAAAADSU/DfqZNsxWlr8/s1600/IMG_2555.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KuXsz-PjG1w/Twav8TtopSI/AAAAAAAADSU/DfqZNsxWlr8/s400/IMG_2555.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694432229475263778" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span style="text-align: justify; "><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Easy breezy beautiful</i></div></span></div><div><span style="text-align: justify; "><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: justify; ">New Year, ya got me eating out of your hands already!</span><span style="text-align: justify; "> </span></div><div><div><div><div><br /></div><div><b>Oriole Cafe & Bar</b><div>Pan Pacific Serviced Suites</div><div>Somerset Road</div><div>Singapore</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>minchowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14277872682111517929noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189934640660440147.post-11000665294780018362011-12-31T10:00:00.001+08:002011-12-31T10:00:01.642+08:00How Happy, Bhutan?<div style="text-align: left;"><b>Last day to 2011. WHOA.</b></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify; ">One of the most remarkable (and hardest) things done this year had to be our journey to Bhutan. I had to at least say something about it before hotfooting it over to the other side. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rather than choose to celebrate the aftermath of our marital union the sensible and relaxing way, we decided, to hell with chilling by the beach sipping a Mai Tai, let's blow all our cash and hit Bhutan!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aJ5PjOWxhUI/Tv1VVmaobvI/AAAAAAAADNk/N4JbD-TPPgE/s1600/IMG_2069.JPG"></a><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aJ5PjOWxhUI/Tv1VVmaobvI/AAAAAAAADNk/N4JbD-TPPgE/s1600/IMG_2069.JPG"></a><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aJ5PjOWxhUI/Tv1VVmaobvI/AAAAAAAADNk/N4JbD-TPPgE/s1600/IMG_2069.JPG"></a><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aJ5PjOWxhUI/Tv1VVmaobvI/AAAAAAAADNk/N4JbD-TPPgE/s400/IMG_2069.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691799333644037874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><div style="text-align: center; "><i>'The jaw-dropping Himalayan stretch greets you in flight even before descent</i></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of course, we weren't expecting to put our feet up, having done months of research beforehand and thoroughly expecting the bare minimum of creature comforts and rigorous tests to our fitness levels. The truth is, there was no way we could have prepared enough for an experience this different.</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dMY0YvhEsUM/Tv1WX2J-EkI/AAAAAAAADPQ/XUMoUX2WHkA/s1600/IMG_2181.JPG"></a><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><div><div><div><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fwEsqFRht_k/Tv1WWcHIYJI/AAAAAAAADOs/kcjfHwArRBc/s400/IMG_2118.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691800447569387666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><div style="text-align: center; "><i>Tango Monastery, Thimphu </i></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Any discomfort and the exhorbitant price tag that comes with a trip to Bhutan are all but the negligible price to pay to witness this tiny kingdom at the cusp of major transformation, as its pastoral beauty and way of life makes way for planned development, which had hitherto been firmly controlled. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fwEsqFRht_k/Tv1WWcHIYJI/AAAAAAAADOs/kcjfHwArRBc/s1600/IMG_2118.JPG"><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R-NveLrJEDg/Tv1WWiLlysI/AAAAAAAADO4/IRlrrjwq64U/s400/IMG_2259.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691800449198705346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div></a><div style="text-align: center; "><i>Closest thing to a traffic light in the entire Kingdom in capital Thimphu</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3U9Mw9vWElM/Tv1VV8YYRQI/AAAAAAAADNw/XXBfEurCIuQ/s400/IMG_2213.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691799339540169986" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: center; "> <i>En route to Punakha after descent from Dochula Pass</i></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Apart from the ridiculously picturesque landscape (which remains acutely unnatural to the untrained eye from infinitely uglier cities), the other thing we wanted to get our heads around when we embarked on the trip was Bhutan's acclaimed Gross National Happiness (GNH) concept. </div><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aJ5PjOWxhUI/Tv1VVmaobvI/AAAAAAAADNk/N4JbD-TPPgE/s1600/IMG_2069.JPG"></a><div style="text-align: center; "><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aJ5PjOWxhUI/Tv1VVmaobvI/AAAAAAAADNk/N4JbD-TPPgE/s1600/IMG_2069.JPG" style="text-align: left; "></a></div></div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KNJLmCflZyw/Tv1VWJLKUlI/AAAAAAAADN8/VJT4iZgaDqM/s400/IMG_9116.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691799342974390866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /><div><div style="text-align: center; "><i>Taktsang Monastery or Tiger's Nest - prevailing myths and legends not withstanding, this is a magnificent piece of architecture.</i></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify; ">While there is plenty of literature on GNH's use in measuring Bhutan's sense of well-governance as an indicator of progress, it was difficult for us mere children of capitalism to grasp how it would feature in the average life of a working Bhutanese. F</span>ortunately, our guide Dawa did not shy from sharing his thoughts with us about this.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While Bhutan has gained repute from being the poster child to GNH, a concept that is being studied by academics and politicians alike all over the world, it remains just that - a concept. For an abstract index that claims to measure how secure and happy people feel about governance, it is treading on uncertain grounds, given the development of democracy in Bhutan. For majority of Bhutanese, who have only in recent years seen the introduction of democratic elections, and who still ardently aggrieve the abdication of their former king (the beloved Fourth King passed the crown to his son, now the Fifth King in 2008), GNH does not necessarily assure happiness.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">His personal opinion aside, Dawa does feel though, that as the young Fifth King gains his footing and as the country's democracy matures, Bhutanese will reclaim that coveted brand of intellectual progress as a Kingdom.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Since our return, I've also read with interest some other dissenting views on GNH, particularly around the issues of the <a href="http://www.newstatesman.com/world-affairs/2008/02/bhutan-ethnic-rights-refugees">expulsion of ethnic Nepalese</a> and rise of consumerism. If you're up for some more reading on how the youth of Bhutan features in all this, <a href="http://www.isas.nus.edu.sg/Attachments/ResearchAttachment/Report%20-%20Melissa%20(13%20Aug%2008).pdf">this</a> paper might be of interest.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In any case, it's an interesting topic that will continue to see plenty of argument, and one on which I will keep close tabs. Our time spent in Bhutan merely scratched the surface but we certainly didn't experience anything other than warmth and friendliness from the government-sanctioned tourist quarters.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div><div><div><div style="text-align: center; "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PTtpSwoEXzM/Tv1VWoPtA5I/AAAAAAAADOM/eclb8-YSao0/s1600/IMG_2099.JPG" style="text-align: left; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IDcIUOgIAH8/Tv1VXaje07I/AAAAAAAADOU/w9mC7F4yfHE/s400/IMG_2338.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691799364819669938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Happy Honeymooners, at Chele La Pass, highest point in Bhutan at 3988m above sea level</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Will be thinking more about this for sure. GNH or not, happiness in all its vagueness is too individualistic and personal to dilute into some kinda common denominator report card.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Not the last about Bhutan you'll hear from me! Will definitely be a post on food and drink (most of which didn't quite agree with me!).</div><div><br /></div><div>Until then, have a <b>Happy New Year, beautiful ones! See you in 2012!</b></div></div></div></div></div>minchowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14277872682111517929noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189934640660440147.post-48579841122411308922011-12-29T11:22:00.000+08:002011-12-29T11:58:48.053+08:00Chote Chitr, Bangkok<div style="text-align: justify;">So much had been said about the legendary Bangkok icon of a hole-in-the-wall eatery Chote Chitr (in recent years, more bad than good) that we didn't know what to expect. We were prepared for the food to be either <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14053297">sublime</a> or <a href="http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/655215">disappointing and overpriced</a>; the service was known to be erratic and subjected to some degree of arrogance on the part of the lady owner. </div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, no knocking till we tried it, so after a 15-minute walk from Rambutri area, we were somewhat heartened to like the facade that we saw, on this small road off Tanao Road.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-evdQIP5wuog/Tryc_y8R7aI/AAAAAAAADMc/RZ-ZKlZnfBk/s1600/ChoteChitr.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-evdQIP5wuog/Tryc_y8R7aI/AAAAAAAADMc/RZ-ZKlZnfBk/s400/ChoteChitr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673582250400279970" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Old but clean and well-kept, the shop was empty when we got there slightly before 6PM. Celebrated lady owner came to take the orders, a commanding air and her equally well-known Shih Tzu in tow. We are no fans of small, yappy dogs but this one was subdued and kept mostly out of our way so we could get down to the eating. </div><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-evdQIP5wuog/Tryc_y8R7aI/AAAAAAAADMc/RZ-ZKlZnfBk/s1600/ChoteChitr.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /></a><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uLg2wYRJrAo/TrydATg2G8I/AAAAAAAADMs/rnZ0dh2jWHc/s400/IMG_1896.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673582259143580610" /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">The famed <b>Banana Flower Leaf Salad </b>proved its reputation correct. The nutty dressing drew the subtle bouquet of the banana flower out, inspired feelings of rolling around in grassy splendour. Or one of them Thai beaches.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PsX3i3xJapk/TrydBQ5kUsI/AAAAAAAADM0/1q-JDH2SWgo/s400/IMG_1899.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673582275621835458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div style="text-align: justify;">We decided to venture against lady owner's recommendations (which incited visible annoyance) and picked another starter, <b>Spicy Chicken with Salted Egg paste</b> served with fresh vegetables. This was unusual in its pairing of the flavours - salted egg yolk and a good dose of tamarind? juice. Would go beautifully with mountains of fluffy white rice. No regrets but we would probably skip this in the future.</div></span></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-evdQIP5wuog/Tryc_y8R7aI/AAAAAAAADMc/RZ-ZKlZnfBk/s1600/ChoteChitr.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8bvUdEcIRZA/TrydBicgWBI/AAAAAAAADNA/zh5H6FxtDvg/s400/IMG_1901.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673582280331778066" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 278px; " /></a></div><div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Finally, the stunning <b>Chu Chee Curry with River Prawns</b> - more sweet than spicy, the fresh crunch of the prawns when drenched in the coconut-based red curry, with the striking scent of kaffir lime leaves, sealed it for us. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bill was around THB600, not the cheapest given that it's Bangkok, whose streets are teeming with great food at a fraction. But the succulent meal, paired with the opportunity to meet the grand dame (and defy her!) was well worth it! </div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Chote Chitr</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">146 Th Phraeng Phuton (off Tanao Road)</div><div style="text-align: left;">Banglamphu, Bangkok</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>minchowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14277872682111517929noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189934640660440147.post-69094493061861774052011-11-11T10:30:00.000+08:002011-11-11T10:35:12.816+08:00Best Curry Puff from Singapore on Old Klang Road?<div style="text-align: left;">Just a quick toe-dip back into the scheme of things:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We were drifting by Bloom Season Bakery at Scott Garden on Old Klang Road after a particularly underwhelming breakfast at Lorong Seratus Tahun when this caught my eye:</div><div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 372px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Lx-xhTqUno/TryCeYJyCYI/AAAAAAAADME/YhNi1ycyzW8/s400/Presentation1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673553088971147650" /><div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tip Top's claim of offering the best chicken curry puff from Singapore got me all hot and bothered. The average Malaysian would know the feeling - that instant biological reaction to the combination of the words "Best" and "Curry Puff" only savoury curry filling encased in a greasy flaky pocket can mollify. In we went...</div><div><br /></div><div><div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sPCkVodJtog/TryCesJjn8I/AAAAAAAADMQ/jnuUZi0j-VM/s400/IMG_1854.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673553094338912194" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The puff came piping hot out from the kitchen (as it was barely 11AM) and certainly very impressive in size. But upon the first bite, the filling punctured my pastry craving, a blow to the gut. Overpowering with curry-powder and not much else. Even the generous quarter of hard-boiled egg failed to lift the package from the league of highway rest stop curry puffs.</div><div><br /></div><div>Best Curry Puff from Singapore on Old Klang Road? I don't think so!! Keep looking, folks!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Tip Top The Puff Factory</b></div><div>Bloom Season Bakery</div><div>Ground Floor (next to Lorong Seratus Tahun)</div><div>289 Old Klang Road</div><div>58000 Kuala Lumpur</div>minchowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14277872682111517929noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189934640660440147.post-65183159159049534422011-09-03T09:00:00.006+08:002011-09-03T12:13:13.849+08:00Dynasty Dragon, SS Two Mall<div style="text-align: justify;">Turned away by Imperial Garden Restaurant's opening hours on a Saturday (we wanted dim sum at 10AM, they were only open at 11.30AM), we drove sulkily around the area for a dim sum joint with the unspoken caveat that it not be a Jin Xuan or a Hong Kee.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Upon reaching the gleaming anterior of SS Two Mall, we spied Dynasty Dragon and swung right in. Open at 10.30AM, with a healthy queue of families lounging about the entrance waiting to be ushered in, we brimmed with profuse confidence and self-praise for having found the place.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Early birds didn't quite get the proverbial worm here though. The orders took forever as most of the staff were actually tucking into early lunch in the main dining area. Big ups to the employer for feeding the staff properly before they tackled the lunch hordes but perhaps, they shouldn't have let the early patrons in until they were absolutely ready.</div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hWcWWZsZhiA/Tl8-9V2MszI/AAAAAAAADIw/enfGrF0h20E/s1600/Picture%2B1283.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hWcWWZsZhiA/Tl8-9V2MszI/AAAAAAAADIw/enfGrF0h20E/s400/Picture%2B1283.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647301681303302962" /></a>When the first of our orders finally arrived, we were off to a watery start when the<b> century egg porridge</b> arrived, bland, more gruel than porridge. </div><div></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center; "></div><div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hXiXu3EF3XQ/Tl8-9l99YqI/AAAAAAAADI4/hWwqCxqh22c/s400/Picture%2B1286.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647301685630821026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div><div></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hWcWWZsZhiA/Tl8-9V2MszI/AAAAAAAADIw/enfGrF0h20E/s1600/Picture%2B1283.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hWcWWZsZhiA/Tl8-9V2MszI/AAAAAAAADIw/enfGrF0h20E/s1600/Picture%2B1283.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div>The <b>Prawn Dumplings (Har Gau) </b>did much better and reassured us that we would be taken care of, one way or another.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center; "></div><div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ppSQaZfLXlA/Tl8-99GzReI/AAAAAAAADJA/CgTrdDz9UAM/s400/Picture%2B1289.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647301691841922530" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 280px; " /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hWcWWZsZhiA/Tl8-9V2MszI/AAAAAAAADIw/enfGrF0h20E/s1600/Picture%2B1283.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hWcWWZsZhiA/Tl8-9V2MszI/AAAAAAAADIw/enfGrF0h20E/s1600/Picture%2B1283.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div>We liked that the <b>Shanghai Dumplings (Siu Long Bao)</b> came in little individual saucers to catch the precious scalding hot soup spilling out upon chopstick contact.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center; "><div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S10lNcCdktU/Tl8--PJqDaI/AAAAAAAADJI/xhfAcPWTLw8/s400/Picture%2B1292.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647301696685739426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>BBQ Pork Buns</b> went down a treat. I'm no connoisseur but anything steaming hot and fluffy with lots of pork within is a no-brainer really.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ooXSuvhJ07c/Tl8--Z1uGLI/AAAAAAAADJQ/1qiHtPgZuNU/s400/Picture%2B1294.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647301699554908338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now THIS, <b>Deep fried Yam puff with Scallop</b>, variation of the classic Wu Kok, was something else. These were quite the exquisite parcels of seasoned yam with a whole fresh scallop encased, deep fried to a golden crisp and finished with a sprinkle of roe. Luscious!</div><div>
<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rtS2bWLY_qA/Tl8_V__T1WI/AAAAAAAADJY/GOQaKZ6onD8/s400/Picture%2B1296.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647302104932668770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px; " /></span><div></div><div></div><div><div style="text-align: center; "></div><div></div></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hWcWWZsZhiA/Tl8-9V2MszI/AAAAAAAADIw/enfGrF0h20E/s1600/Picture%2B1283.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hWcWWZsZhiA/Tl8-9V2MszI/AAAAAAAADIw/enfGrF0h20E/s1600/Picture%2B1283.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ended with a miss though... the <b>Loh Mai Kai </b>was way too sweet and oily to recommend. </div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hWcWWZsZhiA/Tl8-9V2MszI/AAAAAAAADIw/enfGrF0h20E/s1600/Picture%2B1283.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hWcWWZsZhiA/Tl8-9V2MszI/AAAAAAAADIw/enfGrF0h20E/s1600/Picture%2B1283.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hWcWWZsZhiA/Tl8-9V2MszI/AAAAAAAADIw/enfGrF0h20E/s1600/Picture%2B1283.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hWcWWZsZhiA/Tl8-9V2MszI/AAAAAAAADIw/enfGrF0h20E/s1600/Picture%2B1283.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So despite a rough start, I guess we didn't do too badly, although we could have done without the initial wait. Fairly priced at around RM46 too.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><div><b>Dynasty Dragon Seafood Restaurant</b></div><div>Third Floor, SS Two Mall</div><div>Petaling Jaya</div><div>Tel: 03-79546328</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Or their full deets, together with the five other branches' <a href="http://www.dynastydragon.com.my/">here</a>.</div></div></div></div></div>minchowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14277872682111517929noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189934640660440147.post-54151846375172110112011-09-01T11:30:00.000+08:002011-09-01T11:59:56.454+08:00Gelato Secrets in Ubud, Bali<div style="text-align: justify;">During our requisite trek down the somewhat stressful terrain of Monkey Forest Road ("up, down, up down") in Bali, we decided to make a random stop at <a href="http://www.gelatosecrets.com/">Gelato Secrets</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XASjRjjOMh8/TlMpMVzYOzI/AAAAAAAADHU/WBsADUy-0WY/s400/IMG_1594.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643900050013174578" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Pastel-perfect as sweet-sixteen stolen kisses</i></div><div>
<br /></div><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-itVyAso2vb8/TlMq5Sdm9uI/AAAAAAAADIE/BdWFxXl3mb8/s400/IMG_1595.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643901921722300130" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></div><div>Drawn to the more unusual specials of the month, we each picked a scoop to make up the triple scoop at Rp45,000.</div><div>
<br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XDy9wyBfrRQ/TlMqcLVq7yI/AAAAAAAADHs/zffNjCaUCQs/s1600/IMG_1601.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XDy9wyBfrRQ/TlMqcLVq7yI/AAAAAAAADHs/zffNjCaUCQs/s400/IMG_1601.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643901421593751330" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 374px; height: 400px; " /></a>I picked Avocado & Chocolate, Hui went for Pumpkin Hazelnut and Mei Shean, the Tomato Basil Sorbet.<div>
<br /><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hojpMislmOU/TlMqcT-MYoI/AAAAAAAADH0/RdqgLYqfscc/s400/IMG_1602.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643901423911199362" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 358px; height: 400px; " /><div style="text-align: justify;">Crowd favourite was easily the Avocado & Chocolate. 'Twas a beautiful pairing of two contrasting, equally complex flavours, sinfully decadent. Texture was just right too, liquid smooth yet richer than regular ice cream.</div></div><div>
<br /></div><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zojLAuHjd4I/TlMqctJxjlI/AAAAAAAADH8/cmHcyO4iIis/s400/IMG_1603.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643901430670659154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 360px; " /><div><div style="text-align: justify;">The pumpkin went down easily too, being more nutty than fruity but sadly, we couldn't quite get our heads around the novelty star of the day, Tomato & Basil sorbet. Certainly interesting and uplifting enough, just not quite our thing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They had a gamut of other flavours which we had intended to go back for, but got side-tracked by the pool, Bintang beer and a couple of blond, Dutch boys. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Gelato Secrets</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Jalan Monkey Forest</div><div style="text-align: left;">Ubud, Bali</div></div></div></div>minchowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14277872682111517929noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189934640660440147.post-13935593523516295132011-08-24T09:00:00.000+08:002011-08-24T09:00:01.742+08:00Soon Kee Hokkien Fried Prawn Noodle<div>Currently craving:</div><div>
<br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mE8se3ccmVI/TlB63qOqNdI/AAAAAAAADHE/JVEbRivLnTU/s400/IMG_1559.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643145429742400978" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">Hokkien Mee that I was completely oblivious to until recent months, after spending a bit more time in suburban Singapore. This one comes with a generous mix of thick rice vermicelli with yellow noodles, sweetened with the bouquet of the sea in a deceptively light-coloured gravy. For extra punch, hot, hot chilli sauce (at SGD0.50 for an extra tiny dollop), finish with a squeeze of fresh lime.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fgPnsnS2SZ4/TlB635OQ39I/AAAAAAAADHM/zzbEGlJM7SI/s1600/IMG_1560.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 304px; " src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fgPnsnS2SZ4/TlB635OQ39I/AAAAAAAADHM/zzbEGlJM7SI/s400/IMG_1560.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643145433767272402" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Soon Kee Hokkien Fried Prawn Noodle, nothing like the <a href="http://aftergiovanni.blogspot.com/2010/01/other-lorong-selamat-which-does-not.html">Hokkien mee of my origins</a>, or the darker version one found in KL, but I'm extremely close to claiming it as my favourite among all three variants.</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7CZniTpdi9Q/TlB63diynPI/AAAAAAAADG8/-077b2e3FFA/s400/IMG_1556.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643145426337176818" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I know there are plenty more versions of this dotted bountifully in coffee shops across the island, and by that I don't even mean the sanitized Food Republic sort. In due time, all in due time.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><b>Soon Kee</b></div><div>Block 155</div><div>Bukit Batok St 11</div><div>Singapore</div></div>minchowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14277872682111517929noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189934640660440147.post-4014087558717179772011-08-21T10:45:00.000+08:002011-08-21T11:01:34.309+08:00Roast Pork at Wong Mei Kee's, Pudu<div style="text-align: justify;">Having finally been indoctrinated into KL's brand of roast pork, the task of savouring each cut of pork, fat and skin has assumed utmost gravity, as we scour our way through the great Klang Valley - the vulgar, the sublime, the nasty.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One such that perhaps succintly captures all three is Wong Mei Kee's, off Jalan Pudu, which needs absolutely no introduction. The queues here come noon are legendary, as are the consistently nasty shock at the cost at end of the meal. Prepare to fork out approximately RM20 and above per person. </div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lROJgj-C0G4/Tj328srfP0I/AAAAAAAADFk/D8VWFuq3HLA/s1600/IMG_1576.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lROJgj-C0G4/Tj328srfP0I/AAAAAAAADFk/D8VWFuq3HLA/s400/IMG_1576.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637933831183875906" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Arrive around noon and be prepared for a half hour wait for the ceremonious reveal of the day's roast, when the master himself (Chef, Sir Wong?) slow-marches out of the kitchen, carting the still-smoking slab of meat. Quite the showman, he is. </div><div>
<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aWOwZEmazCQ/Tj33EJQMyDI/AAAAAAAADFs/ulKXWDTfZgY/s400/IMG_1578.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637933959113132082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">And the reward? On a good day (and yes, unfortunately there are bad ones), you get slices of tender, almost soft, pork belly meat sandwiching just the right sliver of viscous fat, topped with a crunchy golden crust. Hell yeah. The most vulgar type of beauty to date.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rXHzoOabKyQ/Tj328gADhLI/AAAAAAAADFc/FBkxGfZ2_w0/s1600/IMG_1574.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rXHzoOabKyQ/Tj328gADhLI/AAAAAAAADFc/FBkxGfZ2_w0/s400/IMG_1574.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637933827780478130" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Showman and his Tool</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u>
<br /></u></span></div></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sBDFT-gU-0k/Tj3272C-OtI/AAAAAAAADFE/Whn_luMB4Ek/s1600/IMG_1571.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sBDFT-gU-0k/Tj3272C-OtI/AAAAAAAADFE/Whn_luMB4Ek/s400/IMG_1571.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637933816518425298" /></a><div><b>Wong Mei Kee</b> (within Wong Kee Coffee Shop)</div><div><div>Jalan Nyonya</div><div>Off Jalan Pudu</div><div>KL</div></div></div>minchowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14277872682111517929noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189934640660440147.post-85399628818891404202011-07-20T18:30:00.000+08:002011-07-20T18:30:01.380+08:00Seeri Authentic Thai, SS2<div align="justify">This post shall serve to remind me to never repeat this recent string of weekends pretty much wasted in recovery from too much of a good time. Spent most days struggling with motion sickness at the slightest movement and remorse. Too much remorse.</div><br /><div align="justify"><br />Following this maligned period of time, I wanted to reward Fat Tulip for being so patient in my many hours of need, save for a truncated lecture or two about my excesses, and so we checked out Seeri Thai in SS2.<br /></div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ITslJX8jE30/ThAUMna3XQI/AAAAAAAADB0/puI7EzETGkg/s1600/Picture%2B1279.jpg"></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625018136297904018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 252px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OhKYW4FhFYA/ThAUMT0ql5I/AAAAAAAADBs/C9NBztOT7GA/s400/Picture%2B1276.jpg" border="0" />The <strong>Sambai petai prawns</strong> bowled us both over. The amount of juicy, putrid beans perspiring in perfumed gravy got us good. We couldn't stop even if we knew that the sensible thing to do was to leave some to take away for dinner.</div><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631349919621379938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 292px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m7i3YeIZvQE/TiaS6mz092I/AAAAAAAADDw/K79mhCU7nok/s400/Picture%2B1280.jpg" border="0" /> <br /><p align="justify">Equally happy with the <strong>Tomyam Seafood</strong>, a heady, satisfying concoction. One of the better tomyam I've had of late.</p><br /><br /><div align="justify"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626171643276663394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 270px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1QBahNqlJSc/ThQtTQLhmmI/AAAAAAAADCQ/2IuqxC2Y2XY/s400/Picture%2B1279.jpg" border="0" />Despite it being barely noon, they had apparently "run out" of chicken so we made do with pork to go with its <strong>Green Curry</strong>. Not disappointing enough to complain but I think they could've done the dish greater justice with fresh(er?) coconut milk.<br /></div><br /><div align="justify">Pretty happy with this though and well deserving of a repeat, unlike the feeble weekends prior. There is no good EVER to be had from that additional shot of liquor!</div><br /><div align="justify"><br /><b>Seeri Authentic Thai</b><br />Jalan SS2/10 (Same row as Okay kopitiam and Super Kitchen, Chow Yang, SS2)<br />Petaling Jaya<br /></div>minchowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14277872682111517929noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189934640660440147.post-50263229591861558602011-06-23T19:00:00.000+08:002011-06-23T19:04:41.513+08:00Hong Cha, OUG<div style="text-align: justify;">Played house all weekend and was feeling the early symptoms of cabin fever, so off we went for a drive to shake it off.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lazing around does take its toll - inertia begets inertia. We simply couldn't exert energy to go too far so Fat Tulip's idea of Hong Cha, near-and-dear pork noodles place in OUG, had to do.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For me, OUG's a tough one to get excited about, simply because of the questionable state of hygiene generally - there's so much good food within and if it was maybe half as filthy, we'd be eating there a lot more often. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rats the size of cats aside, Hong Cha was the best pick that lazy evening - warmed us up plenty, paving the way for even more lying around and catching up on film downloads. </div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ILHQcZxfPhc/TfdzaAos6MI/AAAAAAAAC_M/zVB5Ls_Qh30/s1600/IMG_1394.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ILHQcZxfPhc/TfdzaAos6MI/AAAAAAAAC_M/zVB5Ls_Qh30/s400/IMG_1394.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618085950852491458" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Fat Tulip got the Hong Cha special - liver, minced pork, sliced pork, intestines, seafood, everything but the kitchen sink!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WRaAw1AbmG4/TfdzZ_xQt4I/AAAAAAAAC_E/EHdjAYL4Lyk/s400/IMG_1390.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618085950619957122" />The more modest version of just minced & sliced pork, with a raw golden egg to break up the colour code, perfectly complements nicely blanched noodles drizzled with soy. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZV1gfoJGeEw/TfdzZowusmI/AAAAAAAAC-8/w-AkxMEDr5w/s1600/IMG_1386.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZV1gfoJGeEw/TfdzZowusmI/AAAAAAAAC-8/w-AkxMEDr5w/s400/IMG_1386.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618085944443712098" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Dry Lou Shu Fun</i></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The menu at Hong Cha also featured, oddly enough, some standard Japanese fare. We saw many tables digging into sushi rolls with their steaming bowls of pork noodles - cross-cultural appreciation redefined!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UBEZsff-BQ4/TfdzfdkajQI/AAAAAAAAC_c/K3KlEgnw6TU/s400/IMG_1400.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Tonkatsu</b>, with a side of potato salad. Meat was a bit too tough to leave much of an impression. Had to leave this unfinished, even if that goes against every grain of my being.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-58p2vCAQciw/TgMSL7dE8xI/AAAAAAAAC_s/uNW3vheJC9o/s400/IMG_1398.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The<b> mixed vegetable tempura </b>set served its purpose. Ordinary enough to tough it out with the Japanese mom & pops' version around, crunchy enough to add another dimension to the already-hearty meal.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1swZKnQKh98/TfdzZT82Y8I/AAAAAAAAC-0/spVDBzf5EdY/s1600/IMG_1383.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1swZKnQKh98/TfdzZT82Y8I/AAAAAAAAC-0/spVDBzf5EdY/s400/IMG_1383.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618085938857403330" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Hong Cha, evidently already well-known and well-loved</i></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And best film of the weekend, by the way, had to be Mike Leigh's Another Year. Sad, funny, scary all at once. Deserves a bigger audience and all the accolades in the world. If you haven't seen it, make it a point to download it via your friendly torrent client!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Hong Cha</b></div></div></div><div>Jalan Hujan Rahmat 3</div><div>OUG, Kuala Lumpur</div>minchowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14277872682111517929noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189934640660440147.post-82287424310021426172011-06-14T22:30:00.000+08:002011-06-14T22:40:09.705+08:00Pure Life Organic, Kajang<div style="text-align: justify;">Suppp Kajang!! I come this lovely Saturday not to ravage your satay supply. Nor have I travelled the distance to appraise the merchandise at Billion. I come to learn to eat and dispose, in the friendliest possible way Mother Earth could wish.<br /></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617672462315263586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 395px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IxupgHMnkQw/TfX7VzzLlmI/AAAAAAAAC9Q/pW-SuNfMpr4/s400/IMG_1364.JPG" border="0" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Truth is, we consume a lot of crap outside. What you don't know about the food preparation in the back end won't hurt you, but it sure makes you feel pretty damn nasty after. Pure Life Organic's proposition seems pretty straightforward and hard not to like. No preservatives, no additives, all natural, and as much as possible, they practise the concept of sustainable consumption. The menu varies everyday of the week and Saturday's greets us on the chalkboard as we arrive.</div><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617672479078533346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Hyw8qVWhl0/TfX7WyP2yOI/AAAAAAAAC9g/_EMGL9vNzzI/s400/IMG_1366.JPG" border="0" /><div style="text-align: justify;">The converted residence makes for a casual cafe setting. We could sit and wonder why our tastebuds respond so differently to our bodies - what may taste like heaven to the tongue may very well be the source of some benign, but nevertheless aggravating, physical reaction in a few hours' time. But instead, we grab a staff member and make sure food is on the way.</div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bEGolWC4XSM/TfX7XvUj_pI/AAAAAAAAC9o/LicLxmNM6To/s1600/IMG_1368.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617672495472836242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bEGolWC4XSM/TfX7XvUj_pI/AAAAAAAAC9o/LicLxmNM6To/s400/IMG_1368.JPG" border="0" /></a><div><div><div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pure Life's organic food store in one separate wing of the establishment is busy and frequented by staunch regulars. The friendly and enigmatic owners appear to know most by name, and are always genuinely ready to engage and help. I'd like a store like this in the neighbourhood very much! Somehow, my current fresh mart/ beer guy opposite where I live isn't scoring high points for customer retention.</div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cHy3nPkxsvY/TfX7VdCHQgI/AAAAAAAAC9I/0JDsXsEGqlk/s1600/IMG_1362.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617672456203878914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cHy3nPkxsvY/TfX7VdCHQgI/AAAAAAAAC9I/0JDsXsEGqlk/s400/IMG_1362.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We have the deceptively-named <b>Caesar Salad </b>to start. Caesar dressing typically goes down all wrong with me. However, no such worries here because the salad is fresh and crisp and lovely with a balsamic vinegarish dressing. It's anything but Caesar!</div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617675948945761522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hc1qKERNKro/TfX-gwgq5PI/AAAAAAAAC-U/g_igvkZ-D9I/s400/IMG_1371.JPG" border="0" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The <b>Mee Mamak</b> order is a mild, almost better-groomed version than its original street counterpart. The noodles (of the buckwheat variety, I think) are buoyant to the bite and the abundance of crunchy greens and organic tofu uplifts what would have been a muted affair.</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617675957279976322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OR_LSvg5qRQ/TfX-hPjs64I/AAAAAAAAC-c/m_lYi28N5IY/s400/IMG_1374.JPG" border="0" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">What did stay muted unfortunately was the <b>Curry Pan Mee</b>. It comes across as having tried too hard but missing the mark somewhat. The curry broth was a drab watery concoction and anything submerged in it would have basically failed.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617675964174992146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KNj6W7BSFKU/TfX-hpPmgxI/AAAAAAAAC-k/Hi4KCpSdmys/s400/IMG_1376.JPG" border="0" /><div style="text-align: justify;">We have to give the banana-leaved triangles of <b>Nasi Lemak</b> a shot, even if the carbs, no matter how pure and unadulterated, were starting to weigh us down. The use of brown rice means Pure Life does end up compromising the fluff factor but if we look past that, everything else, down to the sambal, makes for a decent little package.</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617675970870916882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mIMv_pVAn20/TfX-iCMCNxI/AAAAAAAAC-s/kinp9BHkcFc/s400/IMG_1379.JPG" border="0" /><div style="text-align: justify;">We come to the last, and what's probably the most worthwhile part of the experience at Pure Life. Patrons are encouraged to clear their tables and take their plates through a waste-friendly 5-basin washing cycle. It begins with a rinse and scrub in the first basin, containing palm oil and coconut oil, before moving to the second basin of oiltea camelia seed powder, a cleansing agent. You repeat in the third and fourth basin before finishing with a clear water rinse in the fifth and final basin.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">We think there's some way to go but Pure Life is doing something right here. It's not that hard for anyone half-sensible to appreciate the many reasons for greater personal involvement in changing the way we consume and dispose.</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">And guess what, the body feels great after. So great that I even pass up on Fat Tulip's offer to stop by for Kajang satay after! </div></div><div><br /><div><b>Pure Life Organic</b></div><div>Jalan 1, Off Jalan Reko,</div><div>43000 Kajang</div><div>Tel: +603-8733 6189</div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>minchowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14277872682111517929noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189934640660440147.post-50944539339198928362011-06-04T12:20:00.001+08:002011-07-02T19:09:40.207+08:00Seri Petaling Seafood Village<div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Boss decided she would show those willing and able a slice of neighbourhood seafood that was turning into a regular spot for her family. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Seri Petaling Seafood Village is located at an unassuming spot, on the road running somewhat parallel to the back of Carrefour. The place was brightly lit, open air and already nicely filled with diners - we switched our hungry blinkers on and listened, bright-eyed and bushy tailed while munching on peanuts and sweet potato chips and Boss helmed the ordering for feast. </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Alas, Devastation befell us! The lady informed us that they had run out of crabs! What kind of seafood restaurant runs out of crabs at 8.30PM? A busy, popular one, evidently! We had to make do, and made do we did.</div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPQQlE3mY7s/Tec7p0qn9sI/AAAAAAAAC78/m67yA3D22pY/s1600/Picture%2B1200.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613521050238711490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPQQlE3mY7s/Tec7p0qn9sI/AAAAAAAAC78/m67yA3D22pY/s400/Picture%2B1200.jpg" border="0" /></a><b>Green Dragon</b> - as green as our colour, watching a neighbouring table suck down the claws of the last crab of the night. Oh we'll get you one day, just you wait!</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613521052132918162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YlfLnbvkENg/Tec7p7uPQ5I/AAAAAAAAC8E/GUp3CUOVZPM/s400/Picture%2B1201.jpg" border="0" /><div style="text-align: justify;">Fresh, sumptuous, utterly finger-licking <b>Assam Prawns</b> - we downed two plates of these babies!</div></div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613521057482654098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HywT75SJBr4/Tec7qPptwZI/AAAAAAAAC8M/Ea3-RqGdehY/s400/Picture%2B1204.jpg" border="0" />The <b>Salt & Pepper Squid</b> disappeared as fast as it came - crunch crunch, gulp, gone!</div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613522059185048722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-stX1ZXTn1ek/Tec8kjSLTJI/AAAAAAAAC8k/k-apHOOp5WU/s400/Picture%2B1210.jpg" border="0" /><div style="text-align: justify;">The <b>Assam Fish</b> is probably the best way to prepare the tilapia (fei chow yu or African fish) here. The second preparation of similar fish which came later revealed that maligned swampy freshwater taste.</div><br /></div><div></div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CA-9vcL5N-c/Tec8lKmsjFI/AAAAAAAAC80/qUJaGocCPMU/s400/Picture%2B1213.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613522069740096594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" border="0" /><div style="text-align: center;">Mud - lovely on skin, not so in my fish</div></div><div><br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613521059745515442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tMjXzOJyYB4/Tec7qYFOR7I/AAAAAAAAC8U/foVM4YQO6tE/s400/Picture%2B1206.jpg" border="0" /><div style="text-align: justify;">And came our favourite part the meal - the Salted Egg sigh, everybody together, now! The prawns gleamed in golden grandeur and the squid shone supreme.</div></div><br /><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FXZKfx-JpDI/Tec8k7d8DNI/AAAAAAAAC8s/GZ57as36awg/s400/Picture%2B1212.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613522065676831954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" border="0" /><div style="text-align: center;">TV snack on its own, totally!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613521062855882546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sWNP0G1FylU/Tec7qjqytzI/AAAAAAAAC8c/gp08GiL1Vco/s400/Picture%2B1207.jpg" border="0" /><div style="text-align: justify;">Not a fan of venison so gave the <b>Stir-fried Venison with Ginger</b> a miss. Probably a shade paler than the seafood stars here but the others had no problem wiping this clean whatsoever.</div><div></div><br /><br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613522072190433762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-37nEjxlmk_4/Tec8lTu5ueI/AAAAAAAAC88/p7wsARm8uPA/s400/Picture%2B1215.jpg" border="0" />The meal fed seven of us too well, and bill total came to about RM350. A right steal, we felt! </div><div><br /></div><div>And for those slippery lil' crustaceans, we must be back. To the crabs!<br /><br /><div><strong>Seri Petaling Seafood Village Restaurant</strong></div>Lot 24221, Jalan Merah Silu<br /><div>Bandar Baru Seri Petaling</div><div>57000 KL </div></div></div></div></div></div>minchowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14277872682111517929noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189934640660440147.post-73154466547268114352011-05-27T09:30:00.000+08:002011-05-27T10:42:35.971+08:00"POP!" goes Wisdom, Sunday Almost-Liquid Lunch, Giovino's<div align="center">Bubbles. Free flow. A concept that should be approached with caution, both by restauranteurs and patrons alike.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JzteXABusfM/Td5ZmH0Yq0I/AAAAAAAAC6M/EtJ_8nxL8pE/s1600/IMG_0904.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611020697218886466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 287px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JzteXABusfM/Td5ZmH0Yq0I/AAAAAAAAC6M/EtJ_8nxL8pE/s400/IMG_0904.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div align="center">But before you wise up to that (like maybe on the eve of a 30-something birthday), you may want to have a fizzle and see why the counsel. For RM128++ per pax, <a href="http://www.giovino.com.my/">Giovino's</a> Sunday Lunch Special lets you (and some choice company preferably) have your fill of Prosecco, a spread of appetisers and a wide selection of ala-carte mains and desserts.</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611020714445247874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 310px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kGKD_dfkWzg/Td5ZnH_eFYI/AAAAAAAAC6k/SyU2zvUgmK4/s400/IMG_0909.JPG" border="0" /> <br /><div align="center"><strong><em>We'll take the bottle, thanks! And keep 'em coming!</em></strong></div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611020711540257442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 272px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Khhe57b8oOg/Td5Zm9K3cqI/AAAAAAAAC6c/XSeapKx5mMw/s400/IMG_0907.JPG" border="0" /> <br /><div align="center">Spread of this and that... we didn't exactly go crazy with these, distracted by the pop-and-pour action that was going on elsewhere in the room.<br /><br /><br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RqVpkpTu420/Td5ZmYyOceI/AAAAAAAAC6U/AQDNwo9Hzw4/s1600/IMG_0906.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611020701773230562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 270px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RqVpkpTu420/Td5ZmYyOceI/AAAAAAAAC6U/AQDNwo9Hzw4/s400/IMG_0906.JPG" border="0" /> <br /><p align="center"></a>More appetisers, designed to line the stomach before the inevitable feeling of bottomlessness and invincibility takes us over. The highlights here <em>could</em> have been the grilled baby octopus and clams, for I remember nothing else.</p><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TdESGBa0KNE/Td5aqZ_B2KI/AAAAAAAAC60/rufLJT_MJLg/s1600/IMG_0918.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611021870326470818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TdESGBa0KNE/Td5aqZ_B2KI/AAAAAAAAC60/rufLJT_MJLg/s400/IMG_0918.JPG" border="0" /></a>This <strong>Pan-fried Cod Fillet</strong>, wrapped in bacon went down a treat. I remember eagerly helping myself to more than my share of fish, lightly crisp, moist flakes of tenderness. Contrasting flavours worked well too - intense heady bacon, meet shy, gentle cod!<br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sCmvtLD3VWc/Td5ZnYvkZ2I/AAAAAAAAC6s/PKeGIAD0Lws/s1600/IMG_0915.JPG"></a></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611203749858614466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 282px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N4QxN1YhFVw/Td8AFMCpnMI/AAAAAAAAC7w/41C3LYvfd3Y/s400/Seafood%2BPlatter.JPG" border="0" /> <br /><div align="center">We chose to combine forces for the remaining mains and got the <strong>Grilled Seafood Platter</strong>, fed more than just two! Fresh and sprightly, with bare seasoning, steeping in juices of the sea. We were especially fond of the squid - not the usual rubber blubber we were used to!</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">We were steadily working our way through bottles of the tart but utterly guzzle-friendly prosecco throughout the meal and by the time dessert orders were placed, we were simply too giggly and delirious to care. I can only surmise that they tasted as good as they looked!</div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_3oR-vLbPAE/Td5arapD-3I/AAAAAAAAC7M/OyZT_6ag9-s/s1600/IMG_0931.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611021887682640754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 286px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_3oR-vLbPAE/Td5arapD-3I/AAAAAAAAC7M/OyZT_6ag9-s/s400/IMG_0931.JPG" border="0" /></a>Pretty <strong>Panna Cotta </strong></div><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GfR_88fvb3U/Td5arES6OoI/AAAAAAAAC7E/dAPcI5icF60/s1600/IMG_0930.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611021881684146818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GfR_88fvb3U/Td5arES6OoI/AAAAAAAAC7E/dAPcI5icF60/s400/IMG_0930.JPG" border="0" /> <br /><p align="center"></a>Fail-safe (surely!) <strong>Warm Double Chocolate Flan with Vanilla Ice Cream<br /></strong><br /></p><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5XjBxJL_iY/Td5aq1IbiAI/AAAAAAAAC68/CTB5In8NSps/s1600/IMG_0929.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611021877613660162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 280px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5XjBxJL_iY/Td5aq1IbiAI/AAAAAAAAC68/CTB5In8NSps/s400/IMG_0929.JPG" border="0" /> <br /><p align="center"></a><strong>Chocolate Fudge Mousse with Caramelized Orange Zest -</strong> yay, chocolate and fruit! </p><br /><p align="center">At this point, a general sense of foreboding and moroseness began settling over us, as the clock inched closer and closer to the end of the meal. We sulked a bit, and somewhere, there's a vague memory of arguing with the patient wait staff members.</p><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0GoCNTOBnxc/Td5arqkXnTI/AAAAAAAAC7U/QqRq6veDCrk/s1600/IMG_0933.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611021891957923122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0GoCNTOBnxc/Td5arqkXnTI/AAAAAAAAC7U/QqRq6veDCrk/s400/IMG_0933.JPG" border="0" /> <br /><p align="center"></a>Giovino, serving up lots to eat and drink to hungry, happy people every Sunday from 12 noon to 3PM. We must extend a silent salute to the staff, who remained civil and courteous while they witnessed the general deterioration of our table etiquette and sense of decorum, faster than the speed of "POP!!"<br /></p><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GteaJOgx7iM/Td5axNgJztI/AAAAAAAAC7c/9YrrG9FXRto/s1600/IMG_0940.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611021987234827986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GteaJOgx7iM/Td5axNgJztI/AAAAAAAAC7c/9YrrG9FXRto/s400/IMG_0940.JPG" border="0" /></a>After more birthday cheers and beers at Healy Mac's next door, we joined in the Sunday evening traffic jam back to suburbia. Not sure how we did it, but we did! Maybe Age lets in on a thing or two after all!<br /></div><br /><div align="left"><strong>Giovino Restaurant<br /></strong>Changkat Bukit Bintang<br />Tel: +603-2141 1131<br /></div>minchowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14277872682111517929noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189934640660440147.post-64113061215283091352011-05-23T17:00:00.000+08:002011-05-23T17:00:04.004+08:00We Butter the Bread with Butter, Antipodean Cafe<div align="justify">Lovely name for a band, <strong>We Butter the Bread with Butter</strong>. But hard as I tried to get into <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1KuJ6HN-E4">the music</a>, I could not, I simply could NOT. Why didn't I think of the name first? And what happened to the days when I could hack these angry, growling bands?<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609381075673634514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XEaFISvJnzU/TdiGXllTVtI/AAAAAAAAC5c/lkRYPfSTomE/s400/IMG_0943.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div align="justify">Once you embrace the Soy Latte-with-heart-shaped-foam-pattern sipping lifestyle, you don't go back.<br /><br />But let's get down to the business of my beef with this namesake. So we're enjoying a rare lazy breakfast on a public holiday at Antipodean Cafe, a luxury in this age of metamorphosis into complete homebodies where we are frankly, finding it difficult to see a point in going out when there's so much to DO at home.<br /><br />His <strong>Big Breakfast</strong> arrives quickly, like so.<br /></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609381096053680210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LqSBqt5kjS4/TdiGYxgSKFI/AAAAAAAAC5s/gxkfHqR20ec/s400/IMG_0950.JPG" border="0" /> <br /><p align="justify">Do you see what I see? The slice of bread comes ready <em>buttered</em>. He picks up his fork and dives right in, to my horror. I don't know about you but the act of buttering one's bread remains strictly the domain of the breakfast owner. The liberty to spread it heart-stoppingly thick, with great gusto or wafer-thin, sparingly with dignified restraint must remain mine and only mine! Pre-buttered bread is big brekkie blasphemy - they may as well serve us margarine!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609381082467918882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AQaotvVBXnM/TdiGX-5L5CI/AAAAAAAAC5k/IoO2-tzuQzw/s400/IMG_0948.JPG" border="0" /></p><br /><div align="justify">To be fair, he doesn't take much offence, and the arrival of my <strong>Smoked Salmon Omelette</strong> silences me. It is sunny and serene, the furthest thing from a gourmet gaffe, no room for any grouses. Creamy enough without being sloppy, fancy enough without the overkill. The absence of bread (and butter) here helps to douse the unexpected outrage. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609381108018600530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KU6bZvIw9B8/TdiGZeE8WlI/AAAAAAAAC50/TMip9uvJmuM/s400/IMG_0952.JPG" border="0" />Late arrival of extra side of <strong>Bacon</strong> (generous for RM6) melts the last of holiday angst away. But this I remember when I make it back at Antipodean for breakfast - I butter my bread, with butter, not you, nor you, no one else! </p><br /><p>Cue the deathcore music! GRRRR-OWWWLLL!!<br /><br /><strong>Antipodean Cafe</strong><br />20 Jalan Telawi 2<br />Bangsar</p>minchowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14277872682111517929noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189934640660440147.post-42746261815709421052011-05-16T13:00:00.000+08:002011-05-16T13:52:21.115+08:00I'm Spicy Thai<div align="justify">Petaling Jaya's latest Thai offering I'm Spicy is located in the fringes of Section 17 bordering SS2, on the same row as Kanna's.<br /><br /></div><br /><div align="justify"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607184097081228146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 281px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jp38O0xWG4I/TdC4Omi--3I/AAAAAAAAC4c/qdLlK7prwg8/s400/Imspicy_02.jpg" border="0" /> <br /><div><strong>Green Curry Chicken Rice</strong> was a very moist, almost wet affair. We probably would have fared better ordering the curry standalone and loading up on white rice on the side instead.</div><br /></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605714130375830274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 282px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ctr0657F5Cw/Tct_TR1wawI/AAAAAAAAC4M/cywBaV7JBos/s400/ImSpicy_03.jpg" border="0" /> <br /><p align="justify">The recommended <strong>Som Tam Tort</strong> (Deep Fried Papaya Salad), which was regretted. Appreciate that it's a different twist to the good ol' dependable Som Tam but just didn't see the point of dunking all that freshness and different textures of fruit, nut and vegetable into oil.<br /><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605714142458705058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 288px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ujyY8nCOB8/Tct_T-2idKI/AAAAAAAAC4U/mYpGuDCo1e8/s400/ImSpicy_04.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div align="justify">I'm Spicy did pass the <strong>Tom Yam Goong</strong> test - not good enough to be declared super awesome but it does get the sour & spice balance tick.<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605714122825492514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 290px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-viqfR8iWwz0/Tct_S1tnaCI/AAAAAAAAC38/0Kh0QGJnbiM/s400/Imspicy_01.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div align="justify">The menu is somewhat limited but the restaurant does serve pork and declares it a specialty, specifically the deep fried pork ribs (which we passed because in favour of the deep fried salad). Not willing to write this one off till we have a go at that. </div><br /><strong>I'm Spicy</strong><br />1 Jalan 17/45<br />Petaling Jaya<br />46400 Selangor<br />Tel: +603-7954 2281minchowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14277872682111517929noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189934640660440147.post-68041712668164246372011-05-12T09:28:00.000+08:002011-05-14T04:50:54.164+08:00Better than Home Improvement at Chip 'N' Dale, TTDI<div align="justify">After years (yes, years!) of anticipation, the move into new home is finally done! But if I had envisioned for one second that the move meant the end of the chapter where I'm planning, deliberating, calculating and fighting pretty much every spare minute from work, I got set straight pretty much as soon as we moved everything in and started unpacking.<br /><br />OK, so the work is never really going to be done, as are the squabbles over the most trivial things (like the function-assignment of different types of kitchen towels) and quick-and-nasty meals from the neighbourhood dai chow. Upon prompting from recent blog post at <a href="http://eatdrinkkl.blogspot.com/2011/05/chip-n-dale.html">Eat Drink KL</a>, we made it a point to drag ourselves away from home one evening to do what we did best, better than home improvement, at least - beer and pork!<br /><br />Chip 'N' Dale is one of the new joints that's cropped up along Lorong Rahim Kajai 14, infamous suburban stomping ground for the thirsty. </div><br /><div align="justify"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605635922294355234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 331px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FCgj8GRP8_4/Tcs4K-CGNSI/AAAAAAAAC3k/vg2XnDbBZfk/s400/Chipndale_02.jpg" border="0" />Good ol' Tiger hits the spot, at RM35 per jug all night long. I (almost) forgive him for putting a hole in our newly-painted wall accidentally. There's Kilkenny and Guinness on tap too at decent guzzle-friendly prices. If beer's not your poison, there are plenty of other options from a clearly well-stocked bar.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605635924059429250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 292px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6qwTS7VLIy8/Tcs4LEm7GYI/AAAAAAAAC3s/PCxirlyfyMM/s400/Chipndale_Drunken%2BPork%2BChop.jpg" border="0" />Took cue from Sean's post and thought why not the <strong>Drunken Pork Chop</strong>? The sauce was definitely saved the dish from being too commonplace a pork offering - they certainly weren't sparing in the use of alcohol here!<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605635933804501554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 285px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3XfyJosv-1g/Tcs4Lo6VGjI/AAAAAAAAC30/gDB7ys7se9w/s400/Chipndale_Pork%2BEscalope.jpg" border="0" />We both liked the <strong>Pork Escalope</strong> better though, which while crumbed and pan-fried, still came light and moist on its own. Barely minded the meagre serving of the mushroom sauce accompaniment. If only we agreed about things at home as easily as we did with this dish.<br /><br />The food took about 40 minutes to come, even though there were barely two or three tables occupied. Must be pretty laid-back in the kitchen, would need to step on the pedal more if they were serious about the dining crowd.<br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605635919371979954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xgfFyr3F8v0/Tcs4KzJWTLI/AAAAAAAAC3c/WZBgllw9ruw/s400/Chipndale_01.jpg" border="0" />Not sure about how the look the place is trying for but I'm not crazy about it - for one dining on those rickety bar tables just isn't ideal, and the seats lining against the wall are way too narrow to be comfortable.<br /><br />Would come back for the food menu and the drink prices the next time we need a break from home improvement. Hopefully they'll have more decent, derrière-forgiving seats then!</div><br /><strong>Chip 'N' Dale<br /></strong>Lorong Rahim Kajai 14 (towards the end of the row away from the junction)<br />TTDIminchowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14277872682111517929noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189934640660440147.post-20990452478618055342011-03-07T20:05:00.002+08:002011-03-08T09:40:47.874+08:00A Bowl of Calm at Aunty Lan's, Kota Damansara<div align="justify">Home renovation is tiring work. Scouring through brochures for endless options on fittings and other homely but not-entirely-necessary acquisitions, wandering through stores, listening to one sales spiel after another - bleeds you dry, no joke.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Of course, what utterly cripples you is writing the contractor cheques for progress payment. And hearing the frail plastic wail of the old credit card as the big ticket items get swiped. Why do things cost so much? Why do we need all these things?</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Lest you think I'm less than ecstatic about how close I am to moving in, let me reassure you that it's all good, and I am very happy to have groped along this far, and very excited about the changes in store the next couple of months. </div><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581277595161737650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5DM2E1eD_n4/TXSuZuR2ObI/AAAAAAAAC3M/LvAjFL6lXOo/s400/Picture%2B643.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="justify">But while I deliberated the incremental damage to my measly estate and state of mind, I had to make a frenetic effort to go easy on the pocket and seek a moment of serenity, in an economical yet wholesome lunch. </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><strong>Aunty Lan Diet Vege Noodles</strong> was a salubrious pick after yet another harried morning of deliberating options galore. Vegetables, anchovies, nuts - essentially ingredients of a Lui Cha -were served with choice of either noodles or vermicelli in a steaming bowl of murky, nourishing soup. Toto, who had been feeling somewhat feeble from eating junk lately, enjoyed this to the last drop.</div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581277591376564866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YUW0niN8FDw/TXSuZgLZEoI/AAAAAAAAC3U/5vSjxJpzkMI/s400/Picture%2B647.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="justify">I had some trouble deciding - the recommended soy sauce chicken noodles sounded good but I was all fowled out, having cleaned up two whole fried chicken legs the day before. Settled for the <strong>homemade mushroom pork ball noodles</strong> - cringed a bit that they got my order for the dry version wrong but the soupy bowl probably worked out better in hindsight with the hand-pinched noodles.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581277585866074738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RNdyFNNVs00/TXSuZLplqnI/AAAAAAAAC3E/5q4XLHsJL3c/s400/Picture%2B639.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="justify">We picked the <strong>homemade bean curd</strong> as a side dish to share. This is difficult for me to rave about - I mean deep fried bean curd is deep fried bean curd is deep fried bean curd. It was easy enough to munch on but we could've done with a smaller order.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581277582242163938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4HObKm_Rhxc/TXSuY-JlLOI/AAAAAAAAC28/AgdEFXKtMRo/s400/Picture%2B638.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="justify">They have quite a selection of homemade desssert, from tong-suis to a staggering variety of cheesecakes. This cooling honeydew longan concoction too was super-fine for a hot day.</div><div align="justify"><br />At just RM27 for a staggering meal for the two of us, I regained some sense of Sunday calm before the next wave of ka-chingsss descended. </div><br /><br /><strong>Aunty Lan Homemade Noodles<br /></strong>Jalan PJU 5/10<br />PJU 5 Dataran Sunway<br />Kota Damansaraminchowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14277872682111517929noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189934640660440147.post-87746644295065453392011-02-22T16:00:00.002+08:002011-02-22T17:11:02.751+08:00Char Koay Teow, the inadvertent revival of "Not many, if any!"<div align="justify">Chinese New Year. Not the sickly hot and tedious affair that I had dreaded.<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">Earlier plan to abandon the festivities in hometown Penang this year and hibernate in foetal position in KL until the last of the fireworks went poof got upended last-minute. Mag and precious Ollie decided to come home after all! </div><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vvEYKcg_6Xw/TWNaJsMVv9I/AAAAAAAAC2c/rLaPM7wS_38/s1600/Picture%2B521.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576399886143045586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vvEYKcg_6Xw/TWNaJsMVv9I/AAAAAAAAC2c/rLaPM7wS_38/s400/Picture%2B521.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">And who says no to Ollie? To quote this (admittedly catchy in retrospect) <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUgsupXhnPM">one-time NZ hip-hop flash in the pan</a>, "Not many, if any!"</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br />The same quote, also applies as standard response by any person worth his or her weight on the island to my biggest beef during Chinese New Year - the question on the streets, <strong>"what to eat ah??"</strong></div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576399891911921874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r7V8ieA8GNk/TWNaKBrv0NI/AAAAAAAAC2s/-SJvT8ru4M4/s400/Picture%2B525.jpg" border="0" /> <div align="justify">But this one time, I was coaxed by Toto into the wild frontier of Penang CNY traffic to break fast with him at this cafe, end of Jalan Air Itam, almost at the foot of Penang Hill. </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">This industrious couple dished up plate after plate of authentic Char Koay Teow. </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576399889374075634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 323px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hl_M-1CWdrw/TWNaJ4OrWvI/AAAAAAAAC2k/PjvVaQ8RCno/s400/Picture%2B523.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="justify">A decidedly small portion for RM5, as expected. But the smoky, heady plate of silky noodles, thoroughly coated with the goodness of egg and animal fat, topped with two pudgy, fresh prawns KILLED it.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576399898932303490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 276px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GGZwPhu-kJg/TWNaKb1iVoI/AAAAAAAAC20/BHeXqWHm6pE/s400/Picture%2B526.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div align="center">"Uh, how many dudes you know roll like this,</div><div align="center">how many dudes you know flow like this, </div><div align="center">not many, if any,not many, if any, </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">How many dudes you know who got the skills to go in and rock, </div><div align="center">a show like this,<br />uh uh, uh uh, I don't know any body."</div><p>The exception it seems, is here. </p><p>Now excuse me while I try restore my long-buried ambition to become a rapper, uh uh uh uh</p><p><strong>Excellent Cafe</strong> (also "Xin Ya Zhou" or "New Asia" in Mandarin)<br />Jalan Air Itam<br />(last coffee shop on your left if you're coming from Georgetown, right before you hit the Penang Hill roundabout)<br />11400 Penang</p>minchowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14277872682111517929noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189934640660440147.post-77707652959796045342011-02-07T20:00:00.001+08:002011-02-07T20:00:08.503+08:00Better than the usual suspects, Chilli Pan Mee at Madam Chiam's<div align="justify">Gong Xi Fa Cai, everyone! How's the feasting going?<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">I'm personally breaking in a number of foreign eating trails and preconceptions this year, quite the glorious start, yes! Guided by noses and tastebuds of eating companions and wonderful people who share as much as they eat, online or otherwise, I'm sniffing out myself some pretty dope discoveries.</div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify">For instance, Chilli Pan Mee, the prodigious KL offering, as it turns out, is no longer purely the domains of Kin Kin and arch rival Super Kitchen (both of which churn out mediocre interpretations at best, never mind its origins). </div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify">Somewhere in the midst of the gulf between these two lie a handful of places who whip up a better bowl, such as <a href="http://aftergiovanni.blogspot.com/2010/03/pan-mee-underdogs-around-pj-old-town.html">Keong Kei in Old Town </a>(which has since gone missing, sadly).</div><div align="justify"><br /> </div><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TU_FCB5KN2I/AAAAAAAAC18/D9Db1mJ0scU/s1600/Picture%2B431.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570887902739183458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TU_FCB5KN2I/AAAAAAAAC18/D9Db1mJ0scU/s400/Picture%2B431.jpg" border="0" /></a>Another player in Taman Connaught kicking the cocky Kin Kins of the world to the curb...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570887908404016338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TU_FCW_wtNI/AAAAAAAAC2M/Oad3RBxdudU/s400/Picture%2B437.jpg" border="0" />...is Madam Chiam's, whose version features thin egg noodles, springier than the first bloom of cherry blossoms. Abandon all forms of table etiquette as the sacred bowl is placed before you, but do gently break the perfectly poached egg, mix the wondrous wobbly liquid in with the dry chilli flakes, minced pork and anchovices, take a deep breath and dig in. And don't forget to slurp-ahhhh on your way out! <br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570887911509724594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TU_FCikODbI/AAAAAAAAC2U/vgbQszWGbaE/s400/Picture%2B438.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="justify">My new favourite Chilli Pan Mee, in the practically transoceanic neighbourhood of Taman Connaught, no less. According to super noodle source Toto, stick to the chilli pan mee for despite its name on the signboard, Madam Chiam's curry noodles aren't too hot.</p><p><strong>Madam Chiam Curry Noodle House<br /></strong>Jalan Cerdik<br />Taman Connaught, Cheras</p>minchowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14277872682111517929noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189934640660440147.post-63775129408782076142011-01-28T15:00:00.004+08:002011-01-28T20:50:49.070+08:00Take on Time, the Tramp, at Cilantro KL<div align="justify">How do we upend this losing battle to time? At some point, we're risking expiry, aren't we, being harangued by our constant defeat, running out of time, not knowing what to do with what little time we have left to ourselves even when we do find it?</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567085590929625842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TUJC2WmOUvI/AAAAAAAAC1A/CxPcYgfvDZA/s400/Picture%2B400.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em>Truffle Butter</em></p><div align="justify">Too simplistic to point to work being the culprit of this perpetual massacre, burying ourselves under the days and hours lost to the demands of dry rosters of duties and this and that? Hmm, a lot of problems could <em>probably</em> be solved by the materialisation of <a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=four-day-workweek-energy-environment-economics-utah">this</a>.</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567085591500796866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 297px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TUJC2YuZs8I/AAAAAAAAC1I/E9OFEy3ZUaU/s400/Picture%2B406.jpg" border="0" /><em>Cold Capellini with Panaché of Seafood and Mentaiko<br /></em><br /><br /><div align="justify">I said <em>probably</em>. Imagine, once we start having more time off work, the value of personal time would become even more brutally apparent, lead to the question of why the hell do we even work anyway, and the same franchise of angst and resentment would persist in a downward spiral, probably at greater speed! </div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="justify">So here's this thing I tried recently, to some pretty amazing results - the ultimate victory isn't in being able to wrangle as much off the to-do list in a short space of time, but in the exact opposite. Pick just one day, anyday, to stop and sink for an inordinate amount of time and drop, just drop whatever you're doing, drop your shoulders, drop your calls, drop the time-keeping and drop, while the rest of the world is grunting and heaving. </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">It is a painfully rare occasion when I dare pull away from the masters, to slip in with some disarming company over lunch, at Cilantro, no less. The ceremonious beginnings of truffle butter on warm fresh bread and dainty cold pasta starter assure me that I'm in very good hands.</div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567085594371200418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 282px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TUJC2jawlaI/AAAAAAAAC1Q/T6um3F5A904/s400/Picture%2B409.jpg" border="0" /><br /></div><p align="center"><em>Hokkaido Scallop with Artichoke Soup and Truffles</em></p><p align="justify">The second course mirrors the conversation at the table as we tuck into Cilantro's resplendent brand of escapism, frothing in bite and mellifluous anecdotes.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567085599623627954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TUJC22_CRLI/AAAAAAAAC1g/gkeVHaVUYUg/s400/Picture%2B416.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><em>Fricassée of Free Range Chicken with Maine Lobster</em></p><p align="justify">Chicken makes a rare appearance on Cilantro's lunch menu, and it tones down the heart-stopping violation of the schoolday Subway-and-chap-fan palate. A shade more pedestrian but at this point, the fun's shifted from the food to stories shared around the table.</p><p align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567085598242137522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TUJC2x1qZbI/AAAAAAAAC1Y/ieOiGEIAOLo/s400/Picture%2B414.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><em>Pan Fried French Rouget Fillet with Baby Squid and Rouille</em></p><p align="left">The others found the fish main underwhelming and muted, compared to the glorious starters. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567086224202092274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TUJDbNuJTvI/AAAAAAAAC1w/16LL_Q2qS2I/s400/Picture%2B423.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><em>Roasted Plum with Vanilla Ice Cream</em></p><p align="justify">Sweet and tart ending, which while simple to the point of rustic, somehow spurred lunch on until around 3.15PM, when the staff had to apologetically shoo us out back to the hours.</p><p align="justify">And whaddya know? The world didn't end because of one decadent lunch, work still got done that evening, and yes, the internal time-keeper in me sulked for a bit for being ignored for those few hours, but the tramp eventually got over it. So the next chance you get, consider flipping time the bird and hit Cilantro's Friday <a href="http://www.cilantrokl.com/menu.html">lunch</a>, which springs new surprises every week. </p><p><strong>Cilantro Restaurant & Wine Bar<br /></strong>MiCasa All Suite Hotel<br />Jalan Tun Razak<br />50400 KL<br />Tel: +603 2179 8082</p>minchowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14277872682111517929noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189934640660440147.post-80114387613087997912011-01-23T08:00:00.001+08:002011-01-23T07:57:09.993+08:00An Identity Crisis, Dimsum at Taman Danau Desa<div align="justify">No one ever gets away operating within a single persona no more.<br /></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Not even a neighbourhood dimsum joint.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564991654273334530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TTrSbMr5vQI/AAAAAAAAC0A/pCYo77zNq7Q/s400/Picture%2B275.jpg" border="0" />One One Cafe to some and Toms Dim Sum to others. We are all fragments of different things to different people, like it or not. The friend, the sister, the colleague, the lover, the neighbour, the audience - navigating around the varying expectations can be unnerving and cause more than a few slips and mishaps.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564992182977005874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TTrS5-QriTI/AAAAAAAAC0o/uCbhT0l9WKQ/s400/Teochew%2BDumpling.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="justify">Your roots may start out in the Guangdong province, where the <strong>Teochew dumpling</strong> originated... </p><br /><div align="justify"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564992187693180450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 294px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TTrS6P1GpiI/AAAAAAAAC0w/GeRt7g0T9Wg/s400/Xiu%2BLong%2BBao.jpg" border="0" />...traversing to the east where Shanghai gave birth to the soupy pockets of <strong>Xiu Long Bao</strong>...</div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564991641915992914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TTrSaeprq1I/AAAAAAAACzo/OmTOBnfzadk/s400/Har%2BGau.jpg" border="0" /> ...diving then into the ocean for the <em>har </em>in the <em><strong>har gau</strong>...</em><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564992180274157666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TTrS50MRWGI/AAAAAAAAC0g/ToLw6M_vIpk/s400/Picture%2B381.jpg" border="0" />... and in subsequent remakes, getting itself upholstered in different variations, such as One One's <strong>Spinach & Prawn dumpling</strong>...<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564992175224577010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TTrS5hYW2_I/AAAAAAAAC0Y/jhqckjPutzY/s400/Picture%2B379.jpg" border="0" />...and settling into universally embraced grease traps in the pan-fried goodness of the <strong>Fried Carrot Cake</strong>...<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564991642382983458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 312px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TTrSagZBYSI/AAAAAAAACzw/8zqu42c2Vqc/s400/Lotus%2BLeaf%2BRice.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="justify">... and getting itself wrapped up in lotus leaf for a meat-and-carbo packed agenda.<br /></p><div align="justify"></div><p align="justify">Home too gets redefined as humankind continues to cross borders and barriers to get somewhere, anywhere, who knows where.<br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564991647941835170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 288px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TTrSa1GWuaI/AAAAAAAACz4/4uAYVutv8gY/s400/Pei%2BTan%2Bchuk.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="justify">But right now, what is working for me is the porridge here at this dimsum joint, undecided of its own identity. The <strong>century egg & pork porridge</strong> features chunks of egg and lumpy pork meatballs in stodgy goodness.</p><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564992171042353138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TTrS5RzPL_I/AAAAAAAAC0Q/4XdW5K1jBbo/s400/Picture%2B371.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="justify">Another version starring <strong>spare ribs & preserved vegetables</strong> brings a sigh of temporary relief from having to be different persuasions to different people. </p><div align="justify">Lucky me, it seems, that current reprieve is so close and accessible.</div><br /><strong>One One Dimsum/ Toms Dimsum</strong><br />Taman Danau Desa 2<br />58100 Kuala Lumpurminchowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14277872682111517929noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189934640660440147.post-55752034989656890632011-01-20T19:41:00.001+08:002011-01-20T21:13:31.053+08:00A Hearty Change at The Han Room<div align="justify">Things on the food front are starting out refreshingly different this year, I am glad to report. A heightened sense of chutzpah towards the appreciation of diverse schools of nourishment, as if I'd just woken up from a drawn out slumber of indifference and lethargy. Things I'd previously been oblivious to, or hastily dismissed upon one lousy experience or another, are suddenly offensively irresistible. Like tiresome steamboat. Or messy Ramly mystery meat burgers. Or the seasonal icon nga ku beng.</div><div align="justify"><br />My previous eating incarnation would never have dreamed of making a beeline for new Oriental Group joint the Han Room at the Gardens mid-week. I mean, Chinese banquet-type dinners have been ingrained from childhood as purely extended family territory and all its connotations.</div><div align="justify"><br />But on this feasting occasion in work vicinity, nothing else came close to remotely exciting birthday girl Vicky W as the Han Room. A wise choice, as so laid an evening before us of fine, happy feasting. </div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TTgR7DmhUVI/AAAAAAAACyw/uhLV9vWG0sA/s1600/IMG_0277.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564217045893075282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 293px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TTgR7DmhUVI/AAAAAAAACyw/uhLV9vWG0sA/s400/IMG_0277.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong>Crispy cod fish roll with chicken floss</strong>. None of us were big fans of chicken floss on well, anything, but this was a delightful savoury start.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TTgR6wePyaI/AAAAAAAACyo/2X5AdoeKoRY/s1600/IMG_0257.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564217040758098338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TTgR6wePyaI/AAAAAAAACyo/2X5AdoeKoRY/s400/IMG_0257.JPG" border="0" /></a>Why not mix the starter up a little and throw in something sweet? The <strong>thousand layered cake</strong> was fine but rather one-dimensional, certainly didn't do its name justice.<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564217483328475714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 422px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 342px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TTgSUhLP0kI/AAAAAAAACzQ/GF-uxAeROAQ/s400/Peking%2BDuck.jpg" border="0" />The luscious <strong>Peking Duck</strong> invoked latter unprecedented cravings. I am at this very minute, physically fighting off a craving for that crispy yet juicy skin wrapped in pancake, accentuated by hoisin sauce. The leftover meat, however, was a bit too lean and dry for us but the kitchen worked with what they had with the second course of <strong>fried rice</strong> from the same dish.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564217057329958642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 289px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TTgR7uNSTvI/AAAAAAAACzA/nRz4S4lwWms/s400/IMG_0283.JPG" border="0" />The <strong>braised beancurd in crab roe sauce</strong> sounded so commonplace I would have glazed over it in a heartbeat, had my dining companions not called attention to it. The crabby sauce lifted every cynical Chinese preconception. Delicious.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564217048732405282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TTgR7OLeDiI/AAAAAAAACy4/I_pUEnKg9hw/s400/IMG_0279.JPG" border="0" />With the consistent quality so far, there was no way late arrival <strong>Hong Kong Kai Lan "2 ways"</strong> could have failed us.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Regular programming all out the window by the time we wrapped up the dishes, I agreed over-enthusiastically to desserts, which again, is way out in left field for me. Some years ago, I lost my sweet tooth, I suspect to growing fondness of the drink, never to have seen more than a rare, superficial revival. But I am starting to see a possibility of a real change this year! </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564217062013489410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TTgR7_p7UQI/AAAAAAAACzI/dc1OCaWFV2M/s400/IMG_0292.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="justify">The star dessert of the day was the thoroughly refreshing <strong>Summer Breeze Coconut Jelly</strong>. Provided thoughtful balance to a meal too entirely heavy for a Tuesday evening. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564217491272562402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TTgSU-xQ9uI/AAAAAAAACzY/_h6WO1BRL2A/s400/IMG_0296.JPG" border="0" />Birthday girl's <strong>double boiled sea coconut with snow pear</strong>. A-OK.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564217494390708466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xjjr-sjFwMo/TTgSVKYsGPI/AAAAAAAACzg/Fb5Fsa7zDng/s400/IMG_0298.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="justify">And to cap it all off, I had the <strong>sweetened yin yang avocado & mango</strong>. I liked that it wasn't crazy heavy or sweet, despite my earlier reservations. Considering I was bursting at the seams at this point, I managed to mop this up to the last drop and still wished there'd been a spoonful more.</p><div align="justify">Service remained top-notch well into closing time. We sat around for hours, drunk on duck, dessert and conversation and only realised much later that our table was the last one keeping them from pulling the shutters down, because the staff kept diligently pouring tea and keeping out of our way.</div><br /><strong>The Han Room</strong><br />Ground Floor, The Gardens Mall,<br />Mid Valley<br />Tel: 03-2284 8833minchowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14277872682111517929noreply@blogger.com9