Boot Camp @ FELCRA Training Centre, Changkat Lada

Huh ... The days leading to the eventual workshop at Pusat Latihan FELCRA in Changkat Lada (say where?) were torturing, to put it mildly. Overwhelmed with sense of regret for joining the workshop, and fear of feeding potential mosquitoes, we were prepared for the worst.

A mosque in the middle of nowhere, literally.

The journey was not long, surprisingly, only a mere one hour+, and the roads are not those off the beaten track type. The scenery spoke volume of the tranquility of the rural areas, from Bota Kanan to Changkat Melintang and Kampung Gajah. Passing by Kompleks Sejarah Pasir Salak, a short distance away is this FELCRA settlement. If you're scratching your heads wondering where in the world are these spots, they're small towns in Perak, that had not bowed to civilization. Hehe ...

Finally ....

One terrifying ordeal was when KYT parked his car,both of us discovered an abundance of, or rather, an army of HUGE red fire ants swarming the parking lot, and some even fell on our necks! =O Needless to say, it somewhat 'enhanced' the experience ....

Imagine in the middle of the night, standing at this very corridor ... eerie?

Patriotism at its peak? Nah ... I bet most did not notice the poles

Dorm-like environment dampened our spirits even further ... =(

Oh, at least TV was provided, though reception was poor, and no cable channels ...

Comfortable beds with clean sheets ...

Fortunately, the room was bearable, even to the point where we dozed off to slumberland in mere minutes everytime, cooled by the air-conditioning system. Blankets and pillows provided adequately, at no extra charge. Our only gripe? Look below ....

Yup, the classic squatting delight, tailor-made to practise your kung-fu stance

No hot shower, sadly. And waking up at dawn to prepare for classes did not deter us from chilling ourselves to the bones. Somehow, the water here is not icy cold, unlike usual 'kampung' area's water supply, eg. Sungkai etc. Oh, and the bathroom was infested with red ants, symbiotic relation established, we do our business, they mind their own. =P

~~~ The Breakfast ~~~

Toasts with half-boiled eggs, and fried beehoon kampung-style.

Nasi Goreng Kampung and Toasts

I did not hold much anticipation for the food, just keeping my fingers crossed for something worth swallowing. However, we were pleasantly overjoyed when not only were the meals delicious, the kampung-style dishes opened my eyes in categorizing Malay cuisine into the "same old, same old" category.

Breakfast was a simple affair, but the fried rice and beehoon were delicious in their own rights, slightly spicy, but still good nevertheless. Even KYT who normally avoids Malay food like the plague threw positive comments. =)

(to be continued ... )

Rendezvous with Floggers @ Eiffel Restaurant, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur

A break from the Ipoh posts, and backtrack to a few weeks ago, when I was in KL. Met up with Jason, Foodcookies, Tummythoz & her Mr.K. (",) ... Nice meeting you guys!

Eiffel Restaurant ... the posh-iest of names?

Of course, floggers get together equals food. Nothing more, nothing less. LOL. Jason was kind enough to set up a destination somewhere near Cheras, at record time, I might add. (Thanks, Jason, owe u another one! =P). The instance I heard the name Eiffel Restaurant, an image of French cuisine in a swank high-end restaurant was projected in my mind. Gulp .... *o*

Vietnam Chicken Pan Mee (Flour Noodle) (RM12)

But pleasantly surprised the restaurant he had chosen is a down to earth one, serving Chinese cuisine. Pasted on the walls were paper cuttings of reviews by various local papers, mostly Chinese media, but a reason to gloat, nevertheless.

Seafood Pan Mee (RM15)

One of their signature items include pan mee, or flat flour noodle, cooked in a variety of broth, and garnished with various ingredients, from chicken to seafood, and everything in between. (Hehe, I was lazy to check the options, sorry).

We ordered two types to be shared, one being the Vietnam style chicken while another being a new item NOT on the menu yet, which was the Seafood crab meat version (I think). The former fared better in my opinion, with generous servings of fried chicken fillet, cooked Vietnamese style, though the lemongrass somehow deterred me from fully enjoying the dish. (sorry, Lyrical one if you're reading this, but I DO avoid lemongrass at all costs).

The other version of the noodle was a disappointment, as the stock was too thick and gooey, drowning the pan mee, though the prawns and whatnot (fish roes?) did save the dish somehow.

Thai-style Chicken

The Thai-style deep fried chicken fillet was a safe choice, with crunchy young mango/apple (once again, my memory failed me ... ) strips delivered an amalgam of tastes, being tangy, sour, spicy and sweet at the same time.

Fried Rice with Salted Egg (RM6)

Jason personally recommended two dishes, one being the fried rice with salted eggs. Unpretentious in appearance, but sadly, the same applies to the taste. Don't get me wrong, the rice was fried to perfection, not soggy nor too dry, but lacked the oomph we all expected. Jason himself commented that previously the dish was better.

Money Bags? (RM10)

Another one of recommendation impressed us, the fried dumplings-thingy (sorry forgot the name) were delicious, and required no dipping sauce (though chilli sauce was provided if I'm not mistaken). A must-try!

Reeking of mango-mania .... (RM4.50)

The desserts are the shop's specialty as well, judging from the options available, and the restaurant is approriately named Eiffel Restaurant and Dessert House. Though you might be forgiven if you're expecting hot Chinese sweet soups (eg. Bubur Cha-Cha and the likes), as you won't find them here.

Reasonably priced at RM4.50 per humongous bowl, the snowy mountain ice blended with fruits (a nick I created myself, as I did not bother to check the menu, =P) will definitely refresh you till no end, quenching thirst, and dare I say, even appease hunger pangs. I had the mango variety, and only realized when my bowl was nearly empty that, surprise! surprise! They added an EGG or two into the dessert! No wonder so creamy and milky.

Mint Chocolate Milk Shake ... or at least it looks like one to me! (RM4)

The meal was a reasonable RM77.50 for 5 of us. The place is air-conditioned, but with a homely setting.

Location : Eiffel Restaurant @ 159. Jalan Lancang, Taman Seri Bahtera, Cheras. Tel : 03-91304234. Very near to the roundabout in Cheras, situated near Tesco Extra. Do ask the KL-ites (eg. Jason/Tummythoz/Foodcookies for directions).

P/S : It was a pleasure meeting you guys, and looking forward to the next one! ^o^

Aun Kheng Lim Salted Chicken

Short post today, to answer a query regarding Ipoh's salted chicken. In fact, nowadays, the number of shops selling this Ipoh's specialty are on the rise, but one brand manages to stand out among the crowd, and it's no surprise Aun Kheng Lim had stood the test of time for an impressive 21 years, no less.

My picture does NOT do the chicken justice ... Trust me .... it tastes WAY better than it looks.

Impostors are aplenty, but none that I've tried can wrest the crown from the defending champ. At RM16 per chick, on weekends and public holidays, you may have to call and book your chickens (no, not THAT chickens. Drop that naughty thought now ... =P).

The portion is not big, but adequeate for sharing among 2, or gobbled up by one hungry soul. (which I normall do!) Herbs such as Dong Guai and Gei Zhi (Wolfberry) combined with the flavourful salt crystals used to bake the chicken wrapped in paper, creates a divine dish (or snack, depends on how you look at it). Tender meat falling off the bone, the best way to eat it is to incorporate your bare hands, barbaric instincts unleashed, and tear the pieces to oblivion. Muahaha .... =)

Location : No 24,Jalan Theatre, 30300 Ipoh. Tel : 05-2542998.

The other barbarians who have torn their way into the poor chickens :

Tummythoz, WMW, KampungboyCitygal, Jackson, Jason and countless others.

Sin Fonzie Cafe @ Greentown, Ipoh

Just dragged my own carcass back from the God-forsaken place. Nah ... Not really that bad, in fact, a lot of surprises in store. But more on that in later posts. For now, savour some older photos stashed away in my PC. (Btw, am I GLAD that June's finally coming an end. Curtain call for I believe, one of the most hectic month throughout my tenure in this current workplace of mine!)

Sin Fonzie Cafe ... somehow, "Kedai Kopi" does not fit as a moniker for such a cafe, huh?

Passed by this outlet countless times, but never cared to step in. Right until I read the positive reviews from Dine and Health sometime back. OK, why not?

Comfy setting, with air-cond and fans

Mum had visited this place before, with my 2 grannies, and the feedback was on the sunny side. Oh, they're somewhat a bunch of foodies themselves, better trust their palates. =P

Don't be deterred by the seemingly exorbitant prices. There are value sets as well.

The Dim Sum range

Xiu Long Bao (RM3.60)

Sin Fonzie serves Chinese dishes, whereby you can have them with rice, or noodles. Their specialty are the claypot varieties, extensive I'd say. Other than main dishes, the snacks are an impressive lot themselves, consisting of dim sum, pancakes and such.

The Xiu Long Bao comes in a basket of 3, typical dim sum style. Quite a steal at RM1.20 each, compared to Dragon-i's, Crystal Jade's and Din Tai Fung's. But of course, you can't really compare an apple to an orange. (Wait, somehow this phrase was overused during the petrol price hike, was this not? =P). Tastewise? Not impressive, too little soup packed inside. But the fillings of pork+shrimp worked wonders.

Spiky hedgehog/porcupine pau (RM1.80 each)

These cute little buns are a marvellous creation of the chef, incorporating dragonfruit, egg yolk (I suspect) and butter (nai yao). Correct me if I'm wrong, as the filling and taste is not distinctive of any particular flavour. Slightly sweet, and savoury, the skin is soft, fluffy and does not stick to your teeth kind. Try them, for their novelty and aestheric values, no less.

Hedgehog ... butchered in half. Muahaha ...

Rice with Deep Fried Fish (RM9)

Bro's claypot deep fried fish in simple soy sauce, and shallot oil was very fragrant (from the oil and garlic), and the fish fried to perfection. Crisp on the outer layer, and soft and sweet flesh. Though a bit on the dry side, you may consider ordering some soup to drench your white rice.

Claypot Noodles with Prawns (RM8.80 per set)

The set meal consist of a main dish and a drink. Dad commented that his noodles with prawns was delicious, the soup stock being flavourful, and the noodles is different from the ones normally served, akin to ramen with its springy/QQ texture.

Claypot chicken and salted fish rice (RM8.80 per set)

Mum and grandma shared a pot of rice with chicken and salted fish. Good choice, as the rice was fragrant, tasty, and the gravy not overly salty. I myself am NOT a fan of claypot chicken rice, especially the tragedy that was K10 (read it HERE), but the one served here is pretty good.

Spring Onion Pancake (RM3)

The boss is a chatty fellow, providing recommendations and patiently watched me snapped some photos (kinda paiseh, as I doubt he'd believe a reviewer would use a mere handphone), all the while anticipating feedback. He introduced us to this Chinese style pancake, served with chilli sauce. Thin, and chewy, with spring onions (scallions' the real name I think), dried shrimps, and etc. Yummy, albeit slightly oily.

Claypot Tang Hoon (Glass Noodles) with Seafood (RM8.80 per set)

My pot of tang hoon with seafood looked unappetizing and unassuming at first glance, however, one spoonful (it's kinda hard to eat this with mere chopsticks, mind you) and you'll be delighted at the sweetness of the broth, infused with seafood goodness, and the smooth tang hoon slithing down your throat. Portion's a little big, so be ready to share if you're a small eater.

Zhung Zai Fan ( Small pot Chicken Rice) RM7

Indeed, their signature dish, WAY back before they renovated the whole shop, is this simple dish, named Small Pot Chicken Rice (literally translated from its original moniker, Zhung Zai Fan). Mushrooms, waxed sausages and chicken, steamed with rice in special gravy. One word : Delicious. Simple enough, but craves for attention. Serving's small, therefore no worries if you're on a strict diet.

In case you're lost, look for these friends, pasted on the glass door.

Bill came to RM61 for 5 of us. A decent meal, in a comfortable environment. Parking's a breeze if you come in the evening. During lunch hour, you can only hope and pray for a space nearby, as this is located right smack in the middle of Greentown, normally buzzing with activities. But remember, a short walk is always a good solution to that spare tyre crisis. =)

Location : 53, Jalan Sultan Abdul Jalil, Ipoh. Specifically, this row of shop is beside Excelsior Hotel. Other hotspots nearby include Ipoh Parade Shopping Complex, Oversea Seafood Restaurant, and Syuen Hotel.

Yam(my) Yam(my) !!!

Short post on a cool afternoon .... In a matter of hours, I'd be stranded in a remote land, with probably no coverage, no good food (in fact, maybe NO food at all, bar those provided by the host) and hopefully, the place has basic amenities to satisfy the poor city souls (that's us), bracing ourselves for the potential culture shock.

Claypot Assam Fish Fillet

Second visit to Yam Yam Seafood Restaurant in Ipoh Garden South, (for my virginal take, click HERE). Forgot what the event was, probably a routine family dinner back in April or May.

Steamed Squid with Spicy and Sour Sauce

Of course, my poor memory fails me whenever I'm trying to recall the taste, name of the dish, and the price for each. Especially with no receipt, or notes jotted. So, pardon me? :)

Sambal Sweet Potato Leaves

The squids and grouper fish slices in assam gravy stole the limelight that evening, as expected, for they are after all, a SEAFOOD restaurant. The steamed squids in particular, got my vote, as I usually go for fried squids, or sambal sotong, rarely opt for the steamed variety. But the piquant taste, slightly tangy from the drizzles of lime juice, paired with the bird's eye chillis and garlic, accentuate the freshness and the springy texture of the squids. One word : YAMmy!!

Oyster Omelette (Or Chien)

Tung Po Yuk (Braised Pork in Soy Sauce)

The other dishes fared well, but the Tung Po Yuk did not impress. The cuts were fat no doubt, though enough lean portion to satiate a diet freak, but the gravy was not flavourful, compared to some others in Chinese restaurants.

Overall, a pretty satisfying meal, but a bone to pick here was that the lady owner in his 50's (I assumed) is a bit arrogant. Let's just say, her mistake resulted in us consuming not one, not two but THREE green vegetable dishes. But of course, we un-willingly paid for them, though not one word of apology escaped from her mouth. Hmmm ...... Total damage came to around RM90 for 6 of us.

Location : Refer old post HERE.

Til then, wish me LUCK, and pray that we manage to locate the forsaken place, possibly not detectable with GPS, nor even exist in the maps .... But really, I may be slightly dramatic here, now hands up who have heard of Changkat Lada? Au revoir.

Craving for some Yakiniku?

Staying over at aunt's house in Pandan Indah in Kuala Lumpur has its pros and cons. Pros being the abundant of eateries existing AND mushrooming at an exponential rate, while Cons being too far away from HOT areas such as PJ and so forth.

One of the cheapest Japanese food I've eaten in KL, even by Ipoh's standards, is this Yakiniku Restaurant which serves barbecued items over a stove, a DIY approach that may prove fun for a family outing. In case you're worried of smoky environment that may leave you smelling of ashes and charcoal at the end of the meal, fret not. They implement an intelligent vacuum system over every stove on every table, ensuring your comfort while dining. Only gripe? The yellow lighting is a bit too dim, bad for snapping photos, AND indecisive when determining whether the meat is adequately cooked or not.

Australian Beef Loins (RM14.90), Pork Bacon (RM5.90) and Lamb Leg (RM7.90)

They serve ala carte items, as well as ramen, salad, and so forth. But the star attraction is of course, the barbecued items. From pork to lamb and beef, as well as squid and vegetables, the combination is endless, and each plate is individually priced (and reasonably too).

The bacon was so good, we had 2nd helping ... just ignore the streaks of artery-clogging culprit. =)

The dipping sauce for the meat is a secret recipe of their own, which complements the grilled meat very well. You can ask for refill (the sauce, not the meat) at no extra charge. I even pour some on my white rice.

BLUE fire? Of all magic, my hp does has some nifty trick up its erm, sleeve? =P

The meat are all thinly sliced, to ensure thoroughly and rapidly cooked. Just keep an eye for burnt bits while grilling the bacon, as the fatty portion tends to get burnt pretty fast.

Delicious.

Seafood Salad

Of course, there are various appetizers, snacks and even noodles as well as fried rice to complete your meal. The drinks segment is quite impressive, and the flavoured tea is served in a tall jar, adequate hydration guaranteed. Hehe ....

Various acknowledgements and accolades from the press

So, if you're ever in Pandan Indah/Pandan Jaya/Cheras area, do drop by for some good grub. The choices are astonishing, from Pudu's Fei Por chicken rice, Kin Kin Pan Mee, to Hong Kee Tim Sum (to be blogged at a later date), Tsim Tung & Axtivo for Hong Kong delights, Steven's Corner for 24 hours coverage of mamak food, a good number of 'Dai Chow' Chinese restaurants, and not forgetting the cafes.

Location : Restoran Yakiniku, 20g, Jalan Pandan Indah 4/8, Pandan Indah, Kuala Lumpur.

Meng Kee Char Siew @ Tengkat Tong Shin, Kuala Lumpur

The luscious taste of the char siew (BBQ Pork) from Famous Seremban Favourites (read my previous visit HERE) is still fresh on my palate, although 2 months had passed since then. Certainly in a class of its own, I still could not find a replacement until this very day ...

Situated in the middle of a row of heritage shophouses

Meng Kee Char Siew has a following of its own, probably due to slightly higher exposure than any other Char Siew stalls in Kuala Lumpur. Yup, various TV shows had done coverage on this simple unassuming shop, famed for its Char Siew, and steamed chicken.

Glistening, caramelized pork ...

During lunch hours, the place is usually packed to the brim. Even more so on public holidays, when tourists from all over would drop by, just for the one single dish that had brought so much fame (and fortune) to the proprietors with such an amazing culinary delight.

Rice cooked with chicken oil

Probably I did not request for a specific cut, therefore only lean meat was served to us. Tough and chewy, the Char Siew did not manage to impress me, more so due to my previous (absolutely) positive visit to Famous Seremban Favourites. Comparison is unavoidable. Though coming in a close second, the Char Siew served here still trumps the other stalls in Ipoh that I've tried so far.

Classic, nostalgic feel of the interior. Notice the crowd?

A meal for two, including rice came to around RM12. Yup, definitely not hawker level of pricing. But you're paying for its history, a legend in its own league, slightly over-rated I'd say, but satiated my carnivorous appetite nevertheless. Least this provides me an opportunity (and excuse ... =P) to embark and continue my search for the BEST Char Siew there is in Malaysia?

Choose your favourite ambience. Inside the shop, at their corridor, OR at the sidewalk. LOL

Location : Tengkat Tong Shin, a road that is parallel to Jalan Alor. A short walk from Bukit Bintang shopping paradise.

Random Street Food for everyday lunch ...

Here's a snippet of some of our haunts during lunch hour. As our lunch time is practically uncontrolled (translation : nobody cares much even if we stuff our faces for 2 hours straight!), sometimes we tend to stray, away from our office in Old Town just for a breath of fresh air, or in this case, for any array of temptations elsewhere to satiate our tastebuds .... ;)

~~ Pin Sum Restaurant @ Menglembu ~~

Pin Sum Restaurant

Situated right in Menglembu old town area, on Jalan Besar (Main Road) itself, is this restaurant serving Chinese dishes, noodles, as well as roast duck/roast pork and the like.

Roasted Duck

I was tempted to try their roasted items, as my salivary gland went to overdrive mode while passing by the counter. However, the roast duck was a disappointment, the skin not crispy, and the marination not sufficient. Lots of dipping sauce is necessary to 'enhance' the flavour.

Salty Pork

At the same counter with various dishes, I spotted some strips of fatty pork meat, fried til golden brown. They name this Ham Chu Yuk (Salty Pork). Well, as the name suggested, the chef was REALLY generous with the salt, or whatever they used to marinate them, as the saltiness was jaw-numbing. Plus, the pork was not crispy, requiring some jaw exercise. Hmmm ....

Kailan with Roasted Pork Rice

Luckily, KYT's order of the above managed to score well, as he did not complain much, other than the fatty meat and skin of the pork, which I willingly savour, in delight. Hehe ... I mean, who eats roast pork WITHOUT the skin? Huh??

Signature Noodle (forgot the real name, sorry ... =P)

My noodles was akin to yee mee, braised with mushrooms, mustard greens (choy sum), minced pork and LOTS of dried cuttlefish (diu pin). The gravy was yummy, and very flavourful. Thumbs up for this dish.

We realised mosf of the other tables ordered rice and dishes instead, therefore consider yourself warned if you intend to go for the cooked dishes at the front counter.

Total damage? RM21.40 including drinks. Reasonable, as the restaurant is air-conditioned. Place is packed during lunch hour, so do try to come early.

Location : On Jalan Besar, Menglembu. Coming from town towards Menglembu, you'll reach the roundabout with GIANT groundnuts. Take the right fork, and go straight. You'll passed by some police quarters on your left, and Pin Sum is further down the road, on your left.

~~ Fatt Kee @ Old Town's Ipoh Padang ~~

The evergreen Indian rojak stall

Facing the Ipoh Padang, on the same row with Old Town Kopitiam, is this old coffee shop named Fatt Kee, which has been around since I was small. Memories of the most delicious 'pasembur' or Indian rojak flooded my mind whenever I passed by this shop. However, some years ago, Mum claimed that the rojak stall has moved. =(

Indian rojak (RM2.80)

This afternoon (yeah, this IS recent) me and KYT were at loss on where to eat. Then he suggested Fatt Kee, as it's within walking distance and he had a good wantan mee sometime ago. I was taken aback when I witnessed the lunch crowd, as I did not expect to see this shop crowded. Peculiarly, Malay patrons were quite a number, indicating HALAL food being served.

Wantan Mee with Bean Sprouts ?! (Rm2.80)

He ordered the wantan mee, which offered a twist from the norm, as bean sprouts was served, instead of 'choy sum'. However, he commented that the noodles is good, though I tried a piece of the wantan and found it ordinary. But at ONLY RM2.80, who's complaining?

As for the Indian rojak, what can I say? This might be the SAME stall that has been in business for a century. Yup, it's printed on the Star, which they proudly display on the wall. Tastewise? Certainly one of the best in Ipoh, though I prefer the Penang's Batu Lancang's version more.

The shop only houses 2 stalls. The noodle stall also sells Hainan Curry Mee, and Hainan Toast. The milk tea is frothy and nice (sorry, no pic), an uncanny resemblance to Hainan style milk tea.

Location : Fatt Kee @ Ipoh Padang, Old Town. Same row with Momo Steamboat, Mixed Cuisine, and Ipoh Old Town Kopitiam.

~~ Hwang Chao @ Old Town ~~

Braised Egg Noodles (Mun Yee Meen)

Something else from Hwang Chao, other than their Singaporean chicken rice is this stall selling fried noodles and rice.

Wat Tan Hor (Braised Flat Rice Noodle with Egg Gravy)

Affordable, and offers a variety of delicious individual servings, Hwang Chao certainly deserves attention, though it attracts mainly the office crowd. But that's fine, as the shop is crowded during peak hours anyway .... Muahaha, the selfish nature of the motormouth ... =P

Location : Refer old post HERE. The ONLY yellow building in Old Town.

Indonesian Delights from Waroeng Penyet @ The Curve

By now, if you're one keen follower of food blogs from Malaysia, you would've noticed this Indonesian chain of fast food restaurant, with its 1st branch here, in Malaysia.

Documenting their success over the causeway ...

Fast food outlets are a dime a dozen in Malaysia. But one that serves traditional Indonesian food in a modern setting is quite unheard of.

Write down your order on a piece of paper provided, then pay at the counter before the food is served at your table ...

Ayam Penyet (RM7.90)

Their signature dish is their Ayam Penyet, or Indonesian style Flattened Fried Chicken. Supposedly flattened to tenderize the meat. Unlike the usual ayam goreng from Nasi Kandar stalls, or Malay style fried chicken, the one served here is marinated with some special sauce, before deep-frying, and served with crunchy batter. Expected the meat to be dry, but luckily it wasn't. The sambal is fiery, but you can request for milder version if desired.

Gado-Gado (Indonesian salad in peanut sauce) RM5.90

The gado-gado however, was a disappointment. I expected the peanut gravy to be chunkier, and nuttier. Too diluted for my liking.

Indonesian Milk Tea and Soda Gembira (Happy Soda .. Wa-Hey!!! =P)

Tempted to try their avocado juice, but the streaky chocolate sauce put me off. Probably next time. Haha .... The milk tea was good, at only RM2.50, while the Soda Gembira is a mixture of F&N Strawberry Soda, and evaporated milk. (RM3.50). Surprisingly, their drinks menu is quite extended, and a cute warning stating : "Caution! some of these beverages are addictive! Enjoy at your own risk. " Oopps .... Guess I gotta go satiate my cravings soon .... ;)

Their menu covers various other penyet-able items, such as beef, pomfret, prawns, chicken wings etc. They also serve grilled items, as well as stews and soups. Worth a try, before the novelty wears off?

Location : The Curve, 1st Floor, Unit 132, Kota Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya. Tel : 603-77106761. Log on to http://www.waroengpenyet.com/ for more information.

Wanna get penyet (flattened) further? Check these other reviews out :

masak-masak

VKeong

KYSpeaks

Jackson's

Homemade Korean Pancakes

While we're still HOT on Korean food trail, let me rant on a simple to make, yet utterly delicious Korean snack, the Korean pancake, or Pajeon. I won't divulge the recipe, mainly because I did not make these myself. Haha ... My aunt cooked them. For the recipe, just Google Pajeon, and various recipes will be enlisted.

Pajeon - Good for breakfast, or a light lunch.

Aunt buy a pre-mixed flour for the batter, easily obtainable from the supermarket. The ingredients may vary, according to personal preference.

Close up shot of the pan-fried pancake with prawns, kuchai (chives), scallions and onions.

Aunt generously peppered her version with middle-sized prawns, from Kuala Selangor no less. The fresh prawns are sweet in nature, and provided a nice bite with its springy texture. If I remembered correctly, she mentioned about the addition of cheese in the pancake too, but of course, I could be wrong. Hehe ....

Bottles of sauces to choose from ...

The pancake should not be eaten alone. Pair it with the Korean Bibimbap Chilli Sauce named Bibimbap Gochujang. Made from seasoned red pepper paste, with various vegetables thrown in for good measure, the sauce added a sweet,sourish, and mildly spicy taste to the pancakes. Korean meals are never complete without this bottle of goodness. Pick it up from a store near you. (Hehe ... Sounds like an ad, ya?)

Of course, you can choose to have it plain, or with other sauces, such as the Okono-miyaki (Japanese pizza) sauce and mayo combination (see pic above). But then, it defeats the purpose of an authentic Korean pizza, no?

Trio of Ipoh Floggers @ Yea Won Korean Restaurant

Aeons ago, I met up with Jason and Citygal, back where they belong (hehe), here in Ipoh. OK, it was in fact, only 2 weeks ago, but June seems to drag on forever for me. Wonder why ...

Shoes off, and sit cross-legged ... just be sure you do not have a bad back. Ouch.

Passed by this restaurant for the umpteenth time, but heard mixed reviews, from both KYT and KCA. (No, they're not related. Though both are equally crazy. Hehe...) Out of ideas on where to have lunch, and a late one at that, we finally came to a unanimous decision. Go for something Korean. Possibly the sole survivor in Ipoh, Yea Won has a strong following, evident during peak hours, when the crowd swells to its maximum capacity.

If your back can't stand without support, opt for the normal seats, rather than bending forward or backwards awkwardly after a meal ...

Half expected to see Dae Jung Gum's face in this ...

Citygal, being the Korean food connoiseur that she is, took helm and ordered accordingly. Impressive. Hehe .... (Btw, nice meeting you, Citygal! Funny how we both know the same "Cute, Funny Guy with DSLR" Muahaha. World's small, ain't it?)

Barley Tea (RM3)

Normally complimentary to a meal, the barley tea is a soothing, Korean style tea, equivalence of Chinese tea or green tea to the Japanese. But RM3 for a whole jug was not so bad. Though Citygal commented that the version served here lacked the smoky, roasted barley aroma.

Condiments and dipping sauces

Various leafy greens to wrap the meat, side dishes, garlic, and green chilli before dipping the whole bunch into 3 different type of sauces

Kim-chi and side dishes, typical of Korean meal

The side dishes were good, we did not ask for refills as at the end of the meal, we were stuffed. Not sure if unlimited refills are allowed, but should be, as most, if not all, Korean restaurants allow the patrons to. Encourage the citizens to eat their greens, I supposed? =)

Save the trouble, and watch the professional at work ...

We ordered the Mo Dem BBQ set for two, with mixed portions of pork included. It was a delight watching the waiter grilling the items for us, while we were busy munching on the extras and chatting away. If you notice, a white paper cup is positioned at the end of the grill. Its function? Hehe, to collect the grease and oil from the meat. Gross, but at least makes the meat palatable, void from too much fat.

Before .....

.... and After.

In a matter of minutes, the meat was done. Some may lament, as the fatty parts are obviously generous, and a diet freak's nightmare. But that's what statins are for, I presumed? LOL. Anyway, the portion served were enough for 3, as there were other side orders. The meat was not marinated, and the natural flavour of the meat, combined with the various dipping sauces, resulted in a myriad of flavours.

Korean Fried Rice Cakes (RM13)

The fried rice cakes (Chau Nin Gou) is a Korean specialty. But the cakes were pretty much tasteless. The accompanying gravy (typical Korean red pepper sauce) did not help much, as it was too thick.

Spicy Cold Noodles (RM20)

Funny thing was, the lady who took our order commented that the noodles contain beef slices, therefore enquired whether anyone of us refrain from the meat. We all shook our heads. Then as the noodles arrived, no meat was in sight. Hmmm .....

Anyhow, the noodles arrived a wee too early, BUT we had them at the end of the meal. The consequences? The cold noodles lumped together, creating blocks of cold, hard soba-like noodles. We took our time dissecting it, and as I was nursing a sore mouth ulcer at that moment, every mouthful was torturing. Haha ... it was not too spicy, but aggravated by my condition.

The restaurant closes for break at 3pm, forcing the lady boss to drop some hints, possibly trying desperately to shut us up. Haha ... ^o^ We definitely overstayed our welcome. Til the next outing, Ipohans !!!

Location : 6, Jalan Medan Ipoh 1C, Medan Ipoh Bistari, 31400 Ipoh. The row of new shops next to Tesco hypermarket opposite Jusco. Same area as Famous Cafe and Kizuna Japanese Restaurant.

The Loaf "U hu! hu!" Cheesecakes @ Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur

Decided to do a DOUBLE posts today, trying to forget the disastrous outing at Alexis (refer previous post HERE).

Funny name for some fancy cheese cakes?

Since reading various posts by other floggers on The Loaf's amazing Japanese-style cheese-cupcakes, I knew I had to try them someday. Ladies & gentlemen, D-Day has arrived, in style.

??? Orange - Forgot the full name, but citrus-y, tangy, and sweet. (3.5/5)

Durian Obsession - Probably the most obnoxious/smelly/fragrant/flavourful of the lot, sure to attract durian-lovers. The soft, crumbly layer on top has an uncanny resemblance to pavlova/meringue texture. (4/5)

Tangy Lemon - The plain Jane of the pack. Slight hint of lemon aftertaste. (3/5)

Refreshing Longan - Bland, with a pair of longan fruits embedded underneath, but the crunchy almond flakes save the day. (3.5/5)

Glitzy Strawberries - Presentable, dazzling, albeit stingy pistachio bits, no doubt the superstar of the lot, stealing the limelight from the otherwise dark/gloomy/pale colours of the others. Sweet, typical strawberry jam flavour. (4/5)

Luxurious Chocolate - Luscious, decadent, not run-of-the-mill type of cocoa powder. Possible best of the lot. Simple, but got the job done. (4.5/5)

The whole half dozen of fluffy goodness (RM25)

A saving grace, after the Alexis episode. RM5 per piece, but BUY 5 FREE 1 promotion. Get them while they're still around. Various flavours available for picking. Sweet tooth FINALLY satisfied. Time to move on to some meatier deals in following posts .... G'nite. v_v

Location : The Loaf @ Lot 3.13.00 on 3rd floor of Pavilion, 168, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.

Alexis Bistro @ The Gardens, Mid Valley City

After the dim sum brunch at Tuck Kee in Kepong, work continued, which took us to somewhere around Masjid Negara/Railway Station. Wrong calculation on my behalf, as it was a Friday afternoon, equivalent to the Muslim's Friday prayers. The whole stretch of road was infested with vehicles, blocking the way to MOH HQ on Jalan Cenderasari.

So after a few rounds, the prayers had ended, but traffic policemen were blocking off some roads. Sigh ... Slightly frustrated, we drove off to Mid Valley. It was a wise choice, as there was supposedly a mass protest (albeit a peaceful one) around Sogo area, right after Friday's prayer. Wanna know why? Let's just say, a 40% increase in certain commodity has the whole nation up in arms, (muhibbah spirit in full-force, nevertheless!!) and war of words of gargantuan proportion ensued. =)

Al fresco dining option @ alexis

But of course, this blog aims to please the inner foodies in everyone, NOT rants on political matters. Blogs of political nature are ample enough to go around in the blogosphere for years to come, or possibly until the next election. Hehe ....

Selection of delights to please the sweet tooth ...

Searching high and low for a spot for tea break, we were torn between Cova, Alexis, SBread and Nyonya Colors. Nah ... Drop the last one. Over-rated pricey nyonya kuih. (Flamers still welcomed. Fanboys anyone? =P) Ended up at Alexis on 1st floor of The Gardens. Pretty easy to locate, though hidden in one corner.

Black and White Chocolate Cake (RM11)

The place was strangely quite empty. But it was a weekday's evening, after all. Ushered to a corner and seated. The ambience exudes a cool, cozy, and modern aura at the same time. Perfect for a chattering good time. Walked over to the cakes counter, picked 2 slices and whipped my tool out. My phone, I meant. Hehe ...

Chocolate Nutty Meringue (Rm13)

I was snapping at the wide array of cakes at the counter, when I noticed the waitress whispering to another. Then as I was about to shoot the beautiful wine display rack, a waitress warned me not to, as it's in their 'policy' not to let customers take photos, and I'd have to request permission from their manager. Huh? WTF .... I explained that I was snapping the photos for personal use, nothing more. Still she insisted that I talk to the manager first.

Ridiculous. To sum up my feelings at that moment. What if I'm celebrating a birthday/anniversary at that time, and cameras are clicking away, as expected. Must I put my hands up (ala primary school students) and apply for a written attestation? Not one to create a scene, I retraced my steps and waited 'eagerly' for their prized desserts.

The ambience ... supposedly dimmed yellow lights, but credits to my hp. Haha!!

The meringue cake fared better IMO, as the abundance of macadamia nuts did the trick. The black and white chocolate cake sucked, big time. To pour salt to the wound, that was a recommended item by the guy manning the counter (who BTW, was not fluent at all when suggesting recommendations). Plain water was NOT served, until we requested for them, although the bunch of waiters were chatting away near the counter. And don't even wish for them to refill your water without prompts. Yeah, and service charge is 10%. Go figure.

Location : Lot F209, First Floor, The Gardens, Mid Valley City. Tel : 603-22872281.

Other branches at Bangsar Baru, Bangsar Shopping Centre, and Ampang's Great Eastern Mall. For more info, click HERE.

Tuck Kee Restaurant @ Kepong, Kuala Lumpur

Work took me to Kepong, in Kuala Lumpur last weekend. Believe it or not, that was my virginal visit, and locating a certain Taman Daya required Google map, and plenty of trial and error. But we managed to pull through (hehe, my directional skill is no doubt improving by leaps and bounds, as opposed to few years ago, when I could get lost easily even in my hometown of Ipoh, LOL). Job was half-done, but hunger pangs must be appeased. Another problem cropped up, where to head for lunch? Hmmm ....

Crispy Prawn Puffs

Vague memories of masak-masak's previous posts on various food outlets in Taman Bukit Maluri, Kepong guided us to the aforementioned garden, and once we saw a few row of shops, our food-hunting instincts instantly sprang to life, and our eyes darted the area for potential target.

Prawn and Scallops Dumplings

Tuck Kee Restaurant .... sounded familiar. Not to be confused with the one in Ipoh, this restaurant was reviewed in The Star's Sunday Metro sometime in May 2008, and famous for a special dish of braised shark's lips. Yup, heard that right. But I decided to be prudent, for fear of over-spending (",), thus chose to order their dim sum instead.

Char Siew Pastries

The variety available for order was neither impressive nor little. Other than serving dim sum, you can opt for noodles, or dishes with rice if you're in a larger group. As there were only 2 of us, we decided to order a portion of their Fried Vermicelli with Clams (La-la) at RM6.

Fried Beehoon (Vermicelli) with La-La (Clams) RM6

A Klang's specialty, the noodles were fried with generous amount of small clams, eggs and bean sprouts. Though a bit bland, addition of the Kampung Koh's chilli sauce would do the trick and perk the dish up. Not a fan of beehoon, I have to admit they fried them quite well, not too soggy nor too hard. Wished it was a little more flavourful.

Loh Mai Kai (Glutinous Rice)

The Loh Mai Kai was a slight disappointment, a tad oily, and not dry enough. Somehow, I prefer Ipoh's dim sum joints' version of the Chinese delicacy.

Wu Kok (Yam Puffs)

Overall, the quality of the dim sum paled in comparison with some of Ipoh's better offerings. But surprisingly, to be seated in air-conditioned environment, and restaurant setting, the dim sum are priced rather reasonably. A meal for two, including Ti Kuan Yin (Chinese tea) came to RM27.30 only, after tax. Plus, we get desserts, on the house!

Mixed Fruit Platter and Jelly

Strangely, I liked the jelly. They were made from either Sunkist orange cordial drink, OR extracts from lime, OR whatever ingredients they put in. The texture was akin to konnyaku type of jelly. Lovely. Plus, they were FREE. Need I say more? ;)

Location : No 39, Jln Burung Jentayu, Tmn Bukit Maluri, Kepong 51200 Kuala Lumpur.

For other floggers' take on Tuck Kee, do hop over to :

Babe in the City

The Star's Sunday Metro

Taiping Getaway (Finale)

After a good night's sleep, what better way to start the day, than with a hearty breakfast, not at some posh cafe serving "All-Day Breakfast Menu" at premium price, but instead where the locals throng for their coffee fix ...

The signboard reads "Pusat Hiburan Larut Matang" .... erm, entertained by your meal?

Right in the middle of town, a few blocks away from The Store supermarket, is this hawker food centre, housing at least 80+ stalls, dishing out 'halal' food, as well as an array of Chinese hawker fare.

Peace Hotel ... aptly named?

This colonial building is in fact, a premium-priced hotel by the name of Peace Hotel, serving 5 stars dishes, with a posh spa, gym facilities, and a swank pool to boot. Yeah ... right. (Hehe, me and my sarcastic thoughts. Blame it on the weather)

In case you missed the food centre, which I highly doubt, you can look for The Store supermarket (the orange building at the background of the photo above, OR you can look for this Jurassic of a building). It is facing the food centre.

Surprisingly, hygiene is maintained quite well. Just don't look into every nook and corner ...

With so many stalls to choose from, and typical us who woke up later than expected (",) we could not scout the whole area, skipping the Malay and Indian stalls. The drinks are pretty cheap, by Ipoh's standards.

Til now, I've no idea what this lady is selling. Yeah, me and my battered tastebuds.

Deep-fried Radish Cake? Rice Cake? (Rm0.40 per piece)

While waiting for the auntie to scoop the sweet sauce for the deep-fried blocks of artery-clogging snacks, my motormouth babbled and chatted her up. (NOT for the wrong reason, mind you =P). She explained the nature and name of the kuih, but my bad command of Mandarin got me nowhere, and with my tails between my legs, paid for them and scurried away to oblivion.

The texture and tasteless nature of the snacks suspiciously resembled Lor Bak Kou (radish cake) commonly served in dim sum outlets. But with a twist. They were served with a type of sweet sauce, with a hint of chilli in them. In fact, the sauce reminded me of the gravy for chee cheong fun (flat, rolled rice noodles), which brings me to ......

Chee Cheong Fun (RM1.80)

This plate of smooth Chee Cheong Fun (CCF), served with a type of sweet gravy and chilli sauce, sprinkled generously with sesame seeds, dried shrimps, and fried shallots, was very much alike Ipoh's version, BUT with another twist. (Anymore twist, and you'll figure this might be a plot in M.Night Shyamalan's upcoming movie) You can request for additional yam cake to be served with your plate of CCF. Yup, sounds strange, but the bland yam block provided a powdery, chewable texture to the noodles. Interesting.

Peanut Pancakes (RM0.50 each)

We Ipohans call them 'Dai Kow Meen'. Penangites recognize them as 'Ban Chang Kuih'. Some call them Apom. Whatever they're known as, rest assured all towns with a sizeable Chinese community would have stalls selling these snacks.

Char Kuey Teow with Eggs (RM2.20)

Ah Leng Char Kuey Teow. Translation? The Pretty One's fried kuey teow. Portion was big, enough 'wok hei' and with lots of ingredients thrown in. Without prawns or cockles, as KYT avoids seafood like the plague. Hehe ....

Location : Chee Cheong Fun @ Stall 71, Ah Leng Char Kuey Teow @ Stall 83. The rest easily located. Pusat Makanan Larut Matang @ Jalan Iskandar, Taiping.

The confectionery/factory churning out 'halal' biscuits

Mum was raving about some famous Aulong Heong Piah (a type of biscuits with malt sugar filling, and crunchy outer layer sprinkled with sesame). But Aulong is another area nearby to town, but with mazes of housing area. We were lost on the 1st day, unsuccessfully tracking the confectionery. But all's not lost.

On the 2nd day, a local girl was with us (praise be to her?), and hey! She knows the way around Aulong, and even suggested a few shops famed for their biscuits. We managed to crawl our way to Eng Huat Food Mfg & Trading, in Taman Bersatu. I highly doubt I can re-locate this shop, but help's always available (right, Ms NWN? =P)

They bake a whole range of products, for sale, and displayed a 'halal' certificate. Normally, Chinese confectioneries do not cater to the Malay crowd. So, one-up for Eng Huat. I bought a packet each of Heong Piah (RM3), Kaya Puffs (RM5), and Hup Toh Soh (RM2.70) (a crispy biscuit made from wheat flour, sugar, eggs).

Only the Hup Toh Soh managed to impress me, and had me chomping on them with delight. The Heong Piah are OK, but fell short of expectation. The Kaya Puffs are best avoided altogether.

Union of the Sweet and the Crumbly ... Aww ...

Location : Eng Huat Food Mfg Trading @ 261-262, Jalan Pak Cik Ahmad, Taman Bersatu, 34000 Taiping. Tel : 05-8076148.

Nothing beats curry-drenched white fluffy rice with meat & vegetables (RM4.90)

Final meal of the day in Taiping was at A.Rahman Nasi Kandar Restaurant, somewhere in Medan Taiping. Sorry, no exact address. The fried chicken was delicious, fried to perfection but still manage to retain the moisture of the meat. "Kuah campur" (mixed curry/gravy) is what I normally order whenever I have nasi kandar, since my days in Penang. Plus point is the curry here is spicier than the ones in Kayu, Khaleel, Pelita etc, providing much-needed kick.

With that, the 2 Days, 1 Night Taiping Getaway came to a halt. Still a lot of undiscovered gems in this town, definitely. Pledge to return in near future (supposedly end of this month, but major changes in government's policies forces us to be prudent, and .... well, let's just wait for my post at the end of June. You'll see).

Taiping Getaway (Part 2)

( .... continued from Part 1)

Legend Inn, Taiping - Where we crashed for the night ...

Just got back from KL. Needless to say, the trip automatically "transformed" into a mini food tour, though my real intention of the journey involved formal duty. Hehe ... Really one .... =P

Back to my Taiping post, there are a few hotels in Taiping worth a stay, and they charge reasonably as well. Few weeks back, we stayed at Kama Lodge, near Lake Garden and Maxwell Hill, a chalet type of resort, but slightly pricier. (pics of the place later). This time around, we chose Legend Inn, in town area, which is cheaper (Deluxe = RM93, Superior = RM113, Jr Suite = RM155). We tried our luck with the suite, but unfortunately, they were fully booked. Hmm ... And who says nobody holidays in Taiping?!!

The room was clean, (not the carpet though) and fully furnished, with cable TV available. I got the double bed, while poor KYT managed to grasp a single one. Muahaha ... Ratio proportionate to body size ma .... Advantage of a glutton? LOL.

View from our room ...

Though situated facing a mosque, we were spared of our worries of early morning awakenings by prayers, as we believe the mosque is only used during Friday prayers. After we were done with our work for the day, we took a well-deserved nap (hehe, typical of us) right until .... DINNERTIME !!!! Slurp ....... =P

Location : Legend Inn @ No 2, Jalan Long Jaafar, 34000 Taiping, Perak, Malaysia. Tel : 605-8060000. For more information, click HERE.

Fancy dining, al fresco style?

We drove to a food court situated near Lake Garden (Taman Tasik); a popular spot for joggers, family outings, lovers' embraces (oopps ...) etc.

Hong Kong Chee Cheong Fun (RM2.50)

In order to fully utilise our bowel space, we scanned the whole area, and estimated the amount of food to be ordered, so we could try as much as possible, without wasting a single strand of noodle. Hehehe ....

I had the Hong Kong Chee Cheong Fun (Rice Noodle Rolls) with Char Siew and Shrimp. Simple, but forgettable. Definitely not on par with some of Ipoh's superb offerings. But the sambal was spicy enough to warrant for attention.

Pork Meat Noodle in Salted Vegetable Soup (RM4)

KYT picked something even lighter, minced pork meat noodles in salted vegetable soup. The stall also offers other choices such as bitter gourd soup, etc. Strangely, though I was half-expecting him to whine and criticize his bowl of unassuming noodles, he was throwing praises, and seemed to enjoy his meal very much. Erm, don't judge the bowl by its colour? ;)

Seafood Char Koay Kak (RM4)

Still hungering for more, we eyed the Seafood Char Koay Kak stall, whereby the uncle was frying non-stop, indicator of flourishing business, equivalent to good food?

On closer inspection, he offers Char Koay Kak (fried rice cakes?) with a twist, ingredients such as prawns, squids and mantis prawns (!) can be added as you please. However, he ran out of mantis prawns (sigh ...) on that night, so only squids and prawns. Fried with enough 'wok hei' and fiery from chilli sauce added, the dish was delicious, and the shrimps and squids played a major role in my positive verdict.

Penang Lor Bak (RM5.20 for 4 pcs)

One stall was brightly lit, with colourful and tantalizing array of fried stuff (Lor Bak) on display, tempting even the most picky of eaters (ie : KYT .... sorry, can't help it =P). Prices are slighty steep, compared to the ones from Penang, but the pieces were bigger, and more varieties on offer. The accompanying sauce complemented the fragrant deep-fried pieces well.

After that heavy dinner, we had to skip supper. In fact, we were at lost on where else to search for good grub, forcing us to retire early, and prepare for a long, long day ahead ....

(to be continued ... )

Taiping Getaway (Part 1)

Wow, finally I'm able to journey to KL once again starting tomorrow, thus, keeping my fingers crossed for another potential glutton getaway. =P

Did not bother to ask what's the uncle selling/doing with a typewriter in front of the restaurant ....

Let me post my last blog for the week by introducing some Taiping food. In fact, this is my 2nd trip here in 2 weeks. The 1st was not memorable in terms of food, but the hotel (Kama Lodge) is worth noting. This 2nd trip required me and KYT to stay overnight, and luckily managed to get a LOT of work done in a matter of 24 hours.

Preserved salted lime juice aka 'Ham Kam Kat' (RM1.50)

Brought here by a local, as the lady boss is a relative of one of her colleague's. Situated on Jalan Kota, right smack in town area, this shop somehow managed to preserve the colonial look and feel, with wooden benches commonly found in Penang's coffee shops (eg. Kek Seng).

We saw a few jars of 'kam kat' (lime?) in preservation at the parking lot next to the shop itself. Supposedly cooling and good for HOT weather. Half-expected them to be salty/sourish and difficult to swallow, as I'm not a fan of sour drinks. But pleasantly surprised by the palatable taste.

Satay Chicken Rice (RM3.80)

They sell a variety of rice and noodles, and prices ranging from RM3 to RM6 per plate. Reasonable, I'd say. The shop was half full, eventhough it was only 12 noon. KYT had the Satay Chicken Rice, suspiciously resembling Kam Heong style. But the chicken was good, marinated well, and the ever-fussy KYT gave his seal of approval. =P

Kerabu Chicken Rice (RM3.50)

The gals (yeah, all THREE of them ... ain't we the lucky lot? hehe) ordered the same dish, Kerabu Chicken Rice, therefore I was tempted to, accordingly. To order the same dish, mind you, no other hidden agenda. LOL.

Tastewise? Moderate. Probably I was expecting too much, but the rice was tasteless though fried with egg, and fluffy enough. The strips of fried chicken, dipped in the spicy & sour sauce also did not manage to satisfy this glutton. KYT nodded in agreement.

Location : 5, Jalan Kota, 34000 Taiping. Very easy to find, at the far end of Jalan Kota if you're coming from the toll exit of southern Taiping (Taiping/Changkat Jering). Jalan Kota is one of the main roads, parallel to Jalan Taming Sari or Main Road of Taiping town.

Bismillah Cendol by the sidewalk

Still craving for more, as the portion served at Lian Thong was skimpy(nothing dirty on my mind, really!). Nearby Taiping Hospital, on Jalan Barrack, is this famous cendol stall, serving possibly Taiping's most talk-about dessert at a shack, and by the pathway.

Gal : Wah ... gaya lah 'pose' ni !! =)

There was a laksa stall by the roadside, in case you crave for something substantial, but for us, a chilled bowl of cendol would do just fine. You can sit inside the shop/shack, or by the sidewalk.

Cendol Pulut with Red Beans (RM1.40)

Possibly one-off chance to try them, we chose the one with everything, pulut (glutinous rice) and red beans. Cooling, sweet, refreshing, it was all we could ask for after torched by the merciless sun. However, the pulut was a disappointment, we detected charred ends, and they came in lumpy, tough-to-chew texture. On a positive note, the serving was generous, with BIG red beans thrown in for good measure. Just skip the pulut when you order.

Part 2 - to be posted as soon as I returned from KL .... Bon Voyage?

Kampar-Tapah-Bidor-Teluk Intan in 8 hours

Over-travelled. Is there such a word? For if there is, I'm certainly on the brink of achieving nirvana this week, imagine waking up in 3 different places in a week, covering from North to South of Perak, and then some ...

Relaxing with a cuppa during working hours ...

A short post first, more detailed posts later. We, the original Food Gang (me, KYT, TallGal & FCOE) embarked on a journey down south, covering 4 towns, in hopes of finishing the job within a day's worth of work. Initially thinking of skipping breakfast due to time constraints, though I was hoping to pay the Kampar morning market food court a visit. =(

When it was Tall Gal and KYT's turn to do some work, me and FCOE stole some precious time and in a flash, parked our car, and subsequently our butts (hehe) at a mamak restaurant in Tapah, right opposite the bus station, named Restoran Haji.

Roti Telur with Dhal Curry (RM1.80)

The shop covers 2 lots, with a small crowd chatting over breakfast (typical of residents in smaller towns to take things easy and enjoy life as we all should?). I requested for murtabak. None. Capati? None as well, though their menu stated otherwise on the wall. Only roti canai and telur. Oh well ... Talk about options. Roti telur dua then.

Wrapped in a thin roti canai, the omelette was good enough, though paled in comparison to Penang's Argyll Road's version. The addition of green chillies added some kick, though not spicy at all. =P Their dhal and curry was good, not of the diluted kind. By the time Tall Gal and KYT came over, we were nearly finished, thus they only managed a glass of Milo each. Muahaha ........

Location : Restoran Haji opposite Tapah bus station, on a road parallel to Jalan Stesen where we had the Cendol Pulut previously.

This restaurant holds wedding functions way back then ...

Then work took us to Bidor, a bigger town some 15km away. This time we did not visit Pun Chun, for every previous visit to Bidor, Pun Chun (famed for duck noodles, yam puffs) would be our spot for lunch. We went to a restaurant on the way to Sungkai, a famous name every Bidoran should recognize. Tien Tien Lai Seafood Restaurant.

Braised Yee Mee (RM4.50)

I practically grew up visiting Sungkai very often, as my late grandpa was from there. Therefore, the old trunk road from Ipoh to Sungkai has become quite a routine route for our family. Back then, whenever there is any wedding ceremony, or grandpa feels like treating the whole family, we would head to this restaurant in Bidor.

They serve economy rice during lunch, in addition to dai-chow style dishes, and individual meals. Still feeling bloated from breakfast in Tapah, we chose to order lightly, hehe, at least I think we did. I picked the yee mee (egg noodles) while all 3 of them chose Ginger and Onion Chicken Rice. Komplot ah?!

Ginger and Onion Chicken with rice (RM5)

The food was acceptable, and the portion was humongous. They do not skimp on the ingredients, that's for sure. You can choose to sit inside with air-conditioning, OR outside and bask in the sun. The choice, was obvious for us, the spoiled lot. Haha ....

Location : Restoran Makanan Laut Tien Tien Lai @ No 1, Taman Kandiah, Jalan Sungkai, 35500 Bidor, Perak. Tel : 05-4342819

Til then .... wait for my Taiping post later 2nite, ya?

Hoy Tin Lau VS Mon Amour ?

Ipoh has a lot of 'dai chow' restaurants, serving Chinese style dishes served with white rice or noodles. Some capitalize on their fresh seafood, while others dish out home-cooked style dishes, attracting even the most fussy eaters (KYT comes to mind =P).

Sar Kiong Kai - Galangal/Ginger (?) Chicken (RM22)

Hoy Tin Lau has been serving thousands-millions of customers for some time now, located in the middle of Ipoh Garden East-Bercham way. However, the price has been steadily increasing, some dishes cost as much as those from bigger restaurants. But still, the steady stream of patrons prove the immense popularity of this particular restaurant.

Sar Kiong (galangal/ginger? help, anyone?) Chicken is one of their signature dishes, served with crunchy 'hoy jit' (taste like jellyfish tentacles) and a plate of some mashed up sar kiong. Smooth chicken meat, marinated with salt and lightly roasted, this dish is an evergreen delight.

Red Wine Spare Ribs (RM16)

The ribs came in boneless chunks of meat, supposedly pan-fried with red wine, but not a tinge of wine was detected. But still , credit must be given where it's due, and this dish did not disappoint. I'm a pork lover myself, so there. =P

Fried Prawn Omelette (RM10)

Filled with generous fillings of prawns, the omelette was fried until golden yellow, with the outer layer slightly crispy. No complaints.

Kam Heong La-La (RM15)

The Kam Heong sauce was addictive, good with rice, but the clams (la-la) were a bit on the smaller scale. Would appreciate it if the meat was chunkier, providing adequate bite.

We ordered another vegetable dish but I forgot what it was, for RM10. Total damage RM80.80 for 6 of us. A bit steep for Ipoh's standard, but the quality befits the price paid, IMO.

Location : Opposite the Thai Food restaurant I blogged about previously.

Mon Amour .... sounds French?

Another 'dai chow' outlet I'd like to share is a newly opened shop in Canning Garden, that has started business since 3-4 months ago. Restoran Mon Amour was an accident, NOT in a bad way, but just that we were aiming for another shop on the same row for some Hainanese goodness, but mistakenly stepped into the wrong shop. Oh well ... anything goes I guess?

The classical ambience of the interior ...

Seems they serve ONLY Chinese dishes, though the shop's name may be misleading. The decor mysteriously resembles the shop we initially planned to visit. Anyway, there were a few tables occupied, so the food can't be bad, right?

Signature Beancurd with Spicy Taucu (Soybean Paste) Sauce (RM8)

Their tofu, though not as smooth and yummy as New Hiong Yuen's, but still managed to pass the test with flying colours. The gravy of minced meat in taucu sauce tasted like Szechuan Ma Po taufu's sauce.

Garoupa fillet with ginger and onions (RM12)

The fish fillet has a slightly muddy smell, thus reducing the marks for this otherwise excellent dish. The sauce was a commendable effort though, with lots of onions, ginger and spring onions included.

Stir-fried long beans with sambal (RM8)

The vegetable fared much better, 'kwai tau miu' or slim long beans (?) is deemed quite an expensive vegetable (at least, according to Mum and grandma), and seldom served in restaurants. Crunchy, and fragrant from the sambal condiments, yummy!

Claypot Yellow Wine Chicken (Wong Chau Kai) RM16

Their signature chicken dish called 'Wong Chau Kai' (loosely translated as Yellow Wine Chicken) closely resembles the wine chicken commonly served to women in confinement. Hehe ... But the abundance of kampung chicken, mushrooms, wood ear fungus (muk yee) and various herbs made this dish a star on its own. The soup was not enough, as all of us enjoyed the aromatic dish as much.

Total for 4? RM53 including drinks. Reasonable, I'd say.

Location : Mon Amour Restaurant @ 19, Lorong Cecil Rae, Canning Garden, 31400 Ipoh. This row of shop faces the Canning market, and previously housed the famed Indulgence.

Yong Tau Foo @ Pasir Pinji Big Tree Foot

Probably the name was derived from those BIG trunks?

A popular spot for quick, cheap and satisfying lunch among the blue collars, this stall coined as "Dai Shu Kiok" literally translated as Big Tree Foot, is located behind Tuck Kee Restaurant in Pasir Pinji.

Wide array of fried yong tau foo (Zhau Liu) at 50-60 cents each

Not to be confused with THE other stall (now a shop) at Jalan Prince, Pasir Pinji (click HERE for my previous take on those yummy fried goodies), this stall has a following of its own, normally crowded during lunch hour, although the hygiene factor of dining under this shack is slightly compromised. But for a taste of good food, throw your caution to the wind for once. =P

Pick your favourite pieces, order their laksa/noodles, sit down and wait to be served ...

Recently, a coffee shop has opened next to this shack, with a stall selling the same stuff. Though having your meals inside the shoplot with cooling fans is tempting, I was not sure the authenticity of the yong tau foo, thus, ended up trusting my instinct and paying this same stall a visit. (Would love to hear what you think of the new stall, Jason. Hehe)

Mixed Fruit Ice (RM3.50)

The 'Chap Guo Ping' (Mixed Fruit Ice) came in a HUGE jug, enough for sharing. With lots of fruit bits added, and lychee syrup poured liberately over the shaved ice, this is heaven-sent on a hot, sunny day.

Low Shu Fun (Rice Noodles) with Dry Curry

You can order laksa, or other types of noodles to go with their stuffed fish paste (yong tau foo), OR you can just pick your pieces and eat them on their own. (Good when you're in a rush, and you do not wish to wait for the noodles)

The main characters themselves. Enough said.

The fried variety got my vote, as I've always have a strange bias for fried stuff. The fish paste used was homemade, and the pieces are not miniature in size, but rather stuffed to the brim. Highly recommended is the Fried Stuffed Sar Kok (Turnip). But really, go for anything ... they're all good.

Watch out for the lunch crowd, as you may have to queue up and brace the wait. Parking may be a hindrance, as the allocated parking spots are rather limited, forcing most to double park by the roadside.

Location : Behind Tuck Kee Restaurant, which is located at Jalan Tokong, in Pasir Pinji area. Nearby there is also a good 'dai chow' restaurant named Wong Kok.

Dim Sum Heaven & Taiwanese Fare @ Penang

The next morning, before attending to my job's need which took me to Penang, we had our breakfast at a dim sum joint on Anson Road. One of my favourite place for dim sum on the island. Been here a few times when I was a student back then.

They serve roasted ducks/meats & fried noodles aside from dim sum

A view of the morning crowd on a weekDAY from my table

The place was usually crowded on weekends, though ample seating area was provided. However we suspected the crowd on that morning was due to the school holidays. Everybody loves dim sum right? :)

Mum being a light eater, stopped me from going overboard with the orders. Ended up with 5 plates to share among both of us, though my itchy hands were so tempted to rob the ladies with trolleys. But her decision was a wise one, as the portion served here are categorized as 'to-be-shared' and the morsels did not look dainty at all.

Slightly disappointing Siew Mai

Kuchai (Chives) Dumplings

Fried Prawn Rolls with a huge dollop of mayonaisse

Only the pork dumplings (Siew Mai) let us down, probably cz they were cold. The fried stuff were all goodness in their own rights, the yam puff (Wu Kok) in particular, got Mum's seal of approval, completely trumping Foh San's version.

Perennial fav of mine, Egg Tart

Still craving for more, I chose an egg tart. Not as yummy as Choy Kee's, but still not bad in my books. But nowadays the egg custard in most shops has an extraordinarily deep yellow hue, wonder if they use the Omega eggs variety, or colourings. Hmmm ....

We packed 4 buns home, with fillings of peanut and char siew. Total for two including chinese tea was only RM17.80. Yup, cheaper than most of Ipoh's dim sum restaurants. Service is fast, no matter how big the crowd gets, as they disperse trolleys and trays reloaded with various dim sum, mixing the steamed ones and the fried ones, unlike the usual shop where they separate the trolleys for both items, and the number of waiters are commendable.

Location : Restoran Zim Sum @ 33, Jalan Anson, 10400 Penang. A short walk from Bangunan Persekutuan Pulau Pinang (a grand brown-orange colored building). Coming from Komtar area, follow Jalan Burma until you reach a traffic lights with Giant Hypermarket on your right. Turn left into Jalan Anson and you'll notice this food court-like settlement on your left.

My session ended only at around lunch hour, forcing poor Mum to scan through the whole of Giant, having coffee near New World Park, shopping for healthy breads from Continental Bakery at Jalan Nagor (good choices for multigrain breads, and a variety of healthy carbo), and eventually taking a taxi to Prangin Mall.

By the time I reached Prangin Mall it was already lunch time, but the mall offers pathetic choices for dining, therefore we decided to drop by Queensbay Mall while on the way home.

Taiwan Bull is newly opened, for a good few months I presumed. Read about this place from another blog (sorry, forgot which one) and decided to give this interesting eatery a try.

They're running a promotion, for an additional RM1, you can get a full set of meal with drinks and dessert of the day. Sound fine, at a time like this, where it's wise to be frugal.

Dry Beef Noodles with Beef Ball Soup (RM12.50)

My choice of dry beef noodles did not disappoint, nor impress for that matter. The servings of beef chunks was generous, and braised with white radish till very soft, but not chewy. However the noodles did not fare that well, wishing they were more springy (QQ). The pickles did not deliver either, as was the chilli oil sauce (no pics,sorry).

Guess how many beef balls were served? (hint @ background)

For an additional RM2, you can upgrade to the noodles with beef ball soup. However, 2 pitiful mash masquerading as beef balls were all that was served. At least the soup was flavourful, and complemented the noodles well.

Minced Chicken Rice (RM9.50)

Mum's Minced Chicken Rice was a tragedy. Tasteless, and the gravy too thick, it was slightly spicy but that was all to it. Horrid. Avoid at all cost.

The accompanying drink and dessert

For drinks, you can opt for the green tea, soya milk, or honey lemon. The honey lemon was tasteless though, probably too diluted. The dessert I suspect was the 'ai yu bing' jelly, but too watery to offer any bite.

Total : RM24.00. Cheap, fast-food like setting. Service was rapid, as the place was quite empty on that day. It was a weekday after all.

Location : Taiwan Bull Restaurant @ LG45-46, Queensbay Mall, Persiaran Bayan Indah, Bayan Lepas.

BBQ Chicken @ Gurney Plaza, Penang

Korea's No. 1 Chicken Restaurant. Really?

A break from the norms of digesting hawker food in Penang, I dragged Mum to Gurney Plaza instead, in hopes of locating new outlets. Tempted to step in to Chili's at G Hotel, which is right beside the shopping complex, but Mum wanted something lighter. Ended up at this newly opened (since Sept 07, but didn't realize it's been THAT long since I visited Gurney) restaurant serving a variety of chicken dishes, and then some.

Look at the cook in action, grilling the meat behind the bar

They claim to fry their chickens using 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Hmm, good for those on diet then? NAH ......

Brewed Coffee (complimentary for any main dish ordered)

They are running a dinner promotion, for any set meal ordered, you'll get free coffee, or a scoop of ice-cream. Both me and Mum being caffeine addicts, we chose the obvious option hands down. Their coffee deserves a mention, thick and aromatic, certainly not the 3-in-1 type of instant mix.

Teri-Q Stick (RM12.50)

Mum ordered the Teri-Q Stick, which is fried chicken marinated with teriyaki soybean sauce, coupled with garlic flavouring, and lightly coated with fine glutinous rice powder. No, my battered palate did not detect all the marinade, but the chicken was deep-fried to perfection, maintaining the crisp, though coated with the sweet and savoury teriyaki sauce. Delicious.

Jerk BBQ (RM14.50)

Yeah, the grilled chicken is named Jerk BBQ. Perfect for someone like me? =P Seriously, the chicken was marinated with special BBQ sauce that was slightly spicy, red pepper grain and over 20 natural seasonings (copied from the menu, hehe). The flesh was so deep in flavour, and succulent, retaining its natural juices. Though some might find it a tad oily. But small price to pay, for such an engaging piece of meat. Appeased my carnivorous appetite instantly.

Prawn Fried Rice

The main dish is served with either mashed potatoes, or prawn fried rice. Curious to see mashed potatoes on a Korean food menu, and to avoid potential disaster in sampling canned variety of the potatoes, we opted for the fried rice instead. We did not expect much, but the rice though looked bland at first glance, was fried just the way we like them. Soft, fluffy grains of rice, thrown into the wok with shrimps, the serving ain't small either. The waiter admitted the rice used is from the glutinous family.

A satisfying meal, far beyond our initial assumption. The place was rather empty when we walked in, but was half packed when we finished our meal. Wanted to order their dessert Pat Bing Soo (Red Bean Sherbet), but they ran out of the item.

Location : Gurney Plaza,No. 170-G-41, Persiaran Gurney 10250 Penang Tel:- 04 210 0222. Click HERE for more information from their website.

They have several outlets in Klang Valley, and another at New World Park, Swatow Lane. The waiter provided such impeccable service, assuring a decently and immensely satisfying meal for us. He proudly explained the restaurant's history, how they have 900+ outlets in Korea alone (!) and several others in Japan, China, and Australia.

And I Would Walk 100 Miles ....

Realized this is my 100th post!!! From a naive non-blogging savvy green boy to an amateur food blogger. (When will I ever be a professional? =P) Thanks to most of the floggers who directly/indirectly encouraged me in pursuing my newfound interest. Blogging that is, NOT eating. Binging has always been my fav pastime anyway. Muahaha ....

Last Monday, we were required to travel to Penang, for an hour course. WHAT? Yeah, supposedly only 60 minutes of talk, but prolonged until 4 hours of talk + field work. Good thing I embarked a day in advance, and stayed at Sunway Hotel. (RM190 for double room, but discounted to RM150 due to government rate. Hehe ... Ain't we the lucky bunch?)

View from my room's windows

Yup, we carried more than enough for migration ....

Somehow, Psycho's music played in my mind while bathing ...

A four stars hotel, Sunway management did not disappoint. The room was spacious, spick and span, with cable TV (ASTRO), fridge, iron+board, and all the necessities a room should provide. But, what's attractive is the location of the hotel, right in the heart of Georgetown, a stone's throw away from Komtar, and come evening, a dazzling array of hawker food is available outside of the hotel, on New Lane.

Sparkling array of stalls selling every kind of Penang's famous hawker fare

After a satisfying dinner at Gurney Plaza, (more on that later), me and Mum could only manage a light supper. This sweet soup (tong sui) stall is one of the better ones around, serving only a few types, but the authenticity and taste of the homemade boiled desserts are worth a mention or two.

See Koay Th'ng (RM2)

Both me and Mum ordered See Koay Th'ng, a combination of 4 ingredients, namely ginkgo nuts, red beans, lotus seeds (lin zhi), and lily bulbs (pak hup). Can be served hot, or cold. The night was warm, thus we chose the iced version, and pleasantly delighted by the refreshing dessert.

Pork + Chicken Satay (Pork 80cents, Chicken 60cents)

For something to munch on, or to fill the stomach, the variety of hawker food is endless. From Seafood Char Koay Kak to Char Kuey Teow, Grilled Chicken Wings to Kuey Teow Th'ng, making decisions may be a chore. But be warned, not ALL of the food served is yummy. The popiah was too wet for my liking, while the seafood char koay was so-so, but a bit pricey.

We ordered chicken and pork satay from a stall next to the tong sui stall. Nicely marinated, I prefer the pork satay, for they were less tough, and rather succulent. The grilled meat fortunately was not of the fatty kind, and mostly lean meat was served.

Peh Koay Th'ng (Ginkgo) RM2

I ordered another bowl of the sweet delight, filled with sweet ginkgo nuts. Very nutritious (?) and appeased my sweet tooth.

Lean Chi Th'ng (RM2)

Mum chose the one with only lotus seeds instead. As expected, flawless.

Location : New Lane, off Jalan Macalister (Macalister Road). Pretty easy to locate, from Komtar just follow the road signs to Jalan Macalister. Right after passing a few shops on your left, you'll notice New Lane on your left, and easier to locate at night as the stalls are rather visible from the main road.

Indian Affair @ Pakeeza Restaurant, Ipoh

How often is it that you heard of someone, from Chinese origin, craves for Indian food? Seldom? Yeah, especially in Ipoh, when the dearth of authentic Indian food limits your picks to either the mamak stalls, or stalls serving south indian curry rice only.

A taste ABOVE the rest ... believe THAT ...

Pakeeza has been around since, well, forever. Yup, I was here when I was still an immature kid, tagging along, not knowing what's in store and what's the hype was about this Indian restaurant serving North Indian cuisine in town. (I think the term Greentown has not even existed at that moment)

Mango Lassi RM4.50

The lassi tasted smooth, and creamy enough, with refreshing mango flavour, but not to the point where you feel like drinking a cordial drink aka too thick mango taste.

The arch/mirror welcoming the patrons. But kind of IN the way, does it not?

Papadam (Indian crackers) RM0.70

Were served papadams as appetizers, though we initially thought they were complimentary. =P But 4 pieces of huge papadams for a mere 70 cents sound good enough, no?

Garlic Naan (RM3.90)

Kashmiri Naan (RM3.90)

Their naan breads are their specialty, providing the patrons with roughly 8 choices. Soft, fluffy, and full of flavour, the bread goes well with their curries, and other side dishes. Eaten on its own, they're delicious as well. Cut into 4 large pieces, resembling pizza albeit Indian style, highly recommended as an alternative for your carbo cravings.

Mutton Kofta (RM7.50)

Mutton kofta is spiced mutton meatballs with saffron sauce, served with chunks of potatoes swimming the aromatic, and flavourful gravy, akin to curry. Though only 2 pieces of meatballs were served, they were marinated well, and no traces of veins/unsavoury bits were detected.

Tandoori Chicken (RM7.00)

Of course, naan when paired with tandoori chicken, are a match made in heaven. The chicken meat was succelent, meaty, and tasted delicious, from the spices used and the way the chicken was grilled. Though would appreciate it if the dish was served with more condiments and gravies.

Palak Paneer (RM5.50)

The highlight of the night was no doubt, the palak paneer, a dish of mashed spinach with homemade cottage cheese. Still remember the taste vividly from years ago, I knew I had to order it for old times' sake. Very rich, creamy, required no chewing at all. Quite filling, don't look down on the small serving.

Location : 15-17, Jln Dato Seri Ahmad Said (Green Lane), 30450 Ipoh. Specifically, it is situated in Greenhill area, opposite Regal's Lodge hotel on the other side of the road. Tel : 05-2414243, 05-2530407.

The Gerik-Pengkalan Hulu Trail (Pt 4 - Finale)

After the slightly disappointing breakfast (or probably I was expecting too much), we moved on, or rather sped off to Pengkalan Hulu for our real job at hand. Wondering where in the world is this town? It's roughly 42 km north of Gerik, at the Malaysia-Thai border. Yup, Perak HAS a Thai border after all. The neighbouring town is Betong in Thailand. We did not manage to cross over this time, but someday down the line, we won't hold back our urges. (I meant that in a good way ... stop thinking otherwise) =P

If you're wondering what we did there, make a wild guess. I'm sure it's easy enough with all these photos assisting, no?

No, we're not officers from the customs department. We do not even wear uniforms. Nah ... nevermind. During lunch break, we inched our way closer to the border by crossing the custom, and proceeded to .....

Yup, DUTY FREE. Magic words for shopaholics?

Don't mind the cam whore ... LOL

We did not buy any chocolates, liquor, or cigarettes. But instead, we bought a tin of candies each. Yeah, supposedly on offer, 2 tins for RM10. No pic, sorry. "Supposedly" imported from UK.

Variety of fruits sold at the border

Various local fruits on display, but be reminded that the prices may vary, and not all variety is cheaper than the ones you can buy from your grocery store. But the 'dokong' is considered a steal, at RM5/kg, if buy in bulk, you can get RM4/kg even! But I'm no fan of the fruit, thus did not purchase any.

These, on the other hand, are my absolute favourite! But I dunno how to pick good ones from bad ones. Naive me? End up did not buy any as well. Muahaha ....

The final arch, leading to the town of pleasures .... (",)

Look at the camwhore @ work, again ...

Lunch was a simple meal in town, at a restaurant called C.K.S. Probably the initials of the owner? Dare not ask, to avoid being labelled as nosy outsiders. We had our meals here before, and the food quality was passable.

Braised Rice with Seafood (Wui Fan) RM3.50

Since there were only TWO of us, we did not order 'dai chow' but instead chose to have individual portions. KYT praised their 'Wui Fan', with lots of ingredients thrown in for good measures, and the rice braised and cooked to perfection.

Sweet and Sour Pork Rice RM5

My rice arrived much later, probably cz the chef was cooking for the next table which ordered the same dish. Though slightly pricey for a restaurant of such scale, the meat was deep-fried until crispy, and marinated well before frying. The tomato gravy concocted was just nice, tangy enough, yet not overwhelmingly sour.

Goodbye peaceful town ...

After the meal, we decided to skip the afternoon session at the customs, and proceeded back to Gerik for some unsettled matters. Truth be told, the authority/men-in-uniforms working there are a bunch of inefficient personnels. Sigh .....

~ The End ~

The Gerik-Pengkalan Hulu Trail (Pt 3)

.... continued from Part 2

Tropical paradise? ... Nah ...

Breakfast on the next day was a simple affair, at a half-open air outlet, resembling a medan selera/morning market eatery.Situated at Jalan Takong Datok, a stone's throw away from our Hotel Avana.

Lady selling wantan mee (noodles with pork/prawn dumplings)

There were at least 10 stalls operating that morning, with the morning crowd mostly condensed at the same area, probably relishing the yong tau foo with noodles. But KYT wanted wantan mee instead, so we chose to park our derrieres nearby a pau/dimsum stall, next to a wantan mee stall.

Wantan mee with Char Siew (BBQ Pork) (RM2.40)

The difference between the noodles sold here, compared to the ones in Ipoh, is the one being sold here is slightly thicker, but KYT commented the noodles lacked the bounce normally associated with the egg noodles, and gave his seal of DISapproval.

Char Siew Pau (RM1.20) with Milk Tea

I opted for a lighter breakfast, in hope of devouring the almighty yau char kueh (Chinese crullers) at Pengkalan Hulu, which we had during the previous trip. (Trust me, there ain't no other LARGER yau char kueh you can find). Thought of snapping a photo of the pau's fillings, but was sorely disappointed to discover minimal, mediocre fillings. The milk tea fared much better however, even trumping the mamak stall's version.

(.... to be continued, again ...)

Where the Starz Come Out to Play

Second post for the day ... Must catch up, must catch up !!! =P

Hor Le Wood. Tongue-in-cheek?

I used to attend tuition classes at Wijaya in Ipoh Garden South. On most evenings, my family would walk a short distance from my tuition centre, and packed some fried goodies home (eg . yew char kueh (Chinese Crullers), ham chim peng, fried nin kou, etc) for tea break.

The stall is still there, but manned by different owners. But still attract the crowd, nevertheless.

Sore throat inducers ... pick your poison ?

More of the superstarz on display

Fried sweet potato balls (RM1 for 5)

Grandma's perennial favourite. Though I find them a bit too sticky. But when eaten HOT from the wok, really satisfying. Crisp on the outside, hot and sticky on the inside.

Fried Nian Gau (glutinous rice cakes) RM0.70 each

Ham Chim Peng (RM0.70 each), and the rest of the cast at the background ...

Sticky Nian Gau sandwiched between sweet potato and yam slices. Contender for an Oscar nomination?

Overall, pretty cheap, RM5.20 for 6 pcs, plus 5 sweet potato balls. Tastewise? Decent, but a notch below the ones from a stall at Restoran Hong Kong in Canning Garden. More on that in the future. Now for some well-deserved rest after a long, long day .... zzz ...

Location : Tingkat Taman Ipoh, Ipoh Garden South. A corner shop opposite Restoran Chha Yong (famed for the tong sui). This row of shops is behind E-Box Karaoke, a large building facing the main road of Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah.

The Gerik-Pengkalan Hulu Trail (Pt 2)

(.... continued from Part 1)

Miniature-like tank at a non-existent round about.

(Gerik-ans can't be bothered to make one full round but instead zoom from every direction)

Just got back from Penang. Realizing in shock (*o*) that I'm WAY behind in my posts, and with my memory starting to fail me, I've made a resolution to post as much as possible, and hope the backlog of photos are cleared before the impending KL journey(and work) this month, and another Taiping stay end of June. Phew ....

Oh, it's a Scout Car ... for display purposes only though. Enemies would've spotted this from far away, defeating its 'scouting' intentions. =P

Yeah, in fact the small town of Gerik has its own landing site. But doubtful in full use. Probably only for the army's planes. Wondering what the common folks utilize this empty, vast land?

Some of the residents jog here, in the evening, successfully turning the land into erm, race tracks? LOL. Let's hope it's an abandoned landing site, else everyone would scramble like ants once the jet fighters zero in.

Restoran Chau Y (makes you wonder if the signboard makers scratched their heads in puzzle, wondering WTH Y stood for?)

Time for dinner, although the previous roti canai was still swimming in my stomach. But they were in famine mode, right after their badminton session. So, here goes ...

Stir-Fried Anchovies and Cashew Nuts (RM9)

Normally a dish best served with plain porridge, they spiced it up a notch by adding some curry leaves and dried chillies, not unlike Kung-Pow/Kam Heong style. Yummy.

Kam Heong Chicken (RM8)

The chicken meat was tender, and boneless. But the taste was moderate only, the sweetness offset the overall sensation. Even MBoy and gang who frequent this shop often, and ordered the same dish on most nights, admitted the taste was off, on that evening. Whoops.

Crispy Skin Tofu (RM5)

Their signature beancurd is homemade, deep-fried until the outer layer is crisp, and the interior soft and silky. Served with generous drizzles of onion oil, (probably too generous, according to KYT) the two blocks of goodness cost only RM5. A steal, no?

Kung Pow Mantis Prawns (RM15)

The mantis prawns (lai liu har) fared not much better though. Though the batter was crispy, some complained it was too thick, overpowering the succulent and natural sweetness of the meat while others consider the dish praiseworthy. Me? I'll go with the former group of thoughts. Portion was rather large, sufficient to feed 7 of us.

Stir-Fried Yau Mak with Fermented Beancurd (Foo yee) RM4

A bit on the salty side, but as expected when any vegetable is cooked with foo yee. Total bill for 7 came to RM49.90. Muahaha ... I thought I was dreaming ....

Location : Restoran Chau Y on the main road (Jalan Intan). No address, but pretty easy to locate. Just go towards the direction of Pengkalan Hulu from Gerik town, and you'll notice this restaurant on your left, same row with Restoran 113, another dai chow style restaurant.

Empty streets at 10pm, taken from the roof top of a four-storey building

Dark, 'treetop' setting cafe

We then proceeded to supper, after a nice, long bath. Initially planned for mahjong session on the roof top of MBoy/Tee's landlord's shophouse, the plan was scrapped when only the table was found. The mahjong set remained in oblivion. Supper sounds fine anyway. Hehe ....

French Fries (RM3/serving)

Other than KL's/JB's version of the tree top cafe, Gerik has its very own too! Nameless, and situated at a housing area behind Restoran Chau Y, this cafe serves Western food at affordable prices, and a frequent haunt when they have a cause to celebrate. One word of caution : the wait was relentless, more than 30 mins for 2 baskets of French Fries!! But the ambience made up for that, I guess. We were seated on the floor, cross-legged, and turned on our personal fan on the wall. Drinks are rather cheap, fruit juices for less than RM3.50. But the coffee was horrible.

(to be continued ... )

The Gerik-Pengkalan Hulu Trail (Pt 1)

Finally some well-deserved time to myself, after a hectic week, travelling to Gerik-Pengkalan Hulu on Mon/Tues, then Taiping/Kamunting/Selama on Wed/Thurs, followed by former colleagues' (yeah, BOTH of them were) wedding marathon on Fri-Sat, eventually culminating into a marvellous wedding dinner at Sun Lee How Fook yesterday night. But more on that later. For now, let's do some backtracking, k? ;)

Gerik town ... Everday is a winding road ?

Gerik is a town roughly 150km north of Ipoh. Fortunately, the access path has been well-developed, so rest your worries on bumpy, mountain roads peppered with curves more than Angelina Jolie could ever wished for. Hehe ... =P

Exiting from Kuala Kangsar toll using the PLUS highway, you'll notice Gerik (Timur) on the signboards. Trudge along, and you'll passed by scenic views of the rural area, various kampungs, and even Lenggong, which is famous for its fishballs, and wan tan mee.

Our lodge for the night, upstairs, NOT the Kedai Keropok ...

We stayed at Hotel Avana. Yup, NOT the famed Awana, but a slight variation. But who cares? Where else can you find a room with TWO queen-sized beds, clean, with air-conditioning and hot shower, all for only RM60. Yup, a room for FOUR, but pay for the price of ONE. (Haha, I didn't get paid for this, in case you're wondering)

Most buildings in Gerik were built with 3 or more storeys.

View from our balcony after office hours. KL-ites would KILL for this ...

Unpretentious warung, manned by a makcik and her son, making a living ...

Though initially we planned for lunch at Lenggong, somehow KYT threw a spanner in the works. LOL. Once checked in, my stomach grumbled and my food radar was put to test. A short walk from our hotel is this stall, by the roadside at an empty parking lot. The throngs of customers stopping by sent positive signals, and needless to say, I warped there in an instant.

Looks and shapes do not matter,right?

The lady was selling fried goods, ranging from tapioca balls to banana fritters, and various other stuff. I placed my order for RM1 worth of banana fritters (comes in 6 pcs) and RM1 for another 3 fried tapioca balls.

Crunchy, sweet, and soft-centred tapioca balls

I was digging at my packet of 'treasures' while walking back to my room, and pleasantly delighted by the yumminess of the tapioca balls. The batter was crispy and fragrant, not really oily, while the tapioca was soft and sweet. The banana fritters though looked a tad ugly, but who cares? They were fresh from the wok, very hot and crispy. But I've had better ones.

Location : At a parking lot in the middle of Jalan Takong Datok, the 3rd road parallel to the main road in Gerik. This stall is next to a burger stall.

Still nursing the drumming hunger pangs, MBoy recommended one of his favourite mamak shop in Gerik. (MBoy, Zmin, and a few others are working there, btw) Restoran Thaibah is situated on Jalan Tun Saban, the 2nd road parallel to the main road.

Nothing beats frothy, milky teh tarik (RM1.30) for tea time. I'm a caffeine addict myself, probably possessing trails of my late grandfather's genes. He could drink mugs after mugs of milk tea, chugging them like beer. =)

Roti canai with Sambal Dhal (RM0.80)

The roti canai should be paired with their sambal dhal, or so I was told. Normally, I prefer curry, but decided to trust others for once. The roti is nothing to shout about, but the sambal was piquant, slightly spicy, but too salty for my liking. Though the combination of dhal with anything works, as dhal on its own is pretty tasteless. Except Kalai's, which I adore whole-heartedly. =)

Location : Jalan Tun Saban, the 2nd road parallel to main road. Turn right once you arrive at the traffic lights with Shell petrol station. Take the first turning on the left, and go until nearly the end of the road. Restoran Thaibah is on your left.

(to be continued .... )

The Gerik-Pengkalan Hulu Trail (Part 2)

The Gerik-Pengkalan Hulu Trail (Part 3)

The Gerik-Pengkalan Hulu Trail (Part 4 - final)