Roasted Duck and Such @ Hong Kong Restaurant ... in Ipoh?

Sinful piece of roasted duck, with thin, crisp skin, albeit slightly gamey flavour

OK, a very short post for the weekend. FRIDAY doesn't come around often ya know.... ;)

HONG KONG in Malaysia ....

There's this REALLY good roasted duck, oil chicken (a direct translation I suppose), and various roasted meats served in a restaurant in Tasek, Ipoh. More often than not, the place would be swarmed by locals and tourists alike, for the years of legacy (walk in and you'll notice the sublime and ancient ambience).

Herbal drinks - Boiled IN-House, and changes everyday

To wash off all the grease, oil, and guilt (hehe) you can opt for their 'leung sui' or herbal drinks. The 'Yeung Sam Sou' was particularly bitter on the day we went. So much that Mr Z could not finish his without squirming in his seat.

Stir-fried long beans with sambal

Other than satisfying your carnivorous cravings, there are various other side dishes, mostly vegetables and such, to accompany your mains. Still remember they serve a mean "Mui Choy" (preserved vegetables?) with Pork, costing RM10 per bowl, but was darn good. Very thick and dark sauces, intimidating yet pleasantly delectable. But on certain days only I think ...

The usual chilli sauce and 'hoi sin' sauce for the duck

A platter of artery-clogging indulgences yet sumptuous serving of meats - Crispy Roasted Duck and Deep-fried Pork with 'Nam Yue'

The duck's skin was crispy, the layer of fat was mostly roasted away. The meat was tender, but this time around rather gamey and strong in flavour. The batter-fried pork has always been a staple of mine; something which can't be easily found in other similar restaurants. Coated with batter, marinated with 'Nam Yue' (translation?), it can be a light snack (OK, as light as I'd portrayed them to be) on its own.

Not exactly cheap, as the platter of meat was about RM18, the greens about RM5, and drinks RM2. Still reasonable, but a simple lunch here may cost RM10 per pax.

Location : KEDAI HONG KONG @ 638-640, Jln Kuala Kangsar, Ipoh, Perak. This is located in Tasek, on the main road of Jln Kuala Kangsar leading to Chemor, and Sg Siput.

No MAP yet, sorry .... =P

Another One of Those Temptations - Mee Kari Ipoh Garden

Another feather in the cap. Another chapter in the "Ipoh's Famous Curry Noodles" saga, after a looooooooong hiatus. (Here's Part One and Part Two, for those who've yet to be poisoned!)

Mee Kari Ipoh Garden .... in Pasir Putih?!!! *_*

This happened some time ago. When we have yet to travel to Betong, it seems. However, this outlet is rather new, opened sometime in the beginning of the year. Or that's what my brain had me thinking. OK, I kinda forgot all the tiny details. And some major ones as well, like... the ADDRESS, PRICE and such. Minor setbacks, no? Sorry lor ..... =)

Notice the COCKLES piling on top of each other?!!! Geez .... I'm so near I could stretch my itchy hands and stole some right away!

The shop's new. But the name isn't. That's why some may scratch their heads wondering why a curry mee restaurant in Pasir Putih is named Mee Kari Ipoh Garden, when Ipoh Garden's a good 10km away! This one is a branch of the famous curry noodles at Aneka Selera, or Tung Koo Thing in Ipoh Garden. Struck a chord?

Sinful bowl of curry noodles

This one managed to impress, somewhere in the Top 5, or even Top 3 in my list. Of course, my favourite Nam Chau comes 1st. The luscious santan (coconut milk) was literally poured into the bowl of orange-tinged gravy, resulting in a rich and slightly spicy mouth-watering concoction, complete with the usual chicken, prawns, cockles and such.

Dry Curry Noodles ... MY preferred version.

I opt for the dry curry, routinely. Somehow the thicker consistency of the gravy, paired with soy sauce and dark soy sauce was deadlier than the wet-ter sibling. But of course, sloppy people (like yours truly) must practise extra caution when slurping their orgasmic fixes, as the combination of BLACK, ORANGE and RED gravies on one's spotless shirt may not sound appealing.

Rojak .... for light eaters. Or greedy ones who's not easily satiated with their bowls of curry mee

They do serve some other variety of noodles, rice and even nasi lemak, I think. In case you can't spot their signature item, which btw, is printed BIG & BOLD on their signboard, pasted on the walls surrounding you, AND practically ordered by every single table in the premise. Ahem.

Oh, the Rojak is worth a try too. The thick and sweet shrimp paste with abundance of chopped peanuts goes REALLY well with the freshly cut fruits. But do remember to order at least a dozen or so (OK, at least two pcs) of their crispy shrimp crackers. Lovely combination. On most days, I eat only the crackers with the rojak sauce.

Location : MEE KARI IPOH GARDEN @ 209-211, Jalan Pasir Putih, 31650 Ipoh, Perak. Got MAP !!! (albeit a shabby one ... correct me if I'm wrong)

Specifically, the shop is near to SMK Jalan Pasir Putih, a secondary school on Jalan Pasir Puteh. Same row with Maybank of Pasir Puteh branch. Feel free to ask for directions.

Truely American Food @ David's Diner, Greentown, Ipoh

You know sometimes, when you least expect a place to be special, the food to be marvelous, and the service to be impeccable, you'll be pleasantly surprised to discover a hidden gem, unearthed for all to savour and share its glory?

Freshly-opened for business a day before ... David's Diner, a restaurant serving "TRUELY AMERICAN FOOD".... or so they claim.

But inevitably, or in reciprocal, when you put too much hope in an eatery, brimming with fresh concept and spanking menu, you're bound to be slightly, or sorely disappointed. One time or the other. Sigh .....

The ambience sets the mood for a no-frills, American fare commonly seen in diners in the movies, complete with mirrors and artificial bricks on the wall. But of course, Kimball sauces instead of Heinz or a good ol smoky BBQ sauce was a thorn in the flesh ...?

Recently opened ... in fact, they started business yesterday, David's Diner managed to grab our attention with its cool signboard, proudly proclaiming their brand of "True American food." And when we went for another round of Nasi Vanggey yesterday for lunch, we realised David's Diner was opened for business, and offering FREE breakfast on opening day. Shucks ... we missed. But pledging to come one day, we succeeded in doing so today.

Garden Salad

The place was rather packed during lunch, a positive sign of good things to come? The owner is an Indian guy,married to an American lady, and both returned to Malaysia to open this outlet. With so much American influence, one can't help but anticipate in glee for some good ol' American fare.

But sadly, that was not the case. First off, the service was horrendous. Only 2 waiters managing the lunch crowd, plus the countless amateurish mistakes made by those newcomers had some other patrons raging in their seats. And the half hour wait for our food was somewhat distressing, as one of us is strictly bound to the hospital's one hour break ruling.

Italian Chicken Burger Set (RM9.90)

But poor service can be easily forgiven, as staff training takes time, and customer service needs experience. We were not daunted by the many 'black faces' occupying the tables all around us, as I hoped (and prayed) that the food would somehow excelled in response to the shortcomings, proportionate to the longer-than-average wait.

But reality bit me in the a$$ ... HARD. Pricing-wise, all the items are reasonably-priced, with most burger sets below RM10, and the pasta, chops, Mexican Tacos and Burritos, etc will not burn a hole in the pocket. Most mains come with either a soup or a salad, and 2 side dishes of your choice. And credits must be given where they're due, the side dishes list is an honorable 15 items, at least. From the potatoes (mashed, fries, roasted and baked!) to the salads and soups, and mac+cheese and beans+franks, you'll have fun picking 2 of your preference.

Meatball Spaghetti (RM13.90) with Salad and Garlic Bread

Nan's Italian Burger was a miniature version of TGIF's, or Chili's grander version. Even smaller than your average Big Mac or Whopper. OK, EVEN smaller than a McD's Chicken Burger. Seriously. But size does not matter, does it?

The meat patty (chicken or beef) was marinated well, fortunately, with hints of herbs and whatnots (I got a mere small sliver for sampling) and not too dry. But the accompanying buns were measly, generic burger buns WITHOUT toasted sesame that you can easily purchase in bulk from your favourite hypermarket. In short, a Ramlee burger type of buns. The crinkle-cut fries were NOT crispy, and slighty soft.

The spaghetti was far from al dente, soggy and drenched with tomato puree. The flavoursome meatballs and melted cheese saved the dish somewhat, yet the tough garlic bread was nothing amazing. (TallGal's comments, not mine as I sampled few strands of the pasta and sulked).

Popcorn Shrimps (RM15.90)

Dipping the shrimp into the sour salad dressing for some taste .... Notice how small the shrimp is?

My Popcorn Shrimp (12 pcs of S-sized shrimps) came on a big platter. Mostly occupied by the baked potato and the salad. The 12 pcs of shrimps were sitting in one corner, battered and deep-fried. Yup, they were fresh and succulent, but this is NOT a good choice for big eaters, as you can basically finish all the shrimps in two spoonfuls.

Baked Potato

Fortunately, for some carbo-boost, they have potatoes cooked in every way imaginable. I chose a baked one, and some roasted ones. Since their Macaroni and cheese was out-of-stock. Yup, heard that right. Only knew bout this AFTER I've finished my main.

The baked potato was served with very little sour cream, and the potato tasted mysteriously like sweet potato. The four of us could not intepret the REAL nature of the potato. Was it a sweet one? Or the usual one? Hmmm ....

Italian Roasted Potatoes

As replacement for my initial order of Mac+Cheese, I picked the Italian roasted potatoes, as even the Mexican Rice was not served this afternoon. The roasted potatoes, lightly seasoned, were good. Though a bit over-carbo for lunch, I just munched my way through it all.

And ended up feeling darn sleepy for the remaining 3 hours until the magical 5pm.

Will I return for another round of TRUELY AMERICAN FOOD? Hmmm .... Maybe sometime down the line. But not so soon, not before they sort out their teething problems, less-than-stellar service and quality of the food. And service charge's at 10%. Go on and have a try, I'd like to hear some comments from you guys.

Location : DAVID'S DINER @ B-G-1, Ground Floor, Greentown Square, Ipoh.

Taiwanese Traditional Snacks @ Yong He Soya Milk, Ipoh

KLites and Penangites have their Shihlin Taiwan Snacks, with their signature oyster mee sua (meant to be slurped, not eaten), XXL Fried Chicken etc.

While Ipohans drooled away and sulked in one corner ....

Until now.

YONG HE Soya Milk @ Medan Ipoh Bistari

Started business barely a month or two ago, the place has been picking up steam, judging from the breakfast and lunch crowd. Though packed to the brim, the tables and chairs merely occupied HALF of the shoplot, while the larger-than-usual kitchen took up the other half.

Bet they're performing acrobatics in there. :)

Reasonably-priced and various rarely (or in fact, NEVER) seen snacks and familiar beverages

They take pride in their soya milk drinks, served either hot in a bowl, warm, or cold. And indeed the soya milk is good, but not breath-takingly marvelous. A notch above most offerings out there, except the one I had in Hong Kong. But let's not compare.

But the star beverage in Yong He, (at least to me, anyway) is their Rice Peanut Milk drink, served either hot, warm or cold as well. Saw this in TV some time ago, in a Taiwanese food documentary, and was pleasantly surprised to find the drink available here. Milky, yet not overly rich, the concoction reminded me of a typical Chinese sweet soup (tong sui), the Fa Sang Wu, aka Blended Peanut Soup.

They also have salty soya milk, on top of the usual sweet version, and a sugar-free version. Choices, choices ....

There's the Chilli Oil, Garlic Sauce, and Soy Sauce for all your condiment needs

Clockwise from top left : Ham Egg Cake (RM3.50), Bacon Egg Cake (RM3.50), Twisted Bun+Egg (RM3.00) and Rice Roll+Meat Floss (RM2.50)

Serving mostly snacks, one can REALLY pig out here, without a care in the world. OK, maybe practise some self-restraint, but everything's rather cheap here, one can't help but over-ordered. The Egg Cake can be served with ham, bacon, pork chop, etc. Akin to our Popiah or spring rolls, the egg roll is quite tasty as the fried egg with spring onions is fragrant, and paired with either ham or bacon, the combination of flavours work on every level. And dip them into the garlic sauce+chilli oil combination, and the taste was somewhat enhanced tremendously.

The same could not be said bout the twisted bun though, as we find them rather dry, and required some chewing. The rice roll with meat floss filling was another good choice. Very much alike nasi impit (of Sate Kajang fame), the roll is stuffed with lots of meat floss, and a crunchy and savoury combination of choy pou (preserved mustard) and dried shrimps (I think).

The SPICY sauce

Aside from the garlic sauce and chilli oil, they've another container filled with dark, watery, un-assuming liquid, with hints of chilli seeds. Their signature spicy sauce. Unlike the ones usually found in restaurant serving Xiao Long Bao, it's rather diluted, but pack a punch nonetheless. Not extremely spicy though (which would be nice!!!), but would be a tad better had it been more concentrated, as I found it rather funny pouring the watery sauce onto the snacks, rather than dipping the snacks into the sauce.

Clay Oven Rolls + Egg (RM2.50)

Another one of their signature item is the clay oven rolls, dough sprinkled with sesame seeds, baked to crispy perfection, and sandwich-ing either egg, ham, bacon, or any combination (I kinda forgot ... hehe) Just remember to have them FRESH, as it'll harden rather fast.

Meat Bun (RM2.00)

Piping hot from the steamer, the steamed Meat Bun is purpotedly a Taiwanese favourite snack. Forgot the translation, but something along the line of 'Sui Zhing Yuk Bao'. Correct me if I'm wrong, k?

The filling of dense pork meat was marinated and the taste mimicked the fillings of Xiao Long Bao. Minus the soup, of course. Not bad, but be warned; the filling is darn hot when served, hence do not risk burning your tongue over this one.

Radish Cake (RM2.50)

Good ol' radish cake. Or 'Lor Bak Kou', a perennial dim sum superstar, pan-fried to crispiness. Not one of the best, as the soft and soggy cake was slightly different from the usual ones in dim sum restaurants. But still flavourful, nevertheless.

Opens from 8am til 6pm daily, the place is pretty easy to locate. In fact it's at the same row with SSTC Italian Cafe, and Serai Sate Kajang.

Location : YONG HE SOYA MILK @ No 7, Jalan Medan Ipoh 1E, Medan Ipoh Bistari, 31400 Ipoh, Perak. Tel No : 605 - 545 6318

Having trouble finding a good spot for tea-time snacking pleasure? Worry no more. =)

Tung Koo Thing aka Aneka Selera - Where Everything's Under One Roof in Ipoh

Lazy, rainy Saturday evening. I'll let the photos do the talking, instead of the usual (motor)mouth's rambling on and on ....

Hahaha ... both scratching in tandem. Confused?

Place : Aneka Selera aka Restoran Kam Wan aka "Tung Koo Thing" aka Mushroom Stop ?

Address : Erm, this one's tough. But here's something to assist. Got MAP !!! Although seriously, ask any Ipohan, or any foodie from outstation where the famous "Tung Koo Thing" is, and doubtful they won't know. Unless they've been living under a shell. Or a rock.

Whoops. I'll shut up. =P

Deep-fried Squids (RM8)

Cheap, fresh and succulent squids. Sadly, the batter did NO justice to the seafood. Tasteless, relied heavily on the chilli sauce. Go for their shells and crabs instead.

Deep-fried-til-damn-crispy-yet-tasteless Mini Baby Crabs (RM5 for small)

From the Lor Bak stall. Perfect as accompaniment for beer, or light snack. Though artery-clogging culprits, no less. If only they're saltier ....

Tom Yum Beehoon (RM4.50)

Toned down for the general palate. Not as authentic as the REAL deal. Yet works in some ways ... With generous ingredients (the usual suspects) thrown in for good measure. Won't fire up your belly, yet piquant enough to be interesting.

Popiah (RM1.60 each)

Bigger than usual, the Popiah stall is directly opposite Meng Wa Seafood stall, somewhere in the middle of the food court. Not too shabby, though the wait may be daunting. She took her own sweet time preparing these babies.

Wan Tau Long (Ai Yee Bing) Jelly with Ice (RM2, I think)

Wash it all down with some cooling jelly, with self-served squeezed lime for that tangy hint, and lots of shaved ice to numb that aching tooth. Refreshing.

OK, happy weekend (or whatever that's left of it) everyone!

1919 Restaurant & Gallery - Travelling Back in Time for Some Nyonya Cuisine

1919 Restaurant & Gallery had been on my to-eat list for quite some time. But somehow the thought of dining here escaped us on most occasions. The last visit was years ago, probably in my secondary school days. And wasn't exactly a pleasurable experience, marred by the rather exorbitant prices (back then).

But this time around, I was determined, and seeing that there was a special occasion in our family, we picked 1919 as THE place for our dinner.

Fully air-conditioned, and spacious, the place is decorated with various wooden ornaments, and antique-like structures. Collectors are free to enquire about purchasing, btw.

Situated behind Jusco, and facing Tesco in Ipoh Garden East, the location of this restaurant couldn't be anymore strategic. Which kind of explains the human traffic on most nights, especially weekends and public holidays.

Philippines Deep-fried Eggplants

One of my most treasured memories of this place is their signature appetizer of Philippines Eggplants (Brinjals, or Aubergines, as some might recognize them). Not sure what's so "Filipino" about the dish, but damn ... they're good.

Deep-fried with batter, kinda like tempura but not, the brinjals are served with a sweet and spicy sauce and garnished with scallions. Mouth-watering stuff, perfect as snacks, or a surefire way to get the young ones to eat their greens. Or in this case, as green as a purple brinjal can be.

Nyonya Sliced Fish

Popular for their Peranakan cuisine, they offer a myriad of ways to cook the fish. The waitress (who happened to be a friend of my family's) recommended the Nyonya-style Fish Fillets. Thick slices of grouper (I presumed) cooked in a tangy, and piquant Nyonya sauce, partnered with crunchy long beans. Very appetizing, yet not overly spicy.

Antique Tofu

Yup, you read that right; Antique Tofu (beancurd). Treasure trove of bouncy shrimps, mushrooms and vegetables hidden within the hollow cavity of the homemade, silky-smooth tofu.
The gravy made a perfect accompaniment for the rice, and the soft, and egg-y beancurd had us throwing praises. Definitely meant for sharing, if you're going alone or with one partner, refrain from ordering this.

Sambal Mix Vege

Nyonya food's well-known for their spicy and sour dishes. Thus, we ordered our greens cooked with sambal sauce, a mix of ladies' fingers, petai (stinkbeans), long beans and kangkung (water convolvulus). Surprisingly, NOT spicy at all, making the dish rather suitable for the elderly and a stepping stone for the young ones, before they try the fiery stuff later in life.

One minor gripe though, the gravy leaned towards the oily side, and this may not be everyone's cup of tea.

Herbal Chicken

The last dish was recommended by the waitress again, not in the menu yet, it seemed. Herbal Chicken, cooked in a delectable and rich broth, with lots of 'tanghoon' (glass noodles) to soak up the yummy gravy. Evident in the pic above, the chicken was fresh, of the 'kampung' species, with tender meat and glistening yellow skin. One for the grandmas. :)

The meal did not come cheap. Yet rather reasonable. Total for 6, including rice and tea = RM99.25, including 5% gov tax. We'll definitely return for more ....

Location : 1919 Restaurant & Gallery @ No. 1 Jalan Medan Ipoh 6,31400 Ipoh, Perak. Tel: 605-547 7196

YOUR Breakfast Of Choice? (Random Food for the Early Birds in KL)

KL houses so many eateries at every nook and corner, you'll be ridiculed for declaring famine in this city on steroid. Want prove? Count the number of floggers (food bloggers) residing in KL and eating (bulldozing) their way through the heart of the city. Waaahhh ......

Ah Weng Koh Hainan Tea @ Bukit Bintang Market

Toasts with Kaya and Butter, and Hainan Milk Tea

Me being a Hainanese, I rely on my cuppa milk tea day in and day out. Yup, I'm somewhat an addict, downing cups after cups of tea everyday. Probably inherited, as my late grandpa was a tea fanatic as well.

One of my favourite spot for breakfast in KL is at the Pasar Baru Bukit Bintang, but some may recognize this place as Imbi market, like how I mistakenly argued with a friend before.

Bear with the sun, the crowd, and the shouting staff ... and you'll be duly rewarded

Not exactly a shop, this stall is amidst the hustle and bustle of the morning market, and surrounded by various stalls, from the purpotedly delicious pork noodles, to Sister's Crispy Popiah (THE Sister's Popiah with lots of branches in shopping complexes). But almost everyone comes for the Hainan tea, coffee or cham (mixture of coffee+tea), and their amazing toasts.

The Apollo bun (traditional big & toasted bun) won me over, but sometimes they run out of stock pretty fast, especially on weekends. So, you may have to make-do with the usual white bread, toasted and generously spread with butter, kaya and lurve. OK, maybe not. =P

Those who persevered and enjoyed a cup of Hainan tea under the 'canopies' :

she, the epicurious girl, masak-masak, jackson

Location : Imbi Market/Pasar Baru Bukit Bintang @ Jalan Melati, Kuala Lumpur.

One Nite Restaurant @ Pandan Indah

Fancy some REAL charcoal-toasted bread?

Serving Kluang coffee and toasts, this shop had been operating for a year or two. As I stayed in Pandan Indah whenever I'm in KL, this shop had been my pick for breakfast on most occasions.

Finger-licking GOOD toasts. Albeit the wait.

They really toast their bread over charcoal-fuelled fire. Hence the longer than usual wait, but worthy of one. The crispy outer layer was also lightly spread with butter/margarine, and the melting butter paired with their signature kaya makes a deadly filling, as usual.

Thick, and strong Kluang coffee - HOT ....


or COLD.

Coffee-wise, I still prefer my Ipoh's white coffee. Darker than your average coffee, possibly owing to the roasting process, the coffee is stronger with a subtle bitterness in every sip. Try a hot cup, for undiluted caffeine-jolt.

Yam Rice + Bouillon Soup (RM6)

The shop serves not only toasts, but also various dim sum, as well as noodles. The yam rice served with bouillon ("Fa Kau", in Cantonese) was OK, simple and light.

Location : One Nite (19) Restaurant @ Jln Pandan Indah 1/22, Pandan Indah, Kuala Lumpur. Same row with Steven's Corner, an exceptionally popular Mamak outlet.

But if you feel like eating your breakfast in a more comfy environment, or thinking of splurging on your breakfast yet not excessively, KL has a few cut-throat options. I meant, POSH-er cafes.

DOME Cafe @ Lot 10, Jln Bukit Bintang

Some freshly-brewed latte with biscotti

Beef rasher, scrambled eggs and toasts

DOME serves all-day breakfast with promotion. But this was in April this year. Not sure the promo's still going on or vice versa. At that moment, an additional RM3 will net you a cup of coffee with every breakfast meal.

The coffee was good, as expected. A good perk-me-up with lots of milk (I hate plain ol' espresso!), but the breakfast platter was so-so. Look at the plain, white bread toasted lightly. The beef rashers were good, but a tad chewy, and the eggs can be served scrambled, sunny side up, or poached.

Total damage? Around RM20. Yup, with fame, comes a price.

If you're in no rush, sit back, read a mag or two, and sip on your cup of coffee, while watching the world goes by ....

So, where's YOUR favourite haunt for breakfast? =)

REAL Addictive Stuff - Nasi Vanggey aka Nasi Ganja

To imagine a plate of curry rice sooooo addictive to deserve the moniker ; Nasi Ganja, or Marijuana Rice, direct translation.

Vanggey !!! Vanggey !!! (Come !!! Come !!!)

Since 1955, the Nasi Kandar stall at Yong Suan, on Jalan Yang Kalsom, Ipoh has been making waves, ripples, tsunami and all, serving thousands, if not millions of plates of those yummy, spicy, fiery and addictive stuff.

Drool away at the selection of savoury curries and dishes to tingle that tastebuds ...

Earlier this year, they've since expanded from that small, constricted and God-knows-how-hard-t0-find-a-parking-space area, branching out to a spacious lot in Greentown, previously occupied by a food court. They still retain that old shoplot though, for that evergreen sense of nostalgia dining there.

A plate of white rice, with fried dry curry drumstick, spicy egg omelette, vegetables, papadam, and that KILLER sambal (coconut chutney?)

What makes the curry rice so special from the rest (those dastardly imposters masquerading as nasi kandar proprietors ...)? For one, the 'kuah campur' or the mixed gravies the guy poured/doused onto the heaps of rice was SPICY. Yet a subtle bitterness aftertaste ensued, for unknown reason. But if you're not a fan of spicy food, refrain from being macho/adventurous/show-off/sadistic.

The spicy coconut chutney. A perfect accompaniment to the cucumber slices.

Good things do not come cheap. That's life. RM5.70 for a plate of white rice with a drumstick, vegetables and egg. Oh, the chicken deserves a mention here. Marinated with spices and curry powder, then deep-fried, the taste and juiciness gives your average Mamak's fried chicken and KFC a run for their mon$y.

Nasi Vanggey Sdn Bhd

Location : Sorry, no address taken. But here's a roughly estimated map !!! Tel : 605-2546786.

Need directions? Drop a comment here, or mail me.

Let's Jazz Things Up A Bit? (Denis Jazz Bistro, Ipoh)

Happy Monday Y'all !!!! ..... But seriously, who embraces gloomy, dreary Mondays anyway? Argghh .... I miss the comfort of my bed as I'm typing this !!!

DENIS JAZZ BISTRO (With NO signboard bearing the shop's name, you'll just have to look out for the NON-illuminated saxophone icon at daytime)

Previously operating from their premise in Greentown, at the same row with Assam House, Denis Jazz Bistro has since moved to this rather obscure spot, away from the main roads and traffic, directly behind Ipoh Garden's Aneka Selera (Tung Koo Thing).

The homemade chocolate chip cookies are complimentary, and act as appetizers rather than desserts. Something to munch on to appease the roaring hunger pangs?

Probably due to its hidden location, the crowd may not be overwhelming even on a Sunday's afternoon. But of course, this translates to peaceful requeim for the battered (and hungry, obviously) souls, relishing one's meal without the hassle and noise.

They do not cover everything under the sun, as in the case with most outlets serving Western fare, but their specialties include the homemade pies, pasta, stews etc. Safe choices, but work wonders.

Spaghetti Carbonara (RM13.90)

One thing's special though. Most, if not all, of the items on the menu can be "up-sized" to a LARGE portion. Yup, even the pies, the stews and the lamb chops. But a regular serving should be sufficient if you're not one who's been famished for days. Seriously.

The desciption of the Carbonara on the menu proudly proclaime REAL PORK BACONS. Yup, with the capitals and all. And who can resist juicy, fatty, and smoked pork bacons?!!

The egg and cream sauce was not overly rich, just sufficient to create that sense of indulgence, but it was the sauteed pork bacons and garlic that proved to be ... the FATAL combination. No pun intended. Bite into those fatty portions with smoky flavour, and paired them with the creamy spaghetti cooked al dente, and you'll polish off that plate in no time. The sides of freshly baked and crispy garlic bread, and green apple, cucumber, raisins and lettuce salad complemented the dish very well.

Shepherd's Pie (RM14.90)

Of course, being famous for their English-style traditional pies and stews, one can't help but be tempted by the sheperd's pie, lamb pie, beef pie, lamb stew, chicken stew and so forth. I had a regular portion of the Shepherd's, with minced lamd, vegetables, and a 'topping' of mashed Russett potatoes, generously doused with brown sauce. The gamey flavour of the lamb may have doubters having second thoughts, but I like them strong and gamey anyway. =P

But the mashed potatoes layer was nothing to shout about. It was a bit hardened at the top. The corn-on-cob and sides of fruits+vegetable salad, and boiled vegetables were good though. Least we're not getting the average crinkle cuts, or shoe strings.

All in all, a place to sit back, enjoy your meal, away from the maddening pace of city life. Or as hectic as Ipoh can get anyway. =P

Location : DENIS JAZZ BISTRO @ 26, Pesara Ipoh 1, Taman Ipoh, 31400 Ipoh, Perak.

Got MAP !!!

Of Hotel Food and Little Cottage Cafe, Penang

You know it's probably another one of those annoyances related to humans' instincts. When your food is FREE, they do not seem to taste so good, or sound attractive. If you're paying an arm and an leg for a meal, no matter how un-sumptuous the meal is, you'll still seek solace in the ambience, the service, yada yada ....

Little Cottage Cafe @ Jalan Burma, Penang

We were fed 6 meals a day (!!!), courtesy of Dorsett Penang Hotel. Wow? But seriously, where's the FUN in digesting hotel's food, when GOOD restaurants, and even GREATER hawker fares are all around you?

And so we ventured to Little Cottage Cafe, a cozy, small and quite a buzzing cafe on an equally high traffic Jalan Burma. We've been here during our uni days, and re-visiting this place somehow brought back memories of days yonder, and an overwhelming sense of rendezvous swept into us.

Complete with a fireplace, and furnished with predominantly wooden elements, the place does exude a certain cottage-like ambience; charming yet cozy


Our mains, clockwise from top left : Mexico Chicken (RM15.90), Golden Fish & Chips (RM9.90), Little Cottage Special Chicken Chop (or somethin') (RM15.90) and Monte Cristo Chicken (RM19.90)

A favourite haunt with the lunch crowd, judging from the packed to the brim seating area, the place still serves affordable set lunches, from RM9.90 to RM19.90. The set comes with the usual suspects, soup, desserts and coffee/tea. We don't see many outlets nowadays that let the patron chooses his/her appetizers, or desserts, do we? Pity.

The soup was a sad story. Chicken soup, I recall, but the stock uncannily resembled instant soup from the can. And had it not for the little bits of chicken thrown in, we were still questioning the nature of that bowl of creamy nothings.

The Little Cottage Chicken Chop fared the best among all, but the difference merely lied in the gravy, nothing else. Monte Cristo Chicken was just another slab of meat, with 2 halves of sausages as garnishing.

Almond Fish (RM15.90)

My Almond Fish was fortunately deserving enough of the price paid. The crispy almond flakes on top of the batter-fried dory made the cut. Pardon the grainy photo, the interior of the cafe was dark, and we were seated at the darkest corner possible.

Total damage : RM78.50 for 5. No service charge or government tax. But note that the plate of peanuts they place on the table before your orders is worth RM1.00. Of course, you can be a prick and send that back. =P We did not though.

Location : LITTLE COTTAGE CAFE @ 96-A, Jalan Burmah, 10050 Georgetown, Penang.

Tel No : 604-228 6218. They've another branch at Gottlieb Road, in Hotel Waterfall, it seems.

Dorsett's spread of local and internation delights

A lesson well-learnt. Save some $ and eat in a 4-star hotel (though doubtful) may be a wise choice sometimes.

For the first 2 days, the food at the buffet spread were nothing to shout about, the usual curries, meats, and rice. Leaned more to local fare than international dishes. Ahem. Had I wanted curry chicken or squids, would I've chose hotel food over Penang's nasi kandar?

The food on the day we were leaving was the best among all days. Probably that was a Saturday, as the chef went wild and cooked up a storm, literally. From pasta to spicy fried rice, and black pepper beef to deep-fried calamari and rojak, we put off/deferred our initial plan of going hawker, and stuffed ourselves before checking out.

Delectable cheese cake, banana pie, and banana cake

The mains may be disappointing, but the desserts were a different story altogether. They've a glass counter displaying the sweet treats, from tapas-like serving of tarts and pies, to whole cakes and puddings. I skipped most of the meagre main dishes and took a larger portion of desserts every meal. =P

Fancy some chocolate mousse?

Chocolate rum tart

Too many to snap, I merely took photos of a few. There's even Panna Cotta, which was not bad, and blueberry crumbles, as well as bread and butter pudding. Swweeeetttt !!!

Happy Weekend Everyone !!!

Make It A Point ... To Visit Beacon Point?

At the rate I'm churning out these posts, one must be wondering; Am I an obsessive, impulsive eater? Binging 24/7, without a worry in the world, weighing a massive 120kg?! (=P) And one day I'm in KL, another in Penang, and most days in Ipoh, while some days in rural, unheard-of-areas secluded within Perak? Manjung, Ayer Tawar, Sitiawan may be household names, but how bout Bota, The Changkats (Lada, Melintang, Chermin), Lawin, Tro(noh & lak) etc?

Beacon Point - Your Family Restaurant. How nice if it really is MY family's. FOC meals.

Beacon Point has been a household name among Ipoh's secret foodies' community. Yet has not deserve its limelight, and merits. From the outside, the place looks nothing like a restaurant or cafe, the green wordings "BEACON POINT Trading and Training" on the white signboard gives the impression of a dance school more than an eatery.

The training part refers to the cooking and baking classes they once held for the hopeless (like me ... hehe, who can't cook for dear life) & aspirated ones. Not really sure they're still conducting the classes nowadays, ever since an unfortunate mishap few years ago. (I won't dwell into this matter, out of respect. Sorry).

Creamy Purple Cabbage Soup

On to the good stuff. They serve set lunches everyday, except Sunday, when they're closed for business. A major advantage they hold over other similar outlets is their homemade soups, the selection changing everyday. So you know you won't be tasting the same old, same old cream of mushroom soup. Not to mention the CANNED variety; starchy and worthless.

Fish Gratin Set (RM16.80 nett)

This happened sometime ago. Was it a birthday celebration? I can't recall, for the life of me. But I think it was. Everday, Beacon Point offers 3 set lunches for choosing. Normally consist of a chicken, a fish, and a pasta, but on certain days, lamb or beef may be served. Fish is available on the menu every Fridays, that I can be sure. :)

The fish fillets were deep-fried before baked with the creamy sauce with assorted vegetables. Served with mashed potatoes and vegetable & fruit salad. Looks unassuming, yet quite filling, as the rich and creamy sauce may be a little too much at one sitting.

Lemongrass Chicken (RM15.80)

The grilled chicken thigh with the lightly-flavoured lemongrass sauce was crisp on the outside, yet tenderly grilled to perfection. But I avoid lemongrass at all cost. So I can't attest to the overall flavours. Hahahah .....

Desserts - Pastries and coffee/tea

Another important criteria for a satisfying set lunch is the dessert. I tend to avoid cafes which serve a scoop of ice-cream (how easy and lazy can one get?) as dessert. And charging exorbitant amount for that.

They rotate their desserts selection as well, sometimes cakes, sometimes muffins, sometimes pastries, and sometimes ... well, whatever else they have up their sleeves. =P

Carrot Walnut Cake (RM5.90)

They take great pride in their cakes and pies. And their cakes are really good. Not too sweet, and reasonably-priced, even cheaper than Secret Recipe's down-spiralling equivalents, the cakes are great tea-time accompaniments.

Irish Coffee Cheesecake (RM6.20)

This particular selection, named Irish Coffee Cheesecake was plain marvelous. Creamy yet light, with subtle irish coffee hints, and a base of chocolate (Oreo?) cookies, pick this. You won't regret it.

Location : BEACON POINT @ 41, Lintasan Perajurit 6, Taman Perak, 31400 Ipoh.

Tel No : 605-546 9916

Opening hours : Mon-Thurs (11am-6pm) and Fri-Sat (11am-10.30pm)

Greentown Noodle House in Ipoh - Years of Legacy?

Am not in a particularly bright and cheery mood to write. Down with flu, then fever, then sore throat, then the whole package re-visited. Like a combo meal. Tormenting moments .... Sigh ....

Greentown Noodle House

Short post then, on a Chinese restaurant in Greentown, Ipoh. Situated at the roundabout near Excelsior Hotel, this outlet has been around for quite some time, my late grandfather used to dine with us here. And he's gone for 15 years. Imagine the longevity ....

Retaining most of the interior, as well as the items on the menu

Funny dining in a "Noodle House", yet we all opted for their rice and dishes. Yup, not even ONE strand of noodle was slurped. Hehehe .... But all in all, their selection of rice and noodles is rather extensive, covering possibly every method of preparation known to man. OK, I exaggerated. =P

Pickled green chillies and sambal for that fiery kick

Thai style Fried Rice (RM4.20)

Reasonably-priced, the individual portions cater to most tastebuds, however discerning they may be. From sweet & sour to spicy, from rice to noodles and porridge, you can be assured of a satisfying lunch at less than RM5 even.

Mum's Thai Fried Rice came with fried chicken breast meat and not too spicy (which suits the young ones and elderly well, but rather dull to me). Would've preferred a spicier, and stronger in flavour version though.

Mongolian Fried Rice (RM5.00)

That huge serving for a mere RM5, with chopped bits of mutton (or lamb, I can't be sure), underneath a 'canopy' of perfectly fried egg. A sucker for everything Mongolian, I'm digging the fragrant and fluffy rice fried with turmeric and spices. Not too bad, this one.

Egg+Prawn Rice (or something like that ...) RM4.20

Dad's omelette with prawns and white rice was misleading. He initially thought the dish would be drenched with gravy (in the menu, only stated Egg+Prawn), but amused (or rather, infuriated) by the plain, and dry presentation of simple omelette and rice. Hmmm ... give this a miss.

Double-Boiled Black Chicken with Herbs (RM6.30)

For a piping hot bowl of nourishing soup, give their selection a try. Our double-boiled black chicken with herbs was brimming with herbs, supposed to rejuvenate and re-energize the body and mind. Don't ask me how true is that, as I'm not one who's fond of herbal stuff. Hehe ... Unless it's herbal chicken. Or salted chicken. That's another different story though.

Chicken Chop with Black Pepper Sauce (RM7.50)

Feel like going Western? They have chicken chops and fish & chips, as well as some other options under their Western banner. The presentation may be lacking, reminded me of Hainanese Chicken Chop, at best. But Bro gave positive feedback, unsuspectedly. The fried egg was an awkward companion though.

Roasted Chicken and Char Siew (BBQ Pork) (RM15)

Coming from the front door, one can't miss the sight of roasted chickens and ducks hanging at the glass display counter. The chicken was forgettable, but the Char Siew (honey-roasted pork) was quite delicious. Quite, as it's nowhere comparable to the FSF's version, but marginally better than most out there.

The simple yet filling lunch costed RM48 for 5 of us. Considered cheap at times like this. When a set of McD's so-called VALUE MEAL comes to roughly RM10 each.

Location : GREENTOWN NOODLE HOUSE @ 58, Persiaran Greenhill, 30450 Ipoh, Perak. Tel No : 605-2415145. For map, click HERE.

A (Half) Free Meal from Ristorante L'Opera

Overlooking the pathway of Bintang Walk, in between KL Plaza and Lot 10 Shopping Centre, Ristorante L'Opera has gone through a major facelift a year ago

Sporting new looks and a dazzling one at that, Ristorante L'Opera is an Italian fine dining restaurant, situated in the heart of the city. With an adjacent lounge bar, perfect for a drink or two, the restaurant seemed a tad intimidating, had it not for the CIMB Credit Card's Buy-One-Free-Promotion, which ironically, ended on the 31st of October 2008.

Sorry, my posts are all delayed. =P

Beef Involtini (RM60)

The combination of modern decor, and rustic charm, enhanced by the warm, yet delicate ambience, provided a comfortable dining experience, amidst the chaotic rush of Bukit Bintang.

The Buy-One-Free-One promotion refers to any starters, or main courses enlisted under the Chef's Special menu. Not too worry, as the choices are taken from the main menu themselves, not some make-do replicates of REAL dishes.

Bariguole Slipper Lobster (RM60)

Of course, though we were not exactly famished at that moment, after a heavy brunch and all, we still opted for the mains, as such a tantalizing promotion does not come often, I'm afraid. But I could be wrong.

We ordered the Beef Involtini, which is tenderloin stuffed with emmenthal, sage and balsamic sauce, served with crushed potatoes. One can't go wrong when ordering the most tender part of a cow, right? Well, partly true.

The melted emmenthal cheese provided much of the flavour for the lightly salted and grilled beef. The beef itself was good, tender enough to warrant little chewing, and juicy enough to be relished without erm ... juices. The crushed potatoes were slightly too saltish, but provided a contrasting and slightly spicy flavour to the otherwise bland tenderloin cuts.

The other dish (the FREE one) was the Bariguole Slipper Lobster, a crustacean related to the TRUE lobsters, yet smaller in size. Baked with globe artichoke, chateau baby vegetables, and served with saffron potatoes, the chopped bits (yup, you get only ONE slipper lobster's meat, and not an exactly 'well-endowed' one at that) of slipper lobster were thankfully fresh, firm and not dry. But the accompanying saffron potatoes were simply broiled, and bland. And the green peas was not thoroughly thawed. Frozen peas in fine dining?! Ouch.

All in all, a satisfying lunch, sans the dismaying service and the non-attentiveness of the staff. But let's not go there. I'll stop the rants and ramblings now. Still nursing a sore throat and overwhelmed by fever. Damn the weather ... Whoops. ;)

Location : Ground Floor, Piccolo Galleria, 101, Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur. Tel No : 603-2382 0111/603-2382 0222.

Swatow Lane Ais Kacang @ New World Park, Penang

Penang has always been embedded deep within a corner of my heart. The food, the places, the people (ahem) and the 4 memorable years spent living on the island, were reasons enough to lure me over to the Pearl of the Orient again and again ....

Penang Bridge - Currently under construction/renovation/expansion works ....

Yup, work took me over to Penang the last few days. Not much of a holiday, nor a food tour, as schedule's pretty packed and food's provided 24/7, aka 6 meals a day. As usual. :)

Dorsett Penang Hotel, on Jalan Larut in the heart of Georgetown

We were put up in Dorsett Penang Hotel, a 4 star hotel in Penang. I harboured major expectations before arriving, mainly from the photos of the place on the Net, and hearing rather rave reviews from peers and reviewers alike. The food's supposed to be excellent. Or so they say. However .....

Comfortable and clean rooms, with basic amenities provided

The room's spick and span. No complaints whatsoever. Though some rooms have MORE utensils supplied, such as disposable toothbrush, complimentary mineral water and such. But some did not. But minor teething problems, the very least.

The swimming pool's on the 4th floor, but a tad too constricted for one to do laps. Or even splash around. Especially when sharing with the probably hundreds of guests on weekends. A gym's available for fitness freaks, but seriously, who works out on a holiday?!!!

As for the food .... well, let's leave that for the next posts, shall we? (ie: nothing to shout about)

Around Swatow Lane, and Nagore Road off Jalan Burma

Dorsett's located rather strategically in town centre, a mere short walk to most places of interest. Mostly revolving food, which is all that matters in my book, anyway. =P

Mizi's Bistro at New World Park

When I was a student (aka when I was REALLY young and naive), we used to patronize Swatow Lane for their famous ABC, or Ais Kacang, and various other hawker fares, namely Char Kuey Teow, and Or Chien (Oyster Omelette).

The heat notwithstanding, eating under the make-shift (but rather, a permanent fixture) stall with zinc roofs on the pathway may not be the ideal place for one to sit and chat over a cuppa (in this case, over a bowl of). Some detractors find the place un-hygienic, but seriously, which hawker stall/restaurant adheres strictly to hygiene regulations?

The famous ABC (Ais Batu Campur) stall, now relocated into the newly-built New World Park.

But Penang's really kind to hawkers and traders. Building a revamped and spacious area to house the stalls, and then various other restaurants, cafes, and retail outlets, complete with a parking area, under the moniker, New World Park.

Though some might argue the place has lost its originality and authenticity, but slurping on an iced-cold ABC under the shades, with sufficient airflow and fans, and cleaner surroundings appeals more to tourists and locals alike. Of course, commercialization breeds inflation. But ever so slightly. Imagine a lady selling "Freshly (ahem)made Sushi" from table to table, and the prices of the food/beverages bumped up a notch. Small price to pay, really.

Lor Bak, a perfect snack when one doesn't feel like indulging in a full meal

A soothing thought when it comes to Penang street food, is that no matter where you're eating, you're bound to be at least satisfied with ONE, or more (as in most cases) type(s) of food. Yup, the difference in taste barely noticable, especially in simple food such as Lor Bak (a platter of various deep-fried snacks served with chilli sauce and a sticky concoction of soy sauce and egg white).

Century eggs served with pickled ginger slices, and prawn fritters remain as my favourite choices, while the original Lor Bak (pork rolls wrapped in beancurd sheet) and Taiwanese sausages come as close seconds.

Divine. 'Nuff said. RM3.80 for a bowl with ice-cream and mixed fruits.

So, what's so special bout Swatow Lane's Ais Kacang? Not that they have some secret ingredients, or special syrup (Sarsi, anyone?), or different ice-cream (think Kek Seng's durian ice-cream, and smacked lips).

But they throw in a different combination of fruits to complement the shaved ice with red sugar syrup, and evaporated milk. Papaya, banana, mango, 'Ciku', and watermelon, with attap seeds (palm seeds), red beans, and cincau (grass jelly). And top it all with a scoop of peanut ice-cream. Let the ice-cream melts, and savour the creamy, and refreshing concoction. Spoonfuls of goodness.

New World Park at Jalan Burma

That's all for a lazy Sunday's post. So many others have reviewed bout this place, whether on the hawker fare, or the restaurants there. Google for New World Park or Swatow Lane, and surf away ....

I've tried to attach a map, but somehow I've only managed to get one with directions. So I've added one with directions from Komtar to this place. Click HERE. (Help's appreciated on how to attach a map with only the point of interest marked, thanks!)

Ansari's Famous Cendol in Taiping, Perak

Come come .... a mirage on a scorching hot day? Refreshing, over-flowing with those short, squiggly green worms .... ;)

They sell Pasembor (Indian Rojak) and Cendol ... a cool respite from the sweltering heat

Completely forgot about this place. This was the day after the Tao Autocity's Japanese Buffet experience. Ages ago. So, pardon the missing minor details.

Cendol with Santan (Coconut Milk) & Gula Melaka (Brown Sugar Syrup) with Red Beans/Pulut (Glutinous Rice)

Taiping has TWO very popular cendol stall. Bismillah Cendol (previous experience HERE), and Ansari Famous Cendol. Located VERY near to each other on Barrack's Road though. Stiff competition always bring out the BEST in everyone?

Thick, luscious and creamy concoction of sweet and milky broth, drizzled liberately with brown sugar syrup, and over-flowing (really!) with those cendol strips (green bean flour paste scented with pandan) and a choice of red beans or pulut, or both.

RM1.oo for a plain bowl. RM1.10 for one with red beans. RM1.30 for a bowl with pulut. And the grand daddy of them all ... RM1.40 for a bowl of everything. The refreshing experience? Priceless.

Ansari's Famous Cendol @ Jalan Chung Thye Phin, Taiping, Perak (Address updated 15/3/09 - Sorry for previous mistake)

So how does this fare, compared to Bismillah, and Penang Road's Cendol? I'd rate this as an in-betweener. Better than the former, but a notch below by Penang Road's Teochew Cendol (click HERE and gulp!).

What do YOU think?

Chili's Grill & Bar @ KLCC

Alternating between Ipoh and KL posts, let's dig something up from the stash of backlogs ...

American-style diners are not really catching on in Malaysia, aren't they? Ipoh has none, that's for sure. And only Chili's and TGIF are reaping some sweet success in KL, and Penang. Of course, there are various other "Grill & Bar" restaurants in the Klang Valley, but relatively unknown to residents from other states.

Dark, smoky, and slightly shady. A tad comfortable for a drink or two, but sitting on those stools while relishing one's meal may prove to be rather .... tiring.

Arriving late for a dinner (at 9pm, mind you), we were surprised at the turnout at Chili's in KLCC. Half-expecting an empty outlet, we were stumped as the place was packed, and a queue was forming. All non-smoking seats are taken, and we had to wait.

Hungry brain cells marred rationality, and I quickly opted for an available table right smack in the middle of the smoking area. With only tall stools, and little back support. Ouch.

The guacamole, sour cream, cheese shavings and tomato salsa for the Fajitas

Not one to lament bout the ambience, we soldiered on and browsed the menu in record's time. Not much modification, but they do offer some new delightful options, namely White Chocolate Molten Cake, and crispy honey chipotle chicken. Can't remember the rest, but rather appetizing nonetheless.

Mushroom Jack - Grilled chicken and beef (or chicken only, or beef only), smothered with melted Jack cheese, and sauteed fresh mushrooms, bell peppers and onions (RM36.95)

At Chili's, the portions are never stingy. You can share if you do not wish to start on Statins sooner than later, or you can hoard the whole damn serving and contribute to the pharmacists' revenues. :)

I've an aversion to Fajitas. Soft, warm tortilla bread to be smothered with lots of sour cream (low fat, I pray), guacamole (mashed avocadoes), and sprinkled with cheese and tomato salsa. Then stuff some grilled chicken breast meat (less tender than desired, I admit, but fat-less!) and beef (too tough and cooked though) and indulge away. My gripe? Only 3 pieces of tortilla were served. Hmmm ... Dough very expensive ar?

Bacon Burger - Beef patty topped with smoked bacon, aged cheddar cheese, mayo, shredded lettuce, tomato and pickle. Served with homestyle fries, with skins intact. (RM20.95)

Their burgers are another of their specialty, much alike Friday's. Have them medium, medium-well or well done. Go for medium, as my medium-well beef was slightly overcooked. Dry, and coarse, you may need chilli sauce with this one. And the supposedly smoked til crisp bacon was rendered tougher due to the heat? Or carelessness? Hmm ... at least the fries passed with flying colours. Lightly salted, just like I dig them.

Perennial favourite of many sweet-toothed - Molten Chocolate Cake (RM19.95)

Still longing for more, we shared a Molten Chocolate Cake, a dessert so laden with calories and sins, you'll be forgiven to think your heart skipped a beat! Warm chocolate cake, with oozing chocolate fudge filling, and topped with vanilla ice-cream hidden under a crunchy chocolate shell. If this does not satiate your sweet cravings, I don't know what else does. Numbs the teeth, I tell you .... !!! =P

With 4 outlets in Klang Valley, and another in Penang, don't you think it's fine time for soul-less Ipoh to get one of her own?

Location : Chili's Grill & Bar @ Lot 346B, Level 3, Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumput City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur. Tel : 603-2164 1400

Fancy Having Gopeng Mee in Ipoh?

Here's a little something from Ipoh's Old Town, AGAIN .... Yeah yeah ... I'm getting predictable, I know. Sue me? =P

METRO Cafe ... The exterior's VERY misleading (sorry, no picture). The shop's name is not even put up on the outside!

But look for this stall, easily observed from the front ... The crowd comes for the Gopeng Mee anyway ....

Gopeng mee - Homemade (handmade?) egg noodles served with soy sauce, choy sum, bean sprouts, and garnished with scallions and fried shallots. Resembling Wanton Mee, right?

This is only our 2nd visit to this shop, ever since working here. Reason to come later. One quick glance and you would be forgiven for thinking this shop's bordering on closing down, looking at the dilapidated building (common findings among Old Town's classical structures though), without a proper signboard, and rather tucked away among the seas of banks. As well as dwarfed by the popularity of the other white coffee 'specialists' and immensely popular hawker fare. But come lunch hour, and you'll be amazed by the sheer fame of this place.

Served with chicken and mushroom - Their speciality ...

The noodle is their main drawing point, springy/QQ bites of alkaline-(lye water)free egg noodles, served "dry" with soy sauce for taste. The options are simple, either have yours with wanton (dumplings) or with chicken+mushroom gravy combination, or both. And you can upsize your serving to one half, or double portion.

Prices from RM3.00 for single serving of noodles with wantons, to RM5.60 for double servings of noodles with wantons and chicken+mushroom gravy. Certainly not dirt-cheap, but still bearable. The wantons are made from chicken or prawns, I believe. Dunno got pork or not, didn't bother to ask much.

The itsy-bitsy wanton ... A far cry from Hong Kong's ones, eh? =)

I cannot pass judgment this time, as I've only tasted the noodles ONCE, and that was more than half a year ago. Before this blog was born. Imagine that.

So what did I have for lunch instead?

Tell me you're not salivating .....

THIS. An Indian curry stall, operated by a friendly Indian lady. The dishes finish rather fast, as we were there at 1pm, and most plates were already emptied. Given the highly adaptable nature of me and FCOE, we soldiered on and ordered a half dry/half wet (I'm bad with my curries, I know) curry chicken with strong tomato hints. Mimicking ayam masak merah, but not quite. A bit sourish, and saltish for my liking. Bet the devil curry chicken is good, as the whole pot was polished off before we could sound our protests. Sigh .....

But still delicious, nevertheless. At only RM4 for THAT plate above, even cheaper than the noodles from the adjacent stall!

Location : METRO Cafe (chic-sounding name huh?) @ Jln Tun Sambanthan, 30000 Ipoh. Next to CIMB bank in Old Town, Ipoh. A short walk from Maybank, the towering building in Old Town, facing Padang Ipoh. Need help? I'll be glad to assist. :)

"Please ... please bring me home?"

Bumped into this cute little black puppy by the roadside. Kinda sad, isn't it? The lack of birth control amongst the wild ones. The dogs, I meant. =)

Authentically Thai .... @ Ahroy Thai Cuisine, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur

Let's go Thai today! Craving for some fiery and spicy flavours to tantalize your tastebuds? Ahroy Thai Cuisine in Cheras may be secluded, but the nearby Cheras Leisure Mall might've played some part in driving the crowd to this place. Or maybe good food can't escape the grasp of many. The power of the most under-valued form of advertisement ; Word of Mouth.

Ahroy Thai Cuisine in Taman Segar, Cheras


Thai Orange Juice (RM3.90)

Thai Vitamilk (RM2.50)

The place is air-conditioned, rather homely, albeit the neon lights. Those dastardly yellow lighting proved to be the bane of photography. Especially when one's snapping using a phone camera, with no adjustment/manual control whatsoever. Hmmm.

Thai orange juice proved to be a good choice, sweet and tangy, with slight hint of lime. Imported from Thailand, the oranges are smaller in size, and green in colour. A cross between an orange and a lime, I'd say. Refreshing and thirst-quenching. A steal, considering one might be paying double the price for local (or cordial) orange juice in other restaurants.

Thai Vitamilk on the other hand, was a safe choice, bottled from Thailand, the blend of soya bean milk with milk powder was milkier than the average soya bean milk, but fortunately lacking in artificial soya bean powder flavour.

Mieng Kam - Signature Thai appetizer (RM12)

Mieng Kam is a famous Thai appetizer commonly found in Thai restaurants, and is one of Ahroy's signature item.

As all their food come in only one universal portion, we were astonished by the the generous serving of betel leaves (to be the 'wrapper' or 'base' for the other ingredients), and had to double/triple-layered our wraps, to avoid wastage.

How to eat them? Scoop some roasted coconut shavings onto a leaf, add in the other ingredients ( fresh ginger cubes, diced shallots, bird's eye chilli, cubed lime, roasted peanuts and dried shrimps), then add a dollop of the sauce (a sweet/sour/spicy concoction of peanuts, dessicated coconut, palm sugar, and shrimp paste), then shove the whole package into your mouth. The bursting myriad of flavours will definitely have you going for seconds. The thick and sticky sauce was so addictive I scooped some to go with my rice.

Pandan Chicken - Fragrant, marinated chicken thigh's meat wrapped in pandan leaves (RM12 for 6)

Another one of their "MUST-TRY" items, the Pandan Chicken came highly recommended by the Thai lady taking our orders. You see, I seldom go for Pandan Chicken anymore in Thai restaurants, as being repeatedly disappointed by dry, tasteless and small servings from various eateries changed my perception and I'd rather order green chicken curry, or Thai fried chicken than the aforementioned dish.

The 'naked' Pandan Chicken ... in all its glory.

Fortunately, Ahroy's Pandan chicken fared rather well, the succulent, tender and fragrant chicken thigh's meat was not only juicy, but very fleshy. Value for money, no less. My faith has been restored. :)

The special chilli sauce with bits of shrimps, squids, and minced meat

Batter-fried Kangkung (Water convolvulus) RM8

I've yet to find another Thai restaurant that serves batter-fried kangkung since my uni days in Penang. The crispy, tempura-like coating complemented the kangkung so well, you'll be eating your greens with sheer delight without realising it. Good as a light snack on its own as well. Remember to double-stress the FRIED part, else they may serve you with stir-fried kangkung with belacan instead, as the menu was rather vague in its description.

Steamed sweet tapioca with coconut milk (RM6)

Polishing our mains with relish, we moved to desserts in record time. Shocking the next table, in the process. The tapioca steamed with syrup and served with santan (Coconut milk) and sprinkled with sesame seeds is one of their forte, and did not disappoint. My sweet tooth appeased, with the rather BIG serving of soft, steamed tapioca. Make sure you're sharing this, as having a whole plate to oneself may translate to a somewhat 'jelak' (nauseating?) feeling.

Ais Kacang???

Nope! It's Tab Tim Krob (Shaved ice with Water chestnut+Jackfruit strips+Nata de Coco) @ RM5.00

And to end the meal on a sweeter note, we opted for Tab Tim Krob. The portion's double what Rak Thai's serving. Delectable crunchy bites of water chestnut and rose-flavoured Nata de Coco (coconut jelly), with fresh jackfruit strips, the dessert's had my vote of approval. Though my stomach was about to explode at that very moment. Luckily I practised some form of self-restriction, and halted myself from ordering the glutinous rice with mangoes/durian. =P

Total damage? RM52.40. Worth every cents, IMO. Now where's my next Thai food target?

Location : AHROY THAI CUISINE @ 48, Jln Manis 1, Taman Segar, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. Tel : 03-9133 2330.

Good Ol' Teochew Porridge @ Yew Ming, Old Town

Somehow people get the perception that eating in Old Town, Ipoh boils down to white coffee and toasts. Or the occasional satay and popiah from Kong Heng, and some random curry noodles. Seldom people come to Old Town for lunch, not to mention dinner (when most of the shops are closed anyway).

YEW MING TEOCHEW PORRIDGE RESTAURANT @

83, Jln Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh.

Working in Old Town of Ipoh, I've been exposed/pampered to various cheap yet delicious choices when it comes to breakfast, or lunch. It's been a year, and we've been crossing our fingers for more eateries to open up, else we'd be having the same "Kam Chau Fan" (Golden Char Kuey Teow), Nam Chau's Dry Curry Noodles & Egg Toasts, Kong Heng's Popiah, Hwang Chao's Singapore Chicken Rice, the white coffee originals (Sin Yoon Loong and Nam Heong), Thean Chun's "Kai Si Hor Fun" (or Chicken Kuey Teow Soup) and many others.

Wow, with that long list of temptations, and yet I'm still complaining? =P

Stir-fried Salted Vegetable and Pork

Yup, imagine cracking your head day in and day out deciding on a place to eat, trying desperately to keep things fresh and avoid repetitions. Tough job we have, really.

Plain ol' porridge

The other day me and TallGal were the only poor hungry souls left in the office, as FCOE & KYT were roaming in space. I meant, relaxing at home. Thus, we opted for a light yet substantial lunch. And so we picked Yew Ming, a mere stone's throw from our office, famed for their porridge and simple home-cooked dishes.

Fried Egg with Preserved Mustard (Choy Pou)

The place is usually packed during lunch, spanning 2 shoplots, directly behind Hwang Chao,and at the same side as Kong Heng. On your left, before you reach the towering Maybank building in Old Town.

You can either pick rice or porridge to go with the dishes, but the latter's more popular with the crowd, obviously.

Homemade Fish Cakes with Chilli sauce

The dishes resembled home-style of cooking,; simple, tasty and flavoursome. Some may comment they're a bit salty, but the dishes actually complement the bland porridge all too well. Especially the addictive signature fish cakes, fresh and devoid of unpleasant, lingering fishy taste, dipped into their concocted sweet chilli sauce. And the fried egg with preserved mustard greens was excellent, albeit a tad oily. But wash all down with a glass of herbal tea or Chinese tea, and you won't feel the grease thereafter.

Popular with those working in Old Town

Total damage for two? RM15.60, including drinks. Worthwhile; a rejolting, detoxifying meal for the senses. (Well, I CAN lie to myself, can't I? =P)

So what if you're not fond of dishes TOO simple, and avoid porridge like the plague? Then you can walk a short distance, and find solace in Wong Koh Kee (click HERE for previous post).

WONG KOH KEE RESTAURANT

Situated at a backlane, opposite of Kong Heng; arguably the most famous coffee shop in Old Town

Individual portions of Sweet and Sour Pork Rice, Kung Pou Chicken Rice, Tofu & Roasted Pork Rice, and Ginger/Spring Onion Chicken Rice (RM3.50-RM4)

Be patience. The crowd can be overwhelming from 12pm onwards. Come as early as possible, and pray for an unoccupied table.

Their Ku Lou Yuk (Sweet and Sour Pork) is one of the best I've ever tasted. Crunchy batter enveloping the tender pork meat, cooked in the tangy and sweet gravy.

Wong Koh Kee @ "Concubine Lane" (a moniker given to the historical lane ... guess what's the reason? =P), a small lane opposite of Kong Heng, on Jln Bandar Timah.