Sawasdee-Krub on the 6th Day of CNY? (Koh Samui Restaurant @ Ipoh)

It's been more than a week since I last worked (rotted) in my office. =) Hmm .... holidays are soooooo rejuvenating, not to mention deteriorating to the human mind ..... LOL.

Koh Samui Restaurant @ Jln Raja Ekram, Ipoh

Continuation from my Capati and Mee Rebus post, here's some Thai food for a change, if you're wondering what else to eat in Ipoh, aside from the street food and Chinese 'dai chow' restaurants.

Very clean, well-maintained, and spacious ambience ... though this outlet has been around for more than 10 yrs, if I recall correctly!

Koh Samui restaurant has 2 outlets in Ipoh. One near Greentown (Jln Raja Ekram) and another right behind Jusco, Kinta City. And its history runs deep, well more than a decade of serving Thai dishes, as authentic as one can get in Ipoh.

Khao Op Sapparod aka Pineapple Fried Rice (Small : RM7.80)

For your information, Koh Samui is a HALAL outlet, with the JAKIM certification. Another option in case you're dining with Malay colleagues.

The menu's rather extensive, covering almost every Thai dishes imaginable, from chicken to beef to seafood cooked in a variety of ways. For singleton, or small eaters, they have fried rice and noodles as well, but bear in mind the 'small' serving's anything but small.

We had a small serving of pineapple fried rice, and was astounded by the sheer volume served, albeit NOT in a hollowed pineapple. That's for the LARGE serving. Those crispy flakes atop the yellow-hued rice were fried cuttlefish pieces, rendering the fluffy rice an alternative bite. But I'm not accustomed to pineapple fried rice this way, the spices tasted suspiciously like BBQ powder, and lacking the sweetness of the pineapple. But still, a good company to the other dishes served.

Kai Gaeng Panaeng aka Dry Curry Chicken (RM9.80)

They serve curry in 3 ways; the Thai green curry, red curry and dry curry. With malicious intention to burn my tongue, I chose the dry curry chicken. The thick, rich, & luscious gravy is perfect with white rice (we didnt order that though), but far from spicy though. Would appreciate it more if they kick it up a notch.

Neur Phat Kee Mao aka Stir-fried Beef with Long Beans, Chilli and Basil leaves (RM9.80)

The stir-fried beef was delicious as well. Simple dish, akin to Chinese-style of cooking, with lots of basil-infused aroma, exactly like how the Thais like their stir-fried dishes. But may be off-putting for those not in favour of basil leaves in their dishes. Not spicy as well. Hmm.

Thab Thim Krob aka THE Thai dessert. LOL. (RM4)

Crunchy chestnuts with jackfruit strips, in coconut milk with ice. Not shaved ice though, BIG chunks of ice cubes were served. Initially ordered to douse the fire .... but instead, the fireman sirens weren't blaring. Hmmm.

All in all, a rather nice place for family dinner, or a simple lunch with colleagues on working days.

Location : KOH SAMUI RESTAURANT @ 83 & 85, Jalan Raja Ekram, 30450 Ipoh, Perak. Tel No : 605-255 6608. Opens daily from 11.30am-3.00pm, and 6.30pm-10.30pm. Got MAP !!!

A Mid-CNY Post - How 'bout some Capati & Mee Rebus Ramli instead?

This year's CNY celebration may be slightly on the sombre mood, what's more with blatant intrusion of human rights (aka killing without mercy) over at the Mid-East & the economic turmoil that's looming over our helpless heads. But still, there's always a silver lining somewhere on the horizon, I believe ....

Birch Memorial Clock Tower @ Old Town, Ipoh

For those celebrating the festive season, I highly doubt any has yet to 'Lou Sang', or stuffed their faces full with either extravagant (read : exorbitant) Chinese dishes at the restaurants, homecooked fare, or even hawker food (prices a tad inflated, no less).

Fluffy capati and milky teh tarik @ Medan Selera Dato Sagor

What if you're 'trapped' in Ipoh, for a week or more this CNY holidays, and slowly (but surely) starting to get sick of Chinese food? No brickbats, please!!

Still reeling from all the indulging, here's a short post on simple Indian and Malay food in Ipoh. Which, by the way, was what I ate on the same day, last week.

Medan Selera Dato Sagor is a very famous place for halal food under one roof, housing more than 15 stalls (at least) selling a variety of nasi campur, nasi lemak, every type of mee imaginable, roti and kuih, as well as Indian food. Located in Old Town area of Ipoh, right behind the Ipoh town hall, the food court like diner occupies a rather spacious lot, next to the Birch Memorial Clock Tower. Come join the crowd for breakfast, and treat yourself to a cup of teh tarik, or kopi-o kau, accompanied by either a capati, roti bakar with half-boiled eggs, or nasi lemak.

Location : Medan Selera Dato Sagor @ Jalan Dato Sagor, 30000 Ipoh, Perak. Got MAP!!! (From Ipoh Utara PLUS highway exit, using Jln Kuala Kangsar).

Mee Rebus Ramli @ Jln Kuala Kangsar, Tmn Tasek Jaya, Ipoh

As for lunch, since we were on a roll, we opted for Malay food instead for lunch. The hype surrounding Mee Rebus Ramli was evident, ever since they started business some years ago, now they have 3 branches all over Ipoh (do correct me if I'm wrong, ok?).

With a name like that, surely you don't need hint as to what's their signature item is. The safest choice? Mee Rebus.

A satisfying bowl of Mee Rebus at RM3.50.

With those luscious thick gravy that's slightly spicy, and sweet, accentuated by the tangy lime squeezed DIY, and brimming full with ingredients such as the compulsory potatoes, chopped green chillies, spring onions, yummy fritters, and of course, ONE whole egg sliced into pieces.

All for a mere RM3.50. If you're thinking ... nah, just another Mee Rebus/Mee Jawa clone, you're half right, half wrong. Yup, it looks like another run-of-the-mill Mee Rebus, albeit served in a bowl, but tastewise, it's gotta be one of the better ones around. Even the yellow noodles did not contain the annoying/repulsive alkaline taste.

Do ask for the fritters to be served separately, as they tend to get soggy very fast. Or better yet, ask for EXTRAS. They're good when crunchy and dunked into the gravy. Slurp them up!!!

Btw, their Nasi Ayam is delicious as well, though white rice is served. At RM4.20 per plate, you get a generous chunk of chicken, with their killer chilli sauce and gravy combination. Plus a bowl of soup. Other items include chicken/lamb chops, laksa, etc.

Location : Mee Rebus Ramli @ 767, Taman Tasek Jaya, Jalan Kuala Kangsar, 31400 Ipoh, Perak. Tel No : 605-547 2026. Opens daily from morning til night. Got MAP !!!

Now, let me retract back to my nest and hibernate for the remaining week ...... Holidays are no doubt, god-sent. Happy Chinese New Year !!!

A Pre-CNY Post : (Not The) Teluk Intan's Famous Chee Cheong Fun & Lana Tea House

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR !!!! Ushering in the Year of The Ox, let's hope all things auspicious come our way, and may there be an endless slew of fantastic restaurants opening soon in good ol' Ipoh ......

Or I can be delusional. But still, one can be hopeful, ya? ......

The Leaning Tower of Pisa. Not!!!

Still embracing the holidays in all its glory, I'm suffering from writer's block. Thus, might as well write bout something recent, to minimize diminishing of my already declining grey matters.

Suddenly ... we felt so out of place.... =P

The other day our excursion (1st REAL travelling for 2009!) took us to Teluk Intan, and Hutan Melintang. Never heard of them? The former may ring a bell with most, as Teluk Intan is one of Perak's larger town, aside from Ipoh, Taiping, Seri Manjung and Sitiawan. And foodies will relate the town with its famous Chee Cheong Fun (stuffed with dried shrimps, and liberately drizzled/doused with oil), Hiong Peng (courtesy of Sin Joo Heong, with a branch in Ipoh even), Ah Chai rojak (famous for its sweet sauce, yet nothing spectacular), Gulam Rasul and Mastan Ghani (both being Malay-Mamak outlets), etc etc .....

Chee Cheong Fun - NOT the famous Teluk Intan one from the factory, but different from Ipoh's nevertheless

Bear in mind Hutan Melintang is NOT a forest, nor it's beyond civilization. It's a small town, right after Teluk Intan, on the way to Sabak Bernam, Sekinchan, and Kuala Selangor. Any idea? But foodwise, I faltered, hence the breakfast and lunch in Teluk Intan instead.

Initially planned for breakfast at Teck Kee Foodstuff (on Jalan Raja) that supposedly serves the REAL deal, CCF from the famous factory, which btw, opens ONLY from evening onwards. But due to the CNY season, Teck Kee chose to display ornaments and festivities galore, than seating area for food. No CCF. =(

But all's not lost, as opposite the road at a corner houses a classic coffee shop named Keng Heng, with patronage from mostly the elder ones. OK, so maybe it's a working day, and who else got time for a cuppa other than the retired ones, and (loyal) civil servants like us. =)

The broth's so clear, you'd be thinking this bowl of noodles would be perfect for one feeling under the weather

The shop houses 3 stalls; One selling Wantan Noodles, another selling erm, Noodles in Soup with Condiments (refer pic above) and a third one dealing with ... what else? CCF!

I was initially stumped as the auntie was packing up and preparing to close. FINISHED?!!! Shucks .... But auntie was kind enough to let me have a packet of CCF, that she's packed for someone, I guess. Hahaha ...

It's different from the usual CCF. And yet, different from even the Teluk Intan's famous one. Instead of rolling the rice noodles up to be served, the noodles are served just like how Ipohans have them; merely chopped up, and with green chillies, fried shallots, and lots (I mean, LOTS!) of dried shrimps. That's it. No sauce at all, aside from soy sauce. A bit dry to be taken, hence I requested for chilli sauce. Not bad, but the noodles is not as smooth as I like them though.

TallGal's bowl of noodles in soup, with Char Siew, Siew Yoke and Chicken looked .... a little too healthy. But I didn't hear her complaining, so should be good as a tummy-filler, before lunch.

Location : Keng Heng Coffee Shop @ 42, Jalan Raja, 36000 Teluk Intan.

And talkin bout lunch ......

Lana Tea House @ Taman Indah Jaya

Rather secluded, behind a row of shops off Jalan Sultan Abdullah, is this quaint tea house-cum-cafe-cum-restaurant. It's pitch black inside. OK, maybe not as dark, but the dim lighting was a huge contrast to the sunny weather. You can't even determine whether this place is open or closed, judging from the non-existent of signs on the outside. Just push your luck, and push the doors open. ;)

Spaghetti with Chicken Meat (RM6.50)

Seafood Fried Rice (RM6)

Sambal Squid Rice (RM5)

Prices are dirt cheap. For less than RM10 per pax, one can get a satisfying meal plus drinks. The choices varied from the usual fried rice and noodles, to spaghetti and salads, as well as chops and desserts. All reasonably-priced, and the quality ain't too shabby either.

The fried rice was surprisingly good, each grain fried with sufficient 'wok hei', maintaining the fluffiness of the grains. With ingredients such as squids, prawns, etc, the portion's not stingy either. The sambal squid was spicy, unexpectedly. The squids were good, fresh, bouncy and served generously. The spaghetti was .... well, like the norm. Don't expect the sky when you're paying rockbottom prices.

*Pardon the pics as the interior was way too dark for my phonecam.

Location : Lana Tea House @ No 1, Jalan Teratai J4/8, Taman Indah Jaya, 36000 Teluk Intan, Perak. Tel No : 605- 621 8996.

Motormouth wishes those who celebrate, and those who 'tumpang' holidays, a very, very Happy Chinese New Year !!!

Eat more, Snap more, Blog more !!!

Toddy & Seafood, Anyone? (Coconut Flower Seafood Restaurant @ Teluk Gong, Klang)

Oohhh .... CNY's breathing down my neck !!! =P A week's off from work is like a dream come true eh? Let's hope this coming new year, everything will run smoothly, and inflation rate will drop to an all-time low. Yeah, right ....

Nothing beats sitting underneath those huts, in cooling weather, sipping (or binging) on a cold glass of toddy (fermented coconut drink) ....

Here's something from Klang, for a change. Most who have visited Klang would have acknowledged the popularity and abundance of Bak Kut Teh restaurants, sometimes proudly proclaimed as THE Klang Bak Kut Teh, almost synonymous with the town itself.

But one may wonder, since Bak Kut Teh in Klang is served mostly for breakfast-brunch, (yup, hardly able to find a good one for dinner ...) what can one eat for lunch or dinner?! No worries, as Teluk Gong in Klang is famous for seafood, paired with the perfect beverage, toddy (palm wine, or coconut flower wine?)

Starter .... Snacks that uncannily resembled Mamee snacks.


Fried Vermicelli with Clams ... really, really miniature baby clams (la-la)

Tom Yam Prawns in Coconut

Deep-fried Soft Shell Crabs

Or Chien (Oyster Omelette) with Mini Oysters

Locating this place is surprisingly, a walk in the park. Coming from Klang town, we managed to reach this place within 20 minutes. Least I remembered the trip was not too taxing, as we were in a holiday and cheery mood (it was after all, the beginning of the year!)

The place is spacious, with huts everywhere. One can choose to dine outside underneath the huts (with fans, no worries), or indoors. Ordering was a breeze, as I've already had the dishes listed on my mind, thanks to the various blog posts on this place.

The Fried Bihun (Vermicelli Noodles) with La-La (clams) is another one of Klang's signature of sorts, rarely heard of in this part of Malaysia (Ipoh, where I'm staying). The baby clams (really tiny ones) rendered a sweet-ish flavour to the fried bihun, which thankfully was fried exactly the way noodles should, not too dry, yet not too wet. But lacking in 'wok hei' (breath of the wok?).

The prawns (medium-sized ones) cooked in tom yum soup, then served in a hollowed coconut with flesh intact, were fresh, succulent, and not spicy at all. The coconut imparted the curry-like gravy (nothing like authentic tomyam though) a fresh and sweet taste, complete with sweet coconut flesh. If you think eating coconut with curry sounds funny, believe me, it isn't.

Yaaaaaaammmmmm ............... Seng!!!!

Both the Or Chien (Oyster Omelette) and Soft-Shelled Crabs were nothing to shout about though. And the medium serving of soft shelled crabs (TWO of them) costed RM40! Should've ordered salt-baked crabs instead, or steamed fish. And the soft-shelled crabs were soggy, salty, and not up to standard. Refrain from ordering these, my advice.

Notice the MODELS in the pic? =)

On the whole, the meal costed us about RM90+ for four, including the perennial favourite of the Indians (now I'm a fan as well!), TODDY! Sweet, sour, and served chilled, the drink is believed to cool the body, especially after a heaty/spicy meal. At RM2.50 per small bottle, and about RM8 per large bottle, it's WAY cheaper than the beer. Mix them with Guiness Stout, and you'll brew yourself a cocktail perfect with a seafood meal!

Location : Coconut Flower Seafood Restaurant @ 702, Jalan Udang Galah, Kampong Teluk Gong, 42000 Port Klang, Selangor. Opens for lunch and dinner everyday.

Josephine Cafe & Bistro @ Ipoh Garden South

Ipoh and fine dining rarely come together in the sam sentence. Bar some restaurants eg. Indulgence, Citrus, Brewster, Italia Mia, and cafes in hotels, Ipoh's more synonymous with hawker fare and cheap food. And take note that I'm using the term 'fine dining' loosely here, as past experiences in some of the more opulent restaurants revealed the darker side of F&B management, quality and service; Mediocre food, paired with bad service, anyone?

The classy interior of the bistro, surrounded with translucent glass walls, an alluring diversion to the pedestrians walking by

So imagine the surprise on my face, as we stepped into Josephine Cafe & Bistro one fine evening for a supposedly 'simple' dinner (I've had heavy lunch and tea break beforehand), in my shorts and slippers, only to be thankful not to be reprimanded for dressing indecently. I meant, inappropriately. =P

Dad was the one suggesting this new outlet, saying something along the line of coffee bistro or something. And painted in my mind was another run-of-the-mill kopitiam of sorts. Whoopsie.

They take pride in their brand of imported Illy coffee. Other than SSTC (Spaghetti Sweet Tea Cafe), I've yet to come across another restaurant in Ipoh serving this brand of Italian coffee. Anyone?

The ambience exudes a warm, comfortable setting for a perfect dinner, with enough lighting for one to differentiate the olive from the black bean. They even have an upper seating area, which overlooks the whole dining area beneath. Cool, but refrain from wearing mini skirts, if you get my drift.

Fish & Chips (RM26)

Given the setting, and the service delivered (service was prompt, without any mistakes or blatant inexperiences albeit the confusion of orders hence the misplacement of cutleries), you can expect to pay through your nose for a decent meal here. Food ranges from RM20+, with burgers and salads slightly below that price. Beverages consist of coffee (obviously) in various forms, but mostly RM10 and above. For desserts they Illy Affogato (coffee+vanilla ice cream), tiramisu (yeah, 'creativity'), and pancakes.

Grandma's order of fish and chips came with sides of crinkle-cut fries (yup, those ready to be fried type from supermarkets), greens (lettuce and purple cabbage drizzled with some vinaigrette), hard/frozen baby carrots, and minimal serving of mayonaise. The pan-fried dory fish fillet was good, not too much batter, and the flesh was tender and sweet, but still reeking from faint muddy taste. They could've been more generous with the mayo though.

Fueslli Carbonara (RM25)

No, it's not a typo. It's really spelt fueslli, though I think fusilli's the real spelling for the pasta. Enlighten me, anyone?

Carbonara remains a safe choice of sorts for me, as nothing beats the creamy, sinful sauce with bacons and eggs. But the Fusilli Carbonara at Josephine's was too rich, the sauce a tad too thick & clinging onto the pasta, with too much eggs being used. Some may prefer their carbonara sauce thick, but I prefer mine to be slightly watery, for that creamy texture.

Pollo Golden Bleu (RM32)

Dad's order of Pollo Golden Bleu (Chicken Cordon Bleu) was delicious. The creamy mozzarella and ricotta cheese combination, and ham stuffed into the batter-fried chicken breast meat was sinfully good, every mouthful a bliss. Though I only got to taste ONE solitary mouthful. =(

Thankfully, the chicken meat was tender and juicy, and the sides of boiled potatoes was miles better than the crinkle-cut fries. But minor gripe here; The portion was way too small, not doing the price any justice.

Josephine Burger (RM18)

With a name like Josephine Burger, it doesn't take a genius to realise it's one of their signature item on the menu. But of course, this doesn't hold true at times. When Friday's Burger is merely beef and cheese burger, and Old Town Special Coffee is merely double shot of coffee, or rather, single shot in smaller cup.

Half expected the burger to be something like David's Diner's Miniature ones, we were pleasantly surprised to see the burger arriving in its full glory, sandwiched between 3 thick slices (or slabs, more like it) of soft, wheat bread was a slice of supposedly prime beef cut, a fried egg that's more solid than runny, lettuce, and two olives perched atop the grand structure.

Sadly, the beef was overdone, requiring more chewing and far from tender. The egg yolk was hardened, though the whites was ok. The bread was clearly the star of the dish, though that's not really saying much.

Crinkle-cut Fries ... Soggy and oily ....

Paying RM18 for a burger may sound absurd for Ipoh's standards, but you'll expect at least thick cut fries from good quality potatoes, or fresh homemade mashed potatoes. But nope, you'll be served with soggy and oily fries, and a dollop of mayonaise on the side in a small bowl. Hmm, I'd rather have them serving the burger with salad instead.

Thai Green Curry (RM15)

Thankfully, Mum's order of Thai Green Curry with rice was passable. Far from the real authentic stuff, and a bit spicier than the mild green curry we're accustomed to. But the roasted cherry tomatoes were juicy, fresh and rendered the dish a tangy flavour. The accompanying rice was fluffy, reminded me of a certain Malay dish, with finely-chopped bits of dried shrimps for some crunch.

A whole chicken thigh cooked in spicy (yes, spicy) green curry with roasted cherry tomatoes

The chickent thigh came in whole, with the upper part, and cooked til tender, infused with the spices and luscious green curry. I'm probably singing praises for the chicken as the other dishes we had that evening were nothing short of disastrous, aside from the Cordon Bleu.

Kick off your Shoes. let down your Hair and unwind in a cuppa Illy coffee ....


Al fresco dining's another option, if the formal setting indoor is unsettling

On the whole, the meal was rather unimpressive, but given the quality of the service, the charming ambience, and several interesting items on the menu, I may return again. Least, we Ipohans have another place for a proper evening outing. Or, we can always fall back on the famous hawker fare .... Oh Glorious Street Food !!!

Location : Josephine Cafe & Bistro @ .... oops. The address is not printed on the receipt. But this bistro is situated at Ipoh Garden Plaza in Ipoh Garden South, facing the main road of Jalan Tasek. Here's a MAP, in case you need assistance.

Melaka - Durian Cendol @ Jonker 88 & Largest Pineapple Tart in Malaysia?!

YES !!! Another 7 days to CNY !!! To kick off the 7 days countdown, here's something sweet (again?!) to tempt your tastebuds ..... all the way from Melaka !!!!

A sense of festivity already in the air ....

Notice the grave for a prominent warrior WAY back then? Hang Jebat's the name.

For a brief introduction of Jalan Hang Jebat (Jonker Street), here's an article. A stroll around the streets will bring back memories of days of yore, .... not to mention heatstroke, if you're not careful. =P

Feeling dehydrated? Here's the perfect antidote ....

Jonker 88 Desserts @ Jln Hang Jebat

Right smack in the middle of Jonker Street, this outlet selling various type of desserts (mostly ais kacang and cendol in various forms) and some savoury options eg. laksa, is a popular spot amongst the tourists.

Sitting on those wooden benches, surrounded by antiques, ornaments from yesteryears, and a charmingly ancient ambience

Cendol with Gula Melaka

Being a generally skeptical 'cendol' fan, after countless unimpressive experiences, I find the cendol here a tad, ordinary. But what sets this apart from the other imitators (so to speak) is the gula melaka (palm sugar syrup) being drizzled liberately on the surface of the shaved ice.

Very thick, sweet, and prominent, the gula melaka is overwhelmingly delightful, shadowing the lacklustre strips of cendol and red beans.

Wondering if those are valuables ... or nothings.

Durian Cendol

Or indulge in a bowl of sinful Durian Cendol, with the same ingredients as the original one, but with additional durian puree. If only they had thrown in real durian flesh, then the bowl of cendol would be heavenly. A tad artificial, and strictly for durian-lovers only.

Location : JONKER DESSERT @ 88, Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka. Here's their official site.

LW Nyonya Pineapple Tarts House - 4 branches in Melaka alone

Wondering what to buy back as souvenirs? Or craving for a bite to ease the journey back home? Try Melaka's pineapple tarts, for good measure.

Notice the LARGE tart on the top-left corner? It's even listed in Malaysia's Book of Records!

Previously, I've had a rather dismaying experience with pineapple tarts from Melaka. Another outlet (won't name it though, to avoid defamatory suits .... LOL) situated around the area was a household name in producing those sweet, delectable delights.

But lo and behold, the end products were nothing like the fresh ones promoted as samples to fish for potential buyers. Hard and tasteless, we left the boxes of tarts unattended until the next spring cleaning session.

Fast forward a few years .... and I found myself standing at LW, an even more famous joint, with 4 outlets in Melaka alone. Actually, the hugea$$ tart on display kinda attracted my attention. Then realised the other branches also displayed the same gigantic replica, a feat that's rather astounding. And no, it's NOT made from plastic, but do refrain from taking a bite, as it seems that the giant tart has been lacquered, to prevent crumbling and naughty hands. =)

Tastewise; not bad. Not the most out-of-this-world pineapple tarts I've tasted (I'm a fan of a homemade one, that's perfectly crumbly, with strong buttery pastries, and REAL pineapple jam .... cannot disclose the location/contact, sorry!)

Location : LW Nyonya Pineapple Tarts House @ 95, Jalan Kubu. 75350 Melaka

Three branches at : 41-A-1, Jalan Hang Kasturi, 75300 Melaka, 86, Jalan Tokong (Jonker Walk) 75200 Melaka, and 62 Jalan Tokong, 75200 Melaka.

A Chocolatey-Rich Finale & A Delicious Beginning .... (Theobroma Chocolate Lounge & Delicious)

My last meal (more like desserts ....) for 2008 and my (un)officially first meal to appease that sweet tooth for 2009 (sans that lacklustre TENJI experience!) ....

THEOBROMA CHOCOLATE LOUNGE @ PAVILION

Food of the GODS?!!! Wow .... I worship thee, oh chocolatey goddess!!!

Dark Chocolate Frappe (or something along the line ...) RM12.90

Chocolate Souffle de Paris (RM14.90)

Theobroma Chocolate Lounge has been on the blogosphere since last year, when the pioneer outlet opened in 1Utama. Since then they've opened another outlet in Pavilion, and has been gaining steam. Sort of.

The strawberries drizzled with luscious, milky and thick chocolate sauce

Of course, with a name like Theobroma CHOCOLATE Lounge, it doesn't take a genius to figure out what type of food they serve. Mostly desserts, with some savoury options, if you're not a fan of the cocoa, or something sweet, stay away.

The souffle was a disappointment. I was expecting the soft, crumbly type of souffle, but instead the chocolate souffle resembled a chocolate muffin at most. Yup, a little dry, though the dark chocolate was sweeter than I'd imagined. Fortunately, the chocolate sauce drizzled onto the strawberries was luscious, though left us hanging; Chocolate cravings un-satiated.

Thankfully, the Dark Chocolate Frappe saved the day. With a tinge of bitterness amidst the sweet concoction, with just enough whipped cream to not overwhelm the flavour, the beverage was rather filling. Had it been a tad thicker, with extra chocolatey-oomph, it'd be a perfect chocolate drink.

Fast Forward 2 days .... into 2009 !!!!

DELICIOUS CAFE @ 1UTAMA

Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream


Blueberry and Apple Crumble

Where else for satisfying desserts, and a chatter under the shining spotlights, than at Delicious? The sinful chocolate cake still had me singing praises (click HERE for the virginal experience), and this time around, the sweetness was slightly toned down (thank goodness!), but still managed to evoke that sense of guilt+satisfaction, the instant the warm chocolate cake paired with the cold, creamy vanilla ice-cream entered your mouth.

Since most items on the menu were not available that evening, we had to rely on the waitress' recommendation for a blueberry and apple crumble. Still prefer the peach and apple version, as the tartness of the blueberries, contrasting to the sweet vanilla ice-cream, and the warm crumbles may not bode well with some.

Here's to a DELICIOUS 2009 !!! =)

Location : Theobroma Chocolate Lounge @ Lot C4.05.02, Level 4, Pavilion KL. Tel No : 603-2143 4149.

Location : Delicious Cafe @ Lot G316, Ground Floor,1 Utama Phase 2 (New Wing), Bandar Utama. Tel : 603-77241086

A Ball of A Time? (Chung Wah Chicken Rice Ball @ Melaka)

Melaka is synonymous with heritage, the Baba's & Nyonya's, and of course, food. What types of food you ask? Ever heard of the (in)famous Chicken Rice Balls?! (Nope, NOT Chicken Balls Rice, pls try not to get the wrong idea .... =P)

One of the oldest, yet most popular around .... Chop Chung Wah attracts tourists from all corners

If you're a Malaysian, and have yet to visit Melaka, or heard about Jonker Street, well .... you're probably one of the minorities. Jonker Street (or Jalan Hang Jebat) is THE most popular (read : tourist spot) street in Melaka, housing a good number of colonial buildings, souvenir shops, bakeries and confectioneries, as well as restaurants and coffee shops.

When it comes to good ol' chicken rice balls, 3 names came to mind. Famosa, Hoe Kee and Chung Wah. Each has its own legion of fans, a 3 corner fight of sorts, much akin to Ipoh's dimsum brawl, or Nga Choy Kai (tauge ayam) free-for-all.

Perfectly shaped balls, scoring in terms of aesthetic values, and flavours .... 30cents each

All of the chicken rice balls outlets are opened from morning onwards. Yup, you can have chicken rice balls for breakfast even. And highly recommended as well, if you wanna beat the crowd. Come lunch hour, and brace yourself for the wait over at Chung Wah.

On a side note, on that day we went for breakfast at Chung Wah, we passed by Famosa and Hoe Kee as well, as all 3 are located within walking distance from each other, on Jonker Street. Surprisingly, the batallion of gluttons chose Chung Wah over the other two, in a dominating manner. If only Chung Wah occupies a space larger than the rivals, as after we were done, the crowd swelled to an intimidating number, queuing OUTSIDE of the slightly congested shoplot.

Steamed Chicken with Soy Sauce

On to the food .... simple enough menu. No distractions, no starters or side dishes to dizzy that mind. Eating here = Order fast, Eat fast, Leave fast. Steamed chicken ONLY, so don't act smart and ask for fried or roasted varieties.

The rice is shaped into a lump of ball. Given the structure of the balls (=P), you'd think that the rice would be lumpy, sticky and yucky, so that it can stick together, and not creating a mess, or rather, become a plate of the usual chicken rice. But no, one bite into the ball revealed soft, fluffy, and fragrant rice with a light hint of ginger (thankfully not overwhelming), and perfectly complemented by the accompanying chilli with vinegar sauce. Yup, the chilli sauce goes well not only with the chicken, but with the rice as well. Five balls per portion, but not too worry you diet freak-cum-carbo haters, as I downed one ball in one mouthful (not exactly the size of a tennis ball, rest assured!)

Reasonably-priced .... more or less RM5-8 per person.

As for the steamed chicken, I found it tougher than I'd preferred. Not as smooth as Ipoh's Tauge Ayam's versions though. And without the usual garnishing of chopped spring onions, the plate of chicken looked rather .... normal.

The shop at the junction of Jonker Street and Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock

Overall, this was WAY better than the chicken rice balls I had many years ago. At some place in a mall if I recall correctly. Recommended, for the authenticity and the rice balls, but not really something you can stomach day in and day out, given the limited menu. :)

Location : KEDAI KOPI CHUNG WAH @ 18, Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka.

Got MAP !!! It's at the junction after the bridge connecting The Stadhuys (red buildings) to Jonker Street. The shop is opposite OCBC Bank.

From An Ugly Duckling, to A Beautiful Swan? (Soon Fatt Restaurant @ Ipoh)

Lest one thinks that Motormouth's migrated to KL, given the number of food posts from the southern part lately, let me re-clarify this; I'm still staying, working & eating my way in and around Ipoh. Therefore, for today, here's something from my hometown .....

Soon Fatt advanced from a simple 'Dai Chow' restaurant to a full-fledged Chinese dining restaurant over in Greentown

When I was working near Greentown aeons ago, we used to have lunch over at Soon Fatt, back then a simple 'Dai Chow' restaurant on the same road as Oversea Restaurant near Hotel Excelsior. The price was cheap, the food was good, though the place was noisy, usually congested, and definitely NOT for long conversations.

I was impressed at the transformation ....

Then sometime last year, Soon Fatt relocated to another premise on the same road, nearer to Overseas Restaurant, which occupies a good 2 shoplots. Very spacious, with modern ambience, almost Zen-like, and a certainly more comfortable seating area. Of course, the pricing 'improves' as well. But that's an understatement.

Stir-fried Asparagus with Prawns in Sambal Belacan

The wait can be a little ... relentless comes weekends or peak hours. Do not expect to be served ASAP, and don't go when starving. The asparagus stir-fried with medium-sized prawns, in sambal belacan sauce was delicious. Crunchy, fresh asparagus rates rather high in my book of All-Things-Greens. And the slighly spicy sauce, with a subtle sweetness (owing to the onions and succulent prawns) made this dish a stellar one, a step above from the average/mundane/compulsory greens.

Pork Knuckle with 'Kai Choy' in spicy & sour gravy

The right combination of ingredients in the next dish was spot-on. Piquant, tangy, yet not overpowering, the 'Kai Choy' (mustard greens?) is a popular dish commonly served by chicken rice stalls, as the usual concoction involves left-over bones, meats, and such. Not entirely appetizing on paper, but the spicy and sour gravy will definitely tingle your tastebuds!

Here at Soon Fatt, they upped the ante, pairing a whole pork knuckle (can feed 4, really!) with the 'Kai Choy' in gravy, an awkward combination, yet worked wonders. One minor gripe would be the meat was a bit over-cooked, requiring more chewing than the desired melt-in-mouth texture. But still, try this for its authenticity.

Steamed Tilapia in Taucu Sauce

The fish was fresh, flesh was firm and sweet, completely lacking in unpleasant muddy taste usually feared when it comes to fresh water fish. The thick, spicy and savoury sauce complemented the fish to a tee. But wanna know what's THE secret ingredient? :)

Yeah Baby! A handful of these, and come running to a pharmacy .... Want some Statins? :)

Lots and lots of crunchy, sinfully addictive pork lards!!! Seldom do restaurants nowadays incorporate these babies in their dishes. Unhealthy? Yes. But once in a blue moon, who cares?! The meal costed the four of us RM74.50, including rice and drinks. No service charge/gov tax.

Location : SOON FATT RESTAURANT @ 42,. Jalan Seenivasagam, 30450 Ipoh, Perak. Tel No : 605-243 6864. Got MAP !!!

P/S : They're having CNY dinner sets as well. Do call for enquiries. And no, I'm NOT paid for this, LOL.

Seafood @ Portuguese Settlement, Melaka

Here's something on Melaka .... again. Continuation from tea break at Nadeje, and popiah with lard & Chee Cheong Fun at Newton, we took a break from all the stuffing. Later in the evening, we proceeded to dinner at Portuguese Settlement over at Ujong Pasir, a short distance from town.

The revamped Portuguese Settlement seafood stalls over at Ujong Pasir, Melaka

Few years ago, the place looked different, with the stalls all arranged in another manner. Naturally, to get the best view while dining, everyone would patronize the furthest stall, right by the sea, hence affecting the other stalls' business. And of course, Choosing-A-Restaurant 101 : Pick the stall with the MOST customers still rang true.

But this time around, the whole stretch of stalls have relocated to the newly-built court, facing the sea, with paved walkway, and al fresco dining area as well as lighted ones. No prize for guessing which is the preferred choice.

We picked stall number 4 (there are 10!), with the name "88 Sea Front Restaurant" as it was the most crowded that evening

Some have commented that the Malay seafood and 'ikan bakar' (grilled fish) over at Umbai area (way further than this) are better. Even my aunt (who visits Melaka about a gazillion times per year - she's a tour guide, btw) recommended the 'ikan bakar' over at Umbai. But there's always another visit, right?

Steamed Lala (clams) with Garlic and Chilli Padi, Kangkung (water convolvulus) stir-fried with Belacan (fermented shrimp paste?) and Batter-fried Squids

Parking's a breeze, as a spacious area is allocated. But RM1 per entry. Peanuts, right? Once alighting from your vehicle, brace yourself with the ahem, "Promotion & Publicity" activities thanks to the stiff competition among the stalls there. FYI, every stall sells the SAME stuff, basically Portugues Grilled Fish, and typical seafood dishes. Talk about originality.

I decided not to order the grilled fish this time around, as previous experience revealed the bland, tasteless, and lacklustre Ikan Bakar was not something up my alley. Fortunately my dining companions agreed to this autocratic choice.

The wait was relentless. The sheer number of tourists eating there, plus the slower than ideal cooking pace, prolonged our torture to a good 45 mins. Yup, either sip your coconut juice or beer, fiddle your thumbs, or take a nap.

But the wait was worthy, as the seafood was fresh, succulent, and CHEAP! The meal costed each of us about RM15+ only, plus rice and drinks. Affordable, considering this being a tourists' haunt, after all.

Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year .... Portuguese style?

The 2008 National-level Christmas Open House was held here, with the PM gracing the event. The decorations around the place were fascinating, with colourful lights on display, in every house, and hovering above the roads. A feeling of warmth, spirit of neighbourhood and festivity was definitely in the air, with residents from every household sitting in their porch chatting, relaxing, and children playing with firecrackers.

(P/S : Kinda got me thinking .... How long has it been since I talked to MY neighbour? Hmm ... )

Location : Stall No 4 (88 Sea Front Restaurant) @ Portuguese Settlement, Ujong Pasir, 75050 Melaka. Got MAP! Lazy to read map? OK, the area's easy to go. From Dataran Pahlawan Megamall on Jalan Merdeka, use Jalan Parameswara towards Ujong Pasir. The signboards in Melaka are good, btw. When you're on Jalan Ujong Pasir, look for a sign on your right, indicating Portuguese Settlement. Not too obvious though. There's a coffee shop named Ming Huat on your left, directly opposite the entrance to the Portuguese settlement.

Pizza Hut Trumped Shakey's .... BIG time !!!

Not too long ago, Shakey's Pizza was opened in Tesco Pengkalan, in Pasir Puteh. Memories of happy childhood times at Shakey's at BB Plaza in KL (which has since, ceased operation ...) flooded me the moment I saw the sign belonging to Shakey's Pizza, indicating "Opening Soon" over at Tesco Pengkalan. Yippee! Least we have another option, other than the giant conglomerate (THE Hut) dominating the pizza scene in Ipoh ....

And so we went for lunch, one fine day .....

Watery (dunno) chicken or mushroom soup .....

We should've heeded the hint before entering. Peak lunch hour, with value-for-money sets being offered, yet the place was near empty. Solitude's fine, for a quiet lunch, yet eating in a fast food settlement without the clanking of cutleries, and rapid flow of patrons, food and staff zooming in and out, plus a boisterous crowd, just ain't gonna cut it.

The soft & soggy Parmesan Bread Sticks .....

As there were four of us (KYT, TallGal, Mr Z and yours truly), it was a no-brainer on how to order. Much alike The Hut's set meals, there are sets for one, for two, four and six (I think, couldn't be bothered to check, really). We had the set for four, which came with the complimentary (compulsory's more like it!) soups, bread sticks, soft drinks and of course, pizzas.

Pizza #1

Pizza #2

The soup was tasteless, diluted, and starchy. The bread sticks were soft, and when dipped into the cold soup (yup, it was FAR from piping hot!), became soggy. And the soft drinks were diluted and tasted nothing like what they're supposed to. REALLY! Suspected they add water, or lots of ice into them. Hmm, but can the pizzas save the day?

Obviously, judging from the pics above, no. HELL NO !! The cold pizzas, with an unidentifiable cheese topping (it was hard, tasteless, and tasted artificial), and sparse ingredients (even the chicken sausage and filament sticks were horrible), successfully made the pizzas = INedible. It was THAT bad, I did not bother to jot down the names, nor keep the receipts.

But the meal roughly costed us RM50+, and we vowed never to return. Whatever happened to Shakey's Pizza? I still remember way back then, in KL, the Shakey's was so good, with generous portions of ingredients, oozing cheese, and different flavours from Pizza Hut. Sigh .....

The Other Pizza Experience

Good things are meant to be shared? Canned chicken soup, but warm, and satisfying


Good service, & attentive staff bringing the all the condiments you'd probably need

Fresh from the oven - Parmesan bread sticks

Hawaiian Supreme

Hawaiian Tuna

And the CNY special : Golden Fortune Cheese Crowns (or something ....)

Tried and tested, among all the Pizza Hut outlets in Ipoh, the one in Ipoh Garden South serves the BEST pizzas among them. Just brace yourself for the wait on certain days, as they're short-staffed at times.

Hot pizzas, with crispy crusts, and melted, oozing mozzarella cheese, as well as all the parmesan cheese powder and Tabasco sauce you could ever want, I felt right at home here.

Of course, Ipoh ONLY has Pizza Hut, and the tragic Shakey's to satiate our pizza cravings. This, in terms of fast food and affordability, not including those pizzas from other restaurants. We do not have Canadian Pizza, or even Domino's, for that matter. Pathetic, no?

(P/S : Gratitude & accolades to KYT+Mr Z+FCOE for the FREE lunch !!!)

So, do you have any pizza experience(s) to share?

Starting the Year Off with a Bang?! (Tenji Japanese Buffet @ Solaris Mont Kiara)

A break from the Melaka post, and rewind back to a week ago .... the dawn of a new bullish year. I said BULL-ISH, according to the lunar calendar. Not Bullsh*t. Though given the current economic downward spiral trend, the latter may suit our prospects for the coming 365 days more ....

So, how was YOUR new year celebration? Mine = Ruckus. Should've known better than to spend it around the Golden Triangle area in KL. The seas of revellers flooded the streets around the city(which fortunately, were closed for the celebration since evening. If not? Refer Xmas Gurney Drive pandemonium).

The fireworks display (a fix affair over at KLCC every year), and the aftermath of 'WAR' along Jln Sultan Ismail .... had us cowering in fear of sprayed with snow.

Since early evening, Astro started the ball rolling by staging a show outside of Sg Wang Plaza, with mostly local and some international Chinese artistes performing. Over at Pavilion, booming loud music was emanating from some boombox around the giant Xmas tree at the entrance. Xmas was ... in fact, a week's old story though.

But really, it was cool to see Malaysians from every race and background, as well as generation, celebrating amidst the turbulent times, for one night only ..... albeit the un-ruliness. But hey, all in the name of fun, no? :)

Tenji Japanese Buffet Restaurant @ Solaris Mont Kiara

On the 1st day of 2009, I was still reeling from the previous night's experience, walked miles after miles of unnecessary pilgrimage with thousands of others, as I chose to take the train, seeing that most roads were closed off to traffic.

However, on the day after, things started to pick up, as influenced by the many rave reviews of Tenji's buffet promotion, we crawled, traversed and scrambled our way to Mont Kiara. (Side note : Do ask or search for directions beforehand, if you're not familiar with the way. Mont Kiara can be seen from the highway, but took us a few extra rounds to find our way there from town. It's in fact, rather near to Hartamas).

Notice the clips with numbers 172 and 173? Our tables' numbers, meant to be used for ordering cooked items. Much like Jogoya.

When KCA called up to book a day before, the staff stated that the place was fully booked. Yeah, right. But we pushed our luck and arrived at 11.30am, the time when they open for business. Full prepared to be turned away, we were surprised to be ushered to our seats. Although at the verandah on the outside, the weather was thankfully cooling that afternoon.

The starters - Sashimi (raw fish slices), sushis, HUMOUNGOUS raw oysters, and various boiled seafood

Tenji is running a promotion until the 15th of January 2009, whereby lunch buffet starts from RM29.90+ onwards for the 1st hour, RM39.90+ for 2 hours of binging, and RM49.90+ for prolonged glutton session, up til 4.00pm. Do take note that from roughly 2-3pm onwards, a few counters would've stopped 'production', according to the crowd.

And the sudden blackout on the day we went rendered most kitchens dark and eventually closed. Rats.

The variety of cooked items

Of course, even RM49.90 per pax is a steal, if you're a fan of large oysters (REALLY big, I tell ya .... length comparable to a spoon! And required THREE mouthfuls each! You can gulp one at one slurp, but risk suffocation), sashimi (salmon, swordfish, scallops and tilapia only. Yup, TILAPIA. Never realised they can be eaten raw!), Haagen Dazs ice-cream (retail price at Haagen Dazs outlet? RM10 per scoop!) and seafood.

But seriously, we were rather disappointed at the choices of raw cuts, and sushis available. There's no maguro (tuna), butterfish, or ika (squid). Of course none of the yellowtail, bluefin, blackfin or whatever-tuna. Hmm.

Chinese cuisine station with Dim Sum - But we skipped those.

At the oriental station, you get Kam Heong snails (not bad, but messy), herbal soup (drop your clip and wait), greens cooked to your liking (drop clips), steamed fish (redfish or siakap), dim sum (ready for taking), and various other cooked dishes. Even the lobster salad's there, though the minced bits of the prized crustacean was akin to 'needle in a haystack' comparison. Not exactly impressive, but the steamed redfish was OK (refer pic below).

Steamed Redfish - Requires at least 15 mins of preparation. We waited more than that though ...

Kushiyaki - Unagi (eel), Mushrooms, Grilled Lamb Shoulder, and Grilled Salmon

One gripe we had about the clip-dropping system is that you can ONLY drop ONE clip into each bowl, wait for your dish to arrive, then only drop another. BUT, the grilled items on skewers eg. unagi, yakitori, etc come only in solitary form, or in duo. Imagine a table of 3-4, sharing ONE pathetic skewer of unagi. Hmm, certainly something to improve on.

And look at the slab of salmon above. Roughly 10-15 mins of wait, and gone in an instance. Not to say it's good though, the flesh was dry and tasteless. With minimal citrusy dressing. We skipped the fish and chips, as the cut of fish is equivalent to the size of a nugget. Really.

Fresh, sweet young coconut juice

Worthy of praises are the coconuts. Very sweet, thirst-quenching to the max. The juice counter offered 4 types of fruit juices. But not all were freshly-squeezed ones. Stick to the coconuts only, please!

The Chocolate Fountain

It could be the trend nowadays. Every reputable (or not) buffet spread in hotels or restaurants MUST incorporate a chocolate fountain (black or/and white) for chocolate-lovers to indulge in some work. OK, not much work la, just drizzle/drench your sticks of fruits or biscuit, or even marshmallow (not available at Tenji though) with the flowing chocolate sauce. Sinful,right? WRONG!

Desserts galore

The chocolate syrup was way too diluted, and tasteless. Reminded me of Nini's chocolate sauce. If you're not sure what's Nini, go back 10 or 20 years in time, or back to your childhood, and reminiscence. Thumbs down ....

The other desserts were not too memorable either. Though so many options available at the counter, but you're served by the staff at the counter, handing you your picks, on such a small plate. You can't even fit more than 4 pieces of mochi (sticky glutinous desserts in various flavours), cookies or cakes, at one shot. Imagine going back and forth a few trips to sample everything. Which is impossible anyway.

Hint : Go for ONLY the Haagen Dazs ice-cream (forgot the pic!) in 5-6 flavours, and get your $$$ worth! The cookies are HORRIBLE, btw.

Floral/fruity tea - A soothing end

The variety of floral tea available was impressive. There was lavender, chamomile (I think), mixed berry tea, and a few other unrecognizable names. You can even brew them freshly with the leaves provided, in a mug.

Sipping on them while seated at the verandah overlooking the highway = Bliss.

Thick, frothy cuppa coffee

Chef at work .... the misty effect looks cool, no?

On the whole, I'd suggest go for only an hour of rapid downing of oysters and sashimi, followed by Haagen Dazs ice cream. For RM29.90+, it's well-worth the price. Don't go for anything more, the cooked items are not worth the time and gut-space. :)

Location : TENJI Japanese Buffet @ Lot L-01-01, SohoKL, Solaris Mont' Kiara2 Jalan Solaris, 5o480 Kuala LumpurTel: 1700-80-1818 / 03-6203.6896

Melaka - Thousand Layers Cake?! (Nadeje Patisserie) & Popiah (With Lard!)

After the carnivorous meal at Jalan Bunga Raya, we (pathetically) tried to shave off the pounds and calories (as well as guilt!) by strolling around, amidst the rather sunny weather. Melaka is a small town, perfect for walking around leisurely, appreciating the nostalgic ambience of the classical town. Penang's Georgetown's the other classified World Heritage site, bearing a striking resemblance in terms of architecture and influences.

The battered and rebuilt fortress of A Famosa - THE epitome of Melaka

Random shots of the town and the river

This time around we skipped most of the tourist spots, as our main aim was to eat and shop. OK, more to the former than the latter. :)

The much-hyped about Nadeje Patisserie @ Plaza Mahkota

If you google Mille Crepe, either the name Nadeje, or Food Foundry (in Section 17, PJ) would appear. Mille Crepe is a type of French cake, made from many layers of crepe, intermittently spread with fresh cream, or any of the other flavours available.

At RM8.50 per piece, the slice of cake may look like nothing much, but the thin layers after layers of crepe, stacking atop one another, and manages to hold the cake in place was a rather astounding feat. Tastewise? The Original Mille Crepe tasted simple, fresh and clean, but lacking in terms of oomph. The Chocolate Banana Mille Crepe had an awkward 'rum-like' flavour, which was not entirely bad, but the alcoholic nuance may be due to the (over)ripen bananas used. The other flavours include Strawberry, Cheese, Chocolate etc.

Location : NADEJE PATISSERIE @ G-23 & 25, Jalan PM4, Plaza Mahkota, 75000 Melaka. Tel No : 606-283 8750. Another branch in Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall, which is situated on the other side of the main road. Got MAP !!!

Forms of transportation .... over the ages

After tea break, we walked some more, as driving around in Melaka requires much patience and self-control. So many one-way roads, plus the abundance of vehicles on the road, equals flaring tempers, honk-a-mania, and unleashing chapters after chapters of the almighty "3 Ji King" aka 3-Words-Bible.

Newton Hawker Centre on Jalan Mahkota, within the vicinity of Dataran Pahlawan

Passing by the rather newly-built Newton Hawker Centre (Perkampungan Makanan Tradisional Newton) on Jalan Merdeka, a short distance from Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall and Menara Taming Sari, we took a peek and found quite a number of stalls.

Naturally we were skeptical, memories of unpleasant experiences at such tourist-traps/food courts came washing over me. But the sight of the Popiah stall, manned by a rather, erm, "round" man caught my attention. Still remembered some popiah stall around Jalan Bunga Raya owned by a fat man that's supposed to be popular, because the incorporation of PORK LARD in the roll.

The Popiah and Chee Cheong Fun stalls, side by side in Newton

A roll at RM2.50, not cheap by hawker's standards. But bearable seeing the 'explicitly' renovated premise, exuding a very village-like atmosphere. The portion was rather generous, with lots of shredded yambeans, and those crunchy bits (or rather, chunks) of fried pork lards. But the Chee Cheong Fun (rolled rice noodles) was surprisingly, the better choice. Served with some curry, and shrimp paste, with fillings of prawns and char siew, the plate of CCF reminded me of Hong Kong CCF commonly served in dim sum outlets, albeit with a spicier and sweeter twist. Not bad. Only RM2.80 for a regular serving.

The relocated Eye On Malaysia

Menara Taming Sari - 360 degrees view of Melaka at RM20 per ride

(30% discount promotion available though)

Dataran Pahlawan Megamall on Jalan Merdeka

And Malaysian's favourite pastime (aside from eating!) ensued .... SHOPPING lor !!! (what else can girls do anyway?! =P) We guys went around in circles though, unsure of what's for dinner ....

Guess what's for dinner? :)

Seremban & Melaka - Of Missed Chances, And Everything Porky ...

Here are my other posts on Melaka's food :

Nadeje Patisserie (Mille Crepe) and Popiah with Lard+Chee Cheong Fun

Portuguese Settlement Seafood

Chung Wah Chicken Rice Balls Restaurant

Jonker Dessert 88 (Durian Cendol) and LW Nyonya Pineapple Tarts

Xiang Ji Pork Satay

Muahaha ... I'm back on track, after starting the day off with a dreadful mood, and grumpy mind. I've been skipping work since Xmas. With all four limbs stifled, and brains rusted, 2008 zoomed out in a flash. Of lights, a sea of humanity, artificial snow spray, 5 mins of fireworks, and horrendous jostle at the station. Man, Malaysians CAN be rather ruthless/rowdy at times !!!

Anyway, let's rewind a few days before the craze, and recount on a short trip down south. While on the way to Melaka, we stopped by Seremban for brunch, having heard much about the famed beef noodles, siew pow, etc.

Yup, located right above the wet market of Seremban .... oooh, this is gonna be GOOD!

Exiting Seremban toll, my vague memory had recollection of passing by Seremban town (which was congested, no thanks to the year-end rush and festivities), the Seremban main bus station, and some random malls. Just follow the road (Jln Sungai Ujong) to Seremban town, and turn left into Jalan Tuanku Munawir, once you reach Terminal 1 Shopping Centre on your left. Then from there, go straight along Jln Tuanku Munawir, until nearly the end, when you'll see the PASAR BESAR SEREMBAN on your right.

All good? OK, let's go. :)

The grand daddy of all disappointment. =(

They close on Tuesdays. A very expensive lesson to be learnt. OK, not exactly $$$, but in terms of expectations, hopes, and unappeased hunger pangs. Now you know .....

Location : 748 Seremban Beef Noodles @ Pasar Besar Seremban, Jalan Pasar, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. Thankfully .... GOT MAP !!!

Then off we went for another famous Hakka noodle stall somewhere along Jalan Yam Tuan, if I'm not mistaken. ALSO closed. Geez ... does anyone still do business here?!!

But I kept my cool, and off we went for the last resort. And what's a trip to Seremban without a taste of their signature snacks, the Seremban Siew Pow (Baked crispy bun with BBQ pork filling)? There are a few in Seremban town, and one VERY obvious mega-structure of an outlet named EMPAYAR, sighted along the highway. But we chose a rather obscure one along Jalan Rasah, simply named Warong Seremban Siew Pow.

A bakery-like shop right before the entrance to Kampung Baru Rasah .... ask the locals if you're lost.

A confectionery easily missed, had it not been the rather faded signboard, and good directions from a guide. Other than their famed Siew Pow, the outlet sells various snacks as well, from pineapple rolls to curry chicken pow (also crispy crusted), etc.

The Siew Pow of course, was noteworthy, best eaten when fresh from the oven. I can't really differentiate between bad, good and great version, mainly growing up with Siew Pow from Ipoh, from stalls also dubbed 'Seremban Siew Pow'. But the Salted Egg Cookie (Ham Dan Sou) was rather tasty, akin to Shanghai Mooncake. The Curry Chicken filling one is best avoided though. Nothing spectacular. Oh, and one can choose between pork or chicken filling for the original Siew Pow. But go for pork, I'd say.

Siew Pow at RM1.2o per pc, Salted Egg Cookie at RM1.50 per pc.

Location : Warong Seremban Siew Pow @ 1607, Jalan Rasah, 70300, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. Sorry, NO MAP. =P

The place in Melaka for good cuts of roasted meats ... @ Jalan Bunga Raya

Then we proceeded to Melaka for lunch. Yeah, stomach still grumbling from all the missed opportunities, we reached Melaka town. Traffic was daunting, probably owing to the festive crowd and tourists like us. Last minute recommendation from Jason brought us over to Jalan Bunga Raya, a congested one way street. Come to think about it, which road in Melaka is TWO-ways, anyway? ;)

You can even opt to sit directly in front of the people manning the stall, and chopping away. Make sure your finger's not in the way though ...

Situated at a lane connecting Jalan Bunga Raya and Jalan Bendahara, the Medan Makan Bunga Raya houses a few stalls selling almost the same food, from roasted pork (Siew Yoke) to BBQ Pork (Char Siew), and various other side dishes. The 1st stall has the most customers, hence natural instincts took over, and we were seated at a table next to the stall. Somehow, we felt like school students ....

Siew Yoke Rice @ RM3.50


Char Siew and Siew Cheong (Pork Innards Sausage) Rice @ RM3.50

A glass of fresh sugar cane juice (RM1.20) to wash away the slime, grime, and grease. Not overly-fattening, the Char Siew was rather good, with those burnt edges for that kick. Nothing special about the Siew Yoke and Siew Cheong though. And white rice was served, instead of oil rice.

A stroll down memory lane indeed .... If you can forgive the downright annoying traffic, smogs and hazards along the way. More to come ....

Yik Mun - The Famous Tanjung Malim Pau Since 1926

A much, much belated Happy New Year to all readers, and 'avid' followers of Motormouth From Ipoh (as if there's any ... but I enjoy being delusional. Shoot me ... )

For a good 82 years (way way way older than any of you readers, I supposed), Yik Mun has been serving generations after generations of 'pau' lovers ....

Reeling from the extended holidays, from Xmas to New Year, and then some, here's a short post for those (fans and detractors alike) who missed the daily dose of Motormouth's poison.

Pau Kari Ayam (Chicken Curry Bun)

Yik Mun in Tanjung Malim, Perak, has been around since 1926. A household name serving delicious pau and simple Hainanese fare to the local community, and as time progressed, to mostly tourists who stopped by for a cuppa and some yadda (yak-fest).

One word comes to mind ; Nostalgia. Oh, and "Muhibbah".

A corner lot on Jalan Slim River, Tanjung Malim, many purposely travel utilizing the trunk road from Sungkai towards Tanjung Malim, or exit at the Tanjung Malim toll exit, for a taste of Yik Mun's offerings. VERY famous for their pau, and various Hainanese fare such as Roti Kahwin (bread with butter and kaya - which has since, reached a point of extinction. Yup, they seem to RUN OUT of white bread on most days, for some reason), Hainanese Chicken Chop, noodles etc, the shop has been certified HALAL, and now serves mostly Malay dishes.

Other than their famous Pau Kari Ayam, they have other fillings as well, from red bean to minced beef curry (pau kari daging). The fluffy and soft skin enveloping the rather scarce fillings makes the snack a delectable (albeit non-too-filling) one, perfect as tea-time accompaniment to a piping hot cup of Hainanese tea or coffee.

Location : 6043, Jalan Slim River, 35900 Tanjung Malim, Perak.

For those who may need more precise directions, erm, feel free to ask. But I was 'miraculously' transported there, courtesy of my uncle. Hence, sorry for the helplessness ..... I'm tipsy. =P

A New Year, Another 365 Days of Gluttony - How 'Bout Some Crabs?

Blogging LIVE from KL .... where the excitement never ends. Escaped unscathed from potentially showered with artificial strings, and bombarded with those dastardly white, snowy foam. Fresh from the (harrowing) Xmas Gurney Drive's experience, anyone? LOL. Least we had some FRU's and 'Mata' to control the frenzy y'day night ....

Where have all the days when the young ones would play with harmless pop-pops and miniature fireworks/crackers gone to?! Geez .... youngsters these days!! =P

The simple, nameless stall ... Or was there a name?

1st post for the new year .... a seafood meal I had few weeks ago, in Pandan Indah, KL. Been here before, and the place can get a little .... rowdy at times. The wait can be relentless, from 30mins to a full hour if the place is packed.

Sweet, sour and spicy Sri Lankan crabs

This time around, only me and aunt went for some crabs, to appease that seafood craving I'm having, constantly. (Constantly craving .... somehow sounds familiar eh? =P)

The stall is a stone's throw away from Pandan Indah's pasar malam area, if you're one who know the roads by name. Opens only at night, the place is rather popular with the residents around the area. And there's a rather tasty (I was told) fish head noodles stall within the vicinity.

Soft, with crisp-edge Mantou to soak up the gravy

They've small crabs, medium crabs and LARGE crabs to choose from. The large variety, of Sri Lankan blood, of course comes with a rather hefty price tag. Roughly RM70/kg, if I'm not mistaken.

We had TWO big ones, cooked in a sweet, sour and spicy sauce, perfect with rice, or a roll of their self-made Mantou (white buns). We had the latter, as it was suppertime anyway. Hehe ...

The piquant gravy was finger-licking good, though aunt claimed otherwise, lamenting about a strange, stale taste with the chilli paste. But it was all-clear with me, down to the fleshy crabs, with sweet, and fresh meat. Nothing beats fresh seafood, I tell ya ..... Ask Crab Queen, if you've doubts. :)

Steamed Lala with Superior Stock

Aside from the crabs, we had steamed lala (Clams) as well, and chose the clear broth, or a healthier option to balance out the flavoursome crabs.

Not one of the best, but passable. Stick to the crabs, I'll advise you.

Fresh Coconut Juice

Wash it all down with some fresh coconut juice. OK, not as fresh as those from the beachside, picked by monkeys and all. But still comes in its original 'shell'.

The meal costed both of us a grand sum of RM90+. Yup, crabs do NOT come cheap. Plus the setting ain't particularly comfy, under zinc roof and cooled by fans. But the Backstreet Boys (Guys) would be pleased and felt right at home. Hahaha ...

Location : ??? Should be somewhere on Jalan Pandan Indah 6/2. Or Jalan Pandan Indah 6/1. Refer to the shabbily-pointed map HERE. Coming from town direction, towards Ampang, using Jalan Pandan Indah, you'll reach a traffic lights (T-junction) with CIMB Bank on your opposite right. Go straight and turn left at the 1st or 2nd turning. Geez .... I'm getting myself and everyone lost with my directions! The stalls should be on your left.

Any help is appreciated, before anyone get lost and flame yours truly. =P

A parting shot. Happy New Year to all Floggers, Foodies, Bloggers, Facebookers, and erm .... Connected Ones !!!!