Firefly Flies the Ipoh-Singapore Route! Come to Ipoh for some Hong Kee egg tarts?

Probably good news for Ipohans (or Ipohites, whichever sounds like music to your ears) working in Singapore, or Singaporeans intending to have a short vacation here in Ipoh (Or long, depends on each individual's endurance run in Ipoh, or even the outskirts around Perak).

Firefly will be operating flights connecting Ipoh-Singapore commencing on July 12th 2009, flying out on alternate days (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun), with an initial plan for once a day flight. Finally Ipoh's Sultan Azlan Shah airport (yup, we DO have one!) is being put to good use, rather than being an eyesore, with not even domestic flights operating since days of yore. But periodically, there had been flights operating the Ipoh-Medan route, if I'm not mistaken.

Flight schedule taken from Firefly's website

Tickets are priced at RM89.95+ for a one way trip, and an all-inclusive two-way tickets will set you aback at RM344.90. No comparison head to head with other airlines, as neither Air Asia nor MAS operates on the Ipoh route.

But given the mere 1 hour plus ride, and safety profile, you'd probably be saying your prayers now, after countless joyrides/nightmare-ish experiences on midnight bus rides, about 5-6 hours give or take (read : depending on the hellacious/angelic driver on board!). There are a few bus companies serving the Ipoh-Singapore route, from Sri Maju to Grasslands and such, and tickets are priced at RM50+. (It's been some time since I've been to Singapore, so please pardon the outdated information)

HONG KEE EGG TARTS @ JLN COCKMAN aka JLN DATO ONN JAAFAR

The egg tarts and 'kai sou' (meat pies/tarts) from Hong Kee, a signature brand from the olden days .....

I'm an advocate for egg tarts. Be it the crumbly Hong Kong dim sum type, the cookie pastry John King's type, or even the Portuguese version. The velvety smooth egg custard, best eaten when piping hot from the oven, paired with the fragrant, flaky pastry, is a God-sent creation I tell you. Especially paired with a cup of thick, milky tea or even Ipoh's famous white coffee.

Marbling, shiny goodness.

Hong Kee was, and still is a household name when it comes to egg tarts in Ipoh. Out-of-towners may not be familiar with Hong Kee's version, given the lack of publicity, overshadowed by the countless other famous street fare Ipoh has to offer.

My favourite egg tart in Ipoh has always been the Simee Market's Choy Kee's. But you've gotta grit your teeth, slap yourself out of bed at early hours of the day, and jostle with the crowd for your chance of a bite of Choy Kee's legendary egg tart.

Current road name's Jalan Dato Onn Jaafar. In case you're wondering where's the cock(man)? =P

Hong Kee egg tarts sell at an alarming rate as well, so be sure to call and book before going, or visit the shop as early as possible. But 8-9am should be fine. Don't push your luck and go after 10.30am.Tastewise? I still prefer Choy Kee's, for the freshly baked egg tarts are just heavenly. Masak-masak, and wmw seemed to think so.

For some Hong Kee egg tarts lurve, visit Jason's , or See Teck's.

With that, Motormouth's signing off for the day ..... Heaving a sigh of relief today's post was surprisingly SHORT (& SWEET!)? LOL .... It's The Weekend after all.

Sitiawan Food For Dummies - Half A Day's Worth of Food Hunt

Third time's the charm. Or so they say. For this month alone, I've visited Sitiawan/Seri Manjung not once, not twice, but THREE times. If you're thinking, "What's the deal with such a forsaken & 'off-the-track' town on the western coast of Perak?"

Kon Lou Mee - Dry soy sauce-tossed Foo Chow kampua noodle (RM2.40)

The FOOD, of course. And mind you, Seri Manjung/Sitiawan (the towns are almost borderless, both under the same district of Manjung) are NOT your idea of those idyllic, serene, backwater locations for the elderly to usher in the golden ages.

In fact, development has been rather rapid, with several shopping centres/hypermarket sprouting, a cineplex started operations sometime last year, new restaurants venturing into the scene, and a generally renowned interest in the district as a whole. (Lumut/Pulau Pangkor/Teluk Batik are also under the administration of Daerah Manjung, for your information)

The famous stall at Kampung Koh wet market doing brisk business from morning til noon, selling the famous Foo Chow (Hock Chew) specialty, Loh Mee

All this while I've been to Sitiawan, I've never made it a point to try the famous Loh Mee at Kampung Koh wet market. Reasons being I'm not a fan of yellow noodles, and moreso those drenched in dark, sticky, unrecognizable gravy. Loh Mee fits the description perfectly.

Loh Mee @ RM2.40

But given the task of leading a food hunt (with the other 4 members possessing a range of basic to zero knowledge of the town's roads, & attractions), I had to please all quarters, and put my interest last. Hehehe ... that sounded noble, ain't it?

To start off with, we had lunch at that Kampung Koh wet market stall, serving huge portions of those famous homemade (erm, factory-made now?) kampua noodles. Choices ranging from dry version to soupy ones, and of course the perennial favourite of many; the Loh Mee.

The thick, starchy gravy may need some getting used to, though I was not too keen on the sourish taste, probably lent by the added vinegar. Lots of dried cuttlefish, and some radish-like roots provided different textures to the springy noodles, which ironically reminded me of the one used in Hakka Mee.

I found the dry version tossed with soy sauce more palatable however, with added sambal (it's provided in a glass jar on every table), and Kampung Koh's famous garlic chilli sauce. The accompanying Char Siew (barbecued pork slices) was nothing fancy though, being leaner than ideal.

Location : Stall @ Pasar Awam Kampung Koh. Here's a rough MAP.

To get to this place, you've to turn left at the traffic lights at Kampung Koh, with Maybank on your right. From Ipoh's direction, using the Lumut highway, you'll reach Sitiawan town with KFC on your right. Turn left at the crossroad traffic lights into Jalan Raja Omar, and go until the end, passing by Bei King Restaurant on your left, then ACS Sitiawan on your left as well. You'll come to a T-junction with Maybank on your right soon enough. Turn left into the main road of Kampung Koh, and you'll notice the market (Pasar Awam Kg Koh) to your right.

Of Horsie, Happy Children, and Funky Balloons @ Teluk Batik.

The Loh Mee stall is opened from breakfast until lunch, hence don't go at night. You'll be better off visiting Happy Restaurant for their homecooked Hock Chew dishes, or seafood & toddy at Kampung Cina's AMU or Villa.

Say, if you're thinking; 'How to spend some time, before the next meal?' You can either :

a) Take a nap in your car, or

b) Go shopping at Giant, Billion, or The Store, or

c) Catch a movie at Lotus, or even

d) Burn some calories off at the beach of Teluk Batik.

A Chinese-Muslim uncle gleefully attending to the queries from the crowd, all the while prying open those mussel-like shells (kepah, is it?)

Not ANOTHER Teluk Batik post!!! I hear you lamenting. No fret, as this time I spare you the beach shots (hehe).

Sitiawan Cheong Cia Gong Pian

For some hot, fresh from the oven (erm, not exactly ovens, but clay-like structures like those used to cook naan), crispy Sitiawan snacks, you can't go wrong with Gong Pian.

With Char Siew, and onions fillings @ only RM1.00

Though some have commented that one can get these delectable savoury snacks elsewhere with better quality, I'm still impressed with Cheong Cia's version, especially the ones with Char Siew fillings. When consumed hot, the biscuit is like no other. Crispy on the outside, slightly chewy on the inside, with tasty bits of Char Siew and chopped onions. Other varieties include plain ones, or those with only onions.

Location : Sitiawan Cheong Cia Gong Pian @ HERE. A rough estimation as I'm not sure of the road's name. But after turning left at the KFC traffic lights in Sitiawan town, you'll notice a huge yellow building (Courts?) on your left. Turn left into the road and you'll find this Gong Pian shop.

Yee Si @ Kampung Koh, next to Maybank

Still craving for more after the Gong Pian? Hehe, come to Yee Si at 3pm for the famous multilayer peanut 'pau' (bun). Yes, only from 3pm onwards will they be selling this signature pau of theirs. Of course, Yee Si still serves other snacks and pau to complement your cup of tea.

The multi-layered Crushed Peanut + Sugar Pau @ RM0.90 per piece

Just ask for the peanut pau with layers, or the sliced ones. The dough resembles 'fatt koh', those (normally) pink-coloured steamed rice cakes commonly used as offerings placed at the altars for praying. Slightly sour (again, we suspected Foo Chow folks really like their food sour/sweet), the pau is not your average peanut ones, or any other you've grown accustomed to, for that matter.

Sang Yuk Pau @ RM1.10

The Sang Yuk Pau (pork bun with a quarter of a boiled egg) fared much better in my opinion, even eaten after a day! Flavouful, with good dough (those that does not stick to the teeth & not an inch thick!), and ample fillings, the buns were in fact, not our orders. The guy sent the whole plate to our table, drawing blank stares, & question marks atop our heads. But could it be a blessing in disguise?

Location : Yee Si Restaurant @ Kampung Koh, next to Maybank. Refer to previous map and directions on the Loh Mee @ Kampung Koh wet market.

That famous Sitiawan's James Cendol in front of the Indian temple, next to The Store @ Sitiawan

And to cap off a hastily-planned food hunt, we had something sweet, refreshing and cooling. Please pardon my laziness, and refer to my older post on James cendol HERE, for directions, price, and taste. Here's a MAP, in case you're feeling even lazier than me. =P Just go straight at the KFC traffic lights in Sitiawan, from Ipoh/Ayer Tawar's directions, towards Seri Manjung. You'll see The Store on your right, and the Indian temple within a short distance.

With that, I rest my case. Now, WHO WANTS TO HIRE ME NEXT? =P

# Food hunt in collaboration with The 3G's, with an additional new member, as well as an ex-member in tow. #

Indulgence Restaurant & Living, Ipoh - Teatime on a Lazy Saturday Afternoon

It's been some time since I've dined at Indulgence (click HERE for previous instalment), hands down THE most exclusive, opulent, one of a kind restaurant in Ipoh. Wait, the term 'restaurant' alone just won't do. Truth is, Indulgence is a Restaurant, & Living (A complete experience, referring to their boutique hotel), and has been performing outstandingly in the F& B scene, garnering various accolades from time to time.

Indulgence Restaurant & Living in Ipoh

For your information, the suites at Indulgence are elegantly designed with motives and influences from all over the world (think Moroccan, Thai and Shanghai). Different themes to suit different palates, so to speak. From RM420 ++ per night, it's probably a once in a lifetime experience, given the posh location and painstakingly imagined, crafted and designed rooms.

From the exterior, resembles a bungalow more than a restaurant, is it not?

But of course, Julie Song (the proprietress since day one) excels in cooking up a storm, from the previous location of an unassuming half shoplot cafe in Canning Garden since 1996, until Indulgence moved to this grand structure in 2005. What drives her to achieve greater heights? In her own words, it's PASSION. For food, for living, and for success.

The selection of desserts from the counter

A luncheon, dinner, or even a leisurely break for tea at Indulgence never ceases to please. Specializing in Modern European cuisine, the food at Indulgence can be described as fusion, at best. Browsing through the menu may take forever, hence you'll feel much relieved to just listen to their recommendations. Specials of the Day are written in chalk on the blackboard, and your waiter may (or may not, it depends on the waitering staff) carry the blackboard to your table and point out the current specials. A unique touch nonetheless.

Pot for Two - Floral/Fruity Tea @ RM8 per pot

It was teatime on a Saturday, thus we chose to mingle around for tea and cakes at Indulgence, after a rather heavy Japanese meal. As many have thrown positive comments on Indulgence's desserts, especially the tiramisu, I was harbouring high hopes to be amazed by the sweet delights.

Rhubarb Cheese Cake @ RM9

If there's one word to describe Indulgence's offerings, it has to be UNIQUE. If you've grown weary from the usual cheesecakes, tiramisu and chocolate brownies from some other outlets, rest assured you'll be spoilt for choice at Indulgence.

The Rhubarb Cheese Cake was delectably creamy, not overly cloying, with a light tarty flavour from the rhubarb stalks and finished off with a dusting of cocoa powder (or was it coffee? darn, this has been so long).

Fudgy Brownie @ RM7

Even the brownies come in various forms, from the usual chocolate to other uncommon ones with nuts, dates etc. The fudgy brownie was as sinful as a brownie should be, dense and rich, with chocolate sauce to heighten the experience. An ode to the sweet tooth ....

Creme Brulee @ RM9

Sadly, the creme brulee was below par. Rather than being flamed on the spot before serving, the egg custard with caramelized sugar was prepared beforehand, and left standing in the display cabinet. Definitely way past its prime, the custard was not velvety smooth, with minor coagulated parts, and the layer of burnt sugar on top was almost non-existent.

The much-hyped about Tiramisu @ RM14

Indulgence's intepretation of the tiramisu was a non-alcoholic one, spongy, moist (almost soggy), but a lighter version of the famous Italian dessert. There's no trouble walloping a piece by yourself, even though you're a light eater. The texture of the cake was almost airy-like, without a substantial bite. Honestly, I still prefer my tiramisu richer, and creamier, preferably with a subtle nuance of alcohol.

Miss Fig @ RM30 - Salad with smoked duck, tangy/citrus dressing and dried fruits.

To avoid over-bingeing on the sweets, we attempted to counter with some fibres. Or so we thought. But keep in mind that whatever you order at Indulgence, you can be assured 90% of the time you've never seen the exact same dish served elsewhere. Yup, even the salad.

Miss Fig's their signature salad, with slices of smoked duck meat, sweet dried figs, various greens (including rocket leaves, if my memory serves me right), enveloped in a crispy pastry layer, and served with a fruity, tangy dressing. The combination of ingredients was a little awkward, with an indescribable sweet/salty/sour amalgam of flavours. The serving was barely enough for one, yet alone to be shared.

Promising ambience, lacklustre service?

Another major gripe I've been noticing since my first visit to Indulgence, is the service. This time around things got from bad to worse, with young waiters running around committing silly mistakes such as sending the wrong bill to the wrong patrons. I was presented with the bill for the next table, and wondered were they 'ushering' us away after a lengthy chatting session. When the waiter realised his mistake, not even ONE word of apology escaped his mouth. To face such level of service at an outlet like this is plain atrocious. And let's not mention about the attentiveness (or rather, lack thereof) of the waitering staff, requiring us to raise our hands in order to get our glassed filled. They really should dwell deeper into the public relations department, and not risk losing customers over such paltry matter.

Location : Indulgence Restaurant & Living @ 14, Jalan Raja Di Hilir, 30350 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. Tel No : 605-255 7051. Hotel Tel/Fax : 605-242 7055. Here's a MAP.

Website : http://www.indulgencerestaurant.com.

Opening hours : Wednesday to Sunday, from 9.00am until 11.30pm.

Keng Nam Coffee Shop @ Ipoh - Curry Mee & Pulut Kaya

No frills post today. Working again on a Sunday. Grumpy Motormouth ...... don't come close. I'll put my adamantium claws to work. If I ever have them, oh you can betcha bottom dollar I would !!!

Dry Curry Vermicelli & Yellow Noodles @ RM4.00

One of the longest running on my list of to-try's, Keng Nam coffee shop is a tricky one. Yes it was. You either come early for the curry mee, OR you arrive to witness them cleaning the deserted compound.

Don't look down on this unpretentious corner lot of a coffee shop. Nowadays, even the simplest coffee shop is named 'Restaurant'. For whatever reason, I don't know. Glamour? Status quo?

Many have raved and ranted about Keng Nam's curry mee. Verdict? Nope, doesn't even come close. The curry paste may be thick, fragrant, with an extra little bit of 'fire' in them, but even the dry version of the curry was not satisfying enough, the gravy being too diluted (somewhat oily as well), and ingredients leaning more towards the sparse end (as evident from pic above). They could've been more generous with the curry, (ala Yee Fatt) to ensure an immensely pleasurable (whoops ... scandalous choice of words) dining experience.

Chee Cheong Fun with Mushroom Gravy

Though some might argue that the wet curry may fare better, do realise that I'm comparing the dry version with other dry curry noodles as well. So, no bias.

Anyway, the CCF (chee cheong fun) fared better, slightly. Smooth rice noodles, steamed till silky perfection, garnished with sesame seeds and fried shallots. The gravy somewhat lacking in mushrooms/pork, it's the noodles that matter to me. And the CCF can be served with curry chicken, or curry pig's skin. The latter was a delight, as far as I could remember. Sorry, the photo's somewhere in my stash of backlogs, taken a year ago!

Sweet glutinous rice with egg jam - Pulut Kaya

But this remained the highlight of my breakfast, and one that's worth coming here for. Yup, a confession to make here; I lurve pulut kaya, be it white or blue in colour. The latter's called pulut tai-tai, by the way. A famous nyonya kuih, commonly sold in small, square-ish blocks with kaya.

Keng Nam's Pulut Kaya has stood the test of time. I had my FIRST pulut kaya from this very shop, back when Motormouth's motor has yet to be ignited. Read : When I was half my current size, and food did not matter as much, compared to now. =P

Thick, strong cup of white coffee - Shot taken at time of leaving.

Location : Keng Nam Coffee Shop @ Jalan Raja Ekram, Ipoh. Here's a MAP, in case you're lost. It's on the same road as Koh Samui Thai Restaurant, very near to Ipoh's new hotel, The Tower Regency, and within walking distance from Hotel Excelsior.

Go early. Or else.

Now for something completely UNrelated ...... :

The Grand Daddy of them All - FOH SAN DIM SUM RESTAURANT

(Next Change : June 2009 - Still unconfirmed)

Dim Sum restaurants within the vicinity .... Be afraid. Be VERY afraid.

Location : Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant @ 51, Jln Leong Sin Nam, 30300 Ipoh, Perak. A MAP, for those in need.

Motormouth From Ipoh - Unveiled. Revealed. Exposed.

Sort of. Hahaha .... Got ya attention there, didn't I? Nah, still no photo of this lowly ogre hibernating in a land called Ipoh (yet). But Feedmelah.com was miraculously enticed (in my own words, not theirs, hehe) by this Motormouth, hence the fruition of this e-mail interview.

Initially surprised, pleased, shocked etc to receive that e-mail from Stephen of Feedmelah.com. I was dumbstruck, dumbfounded, & plain dumb (that's yours truly's best trait). So it took some weeks before replying the questions imposed, which in nature, were NO mere pushovers.

Imagine 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire' meets 'Are you Smarter than A 5th Grader?' ... and you'll get my drift. Good thing was that, I was not required to send a portrait of myself.

Else there goes the appetite of the millions and millions of readers. Not from my blog, of course. Feedmelah's.

Anyway, seeing that it's a FRIDAY after all, I won't bore you any longer with my rant, but instead would like to leave you with the link to the interview. Do hop over, have a pleasant read, browse through, print out & frame it, feign interest, spit on your monitor if you would (but you wouldn't, right? *puppy-eyed*) and do leave a comment at the end of the post. So Stephen can keep his job, and as the Cantonese saying goes, wont' "Drop His Glasses".

http://feedmelah.com/blog/2009/05/21/interviews/email-interview-with-motormouth-from-ipoh/

Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant in Ipoh - Old Is Gold?

If you're an avid follower of this blog (OK, don't puke), you would've noticed the lack of dim sum reviews in Ipoh. This, although Ipoh has been established as, and probably still is one of the BEST destination for a sumptuous, hearty yet reasonably-priced dim sum breakfast.

The perennial favourite of many, even if not for the dim sum alone, it has to be the charming, nostalgic & authentic breakfast experience

The dim sum scene in Ipoh revolves mainly around the BIG 3, namely Foh San, Ming Court, and Yoke Fook Moon. Of course, there are other newer ones, and some old-timers which sadly never really took off. For those in the dark, dim sum is one of Chinese's (or Cantonese, actually) most famous cuisine, typically eaten for breakfast and served with Chinese tea. Literal translation means "Touch heart", the delightful morsels are either steamed or fried, and served in small portions, thus one can avoid over-eating (yeah, right) yet sample many different varieties.

On a weekend - Notice the vultures? =P

This post arrives in a rather timely manner. Why, you ask? Because Foh San is moving away to a new location next month. For a good many decades, this dim sum restaurant at the junction of Jalan Dato Tahwil Azhar and Jalan Mustapha al-Bakri has been serving hundreds to thousands of customers on a daily basis. The rich history of Foh San can never be rivalled, just ask any of your parents or grandparents, and they'll probably be nodding in agreement.

On a weekday - SLIGHTLY better, hence leave the crutches at home.

I'll reveal the new location at the end of this post. For now, let's concentrate on the food. But wait, before you go thinking that you can simply waltz in, grab a table and order away, think again. The two photos above differ ever so slightly. The first was taken on a Saturday morning, and the second on a Tuesday's. Truth is, the crowd swells to its fullest capacity on weekends and public holidays. So either come early (VERY early), very late (but risk being served with fewer choices of dim sum, as the good ones tend to finish rather fast), or avoid Sundays/public holidays altogether.

What separates a routine dim sum meal, from a memorable, complete experience?

Firstly, I must show my utmost/heartfelt/deepest gratitude (suddenly so formal, eh?) to CK Lam & Hubby for the wonderful meal, and inviting this small potato (OK, large potato ..... happy yet?) for breakfast on a Saturday morning. They were on their southern escapade, all the way down south, yet allocated a little of their precious time for breakfast with yours truly. Aww ... so sweet right? Thanks again CK, and really glad to meet you in person, and your personal photographer too. =P

Har Gau - Prawn dumplings

The second visit was 3 days after, with KYT and FCOE. Though we've been working together for nearly 3 years now, we have NEVER gone for a dim sum breakfast. Given the convenient white coffee fix very near to our office, we never ventured further/drive out for breakfast. A shame, really, with so many territories unexplored, and tables unturned. Wait .... wrong metaphor there. Hehe ..... OK, let's see why Foh San manages to deliver time and again, and remains a favourite among locals, and tourists alike.

Yeung Ngai Kua - Stuffed Brinjals with Fish Paste

Their Har Gau (Prawn Dumplings) has no flaws, so to speak. Thin, translucent & pleated skin, enveloping around a dense filling with moist, succulent and almost crunchy prawnS, the combination of flavours is almost intoxicating (for a prawn lover, at least). Of course there's the scallions, water chestnut (if I remember correctly, sorry I gulped the morsel whole!) and seasonings that rendered every bite a delight.

The other favourite of mine is the stuffed brinjals with fish paste, a type of Yong Tau Foo commonly served with noodles. Of course these are not true blue dim sum, but Foh San does their stuffed brinjals really well. The accompanying sauce (a mixture of soy sauce, and Lea & Perrins, I think) omits the need for chilli sauce.

Clockwise from top left : Siew Mai (Pork dumplings), Fei Chui Mai (forgot the real name, sorry - Prawn + Pork fillings with mushroom), Yue Mai (Fish paste) and erm ... Solid Yellow Pork Dumplings with Black Pepper seasoning.

The steamed items overshadow the fried ones, with many choices on the trolley being pushed by the workers. But just like what vkeong has reviewed lately, the choices may not be comparable to other dim sum outlets. True somewhat, but not wholly. Foh San periodically comes up with NEW dim sum, and without proper menu nor promotion, you have to ask the staff for what's available. And some being grumpier than the others, they may not attend to your queries.

But hope's not lost. You can actually walk over to the trolley you're aiming for, and seek for the types you prefer, then hand-carry to your table. I even opened the covers of the dim sum baskets and shot queries, ala Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Or Slumdog's. Or maybe not.

Char Siew Pau - BBQ Pork Bun, and Sang Yuk Pau - Pork Bun

What's commendable about Foh San's dim sum is that most of the items come piping hot at your table; steamed freshly, and served on the spot. But of course there are exceptions, such as the case with the Char Siew Pau on the second visit, when it came lukewarm, almost cold to touch. But a rarity, really. And the Sang Yuk Pau was equally good. The other varieties they offer were the sweet ones, and Nam Yu Pau (pork with fermented bean sauce). Not sure about Tai Pau (Big Bun, literally) though.

Wu Kok aka Yam Puff

I've never been a fan of Foh San's Wu Kok, or Yam Puff, as I find them rather soggy the previous visit, and the quality rather inconsistent. The Saturday's Wu Kok was OK, but fortunately, Tuesday's version was far better, as they were freshly fried from the wok. Hence the crispy exterior, with oozing filling of chopped Char Siew (BBQ pork meat).

Left to Right : Ham Sui Kok. Fried Prawn Roll, Gyoza-like pan-fried dumplings, and Egg Tarts

Truth be told, if you order one of each of everything, you'll end up feeling really bloated and will probably skip your meals for the rest of the day. Other favourites include the Hor Yip Fan (glutinous rice in lotus leaf), Ma Lai Koh (steamed sponge cake), Hong Kong style Chee Cheong Fun, Loh Mai Kai (steamed glutinous rice) etc.

One of their special creation : Steamed rice roll (Chee Cheong Fun) stuffed with pork, prawns, and mushrooms.

This was very good, served with no sauce, but sprinkled generously with sesame seeds, and garnished with fried shallots and chopped scallions. Very tasty, fresh, and rightful combination of fillings.

Fried Loh Bak Koh aka Radish Cake

And last but not least, Foh San serves their Loh Bak Koh in a different manner. Whereas in most dim sum outlets, they simply pan-fried theirs and served plain in blocks, Foh San takes it a step further, and stir-fries them with bean sprouts, eggs, crunchy 'choy pou' aka salty,preserved radish and garnished with chopped scallions. A must try, although Penangites may notice the resemblance to Char Koay Kak.

On the whole, if you're sick of downing white coffee and toasts for breakfast in Ipoh, go for a dim sum experience. Trust me, you'll start your day with a bang .... though side effects include drowsy from all the food. But hey, that's when the Chinese tea comes to play! Wash them all down with a hot cup of tea, ponder over the dailies (though as of late, you'd better not spoil your mood or appetite with the power struggle, and H1N1 scare!), and unwind yourself before a hard day at work.

Location : Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant @ 2, Jalan Dato Tahwil Azhar, 30300 Ipoh, Perak.Tel: (605) 254-0308 Fax: (605) 253-5432. Here's a MAP.

NEW outlet : 51, Jalan Leong Sin Nam, 30300 Ipoh, Perak. Here's a MAP.

# Photos combined from 2 visits, on 2 different days #

# Relocation date unconfirmed, but sometime in June #

Fullpann Steak House @ Seri Manjung, Perak

Question : Where would YOU go for a romantic/decent/fine-dining/pricey meal in Seri Manjung? Let's say, for Valentine's, birthday celebration, Parents' Day, or even company lunch/dinner where you know bingeing on Sitiawan cendol or Hock Chew cuisine or Nasi Ayam just wouldn't cut it? (Even more so for the last reason, when the bill's on your BOSS or company!! Hahaha ... but let's not digress here. Ahem).

Soft, yellow-hued lighting rendered the dinner experience with a touch of class. Bad for photography though.

Answer : Fullpann Steak House is a potentially suitable choice; the divine light comes a-shinin', when ideas are running low, and you know you wanna splurge on a memorable dinner, with steaks, chops, wine and all. (Sans the candles, but the soft neon glow may do just as well)

Only a handful of shots of the surroundings, as we were rushing like mad.

This dinner was a somewhat last minute decision. And with only about an hour and half to spare, we had to travel all the way from Teluk Batik to Manjung for a meal, and then rushed back and refreshed ourselves. The additional (yet ironic) barrier came in the form of TRAFFIC JAM (yup, this devil's everywhere!) along the road leading to the naval base (TLDM). And then to pour salt into our dejected, maggoty wounds (grumbling stomach aside, we were fatigued from the day's ordeal), a whole entourage of media was dominating at the very last traffic lights, blocking traffic flow to a screeching halt. Their purpose? That infamous Jom Heboh campaign at Teluk Batik. Uh-huh.

Japanese Chicken Chop @ RM14.50

But we're no mere pushovers, no sirree! We persevered, drumming tummies aboard a bullet train-speed Vios, and reached in the nick of time. About less than an hour for a meal at Fullpann. Impressive driving skills aside (hehe, not mine), the restaurant was thankfully inviting from the outlook, warm from the service rendered, and food arrived in a matter of minutes. OK, about 15 of them, but I ain't complaining!

KYT's Japanese Chicken Chop arrived first on our table, two deboned fillet of chicken cooked with a slightly sweet, more to savoury type of gravy, resembling Teriyaki sauce. It's a giveaway for sure, from the 'Japanese' moniker given to the dish. Served atop some broiled vegetables, a baked potato, and a buttered bun, the dish may not be mind-blowing, but yet delicious enough for the hungry soul. I nicked a piece, and the chicken was marinated well, and the seasonings seeped through the skin, thus the meat was not of the usual bland, frozen horror.

Roasted Spring Chicken @ RM20.90

Spring chicken's usually a miniature-sized chick, may NOT even be enough to feed a light eater with waistline of 25" and below. But at Fullpann, their spring chicken could almost passed off as a REAL, true blue one, even Fire Optics was havin trouble finishing his portion. And as expected, I stole a bite, but found the gravy to be a little too peppery, probably from heavy lashings of black pepper.

Braised Lamb Shank @ RM25.90

Memories of Secret Recipe's PREVIOUSLY impressive lamb shank still plays vividly in my mind now and then. Back then, a serving was priced at less than RM20. Now? The price jumped to about RM30, and the quality's sorely dropping.

Fullpann seems to take pride in their steaks, and lamb. The recommended lamb shank was surprisingly not served in a bowl (stew-like), but served on a plate, with some sides such as corn on cob, bun and greens. The gamey flavour's evident, but that's exactly how I like my lamb, with strong, pungent taste and meat falling off the bone. The thick, flavoursome gravy went really well with the shank, and I polished off the portion (trust me, the REAL serving was way bigger than it looks in the pic above) myself without hassle.

Spiralling, convulating, twisted lives we have. Share them over a dinner with some friends?

Though the setting may appear to be intimidating, fret not you'll need to pay an arm and a leg for a decent meal here. In fact, most items are priced below RM20, and they even offer set lunches at RM12 daily. (Refer to their site @ http://fullpann.googlepages.com/home). Will I return for another meal? You bet, especially with such blistering heatwave being rampant, I'll be willing to fork out a bit more for air-conditioning, and a relaxing meal. =P

Fullpann Steak House @ 34-35-36 G/Floor, Persiaran PM2/3, Pusat Bandar Seksyen 2, 32040 Seri Manjung, Perak. Tel No : 605-688 1700. Opens 7 days a week, from 12pm til 12am. Here's their MAP.

Teluk Batik AGAIN/2 Salted Egg Chickens - Happy & Bei King @ Sitiawan

Never say never. I never stepped on Langkawi's soils all throughout my life, yet last month I flew there not once, but twice. (The chocs are STILL in my fridge until now .... a case of over-estimation, at best).

Not of pristine waters & golden sands, but can lah .....

And being a Perak-ian, I only discovered Teluk Batik (physically) back in March. Surprisingly, duty called, and I was there again in April, AND last weekend. Which kind of more or less changed my perspective on life. Good things only happen once? Nah .....

Footprints in the Sand & The Lost Stallion?

Not going to bore you with shots of the beach and its surrounding this time. But instead focusing on some Foo Chow (or Hock Chew) food in Sitiawan. Two of them, to be exact. Told ya good things come in pairs.

Yee Si @ Kg Koh's the place for freshly steamed 'pau' ... but not opened for dinner. Boo-licious covered the 9 layers peanut bun HERE.

For dinner on the first day, we ventured out to Kampung Koh in Sitiawan to meet up an old friend of ours. No, not in the sense that she's OLD (The opposite, in fact. She looks 10 years younger than her age, really!). But a friend since our secondary school days.

Clockwise from top left : Foil-wrapped Sweet & Sour Pork Ribs, Salted Egg Chicken, Oyster omelette and Fried Squids

Staying in Ayer Tawar for a good one year plus certainly has its advantage. She has transformed from a young, naive gal with no sense of directions whatsoever (hehe), to a tough nut making ends meet in Changkat Melintang (even the GPS may falter at this one!), and perpetually searching for yummy food in and around Daerah Manjung. But of course, with a little help from her prince. (Don't kill me ..... LOL)

Foo Chow Mixed Vegetables

The place is easy to find, as the restaurant is located opposite of Kampung Koh's wet market, which in turn is very famous for the Lor Mee (a type of noodles in thick, sticky broth).

The meal was satisfactory in more than one way. Notable dishes include the Or Chien (oyster omelette) which was very crispy, with M-sized oysters, and paired with Kampung Koh's famous garlic chilli sauce. The deep-fried squids was another tasty snack that was complemented well by the aforementioned dipping sauce.

But the BEST dish of the evening, in my opinion at least, was the salted egg chicken. Now at this restaurant, their intepretation of the dish is slightly different from the others. Whereas most restaurants incorporate salted egg in the batter, and deep-fried their chicken, here the dish is slightly 'wet', as the salted egg is added into the gravy used to cook the chicken. The result? A sumptuous combination of tender chicken pieces cooked in the slightly sweet, saltish, and glistening thick sauce, with finely-chopped bird's eye chillies for that extra fiery kick.

How could we NOT be feeling HAPPY?

Secondly, that was a free meal. Hahaha ... us the freeloaders eh? Thanks to her charming prince, for the food, the company, and the recommendation.

Location : Happy Restaurant @ Main Road of Kampung Koh, Sitiawan. It should be somewhere around here, in the MAP. From the traffic lights at Kampung Koh's Maybank, go towards the road opposite of Maybank, and go straight from there. The shop is on the left, about 300m down the road.

So WHERE'S THE SECOND RESTAURANT, YOU ASK?

Bei King of course.

It has been a year, since my last visit to Bei King in Sitiawan. No doubt THE most popular Foo Chow restaurant in Sitiawan (albeit many claimed the commercialization brought about inflated prices and compromised quality), Bei King has been in the business for about 2 decades now.

Sambal Belacan Kangkung - Ma Lai Fung Kong

Their version of Kangkung stir-fried with Sambal Belacan was surprisingly very good. You know they really care for their greens when they do not simply stir-fry them, but instead with enough fire (wok hei), rendering the greens with a pleasant smoky flavour, with piquant sambal belacan paste, chopped onions and shrimps added for good measure. Not a typical Foo Chow dish, but who cares? :)

Sweet and Sour Fish Maw Soup

Now this is one of their signature dish, the sweet and sour fish maw soup. Fish maws are the gas bladders (or air bladders) of certain species of fish, considered a delicacy in Chinese cuisine. Cooking them may be tricky, as they've to be fresh (without the unpleasant overnight/stale oil taste), braised until soft yet maintaining that bouncy texture, and the sauce must not overwhelm the subtle flavour of the maws.

At Bei King, the sweet and sour soup is a suitable choice; thickened with strands of egg whites, and served with other ingredients, the soup was a tantalizing starter. But the fish maws paled in comparison to the ones I've had in Sekinchan.

The golden block of Signature Beancurd cooked in that wholesome stock

Salted Egg Chicken (again?!)

The salted egg chicken at Bei King is the typical batter-fried version, BUT the salted egg was sandwiched between the batter and the chicken meat, instead of being incorporated into the batter mix. Crispy on the outside, tender and savoury on the inside, we could really taste the salted egg in this one.

Red Wine Chicken - Dry version

The epitome of Foo Chow cuisine, the red wine chicken mee sua is being dished out in Bei King as well. Though we opted to have ours sans the mee sua (we had rice), AND without the soup (we had the fish maw one). The dry version was equally good, though first-timers may have doubts, wondering the possible use of excessive dyes/colourings. In reality, the blood red shade comes from the red rice used in the fermentation of the wine. IF my memory serves me correctly.

Location : Bei King Restaurant @ 1, Taman Lekir Baru, Jalan Raja Omar, 32000 Sitiawan, Perak. They've a site HERE. Tel No : 05-6910253/6926951. It should be somewhere around HERE (a Google map)

Happy Sunday Everyone ........

Otak-Otak Place @ Tropicana Mall & Nasi Lemak Panas @ Jln 223, PJ

# To be warped back to the good old days once more ....... #

Got Brains Will Travel (Cycle) ?!

Bountiful ornaments, display sets, from the wacky videotapes to the abacus, flasks & potteries and even a classic wash basin from days of yore ....... (P/S : Spot the menu?)

You wouldn't wanna be on the receiving end of the falling bicycle !!

Thanks be to foodies-extraordinaires; Jason & WMW (hehe), I relived my childhood days at Otak-Otak Place @ Tropicana Mall. Nope, not the darker side of my past (those dark, turbulent,scarring days of youth) but instead, referring to the simpler, happier times when politicians a-bickering did not reach cult status (=P), that black gold liquid was priced at merely RM1.20 or so, and picnicking by the lake/beach/river was not ridiculed at.

Teh Tarik @ RM2.50 and Cham @ RM2.50 - With a complimentary piece of buttery cracker

Otak-Otak Stick (Promo price : RM0.60 each, Usual price : RM1.10)



Happy Family - Though I've completely forgotten the rules of the game. Why don't they create a digital version for the third-gen consoles? =)


Rekindle .... Your Passion. Otak-Otak Roll @ RM5.50 per serving.


They really put in tonnes of effort, 'memerah otak' (pun intended) to reminisce the games, gadgets and utensils of Good Ol' Days

Purchase one of these, and suck away your sorrow ......

Otak-Otak Place is the brainchild of the people who run Pick & Brew, over at One Utama. Ironically, this outlet at Tropicana Mall is the second one, the first was opened at One Utama (where else? =P) last year.

Specializing in mostly Malay dishes and snacks, the repertoire of otak-otak (every variety imaginable, really) are impressive, from the rolls to the fried, and steamed to the traditional ones. Now they're running a promotion for the Otak-Otak Sticks, priced at only 60 cents each. Resembling Johor's Otak-otak Kempas (click HERE for the review last year), albeit spicier, with heavier 'santan' (coconut milk) taste. The other choice we picked was the Otak-Otak roll, fish paste with herbs and spices rolled in between thin egg crepes, then dipped into the sambal for that extra kick. Slightly oily, but a satisfactory snack nonetheless.

Location : Otak-Otak Place @ L1-58, No 3, Jalan SS20/27, Tropicana City Mall, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel No : 603-7728 0403.

But wait, that couldn't be our dinner, right? Fret not. Here's more, thanks to driver WMW, and pointer Jason .......

The much raved about Selera Jaya 223 @ Jalan 223, PJ - Packed with people late into the night .....


Contender #1 (Red Corner) - Nasi Lemak Panas Yati (Gerai 6)

The RM1.20 per packet nasi lemak at this place has almost reached legendary status. People from all walks of life, near and far, flocked to this unassuming 'medan selera' located opposite the Amway factory on Jalan 223, Petaling Jaya. And you'll be hard-pressed not to find any patrons indulging (obsessively) on their packets of nasi lemak, be it from the RED or BLUE corner.

You get what you give ..... stole a quote from you-know-who!

Fully prepared to down at least 2 packets of those piping hot packets of nasi lemak, freshly wrapped at the kitchen, continuously to cater to the crowd.

Once seated, just ask for the nasi lemak, and they'll bring them over in a jiffy. Take note that there are TWO brands from TWO different stalls, packing their products freshly, and dishing them out to the hungry crowd.

The RED one belongs to Gerai No 6, Yati - A preferred choice, with various positive reviews in general. Hence, I reached out for my 1st packet. Wrapped in banana leaf and newspaper, the heat could be felt from the outside, a positive sign surely. Who doesn't dread those cold, lonely packets of (possibly stale!) nasi lemak elsewhere?

Served with half a boiled egg, and sambal ikan bilis (anchovies), the portion could barely satiate a child, let alone a famished Motormouth. Tastewise? The sambal was spicy, the rice was steaming hot, but that was about it. A serious lack in fragrance & flavour, as I could barely detect a whiff of aromatic 'santan'. The sambal ikan bilis was fiery, but the anchovies were soft and chewy. And NO onions for that sweet taste and NO cucumbers either.

Contender #2 (BLUE corner) - Nasi Lemak Panas Suri (Gerai 2)

Uh-oh. Bad start. Let's see how the challenger fared. The BLUE corner belongs to Suri, with an appearance resembling Yati's, albeit with words stamped in blue.

Wetter and sweeter sambal, but same old crunch-less anchovies,and half a boiled egg

Also priced at RM1.20, Suri's version also arrived piping hot, almost scalding to the roof of one's mouth. Be cautious, spoon them slowly, and enjoy. Or NOT.

Suffering the same fate as Yati's, the nasi lemak had only a very faint hint of coconut milk, with a more watery sambal with ikan bilis. The sambal was sweeter, perfect for children or those not in favour of extra heat. The gravy reminded me of canned sardine's tomato sauce, really.

Otak-Otak Kempas also available as sides, but to avoid an overdose of otak-otak, we restrained ourselves

Verdict? Not something I'll be returning for. But the dirt cheap price, and the fact that the nasi lemak is freshly-packed, are reasons enough for fans to return again and again ......

Location : Medan Selera Jaya 223 @ Jalan 223, Petaling Jaya. The road's lined with factories, but the food court's situated opposite an Amway factory. You'll notice the abundance of cars lining the roads at night.

# And they retreated to their own chambers, & slept soundly thereafter ..... #

From Breakfast to Brunch @ Schokolart, Solaris Mont Kiara

Solaris Mont Kiara is an up-and-coming hotspot (or probably already is), overlooking the PLUS highway, but far from public transportation-friendly. Driving to the place may require some knowledge of its location in advance, given the fact that the place is so near to the toll exit, a few wrong turns may alter your plan of dining at any of the restaurants there (and there are plenty, believe that!), and instead lead you to a Rawang tilapia run (HERE and HERE for the lost ones).

The new town of Solaris

Mont Kiara is the place for the elites, the 'tai-tais' (no translation, hehe), and the hungries. OK, two out of three, probably. From KL, go towards the Jalan Duta toll (correct me if I'm wrong), but take note of the green signboards indicating turning to Penchala Link, with Mont Kiara, Seri Hartamas, etc printed on them.

Schokolart (Chocolate + Art) - How tacky, but aptly named.

This outlet is located directly opposite Tenji Japanese Buffet, that Japanese buffet restaurant which started the 50% off craze, sparking some tough competition amongst the other Japanese diners; creating ripples, waves and howls among the foodies community in the Klang Valley and beyond (in the case of Motormouth here).

The ambience itself speaks volume on Schokolart's targetted patrons : The chic, young and trendy looking for a decent desserts bar, or a light meal while mingling with the yuppies

Google Schokolart and you'll find reviews after reviews of this chocolate boutique, priding itself on its grand selection of pralines, chocolate desserts, and sinful beverages. With Theobroma and Godiva as pioneers in outlets specializing in chocolate products, the addition of Schokolart to the scene adds fuel to the revival in the desserts industry in Malaysia. (Further prove? Look at the bountiful doughnuts chains, and ice-cream parlours mushrooming all over)

The Temptation @ RM12

We were expecting breakfast at Schokolart, arms akimbo and all, only to be duly disappointed as they only open from 11am onwards. Ouch, another half hour to go. But thanks be to the ones above, (or at least the management of Solaris), Cold Storage's one floor below. So you can browse at possible the largest array of imported goods at any Cold Storage, spanning 2 floors with a cafeteria to boot.

Sweet Child Of Mine @ RM15.90

As expected, we were the first customers that morning. The staff waitering our table was Barry, a friendly chap who was accomodating, yet far from intimidating. You get my drift.

Sadly, most mains were not available at that unGodly hour, (yup, nobody comes for breakfast it seemed!) owing to the previous night's heavy traffic/patronage, being the eve of Labour's Day. Well, OK. Since we were not in the mood for something heavy anyway.

The menu does not cover a lot of entries, mains, nor desserts for that matter. But worth mentioning is the various chocolate beverages being served, an impressive few pages of them.

Berner Roesti @ RM13.90

The Temptation (RM12) is their signature hot chocolate drink, made with 62% dark Cacao chocolates. Came piping hot in a mug (their own creation; a Hugga-Mugga - you're supposed to wrap your fingers around the mug, warming your palms as well as your heart). Or so ideally. But I can't even fit in my fat stubby fingers, rendering holding the mug a stunt in disguise. But the dark chocolate drink was thankfully not too sweet, but rich and creamy, and perfect with any savoury dishes. The accompanying homemade cinnamon marshmallow completed the whole experience. Sans a good book by the fire, but beggars can't be choosers.

Sweet Child Of Mine (RM15.90) is listed in the section Schokolart Hurricanes, ie Ice-Blended Chocolate Drinks. Consisting of caramel fudge latte ice-blended, topped with the customary whipped cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce, the cold drink lacked oomph in my opinion, slightly diluted and a notch below chocolatey heaven. Should've gone for Barry's recommendation instead, named Soulmate - A wacky take on dark choc + peanut butter blend.

De La Mer @ RM24.90

The Roesti was VERY delicious, surprisingly. Didn't cross my mind a dessert lounge specializing in Swiss chocolate could whip up such lip-smacking roesti. Oh wait, roesti's a Swiss dish right? Ooooh .... ok. No wonder .....

The roesti at Schokolart are served with sides of house salad (VERY sour, no thanks to the generous drizzles of vinaigrette), and your choice of Creamy cheese or Mushroom sauce. Crisp on the exterior, and brimming with flavours on the inside, the serving was just enough for a light meal, or for a hearty breakfast. I chose the Berner, which is panfried roesti with diced bacon and drizzled with fresh milk. Words can't describe the scrumptious-ness of the simple pan-fried grated potato dish, but me being a 100% potato lover, I was in 7th Heaven. By the way, you can add a piece of gourmet sausage at RM5.50, in three flavours : Jalapeno Hot Smoked, Bratwurst with Mushroom & Cheese, and Bratwurst with Garlic Chive & Onion.

We had another main, the De La Mer (RM24.90) which was pan-fried salmon fillet and roesti served with the same 'grimace-worthy-sour-house-salad' and hollandaise-wasabi sauce. The sauce was a good complement to the slightly fishy & briny fillets of salmon, which were pan-fried well, though nothing spectacular. The accompanying roesti was another winner though, obviously.

For Love, Life & Chocolates

No chance to sample the other desserts on their menu (they revamped theirs recently, but most not available yet), nor the chocolate pralines; Their hand-crafted creations. A lot of varieties, from the usual to the erm .. paranormal ones (think wasabi and Szechuan pepper!). 6 pcs at RM27 for takeaway, but a sampler plate at RM32 with a drink for dine-in.

On the whole, the place has potential, but to reach out to the masses, they have to think of branching to other easily accessible areas in Klang Valley, as well as shopping malls and business centres. My two cents' worth, anyway. :)

Location : Schokolart @ Block K-01-05, SohoKL @ Solaris Mont Kiara, 2, Jalan Solaris, 50480 Kuala Lumpur. Tel No : 603-6203 0968. Site : http://www.schokolart.com/main.html

OM Burger @ Ampang - Who Says Sloppy Can't Be Tasty?

Worked my a$$ off during the weekend, again. Slept the whole noon off today, and woke up to realise the weekend's gone in a flash .... Sigh. There's always a silver lining behind every cloud, light at the end of the tunnel, sunshine after the rain, right? If there ever is, I'll give an arm and a leg to know what and where's the light, the lining and the rays.

The mysterious connection between burger stalls and 7-11. The devil's pact?

Finally here's something from KL for a difference. For those uninitiated, I'm still living and working in Ipoh, and the travel posts of late are backlogs from previous excursions either for work, or for play.

Da Man, OM and Da Lady, erm ... OMa? =P

This unassuming Ramly burger stall (or 'warung' in Malay) is NOT your average burger stall. It's been sometime since I've tasted burgers from roadside stalls, but this one has to be the ICING on the cake, CREAM of the crop, if you will. Normally, it's tough to differentiate a Ramly burger from the others, as most wannabes/hopefuls operate their stalls in the most generic of ways; Following others blindly.

Won't break a hole in your pocket. But daily consumption may be detrimental to health ...

OM means Uncle in Javanese. Or so I believed, from the various reviews on the net. Manned by a couple in their late 50's (presumption, don't take my word for it), the burger stall looks just like any other stalls everywhere else. Down to the nitty gritty details. For instance? The location in front of a 7-11 outlet. ;)

Burger Daging Special @ RM4

So, what makes OM Burger special? The elite amongst the elites? One word : Sloppiness. And it's obvious from the picture above. Juicy, messy and sloppy struck one's mind by the looks of it, but I'm sure (darn sure) none would categorize the burger as appealing nor lipsmacking from looks alone.

But my dear, looks can be deceiving. Much like human beings, outer appearance matters none. Nor size.

Hot Dog Special @ RM4

Watching the OM/uncle in action is a feast to the senses itself. Visually fascinating, stimulating the olfactory department, as well as tantalizing one's tastebuds (aka saliva-a-dripping).

Thick slab of burger patty (no half-half business, McD comes to mind naturally), grilled on the spot, enveloped in a fried egg ala Nasi Pattaya, but drizzled with sauces. No, wait. The sauces (mayo, chilli and butter) were literally poured/doused onto the meat + egg + cheese combination.

If you're expecting a clean meal, forget bout it. If you manage to hold the burger intact, without sauces dripping, smearing and squirting, I salute ya!

Accolades in tow. Let's hope OM does not commercialize and forget its roots. But this stall has been up and running since days of yore, I can be rest assured.

The Hot Dog on the other hand, was not up to expectation, though prepared the same way as the burger. The sausage was somewhat out of place, buried underneath the volcanic mess.

Location : OM Burger, also known as Burger Sri Tanjung in front of 7-11 Convenience Store @ Lorong Kolam Air Lama, 68000 Ampang Jaya, Selangor. Got MAP !! Opens at night only. No seats, no tables, no waitering staff, no service charge.

Those who've stained/smeared/soiled their hands with burgers from OM :

Bangsar-Babe, Riz Ainuddin's, Lyrical Lemongrass

Perlis - Hai Thien Seafood, Gua Kelam, and Shopping @ Padang Besar

My first visit to Perlis, the northern-most state in peninsular Malaysia, happened late last year. Click HERE for my post on Kuala Perlis Medan Ikan Bakar. Yeah, living in Malaysia for a good many years and yet to visit Perlis until last year. Shameful? Not quite. Here's another one : I have yet to step on the soils of the East Coast as well.

The journey took a good 5 hours from Ipoh to Perlis.

If only Ipoh's airport is put to good use. If only we can choose to fly everywhere, to all the states in Malaysia, at least. Rather than having to endure a taxing 5 hours' ride (longer than usual, as the vehicle needs periodic rest, else you'll be seeing flames!) from Ipoh to Perlis.

See the positive side of things ; Least the scenery of the rural areas made up for the lethargy courtesy of the long ride


Putra Palace Hotel @ 135 Persiaran Jubli Emas, 01000
Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia


Our chamber for 2 nights

How ironic. First we put up at Kondo Istana in Langkawi, and now we're staying in Putra Palace in Perlis. Talk about royalty calls. Putra Palace Hotel has to be Perlis' finest, as on the 2nd night, even the King arrived for a function. Complete with red carpets and all, we felt ..... privileged. Somewhat. Though no comments on the less-than-satisfactory bathroom.

Walking on planks may not be such a bad idea after all .....

The previous dining experience at Medan Ikan Bakar was forgettable, except for the pouring rain. Literally pouring, as the zinc roof leaked and many patrons had to endure overflowing tom yam. LOL. Plus the prices ain't cheap either.

Stuffed Dough Sticks/Crullers/Yau Char Kwai with Mayonaise

Thanks to our counterparts from Kedah, we were ferried to Kuala Perlis for dinner once again. But this time, we had our cravings for seafood appeased at Hai Thien Seafood Restaurant. This pork-free Chinese restaurant serves cheap and delicious seafood, and caters to patrons from all ages, and all races. Yup, the 1Malaysia concept works best from the fundamental level, owing to the ONE united love for FOOD (oh glorious food).

Batter-fried Squids and Butter Milk Prawns

Although Kuala Perlis is about 30 minutes away from Kangar town, there are locals who are more than willing to drive all the way there for dinner. But of course, most of the patrons are tourists, especially those stopping over for a bite on the way to or from Langkawi. Ferries to Langkawi depart from Kuala Perlis jetty as well, in addition to the ones in Penang and Kuala Kedah.

Sambal Kangkung (Stir-fried water convolvulus with shrimps and spicy sambal belacan)

Let's get on to the FOOD, shall we? One glance around the al fresco seating area, on wooden platform overlooking the waters, and you'll notice most (if not all) people go for the steamed fish, crabs, and various other fresh seafood.

One starter they recommended was the Yau Char Kwai (fried breadstick/Chinese crullers/Chakoay or whatever you call them) stuffed with fish paste, then drizzled generously with sweet mayo sauce and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Very addictive stuff, expected to go well with beer as well! Though we had the very sweet and refreshing watermelon juice.

Thai-style Steamed Fish

The star of the evening had to be the steamed fish, arriving piping hot, still continuously heated with the charcoal-fuelled flame, and an extra bowl of soup to replenish the evaporated gravy. The fish was very fresh, without any slight hint of fishiness nor unpleasant muddy taste, and the slightly spicy & sour soup complemented the fish very well. Just remember to periodically 'bathe' the fish with the extra soup, as the heat dries out the soup rather rapidly.

The "Nai Yau Har" or Butter Milk Prawns came in a moderate portion for four, deepfried until crispy, and topped with generous shavings of fragrant egg strands. Fried squids rarely go wrong, to be dipped into the accompanying chilli sauce, ensuring a great snack to go with the meal.

Even the Kangkung with Sambal Belacan was stir-fried to perfection, with enough 'wok hei' (breath of the wok aka the slightly smoky/burnt aroma imparted from skilful frying)

From Chinese to Malays, and Indians to foreigners. One word : Muhibbah.

Pardon the poor picture quality, as the place was very dark, with only spotlights lighting the dining area. Of course, you can choose to be seated indoors with lights and fans, but the exterior ambience nails the complete seafood experience, does it not?

The meal costed about RM60 for the 4 of us. Yup, heard that right! With rice, drinks and all. Wow, to imagine inflation has yet to reach this simple town. We were immensely satisfied that we did the next most logical thing ....

We returned the very next night, for dinner.

Satay Ayam @ 60 cents per stick

This time around, there were only 3 of us, but nothing's gonna stop the gluttons !!! Especially after a hard day's work! For your information, we DID work while we were there. On a weekend no less.

We started with some satay (grilled skewered meat on sticks, served with peanut sauce), and though they were pleasant enough (compared to my last tragic visit to Haji Samuri, this was beyond delicious), nothing could detract our attention from chomping/bingeing/devouring/demolishing the oh-glorified .... SEAFOOD!

Kam Heong Mantis Prawns and Or Chien (Oyster Omelette)

Thousand apologies for the even worse picture quality, as I did not bother to bring my camera along. Yeah, back to my old reliable Nokia 5610, with harsh flash. But I couldn't care less. :)

"Strange-Taste Crabs" (No, really. That's the name given to the sauce)

We ordered a plate of compulsory greens (we wouldn't wanna be downing laxatives the very next morning!), the same Yau Char Kwai we ordered the night before, the mantis prawns, oyster omelette and CRABS!

5 dishes for 3 pax. That sounds so wrong .... or maybe not.

The crabs were cooked in an incomprehensible gravy; An amalgam of flavours arising - Sweet, Sour, Spicy and Salty. "Kwai Mei" or Strange Taste is the way of cooking, but I prefer my crabs cooked with chillies, or plain steamed (if FRESH). The crabs were far from XL, or L size for that matter. But the meal did not cost an arm and a leg. Not even a few fingers, so to speak.

The second meal costed RM50 only. And we were stuffed to the brim. BURP !!!!!!

The Cave of Darkness ..... GUA KELAM

On the last day, we went sight-seeing and shopping in Perlis. Yup, though Perlis may be more or less a dead town, but still holds a few attractions of her own. Gua Kelam is a famous tourist spot, near to Kaki Bukit of Perlis. The 370 metres long cave houses a wooden bridge, held in place with metal planks and sidebars, hence no worries on slipping and falling into oblivion.

Very, very dark ... be grateful for the light sources. Else risk getting your hair entangled with bats and other creatures of the night ....

Entrance fee at RM1 for adults, RM0.50 for children above 7 years of age. Parking fee at RM1 per entry. Opening hours : Weekdays from 8am -5pm. Weekends/public holidays from 8am - 6pm.

Gua Kelam's history runs deep, since the 19th century. Previously a mining area, Gua Kelam has since been developed into a recreational park, and one of Perlis' main tourist spot.

If humans have them many legs, we could've save a lot on petrol. But Vincci, Jimmy Choo and Crocs will be doing BRISK business!

Shopping paradise @ Padang Besar. Well, more or less.

Padang Besar at the northern end of Perlis is a shopping paradise. At least to some. If you're an avid jersey collector, (and do not mind the authenticity of them), or you're looking for bags, women accessories/clothings, or even snacks from our neighbouring country, then this should prove worthy of a visit.

For me? Nah ..... previous visit to Padang Besar was far from fruitful. The snacks (nuts, crisps, preserved fruits) were disappointing, except Thailand's Koh-kae Nuts, and nothing tickled my fancy.

Refreshments at the right time. Can't go wrong with sweet treats.

Back then, the Pulut Ayam, or glutinous rice served with fried chicken was a winner. Padang Besar has quite a number of stalls selling various Malay food, with heavy Thai influence. For instance, the incorporation of glutinous rice in cooking, and they even serve Mangoes/Durian with Glutinous Rice and Coconut Milk; One of my favourite dessert ever.

But the one we had at one of the stall was forgettable. Bangkok's version is still the champ here.

The endless fields of greens ..... Sugar Cane Plantation @ Chuping

G'bye Perlis ... for now. But my instinct told me : This CAN'T be the last trip to Perlis this year. Oh Lord, pray that my 6th sense FAILS !!!

Yee Fatt Dry Curry Noodles @ Jln Kampar, Ipoh

Phew. I'm back, pardon the longer than usual break. Not exactly one, depends on how one looks at it. I was away for a short vacation in KL, and it so happened work beckoned for the last 3 days. All without the presence of my notebook, nor broadband for that matter. Only good old dial-up (you thought that's extinct? you can't be any wrong-er!). At a speed so marvelling, it deserves a place in the Guiness Book of World Records for Jurassic speed in this over-rated ICT era our government is shoving down our throats.

To imagine I tried downloading a 15MB file in one hour (yup folks, 60 whole minutes!) and faltered at the very last few minutes. Patience is a virtue, and this Motormouth's helplessly screaming for someone to drill some into my thick skull .......

Yee Fatt - Now with MORE varieties! In case your bowel's acting up, and curry noodles' the last thing on your mind ....

Pardon the ranting, but lately I feel that life is really testing my patience, stretching whatever values I have to the limit. And ironically, barely a week or two ago (I'm losing track of time now), I attended a course on Morale Values in Teluk Batik. Not any pathetic one or two hours of lecture, mind you. No sirree, here we do things on a whole different level; A showstoppin' of a grandiose scale, with much pompous and swaggerin', a magnificient 3 days 2 nights of Hardcore-Instilling/Drilling/Installing of Morale Values.

Kind of made up for whatever's lost over the years. Still remember the nightmare that was SPM's Moral Studies, anyone? :)

Delicious Chee Cheong Fun with Mushroom Sauce

Wait, didn't I blog about Teluk Batik before? Yeah, brownie points for those who remembered that post. But at that moment, I have NO idea I was about to go for a 3 days course in Teluk Batik in the very near future. Rendezvous struck again and again. Remember my TWO visits to Langkawi within a week from each other? (Read HERE for the 1st visit, and HERE for the 2nd one)

Herbal Tea (sans the egg, or you can opt for one with your cup of tea)

Anyway, I'll save the Teluk Batik posts (with some Sitiawan & Seri Manjung food) for some other day. For today's post, let's drool over some simple yet mouth-watering fare from Yee Fatt Coffee Shop in Ipoh.

Hainan Dry Curry Noodles (RM4) - A secret blend of spices, serving satisfied customers from generation to generation

I've actually blogged about this place last year, but I doubt many would have noticed. So, for the benefit of the curry mee fans all over Malaysia (and maybe the world?), here's Yee Fatt again! Yay!

They've since renovated with a bigger signboard upfront, green in colour, and with a few food shots to stop the crowd. Or the traffic for that matter, as this shop is located at the rather busy roundabout at Jalan Kampar, or known as Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun, facing Methodist Girls' School (MGS).

They've expanded their menu somewhat, with dishes such as Chee Cheong Fun (Steamed rolled rice noodles), savoury Glutinous Rice, etc. But their main pulling factor is no doubt, and forever will be, the Hainan-style Dry Curry Noodles.

Thick, rich and creamy curry dousing the noodle of your choice, with ingredients such as Char Siew (BBQ pork), chicken meat, and bean sprouts as complements. Compared to the other curry noodles in Ipoh, Yee Fatt's version is slightly spicier (though far from burning hot), thicker gravy, but without the usual bells and whistles of most, such as cockles, roasted pork, prawns and such.

But holding true to its years of legacy, serving the most authentic form of Hainan curry noodles one can find in Ipoh, you have to try the dry curry noodles here, and pass judgment accordingly. In case you're wondering, here's a MAP. Further directions required? Feel free to drop me a comment, a mail, a shoutout or a Twit. =)