Something Sweet for the Weekend - Krispy Kreme Doughnuts @ Berjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur

Krispy Kreme has to be THE most popular doughnut chain all over the world. Originating from the States, since 1937 (yup, read that right, an amazing 62 years of legacy, and still expanding like no other), the company has an impressive track record, serving warm, fresh from the oven doughnuts to millions of customers spanning the decades, from the States to Australia, as well as doughnut fans in Asia.

Krispy Kreme @ Berjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur - Since 27th April 2009

Initially, there was the surreal hype surrounding the opening of the store at Berjaya Times Square in KL, with free doughnuts all year round on offer, people camped and queued like mad (two nights before the opening, can you imagine that?!) for a chance at the exclusive vouchers, bound to elevate any soul to a sugar rush, and subsequent booming business to us healthcare professionals.

I stayed away from any unnecessary queues, and only relented after more than a month since its opening. On a weekday's evening, the line at the counter was almost non-existent (unlike JCo Donuts @ Pavilion, whereby even after few months, the crowd was maddening during peak hours). I picked my doughnuts at a leisure pace, scrutinizing each and every variety, before picking 6 of them. Note that at Krispy Kreme, they do not provide any half dozen offer for the doughnuts, unlike its competitors in Malaysia, namely Dunkin, JCo and Big Apple.

Hershey's Dark Chocolate (foreground) was a commendable choice, as was the

Hershey's Cookies & Crea (the middle one).

Priced at about RM2.50-RM2.80 per piece, the price is indeed steeper compared to JCo or Big Apple, as they do not offer half dozen special rate. But there is discount for one dozen purchases.

The Peanut Butter flavoured doughnut (the far most) was the only one that was not sickeningly sweet! Thankfully.

Verdict? VERY sweet. Yup, cloyingly, sickeningly sweet doughnuts. They're meant to be dipped into a hot cup of coffee (preferably black), hence the excessive sweetness. The moment I was on my third piece, I was feeling slightly nauseated from the sugar rush. The experience reminded me of bingeing on Indian sweetmeats (those famous colourful desserts at Indian restaurants).

The universally recognizable dotted design of the box

The size of the doughnut is slightly larger than JCo's or Big Apple's, the dough a little dense, somewhat a cross between Dunkin's harder texture and JCo's melt-in-mouth softer variety. Probably my expectation was way up in the clouds, from the overblown publicity and ravings, but the sweetness exceeded my threshold for sweet snacks.

I must be growing old, which explains my lack of tolerance to sweet food. Geez ...... Now where's my dentures? ;)

HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE !!!!

Location : Berjaya Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Sdn Bhd @ Lot 09-26, Level 9, Berjaya Times Square, No 1, Jalan Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel No : 603-2119 7373.

Website : http://www.krispykreme.com.my/

Meet The Floggers : A Precious (Pea) Story

June 6th, 2009 : Thanks be to the Precious one, who's on such tight schedule recently, warping around eating, gorging, bingeing, swallowing, rampaging, and demolishing every bit of delicious food in sight. And yet STILL remembered her promise on delivering the Hairy Berry to the doorsteps (or rather, vicinity) of that famous Kung Fu Smooth Pan Mee in Taman Sri Sentosa.

The icing on the cake? She tagged along not one, not two, not five nor even ten, but FOURTEEN (yup, more than a dozen!) floggers for the event! A not-too-modest breakfast crawl .... of gargantuan proportion's more like it!

Kung Fu Smooth Ban Mee - Even the holy ones flocked to da place for pan mee ..... wait, anchovies/minced pork's not sinful meh?! Or they're there solely for the KUNG FU part?!

And out of the 13 floggers (yours truly not included), I've only met a handful before this. Therefore it was officially my FIRST acquiantance with the other celebrities from the blogosphere.

The Dry version of the famed Kung Fu Pan Mee - Before and After tossing with chilli sauce with a squeeze of lime

Of course, to imagine myself crawling over to this well-hidden outlet in Taman Sri Sentosa is a near impossible task, being a rather lost soul and all. Hence we gathered at SS2, whereby out of the many potentially hazardous-cum-daredevils, 3 were appointed as drivers/chauffeurs to carry the team safely to the desired destination.

The Wet/Soup version of the Pan Mee

Unlike the average version of pan mee (flour noodles) commonly in the form of strands, or uneven blocks (from the 'pinching' action), this version here is as unorthodox as it gets. The noodles is in fact, about an inch or more wide, smooth (hence the given moniker), and very long. Almost too long to be eaten in one slurp. The accompanying bells and whistles ensued; Minced pork, chopped mushrooms, crispy anchovies and tapioca leaves.

Served in either soup or dry version, one can opt for the BIG (RM6) or SMALL (RM5) serving. Condiments include the compulsory chilli sauce and a squeeze of lime.

Pandan Chicken

Of course, one can't be banking on pan mee alone, and wish to satisfy the crowd. They do offer other noodle dishes (which was creatively displayed in their 'menu' of sorts, with photos INSIDE a small album), as well as pandan chicken. Yup, heard that right, the famous Thai signature dish of Pandan leaf-wrapped chicken meat marinated, and deep-fried to perfection. Of course, rather loosely used term here, as looks were deceiving.

Not the most authentic nor delicious version out there, but with a chunkier piece of boneless chicken meat, albeit lacking in flavour.

The lady performing the KUNG FU part of the Kung Fu Pan Mee

Indeed, one might get slightly curious, how can one perform kung fu while cooking a harmless, mild-mannered bowl of pan mee? Of course, the secret Shaolin technique of cooking (or rather, whipping up a storm?) the almighty Kung Fu Smooth Pan Mee lies in .............................................

The Stretching Part. Or so it seemed. Since she mentioned that the cooking area's off-limits to nosy, pestering kids (read : us), I could only stood from miles away and watched intently. The dough (yup, the flour noodles were rolled up in a block of dough-like material) was prepared beforehand, then rolled out, stretched, and erm, 'kung-fu-ed' until became flat, long & smooth slabs of pan mee to be cooked in the broth.

Location : Red Tea Junction aka Kung Fu Smooth Pan Mee @ 28, Jalan Seri Sentosa 9A/133, Taman Sri Sentosa, Bt 6 1/2, Jln Klang Lama, 58000 Kuala Lumpur. Tel No : +6016-288 3911 (Jesmond Molly).

Dry Beef Noodles

This being a breakfast crawl (aptly titled : Kung Fu Moo Moo Cow by Pea herself), it was a no-brainer where we headed to next. Yup, something beefy, something stocky .... Beef Noodles.

A wiser choice of Lou Shu Fan (rat's tail noodles/short rice noodles), Bowl of beef balls and offals, and Stewed Beef Brisket with Radish

A thoroughly disappointing affair, save for the beef balls, tripes etc. The mee was a bit off, losing the bouncy/springy texture, and even admitted by the lady boss to be such. The stewed beef briskets with radish looked promising; Rich, dark broth immersing chunks of tender beef briskets and radish. But once again proving looks are NOT everything, the bowl of briskets lost the previous Midas touch, according to Pea. Thankfully, we did not order another bowl to be shared.

Yang Kee Beef Noodles & the Pricelist.

Location : Yang Kee Beef Noodles @ No 52, Jalan Hujan Rahmat 2, Taman OUG, Jalan Kelang Lama, 58200 Kuala Lumpur. Tel No : +603-7784 3739.

Business hours : Tuesday - Saturday 8.30am - 6.00pm. Sundays & public holidays 8.30am - 4.00pm. Mondays are off-days.

So what's NEXT after the double breakfasts?! Let's 'Butter Up the Mic, and Yodel Away?!!

The simple, yet satisfyingly rich butter cake from the OUG wet market. (Thanks Simon! Muahaha .... The consequences of too busy jivin' away to Jai Ho to see his cake disappearing in a flash!!!)

Since Pea and wmw had been giving sc the jitters PRE-karaoke session (hehe), I can't possibly miss a star-studded FREE concert, attended by not only the aforementioned stars, but the localised Jackie Cheung (now exported to Singapore on weekdays) as well!

Only at Neway, baby. And the butter cake from OUG market (click HERE for thenomadGourmand's raves and directions) cleansed the palate really well. With intermittent roars of laughter and rounds of applause courtesy of those 'priceless' performances, one just couldn't help but wished that the curtain did not call.

And after much screaming and screeching, we adjourned to our last stop, the Otak-Otak Place at One Utama. The half an hour wait for their 3pm Tea-Time Specials was hilarious, with us spending time playing Happy Family (bet some of you techies have no recollection whatsoever of this classic card game) while waiting.

And that's a wrap, folks.

List of Attendees (in no particular order) :

Precious Pea - The organizer, the celebrated and the one with 2 dogs, and soon a kangaroo.

wmw - Don't scold me for my Houdini disappearances. Least I stayed til the END that day?

Boo-licious - The idol. Nuff said.

Jason - Ipoh Mali, and far from Sombong. P/S : Rmbr the CENDOL post ok?!

Citygal - one half of that cute couple, kampungboycitygal, and from Ipoh as well.

Nic - Extraordinaire of a photographer, striving for perfection in every shot.

Simon Seow - Wacky guy, with flawless just-wake-up hair!

Unkaleong - ANOTHER Ipoh guy, and far from being an uncle, nick's misleading sometimes.

Rebecca - The nomad gourmand, who discovered the butter cake.

Foodcookies - Serene whom I first met in Cheras ages ago.

SC - Savvy traveller/backpacker, serial when it comes to BKK. Help! Can't find myself a room lah, sc ... be needing your help REAL soon.

Kusashikeat - Another Ipoh guy! Wow ... I'm amazed. Now if I can only remember where's the dim sum restaurant he mentioned ....

Tankiasu - A sexy beast. on the Xanga platform.

Cheap Korean Delights from Ko Hyang @ The Gardens, Mid Valley City

So, what if you're fatigued from all the shopping at Midvalley or The Gardens (they're connected to each other, btw), and looking for a place to snack, but sick of the usual fast food, doughnuts, and pretentious food (you know, those charging triple the amount for a packet of nasi lemak, or those seemingly specializing in laksa but instead serving generic mediocre food + lacklustre servive?)?

The open dining concept may be slightly intimidating for those shy eaters, but who cares when you know you're paying for quality food, and prompt service?

Situated on lower ground floor of The Gardens, this place has received considerably positive reviews from all quarters. First read about this place from Boo, then wmw blogged bout this recently, and here's one from neko hime's.

Click on the picture for larger view, or believe in my superzoom eyesight. =P

This simple stall (not even a restaurant, nor shoplot for that matter) opened its doors ... wait, there is NO door. Erm, put it simply, started serving satisfied customers since the beginning of this year. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I clearly noted on my previous visit to Din Tai Fung, I was absolutely sure this corner was occupied by some other eatery.

Iced Coffee (white - with milk, not the Ipoh's variety!) (RM3.30) and Hot Sik Hye (Korean barley drink) (RM3.60)

The menu's far from extensive, but not too shabby either. Offering 20 authentic Korean dishes, from the perennial favourite of Bibimbap, Bulgogi to Pajeon, as well as lesser known noodle dishes such as Korean style Pam Mee (I think correlates to our Pan Mee), and stir-fried cuttlefish with rice.

Ban Chan (side dishes) - Free refills

Once seated, you'll be served almost instantly. The small lot houses an amazing 6 workers (at that time we ate there), performing their duties to utmost diligence, almost clockwork-like. You can ask for recommendations, but browsing the simple one page menu should not be a hassle.

Ban Chan (Korean side dishes) is complimentary, much alike other Korean outlets, and 3 types are served at any one time. Of course, the varieties may change from time to time. But the spicy and sour pickled cabbage (kimchi) is almost a staple. The side dishes can be refilled for unlimited rounds, if you ever feel like picking on some light snacks while chatting over a hot cup of Korean barley tea (Sik Hye), which was sweet, soothing, with a hint of smoky, roasted barley aroma.

Kimchi Pancake - Kim Chi Jeon (RM9.50)

Yup, the Kim Chi pancake is less than RM 10 per serving, which is a plus. The crispy sides of the pancake paired with the soft, chewy centre, flavoured with kim chi (yup, that famous Korean pickle again) and lots of chopped scallions. The accompanying tangy sauce provided much zing to the pancake, even a little too sour for my liking. But the pancake was indeed a great snack, or even a complete meal for light eaters.

Bi Bim Kuk Su - Korean sweet and spicy noodles (RM12.50)

Commonly eaten after a heavy, and heaty meal of barbecued meats, the cold noodles is supposedly cooling, and provided much fibres and balance to an otherwise carnivorous affair. But eaten on its own (without the BBQ cuts), the cold noodles at Ko Hyang was delicious, with just enough sauce (mixture of red pepper powder, vinegar, sugar and gochujang - Korean spicy/sour sauce)smothered around the thin, springy wheat flour noodles. The julienned cucumber and carrot added some bites, while a whole poached egg completed the ensemble for a balanced, and light meal.

Toss them up real good ..... and slurp away.

Korean cold noodles are usually eaten during summer, which ironically, best describe current Malaysia's weather. This permanently scorching/blistering weather will last for another 3 months, forecasted. Wow ..... I may just go for another round of cold noodles, or even cendol or ABC in days to come .....

Location : Ko Hyang Korean Country Delights @ LG-K05, The Gardens, Mid Valley City, 59200 Kuala Lumpur. Located in front of Justlife organic supplies, and Cold Storage on the lower ground floor of the Gardens, by the escalator.

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