Memoirs of a Chocoholic

Frescobaldi Wine Pairing Dinner @ Villa Danieli, Sheraton KL

2012-01-27T08:02:00.007+08:00

Mamma mia. What a combination! - Beautiful wine, food, venue and company :)....

Hi everyone... Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Just so you know - This is an invited review, ok? Please find my disclaimers as follows:
1) I've not been paid to write this, but neither have I paid a cent for my meal, and
2) I'll still be as objective as possible re. the food/wine.

I am (admittedly) very much a novice/ beginner when it comes to wine... so little did I know what a treat I was in for when I was invited for the Frescobaldi wine pairing dinner at Villa Danieli (Sheraton Imperial Hotel KL).

As I learned that night, Frescobaldi is a really established old world winery with a rich, long history - made by a noble Italian family, starting waaaaaaay back in the 1300's **, and sought after throughout, even by great artists such as Leonardo da Vinci***? WOW. Amazing.
(**1308, to be exact. That's more than 700 years of experience!)
(*** An interesting anecdote that night was on how artists used to trade their paintings for Frescobaldi's wines)
Just outside the beautiful Villa Danieli, next to the Sheraton pool....
I apologise in advance for the terrible photos of the food and wine coming up - the romantic lighting in Villa Danieli is very challenging when you have a point and shoot camera.
:(
(Love the ambience in the restaurant though - cosy yet luxurious, with the rich colour palate, frescos and pillars evoking the feeling that you really are dining in a high class Italian villa)
Inside Villa Danieli....
- First Course: Sliced fresh tuna and scallops served with mix lettuce and lemon extra virgin olive oil...
Matched with a 2010 Albizzia Chardonnay Toscana
Beautiful slice of fish....
Delicious wine....
The fish and scallops were perfectly prepared - simple enough that you can enjoy the natural sweetness and flavours, complemented by the tart lemon dressing and sweet (fig?) compote.

As for the wine, it matched this dish very well - the flavours were interestingly subtle (as compared to the usual Chardonnays that I have tasted), complex, and relatively dry with hints of minerals.

- Second Course: Tuscany Seafood Soup with Crispy Bread...
Matched with a 2009 Pomino Bianco
Perfect rainy day comfort food....
This wonderful soup, bursting with savoury sweet seafood goodness went beautifully with the well balanced and refreshing wine which had a nice fragrance of fruit (peach?) without being overly sweet.

- Third Course: Home made "fagottini" (Italian dumpling?) with Artichoke and Ricotta Cheese in a walnut sauce...
Matched with a Remole Toscana 2010
Simple Italian food made well....
The taste of the artichokes was quite mild in the dumplings, with a nice creaminess from the cheese - I thought the Remole (a blend of cabernet sauvignon and sangiovese) would overpower it with its medium body, spicy notes and berry flavours, but it actually went pretty well together.
(If I had a choice, I would probably pair this wine with a nice tomato based pasta though - luv red wine with tomato based pasta)

- Fourth Course: Beef fillet medallions, duck liver with rucola, grilled mushroom and truffle sauce...
Matched with a Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva DOCG 2007
My steak....
Perfectly pink in the middle....
My favourite wine that night....
The main course for the night was this perfectly cooked steak topped with a mini slab of decadent, jiggly, melt in mouth foie gras. :D

Of course, the deep red wine went beautifully with it. This is one of the signature wines of Frescobaldi and I can see (or more like, taste) why - Full bodied with a long finish, slightly spicy with a robust fragrance of berries, it accentuated the taste of the steak very well.

- Fifth Course: Double chocolate mousse...
Dessert! :D....
I was stuffed by this point - still, I could not pass up on this creamy, chocolatey dessert :D

What a wonderful meal... :)

Not only was the food good and the wine really good,... we had the great company of the affable Erika Ribaldi (Regional Sales Manager for Frescobaldi), who entertained us with her life story and anecdotes, educated us with her deep knowledge and inspired us with her passion for wine.

SHOUT OUT
Thank you to:
1) Erika Ribaldi for coming all the way to Malaysia to share her passion for wine with us,
2) Kurt and Evelyn from Sheraton and Chef Simone of Villa Danieli for the wonderful meal,
3) Michelle, and everyone from Sunrise Wines for the kind invitation, and
4) My fellow diners - thanks for the wonderful company!

BTW: If you want more details on these wines (and where to get them), you can contact Sunrise Wines & Spirits, at +6012-215 4811 (mobile) or +603-6272 8288 (fax).
(Also, here is the link to the Marchesi de' Frescobaldi website)

Contact details

Villa Danieli @ Sheraton Imperial Hotel, KL

129, Jalan Sultan Ismail,
50250 Kuala Lumpur.

Telephone No.: 03-2717 9922
Opening Hours: 12noon till 2.30pm, 6.30pm till 10.30pm
(Closed on Sundays and public holidays)

NO PORK SERVED

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Chuck's Blog

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Marchesi de' Frescobaldi, Sheraton Imperial Hotel KL, Italian Wine, Villa Danieli, KL, Kuala Lumpur

Gong Xi Fa Cai

2012-01-25T12:38:00.001+08:00

YAY! Ang pow time!....

Hi y'all.
Hope you are all having an awesome Water Dragon year so far....

Here's a small announcement:
Cute lil' doggie says:
"Please don't be angry with J the Chocoholic for no updates (again!) - she has been working very hard* and was comatose for most of the long weekend**, in between family commitments***."

* Worked till 11pm on Friday before the long weekend
** Dunno why but was very out of it, was feeling feverish and sluggish and slept almost the whole weekend away.
*** ARGH ARGH ARGH. Family gatherings. Fun yet, not fun. =_=

Harrrow. Look into my cute puppy dog eyes and follow my commands....

OK? :)

Hugs from a fatter, not fitter Chocoholic,
J

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

db Bistro Moderne @ Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

2012-01-03T08:30:00.011+08:00

Heartbreak is hard to swallow...

I LOVE watching Asian Food Channel aka. AFC (and also the some food related shows on TLC).

Not all the shows, mind you, but some of them do heavily influence my choice on whether to go out or stay in so that I can watch my favourite chefs do their thing on TV... :)

Other than the exciting competition style Iron Chef and Top Chef, I like anything hosted by Anthony Bourdain (So wonderfully sarcastic! And he loves pork!) and Daniel Boulud (So charming and seemingly down to earth)... so knowing that Monsieur Boulud had opened a branch of his signature db Bistro in nearby Singapore?

Well, you could definitely say that I was REALLY looking forward to going there:
The facade of the db Bistro...
Located in the high end Marina Bay Sands (next to the also famous Pizzeria Mozza by Chef Mario Batali), the ambience in db Bistro was nice - warm, vibrant, modern reds contrasting well against the traditional wood and leather finishings:
Nice environment and friendly service...
We were sharing, so we asked to have to burgers evenly divided. That day we sampled the Yankee burger (beef patty topped with lettuce, tomato and onion on a sesame button) (SGD 26++) and their signature Original db Burger (Sirloin burger filled with braised short ribs and foie gras on a parmesan bun) (SGD 38++):
To each his own (quarter)...
Each quarter looked promising - plump and juicy, nestled between fluffy buns:
My share...
There was also enough (though not a lot) of the famed foie gras filling in the middle of the db burger:
Oozing rich foie gras...
With much anticipation, I bit into the burger thinking "Finally! I get to try Daniel Boulud's famous burger! YAY!" and then...
:(

Look, don't get me wrong: It wasn't bad lah. Both burger patties were tender and pretty tasty, just that it wasn't all that I thought it would be. I guess there is a danger in expecting too much? Since it did not completely knock my socks off, I found it underwhelming....
(Anyway, that aside, I think the high prices would have set similarly high expectations if I had walked in without knowing who Daniel Boulud is...)

The highlight of the meal for me was dessert - we shared the delicious French Toast with caramelized apples and fromage blanc (SGD 15++):
Simple but so delicious...
The french toast was fluffy yet crispy (yummy!) and went very well with the slightly tart apples and creamy cheese.

I really thank my dear, darling Sg friends for taking me there for lunch even when they knew the burgers were just ok, considering the hefty price tag....
(They said that the dinner menu there is a lot better. For lunch, they pretty much just serve the burgers, some salads and desserts... and despite having tried the burgers before, they knew how much I wanted to try it so took me there anyway...)

So, it's: Nice environment, famous chef's restaurant, famous burger BUT so expensive, and to be fair, although I found the food only ok, I only went there once so it could have been an "off" day - please take note of other reviews (mostly positive) or go there yourself to make up your mind....

Summary Information:
db Bistro Moderne @ Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Opening Hours: 11am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Phone: +65 6688 8528
Address: 10 Bayfront Avenue, #B1-48 The Shoppes, Marina Bay Sands
Map: (Below)

NOT HALAL

MAP:

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Only Slightly Pretentious Food
- Hungry Go Where
- food.recentrunes.com
- chamorro chica
- the Hungry Epicurean
- Sparkling or Still

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, Daniel Boulud, Marina Bay Sands, db Bistro Moderne, Singapore

Stickhouse @ Sunway Pyramid Shopping Centre

2011-12-30T07:45:00.016+08:00

Gelato with a twist, or a stick, in this case..........

I don't know about you, but I would usually expect gelato to be served on a cone, or in a cup... So, when I received an invitation to the grand opening of a gelato place called Stickhouse in Sunway Pyramid, I thought, "Eh?":
An interesting new gelato franchise from Italy....
What is their unique selling point (USP), other than the gelato being conveniently served on a stick?

100% natural ingredients, without added preservative, colouring or flavoring, some added goodness (like inulin for digestion) and all freshly made (hand crafted!) in house**:
(** As we were told by the very healthy looking marketing manager of Stickhouse who advocates a good balance of yummy food and exercise as part of his regime)
"Balance is an important part of healthy living"....
- Precision Gelato Stick Making In Process:
(The expert staff there carefully create the delicious sticks of gelato)
Carefully....
- Watch people skate around as you eat your gelato:
(There is a small seating area behind the main booth, if you want to sit down and eat)
Zoom zoom zooooom....
- A Variety of Interesting Fruit Flavored Sorbets:
(SO fresh that you can even taste yummy bits of fruit pulp inside the ice cream)
All the goodness of the fruit in a refreshing sorbet format....
- Chocolatey Gelato flavours too:
(This might be the slightly more sinful option... but of course I liked these much more *grin*)
Yummy....
My fave was the hazelnut gelato with (optional) chocolate and pistachio coating:
(The balance of creamy hazelnut flavour, with the slight sweetness of the chocolate coating and slight saltiness of pistachios was very nice)
My fave combination that day....
Here are some details on the different flavours and optional toppings available:
GELATO:
- Classic Range:
1.Chocolate
2.Vanilla
3.Milk
4.Yogurt
5.Soy

- Premium Range:
1.Giandula (mix of hazelnut and chocolate)
2.Hazelnut
3.Strawberry Cream
4.Green Tea
5.Coffee
6.Pistachio
7.Yogurt strawberry
8.Soy Chocolate
9.Milk Natura (no sucrose sugar)
10.Hazelnut Natura (no sucrose sugar)

SORBET:
- Classic Range:
1.Green Apple
2.Pineapple
3.Lemon
4.Orange
5.Watermelon

- Premium Range:
1.Grape
2.Strawberry
3.Mango
4.Blueberry
5.Kiwi

PRICING:
- Just the gelato or sorbet (on a stick):
Classic: RM 6.90
Premium: RM 8.90
Mini: RM 4.90

- Optional Toppings (hazelnut, pistachio, or almond) & dips (dark, white, or milk chocolate)
Half: RM 1 additional
Full: RM 2 additional

So, is it cheap? Definitely not....

But overall, I think the price is worth it, considering the quality ingredients that go into this refreshing dessert. :)
(So, if you want some delicious and relatively healthy gelato and sorbet, you know where you can go....)

SHOUT OUT:
Thanks to Dila and Rebecca for the invite! :D

Summary Sheet:

Stickhouse @ Sunway Pyramid Shopping Centre

Lot LG2.RINK, (1 floor above the ice rink, opposite KFC)
Jalan PJS11/15, Bandar Sunway,
46150 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Telephone No.: -
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm.

(They also have another outlet in Citta Mall)

OTHER REVIEWS:
- the nomad Gourmand
- Nikel Khor Papago Kaki
- Simon Says
- Hazman Fadzil.com
- Clever Munkey

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Stickhouse, Sorbet, Ice Cream, Sunway Pyramid, Bandar Sunway

Urban Spoon @ Plaza Damas 3, Sri Hartamas KL

2011-12-28T08:39:00.010+08:00

Fusion food, just a stone's throw from the new palace....

How super classy Mont Kiara/ Hartamas is becoming.

It's already well known to be an expensive expat area... but now, a palace in the vicinity too? WOW. :)

Anyway, just down the road from the palace, there is another new development called Plaza Damas 3 (shophouses and a new condo), just across the road from Hartamas Shopping Center and the original Plaza Damas... There are not that many shops/ restaurants open there yet but Urban Spoon is leading the way:
(There's also the Urban Bistro just above and what looks like a buffet restaurant a few doors down - Lemon Tree? Something like that)
One of the only places open in this new block of shops....
The ambience is nice in this new restaurant - modern and comfortable:
Comfy ambience and friendly service....
In terms of the menu, they seem to be going down the path of Western classics with a fusion twist...

- Mushroom Soup (RM 17.80++):
Mushroom soup with taufupok instead of croutons....
The chunky mushroom soup was a little underseasoned, but otherwise, interesting with crunchy bits of taufu pok (beancurd skin) instead of the usual croutons.

- Classic Caesar Salad (RM 12.80++), add chicken (+RM 10++):
Classics, with a twist....
The lightly dressed Caesar didn't taste too sinful with its relatively light dressing, topped with grilled chicken that tasted of mildly of pandan/lemongrass.
(Mixed reviews of this: I thought that the chicken breast was ok, tender enough considering the challenging cut of meat, but SooJ thought it was a little dry)

- Lamb Keema Pizza (RM 28.80++):
Not your usual pizza....
This was my favourite that night - chunky bits of minced lamb, fragrant of spices and blending well with the generous layer of cheese and some egg atop the crispy pizza base.
(I like pizza, in general, and I found this Indian twist on an Italian classic yummy)

- Wagyu Sirloin (RM 108++):
Tender beef....
A bit pricey (or not? Considering that it's Wagyu..) but so tender! The sauce again tasted a little underseasoned to me, but nothing a few flicks of the wrist armed with a salt shaker couldn't fix.
(Disclaimer: I usually like my food pretty salty)

- Emperor Tang Duck (RM 38.80++):
Le duck....
This time, a French classic with an Asian twist with the salty/piquant soy calamansi reduction enveloping the tender meat and (fairly) crisp skin...

- Strawberry and Peace? (RM 15++):
A sudden addition....
We were quite sad that they didn't have any cakes that night, but they placated us by whipping up a simple but delicious dessert that was not on their menu - strawberries and peaches in a creamy sauce, that can be matched with a chaser of watermelon mint juice on the side.

- French Apple Tart (RM 12++):
Classics, with a twist....
We also tried another dessert (which is on their usual menu) - overall, not bad.. A straightforward combination of pastry, tart apples and vanilla ice cream that did not weigh down too heavily at the end of the night.

So it's: Interesting range of classics with a fusion twist, reasonable pricing (considering serving size and that it's in Mont Kiara) BUT nothing bad really. :).....

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

Urban Spoon @ Plaza Damas 3, Hartamas, KL
B2-3A, Plaza Damas 3, 63, Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, 50480 Kuala Lumpur

Taste: 6
Ambience : 6
Service : 7
Price** : RM 70++ per person
Parking: OK

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 03-6201 2108
Opening Hours: 11am to 11pm

NO PORK SERVED

MAP:

View Urban Spoon restaurant @ Plaza Damas 3 in a larger map

OTHER REVIEWS:
- LitTL3 woRLd
- Eat Drink KL

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Plaza Damas 3, Fusion, Hartamas Shopping Centre, Sri Hartamas, PJ, Mont Kiara, Urban Spoon, KL, Kuala Lumpur

My Bad

2011-12-16T18:37:00.002+08:00

FYI....

Hi there...
=_=

I'm not sure if you noticed the very erratic pace of blog updates (with many long lapses in between posts)...

... but yeah, I've been busy.
(Basically, my day job is really beginning to take over my life...)

- One of my many late night dinners at home over the last few weeks: Tom yam instant mihun soup with a side of uncomplicated red wine (in a coffee mug).... Sophisticated? Nah. Comforting after a long day? YES.
Food for the soul....
While I can't say that I haven't eaten out at all (there is a big backlog of posts building up), I haven't been quite energetic/ disciplined enough to blog properly.
(I admit: A few times, I had free time but I was so tired, curling up into a ball and sleeping seemed like a much better option rather than turning on the computer to blog)

Anyway, just so you know: I am alive. :)
(Will try to get back to updating properly as soon as I can)

Hugs,
J

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

Martin Yan and Jacob's Creek Chinese Food Wine Pairing @ Mandarin Oriental Hotel KL

2011-12-09T07:50:00.009+08:00

Mmmm... Australian wines taste great with Chinese food! :)....

Hi everyone... Just so you know - This is an invited review, k? Please find my usual disclaimers as follows:
1) I have not been paid to write this, but neither have I paid a cent for my meal, and
2) I will still be as objective as possible re. the food/wine.
The elegant ballroom in the Mandarin Oriental, where the event was held....
I am not the most pious person on earth, but when I think about it I gotta say, "Wow, thank You God(s) for all Your blessings!".

While I may not be rich/ famous/ gorgeous/ super smart, I have had the opportunity (through blogging) this year to meet with some really interesting people, whether fellow bloggers, passionate restaurateurs or (now) famous chefs!
:)

What am I talking about? Well, just a few weeks ago, I got to attend Jacob’s Creek and Pernod Ricard (owver of Jacob’s Creek Wines) Chinese Food Wine Pairing with Chef Martin Yan!

- 1st Course: Chilled Scallop and Jellyfish
(Prepared by MO KL Chef Ricky Thein)
Matched with a Jacob's Creek Steingarten Riesling
3 interesting morsels....
The crisp JC Riesling....
An interesting mix of flavours and textures (sweet/ spicy/ sour, moist/ crunchy) that went well with the crisp, relatively dry wine that had slight citrus and mineral-y notes.

- 2nd course: Oven baked Sea Treasure Broth served in coconut
(Prepared by MO KL Chef Ricky Thein)
Matched with a Jacob's Creek Reeves Point Chardonnay
Rustic presentation housing a very sophisticated blend of flavours....
More robust and fruity of the 2 white wines that night (I liked this a lot)....
Delicious! :)
A generous array of seafood (abalone, fish maw, dried scallops, etc) in a clear, sweet broth that was accentuated by the underlying fragrance of the coconut.
(Strangely, the delicious coconut fragrance reminded me of laksa but not in a bad way)

This matched really well with the wine - medium finish, slightly fruity notes (peach?) and pleasantly sweet without being overpowering.
- 3rd course: Cantonese style Steamed Cod with Superior Soya Sauce
(Prepared by MO KL Chef Ricky Thein)
Matched with a Jacob's Creek Reeves Point Chardonnay
Good cod....
Prepared in the classic Cantonese styled, steamed with soya sauce - simple but well executed, with the perfect balance of salty against the natural sweetness of the tender fish.

The refreshing sweetness of the Chardonnay matched this well, with the fruity notes complementing the saltiness, somehow. :)

- 4th course: Peking Sweet and Sour Prawns
(Prepared by THE Chef Martin Yan)
Matched with a Jacob's Creek Steingarten Riesling
Big crustaceans....
The prawn was perfectly cooked (moist and bouncey meat yet lightly crispy on the outside).

I thought that the strong tasting sauce would overpower the wine but the Riesling definitely held its own, balancing out the spiciness and strong sweet and sour flavour well.

- 5th course: Australian Lamb Cutlets in 3 chili sauce
(Prepared by THE Chef Martin Yan)
Matched with a Jacob's Creek Centenary Hill Shiraz
The classic pairing of red wine and lamb with an Asian twist (one of Martin Yan's signature dishes)....
Beautiful red....
Of course it's generally accepted that lamb matches with red wine, but this perfectly cooked lamb with an Asian twist went really well with this robust Shiraz and its strong berry flavours and fairly long finish.

- 6th course: Chocolate Mango Sweet Temptation
(Prepared by MO KL Chef Holger Deh)
Sweet endings....
So, who said you can't pair Asian food with wine? :)

It felt like the whole dinner was about straightforward, unpretentious flavours... (not in a bad way, mind you....).

Execution was pretty much flawless throughout and it was awesome to see/hear/meet Chef Martin Yan** - not only is he super skilled (saying that he can wield a knife well is an understatement actually!), he is also very entertaining with his brand of self depreciating humour and repeated pledges of admiration for all things (Chef) Wan.
(** I remember his TV show, Yan Can Cook, very fondly from my childhood days especially his signature line, "If Yan can cook, so can you!" and the addition of, "If Yan can't do it, don't even try!". Lol)
:)

If you didn't already know, Chef Yan now hosts a new show on AFC called “True Passion with Martin Yan” which highlights the matching of Asian food with Australian wines (Jacob's Creek, in this case).

SHOUT OUT - Thanks a million to:
- Maggie, Joey and Pam from KTALYST International for inviting me (So honoured),
- Pernod Ricard/ Jacob's Creek for providing such excellent wines (They have more than 160 years experience in wine - Don't play play!),
- Chef Martin Yan (of course!) and the also very talented Chef Ricky Thein and Chef Holger Deh of the Mandarin Oriental,
- to my fellow bloggers there that night, nice to see you! *hugs*, and
- to all the nice people at my table that night, it was really nice to meet you and thanks for the interesting company. :)

Lastly, here's all of us with Chef Martin Yan at the end of the night:
My fellow table mates, with Martin Yan....

Contact details

Mandarin Oriental Hotel KL
Mandarin Oriental Hotel,
Jalan Ampang,
Kuala Lumpur City Centre,
50088 Kuala Lumpur

Telephone No.: 03-2380 8888
Opening Hours: 24 hours

NO PORK SERVED

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Lifestyle Asia.com
- sixth seal
- Chasing Food Dreams

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Jacob's Creek, Martin Yan, Australia, AFC Asian Food Channel, Mandarin Oriental Hotel KL, KL, Kuala Lumpur

Buffet @ Mosaic, Mandarin Oriental KL

2011-12-05T07:48:00.028+08:00

A beautiful new addition to the Mandarin Oriental serving up delicious buffets :)....

Hi everyone... Just so you know - This is an invited review, k? Please find my usual disclaimers as follows:
1) I have not been paid to write this, but neither have I paid a cent for my meal,
2) I will still be as objective as possible re. the food/ restaurant, and
3) If I go back to the restaurant incognito and find that the food/service is horribly different from this experience, I will amend my ratings here...

I shall miss Biba - I hadn't been there that many times in the past (just twice, both on company dinners) but I distinctly remember enjoying the food there:
The main entrance to Mosaic, on the MO ground floor....
As I walked into the brand spanking new Mosaic (Biba's replacement, in the very established Mandarin Oriental Hotel KL), I thought it had a lot more character, with its beautiful modern setting with an Asian twist, lush wood carvings and exotic decorations:
Classy setting inside the restaurant....
As with its predescessor, there is a really nice variety of Asian and Western food served up in the buffet, ranging from healthy salads, pastas (prepared fresh at the live station), pizza to luscious curries, noodles, and much much more. :)

- Big fresh oysters, among other seafood:
Large fresh Irish oysters....
- An array of curries and chutney that went so well with rice:
Nice blend of spices that was not too spicy....
- Classic, tasty tender grilled meat with a dollop of brown sauce:
Carnivore's delight....
- Oodles of noodles:
Many yummy carbs to choose from....
- Thin crust Italian Pizza:
Simple and nice....
- Local desserts available too:
Fluffy kuihs....
- Chocolate fountains are always good:
Chocolate sauce soothes the soul :D....
While the many different cakes available were good**, it was the freshly cooked (at the dessert live station) caremelized pan fried strawberries with honey and a side of ice cream really rocked my boat - so simple yet perfectly executed.... gorgeous fresh flavours of the strawberry went perfectly with the delicious in house ice cream:
(** Overall, was quite pleased with the desserts - this adds a lot of points for me)

So delicious - I had 2 servings :D....
I have to admit: I have grown to dislike buffets (as I can no longer consume as much as I could in my younger days without permanent fattening results) but if I had to, I would definitely not think twice about going to Mosaic given the nice setting and food.

Mosaic is open 24 hours and serves buffet breakfast from 6.00am to 10.30am, lunch from 12pm to 2.30pm and dinner between 6.30pm to 10.30pm. The restaurant seats up to 148 diners.

For reservations, call +60 (3) 2179 8881 or email mokul-mosaic@mohg.com.

Lunch: RM88++
Dinner: RM108++ (Mon – Thurs), RM128++ (Fri - Sun)

So it's: Nice ambience, good food, good service BUT nothing bad to say really :) there may not be such a mind boggling array of food as some other buffets but everything I tried tasted nice ....

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

Mosaic @ Mandarin Oriental Hotel KL
Mandarin Oriental Hotel,
Jalan Ampang,
Kuala Lumpur City Centre,
50088 Kuala Lumpur

Taste: 7
Ambience : 8
Service : 8
Price** : Lunch RM88++, Dinner RM108++ (Mon – Thurs), RM128++ (Fri - Sun)
Parking: OK

** Price per adult
Telephone No.: 03-2380 8888
Opening Hours: 24 hours

NO PORK SERVED

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Cumi dan Ciki
- the nomad Gourmand
- theyumlist
- alie sez
- I Come, I See, I Hunt and I Chiak

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Buffet, Mosaic, Mandarin Oriental Hotel KL, KL, Kuala Lumpur

I Won?

2011-12-02T07:53:00.007+08:00

Delayed reaction :)....

Ok.
So I won an award last week and all I did was write my favourite nasi lemak place (Village Park, Damansara Uptown)...

It's hazy, but I vaguely remember the initial announcement going completely over my head as I stood with the other shortlisted bloggers on the KLPAC stage, then finally hearing it, looking like a deer in headlights then doing a really embarassingly undignified jump-jump-jump on the stage as it started setting in that I won.
*BLUSH*
J - The proud new owner of a TOKL plaque....
If I had to try to sum it up, I am: Happy, shocked, gleeful, nervous, flattered, flustered, proud, unsure.
(This is the first time I've ever really won anything like this)

Thanks a million to:
- TOKL (Nazeen especially) for coming up with this interesting new category (Bloggers' Choice) in their annual Food Awards,
- everyone who voted for me, whether they liked my post(?) or just love Village Park as much as I do.
- my best friend and my dad, for (saying that they were) voting for me when I was starting to freak out about how I didn't mind losing but didn't want to lose so badly lah shy ma,
- everyone who has been reading my blog all these years (thanks for your support!), AND
- Village Park! For consistently serving up my favourite nasi lemak all these years!
:)

Still stunned and really hoping this doesn't sound gloat-y in any way,
J

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Time Out KL Awards 2011, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

Vin's Restaurant & Bar @ Taman Tun Dr Ismail, KL

2011-11-23T08:28:00.001+08:00

I submitted this to The Star but it never got published... so waste not! I really like this restaurant :) ....

My friends and I are always on the lookout for new restaurants to try, so when I heard about Vin's in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, we headed over there for dinner.

It's located in the Datuk Sulaiman area of TTDI (near the TTDI mosque), just a stone's throw away from the main TTDI shophouse area. From the outside, it looks pretty low key with its muted, earthy color scheme but it is the first fancy looking restaurant on that block of shops, so don't worry - it's pretty hard to miss:
Just outside Vin's....
I liked that it was comfortable, fairly quiet and relatively smoke free inside, despite being somewhat of a pub/bar setting. I suppose this would be entirely reliant on who happens to be dining at the same time as you though.
(On the night that I was there, it was mostly families and yuppies)
Comfortable ambience inside....
There's a fairly extensive menu of Western food ranging from pub fare (eg. bangers and mash, fish & chips) to Italian (eg. pizza, pastas) and some Asian dishes.
(It seems like almost every Western restaurant in Malaysia just HAS to have Italian on the menu, doesn't it?)

We started off the night with a few appetizers to share:
- Mushroom Soup (RM 12.90++):
Creamy mushroom soup....
Nothing to really fault about this classic soup - the texture was a medium creaminess, and flavourful enough without being too salty.

- Chicken Nachos (RM 26.90++):
Ay caramba....
This mix of crunchy nachos and juicy sliced chicken breast slathered with a tomato salsa, melted cheese, chili, sour cream and lettuce, was a crowd pleaser that night and disappeared in mere moments.
(If there's only one thing bad about this though, is that I found the serving a bit small for that price)

- Mushroom Bruschetta (6 pieces) (RM 16.90++):
Mushrooms atop bread - delicious....
This is such a simple dish, found in many restaurants, but Vin's executed it well - The chunky slice of bread was crisp and not starchy (yay!), topped with a mix of sliced mushrooms, garlic, spices and cheese that was tasty without being too salty.

As for the mains:
- We tried both the Beef Burger (RM 25++) and the Grilled Chicken Burger (RM 22++):
Chunky beef patty....
Tasty chicken burger....
Both came served with some yummy chunky french fries, and I liked that both patties tasted freshly made and were fairly juicy. Out of the 2, I preferred the chicken burger, as it came with a generous slice of half melted cheese. :)

- Spicy Tuna Pizza (RM 27++):
Crunchy thin crust pizza....
What a nice surprise - the pizza base was perfectly crunchy and not starchy. There was also an adequate amount of juicy toppings (spicy tuna, capsicum, onions and cheese), making it a nice meal. Of course, those that dislike fishy flavours had better stay away from this dish - It is topped with tuna, after all. :)

- Pasta Carbonara (RM 25.90++)
Decadent pasta....
I was feeling naughty and chose to have the sinful pasta carbonara that night. :)

OMG. It was luxuriously creamy, with the pasta done just right (al dente). I would warn against trying to finish this all on your own though, because as delicious as it is, it is also really filling.

- Mee Mamak (RM 18++):
More carbs....
If you, for some reason, feel like having something Asian here instead, you can opt for the Mee Mamak which they claim is one of their specialties. Overall, it tasted pretty nice and comes in a really big serving but I found it a bit too spicy for my tastebuds and without the extra oomph of smokey wok hei (wok fried fragrance).

- Chocolate Lava (RM 16.90++):
Chocolatey dessert....
Despite eating so much already, we decided to share a dessert, or more like, I insisted we did, as I love desserts!. The moist chocolate fondant, nicely gooey in the middle, balanced well with the vanilla ice cream and was a nice way to end the night.

What a night! :)
I almost had to roll myself back to the car but definitely had a good time stuffing my face and catching up with my friends in this comfortable restaurant.
(I've been back a couple more times after that, and even organised a company department dinner there - gotta say wow! They are really consistent in quality!)

So it's: Friendly service, comfortable ambience, good range of Western and Asian dishes BUT nothing bad really, just that some of the pricing seems to be on the high side......

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

Vin's Restaurant & Bar @ TTDI, KL

No. 6, Lorong Datuk Sulaiman 1,
Taman Tun Dr.Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur

Taste: 7
Ambience : 7
Service : 7
Price** : RM 50++ per person
Parking: OK

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks

Telephone No.: 03-7725 9053‎
Opening Hours: 4pm - 2am everyday (Lunch or other times by special booking only)

NO PORK SERVED

MAP:

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OTHER REVIEWS:
- joshuaongys.com
- careless little hamster
- the yum list
- ewinee.com
- The Ruthless Eater

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Vin's Restaurant & Bar, Western, TTDI, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, KL, Kuala Lumpur

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka @ Pavilion KL

2011-11-18T08:27:00.000+08:00

The ramen craze continues :)....

It does feel like there have been a lot of new (porky) ramen restaurants opening in KL lately, don't you think so?

One such place is Santouko, professing their own unique blend of Hokkaido ramen**. It's not too hard to find - just go up to the 6th floor of Pavilion and look for the (new) giant, red neon lit Japan Street section - its filled with little shops and restaurants, but its not a large area:
(** Apparently the Santouko ramen chain is pretty famous/established in Japan)
Mostly food/restaurants, with some shops and a big Daiso at the end....
It's comfortable inside, but pretty much just like any other above average Japanese casual restaurant:
Modern, casual Japanese restaurant setting....
We tried both the classic, Shoyu Ramen (Medium) (RM 25+), and the not quite so classic, Kara Miso Ramen (Medium) (RM 27+):
The classic Shoyu Ramen....
The Kara Miso Ramen - Looked oily but tasted good....
The ingredients that make up a Shoyu Ramen soup (mixture of pork broth and soy sauce) is not exactly groundbreaking but the key difference is in the execution - here, the broth is fragrant, slightly "heavy" (in a good way) from all the melted porky goodness but without being overpowering or too salty. The noodles were also a good texture - bouncey enough although just slightly over al dente, and the slices of pork cha shu were tender and tasty.
(Seems a bit expensive though, if you consider the small serving size, but its surprisingly filling)

Still, I preferred the spicy Kara Miso Ramen, if for no other reason than the fact that I like spicy food. :)
(Similarly, the broth was thick and yummy, just with a little extra "kick")

Do note that the Green Tea (RM 4+) is not refillable here... They serve it in a rather large bottle though so I don't think it'll be a problem:
Some energizing green tea to (hopefully) melt all the fat away....
I had a wonderful night - especially as I had wonderful company and equally wonderful surprise company at the next table. :)
(What a small world - Ran into a dear old friend of mine from university days, and he was seated right at the next table! I just sat down, looked up and we were like "Oh! It's you!")

So it's: Modern casual Japanese ambience, fairly friendly service, a (supposedly) famous Japanese ramen chain BUT nothing really bad, just that the menu is limited/ focused and seems a bit small serving (although filling) for the price......

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka @ Pavilion, KL

6.24.03, 6th Floor (Tokyo Street Section), Pavilion Shopping Mall, 168 Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur

Taste: 7
Ambience : 6
Service : 6
Price** : RM 40++ per person
Parking: OK

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 03-2143 8878
Opening Hours: 11am - 10pm
Official Website: Click here :)

NOT HALAL

MAP:

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OTHER REVIEWS:
- wordspics.com of food and travel
- me and the world
- KY Eats
- Eat Drink KL
- Eat your heart out
- Sabashii Senshi Lonesome Warrior

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Hokkaido Ramen Santouka, Japanese, Pavilion Shopping Centre, KL, Kuala Lumpur

Impromptu @ Menara Hap Seng, KL

2011-11-14T09:25:00.003+08:00

Can't get out of the city center at lunch time? Don't worry, there's Impromptu :)..........

Hello hello... This is an invited review, k? Please find my usual disclaimers as follows :)
1) I have not been paid to write this, but neither have I paid a cent for my meal,
2) I will still be as objective as possible re. the food/ restaurant, and
3) If I go back to the restaurant incognito and find that the food/service is horribly different from this experience, I will amend my ratings here...
(Again: This review is (more than) a little delayed *blush*...)

What an interesting name, I thought: "Impromptu"?
(Forgot to ask them why they chose this name, while I was there. Oops)
Casual but comfy dining area just outside the small restaurant....
Anyway, Impromptu is a fairly new restaurant in the also fairly newly revamped Menara Hap Seng (formerly known as MUI PLaza) off Jalan Sultan Ismail (just behind the Mercedes showroom)... Goodness! What a change - this old office building now looks fresh and bright with lots of interesting food options.

The USP (Unique Selling Point) of Impromptu that makes it different from the rest is its specialty home made pastas - classic, herb and charcoal pasta:
3 interesting freshly made pastas....
The preparation methods are also interestingly varied as there is a fusion twist. For example, the Seafood Tom Yam with mixed herbs fettuccine (RM 15.90):
Creamy, fragrant and mildly spicy..
... and the Curried Soft Shell Crab with charcoal spaghetti (RM 18.90)
Dark, mysterious pasta....
Both pastas were nice - cooked perfectly al dente so it had a good bite to it. I was kinda expecting the charcoal pasta to feel a little grainy** but wow, it was not at all, and the creamy yet fragrant curry sauce went well with it.
(** "Charcoal??", I thought to myself, "Yerr..")

Of course, they also have classic combinations like the Grilled Chicken Pesto with plain fettuccine (RM 15.90) if you do not feel experimental:
Chef's special fresh pesto - a blend of herbs and olive oil....
If you fear carbs, they have other dishes too, like the Japanese Wafu Salad with Soft Shell Crab (RM 16.90):
(Really enjoyed this dish! The crab was crispy, the veggies were fresh and it all went very well with the appetising Japanese wafu dressing)
Yummy....
The Crispy Crab Cakes (RM 9.90) was another more classic dish, made with fresh crab meat & crab stick (Note: It was a smaller serving of this during this food tasting, usually there's more)
Golden crab nuggets?....
The crab cakes were moist inside and crisp on the outside - overall nice but just a tad underseasoned.. A dab of the accompanying chili mayo sauce complemented it.

The Lamburger (RM 16.90) is one of their non pasta specialties that we were told is very popular with their patrons... and I can tell why - the lamb patty is juicy and had a nice taste of spices, matched well with tart/sweet topping of mango chutney and BBQ sauce...
Not gigantic but still, very worth it for the price and taste....
Don't like meat?/ Like animals too much - don't worry, you have options in Impromptu, like the Sauteed Mushroom & Veggies Panini (RM 14.90) which is a simple, slightly creamy mix of sauteed mushrooms and veggies, served on toasted panini bread:
Simple, healthier option....
If you want to complete your meal with some dessert, you can choose from their specialties, the (Non Alcoholic) Tiramisu (RM 8.90) and the Chocolate Cheese Brownie with vanilla ice-cream (RM 9.90)
Choc Brownie in the background, Tiramisu in the front....
To be completely fair, we were told these are lighter, healthier versions of these desserts.... so being a lover of decadent, sinful desserts, these were just ok to me - still, they were definitely not bad at all. :)

SHOUT OUT:
Thanks to Edwin of Click Click Culinary for extending the invite. :D

So, it's: Convenient location in the heart of KL, with a range of interesting fusion dishes BUT nothing bad to say really :)....

Summary Sheet:

Impromptu @ Menara Hap Seng, KL
Lot1.19, First Floor, Menara Hap Seng, Jalan P.Ramlee, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Taste: 6
Ambience : 6
Service : 6
Price** : RM 40 per person
Parking: OK

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks

Telephone No.: 03-2141 0227
Opening Hours: 10am – 9pm (Mon - Fri), Closed on Weekends.

NO PORK SERVED

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Malaysian Foodie
- Khayne Me
- Brought Up 2 Share
- clever munkey
- i am the witch
- .수라야. Damage but still okay

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Impromptu Cafe, Local Food, Menara Hap Seng, Fusion

In House Arabic Cuisine @ Solaris Dutamas, KL

2011-10-28T08:27:00.002+08:00

Om nom nom. Carrrrbs :) ....

Carbs are my Achilles Heel. :)
(Unfortunately, I guess)

So when my friends Alvin and Diana asked me to join them for dinner at their (current) favourite Arabian food place in Solaris Dutamas, (tempting me with promises of delicious carbs) I just couldn't resist.

The venue was an Arabic restaurant called In House, located on the ground floor (facing the main road) of Solaris Dutamas. It's just a simple place, more or less like a high class mamak, with a good portion of the seating area outside where you can puff on shishas (RM 15?) if you so choose.

Anyway, the dish they were tempting me with was (their fave) the Kabsa Lamb (RM 20):
Lamb and rice done right....
This was my favourite dish that night too - the lamb was tender, with the fragrant flavours of spices soaked right through the meat (yum!). The al dente rice (one piece one piece type) was still moist enough, tasty and oh so very addictive.
(The accompanying tomato-ey sauce was also nice - when drizzled on top of the lamb/rice it adds a nice extra zing)

We also had the Beef Cubes (RM 22):
The pieces of moo moo peeking from inside their comfy bread shelter....
Chunks of beef served in 2 pieces of flat bread - tender and well marinated (with a nice taste of spices). Overall, yummy. :)

We also ordered Yoghurt Salad (RM 8) as a side/ accompanying dish:
So refreshing! Just a simple mix of yoghurt and diced cucumbers... Nice as a dip for the bread, meat or doused on the rice...
A refreshing side dish....
Also eaten that night, but no photos (as they turned out really really bad):
- The Chicken Shawarma (RM 10), which is basically like a chicken kebab... It tasted ok but not sure I would order this again (Then again my friend Diana said that this was, strangely, not as nice as usual that night), and
- The Lemon Mint (RM 9) drink which was addictively sour/sweet/minty... but I found it a bit too expensive.

So it's: Simple ambience, fairly wide range of yummy Arabic food and shisha flavours BUT nothing bad really - just that service was erratic (blur) although friendly, and the drinks seem to be too expensive. :).....

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

In House @ Solaris Dutamas, KL
A2-G1-05, Solaris Dutamas, Jalan Dutamas 1, 50480 Kuala Lumpur

Taste: 6
Ambience : 6
Service : 5
Price** : RM 25++ per person
Parking: OK
Official Website: Click here

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 016-603 1426/ 03-6211 1171
Opening Hours: 11am - 2am

NO PORK

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Nava-k

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, In House Arabic Cuisine, Solaris Dutamas, Sri Hartamas, Middle Eastern, Mont Kiara, KL, Kuala Lumpur

A Perfect Day

2011-10-25T08:23:00.004+08:00

If only I could bottle up this feeling, and take a sip on gloomy days :)...

J'S PERFECT DAY:

No chocolates in sight, but plenty of Sunshine, Truffle Fries (SGD 12++), Cocktails and Eye Candy at Tanjong Beach Club:
Hard work at the gym definitely pays off...
MORE PICS! :P
- Comfy sofas/beds on the beach, perfect for lazing around and catching some rays:
Hot weather and hot bodies a-plenty...
- Lots of action on the beach:
Many of the young 'uns were playing volleyball...
- Cute lil pug compares pedicures with the girls:
One of many adorable doggies spotted that day...
- A closer look at those yummy fries:
Perfect french fries, crispy yet moist, with just enough cheese and truffle sprinkled on top...
- Yummy cocktails to refresh the soul:
Fruity and refreshing...
- Not on the menu but also very yummy:
;)...
- Sun begins to set on a perfect day
Awwwww...
I wish days like these would never end... but at least I can hold on to the memories (and oogle at saved photos) till the next time. :)

(Psssst. Thanks for taking me out to paradise for a day, Fai!)

So, again, it's: Simple, yummy food by a beautiful man made beach that will make you feel like you are no longer in the concrete jungles of Singapore BUT ok, so the food isn't exactly cheap/ affordable and the service can be slightly inattentive (yet friendly) if you are seated too far from the main bar area....

Summary Information:
Tanjong Beach Club @ Sentosa, Singapore

Opening Hours: (Tues to Sunday) 11am till late
Phone: +65 6270 1355
Address: 120 Tanjong Beach Walk, Sentosa, Singapore 098942 (On Sentosa Island)
(Also, join their Facebook or Twitter for constant updates on events and sunshine/rain conditions)

Map: (Below)

NOT HALAL

MAP:

View Larger Map

OTHER REVIEWS:
- My first time there :)
- The Arriviste
- Paper Hearts
- SoShiok.com
- Dawn Yang clapbangkiss
- Gastronommy

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, Sentosa Island, TBC Sentosa, TBC Singapore, Tanjong Beach Club, Singapore

A Cup of Calm and Comfort :)

2011-10-21T08:18:00.002+08:00

Simple to prepare and delicious - what more could you want from your daily cuppa? :)....

Hmmm.
I don't usually get free stuff through my blog (or more like, almost never - first of all, I'm a bit of a worry wart about whether it's appropriate and well, I'm just not that famous :P)...

When the kind and passionate people from Auresso contacted me through Twitter, I just couldn't resist - I love coffee! AND they said they had a really good chocolate drink that I could try too.
(So, if you hadn't guessed already, I didn't pay for any of this)

They sent me a package of goodies very shortly after we talked, and I brought it over to my (fellow coffee addict) friend's house.

- Their Passion, Pride & Joy... Coffee:
An exotic, single origin coffee....
First, we tried the Brazil - Single Origin (Price from RM 46).
Mmmmm... The coffee was interestingly complex without being overpowering - had a nice sweet note at the start, almost like berries, medium acidity and overall, not too bitter.
Just add in the ground beans into the plunger, with hot water. Easy peasy :)....
We tried it prepared through the Bodum plunger and also as an espresso (My friend Alvin is a self taught barista - IMHO, he's gotten very good at it through the years!).
2 long blacks, ready for consumption....
Either way, it was delicious, but I much preferred it as an espresso - a much more intense flavour this way, perfect for a coffee lover like me. :D
Beautiful espressos - energy providing sips of intense, delicious coffee....
- Lovely Teas Too:
If coffee isn't really your thing though, you can try out their range of really interesting teas.
Choices, choices - Granny's Garden, Japanese Sencha, Punjabi Chai, Green Tea Sunshine or Lemongrass & Ginger?....
They had sent the Tea Sampler (RM 24) so I had 5 flavours to choose from. I liked the Green Tea Sunshine most - nice balance of the freshness and slight bitter taste of Green Tea balanced by the delicate sweetness of fruits (mainly pineapple).
For a moment of calm in a hectic day....
- Recipe for Happiness:
I was really looking forward to trying out Kokolicious (RM 65), their signature Hot Chocolate drink... and it was so easy to prepare too!
An award winning :)....
Just 2 table spoonfuls, hot water and milk (optional) - yummy... Smooth texture (no yucky powder-y aftertaste), creamy and rich without being sickening, and chocolatey without being too sweet.
Happiness in a cup :)....
The best thing is that it's so wonderfully pure - African Red cocoa, processed in France, blended with pure Australian cane sugar - all natural ingredients with no added filters, starch, artificial flavours, colours or preservatives.
(Also GMO Free, Wheat Free, Gluten Free and Exploitation Free. Wah. Any more and it'll be a some kind of superhero :P)

- Some background on Auresso:
Auresso is the sole distributor of Rubra Coffee and Tea in Malaysia, roasted by Award winning artisan roaster Allan McMurray of Rubra located in Western Australia

The beans are 100% Arabica and are freshly roasted and delivered from the Rubra roasting house in Australia - Auresso aims to have a new shipment every 1 to 2 weeks to ensure only the freshest is offered.
(For more info, please refer to their FAQ)

How to Order - 4 Simple Steps:
1) Go to their website, :P
2) Choose as many of the products as you like,:)
(So nice - you can even specify for them to grind the beans, for your convenience)
3) Fill out your details (shipping address, etc),
4) Pay either through an online transfer or cash deposit machine to their Maybank account.

Done! :)
You will receive a confirmation email and tracking number, and the products will be shipped to you via courier.

Unfortunately they currently only deliver within Malaysia.... but let's see - maybe they'll expand their coverage someday? :)
(For the love of coffee!)

SHOUT OUT:
Thanks for the kind, passionate people at Auresso for sharing their delicious coffee, tea and drinking chocolate with me. :D
(And also a BIG thanks to Alvin for being my personal barista, and to Diana for allowing me the services of your husband. *lol*)

Contact Details

Auresso - Fine Coffee Artisans

Phone: 016-208 1259/ 016-331 2971
Email: enquiry@auresso.com.my
Official Website: CLICK HERE

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Artisan Coffee, Auresso, Coffee, Rubra, Australian, Hot Chocolate, Tea, KL, Kuala Lumpur

Sisters Kitchen @ Foodhive, G Tower, KL

2011-10-19T07:54:00.002+08:00

Convenient and decently priced place for makan in the heart of KL..........

Hello hello... This is an invited review, k? Please find my usual disclaimers as follows :)
1) I have not been paid to write this, but neither have I paid a cent for my meal,
2) I will still be as objective as possible re. the food/ restaurant, and
3) If I go back to the restaurant incognito and find that the food/service is horribly different from this experience, I will amend my ratings here...
(Again: This review is (more than) a little delayed *blush*...)

Lunch, especially for us office minions (during weekdays) can be such a pleasure/ pain:
1) You get to escape the office for an hour - Pleasure! :)
2) Darn. It's only an hour, so you can't go far... Traffic/finding parking can be pretty bad too - Pain! :(

Luckily, with the new(ish) Food Hive in the LG floor of G Tower, there are ample food choices, within walking distance of many of the major buildings in KL.
(Eg. Lembaga Tabung Haji, PNB Darby Park, Ampang Park - which conveniently, is equipped with an LRT station, etc)

One interesting eatery in the Foodhive is Sister's Kitchen - a casual restaurant, with a range of local favourites on the menu:
The main area of Sisters is covered, but open air but with ample ventilation....
We were served quite a lot of food that day, so I'll try to keep the descriptions short. :)

- Original Popiah (RM 3.90++) and Egg Roll Popiah (RM 4.90++):
One taste and I realised, "Oh! No wonder the name of the restaurant seemed so familiar! It's from the same people who created those yummy crispy popiahs (sold in most shopping centres)!". So, needless to say, both were yummy although I still prefer the original version. :D
Original on the left and egg-y on the right :)....
- Nasi Lemak with Fried Chicken (RM 14.80++):
A good sized portion for the price (considering KL city center prices) with all the elements of a fairly enjoyable carbilicious nasi lemak.
A well loved Malaysian dish....
- Seafood Siam Laksa (RM 14.80++):
Thick glass noodles in a creamy laksa broth. There was a reasonable amount of stuff (prawns, garoupa slices and squid) to justify the price and the rich flavour was sinfully satisfying.
Do not think about the calories - once in a while is ok, right?....
- Seafood Soup Noodle (RM 12.80++):
Kuey teow noodles in a clear soup with prawns, squid and garoupa fish slices. While the soup was just a tad too salty, it was otherwise a nice dish to have when you need some soup-y comfort food.
A less sinful option....
- Penang Rojak (RM 9++):
To be completely honest, I don't like this style of rojak as the only time I appreciate prawn paste is when it's added into assam laksa. The fruits tasted nice though... :)
A love it or hate it dish, IMHO....
- Mango Passion (RM 8++):
Ok. This kind of dessert I like. :D
Refreshing with a nice sweetness from the mango sauce and fresh mango chunks.
Perfect for the hot and humid Malaysian weather....
- Ice Kacang (RM oops):
Another great way to cool down is with this generously stacked up ice kacang. :)
Also very refreshing....
- 4 Heavenly Kings (RM 5++):
I really enjoyed this - their signature drinks which is a concoction of tea, and 3 types of cocoa.
Slurp....
Oh man...
I still remember how happy/ ridiculously full I was that day.
(Too much food! But I ain't complaining ;P)

SHOUT OUT:
Thanks to Alex and Gladys for the invite! :D

So, it's: Convenient location in the heart of KL, with a range of interesting local dishes BUT nothing bad to say really, some may say it's a bit pricey but the serving size is generous enough....

Summary Sheet:

Sisters Kitchen @ Foodhive, G Tower, KL
LG-07 & 08,
Lower Ground Floor, GTower,
No 199, Jalan Tun Razak,
50400 Kuala Lumpur.

Taste: 6
Ambience : 6
Service : 6
Price** : RM 25++ per person
Parking: OK

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks

Telephone No.: 03-2161 8997
Opening Hours: 7.30am – 9pm (Mon - Fri), 8.30am - 7.30pm (Sat), Closed on Sundays.

NO PORK SERVED

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Drops of Contentment
- Mama Genie's
- Picks and Pickles

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Sisters Kitchen, Local Food, Jalan Tun Razak, G Tower Hotel KL

New York, New York (Part 1)

2011-10-11T08:16:00.000+08:00

Photo heavy post on my NYC trip....

The USA is such a wondrously complex place, don't you think so? - full of history/ innovations, crass/ class, and (among many other things) scandals.

I suppose this is kinda old news already but while I was there, wandering around Wall Street (being a tourist *lol*), I noticed a crowd of people that seemed kinda random and out of place:
Why so many people on the sidewalk? Hmmmm....
I went closer, out of curiousity, and read the little proclamation written on a page torn out a notepad and pasted on a lamp post:
"Waiting 4 Dominique Strauss Kahn"

LOL.
(If you haven't already heard of this news, you can check out the Wiki here... but basically it involves the Ex IMF head allegedly behaving badly onto a hotel Chambermaid)

What a circus of onlookers (like me *grin*), police, and camping reporters - a scene very much like what you see on TV/movies but very alien to the general Malaysian public.
Camping reporters and all their equipment....
Oh, and there was even a very spirited protester, surprisingly, VERY strongly proclaiming that she believed Monsieur Strauss is completely innocent.
(I don't know him personally but) I know he is innocent!....
Anyway, after satisfying our curiousity, we quickly went away from and stepped into the calm sanctuary of a small but elegant church just steps away from the maddening crowd - the Trinity Church:
Dwarfed by the skyscrapers around it....
Inside, it was small but cosy, in a fairly standard gothic style:
Nice stained glass windows....
I found the small touches in the details really nice - like this saint reaching out to the crowds from the main door:
....
Hmmmmm.
So: It was scandal, and redemption - just a normal day in Wall Street, I guess?.....
;)

Still sorting through her 1287 photos from Washington/Philly/Atlantic City/New York,
J

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Holiday, United States of America, New York City, Personal

Wong Ah Wah @ Jalan Alor, KL

2011-10-07T08:19:00.005+08:00

A famous food place that lives up to the hype is such a rare gem....

I'm sure it's also happened to you before:
......
You hear about some really famous, really (supposedly) yummy food place and you fight through horrible traffic/distance/etc to get there. You put up with the hoity toity/ brash attitudes of the wait staff there, wait a loooooooong time and finally! you have a bite of the food..... and it turns out to be COMPLETELY over-rated.

Well, you are lucky if you've never experienced that, but (IMHO) there seem to be too many "famous" food places, that do NOT live up to the hype.

Sorry if I appear to be rambling and raving - it's just that after all this time, I finally tried the already very famous Wong Ah Wah chicken wings in Jalan Alor... and it was such an awesomely pleasant surprise that it really is THAT good.

- Ambience:
Simple. Plastic chairs, run down wooden tables and no air cond. Do not dine here (or most other places on Jalan Alor) if you are adverse to noise, crowds, dust and insects....
Al fresco dining or inside the slightly dingy coffee shop - up to you...
- Deep fried Sotong:
OK lah.
Only fairly crispy...
- Hokkien Mee:
Also OK lah. Whatever.
To be fair: It's actually above average - the crispy chee yau char really add a nice layer to this dish...
- THE chicken wings (RM 2.40 per piece):
OMG.
O. M. G.
:D
The current object of my food lust/ cravings...
It is SO good, and in my humble opinion, the yummiest bbq chicken wing in Malaysia:
- Well marinated meat, which is tender yet flavourful without being too salty/sweet,
- Oh so fragrant skin, singed in the best way possible, leaving it slightly crisp in some parts and with a wonderfully smokey aroma.

It really was love at first bite. :)

Still craving those succulent morsels,
J the chocoholic

So, it's: Simple ambience, DELICIOUS chicken wings that live up to the hype BUT other foods served there are just ok, the chicken wings are a bit expensive, and surrounding area can be a bit jammed/ hard to find parking - it is in the heart of KL, after all :)...

Summary Information:
Wong Ah Wah Chicken Wings @ Changkat Bukit Bintang, KL

Opening Hours: Dinner till late (approx 6pm - 2am)
Phone: 603-2144 2463/ 603-2148 3413
Address: No 1 & 5 & 7, Jalan Alor (Off Jalan Bukit Bintang), 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

(Most Probably) NOT HALAL

MAP:

View Larger Map

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Motormouth From Ipoh – Malaysian Food & Travel Blog
- My Tummy n I
- quirky malaysia
- just another malaysian food blog

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Coffeeshop, Changkat Bukit Bintang, Jalan Alor, Wong Ah Wah Chicken Wings, PJ, Petaling Jaya, Local Food, KL, Kuala Lumpur

Chynna @ Hilton KL

2011-10-04T08:31:00.002+08:00

High class Chinese dining....

Once in a while, my parents will agree to spend a little more, and try out a nicer restaurant... mostly for special occasions. This time, it was my 30th birthday (*SOB*), so we decided to try out the pretty famous Chinese restaurant, Chynna, in the KL Hilton.

It is not a large area but it's well decorated, so it feels cosy yet lush - overall a nice, classy ambience:
Inside Chynna....
The little details really added points (in my books anyway) with small touches like the beautiful, detailed plates really made the place feel special:
What pretty plates!....
We were welcomed with their signature Eight Treasures Tea, expertly "shot" into our cups by the almost kung fu-like precision of the in house tea sifu with his traditional metal tea pot:
Wa-chaaaaaaaaaa....
- Butter Prawn (RM 69++):
This was my father's pick for the night. While it is probably a localised Chinese dish, we thoroughly enjoyed it - Plump prawns (bouncy!), fresh and with a slightly crisp golden brown outer layer coated with a rich, creamy sauce that had undertones of curry leaves
Decadent buttery goodness....
(Look at the size of the prawn!)
I EAT U! :D....
- Black Bean Duck Breast (RM 36++):
This was the only dish I didnt quite enjoy that night - while the slices of meat were tender, I found the black bean sauce a bit overpowering
(To be fair, I don't really like black bean sauce actually, but my mum does - which is why we ordered this dish)
It ain't a pretty picture, unfortunately....
- Black Pepper Beef (RM 58++):
We were told by the waiter that this is one of their most popular dishes and I can see why - Yummy! :D The beef had a really interesting texture, tender but with some nice crispy bits, and coated with a fragrant black pepper sauce - would definitely this again...
Moo....
- Baby Bak Choy with Garlic and Scallop (RM 72++):
Fresh, crisp greens matched with fairly sizeable, juicy scallops - nothing spectacular about this dish, but nothing to really fault either....
A healthy choice to balance the meal....
- Yang Zhao Fried Rice (RM 36++):
(Note: This photo is just one serving - there were at least 4 servings in total from the fried rice we ordered)
Again, this was nice, but without that extra wok hei that would have made this stand out:
Some carbs are a must....
- Seacoconut with Lemon (RM 10++), and the Aloe Vera sorbet (RM 14++):
Both desserts were a nice balance of sweet and slightly sour - a refreshing way to end the night:
The seacoconut dessert....
The sorbet....
While the food was enjoyable that night, it was the service that really stood out to me - friendly and knowledgeable without being intrusive....
(I was also really surprised how much I enjoyed the food considering that there is no porky goodness served there....)

Unfortunately, while the prices aren't exorbitant considering the quality of ingredients + nice environment + excellent service, it's probably not very accessible on a daily basis*. I suppose that this would be a great place to entertain business associates or dates where you are really trying to impress. :)
(* Well, on my bank balance/paycheck, anyway)

So it's: Nice ambience, good food, excellent service BUT prices are expensive (unless you have the Hilton card)....

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

Chynna @ Hilton KL
3 Jalan Stesen Sentral,
50470 Kuala Lumpur
Taste: 7
Ambience : 8
Service : 8
Price** : RM 80/++ per person
Parking: OK

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 03-2264 2592/2696
Opening Hours: Weekdays 12noon to 1030pm, Weekends 11am to 1030pm

NO PORK SERVED

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Myhorng says it all
- my Tummy n I
- Shadows Overhead
- Bual bual kosong

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Chinese, Chynna, Hilton KL, KL, Kuala Lumpur

Surisit Thai Kopitiam @ TTDI, KL

2011-09-26T08:10:00.001+08:00

Porky Thai option in TTDI....

It continues to be a crazy time at work, but every week, I still try (and mostly succeed) to have quality time with my parents on Sunday... Recently I managed to convince them to try out a fairly new Thai restaurant in Taman Tun, Surisit**, rather than the usual tai chow that we go to all the time...
(** Located just a few doors before Penang Village restaurant, on the quieter side of TTDI)

I lurrrrrrve Thai food - the combination of spicy/sour/ sweet/ salty flavors just hit all the right spots for me.
Outside Surisit....
Contrary to it's name and food, the decor of Surisit feels very Malaysian - simple and styled like a kopitiam/coffee shop, but (unlike the traditional coffeeshop) it's clean and comfortable:
Styled like a kopitiam but much more comfortable....
- Pucuk Paku Yam Pla, small (RM 12.90)
(Kerabu pucuk paku)
Appetising but small serving....
The fern was fairly fresh (so it wasn't too hard/fibrous) and the taste of the slightly sour and creamy sauce was appetising but I found the serving size entirely too small for the price....

It may have been a mistake to order the Pla Neung Prik Ma-Nao (RM 32.90)....
(Steamed fish with lemon sauce)
A popular Thai dish....
... and the Tom Yam Ka Moo (RM 25.90) in the same seating:
(Clear tom yam soup with pork)
Not bad....
While both tasted ok on its own (both were sour enough, and mildly spicy) but the flavour profiles were a little too similar with the only difference being that well, the soup had a more porky sweetness in its undertone.

- Mun Thod Gapi (RM 16.90):
(Crispy Thai style pork slices)
YUMMY....
This was the dish that won me over, despite the, so far, average dishes - the pork could have been a bit more tender, but was well marinated, fragrant and went OH so well with a dab (or more) of the spicy complex (sweet, salty and sour) chilli sauce at the side.

- Tab Tim Krob (RM 1.50)
A classic, refreshing Thai dessert....
We wrapped up dinner with my favourite Thai dessert, the "Red Rubies". :)
I won't say it's the best I have ever tasted, as the bits of water chestnuts were just too small to provide an enjoyable crunch. Priced at a very affordable RM 1.50 though, it's a refreshing although unspectacular way to end the meal.
(To me, the perfect Red Rubies has to have a balance of nice chunks of crunchy water chestnut coated with just the right amount of bouncey yet chewy, sweet tapioca jelly in a creamy santan-y soup(?) with finely shaved ice)

Overall: Simple but comfortable new porky Thai restaurant in the TTDI area BUT nothing much bad to say! - while not everything was perfect, there were some stand out dishes that made me wanna go back....

Summary Sheet:

Surisit Thai Kopitiam @ TTDI, KL
17, Lorong Rahim Kajai 13, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur

Taste: 5
Ambience : 6
Service : 6
Price** : RM 30 per person
Parking: OK

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks

Telephone No.: 03-7710 0173
Opening Hours: 8am - 10.30pm
Parking: Limited
Website: Their Facebook Page

NOT HALAL

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Masak-Masak
- Jason Mumbles
- I am The Witch
- Pureglutton
- Cumi dan Ciki

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Restaurant, Thai, TTDI, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Surisit Thai Kopitiam, Pork

Vote for Me? - My Post on Village Park @ Damansara Uptown

2011-09-21T21:15:00.004+08:00

OMG. I've been shortlisted for the TOKL Blogger's Choice Award! :D *shock/happiness*....

I am super honored.

I don't know why, but I've been shortlisted (along with NINE other Food Bloggers that I am in awe of) for the TOKL Food Awards 2011 Blogger's Choice Award.
(Basically, we all submitted reviews on our favourite food places, which you can vote for)

So: If you like this review, you can vote for me (starting Friday) *blush*...
(Click the button below to go to the voting page)
Click, s'il vous plaît....

Or if you just want to vote for your favourite restaurants in the various categories, you can also head on over to the TOKL Food Awards 2011 voting website"!
(Voting closes on 31 October 2011, at midnight)

------------ < Start of Review > ------------
It would seem that everyone knows best, especially when it comes to food, and that person is Malaysian. The top contenders on the list of Malaysian "I know best" foods (in no particular order) are Roti Canai, Char Kuey Teow, Assam Laksa, Curry Mee and Nasi Lemak.

I love all of these, but it is Nasi Lemak, despite the offputting name** of the dish that really hits the spot when I am craving for some soul soothing, carby food.
(** Lemak = Fat, right? So Nasi Lemak = Rice Fatty, which reads more like a warning label really)
Simple setting inside Village Park - consistently crowded!....
My favourite place for Nasi Lemak is a relatively famous eatery in the Damansara Utama area (aka Damansara Uptown) - Restoren Village Park. I am not alone in this, as it is constantly packed, even after it extended its premises to the shop lot next door.
The line usually extends till outside Village Park....
Many may scoff and say that it’s overrated, but I find nothing to dislike about the Nasi Lemak (RM 7.70) there - fragrant granules of rice (more al dente in texture than moist though), topped with a yummy piece of fried chicken which consistently has tender, well marinated meat and crispy skin, complemented by the slightly sweet and mildly spicy sambal on the side.
Hello there yummy chicken....
Their main menu is not very extensive, with only a handful of other dishes like Soto Ayam (RM 6) and light bites like Roti Bakar with Butter & Kaya (RM 2.20). My favourite (when I'm not in the mood for Nasi Lemak) is the Assam Laksa (RM 6). The broth is light and smooth in texture but packs a wallop on the tastebuds - a nice mix of sour, salty, fishy (in a good way) and spicy.
One of my favourite comfort foods....
Another huge crowd puller is the array of different dishes that they serve displayed a la nasi campur/nasi padang in a big metal cart near the main doorway – a fairly wide selection of meats, veggies and seafood prepared in rendangs, curries and more but I have never braved the constant queue to try it.
There's Roti Bakar with Kaya if you feel like a light bite....
So whether or not it really is the ultimate, best Nasi Lemak in the whole of Malaysia, Village Park will always have a special place in my heart - It is the place that I pig out with my mum during our quality weekend time, the place I bring my overseas friends to tantalise their tastebuds, the place I used to eat with my ex, the place where I’ll always go back for more.

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

Village Park Restaurant @ Damansara Jaya, Uptown, PJ
(Damansara Uptown area)

Taste: 6
Ambience : 4*
Service : 6
Price** : RM 12/++ per person
Parking: Difficult

* Ok for a coffeeshop but it's still a coffeeshop lah
** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 03-7710 7860
Opening Hours: 7am – 7pm (Mon-Sat), 7am – 6pm (Sun)
HALAL

------------ < End of Review > ------------

OK. So that's that. :)

Seriously, I'm so stoked just to be shortlisted!!!!
(I hope this isn't coming across like I'm gloating *blush* - I really am just happy/ excited...)

Will post up the other NINE Blogger's reviews as soon as they are available, so you can read their awesome reviews as well....

HUGS,
J

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, PJ, Petaling Jaya,Damansara Jaya, Damansara Uptown, Village Park Restaurant, Local, Nasi Lemak, Kuala Lumpur

House (Previously Known as Social@KL) @ G Tower KL

2011-09-19T08:09:00.001+08:00

Interesting place for drinks, bites or a full meal in the heart of KL..........

Hi y'all... This is an invited review, k? Please find my usual disclaimers as follows :)
1) I have not been paid to write this, but neither have I paid a cent for my meal,
2) I will still be as objective as possible re. the food/ restaurant, and
3) If I go back to the restaurant incognito and find that the food/service is horribly different from this experience, I will amend my ratings here...

Hmmmm....
I'll admit: This review is a little delayed... but better late than never, right?
*guilty grin*

Strangely, when I initially went to (the place now known as) House, it was called Social@KL. When asked, they claimed to have no connection to the more established Social in Telawi (and Changkat BB), so I guess it changed its name to be more distinctive?

Anyway, it's a pretty flexible place, with a few distinctive seating areas for you to choose from, depending on your mood/the occasion:
1) (Ground level) The main dining area:
Better for sit down dinners....
2) (Mezzanine level) Cosy wine area:
Very well stocked wine section....
3) (LG level) Casual bar setting:
Good for minums :D....
4) (LG level) Cool, open air area:
(I imagine that this is a great place to have a few drinks and yummy noms while waiting for the Tun Razak traffic jam to ease up)
A little beer garden?....
- Homemade Social-iced Fruit Tea (RM 12.90++)
Iced tea with a twist....
The Iced tea was really refreshing! - there's no sugar added in the tea. Instead, it's complemented by the natural sweetness of the scoop of fruit sorbet. I tried the mango flavour, which I really liked. :)
(They also have other interesting flavours - lychee, peach, lime, lemon, and calamansi)

- Social KL's Wild Mushroom Soup (RM 15.90++)
A creamy soup....
It looked like a frothy cup of caffeine, but tasted like a smooth, thick (but not stodgy), fragrant mushroom soup. The accompanying garlic bread complemented this perfectly - crispy and tasty without being overpoweringly garlicky. :D

We were also served 2 of their special best selling fusion pizzas:
- Pizza Chicken Satay (RM 25.90++)
The satay pizza....
- Pizza Teriyaki Salmon (RM 29.90++)

A more savoury choice....
The chicken satay pizza was nice - crispy pizza base, tender pieces of meat, balanced with fresh cubes of cucumber and slices of onions, sweet satay sauce and some cheese.
(It sounds like a strange combination but somehow, it works!)

I enjoyed the salmon pizza more though, as the sweet teriyaki flavour was balanced well by the savoury flavours of the slices of bonito and creamy avocado.
(Definitely wouldn't mind ordering this again)

- Peking Duck with Deep Fried Mantou Bun (RM 15.90++)
Om nom nom....
MMMMMMMMMmmmm! Yummy!

Perfectly fried little mantau buns - fluffy inside with a perfectly crisp golden brown layer, with tender slices of duck housed, cucumber and spring onion in between, with a light slather of sweet hoisin sauce.

(They look so cute too! Like mini Asian burgers)
Very kawaii....
Scanning the menu, there are also a interesting variety of other heavier options (other than the light bites we tried that day) - definitely wouldn't mind heading back there for a meal or minums sometime soon...

SHOUT OUT:
Thanks to Alex and Gladys for the invite, and to Jerry, the Director of Operations at House/Social@KL for hosting us during lunch that day - I had a wonderful and delicious day out! :D

So, it's: Convenient location for casual dining in the heart of KL, with a range of interesting fusion dishes BUT nothing bad to say really, just wish it's nearer to my office so that I can have that pizza more often (yummy!)...

Summary Sheet:

House @ G Tower, KL
G02 & LG02-04, GTower,
199, Jalan Tun Razak,
50400 Kuala Lumpur.

Taste: 7
Ambience : 7
Service : 7
Price** : RM 45++ per person
Parking: OK

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks

Telephone No.: 03-2164 4424
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 1am (Closed on Sunday)

NO PORK SERVED

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Drops of Contentment
- Eat Drink KL

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, KL, Kuala Lumpur, House, Social KL, Fusion, Jalan Tun Razak, G Tower Hotel KL

Nominate! Or Forever Hold Your Peace :P

2011-09-14T08:02:00.003+08:00

Time to nominate/ vote for your favourite restaurants....

It's THAT time of the year again.

If you didn't already know, the nomination period for TOKL's Annual Food Awards has BEGUN! - and you only have till Sept 18!

In short, here's how it works:

1) NOMINATION/ VOTING:
From now till 18th September 2011 you can nominate/ vote for your favourite restaurants (, restauranteur & chef) - The fields are left blank so you can nominate whichever restaurant you like.

Don't be put off that there are so many categories (18!) - you are allowed to vote for as many/ few as you want, even if you submit just one restaurant in one category.
(Click HERE to go to the TOKL website voting page)

2) VOTING ROUND 2 - Shortlisted Restaurants/ Chefs
Check back (on Sept 20th?) to see if your favourite made it through to The Shortlist and cast your vote again to select the overall winner.

3) WHO'S THE WINNER?
Results will be announced in the December ‘Food Awards Special’ Issue of Time Out Kuala Lumpur and on the main TOKL website shortly afterwards.

FYI:
The 16 + 2 Categories:
1) Best Chinese
2) Best Continental
3) Best Fine Dining
4) Best Hawker/ Mamak
5) Best Healthy Eating/ Vegetarian
6) Best Indian
7) Best Italian
8) Best Japanese
9) Best Malay
10) Best Middle Eastern
11) Best Thai/ Indo Chinese
12) Best Pub Grub
13) Best Place for Coffee
14) Best Place for Seafood
15) Best Place for Steak
16) Best New Restaurant

17) Restauranteur of the Year
18) Outstanding Chef of the Year

Choices, choices. Quickly go nominate - if you miss it then you can't complain later............
;P

Every vote counts!,
J

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

Blog Birthday #6

2011-09-10T07:57:00.007+08:00

6 years old already!

It's something I keep saying quite a lot... but hey, it's true - TIME FLIES (especially) WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN***.

:)

I can't believe it's already been 6 years since I started blogging.
(SIX YEARS of food blogging! That's a lot of time/money/calories invested, don't you think so? lol)

It's been a slow couple of months, with work overwhelming my waking hours, but I'll try my best to get back to the regular schedule soon. :)

(Random photo of me launching a sneak attack on a lovely chocolate cake baked by my friend Jolyn)

Getting older and OLDER,
J

*** Time, as I (re-)discovered, also flies when you're not having that much fun and are just really, REALLY busy with work. =_=

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

Momofuku Ko @ New York City, USA

2011-09-05T12:57:00.017+08:00

The first time I dine at Momofuku Ko - Hope that I can go back there soon....

What does it mean?
“Momofuku” means Peach, and “Ko” means Son of....

So, in totality, the name is: Son Of A Peach?
LOL. How cheeky. :)

If you've never heard of it before, it is a famous 2 Michelin star restaurant started by Chef David Chang in New York, around Oct 2008. They have very commendably maintained those 2 stars for about 3 years now. It was one of my most memorable meals to date, but I don’t have much to show for it (in terms of photos) due to the restaurant’s strict “No Photos” policy.

So, (to state the obvious) this post will be kinda wordy....
(Hope you don’t mind).

Where do I start?

I guess it’s important to highlight how bloody hard it is to get a booking in Momofuku Ko.

How hard? Well:
- They only accept online bookings (you have to register on their website),
- Lunch bookings (Fri – Sun) are only available online 2 weeks in advance,
- Dinner bookings (every night) are only available 1 week in advance,
- Everyday at 10am, they open up another day for you to book (which are usually snapped up within minute. If you can’t get a spot, pray for cancellations),
- Bookings can only be made for 2, 4 or 6 people, and
- You cannot cancel within 24 hours of your booking. If you do then you will be charged USD 150 on your credit card (whether or not you actually show up at the restaurant).

I think that’s about it....
(Complicated though, right?)

With a little perseverance and good luck, I managed to secure a lunch booking for my friend and I when we were in New York**...

Part of me was really afraid. First of all, it ain’t cheap (USD 175++ per person) so, what if it turned out to be overrated and my friend gets angry with me for dragging her to such a horrid restaurant and murders me in my sleep? Still, it came so highly recommended that I figured it was worth a risk...
(** Someone cancelled their bookings in the middle of the night, and I just happened to be checking on the availability just before I went to sleep)

I bet you're wondering: Was it worth the risk and all the trouble?

My answer?: Yes, yes, yes, yes, YES.

Due to the nature of their (sort of) omakase*** concept, we were surprised with round after round of delicious, fresh fusion (French/Jap/Korean/American) courses ranging from more classic combinations (eg. Roasted chicken) to really unusual dishes (eg. Pea Ice Cream!).
(*** Omakase = (roughly) Submit to the chef, which means that the chefs will serve you what they like, although you can tell them to make adjustments due to allergies or religious reasons)

- The only photo I have (of the very low key door into Momofuku Ko):

There were roughly 14 courses****, which is a LOT for even the laziest of lazy, gluttonous, weekend lunches. To proclaim that all were spectacular would be a lie, but everything was at least good, and the dishes that were very good were just REE-DEEK-KEW-LOUS-LEE good.
(****LOL! We actually lost count!)

1) Fresh Oyster with dash of a sour & spicy sauce
2) 4 kinds of raw seafood: slices of fluke with buttermilk & poppy seeds, mackerel?, scallop? and branzino with grapefruit?,
(I actually do not usually eat raw fish... but this was just too good – the natural sweetness of the fish really came through, well complemented by the restrained use of sauces/dressings)
3) Strawberry with balsamic vinegar reduction,
(*shrug* I consider this a “filler” dish/ palate refresher)
4) Ricotta Cheese filled dumplings in a thick roasted chicken skin sauce,
(SO. GOOD. *dies*)
5) Mix of grilled and fried mushrooms with a mushroom consommé on the side,
6) 4 kinds of bites - baby asparagus kimchi, ?, ? and ?,
(Again, *shrug*)
7) Fluffy egg served in a broth,
8) Something served with grilled pork fat rice, vegetables with sesame,
(OMG. The rice looked deceptively bland but tasted awesome with its slightly sticky texture and deep pork-y flavour with a sprinkle of crunchy salt)
9) Chicken stuffed with it's own leg,
(Now I know what chicken is supposed to taste like – sweet, moist and absolutely yummy – not at all boring)
10) Pork face slice, rabbit terrine, and something else,
11) Grilled trout and asparagus,
(So simple but delicious, with the superbly fresh fish grilled to perfection – moist sweet flesh, crispy skin. Even the asparagus was SO good – moist with a bit of crunch, and a lovely smokey fragrance)
12) Foie Gras shavings, Riesling gelee, lychee, pinenut brittle and foam,
(This is their signature dish – a strange sounding but life changing-ly good combination of sweet, savoury, crunchy and moist)
13) Pea ice cream, matched with fresh peas and foam,
14) Crushed rice waffle cone with Mochi cubes and White miso ice cream,

... and somewhere in between, there was a lobster roll?

As you can tell, the dishes I can’t really remember were the ones that I found just ok. So, not everything was great… but the ones that were, well… they were the kind of *Stop. MMMMMMmmm. Omg. Pause. OMG. SO. GOOD* kinda great.

I don't know whether any of the kind, witty, TALENTED chefs there will ever come across this post... but just in case:
Thank you so much, for sharing your passion and talent. It must be such hard work to produce those delicious morsels.... but it is much appreciated. :)
(On another note: No thanks to you for lifting the bar SO very high that dining at any other restaurant in Malaysia seems so banal and pedestrian. LOL)

Hugs,
J

PS/
1) Thank you Mr Android for recommending this place to me - it's as good as you said it would be *hugs*,
2) What a nice bonus that while dining there, I met/ befriended fellow diners and foodies - Steve Moy and Anton. :) *WAVES* Thanks for being so friendly and taking us to the lovely Japanese place after. :)

DETAILS OF MOMOFUKU KO:
Where is it?
Address: 163 1st Avenue, New York

How do I contact them?
Phone number: (212) 500-0831
Website: Official Website

When are they open?:
Lunch, Friday – Sunday.
Dinner, Everyday

How much will it cost?:
Lunch tasting menu - $175++ per person (takes about 3 hours)
Dinner tasting menu - $125++ per person (takes about 2 hours)
(Note: Please put aside at least 15% for tips - it's a heart stopping amount of $$, but it's considered the norm in the US. Anyway the service is friendly, knowledgeable and efficient so you won't feel like you've been fleeced...)

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Eat-tori
- A Life Worth Eating
- Gourmet.com
- 10thirty
- Wandering Eater

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, 2 Michelin Stars, NYC, Momofuku Ko, New York City, PJ, Travel, Holiday, American, Gourmet, USA, Kuala Lumpur

G3 @ Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar

2011-08-23T08:36:00.002+08:00

One of the newer eateries in the Bangsar Telawi area....

G3.....

I wondered what it was supposed to mean? Gentle Green Giant? Nah.
Apparently, it stands for Gastronomic 3, to symbolise the 3 owners who all love food. :)

It's one of the newer places in the main Telawi area, located in between the Telawi veteran Alexis, and the unfortunately now defunct Telawi Street Bistro)
Looking at G3 from across the street....
I excitedly headed over there last weekend to meet some of my girl friends for a long overdue catch up...
(I hate how life and work always seem to get in the way nowadays... but I guess that's just how things are - we are all on separate, hectic schedules that it is hard to meet up more often)
Inside the restaurant....
It was comfortable enough inside, simple and fairly casual, with a balance of wooden textures against the start concrete floor...

In a hopefully not futile effort to try to stave off evil oxidants, I started off with a (supposedly) high octane anti-oxidant drink - the blackberry, cranberry and yoghurt juice (RM 12++):
If I drink enough of this, will my skin cells become younger?....
Yummy! :)
There was a nice balance of sweetness from the fruits, balanced against a slight sour tang and smoothness from yoghurt blended in. I really wouldn't mind ordering this again although I find the price a little disgusting - it's not the restaurant's fault though - bloody berries in Malaysia are so expensive because they are not native fruits....
(It tasted best when it was just served though, when it was nice and icy cold)

My gorgeous friend Kristine had the Grande Breakfast (RM 22++), which came with a little bit of everything - (turkey) ham, egg (prepared how you want), grilled tomato, baked beans, hash brown, sauteed mushrooms, (chicken) sausage and topped with a crusty slice of bread and oozey butter:
Chocolatey dessert....
Overall, it was nice except for the sausages which looked a bit shrivelled *lol*.
(I thought the mushrooms were really yummy - chunky and juicy)

I have to say, I much preferred the Tuna Hash (RM 16++) that I ordered though, which came with a grilled tomato, fried egg, bread and some chunky avocado sauce/paste at the side:
A close look at the fishy carby Tuna Hash....
The interesting tweaked hash browns which had bits of tuna mixed in tasted savoury without being too fishy, and tasted with a slather of the avocadoes that came with this.
(Mmmmm, and the bread.... Crusty, yet fairly moist, and not starchy - delicious!)

I really like the sauteed mushrooms, so I order an extra side of it - Sauteed Mushrooms (RM 6++):
Juicy mushrooms....
I really liked that the mushrooms were well balanced - not too salty and cooked just enough that they were moist but still with some bounce to the bite.

My other gorgeous friend Ver had the Fritatta (RM 18++) (photo turned out horrible - sorry) which came topped with some sausages and arugula, which she said was just a bit too oily, but otherwise tasted ok.

There were several other options on the breakfast/brunch menu too - can't say I wouldn't mind checking out this place again, as it turned out to be a decent meal and overall nice venue for a catch up session with the girls on a sunny Sunday morning. :)
(Looking at some other blog posts, like Sean's, it also looks like the lunch/dinner menu is worth checking out too)

Overall: Casual but comfortable new(-ish) restaurant in Bangsar with a fair range of classic and some interesting breakfast/brunch menu BUT nothing much to complain - although prices are a little on the high side, it is Bangsar after all...

Summary Sheet:

G3 @ Telawi 3, Bangsar KL

No 19, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur.

Taste: 6
Ambience : 6
Service : 7
Price** : RM 20++ per person
Parking: OK

** Approximation - breakfast :), excluding drinks

Telephone No.: 03-2282 8019
Opening Hours: 11am to 12am (Weekdays) and 9am to 12am (Weekends)
Parking: Limited

NO PORK SERVED

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Eat Drink KL
- Goreng.my
- The Life of Brian

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Restaurant, Western, Telawi, Bangsar, G3, Telawi Street

Cartoon (A play) @ KLPAC

2011-08-20T12:06:00.007+08:00

Be Careful What You Wish For! :)....

Change is good, right?
(Right?)

Especially if you are a motley group of "typical" cartoon characters, ruled under a tyrannical leader?
:)

Well, sometimes it is, and maybe sometimes, it may just lead to all kinds of different problems..
Vivid poster...
I really had no idea what to expect when my friend Nina asked me whether I wanted to go watch Cartoons at KLPAC (which is a successful play, running for the first time outside the USA).

... and when I heard the initial long political-ish monologue after the fun, zany theme song (nice! The cast are so multi talented - can act, sing and dance), I was a bit like =_= <--- I don't like political-ish monologues..

There was very nice pacing and build-up, with creative use of multimedia, and very soon after, I found myself really really enjoying the show. :)
Mr Puppet likes hanging out...
The characters** are all interesting, first in their perfect typical box-ed up "perfection" and even better when the chaos ensues and the cracks and craziness start to show.
(** The Puppet, The Damsel, The Suitor, The Japanese Kawaii Best Friends, The Mischievous One, The Cameo Song Guy, The Dictator and my favourite, The Rock Star - "RAWR". LOL)

Date: August 18 – 27, 2011
Venue: The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre
Tickets: Priced from RM 25 to RM 38. Call (+603) 4047 9000 or (+603) 2142 2009 for ticketing.

In short (IMHO):
Definitely worth a watch! - multitalented cast make good of a slightly tweaked, borrowed play from the USA that has a balance of zaniness, laughs and things to make you think. :)

Here are the details of the show:
CARTOON by Steve Yockey:
(Recommended for mature audience aged 18 and above only)

Executive Producer: Dato’ Faridah Merican
Artistic Director: Joe Hasham OAM
Director: Kelvin Wong
Stage Manager: Alvin Looi
Production Manager: Freddy Tan
Costume Design: Cassandra Lim

Synopsis:
...klpac and the director that brought you Indicinelive! present CARTOON by Steve Yockey. IT’S A WAR ON TERROR™ IN TOONTOWN! Chaos ensues after mischievous urchin Trouble steals the oversized yellow sledgehammer that bratty, Hitler-esque Esther commands her toonizens with.

Theme songs come to a halt as paranoia and violence follow a zany goose chase, while a band of mismatched cartoon stereotypes find themselves increasingly stuck in an existential rut – will there ever be a way out? Played through a series of TV episodes, CARTOON is a response to the rapid coalescence of media, politics and consumer giants – an in-your-face satire of a forthcoming totalitarian world, if you like.

MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY

Cast:
(In alphabetical order! To be fair....)
- Actors: Amanda Ang, Rashdan Harith, Lorna Hoong, UiHua, Grace Ng, Jabar Laura, Matthew Ong, Freddy Tan, and Alexis Wong.
Venue: KL Peforming Arts Centre (KLPAC)
(Sentul Park, Jalan Strachan (off Jalan Ipoh), 51100 Kuala Lumpur)

Dates: August 18 – 20, 23 – 27 @ 8.30 pm, Matinee on August 21 @ 3.30 pm (No performance on 22 Aug 2010)

Ticket Price:
- RM38, or RM25 (Students & the Disabled)

[PROMO!]
Buy 4 tickets of any price in one receipt and get 1 free!

[MID-WEEK SPECIAL!]
RM25 flat for August 23 & 24 @ 8.30 pm

[COSPLAY SUNDAY!]
Come dressed-up as your favourite cartoon character on August 21 and get your ticket at only RM25!

Ticket info:
- go to KLPAC, or
- call +603-40479000.
If you want more details, here is the KLPAC official website.

Hope you like it! :)
J

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Dustyhawk Broken Mirror
- Gorengdotmy
- The Star

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Musical, KLPAC, Cartoon, Sentul, Steve Yokel, KL Performing Arts Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

1 Malaysia Ramadhan Feast @ Chatz Brasserie, Parkroyal Hotel KL

2011-08-09T08:12:00.005+08:00

Another round of Ramadhan feasting!...

Do take note that this is an invited review - So, here are my usual disclaimers:
1) I have not been paid to write this, but neither have I paid a cent for my meal,
2) I will still be as objective as possible re. the food/ restaurant, and
3) If I go back to the restaurant incognito and find that the food/service is horribly different from this experience, I will amend my ratings here...

How quickly time flies. An ex-colleague just reminded me that we had been trying to to arrange a Buka Puasa get together to catch up since... well, last Ramadhan...
=_=

There are of course many options being paraded in the newspapers, billboards, etc, right now - Last week, I got to check out the offering at Chatz Brasserie in the Parkroyal Hotel, located conveniently in the heart of KL's Golden Triangle Shopping area.
:D
- Simple but comfortable - classic hotel setting:
Comfortable setting....
- A must have at any reputable hotel nowadays, fresh Oysters and prawns:
(Their theme was "1 Malaysia", so they had a range of Malay, Chinese, Indian as well as Nyonya and Western dishes)
A luxurious addition to any meal....
- Healthy Salads and Ulams to balance your meal:
Leafy veggies and herbs are good for you....
- Tantalising curries:
(Other than the usual curries and rendangs, there was also a range of delicious Nyonya recipes, taught by the talented chef Debbie Teoh,... There was a very appetising blend of aromatic spices with a hint of assam tones in the curry, and I especially liked it paired with the yummy Nasi Ulam that they had that night)
Some of the lovely, spicy dishes....
- Petai dish, for those who love these pungeant beans:
(There were also many "stalls" serving up a pretty wide variety of local favourites (Satay, Nasi Ayam, Briyani, Assam Laksa, Ayam Pansuh, etc) as well as foreign treats (Spaghetti, Grilled Lamb, Grilled Beef, etc)
Love it? Or hate it? :)....
- Desserts, both local....
One of my (many) favourites - Sago, with gula melaka and santan served at the side....
- ... and foreign:
(There was also an array of Haagen Daz ice creams for you to choose from...)
Cakes and tarts too :)....
In terms of pricing, it is reasonable, as there really is quite a variety of food to choose from:
- RM 86++ per adult,
- RM 43++ per child (4 to 11 years old).

Well, there you have it. This is probably the last Buka Puasa buffet I'll be attending this year. I hope you have lots of fun buka-ing with your family and friends.... :)
(Thanks to Lilian for the kind invitation - was really nice meeting you!)

Summary Information:
1 Malaysia Ramadhan Feast @ Chatz Brasserie, Parkroyal Hotel KL
(August 1 to August 29, 2011)
(Reservations highly recommended)

Opening Hours: For the Buka Puasa - 7pm onwards
Phone: 603-2147 0888
Address: Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur
Official Website: Click here

HALAL

OTHER REVIEWS:
-

MAP:

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TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, One Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Parkroyal Hotel, Chatz Brasserie, Buka Puasa Buffet

d'italiane kitchen @ Jaya 33, PJ

2011-08-01T08:59:00.003+08:00

Yet another choice for Italian food in PJ...

It would seem that Malaysians (or the general KL/PJ population anyway) love Italian food, as there appear to be many eateries serving up the robust food from that part of Europe.

One such place is d'Italiane Kitchen, located in Jaya 33, PJ - It's not new, having been open for a few years now, but I only ventured there recently after a short shopping trip to the conveniently located PJ Digital Mall**.
(** Really like this place as its existence = I don't have to go all the way down to Low Yat to get tech-y stuff)

We weren't as hungry/greedy as usual so we skipped straight to the mains. :)

The Pasta Salmon Alfredo (RM 28.90++) was pretty yummy - Sufficiently creamy, but thankfully not too thick and cloying, with chunky cubes of salmon:
Pasta + Creamy sauce = Decadent meal :)....
I preferred the Pasta River Prawn Arabiatta (RM 29.90++) though, as I like red sauces much better than creamy ones. Also, the prawn was fresh and the bits of rich flavour from the roe really added some extra "Oomph" to this dish:
That's a pretty big prawn!....
The Tiramisu (RM 20.90++) was also nice, taste wise - It was just a tad too sweet though but overall, creamy and chocolatey/coffee-ish enough and an interesting mix of moist, creamy and crunchy:
(The hefty price tag would probably deter me from ordering again though)
(Eeyer. Why are tiramisus in KL getting more and more expensive? *grumble*)
A classic Italian dessert....
So was it mindblowing?
Nah.

Still, the taste is above average and pricing is decent (considering the amount of stuff that comes with each dish - wah! such a big, meaty prawn!)...
(Definitely wouldn't mind venturing back here to try out some of the other dishes on the menu)

So it's: Simple yet cosy ambience, friendly service, fairly wide range of Italian food for reasonable prices (just slightly more expensive than average) BUT nothing bad really - :).....

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

d'italiane kitchen @ Jaya 33, PJPG-01B
Ground Floor, Jaya 33, No 3 (Lot 33) Jalan Semangat, Section 13, 46100 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.

Taste: 6
Ambience : 6
Service : 7
Price** : RM 55++ per person
Parking: OK

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 03-7956 3684
Opening Hours: 1130am till 11pm
Official Website:

(They also have a new outlet in Sunway Giza)

NO PORK SERVED

MAP:

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OTHER REVIEWS:
- Neo Lady
- KY Speaks
- Timothy Yeo
- Melaka Boy.com
- ewinee.com

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, d' Italiane Kitchen,Jaya 33, Sri Hartamas, Italian, KL, Kuala Lumpur

Buka Puasa @ The Melting Pot Cafe, Concorde Hotel KL

2011-07-28T08:02:00.034+08:00

How quickly time flies - Ramadhan/ Bulan Puasa starts next week!...

Do take note that this is an invited review - So, here are my usual disclaimers:
1) I have not been paid to write this, but neither have I paid a cent for my meal,
2) I will still be as objective as possible re. the food/ restaurant, and
3) If I go back to the restaurant incognito and find that the food/service is horribly different from this experience, I will amend my ratings here...

A mother and son team, dishing up traditional Padang food? - how sweet...
:)
Mother and son, Sambasri Harun and Irwan Arifin, posing with their signature dishes....
.... and they are serving up delicious traditional cuisine from their hometown, Pariaman in Padang, Indonesia - with a beautiful blend of fragrant spices accentuated by a mild, pleasing (chilli) heat on the tongue....

- The famous Fat Boy Bakes, with a big bone in hand:
(Look at that gleeful smile!)
FBB with his big Sup Gearbox soto....
- Many famous Padang dishes like Dendeng Paru to whet your appetite:
(It's lungs... usually I'm squeamish about consuming these kinda body parts but in this case, it's yummy!. There is also an array of other Padang classics like daging dendeng bakar, gulai urat lembu, opor ayam, sotong berlado, ikan masak bumbu, udang tusek, sambal lado hijau, keropok belinjau, keropok kulit lembu and much more...)
Eating lungs are good for your lungs, right?....
- Delicious array of curries - here, the fish head curry:
(Went so well with rice)
Curry + rice = YUMS....
- Grilled Lamb. Stuff with Rice. Delish!
(This was one of my favourite dishes that night - especially the rice, which was wonderfully spiced and flavoured by the lamb)
The chefs dish up the lamb....
- A selection of meats and seafood - take your pick and the chefs will grill it for you:
Food prepared a la minute....
- If you don't feel like curry/rice, there are also fresh seafood - Oysters and lightly cooked Prawns:
Many other cuisines to select....
- There is so an array of other cuisine, like Chinese (steamed fish, tofu, dimsum) and Japanese (Tempura prawns, etc):
Choices, choices....
- A variety of Local desserts, including kuih-muih like kuih lapis and comfort food like various pengats:
Tummy warming Malaysian desserts....
- Desserts a la Orang Putih (Western folks) available too!:
(Cakes, macaroons, ice cream and many others....)
My favourite part of every meal....
- It's the Concorde KL after all, so it's a nice setting in the main Melting Pot Cafe dining area:
(Reservations are highly recommended, as it usually gets very packed)
Comfortable although crowded....
- There's also a live band around to entertain you as you dine:
Somehow they managed to make Bieber's Baby song sound interesting....
Price-wise, I think it's pretty reasonable, considering it's a very reputable hotel in the KL area:
- RM 89++ per adult,
- RM 44.50++ per child (4 to 12 years old).
(There is also a 20% discount during the 1st and 4th week of Ramadhan!)

We were also told that they will be changing the menu everyday, to keep things exciting, so you can just keep going back again and again, if you want to. :)

PS/
Thanks (and *HUGS*) to the witty Fat Boy Bakes for extending the invite and of course, to the sweet Julini of Concorde for being such a good hostess.

Summary Information:
Buka Puasa @ The Melting Pot Cafe, Concorde Hotel KL
(August 1 to August 29, 2011)
(Reservations highly recommended)

Opening Hours: For the Buka Puasa - 7pm onwards
Phone: 603-2144 2200
Address: 2 Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur
Official Website: Click here

HALAL

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Bisous a Toi
- Motormouth From Ipoh – Malaysian Food & Travel Blog
- Lionel Ong
- Fat Boy Bakes

MAP:

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TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, Nasi Padang Pariaman, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Concorde Hotel, Melting Pot Cafe, Buka Puasa Buffet

Penang Assam Laksa FTW! :)

2011-07-27T12:39:00.005+08:00

LOVE LOVE LOVE....

Oh, Penang Assam Laksa....
I have loved you all these years, with all my heart, but now, the world has acknowledged your awesome-ness too.
*HAPPY*
The object of my affection....
Your comforting complex taste - sweet/savoury/sour, spicy, fishy (in the best way possible), accentuated by the fragrance of the bunga kantan (ginger flower?) and mint leaves, with an extra ooomph from the added hae koh (prawn paste), enveloping the slippery smooth strands of noodles - MMMmmmm. Delicious delicious-ness. My perfect comfort food on a rainy day... :D
(Or any day, really)

Why this sudden declaration of love? Well, if you haven't read it already, here's the link to the CNN Go's recently published World's 50 Most Delicious Foods......
(Look out for Entry Number 7)

Luv laksa long time,
J

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Penang Assam Laksa, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

New Beer In Town

2011-07-25T08:10:00.004+08:00

Beer-y good fun and minums at a recent launch at G Tower....

I met an ex of mine recently when he visited Malaysia... and he exclaimed how he was really surprised I like drinking beer now....

It's not THAT strange for a girl to enjoy a nice, ice cold beer once in a while, is it? ;)
(... Or even more than once in a while)

There was a time when I thought beers tasted horrible,... but that's before I tried some of the really lovely beers available. One interesting new discovery, is the Kronenbourg Blanc, the newly launched "white" beer from the French brand, Kronenbourg 1664.

I got to taste it at the launch party, which was held at the brand spanking new and GORGEOUS View Rooftop Bar of G Tower:
Beauiful view of the KL skyline from the top of The View....
Mmmmmmm. I found the light but evidently fruity taste of the beer really interesting - would love this served ice cold, while I lay down at the side of a beach. :)
The new Kronenburg Blanc (front) and the existing classic Blue Kronenburg (back)....
The artistically painted models at the launch were really interesting too:
Ooh la la....
It's art?....
HUGE thanks and *hugs* to the gorgeous Agent Ciki who allowed me to borrow her photos - my camera doesn't perform very well in low lighting....

Also, thanks to Alex and Gladys from G Tower, who so kindly extended the invite to this event - had a lot of fun. :)

For more info on the hotel/ the office units/ other facilities, do check out their main website: CLICK HERE.

G Tower and Hotel, Kuala Lumpur
199 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
Hotel Tel: +603 2168 1919
Hotel Fax : +603 2168 1818
Email : info@gtower.com.my

Leasing Tel: +603 2168 1800
Leasing Email: lease@gtower.com.my

Other posts on this event:
- Cumi dan Ciki
- Beerbeer
- I Come, I See, I Hunt and I Chiak
- Adventures of a Tomcat
- Kee Hua Chee Live

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

Kin Kin Chilli Pan Mee @ off Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, KL

2011-07-04T07:53:00.001+08:00

Reputedly the original and best Chilli Pan Mee in KL....

Who hasn't heard of the (in)famous Kin Kin Chilli Pan Mee in KL? :)

Through the years, pan mee places have come and gone but Kin Kin remains, with its facade pretty much unchanged:
(Located in a slightly hidden block of shoplots, just off the bustling Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman aka Jalan TAR - sort of just behind the Honda showroom)
Outside Kin Kin....
Inside, it remains simple and down to earth - a typical coffeeshop setting, which can get VERY packed on weekday lunch times:
Simple - plastic chairs and tables....
I started with a side order of Pork meatballs (about RM 5 for a 1 person serving):
Yummy oinky bites....
Small, slightly bouncey and savoury, with a slight zing of salted fish(?) minced in - not fantabulous, but it's a good complementary part to a meal at Kin Kin.

There really aren't many choices here - just their signature pan mee, which comes in 1 standard size, in either dry (Korn low) or soup format (Chee-ee sui) (about RM 5.50 per bowl).

I much prefer the dry format - topped with an egg, minced pork sauce and deep fried anchovies (ikan bilis), with the accompanying small side bowl of veggies in a simple egg drop soup:
ALL MINE :D....
One thing that really wins points with me here is that the egg is always (as far as my experience goes) perfectly prepared - look at it in all its glistening, jiggly glory, oozing beautifully runny yolk with just a light prod of a chopstick:
LOVE...
The famed Chilli is served separately - it is FIERY, to say the least. There was a time when the attitudes of the owners/ waitresses there were EQUALLY FIERY (thus, their infamy for mostly horrible and brash service) but after such a long lapse, I got the feeling that they have mellowed over the years.....
(Bordering on friendly, even! Or maybe I went on a "good day" as compared to the last time, a few years ago?)
A plastic canister filled with chilli at every table....
You can add in as much or as little chilli as you like. I recommend starting with one spoonful and adding more later if you would like your tongue to sizzle:
(Mind you, I actually like spicy food but I can only handle about 1 and a half spoonfuls before it gets uncomfortably hot - it is a thin line between pleasure and pain, eh? lol)
All mixed up and ready for consumption!....
The beauty is in the mix. :)

All their lovingly prepared ingredients** make up the wonderful mix of textures and tastes - al dente noodles that are not the least bit starchy, coated with the sticky goodness of the runny egg, accentuated by the dry heat of the chilli, crunch from the crispy anchovies and savoury goodness of the pork mince.
(** As I understand, everything from the noodles to the chilli blend is prepared in house)

GLORIOUS.
(Hits all the right spots for me)

Of course, as many have pointed out, the serving size is pretty small for the price.... Still, this place remains a firm favourite for me if I have a craving for pan mee. :)
(Note: Prices stated are approximate because there is no receipt and I forgot - sorry!)

So it's: Simple setting, good chilli pan mee (reputedly the best) BUT can be very packed, service is infamous (although much better now), limited choices and serving size is on the small side......

Summary Information:;
Kin Kin Chilli Pan Mee @ off, Jalan T.A.R., KL

Opening Hours:
Weekdays 7.30am to 9pm,
Weekends 7.30am to 4.30pm (Closed on some Sundays - the last of each month?)
Phone: -
Address: No. 40, Ground Floor, Jalan Dewan Sultan Sulaiman 1, off Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur
(BTW they also have a branch in Pandan Indah @ 6-G, Jalan Perubatan 4, Off Jalan Pandan Ilmu, Pandan Indah - it's closed on Mondays though)

NOT HALAL

MAP:

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OTHER REVIEWS:
- KY Eats
- Happy Happy
- You Get What You Give
- Meals I Had
- Motormouth From Ipoh

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Jalan TAR, Restoran Kin Kin, Kin Kin Chilli Pan Mee, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

Memo

2011-06-29T07:55:00.005+08:00

RE: REAL LIFE

Please be informed that J the Chocoholic has recently gotten a new job and she is caught up in that and lots of other aspects of Real Life.

She expresses her sincere apologies and promises that regular blog updates will resume as soon as possible.

Best regards,
J the Chocoholic

(Ok. Now just for fun, let's do that again in directly translated Malay)

RE: BENAR HIDUP:

Tolong dimaklum bahawa J the Chocoholic sudah baru dapat kerja baru dan telah ditangkap dalam itu dan pelbagai aspek Benar Hidup.

Dia mengespresikan ikhlas maaf dan menjanji yang update blog biasa akan bermula semula secepat mungkin.

Best punya regards,
J the Chocoholic

PS/ LOL. My BM is getting so bad/ out of practise! And also, apologies for calls missed, smses not replied and chat messages ignored.... Please bear with me while I stabilise things at work, ok? Thanks.... :)

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

Prime @ Le Meridien Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

2011-06-24T08:01:00.005+08:00

Finally: I taste the, reputedly, best steak in KL....

I had a really bad day at work that day - can't remember why exactly,... but it was just one of those days, you know?
>.>

Anyway, I was supposed to have dinner with an old friend of mine, when upon hearing of my bad day, decided that we should make use of the glorious discount on his Starwood card instead of just going to the usual simple tai chow/ cafe.

How can I say no to that? :)
(Especially since I had never eaten at Prime before)

- Delicious bread and butter (complimentary):
Delicious, creative butter blends....
Apparently, they change the butter blends from time to time - that day, we were served with an interesting array: Cinnamon butter, salted butter and watercress butter. All of them were wonderfully creamy and went very well with the warm bread.

- Succulent, Grilled scallops (RM 55++):
Bouncey scallops! :D....
Simple, seared scallops that were plump and juicy. Would have loved it if there was more of that delightful smokey fragrance instead of just a hint, but otherwise, YUMs.

- Hearty soup, Lobster Bisque (RM 45++):
Good soup - my favourite comfort food....
The thin layer of puff pastry on top was so lovely (nice butter fragrance) and went well with the creamy and robust soup.
(Hmmmm... I didn't find quite as much chunks of lobster as I would have liked though, but I supposed a lot of lobster went into the boiling process to produce such a robust taste)

- Cheesy, Lobster Thermidor (RM 230++):
Messy presentation but its the taste that matters, right? :)....
Wah. Looks like a mess of cheese and shell but when you dig in, you will find a treasure trove of fresh, sweet and juicy lobster meat which is accentuated by the melted cheese.

- Mmmmmmmm, Black Angus Ribeye Steak (RM 120++):
Juicy steak....
Perfect griddle marks, juicy, fresh meat that had all the necessary beefy flavours (in a good way) - a good meal for the carnivorous like me. :)

- Decadent, Creme brulee (RM 25++):
A sweet ending....
This was not the best creme brulee I've had ever had, but it was pretty good - nice aroma from the added vanilla beans but there wasn't enough of the yummy caramelised sugar layer on top.

Overall, it was a great meal and I definitely left feeling much happier. :)

Admittedly, prices are not cheap, but with the Starwood Card "free 1 person's meal" privilege (which in this case, adds up to a 50% discount off the food), it turned out to be a reasonable price considering the ambience and the quality of the food.
(You can even play a game of "Spot the celebrity" here on most nights I think - we saw Tun Dr. Mahathir when we were there! The highlight for me however was running into a beautiful Miss J Seaton who was having a birthday dinner there with friends - *HUGS* Hope you had a fun, delicious celebration!)

So it's: Nice ambience, food is good BUT prices are expensive (unless you have the Starwood card)....

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

Prime @ Le Meridien Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

Taste: 8
Ambience : 8
Service : 7
Price** : RM 200/++ per person (unless you have a Starwood card)
Parking: OK

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 03-2263 7434
Opening Hours: 12noon - 2.30pm, 6:30pm - 10pm

NO PORK SERVED

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Masak-Masak
- Knits and Nibbles
- KampungBoyCityGal
- A Whiff Of Lemongrass

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Steak, Prime, Le Meridian Hotel, KL, Kuala Lumpur

Chateau d' Esclans Wine Pairing Dinner @ Chinoz KLCC

2011-06-21T08:12:00.000+08:00

Pink is quickly becoming my favourite colour...

This is an invited review.
(So, here are my usual disclaimers)
1) I have not been paid to write this, but neither have I paid a cent for my meal,
2) I will still be as objective as possible re. the food/ restaurant, and
3) If I go back to the restaurant incognito and find that the food/service is horribly different from this experience, I will amend my ratings here...

It is no small feat that Chinoz has been opened in Suria KLCC since the very start (1998! How time flies):
Near the main entrance of KLCC, facing the park and fountain...
So, to put it lightly, they must be doing something right all these years. :)

That night, we were seated in a nice private area inside, simple but sophisticated. I liked it, but if it was a cool night, I would have loved to sit outside and enjoy the night sky:
Private dining area - sophisticated, quiet and cosy...
The view outside...
I was there a little early, so I milled around, sipping on bubbly and was struck by how beautiful the wines are - they looked almost magical, glowing from within. When I looked at the label and read "Whispering Angel", I thought, "What a fitting name!":
An array of beautiful wines...
Gorgeous glow...
- Following a few short words from our hosts, we started off with the Asiatic Hor D'ouvres, a mix of spiced "popcorn" shrimp, "roti jala" duck and a foie gras maki:
Matched with a Chateau d' Esclans Whispering Angel
3 different types of yummy appetizers...
Look how pretty the wine is!...
All 3 parts of the starter were faultless, and I particularly enjoyed the slightly spicy and crispy bites of prawn.

I had sort of expected the pretty salmon pink wine to be overwhelmed by the spices (as my perception of rosé wines is that they are kinda weak and girly)... but I guess you should never judge a book by it's cover. :)

While it tasted refreshing because it was lightly chilled, flavour-wise the wine held its own very well, with a sophisticated mix of tastes and (again, surprisingly) medium body. It was also relatively dry as compared to the rosés I have tasted thus far.

- Black Cod with Abalone:
Matched with a Chateau d' Esclans Les Clans and a Chateau d' Esclans Les Clans Garrus
Rich tasting but full of good fish oil...
Again, the wine is just so beautifully coloured...
The different flavours of the sea, paired together and balanced with some citrus tones, turned out beautifully. Although the abalone could have been a bit more tender, it went well with the rich taste of the oily black cod.

As for the 2 wines, both went matched well with the fish - each with their own elegance and varying complexities. They were both delicious, of course,... but it was the Garrus (which is the pride of the winery) that stood out to me. It has an added depth of woodiness to the already beautifully complex bouquet, and an impressively long finish.

I really liked this wine and I wish I could describe it better... :(
Anyway, to sum it up in simple words, it was DELICIOUS, YUMMY, WONDERFUL. :)

- Sous vide Lamb Loin with Sze Zhuan Pepper:
Matched with a Chateau d' Esclans Whispering Angel Rouge
Coated with pepper - robust without being overwhelming...
Beautiful purple red hue and well rounded flavours...
The lamb was deliciously tender, robust flavours but without that horrid gamey taste that tend to affect ovine meats. This was accentuated by the well rounded red wine, with its mix of berry flavours.

- Assiette de amarillo:
Platter of different desserts...
The interesting mix of sweet, sour, moist and crunchy desserts also went down well... I love it when there is a variety of small bites to sample - just wish there was something chocolatey in the mix too.
:)

- 3 very talented and affable men:
(They are not on the menu, but definitely an important part of that night...)
A sincere love for wine makes the world a smaller, happier place, right? :)...
It was wonderful that the very experienced and passionate Gert Lehmann from Chateau D'Esclans had flown in all the way from Europe to share his knowledge and love of rosé wines with us.
(Hopefully one day I can really visit this beautiful winery, owned by the famous Sacha Lichine, in the Provence region of France)

SHOUT OUT
Thank you to:
1) Gert Lehmann from Chateau D'Esclans for his company and patience (with this girl who knows next to nothing about wines),
2) The management and chefs of Chinoz for the wonderful meal, and
3) Jonathan from Albert Wines for the kind invite! (You rock!)

BTW: If you want more details on Albert Wines (they export, wholesale and retail a wide range of spirit and alcohol brands), do check out their official website: Click here.

As for the food described here, it was specially designed to match the wines but if you want something similar, you can enquire directly with the restaurant.
(Contact details below)

Summary Sheet:

Chateau d' Esclans Wine Pairing Dinner @ Chinoz on the Park, KLCC

G47 Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur

Price** : Call restaurant to ask
Parking: OK

** Can be customised according to your event

Telephone No.: 03-2166 8277
Opening Hours: 11am - late
Parking: OK

NO PORK SERVED

MAP:

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OTHER REVIEWS:
- NST

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, French Wine, Chinoz on the Park, Suria KLCC, Chateau d' Esclans, Kuala Lumpur

The Food Studio @ Amarin Mont Kiara

2011-06-17T08:02:00.002+08:00

I add to my Skillz....

Some time ago**, I was invited for a baking class by the lovely Becky, extended from the kind people at the Food Studio.
(** An almost embarassingly long time ago lah, actually... I seriously have to concentrate on clearing my Blog post backlog....)

A fun day out, learning how to cook***, in a beautiful kitchen, taught by a very experienced Imported chef? Of course, I jumped (for joy) at the opportunity. :)
(*** A skill I am hopelessly NOT adept with)

- FRESH INGREDIENTS:
All the ingredients are prepped, ready for you to use... of course, there is still some cutting/ dicing required but its so they can teach you how to do it properly...
A small part of the ingredients provided....

- BEAUTIFUL, WELL EQUIPPED KITCHEN:
We were split into teams and each got our own kitchen station, equipped with everything you could possibly need including a fancy Electrolux oven....
Wah! I wish I had a kitchen like this....

- FRIENDLY, EXPERIENCED CHEF PAUL:
Although we were all given printed instructions, it doesn't stop there - the patient and knowledgeable Chef Paul demo-ed and guided us through, even throwing in special tips on how to make things easier/yummier....
A 5 Star chef, and such a nice guy too....

- MAGIC ON THE STOVE:
It always amazes me how certain ingredients, mixed in the right proportions and applied with some heat can produce such wondrous flavours. Here, we prepared the filling for one of the pies that was so delicious....
(A creamy leek, chicken and mushroom mix - I think it would taste glorious with some pasta, or even some rice!)
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmm. Delicious....

- A BEAUTIFUL DINING/ EVENT AREA:
Later, we waited for our pies to finish baking in the oven, and relaxed in the beautiful dining area just next to the kitchen area. There is even a nice open air area just through the glass doors, overlooking the hillside....
A nice place to enjoy the food later....
Scenic outdoor area....

- TA-DAH! MY PIES:
To put it bluntly - I kinda suck at cooking... but Chef Paul was sweet and helpful and made learning how to bake/cook very easy****. To my joy/surprise: All 3 pies I made that day actually tasted good!
:D
(**** Of course I was also very lucky to be paired up in a team with PureGlutton, who is a goddess in the kitchen...)
Left to right: Creamy Chicken and Leek Pie, Shephard's Pie and Apple Pie....
My favourite was the Shephard's Pie :D....
For cooking clases there, (Minimum Participants: 8, Maximum Participants: 12), they can teach a variety of different cuisines, in your choice of 3 different formats:
******
a) KICK-OFF DEMO
Have your very own private cooking live show by watching our talented chef prepare each dish right in front of you step by step
******
b) HANDS-ON
Change to your apron and our chef will guide you through the menu and everyone gets to feel the real deal hands on
******
c) 8 + 8 DINNER
After all courses are done, every participant can invite one guest to join and enjoy the fruits of the hard labour all together
******

They also do all sorts of Private Events (Birthday Parties, etc)/ Product Launches/ Meeting Packages - do call/email them for more details.
(Contact details at the bottom of this post)

What a fantastic day - Learnt so much and had so much fun.
(Now, all I need to do is go out and buy an oven. Lol... >.>)

Slightly more Skilled now,
J

Summary Information:;
The Food Studio @ Amarin Mont Kiara

Opening Hours: Various
Phone: +603 6205 1188
Fax: +603 6201 5128
Address: Amarin Kiara, LG 2, Jalan Desa Kiara 1, 50480 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

Email: info@the-food-studio.com
Website: Official website

NO PORK SERVED

OTHER REVIEWS:
- thenomadGourmand
- Have Your Cake and Eat It Too
- Treasure Memories
- Friedchillies

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Amarin Mont Kiara,Cooking Class,KL, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

Shake Shack @ NYC

2011-06-15T07:59:00.005+08:00

Sinking my teeth into a famous NYC burger....

*stretch*
Sorry it's been a while since my last update - have been drowning in work and Real Life since coming back from New York..

Anyway, *TAH-DAH!* This is my first NYC post. :)

One of the best guide books that my friends Josh & Pris lent me was the Zagat book - short on time and with that being my first time in NY, it was an absolute Godsend.

Of course, many restaurants in that book were completely out of my budget range/ out of the way, but I was pleasantly surprised to see a simple (almost fast food-y) and conveniently located eatery listed as one of the best burger places to visit:
Outside the Shake Shack on the Upper East Side....
Obviously, a lot of New Yorkers are also in on this fact, as Shake Shack, which has 5 branches at various locations around NYC, was PACKED:
Long line at around lunch time....
Some subsequent Googling revealed that the lines at Shake Shack are pretty infamous actually. We were pretty lucky though, since we went at a slightly off peak hour, so it didn't take too long (10mins at most) and we were given a Shake Shack Buzzer after we made our order/payment:
When it shakes, then it's your turn :)....
A short wait and a buzz later, we collected our orders. :)

Admittedly, the Single Shackburger (USD 4.50++) is not much to look at - just a simple burger, wrapped in some waxed paper:
Zero points for presentation. lol....
The taste was also very simple, but I mean this in the best way possible. :)

No fancy ingredients - lettuce, tomato slices, cheese, bun and a meat patty - same as any other burger but perfectly executed, with all the necessary parts just right: crisp, fresh, oozey, fluffy and juicy (in that order).

The star of the show was definitely the patty - freshly ground meat (a mix of sirloin and brisket), lightly charred on the outside, moist inside and fragrantly beef-y. All in all, a delicious mix of delightfully straightforward flavours.
(Yummy! And you can wash it down with an order of beer or wine - something you can't find in a Malaysian fast food joint)
:D

The Fries (USD 2.65++) were also pretty yummy - crinkle cut, fresh taters that were crisp on the outside and still fairly moist inside:
(Online reviews seem to indicate that the quality of the fries can be a bit erratic though)
Deep fried carbs are so delicious when done well....
There are also a few hot dogs on the menu - the Bird Dog (USD 4.40++) was just kinda normal though. Nothing to really fault, but it just paled in comparison to the burger:
(LOL. So cute - It's named as such because it's a chicken sausage)
Is it a bird? Is it a (hot)dog? No! It's a Bird Dog!....
I also did not really like the dessert I had - Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunchcrete (USD 6.50++):
A very sinful treat....
When I saw that it was a mix of Chocolate custard, peanut butter sauce, chocolate toffee and chocolate sprinkles, I thought it was a sure winner (since I love chocolate and peanut butter).... but this thick dessert was just way too sweet for me to really enjoy (and I don't even want to start thinking about how many calories are in it).

It makes me kinda sad just looking at these photos and thinking of New York.... I really hope I have the chance to visit it again soon.
(Here's hoping that the world doesn't really end in 2012!)

Still suffering from PHB (Post Holiday Blues),
J

So, it's: Simple, yummy burgers for fairly reasonable prices BUT limited menu and it's a popular place so be prepared to wait for a table....

Summary Information:;
Shake Shack @ NYC

Opening Hours: 11am - 11pm
Phone: +1 646 237 5035
Address: Various, but the one I went to was at 154, East 86th Street (between Lexington and 3rd Ave)
Website: Official website

MOST PROBABLY NOT HALAL

MAP:

View Larger Map

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Richard Elliot's Blog
- Runner's Kitchen
- The Sowmya Life
- Food. By Mark.
- Tripadvisor

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Hamburger, NYC, New York City, PJ, Travel, Holiday, American, Cheap Eats, USA, Kuala Lumpur

Verification

2011-06-09T20:33:00.002+08:00

Yes lah, JL. This is really my blog. :P

Your friend,
J

Goku Raku Ramen @ Midvalley Megamall, KL

2011-06-07T07:56:00.020+08:00

Just a short post: Tasty new ramen place (with a great opening promotion - 50% discount!)....

It was just another regular weekend back in KL - Tired from my recent trip, I went for a facial at my usual place in Midvalley...
(Hey, a girl's gotta try her best to maintain her looks, or whatever's left of it, right? :P)

I then made my way to FOS (luv this place for the affordable flip flops and cute tshirts!) when I stumbled across a new (non Halal) ramen place just next to it - Goku Raku Ramen, which at that time had only been opened for 2 days.

There was a short waiting list to get in, but it was managed efficiently and soon, I was seated:
Wow. There's a pretty long line outside!....
Inside, the pace was frenetic, with the wait staff zipping around trying to cope with the weekend rush of customers - kudos to them though as no matter what, they remained calm and friendly:
Modern and comfortable setting inside....
Instead of the usual gyoza, I started off with a grilled item - Yaki Tomato Maki (Cherry tomato wrapped with bacon) (RM 6.90++):
Bacon and tomatoes are such an awesome combination....
While it lacked a smokey (bbq) aroma that would have made it even yummier, this was a decent eat with the nicely charred bacon that was still moist and not too salty, matched well with the slightly tart and juicy cherry tomatoes.
(Definitely would order this again...)

There were a variety of rice dishes/sets but I thought I should try the ramens instead, since it is their speciality. Of course, their opening promotion (50% DISCOUNT ON ALL RAMENS, from 3 June till 16 June 2011) may have helped form this choice. :)
(It's such a good deal!)

I chose the recommended Goku Raku Ramen (RM 9.95++ promotion price, RM 19.90++ if at full price):
Their house speciality....
The soup is fairly thick, and was a delicious mix of pork, chicken with a hint of fish - it sounds strange but it was a delightful combination of flavours that was complex and savoury, without being overly salty or cloying:
(Apparently this is a special recipe, lovingly stewed over 48 hours, gotten from a master ramen connoisseur in Japan - Mr. Teruhisa Shimizu)
Comes with pork (chasu) slices and optional egg....
As for the ramen noodles, they are the slightly thicker kind, still with some "bounce" but definitely with more bite as compared to the usual thinner and "QQ" (bouncey/springy) type ramen.

If I had only one gripe though, is that the optional egg (RM 1++) that I ordered as a topping was moist, but did not have that semi runny yolk that I love. Still, I think I have found a new favourite ramen place....
(I just hope they are able to successfully maintain their quality - so many places seem to falter as time passes/ they open more outlets......)

So it's: Modern ambience, friendly service, good range of delicious ramens BUT nothing really bad, just that some of the prices are on the high side and traffic in the area can be bad during peak hours......

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

Goku Raku Ramen @ Midvalley KL

Lot S25 & S26, Level 2 Mid Valley City., Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Taste: 7
Ambience : 7
Service : 7
Price** : RM 38++ per person
Parking: Limited

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 03-2282 3924
Opening Hours: 11am to 10pm
Official Website: Click HERE

NOT HALAL

MAP:

View Larger Map

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Eat Drink KL
- My Chillout Lounge
- Welcome to Jerwindreams

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Goku Raku Ramen, Midvalley Megamall,Japanese, PJ, Petaling Jaya, KL, Kuala Lumpur

I'm HOME! :)

2011-06-03T09:24:00.000+08:00

... AND I'm also about neck deep in work.
=_=

Will try to update properly soon, but for now *HUGS* am happy to be back. :)
(Of course I can feel the post holiday blues setting in but well, that's normal right? *sob sob sniffle*)

RANDOM DINOSAUR PHOTO BCOS I FEEL SO TIRED FROM THE LONG FLIGHT AND I THINK MY FACE/SKIN SHOWS IT TOO :)....

Trying to kill the jetlag with caffeine,
J

PS/ 2 weeks and I managed to snap 1,284 photos! About 70% of them are of food of course. LOL.

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

Restaurant Chef Choi @ Jalan Ampang, KL

2011-05-25T07:15:00.000+08:00

An understated Chinese restaurant in the shadow of KLCC....

Oops, sorry - forgot to post this up. My article on Chef Choi came out in The Star about 2 weeks ago. :)
(Thanks for pointing it out, Kenny! *hugs*)

I’ll be the first to admit it: My parents drive me crazy sometimes, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love them.

I try my best to spend some quality time with them every week, which in the Malaysian context more often than not means making the time to have a good meal. Recently, I decided to take them to Restaurant Chef Choi, which is located in an understated two-storey building off Jalan Ampang between the MCA building and Restoren Pelita.

This restaurant is not new, having opened back in 2003, but somehow I had never got around to trying it till I was brought there recently by some foodie friends. By the way, a nice bonus is that the spacious parking lot around the restaurant is free of charge, as long as you dine there:
Outside Chef Choi: A nice bonus - the spacious FREE parking area around the restaurant....
It was quiet for a Sunday night, which made my parents panic, as they are strong believers that empty restaurants are a sure sign that there is something wrong (either not tasty/ fresh or just too expensive). I assured them that there was nothing to worry about and soon they relaxed in its comfortable, classy but unpretentious setting:
Inside Chef Choi: Classy but unpretentious setting....
Service was friendly and quick, with our mains arriving quickly - the Braised Garoupa Fish with Beancurd Rolls (RM 108++) and the Smoked Baby Pork Ribs (RM 35++):
The Garoupa Fish: Much too big for us 3 but tasted even better the next day....
The baby pork ribs: Not very big but was tender and tasty, down to the bone....
Of course I much preferred the pork ribs with its fairly tender meat steeped with a appetizing sweet, sour yet savoury flavor and enhanced by a slight smokiness. My parents preferred the fish with its uncomplicated sauce that was savoury without being too salty.

We also ordered some vegetables to balance out the meal - Fried Sliced Lotus Root with Water Chestnuts and Celery (RM 23++)
The Fried Lotus Root: A simple dish that my parents loved....
This simple dish turned out to be my parents dish of the night. Overall, its flavor was very "ching" (crisp/ clean) and there was a nice textural mix between the moistness of the different mushrooms against the crunchy lotus roots, water chesnuts and celery.

The thing about Chef Choi is that you don't necessarily need to spend a bomb to eat there. There are a variety of delicious fried noodles available at Chef Choi, with my current favourite being the Tomato Meehoon (RM 24++), which is actually not on the official menu:
The Tomato Beehoon: A "secret" item that's not on the menu!....
If you prefer the deepfried beehoon crispy, then eat it quickly, or let it rest for a while to let the sauce seep in. Either way, I find this piquant sweet and sour dish very appetising, and also love how juicy and fresh the accompanying prawns and squid is too.

We did not have any desserts that night as we were already too full by the end of the meal, but I have tried the crème brûlèe before.

It’s kinda strange to find a classic French dessert at a Chinese restaurant but they know what they are doing. The flavour of fresh vanilla beans in the cream and a not-too-thick layer of caramelised sugar make this a winning item.

The three of us had a really good time that night, and in the end my father was in such a good mood that he ended up paying, even though it was supposed to be my treat.

This was not what I had in mind, but, well, I’m not complaining. :)

So it's: Friendly service, free parking!, fairly wide range Chinese dishes ranging from the affordable to the expensive BUT nothing really bad, just that the surrounding area can be a bit jammed during peak hours......

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

Restaurant Chef Choi @ Jalan Ampang, KL

No. 159 Jalan Ampang,50450 Kuala Lumpur.

Taste: 7
Ambience : 7
Service : 8
Price** : RM 65++ per person
Parking: OK

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 03-2163 5866
Opening Hours:
Lunch: 12pm–3pm, Dinner: 6pm–10pm

NOT HALAL

MAP:

View Larger Map

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Cumi Dan Ciki
- Masak-Masak
- Eat Drink KL
- So Much Food So Little Stomach
- Bual Bual Kosong
- Jacko.my

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Jake's Charbroil Steaks, Steak house, Medan Damansara, Damansara Heights, Bukit Damansara, KL, Kuala Lumpur

Chilling in Times Square

2011-05-23T04:50:00.001+08:00

Yo! :)
It's Sunday and the place is buzzing with tourists and locals and police.

Unfortunately the weather is a bit chillier than expected (brrrrrr) but otherwise, I feel like we snagged the best seats in the place to chill n watch the sun set....
:)

Still missing you tho,
J

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

End of the world?

2011-05-21T16:20:00.003+08:00

So far I'm having the best n worst n overall, most memorable holiday moments in New York so far. :)

Miss you all (yes, you, n you n you n you *hugs*) and kinda look forward to
coming home already.

Muaks,
J

Ps/ so enjoying the food here tho! :D
(om nom nom nom nom)
(oh n hopefully the world doesn't end tomorrow
as predicted by some dooms day theorists)

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

Notice of Hiatus

2011-05-13T08:02:00.006+08:00

*J does happy-happy, holiday dance*
\o\ \o/ /o/

Guess where I'm going?:
(Here's a clue)
Yo....
It's pretty obvious, right?

Well, I've been saving up for a while now and headed to one of my top "Have To Visit Before The End of The World" destinations. So, just to let you know: I will not be updating my blog till Friday, 3rd of June 2011...

I'll try to squeeze in a few posts in this time, but only if I manage to get access to a computer. :)
(In the meantime, please don't forget about me, ok?)

Hugs,
J

PS/ Please wish me luck - a part of me is very worried of possible Al Qaeda retaliation, (following recent news on the killing of Osama Bin Laden by US forces in Pakistan)... but well, *sigh* I hope that nothing will happen....

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Personal

Rolland Collection Wine Dinner @ The Pressroom Bangsar, KL

2011-05-09T08:01:00.002+08:00

Travelling around the world, with the help of The Rolland Collection...

This is an invited review.
(Here are my usual disclaimers)
1) I have not been paid to write this, but neither have I paid a cent for my meal,
2) I will still be as objective as possible re. the food/ restaurant, and
3) If I go back to the restaurant incognito and find that the food/service is horribly different from this experience, I will amend my ratings here...

The Pressrooom is one of the newer additions to Bangsar Shopping Centre (BSC) post face-lift, offering a relatively more sophisticated European dining to the list of options:
Lush, glowing amber coloured wall...
That night, I was attending a really interesting wine pairing dinner, where the owners (, oeneologists and consultants) Michel and Dani Rolland had flown in all the way from France to share on their wines:
The beautiful, passionate Dani Rolland...

STARTER 1:
- Tian of Crabcake With Avocado & Tomatoes dressed in Cilantro Oil
Matched with a Chateau La Grande Clotte 2007 Blanc
Delicious way to start the night...

I thought the wine had a really pretty colour...
The crabcake was yummy! - moist on the inside and crumbly/crunchy on the outside, with a mild seafood flavour accented by the piquant avocado and tomato salsa.

As for the wine, it was interestingly complex for a white wine, tasted fresh and smooth but with strong and a surprisingly long finish - complemented the seafood very well.
(I don't usually favour white wines but I thought this was nice...)

STARTER 2:
- Roast Duck Spring Roll with Jackfruit Salsa, Hoisin & Lemon Dip
Matched with a Castillo Spanish Campo Alegre 2007 from Toro
An exotic concept, but needs to be tweaked...
Another delicious wine, this time from Spain...
To be fair: The wine is perfectly nice on its own, medium bodied with undertones of berries and spices (and pepper, according to Eiling, but my palate is not as good as hers when it comes to wines, I think!). Unfortunately, it was overpowered by the strong flavours of the nangka....

MAIN 1:
- Foie Gras Ravioli And Beef Consomme with Truffle Foam
Matched with a Chateau Le Bon Pasteur 2006 from Pomerol
Tasty ravioli hiding in the truffle foam...
The star wine of the Rolland Collection...
I was greedy, lamenting that the foie gras pieces weren't gigantic and that the truffle scent was a bit mild... Still, I really enjoyed this dish - a delicate balance of richness from the foie, earthiness of the truffles and savouriness from the consomme.

The wine was really nice - full bodied, robust flavours and with a strong finish but somehow not overpowering the relatively subtly flavoured food.
(This wine was rated 90 points by Wine Spectator, which as I understand it, is a pretty big deal)

PALATE CLEANSER:
- Orange sorbet
A really nice citrus sorbet...
Tell you something funny: I didn't remember the menu properly, and I thought this was the dessert! - turns out its a something a bit "atas" called a palate cleanser, where you refresh your tastebuds in between courses by (usually) having something sour.
:)

MAIN 2:
- Wagyu Cube Roll With Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Maldon Sea Salt
Also matched with a Chateau Le Bon Pasteur 2006 from Pomerol
2 slabs of wagyu, topped with some sauce...
I was a bit afraid when I initially saw the beef - it looked entirely too lightly cooked (as I usually take my steak Medium done)... but after one bite, I was SOLD... and proceeded to inhale the steak.
(Tender, juicy, beef-y in the best way possible and no "bloody" taste surprisingly)

Other than being my favourite course for the night, this was also my favourite wine pairing - I think the Pomerol really shone, with the berry flavours somehow accentuated and complemented the beef very well.

DESSERT:
- Chocolate Cigarillo with Honey Mascarpone Cream & Coffee Mocha Ice Cream
Matched with a Remhoogte 2005 from Stellenbosch South Africa
Chocolate and coffee - love this combination...
Chocolate, caramel, berries and coffee - this is a combination that I like but in this case, it was a bit too sweet for me to really enjoy.

The wine made it interesting though - beyond the medium body and fairly spicy and dry finish, the Pinotage grape in the wine gave it a nice smokey aftertaste that helped balance out the sweetness of the dessert.

The one thing I find very special about Michel and Dani Rolland is that their passion for wine is not constrained to one country or terroir... and by showcasing a selection from their wineries around the world, it kinda made me feel like they took me on a journey with them....
:)
(Definitely had a wonderful time that night)

SHOUT OUT
Thank you to:
1) Michel and Dany Rolland for coming all the way to Malaysia to share their passion for wine with us that night,
2) The management and Chef Bob of Pressroom for the wonderful meal,
3) Michelle, and everyone from Sunrise Wines for the kind invitation, and
4) My fellow diners - thanks for the wonderful company!

BTW: If you want more details on these wines (and where to get them), you can contact Sunrise Wines & Spirits, at +6012-215 4811 (mobile) or +603-6272 8288 (fax).
(Also, here is the link to the Rolland Collection website)

Summary Sheet:

Rolland Collection Wine Dinner @ The Pressroom Bangsar, KL
G110 Ground Floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre, Jalan Maarof, KL

Price** : Call restaurant to ask
Parking: OK

** Can be customised according to your event

Telephone No.: 03-2095 8098
Opening Hours: 12noon - 12midnight
Parking: OK

NO PORK SERVED

MAP:

OTHER REVIEWS:
- 3iling

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, French Wine, Rolland Collection, Wine Pairing Dinner, Pressroom, BSC, Bangsar Shopping Center, Continental

Whisk Espresso Bar and Bake Shop @ Empire Shopping Gallery

2011-05-06T08:02:00.003+08:00

Not so new cafe inside Empire Shopping Gallery :) ....

*stretch*
Work keeps me busier than I'd like...

.. so sometimes its nice to take a short break, to enjoy some coffee and some sweet nothings (or well, desserts will do too):
Small location, in Empire, next to GNC and near the supermarket....
The dining area inside was a little on the small side (cramped, even) but it had a nice charm to it, cosy and homely... I just wished the wooden stools were a bit more comfortable:
Small little black and white tiles remind me of an old restaurant....
They have an interesting range of coffees there, but the Dark Chocolate Latte (RM12) immediately caught my eye:
Smooth, creamy, chocolatey coffee....
MMMMMmm.
I am glad I chose that - it had a nice balance of coffee complemented by a creamy chocolate taste that was not too sweet. The texture of the coffee was also really nice - medium thickness and smooth.
(Would definitely order this again)

I couldn't resist the cheerful coloured Macaroons (RM18 for 10 pieces, or RM2 per piece) which came in a variety of interesting flavours like Peanut Butter, Lychee, Passion Fruit as well as classic ones like Chocolate and Vanilla:
Bite sized macaroons....
We excitedly chose a few different flavours and dug in....
... and it turns out to be just "ok" to me.
:(

The texture was decent (lightly crisp on the outside, with a layer of moist cream inside), but it was too sweet for my tastebuds. Also, I know that macarons are hard to make but they just weren't as "pretty" as I would have liked, with its slightly dimpled exterior and unsymmetrical shape.
(I really miss the macarons I ate in Paris! :( *wail*)

Their cakes are pretty famous/ popular (especially the Red Velvet and Hummingbird) so probably I'll try that the next time I drop by here for a coffee fix. :)

So it's: Casual cosy ambience, friendly service, fair range of savoury and sweet baked goods, yummy coffee BUT can be hard to find a table inside (limited seating)......

Summary Information:
Whisk @ Empire Shopping Gallery

Opening Hours: 10am till 10pm daily
Phone: +603-5022 2060
Address: LG 03A, Empire Shopping Gallery, Jalan 16/1, 47500 Subang Jaya

Map: (Below)

NO PORK SERVED

MAP:

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Simba's Bubu
- Missy Doroshi
- Cumi dan Ciki
- thenomadGourmand
- Redspec

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Bakery, Coffee, Whisk Expresso Bar And Bake Shop, Empire Shopping Gallery, KL, Kuala Lumpur

Brotzeit German Bier Bar & Restaurant @ Midvalley Megamall, KL

2011-05-03T08:24:00.004+08:00

So many forms of glorious porkiness :) ....

Yup, this is another invited review....
Sorry if seems like quite a lot lately - here are my usual disclaimers:
1) I have not been paid to write this, but neither have I paid a cent for my meal,
2) I will still be as objective as possible re. the food/ restaurant, and
3) If I go back to the restaurant incognito and find that the food/service is horribly different from this experience, I will amend my ratings here...

I'd actually been to Brotzeit before, but forgot my camera and didn't blog about it:
Felt warm and cosy inside the modern restaurant....
So, when the kind Mr WaLauWei extended an invite to try this place out (again), I just couldn't say no. :)
(Pork pork pork!)

It was a pretty massive turn out that night in the already usually packed restaurant,... but I felt comfortable in its modern, high class pub setting. :)
(Twas nice to be able to catch up with a few familiar faces as well as meet some new friends)

We started off with the Cold Platter (RM82++).....
A large serving of choice cuts....
... and the Sausage platter, served with sauerkraut (RM 78++):
If I'm not wrong, they prepare these in-house....
The hefty wooden board was stacked with a variety of quality deli meats slices, obatza cheese, eggs, pickles, etc and all tasted delicious whether eaten alone or mixed and matched....

As as for the sausages, there were 4 different types and they all tasted wonderfully meaty and fresh, balanced well with the tart but not overpowering sauerkraut.
(Loved that there was none of that horrid synthetic tasting low quality processed meat)

The highlight for me that night was the Oven-roasted Crispy Pork Knuckle served with sauerkraut and potato salad (RM85++):
(WARNING: There's limited stock daily - Best if you call ahead to book)
Porky BLISS :D....
While the meat was good (medium tenderness and well marinated), the part that really stood out to me was the awesomely crispy skin - somehow, they managed to achieve a sort of "fluffy" crunchiness that was simply addictive:
Cross section of the crispy skin....
Another favourite that night was the Cheese Spatzel (RM 34++):
Food for the soul....
Zero marks for presentation *lol*, but this carb-y, cheese-y dish was like the ultimate comfort food on a bad day. :D
(Yums - my table was extra greedy and "stole" some from a neighbouring table, since the girls did not seem to like calorific carbs)

One of the many porky options that night was the Grilled Pork Fillet Medallions wrapped in Smoked Bacon, served with fries and sautéd mixed vegetables (RM 44++):
Cute little pork fillets....
Flavourful and fairly tender, with a nice extra oomph from the added bacon - it was a pretty good eat and I could see why this is a popular order at that restaurant.

If you wanted something healthier though, you could go for the Mozzarella cheese salad (RM42++) instead - fragrant rocket leaves matched with fresh buffalo mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, pesto sauce, and extra virgin olive oil. All in all a refreshing, delicious combination of tastes and textures:
A salad to balance the sin? :)....
Yet another favourite was the crispy Ham pizza (RM 32++):
Love well executed thin crust pizzas....
The fairly thin pizza base was perfectly crunchy (not starchy - yay!), and piled with enough ham, cheese, olives, onions and capsicum to make it a delightfully savoury eat.

I don't know how we managed but we also managed to fit in a couple of desserts - the Apple Strudel, served with vanilla ice cream (RM 22++):
A classic dessert....
... Bavarian vanilla cream, with chocolate sauce and almonds (RM 12++)
Smooth creamy dessert....
... and Vanilla Cream with pumpkin seed oil and almond flakes (RM 16++):
Another creamy option....
All 3 desserts were nice, depending on what you prefer - the Apple Strudel was tart and fruity while the Bavarian Vanilla Cream and Vanilla Cream with Pumpkin Seed Oil were relatively more creamy and decadent.

Needless to say, I had a wonderful time dining there. :) Thanks to:
- the talented chef and management of Brotzeit for having us there,
- the wonderful Jason for extending the invite, and
- to all my fellow diners for making the night even more fun.

So it's: Cosy, modern ambience, friendly service, good range of porky food and AWESOME crispy pork kunckle BUT nothing really bad, just that some of the prices are on the high side and traffic in the area can be bad during peak hours......

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

Brotzeit German Bier Bar & Restaurant @ Midvalley Megamall, KL

Lot GE(018) Mid Valley Megamall, Lingkaran Syed Putra, 59200 Kuala Lumpur

Taste: 7
Ambience : 7
Service : 7
Price** : RM 70++ per person
Parking: Limited

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 03-2287 5516
Opening Hours: 11am to late
Official Website: Click HERE

NOT HALAL

MAP:

View Larger Map

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Marcky.my
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TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Brotzeit Bier Bar and Restaurant, Midvalley Megamall,German, PJ, Petaling Jaya, KL, Kuala Lumpur

New Hilton KL Website

2011-04-29T08:08:00.019+08:00

New lessons learnt :) ....

I learnt a few new things last week, when I went to the KL Hilton.

1) They have a gorgeous, intimate function room on the 7th Floor, called Level7even:
Peering into one of the small but very nice function/ meeting rooms....
The cosy seating area outside - I wish my living room looked like this!....

2) The KL Hilton's nibbles are yummy! :D
Among all the canapes, the beef cubes were to die for :D....

3) This established international hotel is constantly trying to improve itself along with the changing times - now launching a new website geared towards food & beverage promotions, exclusive functions, weddings, behind-the-scenes scoops, celebrity sightings, interviews with guest chefs and more - aptly named life.hiltonkl.com:
Screenshot of the website....
To add to the excitement of this website launch, they are running a fairly easy contest.

There are so many tempting prizes, but WAH, the Grand Prize really caught my eye:
- 2 days 1 night stay at Grand Executive Suite with breakfast for 2,
- Senses dining voucher worth RM 500 nett (excluding beverages) for 2, AND
- Recovery Massage for 2 worth RM 220 (each) at The Spa & Gym (60 minutes per session).

Anyway, hope you have fun exploring the website, and good luck with the contest! :)

Hugs,
J

PS/
Thanks so much to Karen and Bel for inviting me - It was very interesting to find out more about this. :)

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, New Website, PJ, KL Hilton Hotel, Contest, KL, Kuala Lumpur