Fogals aka The Blue Cow

Same same but different :).......

Fogal's has always been one of my favourite places in Plaza Damas to go to for a simple but hearty yummy meal (except the desserts, which have never impressed) so I was pretty sad when I heard that it closed down! :(

Thankfully it turned out to be (most probably) a case of twisted rumours - all that happened was that Fogal's had changed its name to The Blue Cow:
Clockwise from top: Outside the Blue Cow.....
Otherwise, the concept and menu remains the same (with the addition of a few new items) - a quality butcher shop which also serves simple yummy meaty meals. :)

One of the new additions is the Spicy Tomato Soup (around RM12? Darn it lost the receipt AGAIN):
Clockwise from top: Yum! The Spicy Tomato Soup.....
Maybe it's an effort to "lighten" up their heavy menu items but I LOVE IT. It has great consistency - not too light yet not too thick, robust flavour, with little bits of bacon to chew on, and a nice spicy kick to make this simple soup special.

As I felt like something lighter for lunch, I tried their B.E.L.T sandwich (about RM16?):
A nice B.E.L.T sandwich (Bacon, Egg, Lettuce, Tomato).....
Overall, it was not bad - a generous portion of bacon, egg, lettuce and tomato made this a pretty filling meal overall.

Overall: Good quality butcher that also serves simple yummy meaty meals in a casual cafe setting BUT (not in this review, but I have eaten here often enough) desserts are not that nice and beef is a bit iffy (although the pork and sausages are always nice)

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

The Blue Cow (formerly known as Fogal's) @ Plaza Damas, Hartamas, KL

Taste: 6
Ambience : 6
Service : 6
Price** : RM50/++
Parking: OK
** Approximation - Per person, 3 course meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 03-6201 3206
Opening Hours: 8am - 10pm

COMPLETELY NOT HALAL

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Mouthwatering Food
- Always and Forever
- La Dolce Vita
- Lots of Cravings
- A Whiff of Lemongrass
- Kampung Kayell
- Ah Mok


TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, Hartamas, Fogal's, Butcher, Blue Cow, Pork, Plaza Damas

A Penny For Your Thoughts

I was just mulling over an interesting question I got recently:
"Why are your food photos so small ah?"

My idea was to have small clickable photos that make the page load faster, with the option of a bigger close up when you click on the photo of your choice....

... but: What do you think?
:)


Your opinions are valued,
(by) J

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

Leonardo's @ Jalan Bangkung

A long overdue review on an interesting new non-Halal Italian restaurant in the Bangkung area....

[ BEGIN EDIT ]
(Oct 2009 July 2010)

I've been back to Leonardo's a couple of times already and I'm happy to say that the food is (mostly) still good, and the cocktails are good too. :)

Please heed this warning though: Do not risk walking in without a booking (at least 3 days in advance for Fri/ Sat). Leonardo's is getting increasingly popular, especially with small corporate/ personal events so they are fully booked quite often nowadays....

You have been warned! :)

Hugs,
J

[ END EDIT ]

Note: I was at Leonardo's for a Nibbleish.com food tasting so this is not one of my normal reviews (as in, I didn't pay for any of the food)... but hope you trust that my opinions are objective. :)

Also, there are no prices attached to the dishes because it is an interesting new concept where you can pay a one discounted price to have a 3 course meal at 3 restaurants. Sounds interesting, right? - More details at Nibbleish.com or here.

Anyway, onwards to the review:

Leonardo’s is fairly new (about 6 months' old) and has taken over the Attic’s location in Jalan Bangkung:
Step up to Leonardo's....
They have a much warmer (romantic even) feel across the 2 levels:
- The upstairs area (2nd floor) is more of a cool bar/ lounge area, where you can drink, munch and chat with your friends, while,
- The lower area (1st floor) is the main dining area, with a choice of indoor or outdoor dining:
Leonardo's interior: Level 1 indoor and outdoor dining areas....
First up, for the night, was the complimentary bread... which I fell in love with. :) Crunchy and light, with a deliciously creamy mushroom topping – Perfection!:
Yummy, yummy bread... *drool*....
I had to tear myself away from the bread and move on to the "official" food. For the starters, there were 3 options for the night - the Cured Salmon Carpaccio, Waldorf Salad and Italian Sausages & Onions:

Clockwise from top left: The Salmon Carpacio & Waldorf Salad, close up of the Salmon Carpaccio and the Sausages....
I am largely a carnivore, so I really enjoyed the Italian sausages with its simple but robust tomato based sauce. Still, the other starters were nice too:
- the Salmon Carpacio served with fennel parsley orange salad and campari dressing was piquant and refreshing, whilst
- the Waldorf Salad was ok (chunky bits of crunchy apples, sengkuang, walnuts balanced with juicy grapes, creamy cheese and dressing).... Definitely an interesting textural mix (but like I said, I'm really more of a carnivore).

Before the mains, we were served a Virgin Margarita:
A virgin at our table....
I was surprised - despite the lack of alcohol, the margarita turned out to be a welcome addition to the meal, refreshing and not too sweet.

Moving on to the mains, we had the Miso Glazed Salmon, Spaghetti Vongole and Grilled Pork Chops with Strawberries:

Clockwise from top left: The Spaghetti, the Salmon and the Pork Chops...
My favourite for the night is a toss up between the Miso Glazed Salmon and the Spaghetti Vongole:
- the Salmon was PERFECTLY cooked - juicy and flavourful, matched well with the miso glaze, sweet potato mash and topped with 2 strips of crispy bacon. :)
- the Spaghetti was fusion at it's best - the classic vongole jazzed up with a generous amount of fragrant bunga kantan and some cili padi for kicks. YUM.
(UPDATE: I've gone back to Leonardo's recently and tried tha Vongole again and good news! It's still good.... )

As for the Pork Chops, I'm a bit conflicted. I liked the interesting pairing with the strawberries and balsamic reduction,... but the meat was a wee bit dry (the chef explained that he was trying to keep it healthier with a leaner cut of meat - which he says he will probably change now).

Lastly, for dessert, we were served Affogato, Tiramisu and Waffles a la mode:

Clockwise from top left: The tiramisu, affogato and waffles....
Honestly, by this time I was already so so stuffed... but thank God I have a separate stomach for desserts... Haha....

Anyway, all 3 desserts were ok - simple and light (although I would have preferred if the waffles had been crispier).

Overall, a fun night! Food was nice (although a few things could have been better), and it was made even better by excellent company - You know who you are, dahlings... ;)

Overall: Interesting porky fusion/ Italian restaurant in the Bangkung area with a nice ambience and friendly service BUT nothing bad to comment - I have to go back and try it in a normal (non food tasting setting) to get a better feel of the place though.


*TA DAH!*
Here's Master Baker FBB's review of Leonardo's: CLICK HERE

Summary Sheet:

Leonardo’s @ Jalan Bangkung, Bangsar

Taste: 6
Ambience : 6
Service : 7
Price** : RM ?? per person
Parking: OK (It's Bangsar after all)

Telephone No.: 03-2096 2226
Opening Hours: 5pm till late
Parking : OK

** Re. the Price: Sorry - like I said, I didn't pay that night. If I had to guess though it would starting from RM80 per person for a 3 course meal, without the Nibbleish.com package.
(Nibbleish.com package is RM70 flat for the Bangkung area)


TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Bar, Restaurant, Cocktails, Alcohol, Bar, Lounge, Bangsar, Jalan Bangkung, Pork, Leonardo

No Photos, Just Lotsa Appreciation :)

I was a bad (food)blogger and did not take any photos that day, but just wanted to say:
THANKS MR FAT BOY (hee hee)! You're the best! :)

To FBB:
Seriously, one could not ask for a better, more generous host. :) :)

It was really nice for you to have extended the invitation, so that I can finally come out of hiding and meet everyone. I really had a lot of fun and am definitely looking forward to the next round.
(Sorry I left so early - my bad! I will know better than to set any appointments anytime within 10 hours of the next party....)


To all the other beautiful people at the party:
Was great finally meeting all of you. You are all such darlings! - so warm, and wonderfully accepting of this newcomer....
... although I must say, it was pretty intimidating to be surrounded by so many great chefs, bakers and food connoisseurs...
(Especially Mr Cordon Bleu)
(Shy lerrr. I only know how to eat. Am hopeless at actually cooking anything)

I think I probably consumed about 20,000 calories of food (yummy crispy siu yoke, pie, lamb, duck, cake(s)).. washed down with another 20,000 calories worth of white wine and single malt whiskey but it was well worth it. :)



BIG HUGS ALL AROUND,
J

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

A Gastronomical Adventure, by Nibbleish

I don’t usually go for free food tastings… but it’s such an interesting concept! - a KL Food Crawl – sounds cool, right?....

Seriously - I hate accepting free food from restaurants...
(You'll have to take my word on this)
1) They know you're coming (and I feel that they can possibly pay an unfair amount of attention on you/ the food)
2) I have this strange notion that you cannot truly appreciate the price vs taste unless you actually pay for it with your own money (which is probably why I'm so broke after 3 years of food reviewing *sigh*)

(Anyway, enough about me and my strange way of thinking)

However, when I heard from the people behind Nibbleish.com that they were bringing a new "food crawl" / "food safari" concept to KL, I couldn't resist participating in their food tasting to find out more....




Take a bite....
Basically, the idea is that you can have a (sort of) food adventure - testing out 3 different restaurants in the same area (guaranteed to be =< 5 minutes walking distance) - one place for your starter, another for your main and a third place for your dessert.... And it's at a discounted price too. :)

All you have to do is :
1) go to their website,
2) choose the date and restaurant combination you want for your starter, main, dessert (eg. Flam, Le Bouchon & Bermuda Combo Tour)
3) pay online (prices are discounted! Approx 30% cheaper than normal, prices start from RM 50+),
4) print out your "ticket",
5) turn up at the right restaurant with your ticket on the right date,
5a) Starters 7.00 pm - 8.30 pm
5b) Main course 8.00 pm - 9.30 pm
5c) Desserts 9.30 pm till late
... and lastly...
6) MAKAN! :)

Menus are supposed to be changed fairly frequently (weekly?) but there are some restaurant menu highlights online for you to browse through.

So far, they only have a fairly short list of restaurants in the the Jalan Bangkung, Bangsar and Changkat Bukit Bintang, KL areas but I'm sure they will expand the list soon.
Restaurant listing:
- Changkat Bukit Bintang: (22 March - 30 April 2009)
Palate Pallete (No pork), Flams (No pork), Le Bouchon (No pork), Delucca (No pork), Bermuda & Onion (Non Halal),
- Jalan Bangkung (01 - 30 April 2009)
Cava (No pork), Tea For Two (No pork), Tasting Room (No pork), Tasting Room (No pork), U Restaurant (No pork), Leonardo's (Non Halal)

So, what's in it for you? :
1) Discounted prices for full sized meals (approx 30% discount!)
2) The fun of trying out 3 different restaurants (all within walking distance) in one night

But what's the catch lah? :
Nothing.
Except that if you are looking to sit down and relax at one restaurant the whole night (ie. not feeling adventurous) then this is not for you. Oh, and they don't have this deal on every single night - only on Sundays to Thursdays.

Overall: Interesting concept of a food safari, discounted prices for full sized meals at established/ new restaurants in Bangsar and KL (the 3 course package price starts from about RM50+!), fuss free online booking+payment system BUT only available on off peak nights (Sunday to Thursday)... I can’t think of anything else negative - I’m just a little worried about the ability of the restaurants to cope well to this new concept, but I’ll update on that after I try it out…

Links to some of the Jalan Bangkung restaurant options:
1) Tasting Room review @ Cumi & Ciki
2) Tea For Two review @ Cumi & Ciki
3) Leonardo's review @ Fat Boy Bakes
4) Tasting Room review @ Julian Si
5) My Leonardo's review (coming soon - sorry! FINALLY done...)

Another great thing about the food tasting that night (other than the exciting new concept) was that I got to meet up with some really delightful people - especially fellow food bloggers, Mr. "Super Baker" FBB and Miss "Hot Stuff" Ciki. :)
(Sorry, Jules, since I already know you, it wasn't so special to meet you there :P)

Was so nice to meet you babes! :) Let's go makan again soon, k?


All of us at Leonardo's
(Photo brazenly stolen from Julian Si's site btw - "Teruk lah u, Jules - u know I don't like my photo posted online and you never even asked first... Anyway, the damage is done.... So I have stolen and pasted your photo here too")....

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant, Fusion, Leonardo, Nibbleish, KL Food Safari, Bangsar, Changkat Bukit Bintang, Jalan Bangkung, Pork

Cuisine Studio @ Tropicana

Cosy French restaurant tucked in a corner of Tropicana....

DISCLAIMER: I lost the receipt so prices are just a stab in the dark of what I roughly remember.
(Sorry.....)

I had been meaning to check out Cuisine Studio for the longest time but more than a year passed before we ventured to this cosy little French restaurant (opened and run by French chefs) in the Tropicana Golf Club:

Inside, there is a small(-ish) area for dining, some specialty products (gourmet sausages, home made jams, etc) and a larger section next door where they hold their cooking classes:
Inside Cuisine Studio.....
That night we started off with the Mussels, cooked with sea water (?) and white wine (about RM 45++):
I heart mussels.....
Wah. So fresh.
(But not cheap lorrr)
According to the wait staff, fresh batches of mussels are flown in every Thursday from New Zealand. They were undoubtably fresh, but I found that the broth of sea water (?) and white wine was a little too salty for my taste buds. Overall, Ok.

Next up, the Escargot (about RM 25++):
Go, go escargot!.....
Yum. The escargot wasn't super tender (which I have been told, is a sign that the are probably freshly prepared and not the canned variety) but the sauce was delicious - tasty, yet not too overpowering.

As for the mains, we tried 3 of their specialties - The Braised Lamb Shank (about RM 50++), the Duck Cassoulet (about RM 60++) and the Spicy Sausage Pasta (about RM 30++):

Clockwise from top: Braised Lamb Shank, Duck Cassoulet and Spicy Sausage Pasta.....
- Lamb Shank: This was my favourite for the night. A tender, lovingly braised hunk of lamb smothered in a delicious yet delicate sauce which complemented the flavour of the lamb very well. *drool*
- Duck Cassoulet: Ok - simple flavours, tender duck served with pieces of home made sausage and a heap of stewed beans (May be a bad thing, if you don't like beans though)
- Spicy Sausage Pasta: Not bad - it's a great dish to choose if you feel like having some unpretentious comfort food. Al dente pasta, coated with a chunky tomato based sauce and a generous amount of home made sausages.

So, it's: Cosy, unpretentious restaurant-specialty store-cooking school with yummy, fresh, lovingly prepared classic French dishes BUT slightly limited menu and a little expensive (for the normal layperson like me, so it's more of a special occasion place)...

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

Cuisine Studio @ Palm New Wing, Tropicana Golf & Country Club

Taste: 7
Ambience : 6
Service : 6
Price** : RM80/++
Parking: OK (but if there’s a wedding/ function going on then good luck to you)
** Approximation - Per person, 3 course meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 03-7805 3088
Opening Hours: 11am - 10pm

NO PORK SERVED

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Masak-Masak
- Food 4 Thot
- Eat Drink KL


TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, PJ, Petaling Jaya, French, Cuisine Studio, Tropicana Golf And Country Club

Sweet Nothings

I HAVE SURVIVED VALENTINE'S DAY!
:) :) :)

This year was fun (but tiring) actually: Made a weekend trip down to Singapore with a couple of good friends. Of course, our darling Singaporean friends were perfect hosts as usual - bringing us for round after round of good makan (which of course is made nicer by good company).

THANKS GUYS! You're the best! *hugs*

One of the more interesting places they brought us to was the Island Creamery in Serene Centre. It has a really cosy, "neighbourhood cafe" feel to it - simple but comfortable, and looks like its really popular (especially with students) because it was PACKED.
(It's also really cute : they have a small corner for kids to play, with plenty of crayons and paper for them to draw with)
Island Cafe stickers!....
The prices are pretty affordable (by Singaporean standards - don't convert to Ringgit, ok?) : SGD 2.50 for 1 scoop, SGD 4 for 2 scoops. The thing that makes them special though is that other than the usual range of flavours (chocolate, vanilla, strawberry), they have a very interesing selection of flavours like Teh Tarik and Pulut Hitam:
Clockwise from top: Teh Tarik, Pulut Hitam, Strawberry and Revers-O....
Overall, I really liked all the flavours that we tried that day:
- Teh Tarik : Smooth, slightly milky, with a decent of tea laced in (not to sweet, and also not too bitter)
- Pulut Hitam : Rich, with bits of rice which gave it a nice bite
- Strawberry : Simple, creamy vanilla with fresh bits of strawberry
- Revers-O : A chocoholic's dream! Decadent chocolate ice cream with bits of chocolate cookies

YUM. Can't wait to go again and try out some of the other flavours....
:)

So, it's: Cute, cosy (and incredibly popular) cafe serving yummy freshly made ice creams in a variety of interesting flavours and family friendly as it has a small corner for kids to play BUT it can get a bit noisy and cramped (seems this is a popular hangout for school kids)....

Summary Information:
Island Creamery @ Serene Centre, Singapore

Opening Hours: 11am till 10pm.
Phone: +65 6468 8859
Address: Serene Centre, 10, Jalan Serene, Singapore 258748
Map: CLICK HERE

NO PORK SERVED

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, Serene Centre, Island Creamery, Home Made Ice Cream, Dessert, Singapore

Mini Update : Mizu @ Bangsar Village

OMG.
This is such a super mini update (no photos too - sorry) but I am completely in love with the appetizer that came with my Tempura Set (RM 68++) last night.
*DROOL*

The Tempura Set itself was ok (not bad lah - crispy batter, 3 well sized prawns (which is unusually generous) and a good variety of vegs) but the appetizer blew me away - a rich, melt in your mouth, succulent slab of foie gras matched with the delicate flavour of the stewed white radish. PERFECTION. :) :)
(I think it's just about as good as it's equivalent at Zipangu)

I realise there are certain ethical issues regarding foie gras.... but it just tastes so good!! :(

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

Mizu Japanese Fine Dining @ Bangsar Village

Taste: 7
Ambience : 6
Service : 5
Price** : RM 70/++ per person
Parking: OK but Quite Pricey (It's Bangsar after all)
** Approximation - 1 hearty bento/ set meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 603 - 2283 6988
Opening Hours: 11am - late

NO PORK SERVED

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Masak-Masak
- The Makan Sisters
- A Whiff Of Lemongrass
- Wai Sik Kai
- Perpetual Tockism
- iThink


TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, BV, Bangsar Village Shopping Center, Mizu, Japanese, Kuala Lumpur

Jones The Grocer

Nice concept restaurant + upmarket grocery store in the cool Dempsey area, Singapore....

An update! *ta-da!*
:)
It's not a new restaurant in Malaysia though.... but if you are in Singapore, here's an interesting restaurant to try out in the "happening" Dempsey area.

While visiting my dear friend C L (finally! after she complained for many years that we have "forgotten" her since she started working in Singapore), she brought us to a lovely place, called Jones, to have a lazy Sunday brunch.
Jones the Grocer from afar....
Jones The Grocer is part of an Aussie concept restaurant/ specialty grocery chain and has a casual yet stylish setting which I really liked. A downside was that it is wildly popular for Sunday brunch and was super packed - so it was difficult to find a table AND it didn't help that the staff were sort of young and disorganized *sigh*:
Dine inside or outside? Hmmmm....
Anyway, we eventually found a table outside and proceeded to order the delicious sounding Classic English Breakfast (about SGD 16) and a freshly squeezed orange juice (about SGD 4):
The English Breakfast and the OJ....
Overall, the breakfast and juice was quite nice :
- fresh toasted bread (yum!) served with
- eggs (I chose scrambled - yummy!),
- sausages (Ok only - texture was a bit dry),
- grilled tomato,
- mushrooms (also yummy) and
- bacon (also ok only - wasn't crispy enough)...

I actually feel that the breakfast at Fogal's (in Plaza Damas, Hartamas, KL) is much nicer as the meats there are tastier... but the ambience at Jones won me over. :) There's just something about the tree lined, low density Dempsey area that is really special.
(If only the food tasted better - it would be such a nice place!)

Other than serving food, Jones also has a wide array of specialty foods : anything from tea, biscuits, jams, sausages, pasta, cheese to wine:
Lots of freshly baked goodies and specialty products to choose from....
All in all, I'd definitely return to Jones despite the only ok tasting food (or until I find another place like it which serves nicer food in Singapore anyway) - Call me a fool but I just really like the ambience there! :)


So, it's: Interesting concept restaurant with a nice ambience and cool specialty grocery shop attached BUT food is only ok, slightly overpriced and service could have been better....

Summary Information:
Jones The Grocer @ Dempsey Road, Singapore

Opening Hours: 9.30am till 11pm.
Phone: +65 6476 1512
Address: Blk 9 #01–12, Dempsey Road, Singapore 249679.

NOT HALAL

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Passing Momentos
- The Local King


TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, Dempsey Road, Jones The Grocer, Western, Singapore

Warning: Toxic Waste

*sigh*
What's with people nowadays?

I mean, I believe that everyone has a right to their own opinion.... but I have found out that my blog (and I) had been given an absolutely damning description of:
"A worthless BLOG, seems it was created by scum dwarf of an ugly bitch in Malaysia, but WTF do you expect from a Muslim .......

http://chocoholicmemoirs.blogspot.com

Horrible, very anti white, very anti American, very pro Islam.
Ramblings of a distrurbed female mind who seems to be eating chocolate while on the rag" at this website.

Actually, it's almost funny now that I read it again... but it really makes me wonder why there is so much hatred in the world (UNPROVOKED hatred at that).
(And why is it that so many people assume that all Malaysians are Muslim?)


Amused yet pertubed,
J the Chocoholic

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

Bits and Pieces

A 2 in 1 deal...

[ BEGIN EDIT ]
(May 2009)

Added a photo and food prices to the Sid's review. :)

[ END EDIT ]

Question: Do you trust my taste? :)
If your answer is "Yes" - please accept these small photo-less reviews of places that I have tried recently that are nice:

1) Sid's Pub @ TTDI (Non-Halal)

This cosy neighbourhood drinking hole is styled in the manner of a traditional English pub, just up the road from the Boat House in the Taman Tun Dr Ismail area. It's one of the few places that serves Guiness (RM20+ a pint only!) and cider on tap, and all at a fairly reasonable price too. :)
(The wait staff are friendly too so that's definitely a plus)

Do not miss out on the:
1) Starters:
- Pigs in a blanket, RM16+:
Gourmet cocktail sausages, wrapped with crispy bacon. A good as a snack to go with beer,
- Pork Ribs, RM20+
Yummy! Moderately tender and deliciously well marinated - supposed to be a starter but it's big enough to be a main for me.

2) Mains:
- Sunday Roast, RM35+
Tasted ok. Hefty plate with a bit of everything (beef/lamb/ etc) - could have been more tender but otherwise ok.

[ BEGIN EDIT ]

Apparently me and Jo go to Sid's often enough for the waiter/ manager there to think that our one week away is "a long time". Haha....
("Where have you girls been? Haven't seen you for so long"...)

The Steak, Cheese & Onions at Sids - No frills and fancy decorations, just simple but yummy pub fare........
Anyway, just FYI:
- the fish & chips, RM32+, there is ok (although I still think it's a waste of a good piece of cod to deep fry it!),
- the burger, RM18+, is not bad served with their sinfully delicious chips (I like that the burger patty is fairly juicy and tastes fresh),
- the steak, cheese and onions (RM16+), moderately tender slice of steak topped with a generous amount of cheese and pan fried onions on a slightly crisp bun - strangely I know it's not all that special but I really like this,
- the desserts are not that great (very normal), and
- if you find the Snakebite, RM25+, (apple cider mixed with Ribena) a little too sweet then you can ask for "kurang manis" (I think it's nicer that way actually).
:)

Cheerio,
J

[ END EDIT ]

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

Sid's @ TTDI, KL

Taste: 7
Ambience : 6
Service : 7
Price** : RM 50/++ per person
Parking: OK on weekends, Difficult during working hours

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 03-7727 7437 (New Bangsar South outlet: 03-2287 7437)

Opening Hours: 12pm till late

NOT HALAL

OTHER REVIEWS:
- A Whiff Of Lemongrass
- KY Speaks
- Kimberly Cun
- Mouthwatering Food


2) Marketplace @ off Jalan Yap Kwan Seng (No Pork served)

This romantic restaurant set in a bungalow off Jalan Yap Kwan Seng (on the same road as Sassorosso). They serve beautifully presented fusion western food in the dining area, and turns into a pretty cool looking bar/ club at night. Prices are definitely on the high side but the food is good (Nice place for a date).

Do not miss out on the:
1) Starters:
- Mushroom soup (Such a small serving but so luxuriously delicious!),

2) Mains:
- Amuse bouche (Interesting concept - a selection of a few small and beautifully presented dishes for a light yet delicious meal. There are about 5 variations to choose from),
- Grilled lamb cutlets (Yum yum. Juicy and tasty. Would have loved if the serving was bigger though)

3) Dessert:
- Chocolate mousse (Nice texture and taste but Pat would have preferred it without the topping of passionfruit sauce, although I thought it was ok)

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

Marketplace @ off Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, KL

Taste: 7
Ambience : 7
Service : 6
Price** : RM 100/++ per person
Parking: OK on weekends, Difficult during working hours

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 03-2166 0750
Website: Marketplacekl.com
Opening Hours: Mon to Fri - 12pm till late, Weekends - 6pm till late

NO PORK SERVED

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Alan's Makan & Makan Angin


Hopefully I will upgrade these to proper reviews one day.... Sorry about the current photoless-ness. :) But like I said, if you trust my taste (and are looking for new places to try out) then you can consider these 2 restaurants.


Hugs,
J

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, TTDI, English Pub, Marketplace, Sid's Place, KL, Kuala Lumpur

Mo' Emo

.....

Fickle heart,
Evil heart,
You want, you yearn,
Without discern.

At times I wish to tear you out,
To live my life without your clout.


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

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back...

How weak the human heart can be.....

Ok.
So apparently I'm not as ok as I thought after my breakup.

Good:
1) Stopped my excessive boozing,
2) Started going back to the gym,
3) Trying to start dating again, and
4) Generally keeping busy.

Bad:
1) I am still not even close to actually feeling happy again.

It's terrible.
I am trying so hard to tell myself : "It's ok. Sadness/ Happiness is a choice. You can choose!"... but all that happens is that I end up:
a) best case scenario: numb, when successful, or
b) when I fail: still feeling sad.


I know this a pointless emo rant (which is far, far, faaaar from being a food review) but I just needed to let it out. Oh, and you know how sometimes you hear a song on the radio and think : "OMG. That's exactly how I feel?". Yeah, I found it:


Bloody hell.
*sigh*

J

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

My Kingdom For A Flu Cure

Bmy NDose iz Blocked.....

Hi.
*sniffle*

Just so you know: I am still alive... Have been having a run of bad luck lately (of which one of the highlights was falling sick during the Hari Raya holidays *sigh*) but I have sort of survived.


Hugs,
J

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

I Love Bubbles

Please sir, can I have some more?.........

[ BEGIN EDIT ]
(June 2009)

Despite being so expensive (and the supposed** worldwide recession), this brunch buffet is extremely popular. So please make your bookings at least 2 weeks ahead to avoid disappointment (especially if you plan to go in a big group).

** It's not that I'm trying to make a joke of it, but I am perplexed by how many people are still shopping so much (from my last visits to One Utama / Midvalley)...

PS:
(as at Jan 2010) I've heard that the price has gone up, again, to RM228++.
Happy New Year. =_=

[ END EDIT ]


What would I do if I had RM 198++ RM 228++ to spare?

If you asked me before, I may have named a couple of things I'd like to do like go for a massage... or maybe buy a new pair of shoes.... but now, I know for sure that I'd happily blow all that cash on the Sunday Bubbly Buffet Brunch at the Westin Hotel...
(*hic*)

I know, I know - It's definately a lot of money but not only is there free flow of champagne (Laurent Perrier!), wine (red & white), appletinis (yummy), etc, there's also a seemingly endless flow of freshly made pastas, pizzas and other Italian specialties....
(And mind you, the food is actually good! - unlike many other buffets)

They even have GIANT bottles of champagne ready for alcoholics like me... *grin*:
Wah - so BIG!.....
The 3 hours (11.30am to 2.30pm) that I spent there was heaven. The staff there were very attentive and it was almost like my champagne glass was bewitched! - Everytime I turned around, it was magically refilled! :) :) :)

Needless to say, the price is extremely painful to the average wallet (like mine, although I didn't pay that day - thanks R! You're such a darling)... but I will be counting the days till I can afford to go there again.

So, it's: Wonderful combination of delicious Italian food and free flow of yummy champagne and other alcoholic beverages BUT it's SOooooooo expensive :(.....

Summary Information:
Sunday Bubbly Brunch @ Prego, Westin Hotel, KL

Opening Hours: 11.30am till 2.30pm
Price: RM 198 228++ per person
Phone: 03-2773 8338
Address: 1st Floor, Prego, Westin Hotel, Jalan Bukit Bintang, KL, Malaysia.

NO PORK SERVED

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Sweets For My Sweet Tooth
- Cooking Up A Storm

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Pavilion Shopping Center, Pavillion, Westin Hotel, Italian,Buffet, Prego, Champagne, KL, Kuala Lumpur

Another Day, Another Disappointment

RESULTS! WHERE ARE MY RESULTS??.....

BAH.
I've been working hard at the gym over the last (more or less) 2 months... and I don't see any results.... :(

Well,... I see a eencey weencey bit of difference - my thighs seem to be slightly less blobby than usual (or is it my imagination??) and my arms are a bit smaller than before (I think....).

But if my clothes are still as tight as ever then it can't be such a big difference, can it? *le sigh*

Well, at the very least, it's a comfort to know that I can almost survive one of those intense one hour gym classes now.... as opposed to my condition when I first started going back to the gym: feeling like I was going to DIE after just 15 minutes.

Other than the gym, things are picking up at work so I've been pretty busy...
(I still miss my old office and colleagues a LOT though.... I guess they've really left a mark on me)

I know my (food) updates are still sparse, but *guilty grin* it's still better than the long period of emo posts and the subsequent semi-hiatus, right? :)


Hugs,
J

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

Kissaten @ Jaya 1

Fusion Japanese restaurant in the new Jaya 1 complex....

Hey everyone, I'm back! :)
(More or less)

This time, let's have a look at a new Japanese restaurant/ cafe in the up and coming food glutton haven, Jaya 1 in the PJ area.
(FYI: (For those who were wondering) Kissaten means "old style Japanese coffee shop")

The Dinner

Overall, I liked the design of Kissaten, which was very "light" and modern.

If I had one gripe though it would be that the outside seating area doesn't seem to be sectioned off so you get many people walking to and fro.
(Not a BIG issue - but still, better to avoid the outside seating if you are trying to have a romantic date):
Looking into Kissaten from the outside seating area.....
As we browsed through the menu, we couldn't help but wonder: "Wah - Why so many different types of food wan?".

It's not that there is a huge variety of items but there seems to be a strange mix of a couple of classic Japanese dishes (eg. Chashu Ramen, Sashimi), Fusion Japanese (eg. Japanese style pizzas and pastas) as well as some Local Food (eg. Lam Mee, Ipoh Horr Fun).
(Hmmm... a bit of an identity crisis I think... Haha)

Anyway, we eventually decided to try out the interestingly named Springy Balls (RM 8.90++) and Cheese Balls (RM 5.90++):

Top: The Springy Balls,
Bottom: The Cheese Balls.....
We were off on a bad start that night because both appetizers were not very nice:
- the Springy balls' texture were (as described), springy but it tasted very normal in it's "Ipoh Sah Horr Fun" soup gravy,
- the Cheese balls were a starchy, gloopy disappointment which left us wondering whether the chef accidentally left out the main ingredient (Well actually, we could smell a hint of cheese aroma but couldn't seem to taste any cheese no matter how much we chewed)

Understandably, our expectations then plummeted but thankfully, the Katsu Curry Rice (RM 18++) and Char Siew Pizza (RM 23.90++) that we had for our mains were nice:

Top: The Char Siew Pizza,
Bottom: The Katsu Curry Rice.....
The deep fried Pork Katsu was tender, with a nice crispy crust... and was generously topped with suitably thick Japanese style curry sauce (which has a slightly sweet taste). It would have been better if the sauce was served with the usual chunky slices of radish, potatoes and carrots but overall, I wouldn't mind ordering this again.

As for the Char Siew pizza (actually, it's supposed to be Japanese "Chashu") - it was lovely! It was a slightly crispy (on the edges), medium thickness pizza with slices of tender pork, and topped with sinfully creamy mayo....
MMMMmmmmm.... Yum.
(I suspect it could be very "jelak" if you try to finish it all by yourself though)

We were pretty full by then but decided that we couldn't end the night without trying the Rich Chocolate Pudding (RM 7.90++):
The Rich Chocolate Pudding.....
The texture of the Chocolate Pudding was dense, smooth and not too sweet. Pat and I liked it, but my friend V took a bite and said that it reminded her of jelly (which she found a bit strange).
Oh well, more for me then! :)
(I love it when chocolate desserts have a very slight bitter note)

Overall, I liked the enjoyed the dinner at Kissaten but I'm going to make it a point to be more careful when picking out appetizers the next time I go there....

So, it's: Casual yet stylish restaurant with good selection of interesting selection of fusion Japanese-Western dishes (and some Asian food) for reasonable prices BUT nothing much to complain about except that some of the appetizers weren't that nice (but they were Ok lah)...

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

Kissaten @ Jaya 1, PJ
(In the Palm Square area of Jaya One)

Taste: 6
Ambience : 6
Service : 6
Price** : RM38/++
Parking: OK (but I've heard the surrounding roads are pretty jammed on Weekday nights)

Website: (with map!) CLICK HERE

** Approximation - Per person, 3 course meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 03-7954 1990
Opening Hours: 11am - 12midnight

NOT HALAL

OTHER REVIEWS:
- A Whiff Of Lemongrass
- I Just Wana Eat
- Pink Painter
- Sweets For My Sweet Tooth
- Motormouth From Ipoh


TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, PJ, Petaling Jaya, Japanese, Kissaten Coffee and Restaurant, Jaya 1, Palm Square, Asian Food, Fusion

Baby Steps

Easing back into the whole food review thing...

[ BEGIN EDIT ]
(Jan 2010)

Great.
They had a concept change - a MAJOR one!....

Get this: They're now pork free.
*sigh*

Anyway, thanks to Jazz for pointing it out. Will try to swing by the new B&O sometime to have a look.

Hugs,
J

[ END EDIT ]

Wow.... Has it really been so long since I updated properly??
*tries to sidestep all the accusatory glares*
(Sorry!)

Well, I guess I've been pretty busy (just changed jobs recently) and also still feeling a bit down (same ol', same ol' - bloody heartache not healing fast enough)..... but actually, I have still been trying out new restaurants with my friends. It's just that I've been too damned lazy to do proper reviews....
(Sorry again!)

The problem is that I was in a very "bleh"/ "boh-chap" mood so there were many occasions where I didn't even bring my camera to take photos of the food!
(Can you imagine?? Terrible, I know.... Not like me at all)

Anyway, I'm trying to ease back into the whole restaurant review thing so here is my 2 cents on a restaurant I've tried recently (sans photos though):

1) Bermuda & Onion @ Changkat Bukit Bintang

We had (strangely) received some really bad word of mouth about this new-ish place in the Changkat BB area before we visited (Quote: "Not nice at all" and "Too expensive"), hence we were quite hesitant but still went ahead to try it out since we were feeling very adventurous.

And thank goodness we did because the food at the quirkily named Bermuda & Onion is yummy. :)

I do admit that the prices are a bit on the high side but it's definately DEFINITELY worth a try.... Do not miss out on the:
1) Starters:
- Prawn wrapped with Parma Ham skewers (juicy and absolutely delish!),
- Mushroom and Ham Soup (fragrant and luxurious).

2) Mains:
- B&O Platter (hefty plate with a bit of everything to share),
- Pork Ribs with Spicy Beans (succulent ribs - good serving size too).
NOTE: The Wild Boar spaghetti and the Pork Cordon Bleu are only Ok. Nothing spectacular.

3) Desserts:
- Tiramisu (MUST TRY! Good texture, taste and the generous dose of alcohol really gives it an extra edge).
NOTE: The other desserts are just OK. Not bad but not great in my books....

Other than the food, I also really like the airy and casual yet stylish ambience there - am definately revisiting to try out more of the items on the menu.

There.
That wasn't so bad, was it? :)
(I hope you didn't mind how rusty I am after all these months though - patience, patience... I'm trying!)

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

Bermuda & Onion @ Changkat Bukit Bintang, KL

Taste: 7
Ambience : 7
Service : 7
Price** : RM 60/++ per person (!!)
Parking: OK

(!!) Warning: You can definately eat there for about RM60++ but there are some meat dishes there which cost up to >RM60++ each.

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 03-2145 8333
Opening Hours: Weekdays 12pm till 11pm, Weekends 10am till 11pm

NOT HALAL

OTHER REVIEWS:
- KY Speaks
- 3iLing
- she, the epicuriousgirl
- Jule's Eating Guide To Malaysia
- Kampung Kayell
- So Much Food So Little Stomach

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Changkat Bukit Bintang, Pork, Bermuda & Onion, KL, Kuala Lumpur

Dream A Little Dream

Proudly brought to you by a wonderful concoction of flu meds and whiskey......

She dreams of a day when she no longer hates,
When life becomes calm, painless, sedate.

Alas. The fantasy is far from her grasp,
Reality is haunted by ghosts of the past.

Painful reminders of what she can’t have,
The warmth of happiness, to smile, to laugh,

The worst of all pains, to know it exists,
Just not for her. No. She’s not on the list.

So many questions are stuck in her head:
Is it stupid to keep trying? Is it stupid to wait?

All she knows is: she’s written another stupid rhyme.
And worst of all, the whiskey bottle is dry.
Damn.


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

Blog Birthday No. 3 (+2 days)

Another year zips by and my blog has made it past its terrible twos! (sort of)

[ YIKES - what's wrong with me? My blog's birthday is supposed to be 10 September! *sigh* My brain must have failed during the Uber-workaholic part of my life.... ]

Memoirs Of A Chocoholic is now three years old!

A part of me never thought that I would get it this far actually, but what a ride it's been so far! Well, it's not like I've prospered from this blog or anything like that though:
1) HAVE I GAINED FAME?
No lah. Not at all I think.....
Although every once in a while one of my friends will tell me that their family/ colleague/ friend has referred to my blog for reviews....
.... and my friends are all like "Oh, I know her personally lah - she's my friend",
.... and their friends are all like "Wah, so cool... You know one of those famous bloggers!"
*Fuu yoh* So glam, right?
(Hahahaha..... Yeah right!)
(:P Don't take me seriously, ok? I know I don't.....)

2) HAVE I GAINED FORTUNE?
This one definately not at all. I added in Nuffnang ads to support Mr Timothy Teoh in a "Malaysia Boleh" sorta way but let's just say it's definately not paying any bills.
:)

3) HAVE I GAINED FAT?
*silence*
*sigh*
This one's a 110% definately - YES (without a doubt).


Oh well, this blog has still given me the greatest excuse to take a bite of everyone's food so I think I'll try to keep it running for the time being....
(Muahahahha....)

Seriously though, I realise I have been heavily infrequent with the updates, especially in the last couple of months.... So, to those who still continue visiting (and especially to the ones who leave comments *HUGS*):
I am so so sorry.

Thanks for all your support so far... but this heartbreak is taking much longer than I thought it would take to heal. After so many months, it still hurts like heck.

(Good news!:) I am however, progressing somewhat because I have definately moved from the stage of DEPRESSION to SADNESS and am now entering ANGER.
(Hopefully next stop will be HEALING and then HAPPINESS, but we'll see - I've currently lost all hope in love and men)

Anyway, enough sadness.
:)

Today is a happy day - my blog has survived (more or less) one more year... and I promise I'll be back.


More hugs,
J


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

All Apologies

Gomenasai......

Me busy:
- New boss is here!
- House buying stuff....
- Two weddings in 2 weekends... *phew*... (Kuching and KL)

Oh, and very "no mood".
(Horrible excuse, I know.....)
It's not that I haven't been going out to try out new restaurants with my friends... Just that when I look at the blank blog post, I don't really know what to write....
(GAH. IT'S THE DREADED BLOGGER'S BLOCK!!!)

I promise I'll snap out of it soon.... but in the meantime *HUGS* I hope you are all well.


Sorry,
J


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