Plan B @ Bangsar Village, KL

New eatery in Bangsar Village that has been getting plenty of attention online....

I know.
There are PLENTY of reviews about this place already, but here are my 2 cents worth, combined from 2 visits:
(I'll keep it short and sweet....)

THE AMBIENCE
It's hard to miss, located on the ground floor just opposite Starbucks:
(Where Bakerzin used to be)
Exterior of Plan B....
Overall, its casual but nice, although it feels a little bit cramped inside.


THE FOOD:
- Buffalo Wings (RM 15++)
Spicy chicken wings....
OK lah.
Tender texture and slightly spicy but a bit too oily.

- Wagyu beef pie and Moroccan Lamb Pie (RM 19++ each):
Beef pie (front) and Lamb Pie (foreground)....
Both pies were really nice - big serving considering the price, flakey and crispy on the outside with tender flavorful fillings.

- Cross section of the beef pie:
Moo moo....
Out of the 2, I preferred the beef pie as it was more moist, but the lamb was really interesting too as it had a nice fragrance of spices.

- Spicy Crabmeat Linguine and Wild Mushroom Linguine (RM 19++ each)
Crabmeat pasta (front) and mushroom pasta (back)....
There are good reviews online but when I went there, they were both kinda bland and the linguine was overcooked.
(Between the 2, the crabmeat linguine was better IMHO, because the slices of kaffir leaves added some zing to it)

- Rocky Road Slice (about RM 5++)
(Half of the) Large slab of rocky road....
Very good price for such a big piece but the crumbley coconut-y base was super sweet - I only liked the bouncey top layer of marshmellows and chocolate.

- Chocolate Mousse cake (RM 11++)
Chocolatey dessert....
Ok.
Definitely moist and chocolatey enough but there was a very very very slight flour-y aftertaste.


THE SERVICE:
So far, they were annoyingly slow 2 out of 2 times.
(Once during a weekday lunch, and another during a weekday dinner time)

"Friendly but slow" I can accept most times, but "borderline incompetent and slow"** I really cannot stand. To be fair, they have only been open for a short time so maybe its just initial teething problems... but for the meantime, consider this a warning that you need to go there armed with ample patience.
(** Taking ages to clear tables, have to be prompted for menu/cutlery/food several times, missing out orders completely, etc)

Overall: Modern and cosy new cafe in Bangsar with a range of interesting New York/ Australian cuisine, reasonable pricing BUT strange pricing (most things are affordable whilst others seem expensive, in particular the limited Asian selection) and service can be a bit annoyingly slow....

Summary Sheet:

Plan B @ Bangsar Village, KL

Ground Floor, Bangsar Village 1, Jalan Telawi 1, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.


Taste: 6
Ambience : 6
Service : 3
Price** : RM 45++ per person
Parking: OK

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks

Telephone No.: 03-2287 2630
Opening Hours: 8am to 10pm
Parking: Limited

NO PORK SERVED

OTHER REVIEWS:
- augustdinersfoodblog
- thenomadGourmand
- ~My Story~
- Foodlah
- masak-masak
- Eat Drink KL
- Get Over Me
- kampungboycitygal

TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Restaurant, Western, Bangsar Village, Bangsar, Plan B, Telawi Street

I Survived Zouk Out 2010

What a night :)....

I like music in general.
(... except a few genres like polka and opera. Respect it, but haven't acquired the taste for it)
Fireworks that night :)...
Other than the more mainstream stuff like Ballads, Rock, Top 40 stuff, R&B, etc., I also really enjoy House and Trance...

So, when I heard that David Guetta was playing at Zouk Out 2010 last weekend, I just had to go.
(Haters: Yes, maybe you consider him a "sell out" but I think he is awesome because through his collaborations with ppl like the Black Eyed Peas, he has bridged the gap between house/trance and pop/mainstream, making it more accessible to the masses)

I really did not know what I was getting myself into* though, so I thought I should post up a short "survival guide" as a public service - to help first timers/ those as blur as me the next time around.
(* I honestly thought: "Hmmm. Normal partying in Malaysia lasts till about 3am, so at Zouk Out Sg, at the most should be until around 5 or 6am, right?")
Hordes at the main stage
(Frak you, rough idiots - You know who you are)...

ESSENTIAL FACTS
1) The tickets usually sell out every year.
(2 years in a row anyway... so buy them beforehand, and not try your luck on the day itself)

2) The traffic on the way in and out can be quite bad.
(Things that will make your life easier: Go much earlier and have dinner/hang out near the venue and rent a hotel room to crash at after)

3) It starts at around 8pm and will last until the SUN RISES.
(So: Rest well and have a good meal before you go)
Dubfire, at the other stage...

WHAT YOU NEED ON THE NIGHT
1) PATIENCE.
(This is very important. The night should be about music and fun but there will always be idiots in the crowd - don't get into an argument/ fight please. Life is too short....)

2) Good friends that you can trust.
(aka. Friends that will not leave you unguarded and asleep/ unconcious in the middle of nowhere - saw many ppl by themselves at random places around the island later)

3) ID (with photo and age), some money and a fully charged mobile phone.
(No ID = cannot get in, no money = cannot buy drinks and no mobile phone = big trouble when you get separated from your friends, which is very likely to happen considering the amount of people there)

4) Comfortable sandals/ flip flops.
(You can also wear shoes, but it's on a beach - you'll probably get sand in it)

5) A dependable bladder.
(While it is important to stay hydrated, the portable toilets get kinda smelly and DISGUSTING after a while)
Fuelled by 3 beers and 1 power nap, I managed to survive the night...
Q: Did I have fun?
A: Yes :) - Met a lot of nice people and the music was good but it was definitely very tiring.


SHOUT OUT:
- Thanks for inviting me, Fai!
- Thanks for organising, Sharin!
- Thanks for the delicious food (awesome Mee Siam and sambal btw), Sharin's mum! :)
- Nice meeting all of you! *waves* (Orlin, Seok Bin, Viggo, RJ, Matt, Nura, Felix and the American dude whose name I can't remember right now - sorry....)


Now believes that Zouk Out should be categorised as a "Marathon" and not a "Party",
J

TAGS: Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Zouk Out 2010, Sentosa Island, Personal

Thai Som Tam @ Changkat Bukit Bintang, KL

(Slightly delayed review) Simple place for authentic Thai food in KL....

I think the wonderful thing that food blogging has brought into my life is that not only do I have a creative outlet to share my daily yums with anyone who cares to read about it,...

... but that I have also gotten the chance to meet such nice people who are really passionate about food....
(Of course it helps that they are either also kind, hot, witty, fun, intelligent or more often than not, a combination of all of the above - making them excellent company too :P)

One of these lovely people, is Mr Paranoid Android, who introduced me to his favourite Thai restaurant (called Thai Somtam Seafood), located in the bustling Changkat Bukit Bintang/ Jalan Alor area.
(I had always written off the general Jalan Alor area as a tourist trap, but little did I know there was this little gem of a restaurant there)
The restaurant...
BTW:
Sorry - the receipt has been misplaced. I think the meal did not come up to more than RM 30 per person anyway.... but I don't have the exact prices for each item.

Ooh, also, the photos are not from my usual (no longer very) trusty point and shoot camera - my battery went flat after that first photo (above) so I hijacked a nearby DSLR.
:P

First up, an essential Thai salad - the Somtam (about RM 10):
Healthy!...
Fresh slices of mangoes, tomatoes and long beans tossed in a piquant, slightly fishy (in a good way!) and spicy dressing - delicious! :)

Next up, instead of the usual Tom Yam soup, we ordered the Tom Sep (about RM 25):
(We opted for pork, but if I'm not wrong, there are other options available - eg. chicken or beef)
Claypot of spicy yum...
Deceptively clear but with floating red bits of chili as vivid warning of its potency, this was a wonderfully spicy and sour soup with a nice balance of herbs, albeit just a tad too salty.

The pork balls that came with the soup were also very yummy with just the right level of savouriness and bounce.
(This soup will most probably have you sweating and in pain, but loving it and wanting more... You could ask for it to be less spicy but what's the fun it that? :P)

As for the carb-y element, we had the Fried Pad Thai Noodles (about RM 10):
Delicious!...
Yummy...
The texture of the noodles was ever so slightly chewy and sticky, with a tasty mix of savoury yet sweet and spicy. :)

The crispy deep fried Crispy Duck (about RM 15) was also delicious:
Crispy duck slices...
Whilst I would have loved for the slices to be slightly more meaty,... they were tender and faultlessly crispy, with the crumbley batter fried to golden brown perfection.
(Watch out though, it's not completely deboned)

As for dessert, I don't know what these are called, but they were sweet, slightly doughy and looked like cute little baby carrots:
Dessert on a stick...
I didn't like them that much but it's just a matter of preference - my soft spot is for all things chocolatey after all. :)

There was also an interesting bottled drink there which Mr Android told me is specially brought in from Thailand by the restaurant owner:
Exotic bottled drink...
Made from palm fruit, it was sweet and had an interesting flavor that I find hard to describe - definitely gonna order it again the next time though :)...

Mmmmmmm... What a meal!
Left the restaurant happy, with a warm, full belly and slightly scorched tongue.
(Thanks again, PA! *hugs*)


PS/ Oh man - A DSLR makes such a huge difference, don't you think so?

So, it's: Simple ambience, authentic Thai food for reasonable prices BUT nothing really bad to say except that the surrounding area can be a bit jammed/ hard to find parking - it is in the heart of KL, after all :)...

Summary Information:
Thai Som Tam @ Changkat Bukit Bintang, KL

Opening Hours: Lunch and dinner (approx 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm)
Phone: ?
Address: 88, Changkat Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.
(Pretty much on the intersection of Changkat BB and Jalan Alor, a bit before the KFC)

NOT HALAL

MAP:

View Larger Map

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Paranoid Android


TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Coffeeshop, Changkat Bukit Bintang, Jalan Alor, Restoran Thai Somtam Seafood, PJ, Petaling Jaya, Thai Food, KL, Kuala Lumpur

Friedchillies Annual Foodster Awards 2010 - Results! :)

Appreciation and love for all the uncles/ aunties/ pakciks/ makciks who toil to bring yumminess into our lives :)....

Ah, Friedchillies - can't imagine that it's been around since 1998!
(How times flies...)

FuelLed by passion for all things yum, it started off as a website/ forum and has now evolved into a mix media powerhouse covering everything from the web to tv.
(Wow!)

In recent years, they came up with their Annual Foodster Awards, focusing on Malaysian Streetfood... As with last year, the LYSF (Love Your Street Food) campaign resulted in an interesting round up of nominees and winners, all from online voting:
(Power to the people!)

- Best Pisang Goreng - SS2 Goreng Pisang Stall
Nominees: Azmi Pisang Goreng, Mr. Chiam's Stall in Brickfields

- Best Satay - O Mulia Satay
Nominees: Hj Samuri, Satay Malaysia

- Best Crabs - Fatty Crab
Nominees: Nong & Jimmy Thai Seafood, King Crab

- Best Nasi Lemak - Village Park
Nominees: Tanglin, Nasi Lemak Famous

- Best Kopitiam - Yut Kee
Nominees: Sin Seng Nam, Chawan

- Best Assam Laksa - O&S, Paramount Garden
Nominees: Mark's Assam Laksa, Alisan Laksa

- Best Maggi Goreng - Stevens Corner
Nominees: Nasi Kandar Bestari, Lotus Family Restaurant

- Best Roti Canai - Valentine Roti
Raju's, Restoran Kayu Nasi Kandar

- Best Char Kuey Teow - Aunty Gemuk FAM
Nominees: Restaurant Soon Leong, Restoran Seng Lee

- Best Chicken Rice - Restaurant Satellite Chicken Rice
Nominees: New Ipoh Chicken Rice, Nam Heong

- Best Burger - OM Burger
Nominees: Burger TTDI, Jackson Burger

- Best Banana Leaf Rice - Kanna Curry House
Nominees: Restoran Sri Nirwarna Maju, Vishal Chettinad Mess

I have to admit: I have only tried a few of the above but I'm really looking forward to trying them all out soon - this is my new "To Eat" list. :)
(If you want details of their locations, etc... do head over to the Official LYSF 2010 Website)

Note:
I have been really lazy, again, and just copied and pasted this whole list from alilfatmonkey. Do check out what he thinks of the event: Click here or go read the "official" write up on Friedchillies - Click here)

Thanks so VERY much to Adly, Honey, Alexandra and the rest of the Friedchillies team for the invite and great night at the Awards night in Wau Penyu...
(Good food, great company, fun night! - can't wait till the next round!)
(Ooh, and the videos were HILARIOUS. Can't get over the Old Spice Guy parody and the Char Kuey Teow Addict one too)
:)

J

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

Akari @ Solaris, Mont Kiara

Yet another Japanese place in Solaris? :)....

Warning: I don't feel wordy today. *sulk*
(It's my annual, recurring condition called: Year End Blues)

Went to Solaris Mont Kiara for lunch, felt like Japanese - chanced upon this place called Akari.
(It's not new (1+ years old?) and is located more or less on top of Dr Cafe)

Inside, it's small - half a tiny lounge/ bar and the other half a restaurant:
(Still, modern and comfy)
The restaurant half...
Selection on the la carte menu is decent (not huge variety but it's enough) with a few lunch sets too.
(We went for a la carte that day)

- Agedashi tofu (RM 12+):
Healthy but unhealthy...
Nice/ Worth trying.
Smooth tofu cubes enveloped with batter and doused with a salty enough but not overpowering sauce.

- Dragon King Roll (RM 32+)
Rice, eel, prawn...
OK.
Rice was just a little bit too moist (for my tastebuds) and felt like something was missing.
(Fresh ingredients, but the contrast of textures and flavors not outstanding)

- Garlic Fried Rice (RM 10+)
Carbs...
Fragrant but I thought it was kinda pricey considering the serving size.

- Salmon Kimuchi Nabe (RM 26+)
Spicy, sour, delicious...
Yum.
Tasty, and not just because I like kimchi, and I like soup.
(Nice balance of flavors without being too "in your face")
:)

- Tempura Moriwase (RM 28+)
Deep fried prawns and veggies ...
Nice.
Light crispy batter and fresh ingredients.

- Goma Ice Cream (RM 12+)
Just one scoop of indulgence ...
Not bad.
Creamy and not too sweet.

I promise I'll try to snap out of "bleh" mood as quickly as possible. It usually only lasts about a month anyway, so bear with me, ok?
(Thanks....)

PS/ Sorry about how blur the photos are - I forgot my camera so I had to use my phone camera, and it was kinda dark in the reaturant.

So it's: Small, modern and cosy Japanese restaurant in Solaris Mont Kiara, friendly service and fair selection of food BUT interior can be a little bit cramped, and really nothing else bad to say... :)

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

Akari @ Solaris, Mont Kiara, KL

19-1, Jalan Solaris Mont Kiara 4, Solaris Mont Kiara

Taste: 6
Ambience : 7
Service : 7
Price** : RM 50+ per person
Parking: Limited ***

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks
***Try parking inside the Solaris basement parking instead...

Telephone No.: 03-6203 6885
Opening Hours: Mon to Sat 11.30am till 2.30pm and 6.30pm till 10pm

NO PORK SERVED

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Kelly C
- Chocolate Memoirs
- Black Tie White Lie


TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Hartamas, Mont Kiara, Solaris, Akari, Japanese, KL, Kuala Lumpur

Il Lido Lounge Bar @ Jalan Yap Kwan Seng

A cool new place to chill out in KL :)....

There's just something about rooftop bars...
(In particular, the view)

At first, I thought that the view from Il Lido wouldn't be very "special" if compared to other already famous rooftop bars in KL but despite their very much shorter stature, it was actually very nice!:
KLCC - do pretty at night!...
Oh, I was actually there for the launch night so there were lots of very hot people chilling out/ partying in the area - Thanks for the invite, Lyla! *hugs*:
(BTW, don't worry about the weather - they have a canopy covering the main area of the bar so you party undisturbed)
Covered area...
See. Hot, right?:
(Ciki, Marcky, Bangsar Babe and some guy)

(PhotoS from michael yip, the event photographer)...
If you were wondering, the music was also really good!
(Funky tunes, with a thumping base for those who like to dance yet catchy melodies for those who like singing along after a couple of drinks)
(Photo taken from michael yip, the event photographer)...
Anyway, definitely had a great time that night. :)
... and I think this really rounds up the Il Lido KL package - you can enjoy a yummy food in a sophisticated environment downstairs, then proceed upstairs to have a couple of drinks and dance the calories away!

Here are some Current Highlights/ Promotions:
- Every day!: Happy Hour
1 for 1 Carlsberg draught, house pours and wine by the glass.

- Wednesdays: Ladies Nights
(Music: MUSE featuring Soundcheckmasters DJ Chris O and DJ Phinans - funky house)
Ladies enjoy 1 for 1 Bellinis all night or a bottle of prosecco at RM128 (U.P. RM165).

- Opening Special: Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve at RM 488++ or RM 888++ for 2 bottles, and Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial at RM 298++.

Other than that, music wise:
- Funken Fridays with DJs Shazan, Azran and Victor G
(Groovy, sexy house)

- Saturday Sunsets by DJ deRajj
(eclectic mix: electro house, contemporary club anthems and old school beats)

For info and updates, you can check out Il Lido's Facebook Page or official website.

Summary Information:
Il Lido Lounge Bar @ Kuala Lumpur

Opening Hours:
Everyday 5pm - 1am (bar),
Sun - Fri Lunch and Dinner, Sat Dinner only (restaurant).
Phone: 603-2161 2291
Address: 183, Jalan Mayang (off Jalan Yap Kwan Seng), 50450 Kuala Lumpur.

NOT HALAL (the restaurant)

MAP:

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OTHER REVIEWS:
- Cumi dan Ciki
- Adventures of a Tom Cat


TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Rooftop Bar, Il Lido, Italian, KL, Kuala Lumpur

Reminisce @ Midvalley Megamall, KL

A new non Halal food option in Midvalley :)....

Reminisce is one of the newest (Asian) non Halal food choice in the Midvalley Shopping Centre area, having just opened a few months ago:
(It's next to the also very new and non Halal Brotzeit, and kinda strangely, the Midvalley police station booth)
Outside the restaurant....
It feels spacious inside (due to the high ceiling?) with a contrast of simple tables and chairs against stark exposed pipes and some posters of cartoons (eg. Dragonball):
Restaurant interior....
Looking at the menu, they have some rice and noodle dishes and a good array of snacks and street food and dessert options (eg. fried carrot cake, deep fried nian gao, loh mai kai, yam cake, etc).

- Stuffed pork balls with satay sauce (RM 5.90+):
Bouncey pork balls....
While the texture was definitely bouncey enough, it was just a tad too hard. Otherwise, it was a nice snack, with the combination of the fish paste, pork stuffing and chunky satay sauce going pretty well together....

Cross section - pork makes everything better :)....
- BBQ Taiwan Sausage (RM 6.90+)
2 sausages....
... Well, the sausage was ok.
(Nothing particularly bad or good about it....)

- Stuffed Char Leong (RM 3.90+):
My bowl of Beef Noodles....
Not bad.
Other than being just a tad hard (dense texture, was a bit tough to bite through/ chew),the combination of yau char kuai stuffed with fish paste and refried was fairly fragrant and had a decent amount of stuffing.

- Crispy Spring Rolls (RM 2.90+)
Yum....
The combination of thin, crisp spring roll skin (filo pastry?) and creamy chicken filling was simple but effective - liked this and wouldn't miond ordering again.
:)

- Toasted Bun with Bak Kwa and Meat Floss (RM 7.90+)
Chinese sandwich....
After ordering that many little "snacks" I just wanted something lighter for my main. :)

It's just a simple Chinese styled sandwich with some bak kwa (grilled minced pork slices), fried egg and veggies nestled in between 2 fluffy buns.
(Not bad)

- Dry Curry Chicken Noodles (RM 7.90+)
Noodles....
The noodles were springy and fragrant (a little bit like Indomee goreng) and the Chicken Curry was tasty and fairly tender.
(Also not bad but the serving may be a bit small for some)

Overall, some dishes were nice but not everything is fantastic... Still, I think the pricing is very decent for the Midvalley area - I won't think twice about going back if I am looking for some good non Halal Asian food in Midvalley.
(Great place to have a drink and some light snacks too)

So it's: Non-halal Asian food and Malaysian street snacks, comfortable ambience, reasonable prices BUT nothing bad really, just a few slight "misses" on the menu so far :)....

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

Reminisce @ Mid Valley
Lot (G)E-019, Ground External Floor, Midvalley Megamall, Midvalley City, 59200 Kuala Lumpur

Taste: 6
Ambience : 6
Service : 6
Price** : RM 17/+ per person
Parking: Difficult on weekends

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 03-2201 8168
Opening Hours: Mon till Sat 7.30 am to 11.00 pm, Sun 9am to 10pm

NOT HALAL

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Food Point of Interest
- Everyday Food I Love
- iamthewitch.com
- lionel ong's phlog


TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Midvalley Megamall, MidValley, The Gardens, Local food, Chinese, Reminisce, Shopping Centre, KL, Kuala Lumpur

Fatty Crab @ Taman Megah, PJ

Super popular even after all these years....

"How strange!", I thought, as I was driving back from the gym one night.
(After just getting off the phone with my mum)

First of all: It's so rare that my parents eat dinner past 7pm, and Fatty Crab? - What a specific and random craving (considering we hadn't been there for YEARS).

Still, who am I to say no to them? :)
(Cannot, cannot...or I will be labeled with that dreaded title of Unfilial Daughter. Lol.)

I was pretty shocked to see the hordes waiting outside the restaurant though:
(It was 9+ pm! This is not exactly the normal peak dinner time)
Outside the restaurant...
Luckily they had a bunch of spare chairs outside for the waiting hordes (which we were a small part of)... and we all sat there looking furtively at the hordes eating inside:
Patience...
Thankfully, they managed to seat us quite quickly (about 15 minutes later?) but there were no tables inside, so we were ushered to the al fresco area**. I don't know whether we were just lucky/ easy to seat because there were only 3 of us, but I would STRONGLY suggest booking first if you want to go there:
(**On the sidewalk, by the drain. Ah, the quintessential Malaysian dining experience)
Ah the ambience...
You may have heard about this quirk of Fatty Crab before, but yeah it's completely true that they have a severely limited menu selection - 2 kinds of crabs (steamed or sweet and sour sauce), 2 kinds of prawns (steamed or butter style), 2 kinds of fish (steamed or teochew style), fried rice, fried noodles, chicken wings, satay and maybe 2 kinds of vegetables:
(There you have it, pretty much the whole menu in one short paragraph - do tell me if I've missed anything out)
Tools of the trade...
First up, the Fried rice - small serving (RM 5+):
Fried rice...
Overall, ok but nothing exemplary.
(Good texture - not starchy but no "wok hei")

- Sweet and sour chili Crabs (RM 60+):
About 2 kg of crabs...
Overall, the crabs were fresh enough but I found the sauce just a tad too watery.

- Steamed Fish Teo Chew style (RM 36+):
Simple fish on a dish...
The fish was also pretty fresh and the taste was quite appetising when doused with the sour, salty and slightly sweet sauce.
(Some may find it a tad too sour though)

- Chicken Wings (RM 3 per wing+):
Tasty wings...
Strangely, these were my favourite dish of the night as they were crisp on the outside, not too greasy with the flesh still tender and tasty.
:D

At the end of the day, it wasn't a bad meal but I can't see what all the hype is about..... Still, wouldn't mind heading back for some of those chicken wings...
(Mmmmm. Love chicken wings)

So, it's: Simple coffeeshop setting, convenient location for PJ folk BUT limited food selection and please be prepared to wait for a table, whatever the time (better to book first)...

Summary Information:
Fatty Crab @ Taman Megah, Petaling Jaya

Opening Hours: 5.30pm - 11pm
(Closed Mondays. Warning: Open on Sunday but that's pasar malam night)
Phone: 603-7804 5758
Address: No 2, Jln SS 24/13, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya

NO PORK SERVED

MAP:

View Larger Map

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Eric Yong's Blog
- Discover | Explore | Savour Great Food At Any Time!
- Foodhunt
- I Come, I See, I Hunt and I Chiak
- Shah's Ramblings


TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Coffeeshop, Taman Megah, Restoran Fatty Crab, PJ, Petaling Jaya, Chinese Food, Seafood, KL, Kuala Lumpur

Bizarre or Genius?

Dare to try it?....

I think that I am easy to please, when it comes to souvenirs.
:)

First of all, I don't expect one... but if you do take the time/ effort/ money to buy one for me, it is a lovely bonus and I will be happy no matter what it is.
(Really!)

... When Nina came back from her USA trip with 2 bars of Vosges' special Mo's Dark Choc Bar though, I was overjoyed.
(Pssst: THANK YOU, NINA! *HUGS*)

Why?
Well, I love bacon... AND I love chocolate....

So, why not try it together, right?? :D
Afraid/ amazed...
LOL.

I had read very mixed reviews about this particular chocolate bar online before (it appears to be a love it or hate it kinda thing) so, honestly I was a little bit afraid of eating it.

Still, I just HAD to try it (of course):
NOM...
...
..
.

So, what's the verdict?: I liked it! :)

Overall the semi dark chocolate (about 60-40 blend) was smooth and creamy without being too sweet and it balanced surprisingly well with the salty flavours of the added bits of Alderwood smoked salt and Applewood smoked bacon.
(The bacon bits were kinda small though, so the taste of pork/ bacon is actually really mild)

Sigh.
As far as I know, this brand is not available here in Malaysia though... and they don't deliver to Asia in general... :(

... but if you are venturing to the USA, this is something you can look out for!
(Hope you enjoy it)


Intrigued,
J

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

TOKL Awards 2010 - Results!

The "Academy Awards" for Fine Dining in KL? :)....

Just last week, I got to attend the TOKL Food Awards Ceremony 2010, held at the new MAPKL in Solaris Dutamas:
(... hosted by the gorgeous Joanne de Rozario and Will Quah)

I had never attended an awards ceremony before, AND it was all about food/ restaurants in KL, so I was really looking forward to it....
(Thank you so much, Nazeen and everyone at TOKL for inviting me - So happy!)

:)

The arty area was bustling with the famous and the important, mostly dressed to the nines in sharp suits and sexy cocktail dresses (which kinda made me feel so underdressed since I came straight from office. *lol*).

There was also a lot of bubbly, which of course can never be a bad thing in my books:
(Never tried this brand before, Lombard Brut, but YUM, will definitely look out for it in future - love that it has just the right balance of bubbles without being too sweet or too dry)


ANYWAY, :) here's the full list of the nominees and winners:

- Best Chinese | Chynna (Hilton KL)
[other nominees: A Little Dim Sum Place, Celestial Court (Sheraton Imperial KL), Li Yen (Ritz-Carlton KL) and Zuan Yuan (One World Hotel)]

- Best Continental | La Bodega
Specially Commended | El Cerdo
[other nominees: The Apartment, Bijou, Cafe Cafe, Hakka Republic, and twentyone kitchen+bar]

- Best Healthy Eating/Vegetarian | Marmalade
[other nominees: Annalakshimi, Country Farm Organics, FitFor2 and The Yogitree]

- Best Indian | Bombay Palace
[other nominees: Kanna Curry House, Saravana Bhavan, Spice of India and Sri Nirwana Maju]

- Best Italian | Prego (The Westin KL)
[other nominees: Bar Italia, La Risata, Nerofico, Sassarosso, Tatto and Villa Danieli (Sheraton Imperial KL)]

- Best Japanese | Fukuharu (Terrace @ Hock Choon)
[other nominees: Gonbei, Hajime, Kampachi and Rakuzen]

- Best Malay | Bijan
Specially Commended | Enak, Starhill Gallery
[other nominees: D'Cengkih, Makan Kitchen (Doubletree by Hilton), and Restauran Rebung Chef Ismail]

- Best Middle Eastern | Al Amar
Specially Commended | Tarbush
[other nominees: Al-Andalus, Al-Rawsha, and Hadramawt]

- Best Seafood | High Tide
[other nominees: Bangsar Seafood Garden Restaurant, Fisherman's Cove, Restaurant Fatty Crab, and Restaurant Green View]

- Best Steak House | Prime (Le Meridien KL)
Specially Commended | Qba, The Westin KL
[other nominees: Angus Steakhouse, DISH, Meatworks, and Tony Roma's]

- Best Thai/Indochinese | Tamarind Springs
[other nominees: Basil Leaf, Kinnaree Thai Restaurant, MyThai, Rama V and Sao Nam]

- Best Mamak/Hawker | Nasi Kandar Pelita
[other nominees: Hutong Lot 10, Murni's, Suzy's Corner and Yut Kee]

- Best Pub Grub | Jarrod & Rawlins
Specially Commended | Sid's Pub
[other nominees: Finnegan's, George & The Dragon, and The Green Man]

- Best Fine Dining | Lafite (Shangri-la)
[other nominees: Frangipani, High Tide, Sage (The Garden Hotel & Residence) and Senses (Hilton KL)]

- Best New Restaurant | The Pressroom
[other nominees: Albion KL, Giovino, High Tide, Il Lido, and Mandrin Grill (Mandarin Oriental KL)]

- Best Independent Restaurant | Albion KL
Specially Commended | Rama V, Jalan U-Thant
[other nominees: A Little Dim Sum Place, Al-Amar, and Cafe Cafe]

- Best Restaurateur | Edward Hyde (Gastrodome - La Bodega, the Pressroom, Espressamente Illy)
Specially Commended | Benj Conway of the Nero Group (Nerovivo, Neroteca, Nerofico, High Tide)
[other nominees: Werner Kuhn (El Cerdo, El Cerdito, Werner's), Rudy Stecca (Ciao, Ciccio, Cipolla) and Benjamin Yong (The Delicious Group)]

- Outstanding Chef of the Year | Chef David King (Prego, The Westin KL)
[other nominees: Chef Nathalie Arbefeuille (Nathalie's Gourmet Studio), Chef Pierre Chahda (Al-Amar), Chef Cedric Darthial (Mandarin Grill), Chef Michael Elfwing (Senses Hilton KL), and Chef Evert Onderbeke (High Tide)]

I can't say that I agree with all the final nominees/ winners... but well, the public has chosen... and I guess as they say: One man's meat is another man's poison.
(There were one or two which inspired a raised eyebrow and general "WTH???" feeling.... but any case, it was so much fun sitting there and cheering for my favourite places/ people, whether or not they actually won....)

(I have been really lazy and just copy and pasted this whole list from alilfatmonkey. Do check out what he thinks of the event: Click here)

... OR you could just go out to the nearest reputable news stand and grab the December edition of TOKL, which will have all the results and more. :)


HUGS,
J

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