Did I get your attention yet? I'm sorry for the shameless announcement and title, but my new blog is READY! I finally have my own domain. *applause* After a long wait and countless of hours of setting it up, it is now ready for its debut. *LOL* Thanks to Ken for being my mentor, too. I'm such a noob at scripting. *sigh* Anyway, www.iamthewitch.com is now the new address to go. Please update your bookmarks and links dear friends. :)
Monday, August 3, 2009
Friday, July 31, 2009
Tag of 21 people
Thanks to Foong, I got myself tagged! Now I'm passing the tag around to 21 friends/bloggers. Have a great weekend everybody! :))
1. Doryfish
2. Szu Ann
3. Bamboo
4. King Yu
5. Chin Yang
6. Yin Hoon
7. Motormouth
8. Foongpc
9. Ken
10. CK Lam
11. BigBoysOven
12. Nicolekiss
13. Mei Fong
14. MisSmall
15. Zewt
16. Chiaoju
17. Ahyen
18. Stan Lee
19. Sloppychic
20. Jessica
21. Corinne
1. How did you meet 7 ?
I haven't met him yet. :)
2. What would you do if you and 15 had never met?
Well, it turns out that we have never met until now and I'm still alive. :)
3. What would you do if 20 and 1 dated?
Oh dear, both of them are girls and I can't imagine them being together. :P
4. Have you seen 17 cried?
Nope.
5. Would 4 and 16 make a good couple?
LOL one of them is already married!
6. Do you think 11 is attractive?
Erm, in a way. :P *don't be mad!*
7. What is 2's favourite colour?
Hmm, I would think maybe black? It really depends on the application of the colour.
8. When was the last time you talked to 9?
I talk to him almost daily, in IM. :)
9. What language does 8 speaks?
I think he speaks Cantonese, Malay and definitely English. Not sure about the rest.
10. Who is 13 going out with?
Not anyone that I know of at the moment.
11. Would you ever date 17 ?
Haha sure! And be the centre of attention. *LOL* Yen imagine us in the LRT. :P
12. Where does 18 live?
Ipoh, Perak.
13. What is the best thing about 4?
He's very honest, straightforward and responsible. :)
14. What would you like to tell 10 right now?
Thank you very much for showing me the world of blogging and introducing me to great people. :)
15. What is the best thing about 20?
Her photography skills.
16. Have you ever kiss 2?
Wow, no!
17. What is the best memory you have of 5?
That we were once in the chatty group of Peanut Butter Sandwich. :) Dear butter!
18. When's the next time you're going to see 1?
Not sure, but most probably her wedding! :))
19. How is 7 different from 6 ?
One of them is a guy and the other a girl. Obviously.
20. Is 2 pretty?
Yes, in many ways.
21. What was your 1st impression of 15?
Erm, I haven't met him yet, but from the blog, I can tell that he's smart and writes intelligent yet funny posts. And I find that I agree with most of the things he writes too!
22. How did you meet 3?
Back in primary school, more than a zillion years ago.
23. Is 5 your best friend?
This is a tough one. Can I have more than one best friend? :)
24. Do you hate 12?
No of course not.
25. Have you seen 18 in the last month?
Yes, I just saw him last month during Chiaoju's convo.
26. When was the last time you saw 16?
During her convo and the Fatty Crabs outing.
27. Have you been to 5's house?
Which one? His hometown house, yes, but his new house, no.
28. When's the next time you'll see 10?
I have no idea. Maybe in one of the food reviews in the future.
29. Are you close to 11?
Not really, but he's a really nice guy.
30. Have you been to the movies with 4?
Never.
31. Have you gotten in trouble with 8?
Not for now. Not ever, I hope. :)
32. Would you give 19 a hug?
Without a doubt.
33. When have you lied to 3?
I wouldn't disclose it here even if I lied to him before. :P
34. Is 1 good at socializing?
Depending on the crowd. ;)
35. Do you know a secret about 8?
LOL, I guess I will know his 'secret' identity pretty soon. ;)
36. Describe the relationship between 12 and 18?
None that I can think of.
37. What's the best thing about your friendship with 9?
He brings me to yummy food reviews! :)
Monday, July 27, 2009
Le Bouchon - Dining with a French flair
Thanks to BigBoysOven, I was given the opportunity to do my maiden food review in KL. It was truly an eye-opening experience, to share the dining room with fellow bloggers as well as the press community.
Arriving at Le Bouchon's quaint restaurant required some level of alertness since it's located at the corner with a not-so-distinct signboard. Even Xin missed this place though she passed by. I was lucky because a friend had once shown me this place before when we happened to drive around so I knew where to look at.
Le Bouchon at Changkat Bukit Bintang
Perfectly set table
Stepping into the restaurant, one would be welcomed by the rustic surroundings and furniture. The theme of interior decoration was of wood and there was even a fireplace! Not to mention the large array of wines that was placed in the reception area. However, walk further in and you'd be charmed by the dining area which was tastefully decorated with homely French interior, giving you the much needed coziness away from the hustle and bustle of city life. The numerous Tatler's awards hanging on the wall gave reassurance that this restaurant was a-cut-above the rest.
Fancy a table for two?
Fireplace
Wine array
Tatler awards
The dining tables were perfectly set with complete cutlery and meticulous arrangement. The small bouquet of white roses (my favourite) in the middle of the table gave it a personal touch.
White roses centrepiece
Impeccable table setting
After snapping pictures around the restaurant to our hearts' content, we finally settled down and waited for our meals to be served. We began our culinary voyage with these small and delicate cookies that whetted our appetite. No information was given on what those cookies were made of, but there was a hint of foie gras somewhere in between the layers, I'm sure. :) The rolls of bread were fresh from the oven, slightly firm on the outside but warm and fluffy inside. If I wasn't saving my tummy for the next courses, I would have taken two of these rolls.
Cookies
Warm bread
Done with the tidbits, we were served with the first appetizer for the night, Terrine de Foie Gras maison (Homemade Goose liver terrine served with fig jam and grilled sour dough bread) RM50++. We were told to eat the foie gras with the freshly toasted bread but I took my first bite just on the foie gras alone. It was sublime! The texture was soft and smooth, unlike that of peanut butter, and it literally melted in my mouth. It was very flavourful without being overpowering. Add that onto the bread and an equilibrium was reached. Rich, smooth and flavourful foie gras with warm, toasted bread. Do not be fooled by the modest size of the foie gras for after a few more mouthfuls, the richness began to kick in. I highly recommend this dish to be shared by two persons, not to mention the intimacy that it would bring by scooping foie gras onto each other's bread. :)
Foie gras terrine
Sour dough toasted bread
Foie gras terrine and fig jam on sour dough bread
Second on our list was the Soupe de moules noires au safran et légumes aromatiques (Black mussels and saffron soup with aromatique vegetables) RM20++, something lighter that provided a much needed contrast compared to the aforementioned rich starter. The soup was creamy but never thick, and each mouthful was packed with the goodness of fresh mussels. It definitely cleared our palate and left us in anticipation for the next course.
Black mussels soup
Creamy but light
Continuing on our culinary adventure, the Filet de morue rôti au sirop d’érable et piment, asperges vertes à l’ail, beurre blanc de betterave (Roasted cod fillet with chilli-maple glaze, green asparagus with garlic, beetroot beurre blanc sauce) RM62++ was served. I was blown away by the absolute thickness of the piece of fish, not to mention its amazingly smooth and flaky texture. Kudos to Chef Jerome for bringing out the best of this fish and for doing it the justice that it very much deserved. The meat was firm without being hard, and every bite was just a pure delight. The beetroot-induced sauce gave it the unique pink colour and provided the refreshing twist to the otherwise ordinary taste of fish. Simply genius.
Cod fish fillet
Fresh cod fish
White wine to be paired with white meat
Taking a break from our 5-course dinner, I took a stroll outside of the restaurant to note that there was an area for al fresco dining, if you wish. As expected, more wooden furniture that complemented the French homely theme of the restaurant. There was even a mini fish pond for your viewing pleasure.
Al fresco dining
Fish pond
Following our cod fish was the Pavé de bœuf rôti , sauce Bordelaise, ratatouille et pommes sautées aux lardons de canard fumé (Roasted beef tenderloin, Bordeaux wine sauce, ratatouille vegetables and sautéed potatoes with smoked duck bacon) RM98++ . This, my friends, is the epitome of steaks. The pinnacle of culinary art. The steak was done to perfection, never a minute over- or under-cooked. Best of all, no signs of bloody streaks at all (sigh of relief), and yet never tough. Each bite of the exquisite steak was savoury and left us desiring for more. At this point of time, after going through 3 courses and already feeling full, desiring for more of the steak spoke millions for the quality of it. Worry not about the waistline nor the cholesterol meter for that matter, for one never gets to eat steak as good as this very much in a lifetime. Make no mistake, I declare this the best steak that I have ever had.
Best steak (Credit: www.foodpoi.com)
Steak done perfectly
Finally, to end our beyond-satisfying meal, was the Crème brulée aux framboises (Crème brulée with raspberries) RM18++. Creme brulee on its own, is nothing to boast about, but the ingenious Chef Jerome combined it with raspberries hidden at the bottom that would tantalize your taste buds with its strong soury tang. The top layer was sweet and hard, followed by the soft and smooth custard and ending with the sour raspberries. The effect was a decadent 3-in-1 experience when one eats the 3 layers together. Definitely a twist compared to the more commonly found sweet desserts that might leave you feeling too full for good.
Creme brulee
Soft and smooth creme brulee
Some camwhoring ensued:
witch and Chef Jerome
Chef Jerome presenting the new menu
witch with Sidney from BigBoysOven
This was an additional dish of lamb and asparagus that were presented for photography purposes. Carre d’agneau à la croute de fromage de chèvre, courgettes à la fleur de thym, pommes dauphines épicées, sauce au Cabernet sauvignon (Rack of lamb with goat’s cheese crust, roasted zucchinis with thyme flowers, spiced dauphine potatoes, Cabernet Sauvignon sauce) RM82++. My, even the name is a mouthful itself.
Rack of lamb
Asparagus
Once again, may I present to you:
Chef Jerome has really brought my senses to a brand new degree, setting outrageous standards which would be hard to beat by other restaurants. It was indeed a great honour to have tasted the works of art from the chef himself, while opening my eyes to what French cuisine had to over. This is definitely a must-visit for food critics and food lovers alike. A well-deserved 8-time Tatler award-winning restaurant.
Le Bouchon Restaurant
14 & 16, Changkat Bukit Bintang,
50200 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.
Tel. no.: 03-2142 7633
Arriving at Le Bouchon's quaint restaurant required some level of alertness since it's located at the corner with a not-so-distinct signboard. Even Xin missed this place though she passed by. I was lucky because a friend had once shown me this place before when we happened to drive around so I knew where to look at.
Le Bouchon at Changkat Bukit Bintang
Perfectly set table
Stepping into the restaurant, one would be welcomed by the rustic surroundings and furniture. The theme of interior decoration was of wood and there was even a fireplace! Not to mention the large array of wines that was placed in the reception area. However, walk further in and you'd be charmed by the dining area which was tastefully decorated with homely French interior, giving you the much needed coziness away from the hustle and bustle of city life. The numerous Tatler's awards hanging on the wall gave reassurance that this restaurant was a-cut-above the rest.
Fancy a table for two?
Fireplace
Wine array
Tatler awards
The dining tables were perfectly set with complete cutlery and meticulous arrangement. The small bouquet of white roses (my favourite) in the middle of the table gave it a personal touch.
White roses centrepiece
Impeccable table setting
After snapping pictures around the restaurant to our hearts' content, we finally settled down and waited for our meals to be served. We began our culinary voyage with these small and delicate cookies that whetted our appetite. No information was given on what those cookies were made of, but there was a hint of foie gras somewhere in between the layers, I'm sure. :) The rolls of bread were fresh from the oven, slightly firm on the outside but warm and fluffy inside. If I wasn't saving my tummy for the next courses, I would have taken two of these rolls.
Cookies
Warm bread
Done with the tidbits, we were served with the first appetizer for the night, Terrine de Foie Gras maison (Homemade Goose liver terrine served with fig jam and grilled sour dough bread) RM50++. We were told to eat the foie gras with the freshly toasted bread but I took my first bite just on the foie gras alone. It was sublime! The texture was soft and smooth, unlike that of peanut butter, and it literally melted in my mouth. It was very flavourful without being overpowering. Add that onto the bread and an equilibrium was reached. Rich, smooth and flavourful foie gras with warm, toasted bread. Do not be fooled by the modest size of the foie gras for after a few more mouthfuls, the richness began to kick in. I highly recommend this dish to be shared by two persons, not to mention the intimacy that it would bring by scooping foie gras onto each other's bread. :)
Foie gras terrine
Sour dough toasted bread
Foie gras terrine and fig jam on sour dough bread
Second on our list was the Soupe de moules noires au safran et légumes aromatiques (Black mussels and saffron soup with aromatique vegetables) RM20++, something lighter that provided a much needed contrast compared to the aforementioned rich starter. The soup was creamy but never thick, and each mouthful was packed with the goodness of fresh mussels. It definitely cleared our palate and left us in anticipation for the next course.
Black mussels soup
Creamy but light
Continuing on our culinary adventure, the Filet de morue rôti au sirop d’érable et piment, asperges vertes à l’ail, beurre blanc de betterave (Roasted cod fillet with chilli-maple glaze, green asparagus with garlic, beetroot beurre blanc sauce) RM62++ was served. I was blown away by the absolute thickness of the piece of fish, not to mention its amazingly smooth and flaky texture. Kudos to Chef Jerome for bringing out the best of this fish and for doing it the justice that it very much deserved. The meat was firm without being hard, and every bite was just a pure delight. The beetroot-induced sauce gave it the unique pink colour and provided the refreshing twist to the otherwise ordinary taste of fish. Simply genius.
Cod fish fillet
Fresh cod fish
White wine to be paired with white meat
Taking a break from our 5-course dinner, I took a stroll outside of the restaurant to note that there was an area for al fresco dining, if you wish. As expected, more wooden furniture that complemented the French homely theme of the restaurant. There was even a mini fish pond for your viewing pleasure.
Al fresco dining
Fish pond
Following our cod fish was the Pavé de bœuf rôti , sauce Bordelaise, ratatouille et pommes sautées aux lardons de canard fumé (Roasted beef tenderloin, Bordeaux wine sauce, ratatouille vegetables and sautéed potatoes with smoked duck bacon) RM98++ . This, my friends, is the epitome of steaks. The pinnacle of culinary art. The steak was done to perfection, never a minute over- or under-cooked. Best of all, no signs of bloody streaks at all (sigh of relief), and yet never tough. Each bite of the exquisite steak was savoury and left us desiring for more. At this point of time, after going through 3 courses and already feeling full, desiring for more of the steak spoke millions for the quality of it. Worry not about the waistline nor the cholesterol meter for that matter, for one never gets to eat steak as good as this very much in a lifetime. Make no mistake, I declare this the best steak that I have ever had.
Best steak (Credit: www.foodpoi.com)
Steak done perfectly
Finally, to end our beyond-satisfying meal, was the Crème brulée aux framboises (Crème brulée with raspberries) RM18++. Creme brulee on its own, is nothing to boast about, but the ingenious Chef Jerome combined it with raspberries hidden at the bottom that would tantalize your taste buds with its strong soury tang. The top layer was sweet and hard, followed by the soft and smooth custard and ending with the sour raspberries. The effect was a decadent 3-in-1 experience when one eats the 3 layers together. Definitely a twist compared to the more commonly found sweet desserts that might leave you feeling too full for good.
Creme brulee
Soft and smooth creme brulee
Some camwhoring ensued:
witch and Chef Jerome
Chef Jerome presenting the new menu
witch with Sidney from BigBoysOven
This was an additional dish of lamb and asparagus that were presented for photography purposes. Carre d’agneau à la croute de fromage de chèvre, courgettes à la fleur de thym, pommes dauphines épicées, sauce au Cabernet sauvignon (Rack of lamb with goat’s cheese crust, roasted zucchinis with thyme flowers, spiced dauphine potatoes, Cabernet Sauvignon sauce) RM82++. My, even the name is a mouthful itself.
Rack of lamb
Asparagus
Once again, may I present to you:
Le Bouchon's New Menu by Chef Jerome Carrouee
APPETIZERS
Terrine de Foie Gras maison
Homemade Goose liver terrine served with fig jam and grilled sour dough bread
RM50++
*****
SOUP
Soupe de moules noires au safran et légumes aromatiques
Black mussels and saffron soup with aromatique vegetables
RM20++
*****
SEAFOOD
Filet de morue rôti au sirop d’érable et piment, asperges vertes à l’ail, beurre blanc de betterave
Roasted cod fillet with chilli-maple glaze, green asparagus with garlic, beetroot beurre blanc sauce
RM62++
*****
MEAT
Pavé de bœuf rôti , sauce Bordelaise, ratatouille et pommes sautées aux lardons de canard fumé
Roasted beef tenderloin, Bordeaux wine sauce, ratatouille vegetables and sautéed potatoes with smoked duck bacon
RM98++
*****
DESSERT
Crème brulée aux framboises
Crème brulée with raspberries
RM18++
Terrine de Foie Gras maison
Homemade Goose liver terrine served with fig jam and grilled sour dough bread
RM50++
*****
SOUP
Soupe de moules noires au safran et légumes aromatiques
Black mussels and saffron soup with aromatique vegetables
RM20++
*****
SEAFOOD
Filet de morue rôti au sirop d’érable et piment, asperges vertes à l’ail, beurre blanc de betterave
Roasted cod fillet with chilli-maple glaze, green asparagus with garlic, beetroot beurre blanc sauce
RM62++
*****
MEAT
Pavé de bœuf rôti , sauce Bordelaise, ratatouille et pommes sautées aux lardons de canard fumé
Roasted beef tenderloin, Bordeaux wine sauce, ratatouille vegetables and sautéed potatoes with smoked duck bacon
RM98++
*****
DESSERT
Crème brulée aux framboises
Crème brulée with raspberries
RM18++
Chef Jerome has really brought my senses to a brand new degree, setting outrageous standards which would be hard to beat by other restaurants. It was indeed a great honour to have tasted the works of art from the chef himself, while opening my eyes to what French cuisine had to over. This is definitely a must-visit for food critics and food lovers alike. A well-deserved 8-time Tatler award-winning restaurant.
Le Bouchon Restaurant
14 & 16, Changkat Bukit Bintang,
50200 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.
Tel. no.: 03-2142 7633
Friday, July 24, 2009
Fatty meaty crabs
*Updated with prices
Time for seafood! Actually, just crabs! :) Due to the rare occasion that the four of us sickawans got together in KL, we decided to go celebrate with big fat juicy crabs at none other than Fatty Crab in Taman Megah. It was my first time being there and the notion that I wasn't aware of this restaurant's existence was showered with "What do you mean you don't know Fatty Crab???" coupled with gasps and stares from the rest of the gang. *LOL* Seriously, I was never aware of this place before that, and I don't know why is that a big deal. :P
Anyway, after much searching and rounding the neighbourhood of Taman Megah, we found the place located in the smack of the pasar malam (night market) on that Sunday. Bad idea. Traffic was congested and finding a parking was no easy task. All in the name of fatty crabs. We reached there about at about 6-ish and thank goodness we had a table without having to wait. The first thing that attracted me upon reaching was this very strong aroma, even from outside of the shop. No, it's not the smell of crabs at all. It's the smell of chicken wings! Seriously the scent stretched all the way out and opened up my appetite in no time. *LOL*
Without further ado, we ordered chicken wings! In fact, we ordered the wings TWICE, because the first plate was polished off in no time and everyone was craving for more. :) The chicken wings (RM2/pc) had to be eaten while they're hot to experience the slightly crispy layer of skin on the outside and the warm and smooth meat inside. Albeit oily, the taste was just gorgeous, especially on empty stomachs like ours.
Chicken wings (RM2/pc)
We also ordered the signature fried rice (RM4 for serving of 1 person), which was apparently also well-known in this restaurant. The fried rice was fried with traces of carrot bits, green peas and eggs. Though there was not much ingredient or meat used, the rice was still delicious due to the 'wok hei' and sufficient seasoning used. Good for filling the tummy while waiting for the crabs to arrive. :)
Signature fried rice (serving for 2 persons)
Fatty Crab used the unique way of eating crabs with toasted home made bread (RM0.30/pc), instead of the common mantou, which I found very refreshing and creative. I mean, this is how normal families would eat their leftover curry with at home, but no one actually popularized this idea in restaurants. The bread, with the toasted texture, was slightly crispy without being hard. Almost perfect combination with the sauce of the crabs. But beware, once they're left too long, the bread became cold and tough.
Toasted bread to go with crabby sauce (RM0.30/pc)
And the star of the evening finally arrived, crabs done spicy and sour style (RM28/600gm). The crabs were huge and meaty, unlike the ones I had before in Penang's seafood restaurants. Most of the crabs I had back in Penang had big shells but were almost hollow internally with little meat to spare. These, however, really stood up to their name. Fatty and meaty. :) It was the first time I didn't mind the trouble of peeling crabs because I knew they had so much to offer. The sauce was sour and slightly spicy, and it went extremely well with the toasted bread. The crab meat, though meaty, was not exactly fresh from the sea. It didn't have that texture of springy and flaky meat, however, it was definitely much better than the average crabs elsewhere. The sauce was absorbed everywhere inside the crabs, making every bite a juicy and yummy one.
Spicy and sour fatty crabs (RM28/600gm)
The gluttons we were ordered satays as well! We really have extra big stomachs, you'd be surprised. The satays (RM0.70/pc) were nothing to shout about though. I guess once I had the satay at Teluk Kumbar Good Friend Seafood restaurant, other satays would be difficult to claim the no. 1 spot in my heart. :) These satays were not bad, to give it due credit. Just that the meat wasn't really marinated well and you have to eat it with the satay sauce or risk it being bland.
Chicken Satay
Satay sauce
Overall, the meal at Fatty Crab was indeed a satisfying one. The bill came to about RM27/person for everything I mentioned including sugar cane drinks. Oh sugar cane drink is a must! Cooling down your palate after eating the hot and spicy crabs.
Fatty Crab Restaurant in Taman Megah
When we left the restaurant, not surprisingly, there was already a long queue in front. We counted our blessings for reaching there early and avoiding the crowd. So everyone, do go there early if you don't want to wait in line.
Fatty Crab Restaurant
No 2, Jln SS 24/13 ,
Taman Megah,
47301 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor.
Tel. no.: 603-78045758
Time for seafood! Actually, just crabs! :) Due to the rare occasion that the four of us sickawans got together in KL, we decided to go celebrate with big fat juicy crabs at none other than Fatty Crab in Taman Megah. It was my first time being there and the notion that I wasn't aware of this restaurant's existence was showered with "What do you mean you don't know Fatty Crab???" coupled with gasps and stares from the rest of the gang. *LOL* Seriously, I was never aware of this place before that, and I don't know why is that a big deal. :P
Anyway, after much searching and rounding the neighbourhood of Taman Megah, we found the place located in the smack of the pasar malam (night market) on that Sunday. Bad idea. Traffic was congested and finding a parking was no easy task. All in the name of fatty crabs. We reached there about at about 6-ish and thank goodness we had a table without having to wait. The first thing that attracted me upon reaching was this very strong aroma, even from outside of the shop. No, it's not the smell of crabs at all. It's the smell of chicken wings! Seriously the scent stretched all the way out and opened up my appetite in no time. *LOL*
Without further ado, we ordered chicken wings! In fact, we ordered the wings TWICE, because the first plate was polished off in no time and everyone was craving for more. :) The chicken wings (RM2/pc) had to be eaten while they're hot to experience the slightly crispy layer of skin on the outside and the warm and smooth meat inside. Albeit oily, the taste was just gorgeous, especially on empty stomachs like ours.
Chicken wings (RM2/pc)
We also ordered the signature fried rice (RM4 for serving of 1 person), which was apparently also well-known in this restaurant. The fried rice was fried with traces of carrot bits, green peas and eggs. Though there was not much ingredient or meat used, the rice was still delicious due to the 'wok hei' and sufficient seasoning used. Good for filling the tummy while waiting for the crabs to arrive. :)
Signature fried rice (serving for 2 persons)
Fatty Crab used the unique way of eating crabs with toasted home made bread (RM0.30/pc), instead of the common mantou, which I found very refreshing and creative. I mean, this is how normal families would eat their leftover curry with at home, but no one actually popularized this idea in restaurants. The bread, with the toasted texture, was slightly crispy without being hard. Almost perfect combination with the sauce of the crabs. But beware, once they're left too long, the bread became cold and tough.
Toasted bread to go with crabby sauce (RM0.30/pc)
And the star of the evening finally arrived, crabs done spicy and sour style (RM28/600gm). The crabs were huge and meaty, unlike the ones I had before in Penang's seafood restaurants. Most of the crabs I had back in Penang had big shells but were almost hollow internally with little meat to spare. These, however, really stood up to their name. Fatty and meaty. :) It was the first time I didn't mind the trouble of peeling crabs because I knew they had so much to offer. The sauce was sour and slightly spicy, and it went extremely well with the toasted bread. The crab meat, though meaty, was not exactly fresh from the sea. It didn't have that texture of springy and flaky meat, however, it was definitely much better than the average crabs elsewhere. The sauce was absorbed everywhere inside the crabs, making every bite a juicy and yummy one.
Spicy and sour fatty crabs (RM28/600gm)
The gluttons we were ordered satays as well! We really have extra big stomachs, you'd be surprised. The satays (RM0.70/pc) were nothing to shout about though. I guess once I had the satay at Teluk Kumbar Good Friend Seafood restaurant, other satays would be difficult to claim the no. 1 spot in my heart. :) These satays were not bad, to give it due credit. Just that the meat wasn't really marinated well and you have to eat it with the satay sauce or risk it being bland.
Chicken Satay
Satay sauce
Overall, the meal at Fatty Crab was indeed a satisfying one. The bill came to about RM27/person for everything I mentioned including sugar cane drinks. Oh sugar cane drink is a must! Cooling down your palate after eating the hot and spicy crabs.
Fatty Crab Restaurant in Taman Megah
When we left the restaurant, not surprisingly, there was already a long queue in front. We counted our blessings for reaching there early and avoiding the crowd. So everyone, do go there early if you don't want to wait in line.
Fatty Crab Restaurant
No 2, Jln SS 24/13 ,
Taman Megah,
47301 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor.
Tel. no.: 603-78045758
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Convocation at Nikko Hotel
This post is dedicated to my very good friend and fellow sickawan Chiaoju. She is now a proud graduate of an MBA. *applause* Stan, Yen and I went to her convocation in Nikko Hotel, since her university doesn't really have a campus in Malaysia (I think). Before that, why is it that my stupid university is taking so very long to approve my thesis! She started before me and finished earlier than me. *sigh* Anyway, we bought her a bouquet of white roses, coincidentally my favourites too! :) The hotel lobby was filled with parents and friends bearing flowers on that day, waiting for the graduation ceremony to be over.
Nikko Hotel lobby
Such high ceiling
On and off, I was texting Chiaoju to make sure we're at the right place at the right time. :)
Dimly lit chandelier
While waiting, of course I didn't miss out the chance to camwhore, this time with the University of South Australia poster! There was plenty of food lined up outside the ballroom, but they were reserved until the ceremony was over, of course. So we could only wait and smell. *LOL*
My shirt matched with the poster!
Finally, the doors of the grand ballroom opened and people starting streaming out in a line. I quickly ran over to the side with my camera ready. Tadaa! Managed to capture a shot of her while walking. :) Congrats dear!
Chiaoju emerging from the ballroom
After another while of waiting, she joined us again for more camwhoring. :)
Chiaoju and witch
with the sickawans
The area outside the ballroom was starting to get really hot and stuffy with people crowding around and walking to and fro the buffet spread. We noticed that the ballroom was now empty and it was so very cooling! Off we went inside to enjoy the comfort of silence and aircon. :)
A happy Chiaoju
The grand ballroom
Chiaoju and Stan
Chiaoju and yen
Oh I love this picture! It's like Do-Re-Me-Fa! In terms of height, I mean. I think I'm actually taller than Stan, but somehow, I wasn't really standing straight so I looked short in the picture. *LOL*
The sickawans
Before we left, Chiaoju's sis asked us to pose with our legs up, and be comfortable in it. However, we were so rigid and serious that we looked funny with the pose! Gosh we probably have turned too old for candid poses like this.
Playing the fool
We proceeded to have super yummy crabs after that, which I will blog about later on. And once again, congratulations to you, dear Chiaoju! We're very proud of you. *hugs*
Nikko Hotel lobby
Such high ceiling
On and off, I was texting Chiaoju to make sure we're at the right place at the right time. :)
Dimly lit chandelier
While waiting, of course I didn't miss out the chance to camwhore, this time with the University of South Australia poster! There was plenty of food lined up outside the ballroom, but they were reserved until the ceremony was over, of course. So we could only wait and smell. *LOL*
My shirt matched with the poster!
Finally, the doors of the grand ballroom opened and people starting streaming out in a line. I quickly ran over to the side with my camera ready. Tadaa! Managed to capture a shot of her while walking. :) Congrats dear!
Chiaoju emerging from the ballroom
After another while of waiting, she joined us again for more camwhoring. :)
Chiaoju and witch
with the sickawans
The area outside the ballroom was starting to get really hot and stuffy with people crowding around and walking to and fro the buffet spread. We noticed that the ballroom was now empty and it was so very cooling! Off we went inside to enjoy the comfort of silence and aircon. :)
A happy Chiaoju
The grand ballroom
Chiaoju and Stan
Chiaoju and yen
Oh I love this picture! It's like Do-Re-Me-Fa! In terms of height, I mean. I think I'm actually taller than Stan, but somehow, I wasn't really standing straight so I looked short in the picture. *LOL*
The sickawans
Before we left, Chiaoju's sis asked us to pose with our legs up, and be comfortable in it. However, we were so rigid and serious that we looked funny with the pose! Gosh we probably have turned too old for candid poses like this.
Playing the fool
We proceeded to have super yummy crabs after that, which I will blog about later on. And once again, congratulations to you, dear Chiaoju! We're very proud of you. *hugs*
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Noodles with a twist
A few weeks ago, my parents came down to KL to celebrate my grandmother's birthday. It was an extremely tiring event since it involved a group of almost 30 persons! Managing 30 persons including kids in one house was indeed a challenging task. Fortunately, the party was not held in MY place. It would have cramped the hell out of them! *LOL* After the long night, we woke up late the next day and decided to have brunch at the nearby Kota Damansara. We settled for fish head noodles as something lighter and appetizing.
The place was not hard to find at all, especially with its prominent bright green signboard. At about 11am on a Sunday morning, it was almost full house. Coupled with our very big gang, one can be sure that we occupied almost a third of the restaurant. *LOL*
Full house on Sunday morning
For starters, I ordered the chicken floss toast that looked tempting on the menu. And I love chicken floss! Can't say the same about mayonnaise though. Probably I should have asked them to reduce/remove the mayonnaise. Anyway, the bread was crispy and warm from the toast, and the amount of chicken floss was generous! The bread was cut into 9 equal pieces, but I only managed to eat 3 before feeling it was too rich for me. I think this is a dish definitely for sharing!
Chicken floss toast (RM4.50)
Then came the star of the day, the fish head noodles! I actually ordered the fried fish meat noodles, but then I got a bowl with fish head. No matter, I guess they mixed up or WE mixed up, judging from our very big group. Without further ado, I tasted the soup first and it was indeed very flavourful with a hint of milk. Truth be told, this was the first time I tasted fish head noodles with milk in the soup! Back in Penang, the fish head noodles soup was the clear and sour type, but this was an eye-opening experience for me. Surprisingly, I could really adapt to the taste of the soup. Even my brother said that it was the first ever time he actually finished drinking the soup from a bowl of noodles! You know what they said about the soup being laden with MSG/ajinomoto, but my brother slurped away. And so did I. :) Of course, for those who are milk intolerant, the waiters would be glad to comply with your wish and exclude milk from the soup.
Fish head noodles (RM8.50)
The soup had a distinctive tomato taste without being overpowering or too sour, and a milky base to boot. The fried fish meat was still slightly crispy on the outside but soft inside. No worries on eating 'nightmare' fish, which is the type of fish I define as not fresh and with meat texture like mashed potatoes! *Eww* The fish here still had a distinctive fish texture and went well with the soup.
Fish meat
I guess from my previous posts, you would have known that I'm a big fan of Milo. :) And thankfully, this place also serves Milo Dinosaur! *grin* As expected, the milo drink was further topped up with loads of Milo powder on top, giving it a strong and aromatic chocolatey taste. However, I prefer the Milo Dinosaur from Village Park though because the Milo was of ice-blended type while the Milo here was just normal iced Milo.
Milo dinosaur
My brother who's a fan of anything ice-blended ordered the Mango shaved ice dessert. There were pieces of watermelon and mango surrounding the ice mountain in the middle which was drenched with mango syrup. In my opinion, this dessert was still lacking in terms of mango taste, because the syrup was more like sugar water with yellow colouring, instead of real mango puree. When the ice melted, it became pretty plain in terms of taste. Probably not something I would order again.
Mango dessert
For those who are budget-constrained, Home Made Fish Head Noodles also serves economically priced set meals. These meals are priced from RM7.80 onwards with a complimentary drink and dessert included.
Set meals
One more thing I like about Home Made Fish Head Noodle is the cleanliness and the environment of the restaurant. Most of the fish head noodle places that I went to were usually hawker stalls or coffee shops, and you'd most likely end up drenched in sweat at the end of the spicy and sour meal! Over here, you get to eat comfortably in an air-conditioned environment, albeit with a premium price! I guess you get what you pay for. No harm trying it out, I'd say. :)
Home Made Fish Head Noodles in Kota Damansara
Address:
No 8-1 & 10-1, Jln PJU 5/5,
Dataran Sunway, Kota Damansara,
47810 PJ, Selangor.
Tel. no.: 03-61417978
The place was not hard to find at all, especially with its prominent bright green signboard. At about 11am on a Sunday morning, it was almost full house. Coupled with our very big gang, one can be sure that we occupied almost a third of the restaurant. *LOL*
Full house on Sunday morning
For starters, I ordered the chicken floss toast that looked tempting on the menu. And I love chicken floss! Can't say the same about mayonnaise though. Probably I should have asked them to reduce/remove the mayonnaise. Anyway, the bread was crispy and warm from the toast, and the amount of chicken floss was generous! The bread was cut into 9 equal pieces, but I only managed to eat 3 before feeling it was too rich for me. I think this is a dish definitely for sharing!
Chicken floss toast (RM4.50)
Then came the star of the day, the fish head noodles! I actually ordered the fried fish meat noodles, but then I got a bowl with fish head. No matter, I guess they mixed up or WE mixed up, judging from our very big group. Without further ado, I tasted the soup first and it was indeed very flavourful with a hint of milk. Truth be told, this was the first time I tasted fish head noodles with milk in the soup! Back in Penang, the fish head noodles soup was the clear and sour type, but this was an eye-opening experience for me. Surprisingly, I could really adapt to the taste of the soup. Even my brother said that it was the first ever time he actually finished drinking the soup from a bowl of noodles! You know what they said about the soup being laden with MSG/ajinomoto, but my brother slurped away. And so did I. :) Of course, for those who are milk intolerant, the waiters would be glad to comply with your wish and exclude milk from the soup.
Fish head noodles (RM8.50)
The soup had a distinctive tomato taste without being overpowering or too sour, and a milky base to boot. The fried fish meat was still slightly crispy on the outside but soft inside. No worries on eating 'nightmare' fish, which is the type of fish I define as not fresh and with meat texture like mashed potatoes! *Eww* The fish here still had a distinctive fish texture and went well with the soup.
Fish meat
I guess from my previous posts, you would have known that I'm a big fan of Milo. :) And thankfully, this place also serves Milo Dinosaur! *grin* As expected, the milo drink was further topped up with loads of Milo powder on top, giving it a strong and aromatic chocolatey taste. However, I prefer the Milo Dinosaur from Village Park though because the Milo was of ice-blended type while the Milo here was just normal iced Milo.
Milo dinosaur
My brother who's a fan of anything ice-blended ordered the Mango shaved ice dessert. There were pieces of watermelon and mango surrounding the ice mountain in the middle which was drenched with mango syrup. In my opinion, this dessert was still lacking in terms of mango taste, because the syrup was more like sugar water with yellow colouring, instead of real mango puree. When the ice melted, it became pretty plain in terms of taste. Probably not something I would order again.
Mango dessert
For those who are budget-constrained, Home Made Fish Head Noodles also serves economically priced set meals. These meals are priced from RM7.80 onwards with a complimentary drink and dessert included.
Set meals
One more thing I like about Home Made Fish Head Noodle is the cleanliness and the environment of the restaurant. Most of the fish head noodle places that I went to were usually hawker stalls or coffee shops, and you'd most likely end up drenched in sweat at the end of the spicy and sour meal! Over here, you get to eat comfortably in an air-conditioned environment, albeit with a premium price! I guess you get what you pay for. No harm trying it out, I'd say. :)
Home Made Fish Head Noodles in Kota Damansara
Address:
No 8-1 & 10-1, Jln PJU 5/5,
Dataran Sunway, Kota Damansara,
47810 PJ, Selangor.
Tel. no.: 03-61417978
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Teh Tarik Place in IOI Mall
Here's a food post from somewhere really nearby my new humble abode. Located just about 10 minutes away in IOI Mall, Teh Tarik Place recently opened its doors to the public. Thank goodness for the posters they put up around the mall and outside the parking lot, or else I wouldn't have known of its existence. Couple that with the fact that it's located on the isolated 3rd floor in the new wing, where there are not many shops in operation.
I was there on a Saturday morning around 11am looking for a place to have breakfast before my facial appointment. I was already going to stick with the common choice of Old Town Kopitiam before Saucer insisted that we should try something new. I was reluctant since I was out of time and we didn't know where Teh Tarik Place was! Sure enough, it took us a good 10 minutes to locate the shop.
Teh Tarik Place
Not surprisingly, it was still empty, but I liked that it was spacious and clean. We placed our orders with the friendly waiter and our drinks came shortly. I ordered iced Nescafe (I know I should have ordered teh tarik in Teh Tarik Place :P) because I was really sleepy! Nothing special with the drinks though, not especially 'kau' and not too bad.
Nescafe and Coffee
As for food, I couldn't resist ordering the nasi lemak when I saw it on the menu. :P I wanted to compare it with the Village Park nasi lemak that I tried previously. For starters, the fried chicken in Teh Tarik Place is not as aromatic as Village Park. Thankfully, the skin was still crispy and the meat tender. Not too bad, probably lack. The sambal used here is also slightly on the hot side. The kind waiter also gave me one whole BOWL of sambal when I requested for more. *LOL*
Nasi lemak with fried chicken
They even give you one whole boiled egg for the nasi lemak! The one in Village Park only gave half an egg. Well, it might not be a big deal, but worth mentioning. :P
with a whole egg
Saucer ordered 'mee goreng' or fried mee, Malay style. It was very fragrant albeit slightly oily. Nothing too extraordinary about it I suppose.
Fried mee/ Mee goreng
Kopitiam places such as Teh Tarik Place and Old Town are mushrooming all over KL in an alarming rate! Only last week, I realized that it was easier to locate an Old Town Kopitiam than a McDonald's! *gasp* Is it really such a good business? All I know is, with so many branches and so many different franchises, these kopitiams better buck up their quality to avoid losing out.
Teh Tarik Place entrance
Teh Tarik Place
IOI Mall, Jalan Puchong,
Bandar Puchong Jaya,
47100 Puchong, Selangor
Tel. no: 03-7726 6380
I was there on a Saturday morning around 11am looking for a place to have breakfast before my facial appointment. I was already going to stick with the common choice of Old Town Kopitiam before Saucer insisted that we should try something new. I was reluctant since I was out of time and we didn't know where Teh Tarik Place was! Sure enough, it took us a good 10 minutes to locate the shop.
Teh Tarik Place
Not surprisingly, it was still empty, but I liked that it was spacious and clean. We placed our orders with the friendly waiter and our drinks came shortly. I ordered iced Nescafe (I know I should have ordered teh tarik in Teh Tarik Place :P) because I was really sleepy! Nothing special with the drinks though, not especially 'kau' and not too bad.
Nescafe and Coffee
As for food, I couldn't resist ordering the nasi lemak when I saw it on the menu. :P I wanted to compare it with the Village Park nasi lemak that I tried previously. For starters, the fried chicken in Teh Tarik Place is not as aromatic as Village Park. Thankfully, the skin was still crispy and the meat tender. Not too bad, probably lack. The sambal used here is also slightly on the hot side. The kind waiter also gave me one whole BOWL of sambal when I requested for more. *LOL*
Nasi lemak with fried chicken
They even give you one whole boiled egg for the nasi lemak! The one in Village Park only gave half an egg. Well, it might not be a big deal, but worth mentioning. :P
with a whole egg
Saucer ordered 'mee goreng' or fried mee, Malay style. It was very fragrant albeit slightly oily. Nothing too extraordinary about it I suppose.
Fried mee/ Mee goreng
Kopitiam places such as Teh Tarik Place and Old Town are mushrooming all over KL in an alarming rate! Only last week, I realized that it was easier to locate an Old Town Kopitiam than a McDonald's! *gasp* Is it really such a good business? All I know is, with so many branches and so many different franchises, these kopitiams better buck up their quality to avoid losing out.
Teh Tarik Place entrance
Teh Tarik Place
IOI Mall, Jalan Puchong,
Bandar Puchong Jaya,
47100 Puchong, Selangor
Tel. no: 03-7726 6380
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
