CNY Golf time at Bukit Jalil

Location from gilagolf.wordpress.com
You can either come from the LDP from PJ. Pass the Sunway toll and head straight to TPM (Technology Park Malaysia). You will go past Kinrara on the Bukit Jalil highway (which is just a narrow trunk road jammed like a monkey’s artery), and soon reach a traffic light. At the lights, take a left and about 100 m up the road, a right turn into the club. You can also come in from the Sg Besi highway. Make a turn to the Bukit Jalil National Sports Complex and head towards TPM. Turn right at the TPM entrance and you will be on the other side of the trunk road. Look for the traffic light that enables you to turn right. After that right, 100m, you will see a right turn.


This is a Berjaya-developed golf course...
Our signature golf course is sprawled over 165-acre site amidst lush tropical greenery and scenic views. A superb course designed by renown Australian designer Max Wexler.


We played on Chinese New Year ... Day 4!


This was my first round at Bukit Jalil.

Wet conditions, but lucky it didn't rain...

Majestic shot and follow-through ... so Tiger-esque with the iron twirl!

H again!

Not a very memorable score of 55 + 57 due to lack of sleep and focus in parts ... but nevertheless a fun round with 3 good playing buddies.

CNY Pool time at The Social - Bangsar

Gong hey fatt choy, from the Social :-)


Three against one!

Gong Xi Fa Cai - DJ's Open House

Gong xi Fa Cai in the year of the Ox ... DJ's Open House!


Friends' get together at DJ's home ... cheers bro!

The games begin :-)

Hey... gong xi fa cai!!!!

Happy Chinese New Year - Ipoh pai-nien

Time to pai-nien and pay a CNY visit to my Dai Yi (Tai Yee) in Ipoh ... Delicious food as always, though I really miss the Lap Mei Fan from 2007!

Ang Ku Kuih - Home made and perfect!

Their home grown durian, the tree beared over 20 fruits this year ... Wow!

Nope, I didn't try any durian ... burp!

Cousins!

Sisters and ... family :-)

Chinese New Year Lunch at Grand Aunt's

Cookies ... lots and lots of different ones.

Besides kum, there were also lychees!

Every year, P and me like playing with the cool Toothpick Dispenser!

The toothpicks are to pick up pieces of super Agar Agar aka Jelly.

Salt baked chicken, mixed vegetable dish, and sambal sotong ... Delicious!

Gong Hey Fatt Choy - Lunch at Grand Aunt's

Gong Hey Fatt Choy, San Nin Fai Lok ... Grand-Aunt :-)


Family shot :-) of the gals!


Time for some Skype'ing! High-tech CNY greetings from El Paso, Texas :-)

Always room for more makan ... slurrp!

Family shot!

Nasi Lemak Chinese New Year Luncheon - Home sweet home!

Gong Hey Fatt Choy ... this dessert or tong-sui is a must in the morning :-)


My family tradition each year, CNY lunch of Nasi Lemak.


The nasi lemak prepared by Yanna is always ... outstanding!


Fried rice, anyone? Delicious!

Coco wishes everyone Happy Chinese New Year!

This is the Year of the Ox.


Coco wishes one and all , Xin Nien Kwai Ler & Gong Hey Fatt Choy!


Coco ... posing!


My mum and dad ... Gong Xi Fa Cai!


The lovely couple :-) Congratulations!


Best biscuits, by far! Cheers, H :-)

There's always ang-pows!


Hi aunts!

Family Nasi Lemak lunch, a Si Clan CNY tradition :-)

Coco ... Woof, Happy New Year!

Take the new year by the horns - Digi Yellowman

As seen in the papers today, best print ad of the day I reckon ...

"Take the new year by the horns"
Gong Xi Fa Cai
Digi



ps - Yellowman aka YCF lives on :-)

Gong Hey Fatt Choy from the Si Clan!

Gong Hey Fatt Choy @ the evening of our family Reunion Dinner


A good time!


My dear family :-) Happiness, health and love in 2009!


The Si Clan Loh sang :-)

Loh Hei .. higher higher!

Cheers!

Hmmm ... the first hand in the Year of the Ox!

Gong Hey Fatt Choy - My family's Reunion Dinner

This is the year of the Ox ... GONG HEY FATT CHOY , one and all!


More kum!


Roast pork ... roast duck ... Marvellous.


Delicious spring rolls!

Acar from Ipoh, courtesy of 2nd Aunt ... and Yanna's special HOT chicken curry.

Bak Kut Teh (Teluk Pulai, where else!), stew pork and noodles ...

Delicious fish and prawns ...

Loh Sang from Imperial Restaurant, Bukit Tinggi Klang

Our Si Family CNY Reunion 2009 Dinner ... thanks for preparing such wonderful food, we truly are Blessed mum!

Happy Birthday, Mum!

Mum ... Happy Birthday!


We prepared a surprise birthday cake ... just after our family's reunion dinner!


Mango Yoghurt, from La Boheme - Jusco Bukit Tinggi Klang


Coco helped mum blow out the candle!

Happy Birthday mum, from all of us!

Samsung Omnia i900

This was the second Omnia I have had the pleasure of putting my grubby fingers on ... and its an impressive piece of kit. The touch screen and menus are customisable and dare I say, intuitive, and there are some good elements of the iPhone such as when you scroll your photos. This happens to be G's. Last I played with one, it belonged to HL. Guess these Singapore-based Malaysians have the best gadgets!

Wikipedia...
Manufacturer Samsung
Available July 2008
Screen 240x400 (Portrait Mode) , or 400x240 (Landscape Mode)
3.2 in, TFT LCD, Touch Screen


Camera 5 Megapixels (Back)
Second camera 3G Video Calling (Front)
Operating system Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
CPU 624MHz Marvell PXA312 processor
Memory 128 MB RAM, 256 MB ROM
Memory card MicroSD (TransFlash) - Storage 8GB/16GB


An optical mouse? This fella has everything!
Input Touch Screen, Optical “Finger-Mouse” sensor, Buttons


Networks AGPS,HSDPA (3.5G),
Quad band GSM / GPRS / EDGE GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900
Connectivity USB 2.0, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, Wi-Fi b/g
Battery Li-Ion (1440 mAh)
Physical size 112 x 56.9 x 12.5 mm
Weight 127 g
Form factor Candybar

Soo Kee Chicken Noodles and Prawn Wantan, Seapark

Add: 33 Jalan 21/17, PJTel: +603 7876 7736
Located: Opposite the SEA Park market
Opening hours: 8:30am - 2:30pm

More history and details in a previous blog!


Steamed chicken with Oyster Sauce - My bro is back from S'pore just for this!

Such smooth hor-fun, served "kosong" if requested. Here's both the soup and konloh variety.

Crunchy ipoh-style Beansprouts ...

Prawn Wantan - Nearly as legendary as the chicken, just as good!

Restoran Hock Seng Two, SS2 PJ - Curry Puff, Assam Laksa, Siu Pau

Add: Restoran Hock Seng Two, 66, Jalan SS 2/66, PJ
Review: Homi Curry Puff at SS2

This kopi tiam houses a number of decent stalls, including the legendary Homi Chicken Curry Puff ... RM$1.30 of magic, huge curry "paps"!


In the stall directly behind Homi, no relationship to Homi, is Seremban Siu Pau. Yumm ... small, and delicious.


G and E were back from S'pore, and wanted to try our local Assam Laksa. RM$4 from the corner stall at the kopi tiam. It did not dissapoint, but I felt it was nothing like the one I had at Gurney Drive Penang recently.

Gong Hey Fatt Choy from Bangsar Village 2

Bangsar ViIIage

Gong Hey Fatt Choy!!

Happy Chinese New Year, Pandamaran Klang

Ronnie Liu, DAP, wishes all folks of Pandamaran, Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Who's he? Member - Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) @ Pandamaran, and DAP's International Secretary.


For your Chinese New Year shopping needs ... look no further then Pandamaran's CNY Bazaar, street-side, along Jalan Besar , Kampung Baru, Port Klang.


ps. Remember last year's street market?

Leonardos Dining Room - New Italian soon to be opened at Jalan Bangkung

Seems the kitchen has just been fitted out, and the dining room looks near enough complete ... I can't wait for the post Chinese New Year opening of Leonardo's - Dining Room!

Add: 61-1 Jalan Bangkung, Bukit Bandaraya @ Bangsar, KL
Tel: +603 2096 2226
Opening Hours: Daily, 5pm till late



All the best, PY and Chef Max!

Leonardos Wine Loft - Waldorf Salad, Jalan Bangkung

Add: 61-2, Jalan Bangkung, Bukit Bandaraya, Bangsar, KL
Tel: +603 2096 2226
Opening Hours: Daily, 5pm till late

Azman, the personable manager at newly opened Leonardos (Located where The Attic used to be, above Jalan Bangkung, not far from Cava and Opus), highly recommended this shaved turnip and green apple salad, the Waldorf. EXCELLENT! $24


Mamma Mia pizza , $30 - Nice spanish-style jamon and rocket over the top, but the base was too dry. Chef Max did offer to re-do the dish, but we had finished half of it by then, and were rather stuffed. No problem, matey... we will be back!


Cheese and wine anyone? This is an exquisite combo ... Fruit cheese (Looks like peaches or apricots), and some French red (Louis Jadot 2005, Bourgogne Pinot Noir @ RM$160). Thanks to TC for introducing me to good-value french reds this week, and Azman @ Leonardos for helping select this bottle.


Wineloverspage.com
Describes this wine as ... Clear ruby. Red cherry fruit and a touch of earth on the nose and palate; nicely balanced with fresh acidity and smooth tannins; alcoholic content is rationally restrained at 12.5%. Not the most complex or exciting Burgundy, but well balanced and a good example of basic red Burgundy style at an affordable price.

Reunion, BV2 Bangsar - Chinese New Year Tim Sum

Bangsar Village 2 seems to be doing well, despite the downturn. Its one of my fave places to frequent for shopping, but mainly for dining and chilling. It also helps that the Social is located just opposite the road, and there is a Transview Golf on the 2nd floor :-)


Wanted to go to Ming Room at BSC for timsum one morning, but that only opens at about noon-time. Instead, I decided on Reunion, which opens for tim-sum on weekends at 10:30am.

Add: 2F, 18/19, 2nd floor, Bangsar Village II
Tel: +603 2287 3770

Special Chinese New Year menu!

Pei Tan Sau Yuk Chuk, Century egg and pork porridge (RM$6.80) - Fabulous! We could hardly feel the texture of the rice grains. As L described, "Like puree!"

Har Cheong Fun, prawn rice roll (RM$8.80) - Rather magnificent! Delicate skin, near translucent, and fresh prawns.

Char Siew Pao - Exquisite, beautiful bun and the filling was close-enough perfect! RM$6.80

This along with the excellent Chee Cheong Fun is a clear indicator of the quality of Reunion's timsum.

Siu Mai, RM$7.80

Lor Mai Kai, Glutinous rice - The chicken was perfectly marinated, the rice was good, overall ... another winner! RM$6.80

Char Loh Pak Koh, fried turnip cake (RM$8.80) - Excellent. Lovely turnip pieces, the timsum here at Reunion is really "fine".

Tarn Tart aka Egg Tarts, RM$6.80 - Enjoyed this very much!

We had a great meal, and a super chilled out pre-balik kampung CNY morning.

In view of the great food, and nice place, RM$69 for two seems like a bargain. Forget hotel tim-sums, come to Reunion @ BV2 (or Ming Room, BSC)!

Shuraku - Delicious new Japanese at Solaris, Mont Kiara

I am starting to spend a lot of time in the Solaris area, was going to visit Tenji (The Japanese Buffet), but changed our mind to visit a smaller eatery instead :-)

Thanks to H for introducing me to this 2 month old Jap, at Solaris Mont Kiara. Located on the 2nd floor near to SoHo, its a quaint little place, with excellent service.

Add: 13-2, Jalan Solaris Mont Kiara 1, Solaris Mont Kiara, off Jalan Duta.

Tel: +603 6203 0561
Opening hours: Daily, 6pm - 12.30am

Facebook information:

A visit to SHURAKU transports you on a unique culinary journey, made distinct by a menu of intricate Japanese pub fare specially prepared by Chef Yazu from Ozaka, Japan and an extensive list of sake, shochu & spirits that will quench any thirst.

Situated above Maybank in Solaris Mont Kiara, diners of SHURAKU will be greeted by a warm cozy setting and a team of hospitable staff who are also conversant in Japanese. With reasonable pricing, there is really nothing stopping you from joining us at SHURAKU today!

Tanqueray and Tonic, or to the less-initiated ... Gin and Tonic! RM$16, good value cos' its strong and its Tanqueray!

Tonkotsu Sui Gyoza - An ordinary spring-roll type dish that sprung to life thanks to the Japanese Curry Sauce served alongside, yummy! RM$15.

Nama Haru Maki - Unagi, beautifully translucent and delicate skin, and a hint of cheese, quite magical! RM$20.

Ebi Mentai Harumaki (RM$12) - Wanton soup with a bone-based broth, simply delicious once again!

Tori Garlic - Chicken with garlic bits, simply delicious! RM$14.

The Beef Yasai Roll came highly recommended, but we didn't find it that spesh ... Perhaps cos' we had let it cool down? RM$18.

Cha Soba (Cold) - Pretty decent, RM$17.

ps - Good value, good service, good food, and thanks to H for the treat :-) RM$60 a person for the above, without the G&T, or RM$90 per person with a pair of G&Ts each!

Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir with TC, La Bodega Lounge - Bangsar

Venue: La Bodega Lounge, Bangsar

Gong Hey Fatt Choy, TC and E :-)

Slight hints of sweetness, otherwise a nice wine. This is a Pinot Noir , Cloudy Bay 2005.

Cotes du Rhone and Heong Soh Ngap (Aromatic Duck), the Social - Bagsar

Add: the SOCIAL - No 57&59 , Jalan Telawi 3 , Bangsar Baru , Bangsar, KL
Tel: +603 2822 2260
Located: Opposite Bangsar Village II, same row as Chawan.

Always an excellent choice, the RM$30 Aromatic Crispy Duck or known as Heong Soh Ngap in the UK. Perfect with a dash of chilli oil :-)

E's choice ... Char Kuay Teow (RM$16), as good as most but after my return from Lor Selamat at Penang ... hmm, I was a tough customer to please!

Marinara Aglio Olio - Very good. Perfectly al dente, L and me enjoyed this!

Tiramisu (RM$11) - Trifle style. The alcohol content was good, but just too sweet. Not too impressive!

Magnificent choice by TC, great value at RM$128. Albert Bichot's Cotes du Rhone, a french red. A really nice change from the Aussie wines I normally partake in!

Modesto, CapSquare KL

Add: MODESTO’S @ CapSquare - Ground Floor, Capital Square, 7 Persiaran CapSquare, KL
Tel: +603 2697 4020
Located: Near Asian Heritage Row, and "opposite" the road from the legendary Yut Kee at Dang Wangi, KL

Trendy, with a huge bar area and lots of cosy corners for diners. We had the pleasure of using the elevated private dining area, which seats approximately 20.


nst.com.my
Put that aside for moment and just savour the new menu. Among the new specialities are pan-seared Wagyu beef with fresh Italian herbs, angel hair pasta with codfish and tuna steaks in balsamic and rocket salad. And check out the aquarium from where you can choose fresh lobster, oysters and mussels prepared in rustic Italian styles.
Feel like Asian? Pop over to the U Sushi Bar for a selection of sashimi, sushi, noodles and teppanyaki. Also, keep an eye on their set lunches and dinners.
Or maybe you’d like some Italian gourmet. In the alfresco area, the Delitalia serves rustic delicasies from Parma and Tuscany to go with fabulous cappucinos and espressos.

These are just some of the many dishes we ordered ... feast your eyes!




Different pizzas!


More dishes!



And I especially liked the pastas served here, rather decent!



My risotto, which was good!

Highland Park "21 years" whisky and Padrón 1926 Serie

My bro, TC, was back in town and we celebrated the evening with some Highland Park whisky, aged 21 years. So smooth and not a hint of spiciness, a nice change from the usual Macallan or Famous Grouse!


Wikipedia ... Highland Park Single Malt is a Scotch whisky distilled by Highland Park Distillery, Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands, the northernmost distillery in Scotland, a half mile north from that of Scapa. The distillery was founded in 1798.
The name of this whisky does not refer to the area of Scotland known as The Highlands, from which the Orkney Islands are excluded, but rather to the fact that the distillery was founded on an area distinguished from a lower area nearbyHighland Distillers was founded in 1887 by the Robertson family.
In 1970 Highland purchased Matthew Gloag & Son Ltd., producers of the Famous Grouse blended whisky and acquired The Macallan single malt Scotch producers in 1996. Highland also produced the Highland Park brand whisky. Highland Distillers was purchased by the Edrington Group in 1999. William Grant & Sons and the Edrington Group took Highland Distillers private in 2000.

And... more indulgence! Mild, lovely flavours and rolled with superb integrity.


Wikipedia ... Padrón Cigars is a company that produces cigars from Nicaragua. The company was founded in 1964 in Miami, Florida by José Orlando Padrón. Padrón had moved there from Cuba. In 1970, Padrón moved the company to Esteli, Nicaragua.
The third and final cigar blend that Padrón offers is the Padrón 1926 Serie, created in 2002 in honor of Jose Padrón’s 75th Birthday. Consisting of 7 vitolas, each cigar features either a sun-grown habano natural or Maduro wrapper, and contains Nicaraguan tobacco aged for no less than five years. Just like the Padrón 1964 Anniversary blend, the Padrón 1926 Serie is box pressed and has 6 digit security codes on their bands to ensure against counterfeiting.

Limoncello, Orangecello and Ice Wine too ... Gong Hey!

Ah... what would Chinese New Year be without a "little" alcohol at our Loh Sang dindins!

Limoncello from Cash who brought it back from his Italy travels...


Arancello del Golfo aka Orangecello!


Lincoln Ice Wine vintage 2002 - We enjoyed this as an "afters" aka dessert wine.

And some Chivas "12" as well...

That's the very long loh sang/loh hei chopsticks next to the bottle!

Loh hei ... Loh sang .. Prosperous Chinese New Year! Oriental @ Jaya33

Loh sang @ Jaya 33's Oriental Pavilion with friends...

Gong Xi Fa Cai ... Gong Hey Fatt Choy!

Here's to a prosperous year of the Ox!

Loh hei ... loh sang .. higher higher!

Gong Xi Fa Cai - Oriental Pavilion, Jaya 33 in PJ

Add: Lot P 104, 1st Floor, Jaya 33, 3, Jalan Semangat, Section 13, PJ
Tel: +603 7956 9288

Previously located at Jaya Supermarket, that is now a memory of the past ... this is the brand-new Jaya 33.


Traffic was nightmare and the rain didn't help, but I am glad that everyone got together by 9pm :-) Thanks to FK who got us all together!



Char siew - Really good, but can anyone top Overseas Imbi's delicious sticky version?
Siew Yoke - Poor! Not crispy, and lacked the taste of Reunion at BV2's siew yoke


Ah hah... this is what the veges are for! Pity the Cherry tomatoes weren't particularly sweet. Char-siew wrapped in lettuce, it works ... yummmmy!

Tai-chee melon soup - Deeeelicious!

Wasabi deep-fried prawns - Very interesting, and pretty yummy!

Scallop and brocolli - No complaints!

Steamed cod fish - a little overdone and not particularly smooth.

Excellently prepared Lap Mei Fan (Waxed meats rice) ... The chinese sausage was delicious!

Dessert time!
Wor peng (Delicious!) and Mango pudding (Not bad...)

The damage?

9 dishes, 22 persons, bring-your-own alcohol = RM$100 per person.

Nikon D60 - Nikon's smallest DSLR to date!

Mr GT brought along his Nikon D60, with three lenses (the kit lens mentioned below, Nikkor 55-200mm VR and Nikkor 60mm Macro) to dinner one night, and I had a look-see :-)

Build quality is decent, but I found my Nikon D80 reasonably sturdier. I found the omission of a LCD displaying ISO, Shutter speed, Aperture, shot-count etc on top of the body, to be odd!


Information source: Nikonusa.com and Wikipedia
Nikon's Smallest Digital SLR Ever! Beautifully styled, the D60 makes high-performance digital SLR photography easier and more convenient than ever. You'll be amazed at the power packed into a camera that weighs just over 16 ounces.


AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR (Vibration Reduction) Image Stabilization Lens: NIKKOR lenses are famous for breathtaking sharpness and faithful color. With Nikon's fast, accurate autofocus and Vibration Reduction (VR) image stabilization technology built in, pictures are even sharper, free from blur caused by camera shake when shooting hand-held.


2.5-Inch, 230,000-Dot Color LCD Monitor with 170-Degree Wide-Angle Viewing: Playback images are easy to see and function menus are easier to use with a larger and brighter color LCD monitor. The large 2.5-inch LCD monitor enables image preview at up to 19 times magnification and has large type fonts with easy-to-view menus. Auto rotating LCD display provides automatic horizontal and vertical graphic display orientation.


More information!
The Nikon D60 is a 10.2 megapixel digital single-lens reflex camera announced in January 2008. The D60 succeeds the entry-level Nikon D40x. The D60 features the Nikon EXPEED image processor introduced in the higher-end Nikon D3 and D300.
The list price of the D60 was announced as €749 in Germany.

New features
Compared to the D40, new features of the Nikon D60 include:
Stop-motion movie Creation
Nikon EXPEED Processor
Self-cleaning sensor unit
Air-flow Control System that reduces the amount of dust that reaches the sensor
LCD Screen Orientation Rotation
Active D-Lighting (1 level)
Kit lens with optical image stabilization for same kit price as D40 before the Nikon D60 was released on February 24, 2008.

Continuity
The Nikon D60 body is very similar to the Nikon D40, with the placement of several key buttons being the most notable difference. Like the D40, the Nikon D60 has no secondary display on top of the body (common in higher-end DSLRs), but instead displays shutter speed, f-number, and other information on the main LCD screen.

Korean instant noodles - Shin Ramen by Nong Shim

Wikipedia has an entry about my dad's fave instant noodles!
Shin Ramyun is a brand of Korean Instant Noodles produced since 1986 by Nong Shim, a South Korean food manufacturer.
Shin Ramyun, a spicy noodle soup produced by food company Nong Shim, originated in South Korea and has been exported abroad to over 80 different countries worldwide. This type of noodle has obtained a cult-like following by lovers of its spicy flavor.
Its unique taste was developed in the company's research labs and from there, it has since became the No. 1 selling noodle in an already saturated market.


Washed down with some fresh OJ served in a mug my mum has kept since the Los Angeles Olympic Games of 1984! Yes, 1984!

Source: koamart.com
SHIN RAMEN is a worldwide popular hot and spicy noodle ramen, made of beef flavor and various natural seasoning. Creating a sensation since the first roll out in October 1986, Shin ramen noodle has maintained the position as best selling ramen noodle worldwide. It is also loved in Japn, US, Hong Kong, Taiwan and China due to its unique and hot taste.

Calorie(kcal) : 240

Carbohydrate(g) : 36(12)

Protein(g) : 5

Sodium(mg) : 1050(44)

Fat(g) : 4(20)

Dietary Fiber 1g(4),

Sugars 2g

Ramen noodles (aka: Ramyun) is an Korean food ready to eat in about 5 minutes. Mouth-watering ramen noodles and aroma of ramen soup will enlighten your sense of taste and smell. You may add egg, vegetables, and other sauces to create your very own ramen noodles. Some of ramens have KimChi, Beef, Seaweed or other special spicy ingredients inside for delicious flavor. Treat your taste buds with popular ramen of your choice. Most popular ramens are Shin ramen, KimChi ramen, Maruchan ramen, Spicy ramen, Udon ramen & Seafood ramen.

Steamed chicken at home

What a nice welcome home, after a 23 hour eating adventure in Penang ... Steamed chicken, and home made chilli dip ... and Oil + salt + pepper.


Shrimp Omelette and stir fried greens.


Coco ... Woof! Welcome home :-)

All roads in Penang lead to ... Komtar!

During my makan trek, all roads in Penang seemed to lead to E&O, Sunway Hotel and ... Komtar!



Source: www.penang-vacations.com
Dominating the island’s skyline is KOMTAR (Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak) the famous landmark of Penang and touted to be the icon of its urban renewal programme. With the cost of RM207 million, the 65-storey building was the tallest in Asia at that time.
The buildings consist of a 12-sided geometric block, 760ft (232m) tall and sitting atop a 4-storey podium. The complex comprises office and retail commercial space as well as public and recreational facilities.

Wei Shang Trading - Cookies and Cakes by Mary, Penang

One of the reasons I like going to Song River off Persiaran Gurney, is we seem to always bump into either Mary or her mother who sells lovely cakes, cookies and tidbits.
Tel: Mary @ +6016 494 2425


Delicious Suji cake!


The cake, and the 2 bins of cookies below (Japanese Green Pea cookies on the right) came up to RM$45. Not cheap, but you get what you pay for ... quality!

Song River, Jalan Birch off Persiaran Gurney - Penang

Song River Bak Kut Teh
Add: 65, Jalan Birch, off Persiaran Gurney
Located: Road following Lorong Burma
Tel: +6012 408 8345

Don't let the name fool you ... Song River serves a lot more then Bak Kut Teh!
RL brought me here mid-last year and it left such a lasting impression on me, I had to bring my friends there too!


My Hokkien was poor, but lucky I had photos from my previous blog entry with me, so I showed the lady boss, and she asked ... "Internet, ah?" with a beaming smile! She promptly invited me to the kitchen where the chefs had their cam-whoring moment of fame, haha!

Signature dish and right-fully so! Prawn noodle with ginger slices, RM$20

Bitter gourd and Omelette, RM$5 . My favourite dish, and it is truly to-die-for!

Tofu with brinjal, RM$8 - Delicious!

Soya sauce chicken, RM$10. So good!

A couple of parting shots of Penang, along the Gurney Drive waterfront with my Nikon D80 + versatile Tamron 17-50mm set-up.

Penang Road Cendul - Leboh Keng Kwee, Penang

This must be one of the most famous back-roads in Malaysia!

This is why!

Careful, there are actually 2 stalls :-) I usually choose Penang Road Famous Teochew Cendul, the one with the Gurmit Singh photograph! Its the one on the right-side as you get off Penang Road, into this little lane (Leboh Keng Kwee).

Shaved ice heaven!

Don't want to stand? No problem ... take a seat in this quaint little shoplot owned by the Penang Road Cendul propietor.

The view from the other end of Leboh Keng Kwee...

Source: kuanchong.com
Cendol is one of the most popular desserts in Malaysia. Cendul is a cold dessert consists of shaved ice, cendul (green noodles), coconut milk, red beans and gula Melaka (Yellow sugar). Its main taste is come from coconut milk and gula Malacca.
Penang Road Famous TeoChew Chendul’ is run by Tan’s family and it has operated for more than 50 years. There are 2 cendul stalls at the same place which located opposite to each other. You can recognize the ‘Penang Road Famous TeoChew Chendul’ stall by the Phua Chu Kang photo and also the Giant logo. Besides, ‘Penang Road Famous TeoChew Chendul’ is always having more customers and you may need to queue during weekend.

Branches!

1. Penang (Georgetown): Burma Road Stall (Junction of Macalister Lane & Burma Road)

2. Penang (Tanjung Tokong): Island Plaza Food Court

3. Penang (Georgetown): Super Komtar Food Arcade

4. Selangor (U.S.J. Subang Jaya): Giant Food Court

5. Kuala Lumpur (Melawati): Giant Food Court6. Johor (Johor Jaya): Pelentong Giant Food Court

Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi clan Temple, Penang

This is my visit to the Leong San Tong (Khoo Kongsi clan) Temple, in Penang. My first time!

Tel: +604 261 4609
Information ource: www.virtualtourist.com

This is a Chinese meeting house/temple. The Khoo clan, who immigrated from Hokkien province in China, acquired this spot in 1851 and set to work building row houses, administrative buildings, and a clan temple around a large square. The temple here now was actually built in 1906 after a fire destroyed its predecessor. It was believed the original was too ornate, provoking the wrath of the gods.

The forefathers of the Khoo family who emigrated from South China built it as a clan-house for members of the Khoo family. It was burnt down in 1894 and some believed that it was due to its resemblance to the Emperor's palace. A scaled down version was later built in 1902. The building features a magnificent hall embellished with intricate carvings and richly ornamented beams of the finest wood bearing the mark of master craftsmen from China.

Penang's most famous historic monument is one of the foremost examples of South Chinese building arts and crafts from the early 20th century. The present Khoo family ancestral temple was built in 1906. The most lavish of family temple that exists in Asia. Khoo kongsi historic complex consists of a magnificent ancestral temple, a theatre, an association building and rowhouses surrounding a granite-paved square. At first the rowhouses were built by various branches of the clan for their immediate relations. for your knowledge, this historical place was a filming location for the movie "Anna and the King". Jodie Foster complimented the trustees for "a good job in preserving such a marvelous historical building"

Back outside...


It was a bright sunny morning!

A reminder that this was a UNESCO world heritage site was clear to be seen on the banner.

Another one of the houses at the Courtyard

Kapitan Keling Mosque - Oldest in Penang

Add: Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, George Town, Penang
Tel: +604 262 0202

I was driving about when I stopped at the side of road to get a closer look at this beautiful masjid (mosque).

Review from www.wcities.com
Located at the busy junction of Chulia Street and Pitt Street, Kapitan Keling's spacious gardens are an ideal spot to watch the world go by. Crowned by yellow domes and minarets, it is the largest historic mosque in town; it was founded in 1801 by an Indian Muslim merchant, Cauder Mydin Merican.

Originally it was a rectangular building with verandas and a hipped roof and has been enlarged several times. British architects commissioned by the Muslim and Hindu Endowments Board gave the mosque its British Moghul Revival appearance in 1916. Permission to enter must be obtained from the mosque officials.

Goddess of Mercy Temple - Kuan Yin Teng, Penang

The Goddess of Mercy Temple was founded around 1801, by early Chinese settlers. It features a sweeping roof with ornately decorated copings and ridges. Today, it is a very popular temple, visited by young and old alike offering sandalwood incense. Known to be the most popular temple in Penang, the temple is devoted to Kuan Yin or Goddess of Mercy.

Parked opposite the road, on Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, and went for a brief walkabout with my Nikon D80 and Tamron 17-50mm lens.

Was greeted by this clan!

Incense-filled interior

Courtyard within the interior

Kedai Kopi Seng Thor, Penang - Lor Bak and Loh Mee

Add: Kedai Kopi Seng Thor @ 160, Lebuh Carnarvon, Penang

Waking up early one morning, I decided to look for some nasi lemak in Penang. Realised that many Penangites don't have 08:00am breakies on a Sunday, and the stalls (few and far between!) didn't have the "sign of good food" i.e. queues. So I drove around for half an hour, until I stumbled on to ... Kedai Kopi Seng Thor.

Looked like a "local place for local people" so I gave it a go!

Everyone was eating this thick-sauced noodle dish, so I had to try it! Turned out to be Penang-style Lor Mee, took some getting used to as the first few mouthfulls were rather bland!

Friends joined me at this stage ... so we also tried the Kuay Teow Th'ng (Flat noodles in clear soup, with pork bits), which was delicious.

The lor bak was the highlight! The meats were so delicious, and perfectly complemented by the thick Lor sauce and Chilli sauce.

Nice description from epicurious.wordpress.com
Lor Bak is the term for lean pork seasoned with five-spice powder, onion/garlic, wrapped in a thin sheet of beancurd skin and deep-fried to a browned crisp before being served with the lor sauce (dark gravy thickened with cornstarch and beaten egg swirls).
However in penang, one eats lor bak with other deep-fried goodies such as beancurd, prawn fritters, sausages, fish cakes etc, and even century egg slices. the uncle manning the pushcart, Mr. Bor Choo Kooi has been selling his lor bak since 1955! And he’s there everyday without fail, with the exception of chinese festivals. had a chat with him as I selected some items and he was very friendly and spoke fluent cantonese. at least i didn’t have to use my half-past-six hokkien.

I later found out that the lunch-time Or Chien or Oyster Omelette here is what makes Seng Thor famous, besides the Lor Mee. Perhaps next time!

Ps. Passed by this interesting temple on the way to Seng Thor...

Best porridge and other hawker food, next to Sunway Hotel New Lanes Penang

Located: Alongside Sunway Hotel Georgetown, Penang @ No. 33, New Lanes, Off MacAlister Road.

I was last here some 5 months ago and couldn't resist re-visiting the "Sunway Hotel Hawker Centres" which come to live as the sun-sets over Penang each evening!


Best porridge I have ever had ... fantastic taste, and smooth as silk. Chee Chap Chuk, but I chose not to have the fried innards in my porridge, simply char siew. Simple and incredible!

Delicious Satay! RM$7. Do not try ordering less then 10, or face the wrath of ... aunty!

Prawn Mee ala Penang ... Rather good!

Really good Char Kuay Teow!

I guess Klang has BKT, Penang has ... CKT!

RM$2 ... Dessert of red bean, with Yau Cha Kuey (Yiu Tiu) dipped in it. Excellent!

Gurney Drive Hawker Centre, Penang

This is the ever busy and popular Gurney Drive Hawker Centre, in Penang. I didn't like my first visit here some months ago, but it turned out much better on this trip.


The soya bean drink is really good here :-)

Yes.. that's my hotel "G" in the background. Too convenient, burrrrp!

Muhibbah Ayam Goreng ... Check out that queue. Some friends ordered the Fried Sotong, which I would not normally take, but it was crispy, with a lovely tasting batter and great chilli sauce. Good!

Very popular ... chicken skin, deep fried. Eeeeeep!

Assam Laksa - a deeeelicious choice :-) Probably not the best in Penang, but still so good.

Kon Loh Mee - Nothing to shout about!

Chinese New Year at Gurney Plaza, Penang

Gurney Plaza is located adjacent to G hotel, and here are some shots I took with my Canon G9. I was on my way over to Gurney Drive hawker centre... and spotted these really nice CNY decorations!

Tastefully decorated, noticed many people taking photos of their childresn with the drums!

Wikipedia...

Gurney Plaza, touted as Penang's premier lifestyle mall, is a shopping mall located at the famed Gurney Drive promenade in George Town, Penang, Malaysia. It is the second largest shopping mall in Penang after Queensbay Mall and by far the most classy. It was completed in 2001 by one of Southeast Asia's largest property company, CapitaLand.

Strategically located at the prestigious Gurney Drive, right in the heart of Penang's tourism district, Gurney Plaza is set among the lush landscape of Gurney Park, overlooking the north channel. With seven levels of retail, leisure, and entertainment outlets, Gurney Plaza is designed as the ultimate one-stop shopping center for locals, a meeting place for business associates and a shopping paradise for tourists. It enjoys quality shoppers' traffic from the posh residential precincts and the nearby hotels.

Gurney Plaza is accessible via Gurney Drive and Kelawai Road. Two levels of parking are available on the basement while another two are available on the 5th and 6th level, both of which is accessible from Gurney Drive and Kelawai Road.

Key tenants ... Parkson Grand and Cold Storage.

G Spot in Penang

G Spot is open from Mondays to Thursdays from 8pm to 1am, Fridays and Saturdays from 8pm to 3am, and is closed on Sundays.
Located: G Spot is located at Penang's G Hotel
Tel: +604 238 0000

Couple of melon liquers ... hey, I didn't choose these drinks, but they were the most interesting to shoot! The rest of us chose Macallan (Yes, they have both 12 and ... 18!)

G Hotel, Penang's most stylish address

Add: 168A Persiaran Gurney, Penang
Tel: +604 238 0000

Chinese New Year themed "G"!


Good morning, Penang!


Simple, stylish ... this is G


G cycles for hire!
Or bring your car, and get your parking ticket validated for free each time you go out for more local makan!


Stylish ... This is the G lobby.


Your entry into the world of ... G!

Room type: Service Apartment - 1 bedroom.

Size: 67 m2

Number of units: 21

Rack rate: RM$850 ++

(No, I didn't pay this, was fortunate to be upgraded from a Superior!)

This is the large living room ...

The bedroom ...


The bathroom ...

The view ...

Overall, a really comfortable and stress-free stay!

Tapah RSA (Rest Service Area), PLUS - North South Highway

Road trip to Penang!

Quick stop over at Tapah RSA (Rest service area), along the North South Highway or PLUS. Rather good!

Mee hoon soup ... and, Nasi Ayam ala Melayu.

A couple of local writers get together at Afterhour, Solaris

Local writers :-)


Serious!

Thanks to M for bravely taking this shot as I took my break!

Metropol Gourmet Bar, Menara Hap Seng - The launch!

Add: Metropol Gourmet Bar @ G-1, Ground Floor, The Podium, Menara Hap Seng, Upper P.Ramlee, KL
Note: Menara Hap Seng was formerly Mui Plaza
Located: Adjacent to Beach Club and Si Khiong Star Mercedes

Described as ... The ultimate mid-city hide-out; where urban dreams take flight on wicked cocktails, gourmet snacks and grooves for the soul (from a seriously state-of-the-art sound-system).


The party!
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 7:30pm - 10:30pm (Hmm, went on a lot later then that!)
Official opening with guest Dj’s Meex (NZ) & Goldfish


Thanks to F for the invite, and congrats to Jacky and his team! Great venue ... CHEERS!

Pappa Koptiam / Pappa Rich @ Bukit Tinggi, Klang

Add: Lorong Batu Nilam 21A, Bandar Bukit Tinggi 2, Klang

Tel: +603 3323 3773

Nescafe @ RM3.80 - Not "kao" enough :-(

Half boiled eggs (RM$2.80) - Uncle Lim's is better I reckon!

Dry Koay Teow Prawn (RM$8.90) - Decent!


Pappa Wholemeal Steamed bread (RM$3.80) - Can't believe they ran out of toast!

BMW M5 E60 with Breyton rims

Spotted in Klang ... Beautifully modified BMW 5-series E60. Check out those Breytons!

Nak Won - Korean BBQ at Taman Desa, Old Klang Road

Add: Nak Won @ Taman Desa. 7-1-1, Jalan 3/109F, Taman Danau Desa, KL
Tel: +603 7987 3004

Branch 1: Hartamas Square Foodcourtnear Coffee Bean
Branch 2: A11-1-1, Jalan Ampang Utama 2/2, Business Ave., Ampang Jaya, KL
Tel: +603 4253 4249

One of the highlights of a Korean meal, in my humble opinion, besides the taste and healthiness, is the freebies ... check out the array of complimentary side dishes :-)


The steamed egg in hotpot was also complimentary, but I too found it rather dry, and I would rather have Japanese-style chawan mushi!


Claypot beef aka Bulgogi , RM$20 - I loved this!

Stone rice aka Bibimbap , RM$15 - Delicious too!


Marinated pork rib BBQ , RM$26 - Pretty good!

Barley (with perhaps something like Gula Kundur) to wash down the meal ... once again, complimentary.

The bill came up to RM$70, though the list price was RM$73.70, nice to have food rounded DOWN for once. Overall, a good meal, and thanks to AH for bringing me to her local Korean!

Greenpacket / P1 W1Max WiMax along Federal Highway

A huggggge poster being put up at the Greenpacket building, along the Federal Highway. Impressive!



I looked up p1.com.my ...
Imagine a faster WiFi service with a hot spot the size of a city, and you’ll get wireless broadband access coverage up to 50km for fixed stations.
It’s now a reality with P1 W1MAX.
Without the need to chain yourself to wired broadband connections, come experience P1 W1MAX as we take your cyber explorations to new heights and discoveries.

Happy 2nd Anniversary, Blackhole - Desa Sri Hartamas

14th - 16th January 2009
Blackhole celebrates its SECOND anniversary :-)

Add: 22, Jalan 25/70A, 50480 Desa Sri Hartamas KL
Tel: +6016 914 6279
Opening hours: 04:30pm - 02:00am


Thanks for the treat, L :-) Famous Grouse "12"


Turned out to be a really nice mellow whisky, and between us ... we finished just over 60% of the bottle, quite easily!


A really smoooooth Davidoff cigar :-) What a luxury!
Davidoff 6000 Robusto cigars are distinguished by their perfectly balanced taste, which is milder in flavor than the full-bodied Davidoff Grand Cru series.


There was even free flowing Chicken Teriyaki all night .. deelish!

Bonjuk - Korean porridge, Sri Hartamas revisited!

Add: 18, Ground Floor, Jalan 25/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas, KL
Tel: +603 2300 2302

It had been a year and a half since I last visited this eatery, good to see that Bonjuk is still open for business. Andrew, the personable propietor was however in Korea for a holiday.


Korean porridge @ Ginseng Chicken (RM$12.95) - Delicious!


Korean porridge @ Seafood mix (RM$15.95) - Equally tasty!


We washed down the meal with some full-bodied Korean Barley tea, RM$1.50 each.

I find it a wee bit surprising that this restaurant rarely has more then a handful of loyal diners in it, the food is wholesome, well priced, tasty and what a unique niche ... Korean and Porridge! Maybe the narrow niche is why business never seems to be better then average!

Loh Sang / Yue Sang - My first this Chinese New Year!

Add: Reunion @ BV2, Lot 2F-17 & 18 , Level 2, Bangsar Village II, Jalan Telawi Satu, Bangsar Baru, KL
Tel: +603 2287 3770

This was my first loh sang this year ... Happy Birthday, RL!

Source: http://che-cheh.com
Yee Sang is literally translated as raw fish but for Chinese it means abundance and prosperity. Yee Sang is a Chinese-style raw fish salad with salmon as the main ingredient. It is usually mix with shredded vegetables, various type of spices and sauce, jellyfish, pomelo and crackers.
Loh Sang means the act of tossing salad. For Chinese it means gathering prosperity. Auspicious wishes are usually uttered during the tossing (eg. wish all of us with good health) and we usually toss as high as possible (to reach for the stars!) using a pair of chopsticks.


Loh Hei ... Loh Sang ... Gong Hey Fatt Choy!


The maitre-d putting the finishing touches on our dish...


Nearly ready...


Get ready, gang!

Loh Sang ... Loh Hei ... lets go higher! Reach the ... stars!

Here is the post-mixing Loh Sang!

It was delicious!

Source: http://www.nst.com.my
WHAT’S Chinese New Year without yee sang? Well, to many of my Chinese friends, it’ll mean missing out on a tradition to “raise” good luck for the coming year.
They literally “raise” the good luck by tossing the raw fish salad with chopsticks and shouting “loh hei” as they do it. The higher they toss the yee sang, the better will be their luck as well as prosperity, vigour and longevity.
By having fish, one wishes for “a surplus every year” and having it raw spells liveliness, prosperity and longevity.

Gong Xi Fa Cai - So many angpow packets!

Gong Hey Fatt Choy ... Time to collect them red packets!



Thanks to my hand model :-)

Char siew and Hokkien Mee @ Reunion - Bangsar Village 2

Add: Lot 2F-17 & 18 , Level 2, Bangsar Village II, Jalan Telawi Satu, Bangsar Baru, KL
Tel: +603 2287 3770

AY's birthday was last celebrated here ... and this time it was Bro RL's turn :-) CHEERS!
Why the many return visits here? Because the food is consistently good!


Mixed platter of roast meats ... Gorgeous Siew Yoke (Roast pork), delicious Char siew, and really good Duck too!




Spare ribs - So tasty, SK agrees eh ... finger licking good!


Xiong tong Yuen Choy - Yummy spinach dish...

Fried prawns - So fresh!

Tofu - Good stuff!

Hokkien mee - Always divine at Reunion!

Pomello & Mango pudding - Wasn't so good on this occasion, slightly too "thick"

Pink Chinese New Year - Bangsar Village

Gong Xi Fa Cai ... Bansgar Village II



Lovely and tasteful pink flowers which are lit-up, spotted outside BV2 :-)

Beware! Fumigation at Bangsar Village (BV2) Carpark

BEWARE! At midnight last night ... this horrid sight of fumigation, with a putrid smell and resulted in my friends struggling to breathe whilst experiencing an eye-watering sensation, greeted us!



Hard to believe this is BV2, yes Bangsar Village II.

(1) Why carry out fumigation when there are still cars parked on the floor?
(2) No signage to warn drivers as they park, nor when we were let into the stairwell by the guard
(3) The guards and car park attendants didn't even wear masks to protect themselves, and were just going about their motions in that cloud of gas!

Truly... dissapointing!


UPDATE 15th Jan 2009
I wrote to the BV customer service team, and LJK promptly replied, and apologised profusely. Seems there was a breakdown in communication, which led to this. Lets hope it never happens again!

Godiva Chocolatier, Pavilion KL

Location: 2nd floor, Pavilion KL
Tel: +603 2142 5252

Hmmm...

White chocolate Cheese Cake - RM$15. It was just too sweet for me!

Hot chocolate Milk and Dark Chocolate - RM$17

Couldn't really tell the difference between the two!

Ayam Masak Cili Padi - Home sweet home!

Nothing much beats eating at home :-)

Ayam Masak Cili Padi, very spicy! And, stir fried cabbage :-)

Fish in brown bean sauce - Delicious, but a tad hot!

Mushroom pie from Damansara Utama - Pretty good!

Folks went there after enjoying their first experience at ... Village Park Nasi Lemak, Uptown!

Chinse New Year at Pavilion - Blossom in pink, Prosper in Red

Pavilion KL - Blossom in pink, Prosper in red


Lovely cherry blossom display ...

Levi's scaffolding advertisement, Bukit Bintang KL

Spotted near Low Yat, Bukit Bintang KL ...



What a cool advert, by Levis! Man on scaffolding, heh heh...

Uncle Duck by Marcoma Kitchen, HK Cuisine at Low Yat Plaza KL

Add: LG-18, Plaza Low Yat, off Jalan Bukit Bintang, KL
Tel: +603 2141 6998

Duck Lo Mien (RM$8.50) - Very juicy and tender slices of duck
Minced Beef and Egg Rice (RM$8.80) - Slightly bland, but still edible!

Pity... BAD SERVICE!

Very unresponsive and childish staff, who seem to just hang around with one another.. tsk tsk.

Akasha is back at Zeta Bar, KL Hilton!

We had previously enjoyed this all girl band half a year ago at Zeta Bar in the KL Hilton, they have now returned :-) and bring even more energy to this popular venue!

From the KL Hilton Zeta website...
AKASHA IS BACK TO THRILL THIS JAN 09!
All-girl group Akasha is back by popular demand with impressive vocals, slick dance moves and tight choreography at Zeta Bar, one of KL’s top entertainment spots for quality live entertainment.
Their diverse backgrounds enable them to interpret Hip Hop, R&B, disco music, rock n roll and as well of many other styles. Their infectiousness is their most positive feature, coupled with their tight dance moves and vibrant fashion results in a truly impressive performance.
Akasha performs at Zeta Bar starting Jan 09 for three months.

Dance the night away...

Cuisine Studio - French, Tropicana Golf Country Club

Recommended by cousin P and dear JQ ... this is Cuisine Studio at Tropicana Golf and Country Club!


Complimentary, and really good crusty french bread ... The crusty bits were exquisite!




Stuffed Escargot, RM$24 - I am starting to like... snails!



Mussel in white wine, RM$65 - Expensive, but delicious. The waiter explained that may seem a wee bit salty, but that's because it is fresh out of the sea :-)

Duck Cassoulet, RM$61

Really traditional country-kitchen french dish, which I enjoyed. But it was just too "hearty" and a challenge to finish for one person!

Escargot Pasta, RM$40 - I loved this, full of taste and the flavour of sundried tomatoes simply exploded in my mouth!

Ch Perreil - Bordeaux, RM$130

Refreshing, good value wine.

Acqua Panna - RM$15

Ouch ... Don't like restaurants which don't serve "filtered tap-water" aka sky-juice!

Interestingly, Cuisine Studio is a cooking school, french ingredients shop, pattiserie, bakery, as well as a restaurant! Overall, a good experience which L and myself enjoyed ... but a trifle pricey!

Bak Kut Teh - The bowl variety, Teluk Pulai Klang

Update! Chinese New Year opening hours ...
Teluk Pulai Pottery BKT is closed from 25th - 30th January 2008

Needs no introduction, nor a map I reckon ... this is Teluk Pulai Pottery Bak Kut Teh at the mecca of BKT ... Taman Rashna, Klang. Better known as the area adjacent to Menara Trend (ING and Maybank are the key tenants), off the Federal Highway as one enters into Klang town.
Most people have the claypot version when they visit, but I prefer the purist's version of the bowl variety! Here's pai kuat and tai-kuat :-) DEEEeeeelicious!


With two servings of Poh Lay Sang Choy and Oyster sauce, the bill came up to a not-so-cheap RM$35. Char Wong was the choice of tea for the day.

Comments all around that the rice here is wonderful, fragrant and of perfect texture ... I agree!

Opus Bistro, Jalan Bangkung - Bangsar

Add: 67, Jalan Bangkung, Bukit Bandaraya, Bangsar, KL
Tel: +603 2092 4288
Opening hours: Mon – Sun 12 pm – 3 pm , 6 pm – 12 am

It had been close to two years since my last visit to this Jalan Bangkung establishment, which has evolved to become an institution in its own right ... so it was time for a revisit!

Grilled Portobello mushrooms salad , RM$24 - I loved this!
Pesto soup with Mussels and Seabass , RM$25 - This was special and delicious :-)


Roasted Cod Fish , RM$56 - Hmm, do I detect hints of the fish being over-cooked?

Angel hair Pasta with Foie Gras , RM$55 - Diced mushrooms and chunky tomato pieces with hints of red peppercorn tossed in the Angel hair pasta (Which if I was to be picky, has to be commented that it could have been more "al dente") with two chunks of delicious Foie Gras. Lovely!

Happy Chinese New Year! Berjaya Times Square, KL

Gong Hey Fatt Choy ... Two weeks to go :-)

Piccies were taken on Thursday 1st Jan 2009, New Year's Day, most party dwellers were still asleep I reckon when I took these at 10:40am !


ps. My first efforts with the new Canon G10, shot in manual @ ISO-400, f/2.8, 1/50s

Malaysian Today - Reunion, Bangsar Village 2

I've been published for the first time in '09 :-)

As featured in the local paper, MALAYSIAN TODAY.
This is my 7th write-up, featuring one of the best chinese restaurants in town ... Reunion.



Roast meat combo - Siew yoke (Roast pork) and Roast Duck platter, RM$20
Beef with Bitter Gourd - RM$20
Signature beancurd "Tau kan" - RM$17
Kai Lan with Garlic - RM$17
Rice @ RM$1.80 each
Jasmine Tea @ RM$8.40
Starter tidbits - RM$8.40

Total bill was RM$92 ++ (Service and Tax)

How to make Goreng Pisang

My family's Goreng Pisang recipe ...


Prepare the bananas ...

The batter is simply flour, water and a pinch of salt. No sugar!

Fresh oil ... boiling hot ... deeeeeelicious smells!

Best goreng pisang!

Stuffed Aubergine and other home cooked foods

Stuffed "terung" (aubergine)


Sweet and sour fish ... Perfect!


Minced pork and steamed tofu


Chicken curry with no santan ... tasty!

Delicious Old Cucumber soup...

Freshest orange juice! This glass mug is from ... 1984!

Coco loves mango!

Woof woof ... it's Coco!

Hmm... is it time for fruits?

"I love mangoes ... Woof!"

Chicken Paprik at home ... Delicious!

I am so lucky, Yanna is so creative ... here's her Chicken Paprik creation ;-) delicious!


Japanese pak-choy ... and delicious Minced chicken with Steamed Tofu!


Someone told me the above looks, and definitely tastes better then a meal at Prime, the Social and WIP ... I agree!

ps. Mmmh... papaya!

99 Steak and Chops - Hainanese Chicken Chop @ TTDI

It had been over a year since I last visited one of my favourite "grill" joints!

Located: Persiaran Zaaba, TTDI
Its along the same row as Perodua / Porto Romano / Canadian Pizza ... There's a Shell Station at the end of the road as well.


Grilled chicken (RM$13.90)


Excellent ... Hainanese Chicken Chop (RM$13.90)


ps. Thanks to L for the meal, following our TTDI Hill run ... I deserved the chicken chop, slurp!

Home made Goreng Pisang and Coco the Wonderdog

The special dish this evening ... Ayam Masak Cili Padi ;-) Not overly spicy, just perfect... so full of flavour!


And for afters ... Goreng pisang (Thanks to 4th Uncle for the delicious organically home-grown 'nanas!) and Fresh Orange Juice. This is the life!


Coco was ... naughty! :-)

Leonardo's Wine Cellar - Jalan Bangkung, Bangsar (Formerly The Attic)

Add: 61-2, Jalan Bangkung, Bukit Bandaraya, Bangsar, KL

The Attic at Jalan Bangkung is no more ... it held many fond memories of my dear cousin singing, and many a wine evening ... but it has now been replaced with Leonardo's. This is my first visit here, and it was a wonderful chilled out evening with red wine.

There are lots of easy-reading books including titles by Bryson, LonelyPlanet guides etc on the bookshelf beside the bar, as well as gorgeous prints and paintings (Such as the large original piece at the stairwell by Singaporean-based Malaysian Eric Chan). I especially like the vintage safe from Melaka which houses more books, as Leonardo's believes that knowledge is precious!

I love the bare brick walls, which were exposed when the plaster and paint from The Attic's old decor was removed!


An Italian (under the same management) will soon open below Leonardo's bar, I can't wait! Watch this space ... February 2009!

Moxie Restaurant and Bar - New kid in town! Damansara Heights

New restaurant alert! Brought to you by the same team that created Cava and Opus at Jalan Bangkung ... this is Moxie @ Damansara Heights!
Opened only in mid-Dec, I had the privilege of dining there over the weekend.

Add: Moxie Restaurant & Bar, 44G-44M, Plaza Damansara, Bukit Damansara, KL
Located: Near Chef and Brew, Red Ginger and Le Suisse
Tel: +603 2095 0016


Excellent starters ... Beautifully fresh crab meat stuffed into a salmon wrap, and a delicious Chicken Parcel as well.


Steak Diane, highly recommended medallions of beef ... juicy and tender, RM$65.

Prime Rib, 300+g of meat, but we found it a little on the tendon-tough side ... We were assured it would be better next time, I have no doubt about that. RM$64.

The home made sauces ... and our Fields of Green (RM$16 - delicious!).


Bravo to Chef Ray, good job on all the dishes ... espesh the famous to-die-for Lava Chocolate Cake. RM$16.

ps. Had the meal with a Careffe of Baron Rothschild's Escudo Rojo from Chile. RM$64, enough for four glasses, good value.

Taiwan Noodle House, SS2 - Standards have deteriorated!

Add: 20, Jalan SS2/61, PJ
Tel: +603 7877 2375

The Taiwan beef noodles here were still rather good, but W (who was suffering from a hangover!) thought it tasted strange... Hmm!


But the Char Chiang Mien was diabolical ... Eeeep! No good. L says it used to be a lot better, sigh! I will stick to Esquire Kitchen's next time round!


ps. Nevertheless, thanks to W for the breakies :-)

Roti Canai Garing, opposite Calvary Damansara Perdana

Located: Opposite Pusat Aktiviti Calvary, 20 Jalan PJU 8/5G, Bandar Damansara Perdana. Same row as Public Bank.

Was introduced a few months back to "Roti Canai Garing" ... and I am hooked each Sunday morning ;-) This is simply Roti Canai which is a little fluffier and crispier, its good!


Or one can choose 2 Half Boiled Eggs :-) for breakies too.


Smiling at the RM$5 tab for all these, including a pair of Nescafe Tariks.

Number One Claypot Chicken Rice, Taman Kenari @ Berkeley, Klang

When a restaurant names itself Number One Claypot Chicken Rice , it had better be good ... and this all time family favourite, doesn't dissapoint!

Located: Berkeley gardens aka Taman Kenari, Klang. Turn right at the 'entrance' to Klang town along the Federal Highway.


The soup may not look very appetising, but this black chicken soup was actually rather good!

Pool time at The Social - Bangsar

HAPPY NEW YEAR from The Social at Bangsar!
RM$3 for a game, but it sure "felt" like it cost more, hmmm...

The stakes were high ...

Not so serious ... and deadly serious :-)

Happy New Year, bros!

Welcome back, J!

So tactical ... check out the position of the reds, on each of the four corner pockets!

Jit Xin - Marmite Chicken and Yin Yang Noodles

Add: 8 Lorong Batu Nilam 27A, Bandar Bukit Tinggi 2, Klang
Tel: +6016 3187 178

Ah hah... a discovery at my local "tai chau" Jit Xin ... the Kung Fu Chau aka Cantonese noodles, Yin Yang (Crispy mee, and silky hor fun) is excellent! Marmite chicken is always good too.


Pity the "signature" to fu was nothing to shout about, nor was the stir fried yau mak. Once again, great value at RM$37 :-)

New Year celebrations from ZetaLive at KL Hilton

Here's the KL Hilton ballroom, where Zeta Live was held once again ... at 10:45pm on 31st Dec 2008.

At 02:20am ... 1st January 2008

Happy New Year, everyone!!

Tasik Puteri Golf, near Rawang

Round of golf ... the last for 2008, at Tasik Puteri in Rawang. A brilliant day out!

Add: Tasik Puteri Golf & Country Club, Bandar Tasik Puteri, Rawang
Tel: +603 6034 4722

G's swing ... short, compact, powerful!

Graceful finish...

Bang!

Hmm, cool clubs, H! Where's your "lion's" left eye!?

Long...

Such a scenic course, a good challenge ... pity it is so far away! Paid about RM$120 for the round, inclusive of caddy and buggy, and shot ... 57 (eeeep!) and 47.

My golf buddies ... G, H and C.

The fabulous island tee ... Last hole :-)