Saturday, May 31, 2008

Two varieties of Goreng Pisang - Superb!

Yanna's at it in the kitchen again ... this time it is Goreng Pisang, from Ipoh as well as Klang bananas.


Superb home-made goreng pisang, hot off the wok!


Dad agrees ... yummy!


And finally ... some local pineapple (RM$1.20 only). So sweeeeet!

Simple fried mee hoon with Curried Vegetables

Yanna and mum prepared a fabulous but simple home cooked meal this evening ... Here are how the dishes transform from the kitchen into the dining room :-)

Fried Chicken - Magnificent, juicy but tasty

Curried vegetables - Best bar none! That's how good the fish-head stock is, so sweet and aromatic.
Fried mee-hoon with Peking Cabbage and Carrots - An amazing noodle dish.

Friday, May 30, 2008

Two hundred posts per month!

Ah hah ... another MILESTONE!
My first month with 200 posts ... thanks for keeping up with my ... uh, stomach!? :-)

Hainanese Taste (Tien Pin) - Mee Pok @ SS2



Add: Restoran Hainanese Taste (Also known as Tien Pin) - No.19, Jalan SS2/30, PJ
Directions: Row of shops behind Sri Siam or Eng Seng Hin Electronics, between SS2 and Sea Park

Ever had the sense of deja vu?
The moment I stepped into these kopitiam, I felt I had been here before ... Ah hah! It is under the same ownership as House of Fishball at Seapark, PJ

This accompanied the noodles ... springy fishballs, and lovely fishcakes in a nice clear vegetable soup.



This was what brought me here ... The Mee Pok (RM$5)!
Alas I was slightly dissapointed as I had thought it would be the Singapore variety, with a combination of sweet (ketchup) and spicy (chilli-sauce). Nevertheless, after I got over the dissapointment, it was good. Nice springy noodles!



This I thought was quite superb ... RM$1.80 for Fu Chuk Yee Mai (Beancurd skin boiled with Barley), alas it wasn't hot enough.



Ps - RM$6.80 for a wholesome lunch? Can't go wrong with that!


Pps - Couple of other good write-ups on this place...
Story of the founder Mr Michael Tang
The recommendation that brought me here in the first place!

Suzuki Aerio or Liana

Before the cool looking Suzuki SX-4 came along, there was the Liana ... or in this case, the rare specimen I saw wore the Aerio badge. Saw this guy in SS2, PJ ...


Wikipedia
The Suzuki Aerio (called the Liana in Europe, South Asia and Australia) is a compact car built by Suzuki Motor Corporation.
It was introduced in 2001 as a replacement for the Suzuki Esteem/Baleno, with a tall 5-door hatchback (for maximum inner room efficiency) and a 4-door sedan body.
It featured two different 16-valve gasoline engines, with 1.5 L and 1.8 L, this one capable of 125 PS JIS (92 kW).
Only the Aerio sedan remained for 2007, as the hatchback had been shelved to make room for the new 2007 SX4 hatchback. Likewise, the Aerio sedan bowed out at year's end, making way for the 2008 SX4 Sport sedan. Throughout its run, the Aerio was distinct for being the most affordable car in America to offer all-wheel-drive.
In Europe, where the car is called Liana (an acronym for "Life In A New Age"), it's seen as a more affordable alternative to small family cars or to mini MPVs, introducing a new generation of Suzuki M engines, with 1.3 L and 1.6 L engine. All wheel drive is available on the bigger engine.
The Liana is best known for its appearances in the BBC's Top Gear's Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car segment, as the sedan model was used from its first show until the model's replacement by a Chevrolet Lacetti in the show's spring 2006 season.

Mitsubishi Triton

A truly modern looking pick-up truck :-) I like the Mitsubishi Triton!


The rear bay comes covered with a liner.


Specificataion details of the Triton

Nasi Lemak Tanglin, near Lake Gardens @ KL

Saturday mornings are special ... its time to go hunting for obscure eating places! Early one Saturday morning, it was time to take a drive into KL, near Bukit Aman / Lake Gardens.

Add: Stall Number 6, Kompleks Makan Tanglin @ Jalan Cendarasari, KL
Directions: From Jalan Parlimen, turn right into Lake Gardens.
Follow the signboard to Taman Rama Rama (Butterfly Park).
When you see the Park on your right, turn right into Jalan Cendarasari.



I was surprised by the length of the queue, which moved along quite briskly, as the helpers at Nasi Lemak Tanglin were obviously very well experienced and trained in hurrying people along in a friendly manner, asking what lauk was required ... choices included egg with sambal, fried or boiled, different meats including chicken, beef, fish, squid (sotong) as well as 'spare parts' such as paru (lung!), etc.


Perhaps they also do banquetting, I noticed a van at the rear, which also houses a tent with another 20 or so tables!


It was finally my turn ... slurrrrrp! That's BERGEDIL the guy is picking up for me, which is like a vegetarian patty. So delicious!


What does RM$13 buy you in Malaysia these days?
Two plates of some of the FINEST nasi lemak anywhere ... :-) Delicious rice, excellent (and not so spicy, but also not overly sweet) sambal, and beautiful lauk - chicken, beef, and sotong too!


The other plate ...


Only downside of the meal? The weak and bland drinks ... the Teh Ais and Milo kosong were both poor.

Lavender Bistro, AEON Bukit Tinggi Klang

Been to Lavender Bakery at AEON Bukit Tinggi Shopping Centre in Klang many a time, but never took the chance to eat-in before. This was my first time!
Add: Lavender Bistro @ Lot G18, Ground Floor, AEON Bukit Tinggi Shopping Centre, Klang
Tel: +603 3326 2793

Very tastefully decorated restaurant located behind the bakery section ... I was surprised by how many items there were on the menu!


Seafood Tomato Soup (RM$6.90) - Great value, even comes with 2 slices of garlic bread. Very VERY delicious!


Teriyaki Chicken Rice (RM$11.90) set - Comes with a choice of drink, I chose the Iced Lemon Tea. On first bite, rather boring, but the flavour soon sinks in. Tender and juicy pieces of chicken fillet, and that teriyaki sauce goes so well with rice. Bits of sliced omelette over the top.


Lavender salad (RM$9.90) - Fresh veges, and slices of mangoes, with an interesting white sauce which isn't mayonaise (hint of lime?). Rather good too!


Total bill for two? RM$39. Good food, nice restaurant, good service, I think we have a winner here!

Ps. There are tonnes of other dishes which I will definitely come back to 'try' one day soon!

Yanna's Pak Kor Yee Mai (Barley & Ginko)

Nothing beats a simple home cooked meal!


Espesh when dessert is ... Pak Kor Yee Mai (Ginko nut and Barley, with Fu Chuk from Ipoh!). Simply marvelous!

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Restoran Stadium Negara - Legendary steamboat, KL

I've been meaning to come here for years ... finally made it!
Add: 2 Persiaran Lidol off Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, KL
Tel: +603 2161 8557
Opening hours: 6pm - 1am


Check out how BIG the tea-pot is, filled with aromatic Chrysanthemum leaves (no sugar of course). RM$4.


What a great start ... Chicken Wings, that give Jalan Alor's Wong Ah Wah a run for its money! RM$2.20 per piece, we had 2 pieces. Juicy, tasty, but not overly powerful in marinade. Great balance!


Signature La La - A MUST HAVE!! RM$15
Stir fried in the most amazing garlic and chilli-padi sauce, simply amazing. So tasty!!


Sweet and sour crabs (RM$52) - Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelicious! Not the usual style which has too much ketchup and is overpowering. This is a milder version, which lets you taste the freshness of the crabs, which were VERY FRESH and naturally juicy/sweet too. Fabulous!
Oh, the Steamed Buns / Man Tao that accompanies it is deeeeeeeelish too, RM$1.20 per piece.


Time for the STEAMBOAT!
Charcoal style - Sure brings back memories of the old days. Takes a little longer to boil, but when the side dishes were so good, we didn't complaint!


We opted for the Ying-yang version aka both Soup and Tom-yum.
Hmm ... When we first started, the Tom-yum tasted a wee bit 'funny' and herbally, but after a while, as the meats and veges flavours sink in, it becomes so flavoursome and delicious! BRAVO!


Not sure how much it cost for the steamboat though, they forgot to charge us for it!
Special mention ... Excellent service, friendly staff who are obviously very proud of where they work, this place is a REAL institution! 40+ years in the business?

Ps. Views of KL city centre as I was driving to Yap Kwan Seng ... Petronas Twin Towers and Public Bank building.


And, you get a view of the rather majestic AmBank building as you enjoy your crabs and steamboat too!


Pps . History lesson from rasarasa.net
STADIUM NEGARA had a restaurant from 1965 that was the envy of many -- a famous location ample parking (except for night when badminton, basketball, table tennis or other sport events takes precedent).
Sometime in 2003, it was asked to move.
Thus, it relocated to a bungalow along Jalan Yap Kwan Seng but maintained the name Stadium Negara Restaurant. It serves the same food (such as charcoal steamboat and hopes its old clientele will return)
Specialities:
Charcoal steamboat with two types of soup (chicken soup or tomyam soup) served with a variety of ingredients
BBQ Sri Lankan crabs
Grilled chicken wings
Seafood (crabs, prawns and squid) cooked in different styles