KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

For our trip itinerary, please click here.

I am finally getting around to posting the pictures from our first day in Hong Kong. The other Hong Kong posts that I’ve put up recently were randomly picked (depending on my mood ;p).

Getting to and from Hong Kong International Airport is actually very easy. We took the airport express service (HKD 90 one way, HKD 160 for round trip) to Kowloon Station. One can also opt for the HK$220 or HK$300 Airport Express Travel Pass (includes HK$50 refundable deposit) with 1 or 2 single journey(s) on the Airport Express. You can enjoy 3 days of unlimited travel on MTR, Light Rail and MTR Bus (except Airport Express, East Rail Line First Class, Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau stations). The travel pass is good value for money if you are expecting to do a lot of traveling around Kowloon island and Hong Kong island.

Airport Express Stations:
* AsiaWorld-Expo Station
* Airport Station
* Tsing Yi Station
* Kowloon Station
* Hong Kong Station

More information on airport express services here.

From Kowloon Station, we hopped onto the shuttle bus provided by Cosmo Kowloon Hotel. It is a new boutique hotel centrally located in Tai Kok Tsui area. The hotel amenities are really new and clean with a modern feel to it.
Continue Reading

For our trip itinerary, please click here.

After a magical day in HK Disneyland, we traveled along the Tung Chung line to Tung Chung station to enjoy a journey of 360 degree spectacular panoramic views.

Exit B to Ngong Ping 360 station.

We purchased the Round Trip ticket (on Crystal Cabin from Tung Chung and Standard Cabin from Ngong Ping) for HKD 153 per person. There are quite a few of packages available; such as round trip (standard cabin), round trip (crystal cabin) or the journey of enlightenment package that consists of round trip Ngong Ping Cable Car journey and entry to Walking with Buddha and Monkey’s Tale Theatre attractions. All packages and pricing details are available here.

Each cable car can fit up to 17 pax (10 sitting, 7 standing) but we were only sharing our cabin with 2 others, because it was a relatively quiet day.

crystal cabin

In the next 25 minutes, we immense ourselves with a spectacular bird’s eye views of the South China Sea and Tung Chung Bay, Scenic Mountains, the Hong Kong International Airport, the whole North Lantau Country Park and the Ngong Ping Village.

The transparent bottom was a bit frightening but I got used to it in no time and enjoyed the panoramic view.

There is nothing quite like that feeling of the wind gushing past your face at few thousands kilometers off the ground. Though it was quite chilly up in the wind, we enjoyed ourselves tremendously.

We knew that we are approaching the Ngong Ping Cable Car Terminal, as we caught our first glimpses of the mighty Tian Tan Buddha Statue.

Ngong Ping Village

This amazing cultural themed village has been architecturally designed and landscaped to reflect the cultural and spiritual integrity of the Ngong Ping area.

It boasts several major attractions -Walking with Buddha and the Monkey’s Tale Theatre – as well as a diverse array of retail, dining and entertainment experiences.

Visitors can write their wishes on a little wooden boardand hang it on one of the many pegs. At a fee of course!

There is also a wish tree where devotees will write theirwishes on joss paper tied to an orange, and then threw them up to hang on the branches.

From Ngong Ping Village, it was another 5 minutes walk to the Tian Tan Buddha Statute.

To reach the Buddha statue, one will have to climb 268 steps up the long flight of stairs.

Being a couch potato as we are, we did not climb up those stairs. However, even from afar, the Tian Tan Buddha appears serene and dignified. His right hand is raised, representing the removal of affliction.The Buddha’s left hand rests on his lap in a gesture of giving dhana. The Buddha faces north, which is unique among the great Buddha statues, as all others face south. On its chest is the Swastika, an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles. This symbol was used by the Nazis in 1920.


Visitors can also wall down along the Bodhi Path which is the central walkway leading to the Monastery and the giant Buddha. Lined on both sides of the path are statues of the Twelve Divine Generalsas well as 40 lotus-shaped lanterns. The Twelve Divine Generals are regarded as protectors in Buddhism, and each is responsible for guarding a two-hour section of the day. In addition, they represent the twelve Chinese zodiac signs, as denoted by the different zodiac signs on their crowns.

We then took a cable car ride back to Tung Chung station just before the cable car halt services at 6 pm.

A Girl’s Gotta Do What a Girl’s Gotta Do. It’s time for us to indulge in some retail therapy after 3 full days of walking around doing touristy stuff. Aiwei bought a Coach Bag in there (buy from coach-addict cheaper) while I went home empty handed.

We ended the night having a really late dinner with relatives. It was an authentic Cheow Chow Da Lang experience

my lovely family members

Some of the very notable dishes that we had – oyster omelette, braised goose, deep fried pork’s intestines, shacha sauce (沙茶酱) beef claypot, oyster porridge, etc.

As a country makes up of multiracial communities of diverse culture, Malaysia celebrates a plethora of public holidays. We have nationwide holidays, statewide holidays, and heck, we even got a day off to celebrate Malaysia’s victory over Indonesia in the AFF-Suzuki Cup.

I’m not complaining here; how could anyone NOT love public holidays? First of all, there’s no work and I have absolutely no guilt over sleeping in until 11am! And slowly crawl out of my bed, get all dolled up and get my other half to bring me for a good lunch.

During one of the many public holidays that we had last month, KampungBoy took me to Prego @ Westin. The rich and classy, elegant interior in Prego induces that relaxing feeling of comfort. We were seated downstairs, which features an open kitchen with a wood fired oven which added a lot to the authentic Italian atmosphere.

Complimentary Bread with Homemade Tomato Dip

Prego is also offering executive set lunch for RM38++ (2 course) or RM 48++ (3 course). We went for the ala carte menu instead as the choices of mains for the set lunch were limited.

fichi biondi RM 36
wood-fired oven roasted figs with gorgonzola sauce

If you are a fan of sweet-savory combination, then this is the dish for you. Roasting slightly caramelizes the figs, making it sweet and juicy. Drizzled with a savory Gorgonzola cream sauce, the little morsels were bursting with sweet & savory flavors with rich textures. However, some slices of the figs weren’t sweet enough which make us felt akward, because all we tasted was the salty, cheesy sauce.

lasagnette di aragosta RM 61
pasta silk handkerchiefs, slipper lobster, leek confit, light bisque emulsion

True to its name, the silk handkerchiefs pasta was indeed smooth and silky. There was a generous amount of slipper lobster bits here and there. However, the bisque emulsion was way too salty, almost bitter in flavor. Although I think the saltiness tends to be present in the bisque but not necessarily so much.

tibia brasata dell’agnello, risotto milanese RM 64
braised lamb shank, saffron risotto

The braisd lamb shank was tender but not to the extend of falling-off-the-bone tender. The chef on duty that day must be heavy handed when it comes to salt. The accompanied gravy was really salty too!

Pistachio Gelato (RM 6.50)

It was quite good; smooth and creamy with chunks of pistachios throughout.

All in all, we though that our food was at best mediocre. We must have picked the wrong day – with a chef that is heavy-handed with the one particular seasoning! Or are we expecting too much from The BEST Italian Restaurant in TimeOut KL Food Award 2010? I’m always open to giving a place a second chance unless it was just a horrendous experience. Furthermore, reviews I read online has been nothing but rave reviews. So we’ll be back, before our Starwood Card expired.

Prego
Ground and Upper Ground
The Westin Kuala Lumpur
100 Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur,
Tel: 603 2773 8338
Email: westindining@westin.com

Valentine’s Day is a day where couples express their love and affection for each other. For long distance lovers, just because your loved one is away from home doesnt make the day any less special. Rejoice the special day with your friends and families whom you have always love dearly. This year, I had an early Valentine’s Day celebration at J&R with my best friend whose husband is residing in the States.

As the purveyors of fine food & wine, Jarrod & Rawlins has been serving only the best food and wines with warm friendly services for the past decade.

table for two

Our Valentine’s Day Set Meal For Two comprises of two shared starter, a huge main course platter, dessert and coffee or tea.

Mango, Avocado & Roast Chicken Salad

This looks like the perfect summery salad. Drizzled with a tangy dressing, this appealing salad makes a colorful and tasty alternative to the usual bowl of greens. The avocado slices were creamy and buttery, the cherry tomatoes and mango cubes were sweet and juicy and the greens were so fresh that I almost felt like a grazing cow.

Serrano Ham, Smoked Salmon, Chorizo, Pickles and Olives

The cold cuts sets us off well, whetting the appetite for our main courses.

Combination of Hickory Baby Back Ribs+Grilled Prime Rib Eye Steak+Seared Fish Fillet+Selection of Pork Sausages
with
Potato Salad, Coleslaw, Chunky Roast Vegetables, Dijob Mustard, Applesauce & Red Wine Glaze

Our eyes opened wide when the huge platter was presented right in front of us. Are you sure that the platter is meant for a couple, instead of 3-4 pax?

The Hickory Baby-Back Ribs is our old favourite. It was moist, full of smoky flavor and finger smackingly delicious!  And the charred bits along the edges are a smoky treat. I like the Dymatite sausage the best. It had great chilli kick, and was packed with juicy meat within. The grilled prime rib eye steak tasted great, but was a little too tough for me. The seared fish fillet was crispy on the outside and juicy within.

The starters and mains were great, but the dessert was bit of a let down though. The cakes turned out to be dry and crumbly.

top up RM 40+ to enjoy two glasses of house pouring wine.

J&R Damansara Heights is offering a V-Day Set Meal For 2 at RM 220+ per couple or RM 260+ per couple with wines. However, they are fully booked on the 14th, with some tables still available on the 13th. Tables are still available at the Hartamas outlet (RM 65+ per pax, different menu) and the Ampwalk outlet. Please call to make a reservation.

I’m wishing everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope everyone, no matter single or attached, will enjoy this special day with happiness and lots of love!

*thanks to Elaine and J&R for having us over

Desa Sri Hartamas
36, Ground Floor, Jalan 27/70A,
Desa Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel 03-2300 0708,
Fax : 03-2300 0706
Email: srihartamas@jarrod-rawlins.com

Damansara Heights
No.6 Lorong Dungun, Damansara Heights,
50480 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel 03-2093 0708,
Fax: 03-2095 3221
Email: damasara@jarrod-rawlins.com

Ampwalk Mall
Ampang Lot G08B, Ground Floor,
The Ampwalk, 218 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel : 03-2166 0708,
Fax: 03- 2166 7708.
Email: ampwalk@jarrod-rawlins.com

Kota Kinabalu
Block E-29 G & E-30 G, Times Square, Off Coastal Highway, 88100 Kota Kinabalu
Tel: 088-231 890 / 860

Sushi Tei is one of those Japanese restaurants that offers good quality Japanese food that is light on the wallet. When we were still staying around the PJ/Damansara area, we always make it a point to drop by Sushi Tei for a light lunch/simple dinner after we are done with our groceries shopping at Carrefour, Tropicana City Mall.

So we were absolutely delighted when Sushi Tei invited us over in conjunction with their new menu launch (ends 31st March 2011).

new menu items are marked with asterisk ‘*’ sign.

Edamame (RM 4.80). We love edamame – steamed with a bit of salt, it is a great snack loaded with tons of health benefit.

Wakame Salad (RM 11.80). This light, refreshing salad possesses just the right amount of crunchy seaweed, greens and tangy sauce.

Kani Avocado Salad (RM 14.80). In my little humble opinion, I would say that this salad has it all. Sweet succulent kani (crab sticks), creamy avocado, briny tobiko and fresh, crisp greens.

Sashimi Moriawase (Hamachi, Salmon, Tai) – thick cut, fresh but not to the extend of literally melt in your mouth; considering the price that they are charging.

*Deep Fried Shirauo (whitebait fish). Deep fried to perfection, these little fishes were really addictive! I snacked on fried little fish like french fries!

Tempura Moriawase (RM 13.80). Probably my least favourite of the night; I found the batter a little too greasy for my liking.

Takoyaki Balls (RM 8.30). Filled with a generous amount of ingredients, the takoyaki balls were nothing out of the ball but they tasted pretty decent.

Assorted Sushis

*Crunchy Tuna Roll (RM 18.00). The creamy texture of the tuna combined with light mayonnaise, and its tart flavor combined with seaweed, nicely contrast with the crisp batter.

Kani to Salmon & Avocado Maki, serve with yogurt sauce.

Dynamic Roll

*Volcano Maki (RM 7.80). The maki in melted cheese roll topped with seaweed and tobiko tasted really good. The myriad of texture and the taste was an eruption of flavor!

Teriyaki Salmon. This is such a crowd pleaser; the teriyaki marinade gave the salmon a wonderful kick of flavor. Our only gripe was that the fish was slightly charred.

Teppanyaki Chicken (RM 16.80). The juicy, boneless chicken cubes weretoo mild for my taste bud.

Meat Gyoza (RM 9.80). The gyozas were well executed – crisp on the outside, hot and juicy on the inside.

Yuzu Ice Cream (RM 7.00)

Goma Ice Cream (RM 7.00)

Shio Ice Cream (RM 8.00)

Chocolate Wafer (RM 7.50)

Pino (original, RM 8.00)

We ended our meal with some ice creams and sweet pastries. My favourite has to be the Shio ice cream (salt flavored ice cream). The ice cream combines the classic sweet, creamy ice cream with a little zing of saltiness for a pleasing combination of flavors. You got to try it to fully appreciate the great flavor!
Judging from the crowd that they draw each night, many share the same opinion that Sushi Tei is extremely popular with its consistent quality and affordable pricing. It is definitely a place worth revisiting again, and again.

Sushi Tei
Lot G-16, Ground Floor
Tropicana City Mall
3, Jalan SS20/27
47400 Petaling Jaya
GPS: 3.130757,101.626421
Tel:03-7728 4299

For our trip itinerary, please click here.

Gong Xi Fa Cai my dear readers! Chinese New Year is the time to feast and binge on all the sweet goodies and one of my favourite festive cookies is the Egg Roll! During my recent trip to Hong Kong, I managed to get myself some to-die-for egg rolls from Duck Shing Ho. It is located just next door to the famous Fung Shing Chinese Restaurant where we had our dimsum earlier.

We got there around 9.45 am and there was already a long queue formed outside! My friend told me that normally the egg rolls are sold out by noon! If you think that is crazy, just read on and you’ll be surprised.

Apart from the original flavor, Duck Shing Ho is offering egg rolls with butter or coconut too.

It was only late November, and they have stopped taking orders for Christmas and Chinese New Year! Which means that patrons can only resume buying after mid February!!

Furthermore, the prices of the egg rolls aren’t exactly cheap. It costs around RM 20+ for 1 lbs (about 453 grams).

We have to first queue up to pay. From there, the store owner issued us a receipt and holding it, we joined another long line to collect our goodies.

old school tin containers

Finally our effort have paid off! We left the store absolutely happy, with both our hands full with tins of egg rolls. We hand carried the all nine tins of egg rolls onto the plane and the egg rolls inside stayed intact! This is because each egg roll were rolled into many, many layers so the end product was thick enough to weather any “external forces”.

source

The egg roll does live up to its fame! The handmade egg rolls were thick, and beehive web effect on the skin is enticing. Doesn’t this reminds you of taro puff (wu kok)? Taste wise, it is definitely much better than some of the commercial names out there. It was so crispy to the point that it shattered once you sink your mouth onto it. The original egg roll has a light egg-y flavor to it and it was not too sweet. The coconut flavored egg roll is sweeter, with a hint of coconut taste.

德成號 Duck Shing Ho
北角渣華道64號地下
G/F., 64 Java Raod, North Point
Tel: 2570 5529/2571 5049
Opening Hour: Mon to Sat 930am to 700pm
Open Rice page here