KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL » Chinese Food

E.A.T Food Village @ Publika, Solaris Dutamas

kampungboycitygal — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 11:13:01 +0000

Focusing on non halal local hawker fare, it is not difficult to guess that the newly opened E.A.T Food Village at Publika shopping gallery became my favourite lunching place. It brings together some of the best hawker food vendors from Klang Valley and North Peninsular Malaysia under one (air-conditioned) roof.

The decor reminds diner of yesteryear; with shop facades that look as though time freezes at 1950’s, Chinese calligraphy, poems, paintings and lingering Chinese oldies.

If you are craving for Penang style curry noodles with creamy soup base and chili paste served aside, there’s Lorong Seratus Tahun.

One can also head over to Sentul Ah Yap’s stall and order a plate of hokkien noodles (RM 7.90) that packed plenty of wok hei. Patrons are given a “Beeping UFO” that goes beep as when the noodles is ready.

Loke Yun Chicken Rice from Ampang would be perfect when you want something substantial for lunch or dinner.

Give yourself a fiery challenge by having Kin Kin Chili Pan Mee (RM 7.50). I will pay RM 2 extra anytime as portions are bigger and there is no need to queue and hoard for a table as compared to the Chow Kit outlet.

BM Yam Rice is one of my favourite stall at E.A.T food village. Set meals are available from RM 8.90.

Your choice of mains (braised pork, assorted pork soup, lo bak, ginger wine chicken, etc) comes together with yam rice, soup and braised egg+tofu. That was quite a heavy meal for many.

I never fail to have the lo bak (RM 2.50 each) whenever I’m here. It was nice and crispy on the outside, and the minced meat filling was really flavorful and juicy.

For a springy affair, there’s Hong Kee wantan mee that hails from Cheras.

Wash it all down with a cup of bubble milk tea, from Chatime. Bliss!

E.A.T. Food Village,
Publika Shopping Gallery,
Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur.
Opens daily from 10am to 9pm.

ADVERTORIAL

Remember the XPLAY parties with lots of good sounds, great vibes and awesome grooves? The recent XPLAY in Kota Kinabalu was another great success! The was a great breakdance performance by Velasco Brothers, the first runner up of “Pilipinas Got Talent”. DJ Nuold, DJ SHY and the awesome combo of MC Vibes and DJ point has also put on some good music.

The great party will spreading over to Kuching. XPLAY is going to be at Paragon Club this 19th November 2011.
The event will feature DJ MALIKA, the smokin’ hot DJ from Russia, plus top as well as up-and-coming local DJs, DJ Jee Hoe, and Twilight Actiongirls a.ka. TAG (DJ Xu & DJ Bunga)

Entry is still TOTALLY FREE for such great parties! To get passes for this happening joint, all you have to do is go to http://on.fb.me/XPLAY11 & register for your FREE passes!

It’s simple to get your FREE passes. Just follow the Xpax (http://facebook.com/xpaxfb) and U.O.X. (http://facebook.com/uoxfb) Facebook pages for more information on how to register and get your FREE passes!

Restoran Pan Heong @ Medan Batu Caves

kampungboycitygal — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 02:51:39 +0000

Pan Heong is such a legendary eating establishment in other part of town – Batu Caves. With cheap, affordable pricing and no frills interior; Pan Heong is not intended to be a gourmet restaurant, but as places where one can enjoy comfort food in the company of friends.

This Batu Caves most famous restaurant boasts wall photos of visiting celebrities and politicians throughout the years. The newspaper cutouts are solid testaments to their popularity too.

Sang Har wat dan hor (RM 68 for 4 pax) is one of the main reasons people flock to this restaurant. Imagine luscious fresh water prawn and kuey teow (flat rice noodles) drowned in a thick gravy in bright orange hue (from the prawn roe).

Upon taking the very first bite, we were pleasantly surprised at how delicious it was! The medium sized prawns were sweet, succulent and springy to bite. The kuey teows were so smooth and the eggy gravy was well enhanced by the prawn flavour. Absolutely divine!

Kao Yoke Mee Hoon (vermicelli with stewed pork, RM 16.50 for 2 pax)

The stewed pork was very flavourful, and with the right ratio of fats versus lean meat, it almost melts in the mouth. The mee hoon packed plenty of wok hei too! This must be another must order dish at Pan Heong.

Sang Yu (snake head fish) and Century Egg Porridge (RM 15.50 for 3 pax)

It was cooked just right: the velvety smooth porridge was neither too thick nor watery. The robust fish slices were fresh and chunky while the century egg has a nice, creamy centre. One bite into these beauties and we were transported to heaven!

Mee Mamak Goreng (RM 10.50 for 2 pax). It was sweet and spicy at the same time; but pales in comparison with the excellent dishes we had before this.

Nam Yu (fermented bean curd) Pork (RM 25). Fried till crispy, the nam yu pork was extremely flavourful and addictive. However, we found some pieces to be too lean and tough while some were delightful delicious with a right amount of fattiness.

Even our order of Sweet Potato Leaves (RM 13) tasted so good that it vanished in split seconds!

All in all, Pan Heong serves very good food at a reasonable price. Each of us paid about RM 22 for all that food! Parking is horrendous and the crowd is crazy, so be there as early as 11am for lunch.

Pan Heong Restoran
No.2, Jalan Medan Batu Caves 2,
Batu Caves,
68100 Selangor
(parallel to SRJK Kheow Bin)
Tel: 03-6187 7430
GPS Coordinates: 3.233434, 101.674165
Opens from 8am to 330pm daily.

Aik Yuen Hokkien Noodles (behind Hospital Tawakal)

kampungboycitygal — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:57:27 +0000

Aik Yuen needs no further introduction as most KL folks would have known or heard about this place that serves great Hokkien noodles. Located off Jalan Pahang and behind Tawakal Hospital, this little eating establishment is spotted with good crowd since opening till late.

Apart from the main shop lot, the tables overflowed to the pavement, stretching to the next few shophouses on both sides. Hokkien mee (RM 6.50) and fried fish cakes are the pièce de résistance here, as we spotted them in almost every table. The Hokkien mee does live up to its name, full of “wok hei” and came with a generous amounts of fried pork lard. It is also the dry and sweeter type of Hokkien noodles, which I really enjoyed.

The “Chao Pek Ger” (Stir Fried Rice Cake, RM 6.5) was chewy in texture and it never leaves a strong “floury” taste in my mouth. So I’m rating this higher than Ming Hoe, Jalan Ipoh.

Our order of Wat Dan Hor (RM 6.5) was a total let down though! It was just…bland and forgettable. How could someone who made good Hokkien noodles can’t do wat dan hor well?

The fish cake being the crowd’s favourite, was well-seasoned and have firm, bouncy texture.

Our Deep Fried Calamari was nothing to shout about; the batter was too thick with uneven seasoning. The first piece I took tasted really good with some curry powder seasoning but the next piece was as tasteless as plain water.

The Stir Fry Lala was decent; the spicy and sour sauce was quite appetizing.

I really enjoyed the Caramelise Siew Yoke (RM 10) because it reminds me of how my mum would “treat” those leftover siew yoke from our usual offering rituals. Stir fry the pork pieces of dashes of dark soy sauce, sugar and cili padi and voila! A major facelift to our usual siew yoke.

Overall, dishes are a hit or miss so it is advisable to stick to their “core” signature dishes such as hokkien noodles and fish cakes.

Restoran Aik Yuen
Behind Tawakal Hospital
Jalan Sarikei, Off Jalan Pahang Barat
53000 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia

Celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival with Starbucks Mooncake

kampungboycitygal — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 12:59:02 +0000

The Mid-Autumn Festival, with the fullest moon of the year, is a time for family reunions and nothing is more synonymous with the moon festival than the mooncake. It seems like the F&B boys in Malaysia have an early start on moon cake this year. The flavor selection is also getting better each year. Truffles, durian, birdnest, cheese, bacon, you name it, they have got it.

What about some coffee and dessert flavoured mooncakes from Starbucks? This year, Starbucks is introducing 4 new tantalizing flavours – caramel macchiato, tiramisu, green tea chocolate and hazelnut latte.

The Regular Package that consist of two 2 scrumptious mooncakes is priced at RM 38.80. I like how it is presented in a beautiful but traditional die cut hard board box.

For RM 148.80, the Premium Package consists of all four 3 flavours plus exclusive Limited Edition Ceramic Starbucks® Logo Coasters.

Starbucks also presents its mooncakes in elegant packaging that is sure to win the hearts any mooncake aficionados.

All 4 varieties!

There’s even Starbucks logo imprinted on the mooncakes!

While we found some of the offerings were a tad too sweet for our liking, our votes go tiramisu and green tea chocolate. The tiramisu mooncake is a perfect blend of flavours, with the strong aroma of coffee and creamy cheese. I love the combination of green tea and chocolate, it has the right sweetness and the chocolate gave a pleasing bitter aftertaste.

Grub of The Week#1 – Loh Mee @ Pusat Gerai Makanan Adik-Beradik Chua

kampungboycitygal — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 07:17:12 +0000

Contrary to popular belief, we don’t usually carry our DSLR around. So whenever we stumble upon some real good food, we will take pictures of the meals with our humble iPhones. These pictures have been sitting in our archive folders for quite some time and sometimes they make us melancholy for a time when we were hungry. So we are now sharing these low quality pictures by starting the Grub of The Week series.

#1 is this kick ass loh mee from Pusat Gerai Makanan Adik Beradik. Drenched in a dark, thick, gooey and starchy broth; the loh mee (RM 5.50) was laden with various ingredients such as minced pork, pig’s intestines, pork’s ball and zhu yao zha (lards)! Best eaten with a dash of vinegar.

Kedai Makanan Adik Beradik Chua
15-1 Tengkat Tong Shin,
Bukit Bintang,
Kuala Lumpur 50200.

Delicious Siong Tong Lala & Hokkien Mihun @ Kedai Makanan Ming Hoe, Jalan Ipoh

kampungboycitygal — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 05:42:17 +0000

Cheap eats are fewer and farther in between these days, but we have found a few that will keep you and your wallet stuffed full. Kedai Makanan Ming Hoe, which we affectionately refer as “Jalan Ipoh hokkien mee”, is one of it.

This unassuming looking restaurant is usually crowded until closing time. Many has complained of long waiting time, so get there as early as 6pm or as late as 10pm. We’ve been coming back to this restaurant for a few times and recently came back again for dinner. The food was great, as usual and reasonably priced. These are some of the “must order” dishes.

Signatare Tofu (RM 10). The tofu was nicely breaded on the outside and had bouncy, solid feel when we took a bite. It was a surprise in every bite as we found our teeth sink into a combination of fish paste, shrimp paste and tofu. Highly recommended!

Siong Tong Lala (Clams in Superior Soup, RM 15) was spotted in almost every table. It was definitely the best siong tong lala that we have ever had. It makes Lala Chong or Lau Heung’s version pale in comparison. The secret lies in the fresh clams with sweet, rich and briny flavours. The superior soup was really addictive, with a nice kick thanks to the addition of chili padi, shredded ginger and a generous dose of Chinese wine.

Ming Hoe also draws the crowd with their famous Hokkien Mihun (RM 6) but we always asked for Hokkien Mihun Mee. It’s a personal favourite; don’t ask me why Full of “wok hei” and with a generous amounts of fried pork lard, it was utterly delicious.

This is “Chao Pek Ger” (Stir Fried Rice Cake, RM 6). The texture is very much similiar to Shanghainese Nian Gao and Korean’s tteokboki but the cooking method is almost akin to the hokkien style of stir frying. It was nice at the first bite, but after a few bites, you get a little sick of the taste. Will recommend this for sharing.

Ming Hoe serves no frills, cheap, damn good food that we kept going back for. It was quite an experience to sit outside and watch the owner cooking up a storm with high flames.
View Larger Map
Kedai Makanan Ming Hoe
Jalan Ipoh, 51200 Kuala Lumpur.
(between HSBC and Indian Temple along Jalan Ipoh)
Tel: 03-40443669
Open from 6pm till late, closed on Monday.

Kien Kee Spicy Soup at Seri Kembangan

kampungboycitygal — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 14:30:15 +0000

Seri Kembangan, to most KL city folks, is well off the beaten track. However, SK was our favourite playground during our teen years. For those who are new here, we used to reside in SK when we first started this blog, hence the numerous reviews on eateries around SK. This little Chinese village is jam packed with loads of good food and Kien Kee Sup Pedas Ayam Kampung located behind the Post Office in Jalan Besar Seri Kembangan is one of them.

So naturally Kien Kee became a default place for lunch when we were around SK to run some errands one weekend. Kien Kee is situated at an almost hawker center like area with small “make shift” office lots and a centre courtyard. It can get pretty warm towards noon at the non air conditioned area, due to the zinc roof top. Fortunately for us, we managed to secure table at the air conditioned area pretty quickly.

The signature spicy soup, also known as lat thong (辣汤) in Chinese was first served. The clear soup is laden with various porcine goodness such as pork meat, stomach, intestine and liver. Do not be deceived by the clear looking soup as the soup is full of crushed peppercorns that gave it a distinctive spicy taste.

The soup was good but not as good as before because the flavour of the soup was lack of that spicy kick.

We also tried their “Fa Tiu” claypot chicken (花雕鸡). The tender chicken pieces are coated with thick, dark caramelised soy sauce which goes really well with a bowl of white rice. The addition of hua diao, a type of rice wine originated from Shao Xing, China gave it a nice whiff.

steamed tofu

and some greens for a balanced meal

The total bill came out to RM 65 for the four of us. It was pretty reasonable though not entirely cheap. The spicy soup was pretty decent but the piece de resistance is the hua diao chicken. The hole in the wall ambiance added to the whole dining experience as well.

View Larger Map
Restoran Kien Kee
D-1, Jalan 10/3
43300 Seri Kembangan
Tel: 012-350 9900
Opens 9am to 3pm, 6pm to 9pm, close on Monday
N 3 1.332 E 101 42.29099

ADVERTORIAL

Looking to combine a gaming pad together with your smart phone? The Sony Ericsson Xperia meets your needs. It has a sleek design with a 3-inch touchscreen that provides a simple interface to the operating system Android.

The Xperia is available from as low as RM848 on Celcom Exec. Sign up now and enjoy:

- FREE Multimedia Dock DK300

- FREE exclusive games

- Stand a chance to participate in Sony Ericsson Xperia Play gaming contest to win RM100,000!

Do check out Celcom website for more information

Claypot Butter Crab @ Restoran Wong Poh, Bukit Mayang Mas

kampungboycitygal — Wed, 18 May 2011 07:29:14 +0000

Every year when I asked KampungBoy what he wants for his birthday dinner, he asked for nothing but good healthy and happy life. I know! That is one hell of a very general answer; so this year I asked him to make a special request and he specifically asked for a “crabby dinner”. After some deliberation, I decided to take him to Wong Poh for some yummy-licious claypot butter crabs!

If you are a crustacean fanatic, Restoran Wong Poh at Bukit Mayang Mas is the place to go. We reached the place at 6pm sharp on a Saturday evening but to our horror, the place was already packed inside out and we have sit under the intense glaring sun.

We ordered the salted egg mantis prawn as an “appetizer”. It came to our table hot and crispy. While the mantis prawns were coated with incredibly rich and creamy salted egg yolk paste, we find Wong Poh’s version to be too “flour-ly”.

The claypot butter crab is the piece de resistance here, which we spotted in almost every other table. The crabs were so fresh, so fleshy and most importantly reasonably priced – medium size crabs are selling for RM 45 per kg and big size crabs are asking for RM 70 per kg. For only RM 52, we had two medium size crabs with plenty of sweet, succulent meat.

Not to forget the thick, creamy butter sauce with a sprig of curry leaves or two. The gravy is best mopped up with fried ‘man tao’ (RM 0.70 each).

KampungBoy said that it was one of the most incredible-tastiest and satisfying birthday dinner ever. Forget about fine dining! Ditch the fork and spoon! To add to the experience/taste, we broke the claws apart with our hands, pulled the meat off with our teeth and happily licking the butter sauce off our fingers. Messy but so satisfying.

Happy Birthday again!

Restaurant Wong Poh
36 & 38 Jln BM 1/2
Bukit Mayang Mas
47301 Petaling Jaya
Tel: 603-7803 3527

ADVERTORIAL:

Feel like getting together with friends/families over a hot pot meal? Look no further! Milkadeal has got the best deal ever - RM40 instead of RM107.80 for a Meal for 4 Persons: A Dry Pot of Fish Ball, Pork Intestines, Deep Fried Pig Skin, Pig Stomach, Fried Fish Maw, Foo Chuk, Vegetables + 4 Boiled Rice at Xiao Fei Yang Restaurant, Damansara Uptown

Read our review on Xiao Fei Yang here.

Offal-Lover’s Paradise-Ah Heng Food Corner @ Jalan Tiong Nam

kampungboycitygal — Thu, 05 May 2011 02:20:48 +0000

Ah Heng Food Corner is a hidden gem tucked away at a quiet alley off Jalan Tiong Nam.

Serving honest, home cooked specialties such pepper pig stomach soup, mui choy with three layer pork, pork trotters in dark vinegar sauce, braised pork intestines and chicken in rice wine, Ah Heng Food Corner became one of our favourite dining spot for simple dinner.

Despite it’s location, the food stall was jam-packed and buzzing with activity as customers arrived in a steady stream when night falls. Patrons can opt to dine at the al fresco stall area or move into the corner coffee shop which is also run by the same owner.

We placed our order at the stall front before settling down into our seats.

Our food arrived soon after and we quickly dig in after the obligatory photo taking.

Deep fried to perfection, the fish cake was fresh and springy to every bite. However RM7 for such a small slab of fishcake was a steep price to pay.

braised soy sauce eggs (滷蛋)

An offal lover would love the braised pig intestines to death! The intestines were all well cleaned, no residue of any sort and not even a hint of unpleasant smell. It also absorbs all the rich flavor of the thick, dark sauce. SO delicious!

Mui Choy with Three Layer Pork (RM 5). Taste the intense flavour and the fats of the pork and leave your guilt at home.

Chicken in Rice Wine (RM 9.50). It was so good – hearty, rich and flavoursome, with enough rice wine for that kick.

Pepper Pig Stomach Soup (RM 6). The pig stomach slices were not chewy at all, and we absolutely adore the hot, peppery soup. Hence a meal at Ah Heng often turns out to be a sweaty affair

Blanched Vegetables (RM 7)

To get here, drive past Jalan Raja Laut. Turn into the junction directly opposite Bangunan PAS. It’s within walking distance from the famous Tao Xiang Fish Head Noodles too.

Ah Heng Food Corner
Jalan Tiong Nam
50350 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-9569393
Opens frm 5pm till late

ADVERTORIAL

Remember previously we mentioned that Celcom iPhone 4 plan is coming on board very soon? Yes! Celcom has just launched the iPhone 4 with the best plans that suit your personality. Whether you are a social butterfly, gossip queen, web warrior or others, Celcom Exec has the perfect package for you:

-Choose from unlimited talk time, free SMS & MMS and data of up to 6GB.
-Get absolute assurance with Celcom Extended Warranty and insurance coverage.
-The12-month Extended Warranty will be in effect upon expiry of original manufacturer’s warranty and applies for i98, i148 & i248 plans on 24-month contract.
-The FREE 12-month insurance coverage covers attended theft, accidental breakage and liquid damage. Applies to i248plan on 12 and 24 months contract. Celcom is the 1ST Telco to offer FREE INSURANCE coverage for its iPhone customers! So you can talk and surf away with absolute peace of mind!

And the best thing is, they are including the exclusive White iPhone 4!

So why choose Celcom Exec iPhone Plans for your iPhone? See it for yourself! They are offering:
• FREE data up to 6GB
• FREE calls within network up to 6000 minutes
• FREE SMS & MMS to all networks!
• Low upfront payment
• Less entry barrier
• Get the iPhone 4 from as low as RM248!

Find out more about the exclusive iPhone 4 packages by Celcom, as well as phone specifications, features and more. Visit the website for more details : www.celcom.com.my/iphone

Shanghai Restaurant 上海苏浙苑 @ JW Marriott Hotel, KL

kampungboycitygal — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 08:56:04 +0000

In conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration, the best chefs from 8 of the Top Chinese restaurants in Klang Valley will cook up a storm to prepare customized Extravagant 8 menus that will satiate the palate and tantalize the taste buds between 20 January and 17 February 2011 exclusively for Standard Chartered credit card holders.

Priced at RM888++ per table of 8 pax, Standard Chartered credit card holders will not only be taken on a gastronomical journey; they will also be treated to free fortune cookies. The 8 participating restaurants in this campaign are Li Yen, Ritz Carlton; Shanghai, JW Marriot; Celestial Court, Sheraton Imperial; Tai Zi Heen, Prince Hotel; Zing, Grand Millennium; Gu Yu Tien; Elegant Inn; and last but not least Chynna, Hilton KL.

8 is such an auspicious word to the Chinese. Pronounce as “fa” (發), it signifies fortune and wealth. So let’s usher in the new year with a prosperous feast at Shanghai, JW Marriot.

Located on Level 1 of JW Marriott KL, it is the only authentic Shanghainese restaurant in KL. Shanghai’s elegant interior is reminiscent of the stylish city of Shanghai in the 1920’s. It reminds me very much of the TV series “The Bund” (上海灘).

*rendition from the background*

浪奔　浪流
萬里滔滔江水永不休
淘盡了世間事

混作滔滔一片潮流…

While there were no sights of of pretty ladies clad in cheongsams parading against a backdrop of Chinese mafias in suits, we have a bunch of corporate slaves who brave the traffic and make their way for the luscious CNY dinner.

The great meal started off with 鸿运大捞生 Salmon Yee Sang. The yee sang, which consists of crispy crackers, salmon sashimis, fresh scallops and grated vegetables was drizzled with a special concoction of mustard sauce, peanut sauce and sweet sour sauce. The crispness of the vegetables and the tangy sauce is so refreshing and appetite-whetting. Toss the colourful salad higher and say Lo Hei at the same time to usher in prosperity and abundance for the year of RABBIT!

干贝竹笙云吞炖鸡汤 Double-boiled superior wanton soup with dried scallop and bamboo pith.

There’s something about Chinese superior soup that makes me feel really comfortable. It could be the nourishing elements; or the thought that it gives me healthy, glowing skin. The double boiled soup was subtly sweet; the bamboo pith had a nice crunch and the wanton was so stuffed with ingredients that it was on the verge of bursting!

松子菊花鱼块拼炸金砖 Deep fried grouper fish with sweet and sour sauce accompanied with Deep-fried goose liver wrapped in bean curd。

The grouper fish was sliced in a special way that when deep fried, the batter will transform into a beautiful shape of chrysanthemum flower. The crispy, non greasy delicious piece of fish is coated with a delicious layer of sweet and sour sauce. Deep-fried goose liver wrapped in bean curd is a very unique dish. The chef overturned the bean curd, exposing the spongy layer that became really crunchy after deep fried. The goose liver, fully imported from France was really smooth and velvety.

a delicate, pretty dish.

宝鼎水笋肉 Braised Shanghainese pork with vegetables

Everyone agrees unanimously that this dish looks too pretty to be eaten! According to Chef Wang, the dish underwent a rather tedious preparation process. Layers of pork bellies were slowly braised to achieve tender meat and jelly like consistency of the fat. Then, he sliced the pork bellies carefully and assembled the different layers to form a pagoda. Dig in to reveal the hidden treasure inside the “pagoda” – exquisite bamboo shoots from the mountain of Zhe Jiang province in China.

Gorgeous piece of pork belly and absolutely melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness. Not a dish that can be prepared easily; credits have to be given to the chef for his exquisite skills and experiences.

虾仁纪子炒饭 Imperial fried rice with shrimps and diced chicken

Full of wok hei, the fluffy fried rice was really, really good! SO good that not even a tiny grain was left unattended.

苏浙苑精品小笼包 Steamed Shanghainese meat dumplings

Shanghai takes pride in signature dish – Shanghai Xiao Long Bao. Yrue to its name, it has exhibits the key characteristics of a good xiao long bao – thin skin and juicy innards.

元肉莲子汤年糕 sweet glutinous rice cakes with red dates and dried longan

Probably my least favorite of the night, bland tasting glutinous rice cake from Shanghai is just not my cup of tea.

麻花年糕 pan fried glutinous rice cakes with red dates and dried longan

I love glutinous rice cakes, infused with (lots of) sugar, and all that sinful stuff that you wouldn’t want to know! The crispy outer layer and the gooey sweetness of melted nian gao oozing out was so comforting. What a perfect ending to our amazing meal!

So if you are a Standard Chartered holder, you get to enjoy the Extravagant 8 Menu for only RM888+ for a table of 8 pax, additional diner will have to pay RM111+ each. Hurry and make your reservation because the Extravagant 8 Menu is only available for a limited time only – 20th January 2011 until 17th February 2011.

Shanghai
1st Floor, JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur
183 Jalan Bukit Bintang · Kuala Lumpur, 55100 Malaysia

Sukico Hainan Cafe @ Damansara Utama

kampungboycitygal — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 04:08:58 +0000

Being a Hainanese, KampungBoy is quite a fussy eater when it comes to anything that does with his hainanese roots. We usually have our cuppa together at the Ah Weng Kor Hainanese Tea Stall in Imbi Market during the weekends. He also likes the hainanese pork chop at Yut Kee so much that we make it a point to drop by whenever he’s back in KL. One fine day, I told him I’ve had enough of Yut Kee’s, so let’s do something for a change.

“OK, let’s go to Sukico Hainan Cafe then. Heard some good thing about em’”, he told me. I almost choked on my water, for obvious reasons.

Sukico Hainan Cafe has been in Damansara Uptown for as far as I can remember but it was only our first time there. The decor is simple and minimal, and the menu is pretty straightforward. The place had an old, musty smell that I don’t feel comfortable with. Maybe it’s just me and my sensitive nose.

I had a feeling that our Iced Hainanese Tea (RM 3.50) is going to be bad when I saw it being prepared by the foreign worker. You gotta trust a woman’s sixth sense – my hainanese tea was diluted, overly sweet and where is the thick frothy foam that sits on top? Nowhere to be seen.

KampungBoy ordered the signature Hainanese Chicken Chop (RM 12.80). Drenched in brown sauce and topped with a slice of cheddar cheese, the chicken chop coated in a crispy batter tasted really good! It came with a generous servings of fries and coleslaw too.

I really like the super decadent and rich Hainanese Lamb Stew (RM 14.80) too. The sauce is really thick and flavorful, with a light hint of star anise and cinnamon stick. The lamb was so tender, the meat fell right off the bones. It was so delicious that I’m getting every last bit of marrow out towards the end of our meal.

Taking the “smell” issue aside, we had a very satisfying lunch in Sukico Hainan Cafe. The Hainanese Chicken Chop and Hainanese Lamb Stew is really something! And I’m really glad that KampungBoy will have another place in mind the next time he wants to do Hainanese. Yay, no more Yut Kee all the way!

Sukico Hainan Cafe
26, Jalan SS21/39,
Damansara Utama,
47400 PJ.
Tel: +603 7728 8381

Jade Pot Steamboat 一品锅 @ Old Klang Road

kampungboycitygal — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:46:42 +0000

It has been raining almost incessantly in the past week or so. So the best thing to do on a rainy day is to have a wholesome steamboat feast that can warm me up.

The reason was strong enough to lead us to Jade Pot, a steamboat restaurant located in a stand alone building opposite Pearl Point, Old Klang Road. The cozy oriental themed surrounding is perfect for family dining or friends’ gathering.

The thing that I like most about the steamboat is the condiments – dried shrimps chili, red chili, green chili and fermented beancurd sauce.

Instead of the usual MSG laden clear scoup, we were given a choice of 4 soup base: ABC soup, Tom Yam, Fish Head with Yam or Shark Bone’s soup. We had the Fish Head with Yam as our soup base, and it tasted really good on its own!

We shared a set for 4 (RM 89.80) and the spread was pretty amazing! From meat balls, fish balls, fried bean curd, fried wonton, dumplings to tofu, vegetables and mushrooms; the steamboat ingredients were scattered across our table.

paper thin pork slices (part of set)

Hong Kong yee mee (part of set, additional RM1.50)

fresh prawn (part of set)

8 Tresures Platter (ala carte, RM 22.80). All the steamboat ingredients were freshly made here; so everything in the platter tasted really good with a slightly springy texture.

the best steamboat kakis that you can ever find – C&C, Ivy, Wen Ching

The total bill came up to RM134.10 for a table of 5. The pricing was not too bad, considering that we get to enjoy our steamboat meal in such nice environment without sweating profusely. The soup base was excellent, the ingredients were fresh but the service was a bit slow. Will I be back for more? Yes of course, with our 10% vouchers on hand (for every RM50 spent, customers are entitled to a 10% discount voucher).

一品锅 Jade Pot Steamboat Restaurant
No 413, Batu 5
Jalan Kelang Lama
58000 Kuala Lumpur (opposite Pearl Point Shopping Mall)
Tel: 03-7987 9918

Desa Sri Hartamas branch :
No.5, Grd Flr, Plaza Prismaville
Jalan 19/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas
Tel: 03-6201 1918

Purple Cane Tea House @ Osborne Street, Ipoh (the old Foo San premise)

kampungboycitygal — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 10:38:18 +0000

It’s interesting to see how the old premise where Ipoh’s legendary dim sum giant previously occupied has been transformed into a charming and quaint tea house. A lot of thoughts have been put into the layout and landscaping of the old premise. On one side of the outlet houses their retail segment which features various tea products and utensils, on the other side is the dining area with charming mismatch wooden tables and chairs. There’s even a mini “secret garden” behind where their VIP rooms are located.

From top left: two VIP rooms that require a minimum spending of RM150, the charcoal wall that works its magic in absorbing moisture and unpleasant odour, I like how they decorate the ceiling with old flour sacks, round compressed tea and delicate tea cups.

Unlike its KL counterparts, the Ipoh outlet serves more like a tea house by serving light bites and a few main dishes.

The lady who run the place, Madam Hew is very friendly and she is a great help in recommending some specials to our table.

My Green Tea Latte (RM 5.80) was was decent, if not passable. I found it to be rather diluted and weak.

Madam Hew recommeneded their signature Sweet Potato Balls that comes with a Green Tea mayonnaise dipping sauce. The potato balls were not too sweet and not oily at all. However, I find it rathe expensive to pay RM5.80 for 8 measly size balls.

Hot Tea Soup (part of set). The savory soup is deliciously infused with Chinese tea, but not overpowering.

Set Menu

Black tea curry chicken served with choice of Long Jing green tea rice/Wan Tan Mee/Chee Cheong Fun, Rose Egg Custard, Hot Tea with choice of Cane’s Puer/Jasmine/Green Tea – RM 16.80

Cooked without coconut milk, this is a healthy and hearty curry dish that will leave you without guilt. The curry sauce was really addictive, and went really well with our green tea infused white rice.

We also tried the Fried Handmade Noodle with Lei Cha (RM12.80). This is a fun and interesting twist on classic fried noodles. Every strands is well coated with a light hint of lei cha flavour. My only gripe was that the noodles were a tad too soft.

Golden bean curd with tea mill served with green tea dipping sauce (RM8.80). Deep fried to perfection, bite through the crispy exterior and be welcome by the soft blend of vegetables and tea leaves. Excellent!

the green tea dipping sauce – cute isn’t it?

Rose Egg Custard (part of set, ala-carte RM3.80). It was served with a small cup of jasmine tea and we were told that we are supposed to take a sip after each spoonful of custard. It was eggy, soft and smooth.

The food in Purple Cane Tea House was not life changing or anything like that, but deemed to be a good choice whenever we are craving for something healthy, light and tasty. Purple Cane Tea House is also an excellent place to chill out or to meet up with friends.

PURPLE CANE TEA HOUSE
No 2, Jalan Dato Tahwil Azar (Osborne Street)
30300 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Telephone : 605-253 3090/6012-668 3090.
Business hours: 9am – 10pm daily.

Happy Mid Autumn Festival!

kampungboycitygal — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 10:17:36 +0000

Happy Mid Autumn Festival to all my readers!

jelly mooncake from Kuala Terengganu

This year, I’m spending it alone because KampungBoy is away and it is a usual work day for me. But I have these refreshing jelly mooncake companion which symbolizes the heavenly blessing of reunion and good health.

The mooncakes do not come with lavishly decorated gift packs nor stuffed with rare and expensive delicacies, but they are my favorite. It was a gift from KampungBoy’s parents and they tasted so good! And they best thing is, it costs only RM16 per box!

Share a mooncake with someone you love, families and friends this year.

Tao Xiang Fish Head Noodles @ Jalan Tiong Nam

kampungboycitygal — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 02:03:06 +0000

*photos taken with iPhone 3GS

I have to admit that even though I’m working in the city centre, the Chow Kit area with the most diverse selection of food is still an unexplored territory for me. It wasn’t until KampungBoy’s family brought us to this fish head noodles place called Tao Xiang at Jalan Tiong Nam.

Tao Xiang serves no frills Chinese fare such as bakuteh, stewed pork trotters and fish head noodles under the zinc roof. So it is almost impossible to stay cool while slurping the noodles with gusto and gulping the every single drop of the leftover soup. Does it deter patrons from keep coming back? Apparently not! The eatery is buzzing with activities always and if you are lucky, you might secure a table right away. If not, be prepared to wait a bit during lunch hour.

We placed our order according to the number of pax. The fish head noodles are served in claypots of different sizes according to your order. It stands out with its generous amount of various ingredients such as fried fish slices, tofu, salted vegetables, cabbages, yam slices, fish balls, bean curd sheets and even lalas. I also like how they use thick vermicelli instead of mee hoon that has the tendency to absorb broth really fast.

The soup base was excellent and complex; the refreshingly tangy taste came from the tomatoes and salted vegetables while the fish slices and lalas gave it a mild sweet taste. And the evaporated milk added a delicious rich and creamy flavor to the soup.

Our total bill came to RM 6 per pax (inclusive of Chinese Tea). While it is not the most comfortable place to dine in (don’t say I didn’t warn you!), the food is absolutely delicious for very reasonable prices.

No. 2, Jalan Tiong Nam,
50350 Kuala Lumpur.
H/P: 019-3661540
If you are travelling along Jalan Raja Laut, drive pass Sime Darby and turn left after residence Hotel. Go straight and Tao Xiang is on your left.