Dreams come true they do
Dreams come true
From all of us to all of you they do

Don’t you know that dreams come true
Love is just a second away
(Better take a look inside)
Make that magic rule, let the miracle stay
(You gotta take a look inside)

Dreams Come True, Westlife

The dream of running a small cafe has nothing to do with the excitement of entrepreneurship or the joys of being one’s own boss—it’s all about one’s passion and enthusiasm. Such is a case of Dreamz Bakery. It is a love story about a pastry chef (the boy) and a designer (the girl). They both shared the same dream – opening their own cafe. That dream came to fruition when the boy had decided to return home from Singapore where he received training and the girl graduated from a design school.

Dreamz Bakery is small but warm. Customers can choose to sit on a bar top table on the right with high stools or a floor seating area on the left. The affable staffs and owner always smile brightly and the cafe design is kitschy without being cliche. The interior is quite simple; there are no fancy lampshades, mass-manufactured furniture or expensive paintings, but they focused on delivering personal touches. I love the wall adored with portraits of the café’s regular, the pink polka dot table cloth and the quirky guest book which allows us to sit in one corner scribbling and drawing.

Apart from specialising in artisan cakes and desserts, wedding cakes and occasion cakes (birthday, anniversary), there are also cookies for sale. We tried quite a variety of those cookies, and boy they tasted good! My favourite was the kitty almond cookies and chocolate chip nut cookies. I got my Latte (RM 7.50) while Ivy got her Cappuccino (RM 6.90). I thought my coffee was nothing to shout about. The yam cake (RM 9) was moist and dense, but surprisingly leave a light feeling in my mouth, and just sweet enough. Chocolate Mille Crepe (RM 9) was a tad too “flourly” and thick to my liking.

All in all, Dreamz Café is open for anyone seeking great company to come together and enjoy a leisurely afternoon. Here are some photos of this cozy cafe design:

Dreamz Bakery (3rd floor)
No 32-1, The Strand Jalan, PJU5/20D
Pusat Perdagangan Kota Damansara
47810 Petaling Jaya.
Tel: 012-2003441
Monday :10.30am-7pm
Tuesday : CLOSE
Wednesday to Sunday :10.30am-9pm

Do check out Dreamz Bakery facebook page for more info!

Photos by Ivy, Edit by Citygal

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Since the damaging March 11 catastrophic that caused a tsunami and radiation leakage to devastate the Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures in Japan, a lof of us have deter from consuming Japanese food. The mass paranoia have cause a lot of Japanese restaurants to experience a slow down in business.

Kin Shui Tei Japanese Restaurant stands out when they started to implement a double checking step for radiation on all their imported ingredients using a radiation detector. Do you know that they are the first restaurant in Malaysia that uses the radiation detector to do the daily food scanning? The little device costs a whopping RM7,000 and there are no ready stocks in Malaysia at the moment.

Kampachi – radiation reading: 64

Pickles – radiation reading: 78

Gas mantle – radiation reading: 4665!

Gas mantle, widely used in kerosene or liquified petroleum gas flame has a higher reading because the mantle emits radiation when lit to generate bright white light.

Some fact about radiations: Radiation is all around us, all the time. The energy spectrum has included microwaves, radiowaves, infrared radiation, UV radiation, X-ray, etc. At high attitudes airlines fly, passenger and crews are exposed to higher-than-normal radiation levels of between 3 and 9 microsieverts per hour too. (1 sievert = 1000 millisieverts (mSv), 1mSv = 1000 microsieverts).

Radiation exposure around the Fukushima nuclear power plant reach levels of 400mSv per hour. A single dosage of 1000mSv could cause radiation sickness but not death. A single dosage of 5000mSv could cause death to those who were exposed to it within a month and a 1000mSv reading could cause fatals within week. You get the drift.

more readings: http://www.world-nuclear.org/education/ral.htm

So the conclusion is not to worry too much all Japanese imports have undergone vigorous inspection by the Japanese and Malaysian Ministry of Health.

If the worry persists, it’s ok because Kin Shui Tei has chosen to stop using Japanese products all together and seek alternatives from other countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Norway and Alaska while others continue to use selected ingredients from the southern part of the country.

Let’s do some light reading after such a heavy discussion, shall we?

Thanks to the invitation from Kin Shu Tei, we got to sample chef Ikuo Tanabe’s master piece once again.  The little education session put us at ease; we enjoyed our food thoroughly without any worries.

Kin Shu Tei’s interior is simple and the colours of the whole restaurant is easy on the eye and rather classy.

Special Hokkaido chirashi sushi – RM98

I must say the food presentation was expertly done and the raw ingredients were so fresh that it is a lot like tasting the ocean. We really liked the rice imported from USA; somehow it just tastes better compared to Japanese rice. :p

Seasonal Anago Tempura – RM30

The crispy sea eel tempura was a great combination with the special dipping sauce – chef’s special sweet sour sauce with spring onions.

Smoked Ayu – RM55

The moist, flaky fish with a delicate smoke flavor was really good. Highly recommended!

Beef tofu Katsu don – RM38

On the surface, it’s a seemingly simple dish, but there is so much going on – a delicate layer of tofu wrapped with beef roll and coated in a crispy bread crumb batter. This tops my list as well.

Lamb rib steak – RM50. Lean and juicy, the lamb rib steak was grilled to perfection. The thick sauce looks appetizing and tasted great at the same time. Special mention must be made regarding the potato salad; so creamy and so delicious!

We had an early birthday celebration for KampungBoy courtesy of Debbie and the restaurant manager.

The make shift “cake” is so pretty! Kudos to the sous chef for such an innovative master piece.

It was my third time to Kin Shu Tei and we have never been disappointed. It is one of the long standing Japanese restaurants in town, partly attributable to Chef Ikuo Tanabe’s dedication and strict standard applied. He is such a perfectionist, and we have seen it with our own eyes.

Kin Shui Tei
C/o Tropicana Golf & Country Resort,
Jalan Kelab Tropicana,
47410 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Tel: 03-78042079 / 03-78804437 ext 315

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

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:

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Read our review on Xiao Fei Yang here.

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

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

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Tonight I will steal you away
All I want is just one taste
All that I want to do
Forbidden fruit

~Ne-yo, Forbidden Fruit

And in my case:
All that I want to do
Strongbow

Tantalizing and exciting like forbidden fruit, Strongbow is a brand of cider made of fermented apple juice.

I had my first taste of the world’s best selling apple cider at Sid’s Pub last Saturday. It has a crisp, clean taste that brings you instant refreshment. It is also perfect for the Malaysia weather because it is so easy to drink, refreshing and comes with a subtle sweet taste. And the best part? I experience none of the bloating associated with most beers even after a pint or two.

Having 4 outlets across the Klang Valley, Sid’s Pub is undoubtedly KL most loved neighbourhood pubs.

Sid’s Pub offers the total experience that a neighbourhood pub should – simple menu, great music, welcoming atmosphere and friendly patrons.

I was here with my girlfriends so we ordered some food to be shared among us. Pigs in a blanket (RM 16) is a typical pub grub that works every single time. It’s hard to go wrong with these tender flesh and luscious fat combination that makes you yearns for more after each bite.

Sid’s Burger (selection of pork, beef, lamb or chicken) served with fries (RM16). If you are feeling gluttony, feel free to ask for extra toppings such as bacon, cheese and fried eggs at RM2 per item. While it is not the best burger we’ve ever had, but it is certainly up there!

Our order of Pork Vindaloo (RM26), on the other hand, was quite a letdown. The pork cubes were tough and chewy but we really enjoyed the thick gravy. A word of caution – it was really spicy!

And we washed it all down with the great Strongbow draught cider.

Having about the same alcohol content as beer (4.5%), we all got a little tipsy from all the Strongbow that we had. All in all, it was a fun girls’ night out and we shall do it again soon!

Sid’s Pub BANGSAR SOUTH
M-5A The Village, Bangsar South,
2 Jalan 1/112H, Off Jalan Kerinchi,
Kuala Lumpur 59200.
Tel: +603- 2287 743

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

“My mother would kill me if she knows that I’m charging anything more!”

It was the answer given by Hans, one of the owners of D Legends Bar when we asked him why is everything in the menu so reasonably priced (below RM 18 for all items).

Touted as a neighbourhood bar, D Legend Bar always believe in giving their customers the best value under the sun. It is also a place where you can just come in your shorts and slippers and dine with all the great legends like James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson and the likes.

The sleek and functional bar, where all the action is, with flair bartenders, flaming cocktails and a killer menu.

And in D Legends Bar, every night is ladies’ night!

Drop by and enjoy the ladies only promotion – 3 cocktails of the day for RM 50 nett. Everyday a different cocktail is offered.

Monday
Batidas – Your choice of strawberry or passion fruit flavour.
Havana rum, Fresh lime, Fruits

Tuesday
Martini
Bombay Sapphire gin, Dry Vermouth, Olives, Lemon twist

Wednesday
Cosmopolitan
Absolut vodka, Triple Sec, Cranberry juice, Lemon squeeze

Thursday
Margarita – Your choice of original, strawberry, or green apple flavour.
Jose Cuervo tequila, Triple Sec, Lime juice

Friday
Long Island Tea
Absolut vodka, Havana Club rum, Bombay Sapphire gin, Jose Cuervo tequila, Triple Sec, Lemon juice, Coke

Saturday
Mojito
Havana Club rum, Mint, Lime, Soda

Sunday
Sex on the beach
Malibu, Orange juice, Cherry syrup

If you’re adamant and you want a beer then you can opt for 3 full pints of Kilkenny, Guinness or Tiger for RM50 nett every night. And you are allowed to mix.

For starters, we had the Samosa (RM 8 nett) served with Han’s grandmother’s home made mint chutney. It is an extremely flavorful condiment and is the perfect accompaniment to the freshly made, piping hot samosas. I just couldn’t help marveling at just how tasty it was!

The highly recommended Mushroom Tapas (RM10 nett) came next. The mushroom sauce was rich, creamy, earthy and slightly sweet. Served together with toasted baguettes, it makes a perfect finger food.

We were fortunate enough to sample another recipe from Han’s grandmother – the Chicken Tikka (RM12 nett) served with yogurt mint chutney. It came in a beautiful hue of red and the meat is well marinated and flavorful. My only gripe would be the slightly tough texture of the meat.

The Fish in Lemon Sauce (RM 18 nett) is probably the only item that we didn’t like that night. The fish slices were dry and flaky while the lemon sauce was a little too tangy for me.

Hans takes pride in the d Legends Pork Burger (RM 15 nett) but it must be really something. Made from minced pork meat, the patty was thick and juicy. Though not the best pork burger in our list, it is a simple and amazingly satisfying dish.

The fabulous Shepherd’s Pie (RM 15 nett) oozes full on flavour. It was rich and rewarding, the lamb chunky and the mashed top was cheesy.

Chocolate mud cake with vanilla ice cream (RM12 nett) was a bit typical and nothing to shout about.

The Apple Pie (not in the menu, yet) is another chef’s family recipe. Ah, don’t you just love family-run restaurant? The apple filling was delicious with hints of cinnamon flavour but the chef was pretty heavy-handed on salt that night.

Partners in Crime – Christine & Aiwei

There are some nice vibes at D Legends Bar. The beer is flowing and the people are always happy. The staffs are kind, courteous and always make you feel welcome.

D’LEGEND BAR
24, GROUND FLOOR,
JALAN DATUK SULAIMAN,
TAMAN TUN DR ISMAIL,
60000 KUALA LUMPUR
TEL: 03-7725 6270
OPENING HOURS:
5 PM – 2 AM ( WEEKDAYS)
4 PM – 2 AM ( WEEKDAYS)
(same row as Mama’s Kitchen)

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Waterlily Cafe @ Mutiara Damansara  that shares the same owner as Waterlily Cafe, Bumbu Bali and Ole Ole Bali serves authentic Balinese cuisine and also a small selection of Western food. Though located at a fairly new development area, the neighborhood lends itself to word-of-mouth advertising as patrons discover the cafe soon after they are opened for business.

The bistro is designed with beautiful hardwood teak flooring, wood-carved panel  and balinese furnitures.

Their nasi campur with minced lamb was really good. Topped with plenty of chopped parsley, the lamb was absolutely delicious, tender and flavorful.

We had another nasi set that I have problems recalling the name but the fried chicken were excellently done. Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside and most importantly not greasy at all.

Service is good, food is good, portions are generous and the prices are reasonable. The restaurant also has a nice atmosphere and ambiance. Birthdays, gatherings, celebrations, etc, Waterlily Bistro is the place for every occasion.

The Waterlily Contemporary Balinese Bistro
116G, Jalan Mutiara Tropicana 3, PJU 3, 47410 Petaling Jaya, Selangor (Same row with Jaya Grocer).
Tel : 03-78036603 (Call to book)
Operation Hours : 11am till late.

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

It’s no secret that we KL-lites especially the younger generation are infatuated by Japanese Buffet in general. Apart from the fame Jogoya, Munakata, Tenji, Saisaki, Shogun and various other hotels’ Japanese buffet as well as Sunday ala-carte buffet offered by Umaiya, Rakuzen and Xenri, the latest addition is Tao Cuisine who hails all the way from Penang! *yay*

the briny & juicy behemoth oysters, fresh & succulent prawns and thick cut sashimi with average quality

At RM45++ for lunch and RM 58++ for dinner, the pricing is not too bad. Advance booking is almost a mandatory because we were here on a Monday night and the place is packed to the brim!

Apart from the simple buffet line of salad, sashimi, sushi, teppanyaki and dessert, one can also order from the ala-carte menu that features more than 80 dishes. Place your order with the wait staff, and he will print the receipts and place it on your table. As the food arrives, the wait staff will remove the receipt from your table. I reckoned that it is a pretty efficient and fast way to avoid confusion.

Drinks selection are limited to ice lemon tea, orange juice, mango juice, peach tea, green tea, cappuccino and chocolate. No qualms on that; as we got unlimited refills and orders.

The only bummer is the bad lighting. It is almost impossible to snap a good photo, which reminds me that we need to get an external flash! So I’ll just feature food that we thought was good.

motoyaki scallops, grilled butter fish, grilled salmon and abalone slices

lamb chop, sake clams, unagi togu and mini cheese tarts

The service was impeccable too. The wait staff were very attentive and they will change our plates every 30 minutes or so. Please note that if you are looking for some authentic Japanese cuisine, Tao Cuisine is not the place for you. Most of the ala-carte items are prepared in such a way that catered to the Malaysian tastebud, i.e. clever use of various dressings and sauces. We wouldn’t mind at all, as long as the food is good

Tel: 03-6148 2826
Fax: 03-6148 5826

Lunch
11.30am till 02.30pm (Monday to Friday)
11.30am till 04.00pm (Saturday, Sunday, public holidays and eve of public holiday)

Dinner
05.30pm till 10.30pm (Monday to Thursday)

05.30pm till 08.00pm 1st section
(Friday to Sunday, public holidays and eve of public holiday)

08.30pm till 11.00pm 2nd section
(Friday to Sunday, public holidays and eve of public holiday)

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

With funky décor, up lit bar and plush furnishing, one is sure to feel at ease in the cozy atmosphere of Funky Villa. I love the ingenious use of color especially!

The mural and these rainbow colored chairs bring a splash of vibrant color into the bar itself.

We were seated at the dining area overlooking the bar and the dance floor. Above is a spacious first floor seating and dining balcony.

This cool, laid back bar offers great DJ’s spinning at the front lounge too.

We got to sample some of the latest offering of this spanking new bar, courtesy of Natalie, the Communication Manager of Funky Villa.

We started off with NUT CRACKER regular size. (vodka, irish cream, amaretto, hazelnut liqour & vanilla ice cream). It also comes in giant size at RM53 that can easily feed four to five thirsty patrons. Great fun for birthday celebration or gatherings, we reckoned.

We also tried three of Funky Villa’s signature drinks – Iced Roselle, Iced Tamarind and Iced Lemongress (RM 6.90 each). The drinks were very refreshing, with a slight touch of sweetness that takes the edge off the heat of spicy foods that we are going to have later.

Tom Yum Kung serving for 2 (RM13). Served scalding hot, the tom yum kung was very spicy and sour, with a lot of fresh spices and herbs like lemon grass, ginger root, red shallots, lime coriander leaves, chili and kaffir lime leaves. The chef has added in some fresh coconut flesh for some good bites. It complemented the tom yum soup extremely well.

Masamman Beef (Red Curry) (RM23). Massaman Curry is a popular dish from the south of Thailand. The curry gravy was rich and flavorful, with some potatoes cubes thrown in for good measure. The beef cubes were extremely after hours of slow cooking.

Yellow Curry Soft Shell Crab (RM23). The yellow curry with eggy bits was slightly sweet with a subtly hint of spiciness. It went really well with our bowl of Thai fragrant white rice. However, the soft shell crab was over-fried and tasted a little burnt.

The Mixed Platter : EKAMAI (serve 2-3paxes) – RM36 consists of Lemon Grass Seafood Skewers, Bamboo Beef Skewers, Thai Fish Cake and Spicy Pamelo Salad.

Our favourite of the bunch? The beef skewers and lemon grass seafood skewers. So tender that it required minimal jaw exercises.

The Mango Salad with Fried Tofu (RM 14) was served alongside with chunks of deep fried shrimps. It was a mingling of sweet, sour, spicy and salty taste in our mouth.

We were presented with Mango Sticky Rice (RM9), a sweet treat that we absolutely love! The coconut milk soaked sticky rice was really addictive. It was served warm to bring forth the rich flagrance and flavors. My only gripe is that the mangoes were not sweet enough.

There aren’t any reasons to skip Funky Villa if you frequent e@Curve. Set lunch starts from RM9.90 nett with 2 course plus drink, available during weekdays from 12pm to 3pm. Good news if you love cheap booze. Funky villa offers buy 1 pint free 1 pint promotion before 6pm and buy 1 pint free half a pint promotion before 10pm. You can placed your order anytime before 10pm and redeemed your free pints at a much later time, say 1am.

Lot No G-03A, G-06 & EG-06,
GROUND FLOOR e@Curve (formerly Cineleisure)
No. 24 Jalan PJU7/3, Mutiara Damansara,
47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Tel: 03 7725 2308 / 014 699 9098 (Communication Manager of Funky Villa)

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

It’s official. My favourite mid range Japanese restaurant is Ichiban Boshi.

I’ve been to the outlets in Esplanade Mall (sg), Novena Square (sg), Pavilion KL and Sunway Giza. The interior of the restaurants emanate a bright and airy feel which reminds me of Sushi Zanmai.

Patrons can opt to sit by the conveyor belt and watch the sushi go by and pick up the plates they want. We were more often intrigued by the ala carte menu and set meals and chose to be sitted at one of the cozy corner.

The food was decent and the servings were quite generous. The restaurant never stinge on the ingredients, so we tend to order too much food, overate, and regretted for hours afterwards.

Having to redeemed numerous california rolls from the Ichiban Boshi reward card, my sister is apparently a fan of Ichiban Boshi too.

arghhhhh. I’m running out of ideas on what to write as I’m using my lunch break today to work on this post.

OK, I’m such a lousy flogger because we ate so well we completely forgot to keep the receipts and I can’t really recall what we had and how much was it.

executive set meal.

All I can remember is it didn’t cost us an arm and a leg to eat here. If you are craving for some Ichiban Japanese food but the thought of burning a hole in your wallet is holding you back, Ichiban Boshi is the place to go.

*tata! gonna grab some quick bite now!*

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Craft Brew has been a favourite hang out spot of us ever since they opened their door to the public last year. I love the fact that it is (quite) near to my house.

I love the casual and comfy setting.

I love  the wait staffs cladded in Super Mario outfit. Uber cute!

It is sad to know that Craft Brew failed to obtain a license to brew their own beer. So the dream of having our very own microbrewery sort of “vanished”.

However, I love the fact that they took the effort to bring in Singaporean beer brand RedDot (the fame GREEN and RED coloured beer) and American brews, Flying Dogs (Old Scratch Amber Lager, In-Heat Wheat Hefeweizen, etc) and Rogue (Brutal Bitter, Dead Guy, etc).

Something is always better than nothing right?

I also like how the food is seriously non halal. Pork ribs, pork burger, carbonara and etc; you name it, they have it. Even the complimentary soup is full of porcine goodness but it was too salty for my liking.

Honey Mustard Pork Ribs (RM28). I know how everyone loves their ribs to be “fork tender and falling off the bone easily”, but our honey mustard ribs were a bit too soft and mushy.

The lamb shank (RM28) was deep fried before it was braised or simmered to succulence (I think), which results in a slightly crispy skin. This delicious lamb dish has all the right flavours in place too! Thus, it comes highly recommended by KampungBoy.

The Craft Brews Pasta is a cream-based pasta with bacon strips and sliced shiitake mushrooms. Generous servings and they did not skimp on the ingredients.

We absolutely adore the Potato Wedges (RM12)! I really liked the crispy aspect of the wedges and the addition of some chili flakes was genius! It made a great beer snacks too.

We also sampled three types of home brew:

Monster Green Lagers that appears in translucent green is brewed and lagered with premium spirulina that gives the unique color and a whiff of fresh fragrance.

English Ale is for someone who likes stronger and full-bodied beer. It appears in ruby red and the flavour comes a bit complex with smoky, spicy and hop-py.

Weizen (Wheat Beer) appears in Golden and cloudy. With the fruity nose and spice flavour, you will find it light-bodied and refreshing.

*1/2 pint at RM15

“In Heat” Wheat Hefeweizen (RM18) is highly recommended for ladies and for those who find beers bitter

the partners in crime I – simon seow

the partners in crime II – chris, christine, aiwei, tingfang

The food was decent but for someone who prefers full flavoured beer, you might find the light and refreshing beers to be tasteless and odourless. It was ok for us, because we can drink them all night without falling over.

Craft Brews
Jalan PJU 7/2,
Mutiara Damansara,
47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
GPS: 3.161031, 101.613761
Tel: 03-7722 3000

Happy hours are:
Mon – Sat: 12pm to 8pm
Sunday: All day

Restaurant/Bar closed from 2.30PM – 5PM daily.

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

While everyone was partying the night away as they usher in the new year of 2010, we headed to Lala Chong for some rockin’ Chinese-style seafood. I believe Lala Chong needs no further introduction as they have made a name in the local dining scene as the famous seafood restaurant opposite Terminal 3 of Subang Airport.

Little did we know that they have expanded to Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara, just a little further down from our perennial favourite – Pantai Seafood Restaurant. Good for PJ folks like us!

We started off with the famous pucuk paku tossed with chunks of canned tuna, chili and garlic (RM10). Weird combination but it was really delicious!

Since there were only the two of us, we opted for something simple like San Bei Ji (RM 10)(three cup chicken; 三杯鸡). It was nothing to shout about though.

It is almost a must to order Siong Tong LaLa here, the name (lala chong) itself is self explanatory huh? Well enhanced by rice wine, ginger shreds and chillies; the superior soup was subtly sweet with a hint of flavour derived from the fresh clams. We reckon that it was as good as our favourite siong tong lala from Restoran Boston Baru, Klang.

Other than the famous siong tong lala and pucuk paku, LaLa Chong is famous for their salt baked fish and crab dishes (priced at RM 45 per kg) as well. Good reasons to revisit huh?

La-La Chong Seafood Restaurant
Subang:
Lot PT 6824, Terminal 3,
Abdul Aziz Shah Airport,
Subang.
Tel No: 03 – 7859 1906
Kg Sg Kayu Ara
Lot 13556, Jalan Cempaka,
Kayu Ara Damansara,
47400 Petaling Jaya.
Tel : 03-77281906

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa, an established name in Kampung Baru since 1973. The brand name is so strong that they have ventured into franchising now, with 12 branches available in Klang Valley and Malacca.

Despite having a bad prior experience that we have decided not to blog about it, we will always give a restaurant a second chance unless it’s a horrible transgression. So we said yes to the invitation from Nazli that represents NLA and we met at the Kota Damansara outlet. The outlet offers a clean, air conditioned and comfortable atmosphere to enjoy your lunch or dinner.

Just like the original premise in Kampung Baru, patrons will queue up along the self service kiosk and pick from the various side dishes and condiments.

We started the meal with their signature drinks: Kedondong Juice (RM 3.95) and Assam Boi Juice (RM 3.25)

Nasi Lemak  (RM 2.95). The rice was fragrant and fluffy but the original recipe called for a sweeter variation of sambal. Personally I would prefer my sambal to be spicier and to have more “kick”.

Paru Goreng (RM 3.95). Slightly chewy but with the right texure , it was delicious!

You can never go wrong with Rendang Ayam (RM 4.95) too.

The Mee Goreng (RM 6.95) was done alright but there was a mild alkaline smell that I didn’t like.

NLA’s Cucur Udang (RM 2.50) is one of the clear winner. Fried till golden brown, the prawn fritters were really crispy but not oily at all.

Tahu Sumbat (RM 2.50). Pockets of fried tofu stuffed with vegetables, it makes a nutritious finger food snack

Cokodok Pisang (RM 2.50) was another crowd pleaser. It was crispy with the right amount of mashed banana and flour.

Pisang Goreng ala Bali (RM 4.95). It seems like NLA is doing a good job on sweets. The caramelised bananas makes such a great combination with palm sugar and shredded coconuts. I could just eat this everyday!

We ended the meal with a cup of Muar’s Specialty Coffee. Bliss!

While NLA is not the best that we have ever eaten, we can never deny that NLA has a special place in most KLnite’s heart since 1973. And surprisingly the desserts here really good!

Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa
No 1-1, Jalan PJU 5/10
Dataran Sunway Kota Damansara
47810 Petaling Jaya
Opens: Monday to Thursday 8am – 12am
Friday 9am – 2am
Saturday and Public Holiday 8am – 2am
Sunday 8am – 1am
Website: http://www.nasilemakantarabangsa.com/index.html

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Gourmet Burger or Street Burger? Sorry, but I’d take a messy, sloppy burger with overflowing juice that leaves my shirt stained, especially on days when cash runs low.

KampungBoy’s friend, Sehli introduced us to Brother John’s burger some time ago and there is no turning back. It has remained as one of our favourite burger stall. The secret lies in the generous squeeze of various sauces that make the burger so juicy. If you are game for something HUGE, go for the Master Burger that comes with double patties, double cheese and an egg.

It was entertaining to watch the chef in action. First, Bro John’s help sliced the patties into half, and he would add some chili powder, pepper and mustard between the sliced patties.

The patties and cheese were placed on top of the fried egg and more chili powder, pepper and soy sauce was added to give it more flavour. The egg layer was folded to wrap the patties completely. The last step calls for a crisp bun with the usual vegetables. Assemble everything together and ta-da!

Featuring a meaty beef patty, a melting layer of cheese, a crepe like layer of egg and assorted vegetables, all slathered in the richest mustard and mayonnaise dressing, the burger is probably one of the messiest and ugliest ordeal I’ve ever seen. There’s no better way to eat a burger other than holding it with your hands and sinking your teeth into it. The mustard and mayonnaise dressing gives the burger a juicy texture, while the patty with the perfect thickness delivers an appealing burst or flavor and seasoning. It is the ultimate comfort food.

Have you got your dose of Ramli Burger? Brother John’s burger stall is located outside Restoran Bee Fatt, Damansara Utama.

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Char Siew Zai is one place that we discovered by chance and has been going back ever since. The reasons being?

1. High tossing wantan mee
The noodles are boiled and go through a cold bath to ensure the ‘springyness”. The breath taking moment come when the cook throw it up high and catch it with a sieve. This is repeated for a few times to ensure that the excessive moisture is well drained. The noodles were really good – springy, flavorful and firm!

2. Decent toppings such as char siew, siew yoke, wantans, sui gaos, curry chicken, braised chicken feet, etc.
I wouldn’t say that the caramelised char siewa were of excellent quality because of such high benchmark set by FSF and SFS nearby. But everything was tasty enough to keep us coming back.

3. Reasonable pricing.
With price ranging from RM4 to RM7 in an air conditioned restaurant, I’m not complaining. In fact, it is much cheaper than most hawker stall wantan mee around Klang Valley.

The above-mentioned reasons were valid enough huh?

Restaurant Char Siew Zhai Wantan Mee
No. 37-1, Jalan PJU 1/3F,
47301 Petaling Jaya.

No. 5, Jalan 20/13, Paramount Garden
46300 Petaling Jaya.

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG