KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Small Note: Our write-up on Nong & Jimmy was featured in The Star Sunday Metro

With more stories about credit crisis, mortgage meltdown and job losses, it appears we are heading towards recession, and it may not get better anytime soon. I figured I’d jump on the recession bandwagon by introducing some recession proof food that is light on the wallet but feels heavy on the stomach.

Vicchuda in Damansara Utama is a great place for some Thai food. The restaurant has done pretty well because it is simply the best – cheap, easy and quick. The owner himself originates from the southern part of Thailand too. Though Vicchuda is essentially a restaurant with Thai influnces, the menu roams freely with some Malaysian fares such as ayam paprika daging masak merah and curries too.

From top left: ayam paprik, menu, tom yum campur, kerabu perut, kailan with salted fish, cucumber with sambal belacan.

Served scalding hot, the tom yum campur is 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 bits of cili padi floating on top of the clear soup may look too intimidating, do not fear as real tom yum should draw your sweat and tears. Unlike tom yum soup at other places, Vicchuda’s version has got omphhhh. It was spicy enough to make our scalp sweat but keep wanting for more.

Kerabu Perut. The tripes were thin, slighty crunchy and firm in texture. With dashes of fish sauce, lemon juice and sugar, the sauce is sweet, sour, salty and spicy. Very addictive stuff.

Apart from their specialties such as bawal masam manis udang petai, kerabu sotong, the usual fare like kangkung belacan, ayam papril, fried rice, and nasi pataya are pretty good too. We would highly recommend both kerabu perut and tomyam soup. At only RM4 to RM6 per portion (small), it is best to go for a greater variety of dishes. With 4 dishes, 2 rice and iced water, the total bill came at RM 23. Now this is what we meant by recession food…

Vicchuda Tom Yam Restaurant
24 Jalan SS21/35,
Damansara Utama
03 7722 3481

Opens from 11am to 12 midnight

(same row as Champion Duck and MayBank)

On a totally random night, KampungBoy brought me to Selera Jaya 223 for some piping hot nasi lemak and boy, I was hooked after that. I have been begging him to take me here for supper almost every week! As you can see, the place is bustling with activities, even after 12 am, which make it a great place for hang out session.

Mind you that the vendors here are very territorial and they will lead you to their “little territory” before darting away to some new customers again. you can only order drinks from certain stalls, depending on where you were seated. We have always preferred to sit at some blue coloured table at the right side of the food court, because the drinks are really nice! The milo ice (RM 1.60) deserves a special mention here; as it is very kao and and not overly sweet.

One can choose from two type of nasi lemak here – Yati’s (red label) or Suri’s (blue label). As you can see, our favourite remains Yati’s despite the fact that most people loves Suri’s. Suri’s version has comes with some fiery sambal which I can’t really tolerate. Yati’s sambal is sweeter and goes really well with the hot and fluffy nasi lemak. Well, it really depends on individual.

Our RM 1.20 nasi lemak comes with the usual condiments such as sambal, fried anchovies, roasted peanuts and half a hard boiled egg.  Being served hot all the time, the amazing fragrance of the rice will waft out, which drives us wild! Usually I’ll take 3 packets of these (heck, it’s only RM 3.60) while KampungBoy will down 5 packets of these when he’s starving!

We have got very nice and prompt services here as well. If the packaging of the nasi lemak feels cold to your touch, you can always ask them to bring a new batch over. Even the sambal, fried anchovies and roasted peanuts are free flow!

Otak-otak too, is selling like hot cakes here. At only RM0.50/RM0.60 (depending on which stall) per piece, it makes a great snack!

Do come by anytime to experience some hot and piping nasi lemak. You wont’t regret it. You might see us gobbling down our nasi lemak like there’s no tomorrow too!

Map to Nasi Lemak 223

Four crazy floggers embarked on a gastronomic journey to Kepong one night (for full story, read here). Without knowing every nooks and crooks beyond the Damansara/Kepong toll, it was an impromptu trip – we just got to know the destination after we hopped onto the car!

WMW and I dreaded to read the map. The reason? Read up “why men don’t listen and women don’t read map”. So we put all our faith and trust to Jason to guide us to (da dum!) Taman Ehsan Jaya for duck satay that was introduced by vkeong not long ago! Half way through, we picked up Simon who resides in Kepong and was told that we were heading towards the wrong direction! Jason ar Jason…

Makan Kaki

The spicy and creamy peanut sauce complements the smoky-sweet elements of the satays beautifully. Jason downed the sauce till the last drop.

The satay came piping hot in a short while after we placed our order. The duck satay is very similar to the usual chicken satay that we ate, being a little sticky, a little sweet and smoky. The distinctive difference would be the very interesting texture – grease free and extra chewy but with a crunch.

I love the chicken satay to every bit because it is full of flavor and the chewy texture of duck meat. The best thing is it costs only RM 0.60 per stick, which is slightly cheaper than my (old) favourite Satay Haji Samuti. WMW and me even ordered extra sticks to go!

When’s the next food crawl, fellow floggers? :p

Sen Kee Satay
Jalan 12, Taman Desa Jaya
Kepong
Tel : 019-218 7538/019-249 2572
Opens from about 6pm – 10.30pm
Close on Mondays

Teaser on Kepong Food Crawl Part II:

TGIF! I’m going to do a short post on Restaurant Well Cook Gourmet here. A friend who lives and stays at Subang Jaya all his life brought us here on his birthday last year. It is a no frill restaurant with minimal design and decor with an emphasis on their zhu chao (??).

Pattaya Fried Rice

Seafood Tom Yam

Yin Yeong (deep fried vermicelli and hor fun)

Singapore Fried Mee Hoon

Nasi Lemak

Stir Fried Tong Fun

Albeit being flavourful, the wok hei of some stir fried item here is pretty lack luster. Fortunately, the fried laksa stands out as the best item. The usual lai fun, is stir fried with the usual garnish of pineapple, diced cucumber, peppermint leaves, onions, cube chicken instead of fish slices and sour sauce, giving it a slight spicy and tangy taste. The food here is pretty decent and reasonably priced (ranges from rm 4.5 to rm 6.0). I will definitely return to this restaurant again for the fried laksa whenever I’m around Subang Jaya.

Restaurant Well Cook Gourmet
74, Jalan SS 14/2
Subang Jaya
Opens from 12 noon to 9pm.

1. Everyone sing the birthday song and have the birthday child sing along.
2. The birthday is deep in thought, hmmm I wish for more toys, more candies, (more chicks)……
3. Awwww so cute!
4. The portrait of a happy family.

We adjourn to Heritage Bay Club at Pulau Duyong for High Tea buffet after that. The RM300 million a year yacht race called the Monsoon Cup (some say the F1 of yachting) has left us behind Heritage Bay Club (Kelab Teluk Warisan Terengganu). Other than accommodation, Heritage Bay Club offers sailing facilities as well.

Idris Yusof, the ex chief minister of Terengganu.

The restaurant that we are heading to is Ulek Mayang Restaurant, located at the club house of Heritage Bay Club, overlooking the South China Sea.

At RM 25++, the buffet spread revolves around Malay delicacies such as mee soto, rojak, ayam kunyit, roti canai, ais kacang and a niche selection of western starters and desserts.

The food was surreally bad, not all of them, but most of them. Quite simply, there is no excuse for unattentive service in such a prestigious club but it happened. Our finished plates are never cleared and we have to squeeze for table room. Nevertheless, we would love to thank KampungBoy’s sister in law for buying us the meal.

Bar Area

Sleekly Designed Indoor Dining Room

Alfresco Dining at the Patio

With KampungBoy’s Parents

After the meal, we walked around the deck for some cam whoring session and to catch a glimpse of the prize-winning boats from the Monsoon Cup competition. Such a stunning place isn’t it? It better be, so much of money was spent on it!

The Heritage Bay Club Marina & Resort,
Pulau Duyong,
21300 Kuala Terengganu,
Terengganu.
Tel: 09-627 7888
Fax: 09-622 9903
E-mail: info@heritagebayclub.com.
Website: www.heritagebayclub.com