Ko Hyang (故乡)＝ my homeland

There’s a reason it is always packed – good food with reasonable price (from RM9.90 to RM 18.90). With free banchan and soup too!

Ko Hyang is no stranger to the foodies in KL. Owned by a Korean who used to study here, this kiosk like eating place serves home made korean food. The one page menu features simple korean favourites such as bibimbap, jap chae (stir fry glass noodles), jeons (pancakes) and some rice/noodles dishes.

I was there last weekend with the girls (Christine and Aiwei) and we ordered up a feast that can easily feed 4 to 5 people.

Topped with namul (sauteed vegetables), gochujang (chili pepper paste) and a fried egg with runny egg, bibimbap is also known as korean mixed rice. Remember to give it a good stir before eating. It is a healthy selection for those who are watching their intake.

Tteokbokki! The cylinder shaped rice cakes were sticky and chewy along with a spicy sauce. While I love the texture of the tteoks, the sauce was too bland for my liking.

Ojinguh Bokkeum (stir fried squid in spicy sauce) is my favourite of the lot! The taste reminds me of the cheap korean dishes that I had in a random stall in Seoul. So delicious!

The kimchi jeon was very good too; with fluffy centre and crispy edges. It tasted even better when dipped with the tangy sauce.

And of course the meal wouldn’t have been as great as it was without you girls!

Ko Hyang

Korean Country Delights

LG-KG05, The Gardens

(Lower Ground Floor, opposite JustLife)

Mid Valley City

59200 Kuala Lumpur

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Awareness towards healthy eating is growing and I often find myself torn – to be a granola-eating idealist or of just screw it, eat everything? As time goes by, I do realize that the same old universally applicable principles of variety, moderation and balance still work no matter what. So, here I am, alternating from one to another and most importantly, enjoy my food!

However, KampungBoy is very skeptical towards anything “healthy” or “organic”. He can’t stop rolling his eyes inwardly when I suggested lunch at Yogitree. Sigh, men and their carnivorous gluttony.

Tucked at a corner near to Isetan’s departmental store, Yogitree has never failed to caught my eyes. Mismatched furniture in a uniform color tone, chalk blackboard with specials written all over it, gorgeous cake showcase – these items blend in with the entire restaurant’s soothing atmosphere.

Yogitree emphasize on going back to basic cooking and the use of fresh, natural and largely organic ingredients. They also boast daily blackboard specials that will make your mouth water! On another side of the restaurant, there is this yoga specialty shop where yoga fanatics can find themselves busy picking and buying attires and equipments over here.

I spotted some other interesting items with Asian flavors such as hainanese chicken rice (with brown rice and organic chicken, can you imagine?) and nasi lemak where most the expats around us were having. It does make an excuse for a revisit, no?

Here’s some fruit juices to start our day! Simple and unpretentious, the fresh watermelon juice has a clean fresh taste to it.

Here comes the Full English Breakfast (RM 25) that comes with bacon, chicken sausage, organic eggs, organic home made baked beans, mushrooms, toast, fresh juice, coffee or tea. The portion isn’t exactly big, but just nice for a satisfying brunch. I thought the home made chicken sausage is so tasty and would be a great deal less fat than regular sausages. Compared to canned baked beans, our home made baked beans are considerably tangier and the beans are firm. Those baked beans were cooked from scratch and it sounds so intimidating to us (given up hopes to replicate it at home!)

KampungBoy secretly loves it because he stops offering me his food after I took a small bite on everything.

Quiche Lorraine with Bacon (RM 15). Even if it is ridiculously expensive at such small serving portion, I love it to every bit. It was creamy, rich and flavorful with tiny strips of bacons here and there.

Famous for their desserts that use real butter and organic flour, you definitely want to leave room for that wonderful homemade cakes/pies – churned right there! Our Pure Chocolate Truffle Torte (RM 12) is excellent, dense and moist but not cloyingly sweet. KampungBoy ended up having more of it than me!

Cute lil Girl – not for sales

All in all, Yogitree is a very charming, relaxing restaurant with excellent food so go with an empty stomach because you will leave with you belt open. It has totally changed KampungBoy’s perception towards healthy eating too. Healthy food can be as mouthwatering as creamy pasta or a sumptuous pork burger if it is done the right way.

The Yogitree
F-237B, Level 1,
The Gardens, Midvalley City,
Kuala Lumpur.
Contact: 03-2282 6213 | Opening Hours: 10 am –10 pm daily

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After hearing SO MUCH of good things about Sage, TWO failed attempts in securing a table for two, and getting rejected for walk-in ONCE, we were here finally (drum roll please).

We took a lift next to Isetan Departmental Store and my heart jumps, thinking that we were just a few steps away from Sage – the talk of the town. Initially, we were rather surprised to see that The Sage is tucked away at a secluded corner next to the parking lot. Once I shoved through the heavy glass door, a young lady greeted us at the door with a welcoming smile and a jovial presence. We were promptly seated near to the open kitchen where Chef Takashi and crews were busy creating superb rendition of dishes. The ambiance is perfect – classy, lush but not intimidating, with the occasional melody of glass clinging, soft whispering and sizzling at the background.

We were taking our own sweet time in reading through the one page menu. Read aloud some of the names in the menu and you’ll be condemned to a near eternity of grueling tongue twisters (Is it just me?). We settled for Sage Dinner at RM 140 nett because it offers more value for money than ala carte pricea as such: Starters at rm58, main course at RM78 and desserta at RM30. Do the math. One can opt for an additional course (Chef Special )at RM160 nett or the degustation menu at RM240 nett where advance booking is required.

Complimentary Bread. The breads were all good; crusty, warm and soft.

For starter, I chose the Feuillete of Anago with Foie Gras and Duxelles, loosely translated as puff pastry with salt-water eel, foie gras and mixture of finely chopped mushrooms, shallots and herbs. The dish offers a myriad of flavor and texture! Think crispy layers of sweet and caramelized puff pastry, soft fatty salt-water eel and velvety smooth foie gras that leaves a trail of bovine juice in your mouth. Mmmmm…

Carpaccio of Wagyu with Sesame Vinaigrette and Asparagus. He had the wafer-thin slices of raw wagyu beef served cold, seasoned with sesame vinaigrette. The wagyu slices melts on your palate like the most sublime foie gras, and leaves a rich flavor behind.

What a great start to our meal!

My choice of main is the Lightly Salted Cod with Foie Gras, Roasted in Wood Paper (not foie gras again?). The cod and foie gras are impeccably fresh, with chock full of fragrant juices. Sauces are subtle, accentuating the natural flavor of the lightly salted cod and pan seared foie gras.

Rump Steak with Carrot Puree and Anchovy Sauce goes to KampungBoy, who is a steak person. The rounder pieces of steak with pink centre are actually the medallions, a cut of from the wagyu beef type. It is succulent, tender and very very tasty. On the side, we were given the braised ox shank topped with carrot puree. It is pleasingly tender and not at all gamey.

I was not entirely blown away by the Roasted Kougyoku Apples with Vanilla Ice Cream. Immediately, my face was contorting into a frown and later found out that Kougyoku apple is a kind of very sour apple from Japan. Sorry, I’m just not a fan of all things sour.

He made a smart choice by ordering the Ricotta Souffle served with Espresso Sherbet. Light, fluffy and airy, with a barely perceptible brown crust on top, the souffle is a perfect sweet ending.

The End – Coffee/Tea ?

What can I say? It was a very satisfactory dinner, the starters and mains were beyond excellence while we think that we are going to give it a pass to the desserts the next time (wrong choices maybe, as other floggers raved about the desserts).We will definitely be going back and would highly recommend this restaurant to everyone. Ooo yes, Sage is perfect for Valentine’s Day celebration and to impress your dates as well. Reservation is a must, unless you want to try your luck and get turn down.

Sage Restaurant & Wine Bar

The Residences Level 6

The Gardens, Mid Valley City,

Lingkaran Syed Putra,

59200 KL.

Tel: 03-22681328

Email: sagekul@gardenshtlres.com

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Like clandestine gems hidden at the first floor, the Italiannies outlet at Mid Valley Gardens has a rather cozy and elegant interior. Coupled with the warm lightning and magnificent view overlooking the city, it does enhance the romantic ambience of this cozy little restaurant.

Joe, Yee Hou and us were here to sample Italiannies’ new menu that will be fully launched at the 6^th of November.So they said, “At Italiannies, our food is designed for sharing”. Still remember those family style big portions that can probably feed more than two famished guys? With Italiannies new promotion “Bowls of Pasta”, small eaters/ladies get to sample four types of pasta at only RM 29.90.

Grape Shake and Strawberry Shake

Clock Wise
Chicken & Mushroom (shiitake mushrooms sautéed with chili chicken tossed with cherry tomatoes and rocket lettuce and served with spaghetti). Angel Hair Pomodoro (angel hair pasta with chopped red tomatoes and sautéed with garlic in a light tomato basil sauce). Chicken Lasagna (layers of lasagna pasta, creamy cheese sauce, marinara sauce with melted mozzarella cheese and baked until golden brown). Salmon & Lemon Aioli (baked salmon flakes tossed with chilled lemon aioli mayonnaise and baby spinach over shell pasta)

Clock Wise
Fussili Pesto &Mushrooms (Pan-seared shiitake mushrooms served over chilled fussili basil pesto pasta). Classic Carbonara (fettuccine pasta tossed in light parmesan cream sauce with smoked beef bacon and fresh button mushrooms). Clams & Beef Bacon (beef bacon strips sautéed with fresh clams, onions and clam broth and served over fettuccine). Shrimp Linguine (linguine pasta with sautéed shrimp and served with marinara sauce).

Chili Shrimp (lightly sautéed shrimp with dried chilies and garlic over linguine).

My favourite would be the classic carbonara, angel hair pomodoro and shrimp linguine. The classic carbonara is sinfully rich, with egg, cream, butter, parmesan cheese all in one smooth creamy concoction but I’m not complaining! Simplicity can seem ingenious, as in the angel hair pomodoro and shrimp linguine which combined fresh pasta with tomato based sauce to mellifluous advantage.

Other than “bowl of pasta”, we also tried a new salad item – Californian Shrimp Salad with baby spinach and romaine lettuce tossed with Italian dressing topped with seasoned grilled shrimp, mango strips, orange, tomatoes & cream cheese. Being on medication (cough* cough*) has suppressed my appetite but this light and fruity salad is indeed comforting enough for those dreadful dry throat.

Drool flooded my mouth as the Quattro Platter wafted into my face. It consists of thinly rolled pizza dough topped with Philadelphia cream, mozzarella, parmesan and gorgonzola cheese over Italiannies herb oil. The fried dough was flawlessly crispy with melt in your mouth cheese bursting with a wonderful taste.

Another interesting new item would be the Italiannies lamb shank. This looks wonderful and I love lamb when it’s fall apart tender with plenty of fat innervating the meat. Even KampungBoy reckons that this fares better than any other version that he has tried.

Chocolate and hazelnut cake. This is a very rich and dense (almost flourless) chocolate cake but it was too sweet for my liking.

Last but not least, the infamous New York Strawberry Cheesecake arrived. “Only cheesecake that I would eat”, says Yee Hou. So you can gauge how good is it huh? The cheesecake boasts a velvety texture but is lighter than the usual cheesecake that we usually have. Drizzle it with plenty of strawberry sauce and you are in heaven.

It was an enjoyable lunch overall, with good food and good companion. The rest of us were entertained by listening to Yee Hou and Joe’s camera talk and their act of flashing and caressing their tools (toys).I think that with constant somber musings on recessions, downturn and credit crunch playing over our ears every day, it is time to tighten our belt a little bit. No more fancy/fine dining but for that little treat of a hearty Italian fare that is light on the wallet, Italiannies would be the obvious choice.

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Our Deepavali week was a great one where we manage to meet up with KampungBoy’s sister and her family at Yuzu for lunch. Tucked away in a rather secluded corner at The Gardens, Yuzu is elegantly trimmed in a warm zen-like ambiance and the sophisticated interior here manages to make one forget about the strip center location.

To cure our hunger pangs, King Prawn Roll (RM28) and Tamago Roll (RM 6) were ordered. The king prawn roll is liberally stuffed with prawn, salmon and avocado but we were not entirely blown away by it. Cawanmushi (RM 8 ) and edamame (boiled soy bean, RM 8 ) were presented to KampungBoy’s cute little nephew and he was more than happy to help himself with it.

Aji sashimi (horse mackerel, RM 55), yogowa sashimi (RM 35), shiro maguro (white tuna, RM 35), salmon sashimi (RM 20)

Served on crushed ice, with wasabi and seaweeds along side, our order of assorted sashimi came in a little wood bucket. Aji sashimi was thick and sweet and obviated any need for soy while the deep fried aji fish bones are deliciously crunchy! The shiro maguro and salmon slices was beautifully marbled with a nearly dissolved in the tongue texture. Each bite is pure heaven! All the sashimis were perfectly fresh with intense sea flavors, a great harbinger of things to come.

Then we were (sort of) put-off when the uni/sea urchin (RM 150) arrived to our table. Uni aren’t exactly pretty, with its jiggly tongue like flesh in bold yellow color (reminds me of baby poops, ops!). “First, wrap a piece of seaweed around the sashimi, give it a quick dip, then eat”, says the waitress. Holding up the seaweed and scoop the uni in cautiously, I knew that we were all wrong the moment I put it into my mouth. Despite its hideous appearance, it does make up in flavor – fresh-tasting, custardy soft, slightly briny and subtly sweet.

Here comes the set while brings more value for money. Yuzu Bento (RM 38) is a special bento box with sushi, deep fried chicken, tempura, small soba, appetizers, egg custard, pickles, salad, small braised dish, tea pot soup, puddings and fruits.

KampungBoy’s sister who loves seafood had the Gyu Karubi Toubanyaki and Seafood Set (RM48) with sliced Japanese beef in hot plate and stone grilled salmon, scallop and prawn.

Lastly, we shared the Yuzu Gozen (RM 48) with assorted sashimi, assorted sushi, tempura, stone grilled beef, egg custard, 2 small appetizers, salads, fruits and tea pot soup. The best item has to be the stone-grilled Japanese beef with a heavenly scent of soy-seasoned seared beef. Grilled to perfection, the beef is succulent but retains a beautiful firm texture. Four small little cubes are too little to feed us!

Unadon (RM 20)

A soupy dish where everyone gives their two thumbs up – Ginmutsu Tofu Nabe (RM 68) with cod fish, soft fish cake, bean curd and vegetables came in a unique pot made of special washi paper. The cod fish is best eaten with accompanying special spicy sauce which brings out the sweet flavour of it very well. All of us like the soft fish cake very well too, it’s very different from the usual Chinese fish cake. The soup base with yuzu rinds has lent a subtly pleasant aroma to the soup, which added explosions of flavor along with the clear soup.

The Cutest Gap Mannequin Ever!

 Thanks for buying us the scrumptious meal!

Though a meal at Yuzu can take a chunk out of the monthly entertainment budget, it is generally worth it for the excellent quality and ambiance. For something that is light on the pocket, one can always go for the set meal which can easily feed two. The wait staff is always friendly, attentive and knowledgeable about everything on the menu too. I wouldn’t mind returning to Yuzu for some quality Japanese food in the future.

Yuzu Japanese Restaurant
T236, 3rd Floor
The Gardens
Mid Valley City
Kuala Lumpur
Tel No: 03 – 2284 7663

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

To celebrate a friend’s birthday, we decided to splurge on some hearty Chinese food. The choice is rather obvious because we chose to meet at Mid Valley, which house the two of the outlets from Crystal Jade Restaurant chain in Malaysia – Amuleto & Crystal Jade Restaurant. Crystal Jade has been expanding. Other than the existing outlets – Crystal Jade Lai Mian at Lot 10 and C-Jade Express in Mid Valley Megamall, we now have Crystal Jade Kitchen & C Jade Meal 3 at Pavilion too.

Each restaurant carries different concept and serves different kind of food. Crystal Jade Restaurant at the Gardens is beautiful and swanky where one will be immediately be struck by the impressive interior upon entry – fitted with wood paneled walls, red velvet chairs, and rows of red terracotta warriors displayed low-key music in the background.

Since the restaurant is fully seated by the time we arrived, the seven of us were led into one of their private dining room with magnificent view overlooking mid valley city.

Feeling rather famished and greedy, we ordered two dinner sets for four. The serving portion is just nice for us to taste a little bit of everything.

Special Four Person Set Meal (RM 208.00)

Roasted Pi Pa Duck in Hot Plate – It is called Pipa Duck because of the resemblance of the butterfly cut to a pipa (Chinese music instrument). The skin is crispy and the meat is very tender and juicy, only to be spoiled by the overly salty gravy.

Double Boiled Watercress Soup – Slow cooked for hours, the hearty watercress soup makes a great tummy warmer.

Three Cup Chicken – Served in a piping hot stone bowl, it is very aromatic, with abundant amount of Thai basil and ginger. The gravy (made of soy sauce, rice wine and sesame oil, 1 cup each) is great to be eaten with rice.

Deep Fried Prawn with Butter and Cereal – The shells of the prawn can be eaten as it’s fried to crisp! The prawns were fresh, firm to the bite and sweet, which was well-complemented by slight sweetness of the cereal.

Steamed Egg Plant with Shrimp – A simple dish as such as done perfectly. The delicate and silky egg plant has soaked up the delicious gravy, and the flavor permeate the dish.

Fried Rice in Assorted Grain in Hot Stone – The fried rice is lack of a hint of wok hei to make it tasty. The guys, who were skeptical towards anything organic, do not enjoy the assorted grain.

Almond Cream – The Chinese almond dessert is smooth and milky, giving a perfect ending to our meal.  

Premium Four Person Set Meal (RM 318.00)

Crystal Jade Roasted Duck – The roasted duck is nothing to shout about with its not so crispy skin and lean meat.

Braised Sharkfin with Seafood and Bamboo Pith – it was flavourful and rich, with spot on taste. Bamboo pith provided the crunch in this sweetish-savoury soup.

Pan Fried Stuffed Vegetables in Hot Stone – Most of the stuffing were very generous and it was quite a delight eating the fresh and bouncy fish paste by itself.

Steamed Soon Hock in Preserved Vegetables – Fresh from the tank, the meat is lean and moist with a mild flavor. The topping of preserved vegetable make it promisingly delicious.

Braised Seasonal Vegetables with Assorted Mushroom and Shrimp Roe – The vegetables are cooked just nice with a nice crunch, while the assorted mushroom and shrimp roe make the dish “glam”.

Birthday Noodles – A symbol of longevity in Chinese culture, it is a must for us to order the birthday noodles for the birthday boy. The noodles are awful though, mushy in texture and bland in taste.

Chinese Herbal Jelly with Mango & Pamelo – The jelly has a mild herbal taste but thank god that the mango puree and pamelo are added to make it palatable.

The Auditors

Happy Birthday to Jeff! Wishing you all the best on your future undertakings!

The total bill comes close to RM 600++. With most of the food is tasty (but not earth-shattering) and excellent services, this is a great place to take guests, visitors or a date, or just a fine restaurant to choose when you have a craving for Chinese food. Just be ready to spend a fortune!

Crystal Jade Restaurant
Lot T 210
3rd Floor
The Gardens
Mid Valley City
Kuala Lumpur
Tel No: 03 – 2283 3129
(Non Halal)

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

This is a very dated post where my ex colleagues had a little get-together few months back. Spurred by all the positive reviews on Fong Lye that I’ve read , I suggested dinner here.

The menu is quite extensive, one can choose from snacks, noodles, rice or the standard set meals that comes with a platter of three appetisers, a bowl of rice with minced pork and a small bowl of soup which varies from day to day.

My oolong milk tea tastes exactly like oolong tea + milk tea. One needs a little bit of acquiring when it comes to this Taiwanese drink.

Jasmine tea in cute porcelain teapot set, and the refills of hot water is unlimited.

A standard set meal.

Platter of appetizers.

Soup of the day.

Served in a flat wok over small fire, the three cup chicken set arrives piping hot. It sure does smell aromatic, with the basil leave and soy sauce. However, my ex colleague can’t even bring herself to whip everything off as the slightly burned sauce was bitter.

The chef recommendation item, Fried Fish Fillet with Tomato and Fried Egg is one of the best things that we have come across that night. Slightly tangy and sweet, it is a very appetizing dish.

My other ex colleague reckons that her Taiwanese Fried Chicken was OK but nothing fantastic.

Taiwan rou yuan/meat ball (RM 5.80) is hidden beneath the thick layer of sticky dough, just like how they served it in Taiwan. It must be eaten hot; else the dough layer would gets disgustingly gummy.

The taiwan coconut milk toast (RM 3.90) with some great aroma of coconut is dipped in rich layers of butter and milk and sautéed until crisp and brown.

The sweet potato balls (RM 4.80) are nothing like my favorite stall at Petaling Street. Instead of having a crispy outer layer and mushy soft content, it was chewy and airy. With more misses than hits in our order, we can’t seem to understand what’s the hype about Fong Lye? Guess the golden formula of perpetual long queue + good crowd = good food is not always true and can’t be applied at all time. Any reasons to return? It has to be their attentive services and comfy ambiance and toasts.J
Fong Lye Taiwan Restaurant
Lot T208
3rd Floor
The Gardens
Mid Valley City
Kuala LumpurTel No: 03- 2282 8699
(Non Halal. Open daily till 10pm.)

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

“Fancy fare like Japanese dine out does not come cheap!” Who says so? While excellent Japanese food can be had in a broad range of prices, blissful and cheap Japanese food takes the centre stage in Mid Valley Garden. After much back-pedaling and fast-talking, I convinced the bf to give both the places a try.

Excellent for a fast blast of Japanese food, Sushi Zen and Sushi Zanmai, with minimalist interior makes a popular venue for sit down and take away. Fair enough, a dinner in a nice setting restaurant will probably set you back a fair bit. Flipping through the menu, we know exactly what to order. Tenjuyu and Unagi Don (RM 15.90++ each), Ikura Handroll (RM 6), assorted sushi (ranging from RM 1.60 to RM 4.90) were all pretty decent.

Suffice to say that one of the things that is definitely convincing me that these two restaurants are far from being the expensive (meal for two costs around RM 30). If you opt to get a quick lunch/dinner, or sometimes a proper meal in places in Mid Valley Gardens without breaking the bank, Sushi Zen and Sushi Zanmai is highly recommended.

Sushi Zen
LG-K02
Lower Ground Floor
The Gardens
Mid Valley City
Lingkaran Syed Putra,
59200 KL.
Tel No: 03 – 2282 6160
8.00am to 10.00pm

Sushi Zanmai
T217, Third Floor, The Gardens,
Mid Valley City,
Lingkaran Syed Putra,
59200 KL.
Tel No: 03 – 2282 1160
10.00 am – 10.00 pm

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Codo is truly a hidden gem at Mid Valley Megamall. It is situated above Little Vietnam at the cinema floor and apparently both Vietnamese restaurants are under the same management with different menu and approach.

As for the ambiance, it is very quaint and humble. The tables and chairs of Asian decor are separated, giving it a very exotic and private dining experiences.

Set A (RM 35++ Free Ice Lemon Tea/Soya Bean)

Vietnamese Siu Mai

Chicken Meat Steamed Rice Wrapper Roll

Lemongrass Fish Stick

Clam Rice

Prawn Clear Soup Hu Tieu

Set B (RM 35++ Free Ice Lemon Tea/Soya Bean)

Lotus Root Pancake

Vietnamese Spring Roll

Dragonfruit Salad

Tomato Fried Rice

Chicken or Beef Ball Soup Hu TieuSet C (RM 35++ Free Ice Lemon Tea/Soya Bean)

Grilled Eggplant Skewer

Golden Lychee Chicken Ball

Steamed Wrapper Roll

Spicy Hue Beef Slice Soup Hu Tieu
Spring Onion Fried Rice (No Picture)

Authentic Vietnamese Cold Vermicelli Grill Set (RM 35++)

Chargrilled Lamb Set (RM18++)

Village Chicken Set (RM18++)

Lemongrass Beef/Chicken Hot Pot Set (RM 15++)

Chargrilled Beef Set (RM 18++)

The dim sums are really good and delicate but the portion are smaller than usual. The fried rice are too wet and bland without any additions while the soup based noodles are fairly good. Overall, we would recommend CoDo for its friendliness and great services, and the food is beautifully prepared.

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

One of the perks of being a food blogger is that I get to feast a lot and the drawbacks is that I have to feast a lot as shown by my ever expanding waistline. Kampungboy, I need a slimming belt too (hinting). Recently, Tim from 3-meals has organized a food sampling at Red Ginger for us floggers, courtesy of Elizabeth, the charming and friendly restaurant owner. Greatest gratitude from our huge and mushy stomach!

Starters: From Top Left to Bottom Right

The briny brown sauce from the rojak buah (RM 7.80) has the right balance of sweet, sour and spicy taste. The hae kor and belacan smell is not overly pungent. A generous amount of crushed groundnuts are sprinkled all over the cut fruits.

We were served with Kasturi Pamelo Special (RM7.50), my mouth was busy muncing on the pamelo pulp and nata de coco and sipping on the kasturi juice.

The pamelo salad (RM 8.80) with ground peanut and shredded coconut is a very refreshing starter. They actually take the trouble to remove the juicy luscious sacs of the pulp. It was so juicy and sweet with very nice aroma.

Succulents rolls of minced chicken wrapped in crispy bean curd skin are served with cili for dipping. Albeit not as good as the pork version, I will definitely recommend my Muslim friends who wish to savor on some chicken lor bak (RM8.90).

My favourite dish of the day – Elizabeth’s Grandma’s recipe otak otak (RM9.50) . She use mashed dory fillets instead of the traditional red snapper or mackerel but the texture is surprisingly good. Anything cooked in banana leaf taste divide because the aroma is injected into the food. I love the spiciness that comes from the herbs/spices and I love the combination of otak otak and toast even more.

Yao Char Kwai (RM5.50) is actually a fish cake dish with powerful flavor and interesting texture.

It’s turn for the filling goods. The elastic and slightly chewy Hor Fun are somewhat slippery, just like Ipoh Hor Fun (RM 13.80) from Ipoh. It is so palatable that Ipoh Mali Jason and I took a second serving.

The liberal use of santan contributes to the rich and creamy condiments of this Laksa Lemak (RM11.80). It is just adding to my guiltiness. I prefer my curry noodles to be spicy; maybe a serving of sambal at the side would be better, so that we can add in accordingly to our own preference.

We were served Kam Heong Fried Koay Teow (RM13.90) with fat juicy shrimps, fish cake, bean sprouts, eggs, minus those sinful croutons of pork lard. The slightly charred Koay Teow is very aromatic but I find the fish cake too salty for my liking.

Dry Curry Sang Har Noodles (RM23.90). Big, fresh and succulent prawns were served on a bed of curry gravy coated noodles. Sang Har Meen is usually sold at a hiked up price around KL area. You can get an affordable version over here, but without the eggy sauce.

Red Ginger Fried Rice (RM14.90). A signature dish of theirs, the crispy salted fish and raisins is a wonderful combination that makes it sweet and savory at the same time. The fried rice turns out to be addictive! The yolk is sloshing around in the white, I’m so tempted to poke the egg yolk and let it dripped out of its bag, to the yummy looking fried rice. That is what I do usually, but since I’m sharing this with everyone else, my itchy hands stopped on command from the central (brain).

Black Pepper Beef (RM17.00). The stir fry beef slices is tender, a coarser flesh texture will not yield as tender and juicy beef dish. Capsicum and pepper were added in to make the dish looks more colourful and appealing.

The Steamed Chicken with Wine and Salt + Rice (RM18.00) has a very light Chinese herb fragrant, not those choking medicine smells at sinseh place. The dashes of Chinese wine give it an aromatic appeal. It is best to be eaten with plain ol’ white rice because having the chicken alone is salty. Is it good? Our chicken king Daryl and Jackson gave their thumbs up.

We still have space to guzzle these melt in your mouth macaroons from Big Boys Oven after all the food. Gluttons always have an extra room for dessert in their stomach, a 10 GB out of 80 GB just like our hard disc.

A leopard will never change its strips, same goes to food blogger who possess a very strong will power to combat that hunger – snap first, eat later. The professionalism is in our blood *ahem*

The perks of being a food blog reader? You are entitled to 15% discount and free dessert. Not too bad huh?

Redginger (Mid Valley)
Block A, Mezzanine Floor,
Northpoint Offices Mid Valley City, KL
Tel: 03-2287 0890

Redginger (Plaza Damansara)
Medan Setia 2,
Plaza Damansara Bukit Damansara, KL
Tel: 03-2095 3118

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

After hearing so much of ravings about this place, we had finally step our foot into Isthmus KL. It was being featured in The Star just recently and boolicious has been there too. Isthmus Kl is actually inspired by Isthmus of Kra, one of the most sought-after venues in Melbourne. It was brought in by Penang-born Chef Beh Kim Un.

Think again if you bear the perception that it will burn a hole in your pocket. Isthmus offers lunch combination at a very reasonable price (RM 25++ to RM 55++) started with a soup of the day, followed by main dish and tea/coffee. However the choice for mains are limited.

The interior is very much like a trendy and stylish place for hang outs. The staircase leads you into a upper section with lounge where you can lay back and have a drink.

The bar area is filled with liqour of all kinds.

Lotus Blue Dumpling (RM 15) – The skin tastes very much like ang koo kueh (Chinese glutinous rice cake) and the minced chicken filing is good. The delicate dumplings are topped with garlic oil.

Caramelised chicken stock dippings

Soup of the day – Vietnam Beef Soup

Spring Chicken Medina – The marinated chicken was grilled to perfection, the skin is crispy and meat remains tender.

It comes with some small roasted potato balls and acar (spicy mixed vegetable pickles)

Isthmus is definitely our cup of tea. The ambience is trendy yet relaxing, the serving staff are attentive and the food are of great quality. The menu might be limited now, but I heard that more new dishes are coming out soon. Stay tuned for my second visit!

From the entrance of the Northcourt of Mid Valley Megamall, walk through the crossbridge then take the elevators down and you will see Isthmus across the courtyard.

Isthmus KL
B-G-3 Ground Floor
Northpoint MidValley City
No 1 Medan Syed Putra Utara
59200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2282 8112
Pork-Free

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Dome cafe is actually originated from Perth, Western Australia, renowned for their finest coffee and gourmet cakes. Dome cafe came out with a new menu few weeks ago, but I think that there’s not much of excitement.

Iced Mocha

Mint Blended

Ice Lemon Tea

Chicken and Mushroom Pie

Marble Cheesecake

Overall, their service sucks, the waitress was too occupied that she showed us black face when we requested for extra fork. The gourmet pie is as good as ever but the portion shrunk. The marble cheese cake failed to keep up with their standard this time. Maybe I shall give them a try during non peak hours so that I can get better services and better food. :p

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

It’s located inside Oasis Food Court which we choose to avoid usually. The smell will retain on our hair and clothing after some dining inside this place. Haha but for the sake of nice grill fish, we wouldn’t mind.

You can choose from a wide array of seafood, e.g. sting ray, squid, prawns and clams. It comes with a plate of white rice to tone down the spiciness.

Verdict: We’re Loving It! The spicy sauce is always the essence of a plate of nice grill seafood and it’s delicious! Do drop by this place the next time you are at mid valley (If the strong smell doesn’t pull you back)

There’s another famous portuguese grilled fish stall at Petaling Street but we’d never been there ourselves. Refer to eatin out’s and wantan production’s review.

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Expresso Tiramisu – Combination of ladies fingers, cream cheese and Starbuck’s expresso

Blueberry Cheesecake – Crunched Almonds as the base with layers of sponge cake, cream cheese and blueberries

Chocolate Dreams – It’s so chocolaty that it melts your heart

Coffee Cheesecake paired with Strawberry Cream Cheese Square

Black Forest – Fresh cream, chocolate chips, chocolate sponge cake and cheeries in one bite

Marble Cheesecake – Cream cheese with nice swirls of melted chocolate

These boxes is occupying our fridge but we truly love them because it’s a little treat from our friend. Frankly speaking, I would rather go for Bakerzin’s cake than Starbuck’s as they both cost a bomb but Bakerzin’s cakes are of better quality.

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG