Vietnamese Stall, BB Plaza

Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls

Delicious Beef Ball Noodles

Tao, Sunway Giza

All you can eat Japanese Buffet

Magnificient Fish & Chips, Changkat Bukit Bintang

Battered Barramundi

Jln Alor, Bukit Bintang

Kangkung Belachan

Fried Tanghoon

Battered Squid

Chicken Wings

You Gotta Check These Out!

After writing about Jon's big adventure, I started thinking that I actually do know some remarkable people.

Brave people who have chosen to the pick the road less travelled to follow a dream, for survival, to try something new. Whatever the reason it really does not matter, they are doing something they enjoy and they want to share the fruit of their passion with others.

So, I thought, let's showcase them on my blog. At worst, they get some minimal publicity and at best, they will know I admire them! Or should it be vice versa? ha ha ha...

Ok..first up..

1. The Box Market

These cute, snazzy and downright creative boxes will transform whatever event you are hosting from ordinary to wow! Check out some of the sample pics that are on the blog and do contact them for your next corporate event or to simply just give your gifts a touch of class. The ways in which you can use these boxes are just endless! Drop Lene a line and check out her gorgeous boxes.

Next we have,




2. I'll Be Jammed

Zoe does great unusual jams that have been painstaking home-made. Tired of ho-hum strawberry and yawwwwwnnn marmalade? How does Spiced Pineapple and Mango jam sound? Or Lemon & Mint? These make awesome gifts...in fact, order some custom-designed boxes from The Box Market and grab some uniquely flavoured jams and give them out as birthday gifts.

Saves you the trouble of shopping and everyone will remember your gift. Great idea yes? Of course it is!

Last but not least...



3. Cristang

I absolutely adore the food at Gerald's. There is nothing more satisfying than a P7 burger. Eh? P7? What the heck is that? Let me tell you my friend, pork burger patties and sambal petai were made for each other. Throw in a juicy bacon slice and melted cheese in between crispy yet spongy buns, you are on the road to gastronomic heaven. Pair this sinfully rich burger with a lime sour that was specially concocted by Gerald and you will be wishing you could start the meal again! I am serious! Petai and pork go together. I can't eat an ordinary burger ever again.

Erm..he has other stuff there as well, traditional Portuguese dishes as well as a variety of dishes created by Gerald. (inspired by greedy patrons)

When you go there, do ask for a serving of the Orgasmic Potato Mash. I named that dish! And yes it certainly was!

So there you ago, 3 amazing entrepreneurial effort by people who weren't afraid to go at it on their own.

Colonial Times v Chutney Mary

Serving size at Chutney Mary (top)
Interior of Chutney Mary @ Bangsar (bottom)

I just got back from my second Northern Indian dinner in two days. Now that's what you call a serious beriyani overload! All thanks to overseas family from both sides of the family who returned to sunny Malaysia yearning for some naans n stuff.

Anyway, this offered a unique opportunity to really compare two similar restaurants as at least 3 choices were the same for both establishments. They were Chicken Hyderabadi Beriyani, Lamb Roganosh and Spinach & Mushroom Kuftas.

Today was my third visit to Chutney Mary (not to be confused with the famous Chutney Mary of London!) and after my first time dinner at Colonial Times, I have to say without a doubt, Colonial Times wins hands down.

The beriyani at Colonial Times was absolutely exquisite. So moist and addictive that you could just eat it on its own without any accompaniments. The rice was well cooked and apparently cooked in a herb-infused stock. The chicken was flavourful and spiced to just the right amount.

For the first time the beriyani offerings at Chutney Mary paled in comparison. Although tasty on its own, it lacked the intense oomph that I tasted at Colonial Times.

The same goes for the Lamb as well. Colonial Times served us succulent, juicy lamb roganosh that just melted in your mouth. Chutney Mary's lamb although quite tasty, the cut of meat wasn't as good as Colonial Times, it was rather dry.

Last but not least, my favourite dish, the Spinach & Mushroom Kuftas. I fell in love with that dish when I tasted it at a party at Chutneys PJ (related to Chutney Mary). It was soft and creamy and oh so yummylicious. I ordered that same dish at Colonial Times and wasn't disappointed. Although a tad smaller than the one I had at Chutneys PJ, the gravy and mushroom tasted excellent. However, when I had the one served at Chutney Mary today, I was quite disheartened. The spinach balls were hard and didn't melt well with the creamy gravy.

All in all, a visit to Colonial Times @ The Curve ended the fascination I had with Chutney Mary. The only reason I would probably go back to Chutney Mary's is for the decor and quiet ambiance. Colonial Times would be just perfect if it didn't have an atrocious band yelping their lungs out while you try to eat your dinner. It really is no fun having to yell over badly sung strains of "Av-eree bra u take...Av-eree mooov u make..." in between mouthfuls of naan.

Other than that, if you have a hankering for solid good Northern Indian/Global cuisine, head for Colonial Times @ The Curve. Just a tip for you, seat yourself at the balcony as far away as possible from the band!

Red Tomato - Asean & Western Cuisine

This is the Grilled Portuguese Chicken. I stole this pix from someone else so the drink you see is not the Blue Lagoon but rather the Mixed Juice.

A few days ago I explored this restaurant in Puchong by accident. I had planned to have dinner at F1 but they were quite busy and packed. Then I remembered Tommy mentioning this Red Tomato place so I decided to give it a try.

There were 3 of us and we almost walked out of the place because only two tables were filled at peak dinner time. But we strolled in to a booth while gazing at the colorful swirls painted on the walls. Blues & Greens, Purples & Yellows...all very 70's art deco with shimmery beaded partitions between booths and archways.

We were quite surprised when we had a look at the menu. Japanese, Western, Chinese, Malaysian, Indian, Thai & anything in between was on it. From local favourites of Nasi Lemak to Tandoori and Teppenyaki. The set meals were rather intriguing because regardless what style of food you chose, it came with sausages and an egg!

Anyway, the ravenous trio ordered some Thai fried rice and grilled chicken with lemongrass cakes, a tandoori set, grilled Portuguese chicken and a Thai mango salad. Now the very best chefs know that visual appeal and presentation is half the battle won when presenting a meal. And I have to say Red Tomato nailed it in this aspect.

The Tandoori set was served on a 3 tiered wooden carrier with the naan bread safely tucked into a weaved basket. The Thai fried rice and the Portuguese chicken came with less fan fare but uniquely served as well.

While I was very happy with the Portuguese chicken, the Thai grilled chicken & fried rice were lacking in some oomphh. But the lemongrass cakes were to die for! I have eaten in some of the best fine dining Thai restaurants and have yet to taste lemongrass cakes as flavourful as the ones at Red Tomato. The tandoori wasn't anything out of this world but it was tender and juicy. With the naan bread having a slightly different twist to the regular type you get at Indian restaurants. We absolutely adored the Thai Mango salad though. It had a delicious balance of sweet, sour and piquantness. Very tasty, refreshing and a surprisingly big serving for Rm4.80.

All in all, the meal was a satisfying one and reasonably priced. We had a Carlsberg and a huge Blue Lagoon which incidentally has become my favourite drink. An absolute delicious blend of longan and curacao. SLURP! All for around RM70+. Service was prompt and good. A few minutes after we arrived, the place filled up and it was apparent that it was popular with large families.

I am definately going back to try their other dishes because I can see the chef there has a very whimsical and artistic approach to the fusion food he serves. So I can't wait to see what he does with local favourites. And of course, I need another Blue Lagoon fix!

So the next time you are in the Puchong area, give this place a try. Its on the same row as the Citibank that's beside Giant in Bandar Puteri.

Tel: 03-80600 286
Add: 13, Jalan Puteri 1/6, Bandar Puteri

Simple Heavenly Food!

I was reading some food reviews and apart from having a rather ravenous stomach right now, I have realised that most of my favourite food are obtainable from humble little stalls and don't cost a bomb.
Yet after a meal there, I am left sated and satisfied. Till I get to the car and start dreaming of the dishes, I couldn't eat!

Now don't get me wrong, I still enjoy being wined and dined in up-market restaurants. (Sweetheart, I know you will be reading this so you should know that I absolutely love the fish I had at Mandarin Oriental for our engagement dinner, and am ready to go back there. *wink*hint*nudge*nudge)

But I am basically a lover of the simple things in life. And the food I love is no different. Crisp salads sprinkled with crunchy diced fruits; delicately steamed fresh fish; simple pasta with pesto and fresh basil. Of course, there are times when I would indulge in a luxuriant moist chocolate cake or an authentically prepared Indian chicken varuvel or mutton parattel. As with all things in life, balance is the key.

My all-time favourite is Nasi Kerabu. Its a combination of blue rice (derived from a type of flower) and served with a combination of herbs and vegetables, prawn crackers and sprinkled with roasted grated coconut. With the exception of the rice, the vegetables are all fresh and the taste that is released in your mouth when you bite into the mixture is just pure heaven! The herbs are called "ulam" in Malay and they are not only healthy but tasty and aromatic as well.

Another favourite Kelantanese dish of mine is Nasi Dagang. If I am not mistaken, its also served in the northern states. Its a sticky type of rice cooked with coconut milk and a spice-like herb called Halba which has a rather distinct pungent minty flavour. Its usually served with a special curry called Ikan Tongkol, which is actually Tuna cooked in a sweet coconut curry.
Its definately a lot heavier than Nasi Kerabu but delicious nonetheless.

Ok..I have made myself sufficiently hungry now and shall go savour a cracker lovingly.