Bak Kua from Sun Wing Heong (新永香肉干)

Bak Kua! This dried meat delicacy is usually reserved for Chinese New Year but cravings are too difficult to contain sometimes.

Sun Wing Heong

There are a few brands that sell this but Sun Wing Heong is a family favourite. 

Bak Kua!

Just look at these strips of porky goodness - not too hard, not too oily, and just the right level of saltiness. Yum yum yum! I sometimes like to have mine sandwiched in white bread. How do you enjoy your bak kua?

Where:

78, Jalan SS2/60,

47300 Petaling Jaya,

Selangor.

Fatboy's The Burger Bar @ Publika

Another burger post! Been here a couple times before and it'd been a while since the last visit so was surprised to see a new menu. Fatboy's first caught my attention because they're one of few burger joints that serve pork burgers.

The exterior of Fatboy's.

Smoked Bacon Sausages and Spicy Wings.

The Smoked Bacon Sausages are basically pork sausages wrapped with bacon. It's a good idea but the taste and quality was so-so. The Malaysian-style buffalo wings in the Spicy Wings were spicylicious!!! A must try for those who love wings and all things hot.

Fat Basterd

The Fat Basterd is Fatboy's signature burger. With a choice of pork, beef or lamb, it comes with not one but TWO thick juicy patties. This is topped with streaky bacon strips, cheddar cheese and a fried egg, slathered with house-made BBQ sauce.

The Elvis

The Elvis was an interesting one. It's got everything you wouldn't expect in a burger. This pork burger's topped with bananas and peanut butter! Both of which I love but the combination didn't exactly tickle the tastebuds.

Pirates of the Caribbacon

Highlight of the night goes to Pirates of the Caribbacon. This combination of a pork and beef patty, topped with a generous serving of caramelised onions, pickles, mayo, and the deep fried breaded goodness of streaky bacon was simply heaven on earth. Will def be going back for this! I was well stuffed by the end of the night. Next time I'll leave some space for their much talked about milkshakes. 

Where:

Lot 30, Level G2,

Solaris Dutamas,

Jalan Dutamas 1,

50480 Kuala Lumpur.

When:

Daily, 11am - 10pm.

The Red Beanbag @ Publika

Happy Malaysia Day! Gotta love public holidays. A day off from work and also a great time to catch up with friends. Another long overdue meet up with ex-colleagues of mine whom again, I hadn't seen in months. Our initial plan of rocking up to the much hyped about Trampoline Park was thwarted as all slots were booked out till 7pm. Disappointed as we were, being the true Malaysians that we are, we went looking for food instead!

The Red Beanbag

A friend recommended The Red Beanbag at Publika so off we went. As with all cafes, there was a queue. We waited over 30 minutes for a table but it was worth the wait alright.

Skyscraper

A stack of six fluffy pancakes, the Skyscraper is drizzled with dark chocolate sauce, served with caramelised fruits and maple syrup. Delicious but doesn't beat the ones I've had in Sydney.

The Pitaful Duck

The Pitaful Duck is a wonderfully fresh pita bread stuffed with smoked duck, corn kernels, and red radish slices. It is accompanied by a poached egg atop a piece of rosti. I love bread, especially when they're fresh. Fresh bread + meat + potato? Heavenly.

Benedict III

I'm a sucker for good French Toast and this really won me over. Topped with beef bacon, sauteed mushrooms, kale, and poached eggs drizzled with hollandaise sauce, the burst of flavours in Benedict III was simply divine.

Verdict: Def heading back for more. Missed out on desserts too, next time for sure!

Where:
A4-1-08 Solaris Dutamas,
Jalan Dutamas 1,
50480 Kuala Lumpur.

When:
Daily 
10am-10pm

Frisky Goat @ TTDI

Finally caught up with a good friend of mine last night. Hadn't seen her in months! Upon her recommendation, we went to Frisky Goat. She mentioned that this cafe is known for long queues in the morning, and this could be avoided at night. She was right! Here's what we had:

Aglio Olio

The Aglio Olio was whipped out within five minutes of ordering. The spaghetti was cooked al dente. Drizzled in olive oil, chilli flakes and garlic, it wasn't too bad. It would have fared better with a more generous serving of chilli and garlic!

Waffles A L'americaine

Sitting right by the kitchen is dangerous. We ordered the Waffles A L'americaine as the dish was brought out to be served to another table. Drizzled in chocolate with a hint of cinnamon, these deliciously light and fluffy waffles are topped with vanilla ice cream and chantilly cream, surrounded by delightful freshly roasted walnuts and caramelised bananas.

Peanut Butter Chocolate

You'd think that I'd be full by now but NO. My bottomless pit never ceases to amaze. This Peanut Butter Chocolate cake looked too good to resist. It had been calling out to me from the moment I walked by it when I first entered the cafe. Moist and rich to the tastebuds, the decadent chocolate cake would do well on its own. Add the creamy peanut butter icing to it, and what you get is a slice of heaven! Two thumbs up for this beautiful combo of chocolate and peanut butter.

Verdict: I might head back to try the brunch menu if my stomach allows me to endure the waiting time. As for the cakes, will be heading back to try the other ones from their delicious-looking selection.

Where:
72, Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi,
Taman Tun Dr. Ismail,
60000 Kuala Lumpur.

When:
Daily
8am - 10:30pm

Noble Mansion (大阳城酒家) @ Plaza 33

My cousin threw a surprise dinner party at Noble Mansion a couple of weeks ago for my aunt's 45th wedding anniversary. I hadn't even heard of this restaurant before so had no idea what to expect. It turned out to be a super feast of high quality, well presented dishes. A memorable one as well with almost all my aunts and uncles from out of town present.

Entrance to the restaurant.

The selection of chilli pastes and peanut nibbles.

I love chilli but the selection here was not one of the restaurant's strongest points.

The starters.

The first course consisted of a Spider Crab Salad in the centre, surrounded by Deep Fried Beancurd, and Smoked Bacon Roll. Anything with bacon is good, and this was no exception. Usually not a fan of salad but the dressing won me over! Beancurd, not one of my favourite foods but this was soft and moist on the inside and deliciously crispy and not too oily on the outside. Plus it's deep fried, what's not to like?

Double Boiled Chicken Soup.

One of the best soups I've ever had. This delicious and naturally sweet Double Boiled Chicken Soup is complemented with fish maw, Chinese black mushroom, and Chinese cabbage. Definitely no MSG added.

Braised Boston Lobster.

I was beginning to feel full at this point. But the Braised Boston Lobster looked too appetising to say no to. The black bean sauce and thin rice cakes went well with this perfectly cooked super fresh and succulent lobster.

Roasted Suckling Pig with Wild Mushrooms.

With the quality of the previous courses raising the bar on my expectations, the Roasted Suckling Pig did not disappoint. The crispness of the skin was just perfect!! I was pleasantly surprised with the presence of wild mushrooms hidden under the skin. Marinated in what I think is a secret sauce mixture which includes soy sauce, it was simply delightful.

Baked White Tuna in Dragon Fruit Boat.

The Baked White Tuna in Dragon Fruit Boat was simply genius. The fishiness of the tuna is masked completely when combined with dragon fruit. Wonderful combination!

Claypot Rice with Minced Meat.

Well and truly stuffed at this point, but how can I say no to good food? This small bowl of Claypot Rice with Minced Meat may look simple but this humble dish really took claypot rice to a whole new level. For me, the soy sauce has got to be of good quality to start with ie. fragrant and not too salty. This bowl of rice puts all the claypot rice I've had before to shame.

Top to bottom: Japanese Peanut Mochi cake, Red Bean Paste Pancake, and Chilled Aloe Vera and Dried Longan sweet soup.

Time for dessert! The end of torture (mostly pleasure) for my overstretched tummy is in sight. The Aloe Vera and Dried Longan sweet soup was chilled just right and not overly sweet. The Japanese Peanut Mochi was a soft and fluffy piece of cake. As for the Red Bean Paste Pancake, well fried to the perfect crispness on the outside with a lovely red bean and banana filling.

Verdict: Fresh ingredients with no MSG added to its dishes, definitely one of the better Chinese restaurants out there.

Where:
P1-01, Level 1 Podium, Plaza 33,
No. 1, Jalan Kemajuan, Seksyen 13,
46200 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor.

When:
Mondays - Saturdays 
11am - 3pm and 6pm - 11pm

Begibung @ Lombok

Continuing on my suffering from post-summer break syndrome, here's another travel food post. On the beautiful Indonesian island of Lombok, the highlight of the trip was the clear waters of the sea, the peacefulness of being away from the hustle and bustle of city life, and of course the local cuisine!

Clear waters and blue sky at Senggigi beach.

My girlfriends and I were determined to eat only local fare at every meal but nothing beats the first meal we had upon arriving in Lombok.

Entrance to Begibung restaurant.

A forty minute drive from the international airport, we found a gem of a restaurant in Begibung @ Mataram Mall 2. The restaurant was packed and we waited twenty minutes for a table. With a Truly Lombok Cuisine tagline and the majority of patrons being local, we knew we couldn't go wrong with this choice.

Ayam Bakar Taliwang

Recommended by the taxi driver, Ayam Bakar Taliwang is a popular grilled chicken dish marinated in a flavourful sweet and spicy peanut-ty sauce. Not bad! But the best is yet to come.

Gurami Bakar Madu

We ordered the Gurami Bakar Madu based purely on how good even the leftovers looked on the table as it was being cleared for us. Definitely the right choice! This wonderfully grilled fish slathered in a sweet and spicy chilli paste, paired with the sour chilli dip was simply mouthwatering. Such a treat for the tastebuds. It was a shame we couldn't fit any more into our tummies!

Where:
First floor, Mataram Mall 2,
Jalan Pejanggik,
Mataram, Lombok,
Indonesia.

When:
Not entirely sure, but they're definitely open for lunch.

Wing Wah Mooncakes (蓉华月饼) from Hong Kong

It's that time of the year again - the Mid-Autumn Festival aka the Lantern Festival or Mooncake Festival. You may very well be aware of the wide variety of flavours that mooncakes come in.

I've tried a few here and there, but my all time favourite is the original - The White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake (白莲蓉).

Wing Wah Mooncakes from Hong Kong.

My brother in law brought a few boxes of mooncakes home after a work trip to Hong Kong. I'm very particular with my lotus paste mooncakes, and this one lived up to expectation.

Double Yolk Lotus Seed Paste mooncake.

The thin golden crust hugs the wonderfully rich but not overwhelmingly sweet and smooth lotus paste filling, with a salted duck egg yolk in the centre. I am not a fan of yolks but everyone in the family who loves it tells me that this ranks quite high up on the good yolk list.

Happy Mooncake Festival, everyone!

Sarawak Laksa @ Nam Chun (南泉茶餐室)

The first time I tried Sarawak Laksa was a home made one by a family friend. There aren't many shops that sell it in KL and the ones that do aren't anywhere close to the standard set by that auntie of mine. Today, I found one that is close to that benchmark!

Nam Chun Coffee Shop at Bangsar.

Aunt Christina's Sarawak Laksa stall in Nam Chun.

This bowl of beehoon (rice vermicelli) is served in a broth mix of sambal belacan, tamarind, lemongrass, and a hint of coconut milk. This is topped with omelette and chicken strips, bean sprouts, coriander, and prawns. It was simply delicious! There is a side of chilli sauce that comes with it but the broth itself was tasty enough to hold its own.

Auntie Christina's Sarawak Laksa.

Verdict: A good bowl of authentic Sarawak Laksa. Portion was too small to fill my tummy though. Turned to my 莲蓉饼  (was surprised to find some still lying around in the pantry!).

Where:

2, Lorong Ara Kiri 2,

Lucky Garden, Bangsar,

59100 Kuala Lumpur.

When:

Open for breakfast and lunch.

Chilli Pan Mee (辣椒板面) @ Chun Heong (全香茶餐室)

The first time I tried Chilli Pan Mee was only two years ago. Oh, only then did I realise the deprivation I'd been subjected to. It was at Chun Heong Coffee Shop in Bangsar and hadn't been back until today. For one, the parking situation is terrible and I'd found another shop for my fix (leaving this to another post).

Chilli Pan Mee stall at Chun Heong.

I made my order and waited with bated breath for the bowl of noodles. The experience was made all the more exciting when there was a sighting of fines being written out to illegally parked cars or those that hadn't paid their parking fees, and witnessing car owners rushing to move their car or plead for mercy.

Look closely and you'll see the man in the white helmet writing fines.

Anyway, back to the noodles. This delectable bowl of home made noodles made of flour is topped with dried anchovies, pork mince, mushroom and pork slices, and of course the all important dried chilli flakes. I couldn't mix it up fast enough, my mouth watering and tummy growling from my morning swim. 

Chilli Pan Mee

This beautiful combination, from the springy freshly made noodles to the deliciously fragrant chilli was devoured within minutes. Enjoyed it to the very last chilli flake.

My only grouch? The portion was a tad small, even for me!

Where:

Lorong Ara Kiri 2,

Lucky Garden, Bangsar,

59100 Kuala Lumpur.

When:

Open for breakfast and lunch.

Him Heang Lotus Paste biscuits (馨香饼家莲蓉饼)

Have lots of backlogged posts to write as I haven't had the time to really sit in front of the screen! I'll make this short and sweet (literally).

My uncle brought some delicious biscuits fresh from Him Heang in Penang. This brand is most well known for its Tambun biscuits (豆沙饼). I wasn't familiar with the packaging of these new biscuits so I was quite curious as to what surprise lied ahead. 

Him Heang biscuits from Penang.

They make high quality Tambun biscuits, so I was not surprised with the quality and freshness of the Lotus Paste biscuits (莲蓉饼). How do I know it's fresh? That first bite I took revealed it right away. The pastry was fluffy and fragrant and the smoothness and perfect balance of sweetness of the lotus paste filling pretty much blew me away. 

Lotus Paste Biscuits from Him Heang.

In fact, every single bite after that was a party in my mouth. I finished 80% of a packet in no time. Haven't been able to resist temptation in the days since. 

These biscuits have a short shelf life as they contain no preservatives. Can't let a good thing go to waste now, can I? What am I going to do when it runs out?

Where:

162-A, Jalan Burma,

10050 Penang

(The one and only shop in Malaysia)

When:

Daily 8:30am - 5pm

Awet Thai Seafood @ Kg Kayu Ara

With relatives over from out of town for the long weekend, we decided to take them for some Thai. Having had the opportunity to enjoy amazing Thai fare in Bangkok before, this restaurant fairs pretty well.

BBQ Pork Neck

I'll start with the highlight of the night, the BBQ Pork Neck. I've never had neck quite like this before. Barbecued just right, each slice was chewy and springy. The sourish chilli dip adds that extra bang to it! Yummy yum yum!

Kerabu Mango

The Kerabu Mango salad? Not their signature dish.

Thai Fried Egg

Mmm next up, the Thai Fried Egg. With nothing else but eggs and clearly having been soaked in a load of oil, this baby of an omelette was crispy on the edges but moist and soft on the inside. Bad for the heart, but good for the soul.

Thai Style Steamed Fish

The Thai Style Steamed Fish was very well done. The closest thing to the one in Thailand that I've found so far outside of the country! The fish was well steamed, swimming in a pool of perfectly blended lime juice and chilli padi soup mix.

Combo Set with Pandan Chicken, Prawn and Fish Cakes, and Mango Salad.

The Combo Set was pretty good. The deliciously fragrant pandan chicken deserves a special mention.

Last but not least, the Seafood Tom Yum. With its generous servings of prawns and squids, this tom yum soup is definitely appetising and is a danger for those trying to watch their carb intake!

Seafood Tom Yum

Verdict: Thumbs up for closeness to authenticity. Good when in need of a Thai fix!

Where:
Lot 13544, Jalan Cempaka,
Kampung Kayu Ara,
47400 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor.

When:
Daily 
11am - 4pm for lunch
6pm - Midnight for dinner