Snowflake - taiwanese dessert secrets @ Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya

Drums rolling ....... mouth drooling ....... it's time ........ to experience the famous Taiwanese dessert specially brought to us by 'Snowflake'. I have heard so much about this place but never had the chance to have a go. I have heard that many of it's outlets are packed with patrons whereby the queue can be quite bad.

Anyway, I will not miss this chance today and will make sure I get a taste of it. I was with a friend, J who highly boasted of the 'thong shui' and highly recommend it. I will leave it to J when it comes to ordering as he knows the menu inside out.

GJ Bestseller (Cold) @ RM6.90

J recommended me their bestseller 'thong shui' which was pretty impressive. The portion was pretty reasonable and it was making me all excited. I could feel that I was being a little child again and couldn't stop myself from having the first bite.

This bestseller is made of Grass Jelly and Grass Jelly Ice filled with Taroballs with some creamer. Beats me really ... don't know what those balls are about ... LOL . But it does taste good ! Very refreshing and very original. Loved it. Now I know why die hard fans are willing to queue up for a bowl of 'thong sui'. This particular one I had came with 'ice' and you can get a similar bowl served hot or warm. So, the choice is yours to decide.

Tohua Peanut c/w 2 scoops of Ice Cream @ RM8.00

As for J, he choose to go for something really special, something that amazed me .... really. It's the 'Tohua' series ~ peanuts with extra 2 scoops of ice cream. I had a go at it and I was surprised with how good it tasted. Wow, if only I could have another bowl but I will skip for now..... But this bowl will not escape from my grasp the next time I pay them a visit ,,,, and that will be pretty soon indeed.

Conclusion : Funky place with some funky menu and some funky 'thong shui'. I just love this place and the 'thong shui' they served. Very delicious, very addictive and very refreshing. Portion is huge considering the money we pay for it. A 4/5. Taiwan... here I come....!

Cheers!

Snowflake Cafe ~ taiwanese dessert secrets     Operating Hours :
26-1, Jalan PJU 5/10                                           Sun - Thurs : 1pm - 11pm
Dataran Sunway                                                 Fri - Sat : 1pm - 12am
Kota Damansara
47810 Petaling Jaya

Face To Face Noodle House - Sarawak Kolo Noodle @ Damansara Perdana

The search continues.... for some noodles .... which was fabulous when I first tasted it ..... during my business trips to Kuching, Sarawak. The magic word .... 'Kolo Mee'.

This noodle is really a killer. It is really delicious and unique in it's own way that will really kick start your day with a bang, especially on your 'taste buds'. I will never want to miss this delicious noodle whenever I made a trip to Sarawak as I am unable to find one similar stores anywhere in KL. So this is really and truly my inner deepest love which I will miss dearly whenever I am in KL.

This search continued until today when I was rather lucky to be introduced to this place which serves this famous East Malaysian Sarawak kolo noodle. And why not? This friend of mine comes from Sarawak and I was pretty sure that this place will not disappoint me.

The name of this restaurant sounds really funny. It is situated at Damansara Perdana and it is called 'Face To Face Noodle House'.

There is simply to shout about on the interior of this eatery. It is simple with wooden tables and chairs spread across the dining area both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned areas. Finding this place is a breeze but it is otherwise if you are looking for a parking space for you car. Most people will 'double park' their vehicle as space is pretty limited. This is something that I will not do as it is truly 'BTC' and it could be dangerous too. And for those who simply double park make sure you have a good view of your car as this action will get you a fine from the local enforcement officers doing their rounds and also not to anger the owner of those cars you are blocking.

A quick browse at the menu tells you that this is a noodle house. From 'pan mee' to this unique Sarawak kolo noodle. Drinks menu is pretty colourful too ~ from green tea to ice blended drinks, etc....

Traditional Sarawak Kolo Noodle @ RM5.60

I can feel myself grinning from ear to ear (not face to face eh) when my bowl of noodle was brought to me. The aroma was simply breathtaking (considering I have not had this for ages) and I nearly teared (just kidding). The only thing that I was disappointed was the portion of the noodles. I reckon I must order 2 bowls to be able to fill my belly up.

Texture of the noodle was brilliant ~ not overcooked and still have that 'springiness' feel in it. Comes with a few slices of 'char siew' or BBQ pork and some minced meat and spring onions sprinkled on it. And the first thing I had to do is to mixed it all up.

Tasted really good, pretty closed to the original I had in Kuching. But it was slightly too dry. But then again I reserved every rights not to complain as this is one of the best 'kolo mee' I have tasted in KL.

Dark Soya Sauce & Chilli Sauce Sarawak Noodle @ RM5.60

This 'not too original' noodle which was done and mixed with dark soya sauce and chilly sauce tasted unique too. Comes with some slices of 'char siew' with some minced meat and spring onion sprinkled on it. It is cool that they came out with something different as it tasted secondary to the original kolo noodle. LOL.

Wonton Soup @ RM4.00

We had some wonton soup as our side dish and I must say this wonton tasted really lousy. First of all the wonton was overcooked and the 'skin' is falling apart. Secondly, it was rather tasteless and thirdly the size of the wonton is so pathetically small. I can get a better wonton from the local stores nearby my house.

Conclusion : Original Traditional Sarawak Kolo Noodle was superb. Portion was rather small and the wonton is lousy. Service was pretty fast and place was crowded. Reasonably priced too. A 3/5.

Cheers !

Face To Face Noodle House                         Operating Hours : 10:30am - 9:30pm
11A-1, Jalan PJU 8/5i
Damansara Perdana
47820 Petaling Jaya
Selangor.
Tel : 012 336 6303

Kites Restaurant @ Holiday Inn Kuala Lumpur Glenmarie - Ramadhan Celebration

It's the time of the year again to celebrate the holy month of Ramadhan with friends and family members. A  month filled with fun and laughters, a month for forgiveness, a month of happiness and a month to cherish every moment with close friends and family members with good foodies. A time to 'melantak'.

One place I frequently goes to for such occasion is at Kites Restaurant at Holiday Inn Kuala Lumpur Glenmarie. This is one place where all must make a date with to buka puasa as they have a wide spread of local cuisine buffet style for this auspicious Bulan Ramadhan. Breaking fast starts from 1st Aug - 29th Aug, 2011.

The two Chef behind the scene

This two Chefs and it's team are the person responsible for all the goodies dished out by Kites Restaurant. Can you imagine that there will be more than 120 local and international dishes being featured in the buffet dinner.

I am totally delighted with the environment of this restaurant. Beautiful chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, cool environment enhanced by wooden tables and chairs widely spread across the dining area and you will never need to drop a sweat as the air conditioning system is at it's best. A fabulous place for a fabulous meal.

Nasi Briyani

Not to be missed is their famous 'Nasi Briyani'. Beautifully done and goes very well with various curry dishes. Topped with some fried shallots, this nasi will make you want to have more. Not to be missed.

Kambing Mamak

Kambing Mamak is a spicy and gragrant lamb curry which was specially created for this Ramadhan season. And goes very very well with the nasi briyani.

Telor Itik Masak Lemak

Another that does wonders with the nasi briyani. This simple dish is marvelous as the curry is creamy with coconut milk and it is very aromatic too. Pure delight to be able to enjoy it.

Ayam Panggang Bugis

Another irresistible cuisine that will blow your mind off. This chicken is grilled to perfection yet succulent and it is truly finger licking to the very last bite. Well marinated with belacan, tamarind and salam leaves.

Ikan Keli Salai Berlada

Want something that will fire your adrenaline up ~ then this is one fried catfish that you have to get your hands on. Cooked with really spicy chilli and pepper which will make you long for more.

Ketupat Palas and Nasi Ketupat

This is made of glutinous rice that tasted really good and goes very well with curries.

And the following are the other dishes that is made available for this special Ramadhan season.

Jelatah

This is a must and is very appetizing. Jelatah is an appetizer dish which is very good indeed and very addictive. Jelatah consists of pineapple, sliced shallots and chilli and lot's of other stuff in it :) which will turn a gloomy day into a shiny one. Try it and you will know what I mean.

Ketupat Palas and Kuih Talam

Kuih Kasui

Some of the desserts made available after a lengthy hearty meal. Good to have some sweet stuff after a heavy meal.

There are just so much you can choose from where I am unable to review but only you will be able to try it all out. You will find lot's of authentic Malay desserts, Daging Deng Deng, Pulut Kuning, Ikan Bakar, Singapore Murtabak and lot's more.

This year, Kites Restaurant will be maintaining it's famous dishes from previous years, while converting it's poolside and Gazebo area into a complete traditional Ramadhan feast! To Compliment the atmosphere, a 'live' 'Ghazal Performance' will be featured to keep the guest entertained as they break their 'fast'. So, sit back and enjoy the splendid cultural performances as you will enjoy the traditional Malay cuisine reminiscing the good old days of time honored traditions.

The buffet dinner at Kites Restaurant is priced at RM88.00++ for adults and RM50.00++ for children and senior citizens. There is also a special price from 1st - 10th August. During this period adults are charged RM78.00++ and RM40.00++ for children and senior citizens. Truly a marvelous deal which cannot be missed.

The hotel also accepts Group or Company bookings for buka puasa while surau facilities with 'Imam' for 'sembahyang Terawih' for the guests is available at the hotel.

For bookings and reservations please call +603 7802 5200 Ext : 3/2941 and be quick to avoid disappointment. 


Conclusion : Full marks from me. It's all up to you now ! Not to be missed !


Cheers !

Kites Restaurant
Holiday Inn Kuala Lumpur Glenmarie
1, Jalan Usahawan U1/8
Seksyen U1
40250 Shah Alam
Selangor Darul Ehsan.
Tel : 03 7802 5200 ext 3/2941

F Concept Dining by Buffalo Kitchens @ Bangsar.

Some people fancy clothes, some fancy golfing items, some fancy shoes, some fancy cars... but I really do fancy some really good looking shiny pots and pans. I just love and adore such wares. I always make it a point to view such items whenever I go shopping.

There is this particular brand which really interests me, simply called 'Buffalo'. This world famous brand originated from Taiwan and has won numerous awards in the world. Such items are pretty expensive in this country, very unfortunately, maybe because of the high taxes and duties set by the Malaysian government. I can get a similar one or even a better one in the USA for a fraction of the price found in our local shops.

I was pretty surprised to find a shop selling the 'Buffalo' cookware that is located on the first floor along a row of shops in Bangsar. Not only a shop selling the famous brand but it is also a restaurant too ! Walau !!

The setup was pretty and there are loads of wooden furniture covering the whole area which is something I fancy very much. I love the ambiance of wood and the more the merrier.

Dining area are all indoor and there is a small little area, a verandah , which is meant for those who would want to enjoy a good cup of whatever. Cause they have an outdoor bar specially for this purpose. I bet you'll enjoy the atmosphere and ambiance of this lovely place.

As you can see 'Buffalo' cookware are sold in this outlet too and you can find various types of wares here to suit your choice. Why only 'Buffalo'? Because I reckon they are the local sole agent for these fantastic wares.

This was what we had today and I must say that the set lunch is very well priced at RM18++ for 3 fabulous meals. We were told that you will get different types of combination for the set lunches daily which makes it interesting. And it starts from 12pm -2:30pm.

Mushroom Soup

This is one of the best mushroom soup I have ever had for a long time. Texture was just right and the soup was rich with mushroom which makes it unbelievable tasty and delicious. Wonderfully done and scores full marks from us all.

Spaghetti Basil Pesto with Chicken

This lovely delicious looking plate of spaghetti is only worth looking at. It was very bland, very tasteless. We needed to spread more salt, pepper and parmesan cheese to make this pasta to have some zing to it. I was just wondering what went wrong here. This was supposed to be an easy job to cook but it turned out otherwise. Was a big let down, really.

Mango Cake Dessert

And to finished off this set lunch came the dessert in a form of 'mango cake'. Yes, this cake does taste like mango but it was rather 'dry'. It was making my throat feeling uncomfortable as it takes a whole lot of strength to push it right through it. A little disappointed, really.

Conclusion : Now I know where to get my stainless steel wares. And also now I know where I should not go for set lunches. Maybe just for a bowl of mushroom soup. But the rest is better to be left aside and not forgetting not to mention it too much. A 2/5 for the food but a 5/5 for the 'Buffalo'.

Cheers !

F Concept Dining by Buffalo Kitchens
69-1, Jalan Telawi 3
Bangsar Baru
59100 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel : 03 2201 1710

Anahata Villas & Spa Resort @ Ubud, Bali.

This is where we stayed in Ubud. Marvelous resort which is miles away from civilisation. Anahata is a boutique resort that is so captivating. Pure delight to have given the opportunity to stay at this fantastic resort. I will certainly not touch too much on this resort at this moment cause it will take 3 days 3 nights for me to complete it. I will do my very best to post it in my next blog. Yes, I will say that this is a lovely and fantastic resort if you are looking for peace and quiet. Check on them http://www.anahataresort.com/ for more information.

Lounge / Bar / Restaurant Area

It was past 8pm when we got there and everyone was tired and hungry. We pre-ordered our dinner from the friendly waiter at the restaurant and the delicious food will be brought to us in our private villa. We decided to head back to our villa to refresh ourselves and got ready for dinner.

Meal made for a King

Dinner was brought to us straight to our very own dining table at our private villa. We certainly was happy to see these lovely food brought to us cause all of us were super hungry and can eat a whole cow. The whole room was instantly filled with the aromatic smell of food. And we just couldn't wait any longer.

Nasi Campur Bali @ Rp75,000++

Ayam Bertutu @ Rp98,500++

Both Nasi Campur Bali and Ayam Bertutu was amazing. Lot's of spices are used simply making the dish aromatic and delicious. Chicken was tender yet juicy and succulent and the taste of 'serai' was amazing.

Sauces for dipping

We were given 3 different types of sauces for dipping. These sauces was really good, delicious and spicy. Enhances the taste of our meal and it was really a joy having these sauces around.

Mi Goreng Bali @ Rp75,000++

Vegetable in Oyster Sauce served with Rice @ Rp65,000

There was nothing special about the mi goreng Bali. Or maybe we were expecting it to be really good. It was just like any ordinary local mamak style maggie mee goreng but just with a different taste. Really we did enjoyed it but was slightly disappointed. And it was rather salty.

Vegetable rice set was pretty bland in taste and I believe I could dish out a better plate. Anyway, all of us enjoyed this plate of vege mixed with rice as it's taste is different from our local way of cooking which makes it enjoyable.

Pasta Oglio Olio @ Rp67,000++

A sudden switch from local Balinese food to Italian. Oglio Olio was not bad, really. I wasn't expecting this plate of pasta to be good. Hat's off to the resort chef.

Conclusion : Food was ok-lah. But not the price. We paid Rp380,500 for food and Rp79,905 for the 21% govt tax. BUT we have no complains about this as this is a high end, high class resort. Furthermore, it takes at least 20 minutes drive out to the nearest restaurant, I rather settle for the 'not too bad' Anahata restaurant food. Recommended for it's food and 100% two thumbs up for the resort.

Cheers!

Anahata Villa & Spa Resort
Br Umah Anyar-Tampaksiring
Ubud
Bali.
Tel : 62(0) 361 978 991
Email : info@anahataresort.com

Bebek Tepi Sawah @ Ubud, Bali.

We had to thank our tour guide for introducing us to this lovely place called 'Bebek Tepi Sawah' located in Ubud, Bali. According to our tour guide this place is 'the' place for this special delicacy enjoyed by millions. 'Bebek Tepi Sawah' simply means 'Duck on the edge of Rice Paddy'. Yeah that's the direct translation. And it is really true that this lovely restaurant is situated next the a rice paddy.

The restaurant was super packed when we got there. There were plenty of tourists as well as locals and also those from Jakarta, Indonesia. The atmosphere was amazing. There were two lovely ladies dressed in traditional Balinese outfit entertaining the crowd with some traditional dance. And for those who would love to have a photo taken with these lovely girls, simply just ask politely and your dream will come true.

We were brought to a small little table just good enough for the four of us. We could see so many people enjoying the cultural dance while having a good meal. This whole place was so aromatic with food they served. And one particular special delicacy that attract all the crowd was their 'Bebek' which means 'duck'.

Crispy Duck Tepi Sawah @ Rp75,000+

This lovely delicacy was served together with some vegetable and white rice. The duck was so delicious and so crispy. Meat was rather dry but it was fine. Meat was well marinated and to spice up the taste just dipped it into the different sauce provided and you'll just want more. At Rp75,000 which is equivalent to RM30.00 is rather costly but it was well worth it. A fantastic dish! Highly recommended!

Grilled Pork Ribs Tepi Sawah @ Rp78,000+

We were surprised to have tasted this super grilled pork ribs. It was amazingly delicious, well marinated with the chef's special sauce and grilled to perfection. Meat was tender and succulent and melts in your mouth. Not only they are good with the 'bebek' but never underestimate their skills with the other foodie they serve. I would highly recommend this pork ribs and at RM35.00 it was worth every penny of it. The way they grilled it no other can match. Perfect !

This restaurant is the perfect place for you to indulge the delicious food with a scenery to kill. Lot's of greenery of the rice field, cool breeze with the right ambiance for a relaxing experience.

We would really loved to be able to order more variety but our belly told us not to. It was rather sad as we won't be coming back to this place a long time. The experience we had today was simply amazing and good memories too.

Yeah, FYI this 'Bebek Tepi Sawah' also runs a hotel / villa which is adjoining to the restaurant. We found out that some of their villas comes with indoor pool which sounds really cool. And not to forget full health spa services is available too. Check them out !

Conclusion : Fantastic !! Loved the food, loved the atmosphere, loved every inch of this restaurant. Just find it to be a little costly with a 16% govt tax but it was worth it. A 5/5. Bravo....

Cheers !

Bebek Tepi Sawah Restaurant
Jl Raya Goa Gajah
Br Teges
Peliatan
Ubud
Bali.
Tel : 0361 975656

Babi Guling Ibu Oka @ Pasar Ubud, Ubud Palace, Bali.

When you are in Bali most locals will tell you a tale about not missing the famous Bali dish simply called 'Babi Guling'. It is a meaty delicacy which is super famous in Bali. You will be able to see lot's of places selling this delicacy around Bali.

This visit to Bali brought us to Ubud, one of the oldest place in Bali as was told to us by our friendly tour guide. Ubud is arguably the island finest place if you are looking for culture, comfort, nature and fine arts, music, dance and inspiration.

Ubud is such a famous place because it is surrounded by scenic padi fields, ancient temples and palaces, rivers and since this place has been a boom to the tourist industry more and more hotels are mushrooming here. You will find cheap accommodations for back packers to unique luxury hotel or spa hotels for those who would like to have a more refine and relaxing stay.

After a long walk at Pasar Ubud hunting some really good bargains it was time for us to rest our tired feet and have lunch. It was way past lunch time and we were making our way to the famous 'Babi Guling' at 'Warong Ibu Oka'. We did not have any problem finding the place. It was super packed when we reached the place and it took us a few minutes in finding an empty table.

I was so mesmerized with the atmosphere over at Warong Ibu Oka. Full of tourists of all races flocking in to have a taste of the babi guling. This is the place to go for and no other place does it better than Ibu Oka.

Nasi Babi Guling Pisah @ Rp50,000

Ok ... now .... what is 'Babi GUling'? It's a pork delicacy where you can find meat, crispy pig skin fried to perfection, pig's blood served with some vegetable and white rice and comes with some really good sambal. So, are you ready for such delicacy? Oh, we sure are, indeed.

Food was superb if you are a fan for such delicacy. And we wanted more but to our surprised they have sold off everything. Phew .... lucky us, really, to be able to enjoy this lovely food. It wouldn't have been complete if we did not stepped into Ibu Oka and have some Babi Guling. And at Rp50,000 which works out to be around RM18.00 - RM20.00 is not cheap for a plate of babi guling. But it was really worth it.

Conclusion : If you are planning a trip to Bali and looking for the best babi guling on this beautiful island of Bali, look no further than 'Ibu Oka'. They certainly does serve the best in this island. You won't be disappointed. A 4.5/5.


Cheers !

Warong Babi Guling Ibu Oka
Jl Tegal Sari
No. 2 
Ubud, Bali.
Tel : 0361 976345