Siew Yok! @ Taman SEA, Petaling Jaya

(NON-HALAL)

I first saw the red "Siew Yok!" banner as I drove pass the under bridge near the 1Utama area, not really having the time to read the address and had kept wondering where it is located. So, as I was driving pass Taman SEA area one day and came across the familiar red signage with the big "Siew Yok!" words, I was elated that I can finally stop wondering! :o). This time round, the red signage marked Siew Yok! for good as I had found the shop right beneath it. JC and I (upon seeing the place) told ourselves that we'll definitely make a trip here for lunch. And lunch we did ... the very next day!

(Photos taken with Sony Ericsson W995)

That same banner underneath was the one I saw at the corner of the underpass near 1Utama! Yes, the red signage does scream "Siew Yok!", hehehe..

The soup had a rather fishy taste and both Joyce and I didn't finish it. As for the chilli sauce, it's hot enough and real tangy! But if the meat is good, it's good enough on its own without the chilli, you know what I mean? The chilli wasn't wasted though 'cos we ate the chilli with this ...

Homemade egg noodles (RM3) - the pic was taken after it was partially eaten, hahaha...Well, it did taste home made indeed with no "kan sui" or potash aftertaste but somehow we found it a bit too plain (we added pepper to it too). The soy sauce plus fried shallot oil and bits of spring onions didn't make the promising egg noodles rise to the occasion. Something else was missing...garlic? More soy sauce? Lard? Hahaha.... We couldn't put on our finger on it. But maybe it's due to the fact that they say that the food served here is MSG free and using sunflower oil. Of course, the noodles improved immensely when eaten with ...

Yellow Gold - small portion. It was crunchy but as the skin was rather thin, we didn't feel that there was enough crunch to satisfy our palate. We then thought about how the other variant would fare. What are the differences? Well, according to the printed menu, these 3 variants of premium pork belly are :

Funky Villa @ eCurve

Having caught up with some floggers whom I've not seen in awhile during the Jaya One food crawl, I took up an invitation to join in for another floggers gathering and food review at Funky Villa, eCurve.  This time round....just one stop (not 6!), hahaha...Unfortunately, I made a boo boo and somehow didn't copy some of the pics that I took at Funky Villa.  The shots that I took of the restaurant are missing and I have no idea where they are.  I can only "say" that Funky Villa is filled with funky colours and just as the name suggests, offers a fun place for friends to gather at this bistro cum pub to fill their stomachs or just to chill.  Fortunately, the pics of the food were found safe and sound in the folder. Phew! So, with a sigh of relief...let's dive straight into the food and we're talking about LOTS of food! :o)

Pomelo Salad with Chicken, Shrimp & Cashew Nuts (RM15).  Apparently pomelo from Thailand is used for this dish as it's sweeter compared to the local ones.  Tangy and sourish, I rather enjoyed this salad.

Cat Fish Mango Salad (RM22). Having eaten similar Cat Fish Salad in Thailand itself, I've always wondered why the cat fish salad comes so fine and crispy.  Not that I'm complaining, it makes it a fish dish that I would eat but on the other hand I can't tell it's catfish.

Hard-boiled Eggs Wrapped in Fish Cake (RM13).  This was such a cute looking dish (it's a specialty of Funky Villa) and another fish dish I would eat.  Fish cake that's fried and wrapped over the hard boiled egg with my favourite garnishing makes this a winner.

Nasi Tumpang - The "Real Thing" from Kota Bahru or The Warung @ Midvalley

I've been eating at The Warung in Midvalley quite regularly as they consistently keep me happy with their Nasi Tumpang.  While not really being as authentic as the Nasi Tumpang that I first tried and fell in love with in Kota Bahru during my trip there back in 2007, it will have to do as I long as I'm hankering for Nasi Tumpang right here in Klang Valley.

 The cone shaped banana leaf Nasi Tumpang in Kota Bahru found in Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah

How it looks unwrapped - nasi impit but with bits of meat floss, prawn, egg and gravy. The tasty filling is added in the center with more rice added after this step and then compressed.

That Will Do ... Sam Kang Cheong Pork Noodles

Been really busy of late ... seems to be that way since I came back from Taiwan.  I will be blogging on Taiwan, eventually but it was interesting to know that the food in Taiwan didn't awe me as much as I was hoping for.  Maybe it's just me as taste is so subjective, right? Anyway, here's a sweet and short post today.

I came back to Malaysia craving for all sorts of our local hawker food like nasi lemak, chee cheong fun, satay, hokkien mee, char kway teow, siew yoke (roast pork) rice, Famous Seremban Favourites BBQ pork char siew and .... Sam Kang Cheong Pork Noodles.  I realise that while different stalls churns out different quality of these dishes, some better than the rest and differing in texture, colour, ingredients - one dish, the Sam Kang Cheong Pork Noodles, always seems to be the same.  This noodle is commonly found being sold in most coffee shops around Klang Valley area.  I think Bangsar and Sec 17, PJ are operated by the same folks hence the same taste.  Then there is the one in Jalan Batai and PJ Old Town and of course the one that does taste yummier and different would be the one in Jalan Imbi (or Hutong, Lot 10?).  Apart from that, I would say, the taste is similar here, there and everywhere.

One thing I would profess though, Sam Kang Cheong is one comfort food that I love.  It reminds me of my childhood days, when I would follow my parents to Jalan Alor every Friday night.   Every Friday would be family outing night as my mom would be having the night off  (having to cook dinner every other night, she needed the break, hahah).  There was a time that we would go to this Sam Kang Cheong Pork Noodles stall that was located in front of the Bolton medicinal shop every Friday.  I remember how my dad and I would happily slurp up the noodles, coupled with the green pickled chillies (a must accompaniment for this noodle) and we would love to ask for extra soup on the side!  The stall is no longer there now though the medicinal shop is still there (I think!), I wonder if the stall has shifted to somewhere else or the owner has simply stop operating.

So, no matter where and whenever I eat Sam Kang Cheong Pork Noodles (I don't really have a favourite place) - it does comfort me in more ways that any other food would.....Do any of you have a similar story to share for any food/dish that warms your heart too?

That will do....that will do (reminds me of the movie Babe)

Finding Happiness @ farmerbrown's Little Skillet, San Francisco

Holy Mookie had been telling me about Little Skillet and how I have got to check this place out. On one sunny Saturday, the family finally made our way to farmerbrown's Little Skillet as we had to time it well since it's only open from 9am till 2.30pm! Well, not only did I manage to "devour" great tasting food but I also found happiness all around this little gem that delivers big time to its customers in so many ways.

Keeping true to their words in serving the local community with wholesome Southern American classic (as written on Little Skillet's website), it was just an overall wonderful experience for me as I took in not only the delicious chicken and waffle but also the warmth from the summer sunshine and that which was exude from the tiny little place that is located along a tiny one way street! One is encouraged to access Little Skillet on foot or by riding a bicycle! We parked the car along the main road and walked towards the inner smaller one way street. As soon as I saw Little Skillet, I couldn't stop smiling.

The red bricked building where you'll find Little Skillet (yes, some folks still drive into this lane)

Smacked in the middle of the building, you'll find the slightly faded baby blue shutter windows, with a little black canopy giving the customers some shade from the sun or rain.

The operating system : Windows :o) All the orders are taken at this window, with the kitchen in sight. Note how the window shutters also has a little rack holding all the multi coloured and flavoured drinks adding fun to the picture.

Eat, Drink & Be Merry @ Jaya One - Part Two (Final)

(Continuation)
Location of gathering : Jaya One, No. 72-A, Jalan Universiti, 46200 Petaling Jaya

So, off we went for our main meal at our 4th stop

Kinnaree Thai Restaurant
12-1, Palm Square
Tel: 03-7957 3910
Email: kinnaree.jayaone@thaiinspired.com
Web: http://www.thaiinspired.com
Business Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12pm -3.30pm & 6.00pm -10.30pm
Sun: (Dinner only) 6pm -10.30pm
Signature Dishes : Pomelo Yam Som O, Deep friend Boneless Fish with Tamarind Sauce - Pla Sam Rod, Tom Yum Prawn - Tom Yum Gong

Lovely deco adorns the wall of Kinnaree and sets the mood well for a cosy and relaxed dining experience.  I like the way they had set the table and made us looked forward to tasting the Thai food here.

Eat, Drink & Be Merry @ Jaya One - Part One

Having Jaya One near to where I reside, I must say that I have only managed to patronize a handful of the establishments there. When I received an invite to cover 6 in one night, I decided to check them out. Furthermore, this meant a gathering with other floggers and when floggers get together, we always have a great time!

Location of gathering : Jaya One, No. 72-A, Jalan Universiti, 46200 Petaling Jaya



1st stop
Brisik Restaurant
10-1 Palm Square
11.00am – 10.30pm daily
Tel : 03-7958 6681
Email: brisikdagang@gmail.com
Web: http://www.brisik.com.my
(Note : No corkage charge)
Signature dishes : Satay Serai, Tahu Telur, Ayam Penyet, Sundanese Flying Fish

The colourful and cosy restaurant, serving Sundanese & Siamese cuisine

Dad, I'm Grateful ...

Dad, I had been planning on what to write for your 12th anniversary since last two weeks. As most of my friends would know, each time as this day draws near - my mind is thinking of you, more than ever. However, some incidents has happened over this past week and threw my earlier thoughts out of the window. The incidents has made me more grateful...however much I miss you.

I am grateful for the fact that we got a chance to say goodbye to you and that both sis and I were by your side when you left us. Not everyone gets a chance to be there when a loved one passes away. I remember how sis and I fell asleep, resting our heads on your bedside ... and how we were jolted out of our sleep when we realised how quiet it was when you stopped breathing. I'm grateful that we got the chance to talk to you hours earlier - you couldn't speak and was in a coma but you hung on till we got back from San Francisco and told you that it was okay for you to go as we know that you would be happier and complete in heaven.

I am grateful that you lived till the age of 68 when I had other friends who were only half your age or younger when they left this world. I am grateful that I was able to have you in my life for a great 3 decades as compared to those who lost their father when they had just started school or even when they were just babies. I am grateful that you were such a great dad to us - loving and funny when some never had a chance to feel such warmth as they grew up without a father. I'm ever grateful for what I had (and all that you have given me, for the things that you taught me). Actually, we should all be grateful for whatever/whoever we have - no matter how short (or long) the period they appeared in our lives for our lives were enriched regardless of the duration.

I miss you Dad and I'm grateful. I'm grateful for me being me, as there is always a part of you in me ... and it will always be that way.


With all my love,
BB