Our Scrumptious Lunch at Thyme All Day Dining in Hatten Place

Last Friday, my family was searching high and low for a place to have our lunch. Besides serving delicious food which will be cheap, we also want to have a very cozy ambiance to enjoy our lunch as well. That was when we stumbled upon Thyme All Day Dining in Hatten Place which ticked all our boxes (Good food, cheap price, cozy environment). Honestly I was really shocked the moment I arrived at the place. Everything looked so unbelievably classy! The receptionist and the waiter were already there waiting for us with arms wide open-speaking about top notch customer service. :)

Yours truly me enjoying the breathtaking view. :)

Ok time to order our food.

The waiters here are truly excellent!

So what shall we eat?

As we were relatively early, we got to choose where we wanted to have our lunch. The amiable waiter then ushered us to our table with a stunning sea-view. Nestled in a slightly secluded corner, we enjoyed sitting on the comfortable curvilinear sofa while selecting what we would have for our lunch. How much do you think you need to pay to have lunch in such high-class, posy environment? Do you know that each set would only cost RM14.90 each with bottomless Iced Lemon Tea? YES! Only RM14.90! I was so taken aback by the price tag that I ordered 5 different dishes. Besides we were really starving back then. LOL :D

Our lunch has arrived

The first dish that landed on our table was the Claypot Chicken Rice set which was served with salted fish. This dish was perfectly cooked as every grain of fragrant rice had been coated with the savory broth which really whetted our appetite. The tender, divine chicken meat, the ambrosial salted fish and the toothsome chunks of shitake mushrooms really dovetailed to tantalize our taste buds. Two thumbs up for this dish. Oh! Did I mention that the portion was very generous and two adults could actually enjoy this dish together.

Behold the ginormous Claypot Chicken Rice!

Can you spot the salted fish? :p

Every single bite was truly flavourful

I love it

My wife enjoyed this dish as well.

Our next dish was the Thyme Dunked Chicken Burger which was of course an in-house specialty at Thyme All Day Dining. In fact I would say that this is the must-try dish for all patrons as it was really packed with wholesome homemade goodness. This very presentable burger is laden with homemade pepper sauce, onions and of course homemade chicken patty! OMG~the flavorful chicken patty was so, so, so tender and succulent that I admit I wanted to order another one. So while our kids were biting away the crispy tapioca chips, yours truly me was feasting on the heavenly burger! I really wanted to have this again on our next visit!

 Thyme Dunked Chicken Burger

Homemade goodness. The patty was so (OUUHHHH) tender and juicy!

I thought this is like one of the best burgers I have ever sunk my teeth into!

I am not a lamb person but our next dish the Lamb Briyani proved me wrong. The ghee rice which came with the Lamb Briyani was really soft, fluffy and delightful. Our juicy Lamb Briyani was very delectable and there was no hint of any gamy scent from our well-marinated mutton. I guess what made the briyani lamb here so tasty was the dainty gravy which was truly smooth and appetizing. I must admit that after having this flavorsome dish, I still felt very hungry despite my bloated stomach having said otherwise.

 Up next was Briyani Lamb

The lamb was flawlessly marinated and cooked.

The ghee rice was astoundingly aromatic.

Do you wanna have a bite?

Those who love fish and curry will be glad to know that you can indulge in their Indian Fish Curry which is served with sauteed vegetables and steamed rice. Rest assured that the your rice will go really well with the rich curry which was a bit spicy and sweet at the same time-I know mine did. Thyme was really generous as they gave me at least 3 pieces of fish fillet to enjoy together with those equally juicy tomatoes, brinjal and okra aka lady finger. Definitely a must try for curry lover.

Curry lover rejoice!

Spicy and sweet

I love the vegetables that in the curry. :)

Last but not least, the highlight of our lunch was the Butter Chicken With Oatmeal. It was mighty close to choose between the Thyme Dunked Chicken Burger and this dish. We love this dish so much thanks to its luscious, creamy texture together with a hint of spiciness which was really a divine combination to give you that mouthgasmic sensation. I added it to my white fluffy rice and the rest was truly an unforgettable palatable journey in my mouth. Dayum! Will surely return for this dish.

Oatmeal with Butter Chicken

Without a doubt the best dish here.

Love the creamy butter texture and the tingling spiciness that comes with it

Truly lips smacking!

To top it off, you can enjoy BOTTOMLESS Iced Lemon Tea when you dine here. I actually ordered ours to be warm and of course what you wish is what you will get here thanks to the excellent service provided by the whole F&B team of Thyme. Honestly the setting of Thyme All Day Dining is probably the most beautiful one I have ever seen in Malacca. Everything looks so posh and classy here from the exquisite marble table to the artistic, comfy chair with armrest; From the spectacular view to the warm, soothing glow of bulbs which grace the whole place; Everything here looks really chic! You will definitely love the ambiance, trust me!

We had a feast at Thyme All Day Dining

Yeah~our little family can really eat a lot! :)

Wifey and daughter enjoying their meal.

Jasmine and Jordan snacking on the crispy tapioca chips

Look at how happy they are.

Good food! Great place!

Definitely the place to be if you wanna have lunch.

So if you are looking for a beautiful, comfortable place to enjoy delicious lunch during weekdays (12p.m. till 2:30pm) do head over to Thyme All Day Dining in Hatten Place and you will leave feeling truly gratified and fuller fatter. And you don't have to worry about beverages at all as you will be getting bottomless lemon tea when you purchase any of the sets here which will only cost you RM14.90. This is truly one of the best places to be if you want to enjoy lunch in Melaka.

Ouh~I even got a cup of complementary cappuccino. :)

Really love the ambiance in Thyme All Day Dining

The setting was really, really beautiful and comfortable

Love the zen glow here

I wish I could dine at this special table the next time. :)

Thyme All Day Dining

Address: Level 12, Hatten City, Jalan Melaka Raya 23, Taman Melaka Raya, 75000 Melaka.

Contact: 06-2229696

Email: dine@hattenplace.com

Website: www.hattenplace.com

Instagram: @hattenplace

Operating Hours: 12p.m. - 12:30p.m. (for lunch)

Price: RM14.90 nett per set plus bottomless iced lemon tea

We will be back to Thyme All Day Dining again soon.


Coffee & Desserts At Aromas-The Highest Coffee Club In Melaka

I am sure there are a lot of coffee lovers and connoisseur of the roasted beans in Melaka who have tasted and enjoyed their caffeinated beverages in various cafes, restaurants, clubs or even coffee shops. BUT have you ever tried savouring your perfectly brewed coffee at the HIGHEST place in Melaka? Welcome to Aromas Coffee Club at Hatten City where you will be served your favourite brews at 190 metres above sea level. So rest assured that you can slowly sip your coffee while relishing the breathtaking view. :)

Welcome to Aromas Coffee Club

The decor is really chic and classy

Is this Instagram-worthy or not?

Somehow the yellow sofa chairs make me look cooler!

After discovering this new gem for coffee lovers (like me), yours truly me pestered my wife to join me on my drinking adventure. So last weekend we embarked on our journey to the highest coffee club in Melaka. When we arrived at Hatten City, we needed to take the lift to go to the coffee club as it is on the 43rd level of the building or around 850 steps *gasp* if we were to go up on foot. Honestly I was quite nervous when the lift operator hit the number for us to go up. The build-up of pressure in my ears confirmed that we were going to a whole new height to enjoy coffee (and desserts as well). :)

Let's see what we should order.

So many lip-smacking desserts to choose from

Decision~decision!

I am really impressed the moment I arrived at this highest coffee club in Melaka. I dare to claim that a visit to Aromas Coffee Club is not merely about gratifying your caffeine fix; In fact it is a complete sensory experience for coffee lovers and desserts aficionado. The coffee club itself is an elegant affair with classy, chic design which will surely make all your photos more Instagrammable. The atmosphere was so laid back, the curvilinear sofas were invitingly comfortable and the eclectic decor really worked wonder for the blissful ambiance. You will be mesmerized for sure!

First to land on our table.

The super friendly manager-Ms. Paula Fiona

Finishing touches-Expertly done

Our deliciously scrumptious frappe!

I would die for one more Chocolate Chip Frappe

Obviously our kids were eager to try as well. Ha :D

Wifey with her Mocha Green Tea Frappe

After taking photos for quite some time, we finally could settle down and chose what we wanted for the evening. The ever amiable manager of Aromas-Ms. Paula introduced their signature Frappes which I thought was really, really good! We had four different Frappes to savour and they were Chocolate Chip Frappe, Mocha Green Tea Frappe, Caramel Chocolate Frappe and Caramel Frappe. I personally loved the Chocolate Chip Frappe while my wife enjoyed the Mocha Green Tea Frappe. How about my kids? Well...they love all of them as they were cold and sweet. Bahahaha :D Besides tasting so scintillatingly good, these frappes were a lovely sight to behold too, they look like arts...don't you agree?

Red Velvet & Strawberry Mousse

Chocolate Devil-It was devil-ishly flavorful!

Luxuriously rich Marble Cheese Cake

Jasming girl could not contain her joy

One for the family album

Let's dig in!

Besides the tasty frappe which got our taste buds intrigued for more, we soon got to sample desserts which looked so ornament-ally beautiful that it would be a crime to eat them. Then again, it would be an even heavier "sin" if we didn't sink our teeth into these lusciously rich cakes and mousse right? I really enjoyed our dainty Red Velvet Cake which reminded us of Christmas. Jordan boy and Jasmine girl really loved the Strawberry Mousse which tasted smooth and fluffy at the same time. Cheese lovers will  adore the royally luxurious Marble Cheese Cake which was certainly one of the highlights in the coffee club. Obviously my favourite was the Devil Chocolate Cake which was really, really profoundly rich in cocoa. Every single spoon which went into my mouth tasted so heavenly. Dayum! I wish I could have another piece right now.

Enjoying my Chocolate Chip Frappe at 190 meters height

I love the breathtaking view

Even my Red Velvet Cake tasted better thanks to the magnificent night scenery

Though I really enjoyed the frappe a lot, nothing beats a good cup of flawlessly brewed hot coffee right? That very sensation, knowing that you were slowly enjoying your sips of cafe noir at the highest place in Melaka was such a thrilling experience for me. Looking at my beautiful cup of brew on the veneer table while allowing the pleasant aroma of the coffee to invigorate me, felt so paradisaical. The carbony aftertaste of my coffee really made me feel a bit ecstatic to say the least. I am sure the ambiance weighed in a lot as well.  :)

Can't leave without my cup of coffee.

Yupe~you will get a reward card. :)

Me-basking in the ambiance while in Aromas

 Coffee anyone?

It was really a tantalizing experience to be sipping my coffee at such height

For those who want to taste rich, refined coffee and enjoy deliciously gooey desserts that will leave lasting impression in your mouth and of course your head do head over to Aromas Coffee Club in Melaka. I would rate it as one of the best coffee clubs in Melaka. Besides the height (being the highest coffee club in Melaka), I must lavish praises on the hospitality and amiability accorded by the barista and the manager of Aromas which was superbly excellent. Thank you for allowing me and my family to have such a memorable experience at your coffee club.

Aromas Coffee Club

Address: Level 43, Hatten City, Jalan Melaka Raya 23, Taman Melaka Raya, 75000 Melaka.

Contact: 06-2229696

Website: www.skyclub.my

Instagram: @aromascoffeeclub

Operating Hours: 10a.m. - 10p.m.

https://coffeegearspy.com/


Ramadan Buffet Dinner at Temasek Hotel-The Cheapest In Melaka

If you are in Melaka during the holy month of Ramadan, searching for cheap yet delicious spread of food to feast with your family during "buka puasa" do head over to Temasek Hotel Melaka to enjoy the cheapest Ramadan Buffet Dinner in Melaka. How cheap you may ask? The price is only RM29.90 for adult diner while children (5-11 years old) and senior citizen will be able to enjoy all the scrumptious cuisines and delicacies at an unbelievable low price of only RM24.90. Isn't this a steal? For such unbelievable price tag, my wife, children and I had our very first Ramadan Buffet for 2019!

Feel the Kampung ambiance at Temasek Hotel

For your information, Temasek Hotel is located just a stone's throw away from the famous Portuguese Settlement. In fact, when you are en route to the Christmas Town of Malaysia, you will surely not miss this majestic hotel, standing astutely on your right. Honestly this is not the first time I have been to this hotel, however it is my very first time enjoying their Ramadan Buffet dinner. OMG~I must say that I was really, really impressed after sampling their morsels of mouth-watering dishes. I am positive you will feel the same as well.

Nostalgia Sentuhan Desa: Just look at the prices

Themed as "Nostalgia Sentuhan Desa" or loosely translated to "Village Nostalgic Touch", this Ramadan Buffet will surely rewind your tape and bring you back in time to enjoy food that will remind you of the good old days. Surely a lot of my Malay friends will agree with me the moment they lay their eyes on those fresh "ulam" aka raw vegetables that are usually eaten together with our must have staple rice, right?

Chicken Briyani Rice-My favourite starter for this Ramadan Buffet

Spearheaded by the Executive Chef with 30 years of experience, Mr. Rusli Shuib oversees all the culinary activities which are "cooking" in the open kitchen of the dining area. Rest assured that all the served food and beverages are of course Halal. Interestingly the menu will be changed every day on a rotation basis for your indulgence, so that diners can enjoy different variety of cuisines every single day during the Ramadan month. So you can come over to Temasek Hotel to "buka puasa" every evening. LOL :D Ouh~Did I mention that, the hotel also provides a surau for you to perform your prayers? Talking about courtesy right?

 Recommended: Stir-fried chili cockle petai!

Are you ready  for your gastronomy journey, to dive into the melting pot of the cheapest Ramadan Buffet in Melaka? For curtain raiser or appetizer, I went straight to grab my plate of rice. You can either choose plain white rice, rice with raw vegetables or like me-I opted for the chicken briyani rice. Frankly speaking, their chicken briyani rice was really toothsome to say the least. Every grain was  so perfectly cooked and flavorful that it melted in my mouth and tasted so savoury. Maybe I was hungry or maybe the aroma and the sight of the dishes here made me even hungrier. :)

Fried Pepper Fish

Salad for health conscious diner.

Mixed vegetables with shitake

Rice with ulam

My beloved wifey making her move. :D

Besides our usual indispensable rice, the other starters include [most will be in Malaysian Language for convenience purposes]: "Ayam Rebus Batang Keladi", "Masak Lemak Tetel & Rebung, Stir-fried Cockles with Petai, Fried Pepper Fish, Gulai Perut Lembu & Nangka Muda and Mixed vegetables with shitake mushrooms. Of all the entrees, yours truly me personally love the Stir-fried Cockles with Petai which I thought was tantalizingly spicy and inviting. Adding it to my rice added so much layer and texture to my meal, which set the course for me to enjoy more delectable food.

Behold: Kambing Golek (Roasted Mutton)

After I had whetted my appetite with the starters, I grabbed my plates and wondered towards all the stalls where the main courses were waiting for me. I was SHOCKED to know that they even served Roasted Mutton (Kambing Golek)! WHAT? Yupe~you didn't read this wrongly. For only  RM29.90 you get to enjoy limitless amount of freshly roasted mutton.  The sight of chef roasting the crispy, golden brown lamb right before my eyes really made me drool. I had a few serving of it of course.

Highlight of the buffet: Tender, succulent roasted lamb

Wanna have a bite?

The sliced roasted lamb or "Kambing Golek" was really, really lusciously ambrosial-so succulent, tender and juicy! I literally closed my eyes when I spooned these slices of divine lamb meat into my gaping mouth. Oh my...my taste buds were dancing and my tongue was wagging, I had a mouthgasmic experience for sure! The mushroom soup that was poured onto of the roasted lamb totally added a new layer of composition, to enhance the taste (and experience) even further. Finger-licking good! *thumbs up* :)

Another crowd's favourite-Banana leaf grilled fish with sambal

Of course the Roasted Lamb was not the only highlight which stole my heart on that day. The banana leaf grilled fish stuffed with "sambal" (chili paste) was in a league of its own as well. I could smell these dainty fish from afar thanks to the sweet-scented burning sensation which was permeating the air and the aroma that was exuded by the combination of fresh fish meat and fragrant banana leaf. After I had unwrapped my fish (like a gift), I walloped them with my second or maybe third plate of rice. Goodness gracious~I cannot stop eating on that day.

Exotic deep-fried quail

Another worthy mention on the menu was the exotic deep-fried quail (burung puyuh). Exotic because I had never ever eaten any quail for my entire life until that very fateful day. "How would it taste like? Would it be more delicious than chickens?" Those were the questions that were holding me back. Nonetheless I steeled myself and grabbed a few of them back to my table. With trepidation *dub dub! dub dub!* I sank my teeth into the flesh of those crispy, caramel-coloured quail...my eyes opened wide in disbelief...the deep-fried quail tasted damn delicious! Why had not I eaten such delightful dish before?

They also served fried banana. :)

Which "colour" do you wanna drink sir?

I prefer coffee. Ha :D

More for you to feast

Mee Soto was really flavourful as well. :)

Just look at it *drooling*

 My son loved the mee soto

Right Jordan boy? :)

Yours truly me was a bit full at this point but heck~I was not going to let my slightly bloated stomach stop me from enjoying all the other dishes right? No way and I soldiered on with my plate and fork; Marching towards the other side of the dining hall. There they were, waiting for me gloriously on the plates and bowls *quipped*. There were the must-have Mee Soto, Mango Kerabu, and cucur just to name a few for you to enjoy. Besides, you can also enjoy a plate or two of on-demand Char Kueh Teow.

The executive chef was cooking char kueh teow for us!

30 years of culinary skills!

Here you go~one plate of Char Kueh Teow

If you are still not done at this point like me, you could slowly sample those colourful desserts that will not only delight you visually but will also sweeten your palate, putting a smile on your face. Of course no Ramadan Buffet will be complete without a bowl of delightfully shaved ice, sprinkled with an assortment of beans and condiments as well as syrups of different colours. Then only you could say that you had a feast for your Ramadan Buffet~BUUUUuuuurpppp.

Taste all sorts of kuih (delicacies)

Lusciously smooth pudding. :)

Let's dig in!

This was just part of what I had

Jasmine girl enjoyed her buffet dinner as well. :)

As usual, yours truly me needed a few cups of coffee to help me wind down and digest all the wonderful food that I had wolfed down earlier. Ha :D So all in all, I will highly recommend you to try the Ramadan Buffet Dinner a Temasek Hotel. Besides being the cheapest, it boasts a plethora of food that is fit for a king or well Sultan! By the way, there will be lucky draw every week and FREE parking is provided. If you are interested, do make your reservations so that you will not miss out.

Don't forget to get a bowl of ABC (Ais Batu Kacang) aka Shaved Ice with Beans

Wanna have a spoon?

Gotta make sure we enjoy ourselves to the MAX!

Right Jasmine girl? :)

Of course nothing beats coffee. Ha :D

I will be back to this Kampung House in Temasek Hotel for sure!

PRICE:

Adult-RM29.90

Children (5-11 years old) & Senior Citizen-RM24.90

Temasek Hotel Ramadan Buffet

Address: 57, Jalan D'Albuquerque, Portuguese Settlement, 75050 Melaka.

Contact: 06-288 3588 / 017-321 3566 / 012-327 3588 / 012-358 8197

Time: 6p.m. - 9p.m.


Taman Connaught Pasar Malam-A Night Market of Food Paradise

If you are somewhere in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday at around 5p.m. in the evening, and your stomach is rumbling for food; Do visit the "pasar malam" (night market) in Taman Connaught, Cheras, which serves a variety of delectable street food which will leave you drooling for more. So after our visit to Midvalley the other day; after we had done eating lunch at Hong Kong Sheng Kee Dessert and after we had climbed the rainbow walls, my wife suggested that we patronize this legendary night market to sample their scrumptious offerings of dinner meals, desserts, snacks and drinks.

Let the food hunt begin!

We have planned for this trip for quite some time mostly because it is only open on Wednesday. It was a bit difficult for us to schedule our food adventure because our two babies need to attend school, so we could only go there during the holidays. Here is another reminder for those who want to pay this "pasar malam" a visit. GO EARLY! It is claimed that parking would be extremely impossible if you are late. Hence we went there relatively early, arriving around 6p.m. I believe. And instead of parking our car on the same side of the night market, we actually parked at the opposite side and took a pedestrian bridge later to get to our destination.

You can choose what you want to add to your nasi lemak. :)

The moment we were IN the night market, I think we were a bit overwhelmed and of course excited. Overwhelmed, as there were really a lot of people buying food, beverages, desserts, clothes, toys and well...a lot was going on. Honestly I was so immersed in the ambiance and my curiosity took control of me. I kept peering around, trying to take in what I see right before my eyes. The whole place was bustling with activities with life and noise, which is really a pleasant sight. I was so absorbed that I didn't even bother to take out my smartphone to capture photos...that explains why you are not going to see a lot of photos in this post. :)

Cola Chicken~finally we meet.

One of the delicacies that I really wanted to try out was the Coca-Cola Chicken. Basically you will have your usual carbonated, fizzy beverage in the cup while the cover will be filled with crispy popcorn chicken. So every time I had popped those little chunks of chicken into my gaping mouth, I would sip my Coca-cola~DAYUM! This combination was really heavenly. You should try it if you love Coca-cola and fried food. LOL :D

First, empty those coke bottles

 Then throw in some popcorn~chicken popcorn to be precise

Ta~da! My Coca-cola Chicken is ready to be savoured

Obviously I need to wrestle it over from my daughter. LOL :D

There were literally hundreds of stalls here selling all kinds of imaginable food. The problem is...you will have to find a table and vacant seats to enjoy your food which might be a real challenge. So my wife and I knew that it was mission impossible and decided to buy our food and head back to our hotel to enjoy our dinner instead. After we were done with sightseeing, we started to scout for our potential meals for dinner. There were a lot to choose from but we needed to pick those which can be stomached by our babies as well.

Can you spot Stephen Chow?

Shark Fin soup anyone?

Glass noodle is using to replace shark fin

We bought two packets of nasi lemak from a Malay stall was were really flavourful; Each grain of the fragrant rice was perfectly coated with coconut milk and the "sambal" was sinfully scrumptious. We also bought Stephen Chow's juicy explosive meat balls. They were really toothsome and I guess knowing that the God of Cookery himself gave his nod of approval meant that they were good right? LOL :D We also had a bowl of shark fin soup. Don't worry, no sharks were harmed in any way here. The shredded "shark fin" was actually glass noodle and broth really tasted like the real thing. I must applaud the hawker for whipping out such delightful food!

Behold the black stinky tofu!

Adding the secret soup to the stinky tofu

Gosh~I am feeling hungry already.

Look at how many he had to prepare.

This goes to show that stinky black tofu is really a fan's favorite

Now the highlight of our food trail was the inviting Black Stinky Tofu which was so different from all the other stinky ones that I have eaten before. Even my wife commended on these black cubic wonders. It was not just about the deep fried tofu, but the other ingredients added into the slightly spicy but tantalizing soup which combined so lusciously well with the tofu! When you sink your teeth into these tofu which had absorbed the soup...your taste buds will be screaming in joy for sure. That was what yours truly me felt-mouthgasm!

Look at our glorious food bought from Taman Connaught Pasar

Love the anchovies

Nothing beats enjoying scrumptious dinner with your family. Ha :D

We brought our food back and enjoyed it in our hotel room, on the bed. Yupe~our hotel was just a stone's throw away from the night market. We also bought a few other delicacies such as dumplings, red bean cake, tortoise cake, crispy shao rou, tear drop cake/dessert and even a slice of tiramisu cake. So you can say that we really had a feast that evening. Nothing beats food indulgence...Buurrppp....I think I had too much but yeah eat now then, repent later. LOL :D So have you been to this famous Pasar Malam in Taman Connaught, Cheras? If you haven't, do check them out...but remember to starve yourself before you make your way there.

Taman Connaught Pasar Malam, Cheras
Address:
Jalan Cerdas, Taman Connaught,
56000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur.Opening Hour: Every Wednesday (5p.m. till 1a.m.)

P.S.: Honestly I haven't had enough of the food over therein Taman Connaught Pasar Malam. Next time I will be ready to eat and snap photos. :)


RM25 Hi-Tea Buffet @ Kings Green Hotel Melaka

If you happen to be craving for lunch without wanting to cook anything at home, head over to enjoy hi-tea buffet at Kings Green Hotel; If you happen to be vacationing in Melaka on Saturday with your friends and family while hunting for good food to savour, the Hibiscus Cafe in the hotel will be the place for you to have a feast at an unbelievable low price of RM25 only every Saturday from 2:30p.m. till 5:30p.m. Time to dig in!

Are you ready to indulge?

The chef is busy preparing cucur udang. :)

Crisp to perfection.

 Here's one of my favourite stalls. :)

One Nyonya laksa on its way!

 I had two bowls of these flavourful nyonya laksa. :)

For only RM25 you get to enjoy sinful spread of our favourite Malaysian delicacies ranging from the flavourful Nyonya Laksa noodles to the street delight of Roti John. I couldn't get enough of the appetizing roti jala thanks to its ambrosial fragrance and soft, smooth texture. If you are yearning for something sweet, you can try their colourful, toothsome bubur cha cha; I am sure those who a sweet tooth will surely appreciate this dessert. :)

Roti John anyone?

Strutting his stuff!

I don't mind walloping this again!

Bubur Cha Cha-the dessert for sweet tooth. :D

Crispy and crunchy fried samosa

Sesame chicken

Meatball

Extra add-ons for you. :)

Since it was a buffet, yours truly me couldn't resist the urge to help myself with a few more servings. The delectable cucur udang was really crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. If you love chickens, you will surely want to try out their succulent sesame chicken which would definitely go well with the fried samosa. When you are almost done, you should start to indulge in their dainty desserts which include ice cream, cakes and traditional Malay kuih. I personally love their apple-shaped jelly. These wondrous hues of jellies were surely a joy to behold. Burrrpppp

One of my all-time favourite kuih with grated coconut. :)

Delightfully tasty bites

Delectable cakes for you to gain weight :p

Aren't they a sight to behold? More like arts if you ask me.

Lusciously sinful jellies

Don't forget to scoop your ice cream and add all of these condiments. :)

Teh Tarik is also available for you on demand. :D

Fruits to sum up your buffet.

Healthy bites to make you feel not so guilty after stuffing all those sinful food down your throat. :D

I wish I could snap more photos but I was too busy eating yeah...Overall, the spread at the high tea buffet of Kings Green Hotel is really is not bad considering the price tag which comes with it. RM25 nett for non-stop indulgence of food in Melaka sounds like great deal to me. What say you? :)

Nyonya Laksa, jelly and teh tarik.

Hi Tea Buffet @ Kings Green Hotel Melaka

RM25 nett per person
Children below the age of 4 can enjoy the buffer for FREE

Address: 28, Jalan Tun Perak, 75300 Melaka.

Contact: 06-2881091

Website: www.kingsgreenhotel.com.my

Facebook: Kings Green Hotel City Centre Melaka

Instagram: kingsgreenhotelmlk

Twitter: @kingsgreenhotel


Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner at Wellen Restaurant 威龙茶餐室

Usually we will cook during Chinese New Year eve for our scrumptious feast. On the first day of Chinese New Year, some who opt not to cook will find it difficult to search for a Chinese restaurant which is still open for business. If you happen to be in Malacca and is looking for delicious family reunion dinner on the 1st of day of Chinese New Year, do head over to Wellen Restaurant 威龙茶餐室 in Cheng. My family has patronized this restaurant for the past 3 years and I personally recommend the food served here.

They even set up extra tents to accommodate more customers.

Unlike some Chinese restaurants which rely heavily on foreign workers to cook and serve their food, all the workers in this Wellen Restaurant are actually family members. Having said so, rest assured that the quality, authenticity and hygiene of the food will be much, much better than other Chinese restaurants. Then again, a lot of Chinese restaurants are closed during the first second or third day of Chinese New Year.

My beloved wifey and her mini. :D

Another good thing about this restaurant is that you can book or make reservation for your dinner a few days before your actual patronage. We called them up one week earlier and they took down our orders word-by-word. In other words, we do not need to reorder anything when we visit the restaurant. The advantage of calling in earlier is that they will prepare the ingredients that will be needed for your dishes beforehand. So when you arrive at the restaurant, with there mere mention of your name, food will be served in no time.

Our first dish-spicy curry fish

When we arrived at the restaurant, a few other families were already waiting patiently for their dinner. We informed the waitress that we had placed our order earlier, she nodded and off she left to attend to other customers. So we began to chit chat, thinking that it would take some time before we could start enjoying our dinner. After all there were so many tables with empty plates. Surprisingly, in around 5 minutes' time our first dish arrived on out table. It was our spicy curry fish. Talking about speed huh! Perhaps that is the benefit of booking earlier?

Spinach

Omelette

I thought the spicy curry fish was really ambrosial. It was not too spicy nor was it too creamy for our liking; Meaning that not too much coconut milk was added to prepare the dish. The fish fillet was succulent and the curry was really rich in flavour and not to mention very appetizing too. Thanks to this dish, we could shovel spoons or rice into our gaping mouths quite quickly. The next dish was kung pao chicken. Everything in this dish was impeccably cooked. The chicken cubes were tender while the mixture of dried chili, onions and the different sauces had truly made our mouth watered.

Mixed vegetables tofu soup

We also had our usual stir-fried spinach with garlic, omelette and mixed vegetables tofu soup. The spinach was flawlessly cooked as the whole dish was very soft and flavourful thanks to the addition of garlic. The omelette, though looked relatively normal was sizzled to perfection as the golden brown texture of the fragrant egg wrapped the other well-cooked ingredients inside of it. I like the mixed vegetables tofu soup as well. The broth was not too watery and the texture was really ideal to water down our throat-al dante!

Behold: salted egg fried calamari

Last but not least, the star of our reunion dinner was the delectable salted egg fried calamari. OMG! This dish totally stole the limelight thanks to its gratifying burst of rich flavours. The golden salted egg coating the calamari really made it more savory. It was perfectly cooked as you will notice how crispy it was the moment you sink your teeth into these dainty "golden rings"; on the inside the calamari was very luscious as it was juicy and scrumptious. The added curry leaves and chopped chili totally elevated the taste of the whole dish. Fingers licking good I would say!

Grandpa with Jordan boy

Grandpa with Jasmine girl

All in all, we ordered 6 different dishes for our reunion dinner and all of them cost only RM113.00  (US$28) which was really, really cheap right? Though it was the first day of Chinese New Year and lots of other restaurants were not serving any food, the owner of Wellen Restaurant decided to charge us the normal price rate. Some other restaurants would greedily hike their prices but not this restaurant. So if you are in Malacca (Cheng area) and is wondering what to eat for dinner (especially during Chinese New Year), I would highly recommend you to give Wellen Restaurant 威龙茶餐室 a try. :)

I am sure everyone had a feast. :D

Wellen Restaurant 威龙茶餐室
Address: 9, Jalan Bertam Jaya 9B, Taman Bertam Jaya, 76450 Melaka.
Operating Hour: 5p.m. - 11p.m. Daily (Closes every Tuesday & Sunday)
Contact: 016-324 9059


Enjoy Halal Organic Food at Ku Cha Be 古早味 [PICS]

All this while I have always felt that vegetarian food is not palatable let alone being branded as  delicious. When the word "organic" comes to my mind, immediately I will think about raw vegetables which are far form being scrumptious. That was before I discovered this hidden food haven in Melaka; Introducing Ku Cha Be (古早味) which serves unbelievably flavourful organic food that will make you drool for more. The best part is, the food served here is Halal and vegetarian-friendly. Of course, non-vegetarian like me really enjoyed it as well.

 Unmistakable rustic charm

Ok~let's go in to makan already.

Situated near the city centre, Ku Cha Be offers a different take to food preparation and presentation. The moment you arrived at the doorstep of the restaurant, you will instantaneously know that you have come to the right place. Right before your eyes are wooden panels of windows which exudes so much rustic charm to it. The two little rattan stools fit just perfectly amidst the homey setting. It makes me feel like I have returned to my ancestral home.

Welcome to Ku Cha Be

The interior does exude that classic feel to it

I thought the marble table and wooden chairs really complement each other

Nostalgic touches-tiffins, sewing machines, metal biscuit boxes and radio just to name a few.

Inside the restaurant, you will be greeted by their friendly waiters who will usher you and help you with your orders. I really like the interior as it is simple and classical. The presence of those white ethereal marble tables being dotted by the equally traditional timbered chairs make the whole ambiance very cozy. The sight of old sewing machine, pastel tiffins, antique typewriter really breathe life into the whole place-giving it that olden days nostalgia. It feels like you actually travel back in time when you dine in here. Heck! Even the round hickory switches from my grandparents' era are making a cameo here.

More decorations: Even the switches are old school.

Let's order our food: Self-service

The menu looks really beautiful as well.

After we were done mesmerizing the decorations, we started to browse through the menu to look at what we could savour for our lunch. My wife ordered the Hakka Lei Cha while I opted for Hakka Porridge as my throat felt a little parched on that day; Our Jordan boy chose his usual Wan Tan Mee and our flamboyant Jasmine girl preferred something more spicy-Nasi Lemak. Obviously all four of us got to pick our very own comfort food to fill our growling stomachs. Who said we cannot enjoy everything under the same roof? Ouh yeah~we also ordered their Red Bean Soup for our after-meal dessert.  :)

What we have ordered. :)

The first dish to land on our table was my Hakka Porridge. I was pleasantly surprised as my food was hidden inside the bamboo steamer that we would usually see in a dim sum restaurant. Once the lid was lifted, the bowl of brown-rice porridge was adorably circled by 7 little dishes ranging from salted bean curd, long bean, soft-succulent black fungus, ground nuts, chopped vegetables, crispy dumpling and another vegetable dish that I could not distinguished. When I mixed everything into the porridge and tried a spoon of it...BAM! Every spoon was bursting of toothsome flavours which made me yearn for more.

 My Hakka Porridge

The steaming basket really made the whole dish more exquisite

7 different little dishes to mix with my brown rice porridge

Up next was my wife's Hakka Lei Cha which looked a little bit like yee sang to me. Ha :D Being served on a bamboo tray, the brown rice was the center of the attractions as it was being embraced by a mixture of vegetables, cabbage, groundnuts, sesame seeds, bean curd, puffed rice, spring onions and even carrots. Talk about green food huh! Before we continue: what does Lei Cha means? Literally it translates to "crushed" or "pounded" tea. So the emerald-coloured tea in the teapot next to the aforementioned ingredients is actually made from various ingredients ground to perfection for you to enjoy. After sampling the Lei Cha, I believe the ingredients include organic wulong tea, mint, basil and coriander. The combination of the side dishes and Lei Cha made an amazingly toothsome and nutritious meal. My wife really enjoyed it a lot. Yummy!

Hakka Lei Cha at its best

Wifey really enjoyed her nutrition-packed Lei Cha! :)

Jordan boy's Wan Tan Mee was not a let down as well as he told me that it tasted really titillating. The noodle which was made from unbleached flour, was really springy and well-seasoned. He enjoyed the fried, crispy dumpling as well. I was really impressed to see so many different ingredients being stuffed into the dumpling. He enjoyed his so much that he even reached out for my dumpling. Greedy boy! :p

Organic Wan Tan Mee is served

Time to eat!

The best dish today-Nasi Lemak!

The aromatic brown rice, the lemon grass tempeh and the toothsome chili!

Can daddy eat yours? :)

Both of them enjoyed their food a lot.

Bean curd with the ever delectable parsley!

As for my daughter, she just couldn't stop spooning her soft tasty brown rice with coconut milk into her little mouth. Honestly...the aromatic santan (coconut milk) of the rice was so fragrant that I could not help but to sample a few spoons myself. The spinach was flawlessly cooked so it was tender while the cucumber was so fresh that I had a few myself (usually I don't eat these cucumber slices). Now...I highly recommend the Tempeh Ground Nut which was seasoned with lemon grass! OMG~it was not only crispy but also really, really, really damn gratifying! Wait...I'm not done...even the home-made chili paste totally blew my mind as it had just the right balance of spiciness and herbaceous to it that made me feel so insatiable!

Red Bean Soup

Wifey enjoying the dessert.

Did we enjoy ourselves? You bet. :)

Our dessert appeared last and it was just the perfect final course for us to wind down. The Red Bean Soup ticked all the boxes as it was dainty and light. The combination of red bean, black glutinous rice, pandan, tangerine peel, ginger and gula Melaka really makes for an invigoratingly refreshing tonic (or dessert). The bill came at RM51 which was reasonably cheap for the glorious food and zen setting. So will we return to dine in Ku Cha Be again? You bet. There are so many other dishes that I would try such as their Tomyam Goong, Lime Lime Special and Cincai! If you are in Malacca, do drop by this Halal-certified restaurant which serves organic food that is suitable for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.

CINCAI~Seriously? So it means the chef will dish out anything? I really wanna try this. :p

Ku Cha Be Menu

Ku Cha Be Restaurant 古早味

Address: 18, Jalan TKL 3/14, Taman Kota Laksamana Seksyen 3, 75200 Malacca Town

Operating Hours: 10a.m. - 10p.m. Daily (Closes every Tuesday)

Contact: 017-6027002


Pre-CNY Dinner @ Tong Hai Restaurant 东海冷气酒店

The day after we had prepared the Fomec's Chinese New Year hampers, we headed South to meet our aunts who were the recipients of these beautiful gifts. We embarked on our journey to Tangkak at around 5p.m. in the evening as yours truly me had to work on Saturday (duh!). Our trip was really fast as we arrived at our destination in 45 minutes. We knocked on our aunts' doors and had a good chit chat after exchanging the usual pleasantries. :)

 Usually this  restaurant will be full to hold wedding banquet

After catching up with each other for a while, we could see that the sun was giving a languid smile in the distant horizon. By then our stomachs were rumbling and it was time for dinner. We headed towards Tong Hai Restaurant (东海冷气酒店) which was one of the best Chinese restaurants in Tangkak. Usually the eatery will be brimming with people either by faithful patrons or there would be wedding banquet. We were lucky that it was not one of those days.

Spacious restaurant with really comfortable ambiance

The restaurant can serve up to 300 people at the same time and it really feels comfortable to dine in this luxurious setup. The place was really spotless and the whole ambiance was so cozy thanks to the Chinese New Year songs that were being played in the background. With the menus in our hands, my brother and I were still clueless as to what we should be ordering. In the end, we passed the buck to our aunt who is a regular customer of the restaurant. In no time, she ordered 7 different dishes for us without even looking at the menu. SEE! Regular! :p

Curtain raiser-Kangkung

In less than 5 minutes, our first dish-stir fried Kangkung, landed on our table. It was lusciously cooked as both the stems and leaves are soft and tender. The aromatic whiff of stir fried garlic really elevated our appetite. Though we requested for the dish to be in small serving, the portion was just nice and of course we still had 6 more dishes being lined up for us.

Sizzling Japanese Tofu with egg and minced meat

Sweet & Sour Pork

Up next was the sizzling Japanese Tofu with egg and minced meat. We really liked the combination as it was really, really flavourful. Of course the chopped spring onion did help to unlock the fragrance for the whole dish. Then we had the normal-looking sweet and sour pork which really surprised our taste buds. Looks can be deceiving they say and that was exactly what I felt the moment I sink my fangs into these tender, succulent pork. Every bite was so toothsome and the pineapple cubes added that zesty tinge to the dish.

THE BEST: Mongolian Chicken-I am sure Genghis Khan will agree with me

Bok Choy

Another highlight of our dinner was the Mongolian Chicken dish. This dish is a personal favourite of mine as I love its texture and bursting flavours. Shovel a spoonful of it into your mouth and you will immediately be tantalized by the savory salty sweet and spicy sauce which wrapped the boneless chicken strips. The peppery combo of this dish ticked all the boxes in my book. The next dish was another leafy affair which I did not touch at all. Yupe~I gave the stir fried Bok Choy a miss. They told me it was very crispy. :p

Hong Kong-styled steamed grouper

Vegetables curry

By then, our most expensive dish finally swam onto our table, being drenched with soy sauce. Behold the Hong Kong-styled steamed grouper which turned out to be quite a delectable dish. The fish was so soft and tender as it was perfectly cooked. I could actually feel the white soft meat slowly melting in my mouth. Perhaps my favourite ambrosial parsley did help a lot in my judgement as well. Last but not least was the mouthwatering curry vegetables. Yupe! Just vegetables; Lots of vegetables ranging from cabbage, eggplant, lady's finger and cauliflower just to name a few. And ouh yeah of course there were curry leaves as well. The curry was tangy but not too spicy. In fact all the oldies enjoyed this dish a lot.

Let's makan!

One for our photo book

Young and old got together for our reunion dinner. :)

We really had a great time dining together as a family in this wonderful restaurant. It was our pre-Chinese New Year reunion dinner and everyone was elated to be in each other's company. Nothing beats enjoying good comfort food with your loved ones right? I gotta thank my aunts for the awesome dinner. Hereby I wanna wish all of them a happy, healthy and prosperous Chinese New Year. Gong Xi Fatt Chai in advance. Huuuaaatttt ar! :)

Tong Hai Restaurant 东海冷气酒店

Address: 350-351, Jalan Sialang, Taman Pelangi 1, 84900, Tangkak, Johor.

Opening Hours: 11:00am-2:30pm; 5:30pm-11:00pm (Daily)

Contact: 06-9781415


Chef K Pastry-The Best Bakery & Patisserie in Malim Jaya [PICS]

Don't you want to taste bread which are freshly baked? Don't you want to savour pastries which are made from the finest ingredients? Don't you want to relish the sweet scent of buns which look exactly like masterpieces? So for bread and pastries lovers, you can get all those mentioned above (and more) at Chef K Pastry Malim Jaya. Last month I blogged about Levain Boulangerie in KL, so it will make perfect sense for me to talk about this newly opened bakery-patisserie which is located right in my very own backyard.

Welcome to Chef K Pastry

Though it has only opened its doors for one month, it has garnered quite a lot of following and fans thanks to its scrumptious bread and delectable pastries. In fact, yours truly me had visited this bakery on DAY ONE itself. Yupe! Thanks to my curiosity, I went scouting to see if what is being offered is better than another famous bakery which is just a stone's throw away. To my delight, the bread and pastries are not only more flavorsome, but the whole "package" offered makes you want to return the next day. I will explain more about this later.

 So cheesy! I am feeling hungry already. Aren't you?

Chocolate Danish Custard

Parmesan Cheese Chicken is really good. Trust me!

One of the biggest reasons why it should be the de facto place for you to buy your breakfast, lunch, dinner or probably supper is because of its VARIETY. Yupe! Unlike other bakeries which only have a few boring predictable bread to sell, Chef K Pastry boasts plenty of choices and varieties of bread, pastries and cakes that will surely make you scratch your head; You will definitely be spoiled for choices and it is going to be really tough to decide which ones you should be eating later. Otak-otak bun or chocolate filling bun? Hmm...decision, decision, decision...

Holy sausages! Look at how huge and appetizing they are.

For those who are health-conscious, perhaps this charcoal bread will suit your taste buds.

Raisins and walnuts
NOTICE the GOLD INGOTS at the back? *gasp*

Ham or tuna? Both are equally creamy and mouth-watering.

So what can you buy over here? Let's see...they have custard, sandwiches, bread, buns, pastry, layer cakes, banana cakes and birthday cakes just to name a few. Of course I am not an expert but I know you will never get enough of what to eat as there are simply too many choices which is good (and necessary). Another reason why I think Chef K Pastry is so inviting is because of its presentation and layout. In other words, you feel that the bread and pastries are not merely food but rather a piece of art that you get to savour and enjoy; something that you appreciate every time you sink your teeth into those soft, heavenly-scented buns. Yupe *nodding* the bread, pastry and everything inside the bakery are beautifully arranged and presented to the customers. You feel like you are actually in an art gallery. Period.

Look at these glorious cakes... *drooling*

Wow...it is snowing chocolate on these slices of cake

I think they are too beautiful to be eaten.

 My! My! Who would have thought! Crispy chicken rendang in these small little wonders?

Yours truly me really wants to try this!

Let's go banana! I tried this and it was really scrumptious.

Fruit lovers will rejoice with this discovery

Polo buns? They sure are presentable-look a lot like dinosaur eggs. :)

Almond and raisin? :D

You can never go wrong with almond and peanut.

This will surely give you rich burst of flavour in your mouth

Bonito!

Last but not least, I really enjoy my time here in Chef K Pastry because you feel that they truly  treasure and appreciate your patronage. Every time you push open the door(s), you will be greeted by them politely and the beaming, sincere smiles on their pleasant faces immediately make all the bread and pastries more scrumptious that they already are. And ouh yeah...they will thank you and send you off when you leave even when you don't buy anything at all. *2 thumbs up* YES! This bakery offers top-notch customer service which makes your visit so welcome and enjoyable. I hope this culture of theirs will continue and be their trademark.

Banana butter cake-the best in town!

Pick your choice

Birthday cakes anyone?

4 Reasons To Visit Chef K Pastry

Freshly baked bread and pastries which are unbelievably delicious.
Plenty of varieties and choices
Beautifully arranged layout and presentation
Top notch customer service

My favourite-very darn chocolate-y!

So if you happen to be in Malacca and is looking for a bakery or patisserie to enjoy gratifying bread and luscious pastries with varieties that are totally exquisite, do visit Chef K Pastry in Malim Jaya. It will be even better if they provide dining in facilities and coffee. Ha :D I believe one day, it will be one of the best bakeries in Melaka. All in all, Tekkaus highly recommends this bakery for bread lovers!

What's your flavour? Oreo chocolate or bamboo charcoal?

Chef K Pastry

Address: 26, Jalan Rahmat 1, Taman Malim Jaya, 75250 Melaka.

Opening hours: 8:30a.m.-9:30p.m. (daily)
Contact: 06-3351683


Lunch @ Hong Kong Sheng Kee Dessert In Midvalley

After enjoying the Christmas decorations, we started our food hunt on the ground (or was it underground) floor of Midvalley. Actually we did have some hard time trying to decide what to eat as we preferred not to indulge in any fast food for lunch. After wandering around while doing some sightseeing, we finally arrived at our destination to enjoy our lunch. So we opted to try Hong Kong Sheng Kee Dessert which looked quite oriental and family friendly.

Just like in Hong Kong

Me and my beautiful wifey. :D

Not wanting to eat any overly-fried food, my wifey decided that we should try to dine in this Hong Kong-styled restaurant. I had never seen this eatery when I last visited Midvalley the year before, I guess it must have been a newly opened one. We were swiftly ushered to our table and were shown the menus to order our food. The decorations were simple but yet it sufficiently brought out that Hong Kong-ness to the ambiance. The wallpapers helped a lot as well. :)

Our 2 rascals after waiting for like...1 minute...

We were quite hungry by then, the kids especially after walking for a few hours in the mall. Thankfully, food was prepared and served in no time. First to made it onto our table was the huge bowl of Hong Kong Char Siew Noodle (or we call it Wan Tan Mee), which is my son's favourite. The noodles were perfectly cooked (and cooled) and the texture was smooth and springy. The stewed meat was a joy to eat as well as it was nicely cooked without any hint of being "hard" of chewy. The dumplings were huge and the fillings were really, really generous; Not to mention delicious as well. Both Jordan boy and Jasmine girl really enjoyed this lunch of theirs.

Wan tan mee

Jordan boy and his favourite food!

Yours truly me ordered the Hong Kong Pork Chop Rice. I personally love how fragrant my rice was. The crispy and tender pork chop made the whole dish truly a joy to savour. Coupled with the gravy, everything became finger licking good for me. As for my missus, she placed on order for braised pork belly with mui choi rice. The braised meat was really tender and succulent, making every bite so scrumptious. Then again, if you ask me I felt that the mui choi was really the highlight. It made the whole dish more flavourful.

Hong Kong Pork Chop Rice

Braised pork belly with mui choi rice

Wifey is enjoying her lunch

Besides our main dishes, we also ordered mini Char Siew Pau to fill up any remaining gaps in our stomachs. Gotta make sure we are really full before we embark on our next journey. The pau were delightful and the portion (being mini) was just nice for us. Last but not least, we also tried their in-house Osmanthus Jelly which was made from chrysanthemum and (Goji) wolfberry. It was really, really pleasant to the taste buds and throat. Highly recommended as a dessert as it is really nourishing and cooling at the same time.

Char Siew Pau

Chrysanthemum + wolfberry = healthy

Jasmine girl enjoying her chrysanthemum jelly.

If you happen to me in Midvalley, and are wondering what you should be eating for lunch or dinner. Do give Hong Kong Sheng Kee Dessert a try. I highly recommend their food especially if you love Chinese food. Ouh yeah~their special homemade chili (sambal) was really, really, really amazing *2 thumbs up*. So don't forget to enjoy your fragrant white rice or springy noodles with the sambal! :)

LG049 & 050, LG Floor, Mid Valley Mega Mall,

Lingkararan  Syed Putra, Mid Valley City, 59200 Kuala Lumpur.

Opening hours:  11:00a.m. to 10:00p.m. daily.


Seafood at Portuguese Settlement

When you are in Malacca and are hunting for seafood to sample, ask any Malaccan and more often than not they will recommend the ones in Ujong Pasir-Portuguese Settlement. In fact, if you ask me, my answer will be the same. The laid-back village is not only famous for its stunning Christmas decorations during the month of December, it is synonymous with glorious spread of seafood for tourists who flock to Malacca. If you have not raised your fork and spoon here, it means you have not visited Malacca.

While waiting for our food to be served. :D

So before we enjoyed the marvelous Christmas decorations at the Portuguese village, my family and I made haste to the esplanade where the seafood restaurants are located. It was 6:30p.m. and by then the whole stretch of place was almost inundated by seafood lovers and tourists alike; Welcome to Portuguese Square where you can enjoy any imaginable fresh food that can be harvested from the ocean ranging from huge, succulent prawns to mouth-watering crabs。 Heck! You can even enjoy the alien-looking horseshoe crab which bleeds green blood. Are you game to sink your teeth into them? Not us of course.

Otak-otak! :)

You have to squeeze the lemon juice onto the spicy meat to "diffuse" the stings!

The moment you arrived at the Portuguese Square, you will be greeted by a huge statue of Jesus. After a two-minute walk towards the beach, you will be ushered by different waiters to patronize their difference restaurants. In other words, they will be swarming you, "pestering" you to follow them to their respective joint to dine in. Don't worry you will get used to it. So which seafood stall/restaurant is the best in Portuguese Square? IMHO, I would suggest the 1st, the 7th and the 8th restaurant. :)

Omelette

 Arrghhh....how could I not snap this perfectly? My favourite spicy kang kung...looked so horrible.

Steamed fish

Perfectly cooked fried chicken!

Rojak as our "dessert"

We got ourselves seated at our usual restaurant-the first one. Very swiftly, the waiter will start to pen down what you desire to feast. You can also ask for recommendations. After placing our orders, we...waited for around 15 minutes, which was relatively fast and voila! Our dinner was served. First dish to land on our table was the extremely spicy otak-otak (fish meat mashed with prawn). It was so darn spicy that my lips and taste buds could barely take have another contact! Still my mind commanded my hand to shovel the fiery peppery morsel into my gaping mouth. OMG~Dayum! Perhaps it might not be suitable for everyone. But it was just nice for me. You just need to have plenty of water by your side. LOL

Behold... *drooling* our salted, butter crab!

Then we had the usual dish of fried omelette with onion, steamed fish, spicy kang kung (another favourite of mine), mixed vegetables (YUCK!), fried chickens (so these chickens can swim?) and of course the highlight of the our dinner was the flavourful salted egg, buttery crab! I had a lot of servings of rice thanks to the chili. Of course you can order fried calamari and huge succulent prawns to chow down. :)

Let's dig in

The whole feast was so enjoyable and relaxing at the same time. I must admit that my family loves dining here not only because of the scrumptious seafood, but also due to the amazingly beautiful atmosphere. The sight of children playing around the esplanade really breathe live into the whole place, making it so friendly and comfortable. If you arrive at the right time you could even enjoy sunset while spooning those juicy prawns into your drooling mouth.

Walking around the jetty and esplanade after our dinner

As the moon shyly peeped out from behind the clouds, you can enjoy the breathtaking night scene around the Portuguese Square. There was actually a jetty here for you to have a stroll, you know...to digest all those crustaceans which had made its way into your tummy. The reflections of neon lights on the water made the whole place so picturesque. Weirdly, I could feel a sense of calmness as we slowly walked around, enjoying the cozy ambiance.

The hotel near the beach

Once we were done admiring the beautiful night scenes, we made our way to our car. Just beside the Portuguese Square, there will be a few hawker stalls selling more snacks for you to enjoy. They must have known that we were hungry after strolling around the jetty and esplanade. Ha :D That day, there was even a game stall for us to throw darts to poke some balloons. Both my children were jumping up and down, pleading us to let them have a go-which we did. They steeled themselves, they stared at those colourful balloons as they aimed and their thew those sharp, pointy darts...and they missed. LOL But they had fun trying.

Aim...aim...steady...and...

After that we continued to visit those houses which were beautifully decorated with neon lights, Santas, Angels, reindeer and Mr. Frosty. Tantalizing seafood dinner and stunning Christmas decorations for the day. What more can we ask right? All in all, we really had a great time. Will surely be visiting Portuguese Settlement again next year for seafood and Christmas. :)

Beautiful, isn't it?

Address: Jalan Daranjo, Perkampungan Portugus, 75050 Melaka.

Opening Time: Daily (5 p.m. till 12 p.m.)


Breakfast at Levain Boulangerie & Patisserie [PICS]

If you  are in KL and are looking for a very appetizing breakfast amidst an utterly amazing backdrop, head over to Levain Boulangerie & Patisserie and KL. Located along the quiescent street of Jalan Delima, you will easily spot the quaint French bakery-cafe the moment you lay your eyes on it. When I first stumble upon this bakery years ago, I immediately fell in love with it. Its colonial-influenced architecture and landscape make you feel like you are actually on vacation in a foreign country.

Welcome to Levain Boulangerie & Patisserie

It is so spacious and cozy

Part of the air-conditioned dining hall.

For those who prefer al fresco, there is a lovely lane for you to enjoy your breads.

This was only the third time I have visited this rustic-looking bakery when my brother introduced it to me years ago. Actually it is a luxury for my family and I to enjoy our breakfast here. To be honest, from price point view, it is relatively more expensive than the premium offering in Malacca. Then again, for me to visit this patisserie again and again means it justifies the price tag that comes with it. In fact, my wife and kids really enjoyed our food here.

Here she comes...

Jasmine girl with some of the breads that we had purchased.

Chicken mushroom

Sweet cornflakes

Red beans paste

If you are outside bakery, you will notice the conspicuous wordings "stone oven" in front of the stony colonial building. Yep! There is a stone oven in Levain which is used to bake all the breads and pastries all day to perfection. Since a traditional stone oven is used instead of electronic substitutes, you will get to enjoy bread and pastries which exude special aroma and texture. No wonder, our family is hooked to this bakery and years for more. :D

Jordan boy and his carefully picked breakfast. :D

Get ready to be stuffed!

Yupe! You can reheat and slice your bread and pastries.

There are cakes and desserts too. :)

Nothing is complete without coffee right?

We arrived at this breakfast joint of ours around 9:30a.m. which meant that the peak hour crowds in the morning had long gone. So we had the whole place to ourselves that morning. Slowly, we browsed through the myriads of breads, cakes, and desserts right in front of our eyes. To be honest, you would be spoiled for choices. The truth is...we had a hard time deciding what to devour for our first feast of the day. We wish we could take a few more but alas...the capacity of our stomachs is rather limited. So yeah...

Jordan boy and his antics

Don't move! I wield a cheesy sword!

Jasmine girl had hard time deciding what to eat next.

Wifey said this is awesome!

 As for me...

These two are great: chicken mushroom (top) and danish mixed nuts.

And of course my cup of cappuccino.

Since this was our third time here, we noticed changes as well. The bakery is now bigger to accommodate more patrons. They have renovated the patisserie to have a bigger air-conditioned space for customers to savour their food in comfort. I personally love the backdrop and the ambiance of Levain. The colonial-styled decorations and furniture really add a lot of exquisite touch to the whole place. It is so endearing and cozy which makes one feel so at ease while indulging those scrumptious bread and pastries. Dayum!

They do provide free flow of sky juice with a hint of strawberry.

Family portrait of  us enjoying our meals. Ha :D

We will be back, right? :D

If you have not sampled the freshly baked breads and pastries at Levain Boulangerie & Patisserie, do pay them a visit and you will leave wanting for more. If you are near KLCC and are hunting for something to savour, you really need to come over to enjoy their coffee and of course breads. :)

Levain Boulangerie & Patisserie

Address: 7, Jalan Delima, Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur.

Phone: 03-21426611

Opening Hour: 7:30a.m.-9p.m. daily

P.S.: Limited parking spaces are available in the bakery at a fee of around RM3 or RM4. You can still park outside for a fee of RM5.


Mee Tarik Warisan Asli at Mahkota Parade [PICS]

Do you still remember the last time when I visited Mahkota Parade with my family, we actually went ice skating. We had a whale of time and of course we exhausted a lot of energy to do something alien to us. Hence we needed lots of energy in the form of food. Ha 😄 So before we ice skated on the rink, we actually had dinner at Mee Tarik Warisan Asli on the first floor. Let's go makan!

Let's see what we can eat at Mee Tarik Warisan Asli

This Mee Tarik Warisan Asli is a relatively new restaurant in Mahkota Parade and they serve what appear to be Chinese cuisines that are Halal. Then again the place that I usually have mee tarik or Ramen is in Japanese Restaurants. Mee Tarik is actually the direct translation of Ramen which means hand-pulled noodles. So yours truly me was really elated to sample their authentic ramen which originated from China.

 Golden Curry Mee Tarik

After scrutinizing the menu for some time, we finally placed our orders. I tried their Golden Curry Mee Tarik while my wife had fried mee tarik with kam heong. As for our two little babies, they had egg fried rice. We even added dried dumpling for a more filling dinner. 😋 The whole restaurant is really quite big, capable of housing 100 dinners at one time.

Both my wife and I enjoyed it a lot thanks to the springy noodles. :)

First to land on our table was the appetizing spicy Golden Curry Mee Tarik which I thought was really flavourful. The curry was thick and very aromatic with a whiff of lemon grass. The hand-pulled noodles were really springy and delectable. I must praise the Mee Tarik Warisan Asli's noodles for their texture which were just nice-al Dante.

Fried Mee Tarik with kam heong

Fried Rice with egg-simple but delicious

Both Jordan and Jasmine enjoyed it.

My wife's fried mee tarik with kam heong felt like those you get to savour at your favourite Chinese hawker stalls; my wife enjoyed the well marinated chicken chunks and sliced onions. The springy noodles made the difference though, making the whole dish more scrumptious. As for our little babies, their fried rice with eggs was really, really good. Though a bit pricey at RM9, I dare say that their plate of fried rice has gotta be one of the best I've tried in years. Every single grain is fried to perfection.

Dried dumplings.

Last but not least our final dish was the dumplings with their very own specialty chilli paste. The spicy chilli really brought out the best in the dumplings. In fact without the lip smacking chilli the dumplings would have tasted really normal.

Refer to their menu to know what else you can eat at Mee Tarik Warisan Asli

The best mee tarik in Malaysia? Maybe. :)

All in all we really had a satisfying dinner at Mee Tarik Warisan Asli. Our dinner only cost us around RM49 which I think is really affordable as the portions of your noodles and rice will be quite huge. If you happen to be in Mahkota Parade, you can give this ramen a try. 😜


Bel Pasto Italian Restaurant At Desa Aman Puri-Serves The Best Tiramisu Cake

The other day when I visited my beloved brother in Kuala Lumpur, he treated us to a fine luncheon at a well-known called Bel Pasto Italian Restaurant somewhere around Desa Aman Puri. Located strategically along with the main room, you can easily spot this maroon red restaurant from a distance. According to my brother, this place serves excellent and authentic Italian food at an unbelievably affordable price which is really rare in KL.

Bel Pasto Italian Restaurant At Desa Aman Puri

Bel Pasto-Italian Restaurant

We were lucky to find ourselves a table as this restaurant is usually brimming with customers who could not resist the flavourful, aromatic Italian cuisines. After scrutinizing the menu and placing our orders, we looked around to enjoy the settings and decor in the restaurant. Everything in Bel Pasto looked and felt Italian, right from the tables and chairs to the wallpapers used and the wooden finish for the doors and windows. Even the lighting added that unmistakable romantic Italian touch to the whole restaurant, allowing patrons to bask in a wonderful and inviting ambience while enjoying their meals.

Appetizer, creamy soup with fresh mushroom chunks.

Perfectly done garlic bread.

10 minutes later, our food was finally served and the first dish to made it to our table was *drumroll* the soup of the day-mushroom soup. The broth was really tantalizing with chunks of mushrooms delightfully scattered all over the soup. It was thick, creamy and yet smooth on the palate. If you dine in an Italian restaurant, what goes well with mushroom soup? Garlic bread of course. The Parmesan bread was sliced just at the right thickness, making it a pleasure to enjoy the crispiness of the Italian appetizer. Splattered with butter, some zesty cheese, a generous amount of garlic and of course a hint of black pepper gave the bread its luscious taste. Yum! Yum!

Do you like the mushroom soup Jasmine girl? :)

Garlic bread and mushroom soup are the perfect combination.

After sampling the morsels of crispy garlic bread and the scrumptious mushroom soup, our main course meals finally were finally served. It would not feel right to have our mini banquet without ordering something truly Italian right? So we ordered 2 pizzas for our luncheon that afternoon. The first was chicken pepperoni pizza and the latter was Hawaiian Chicken pizza with perky pineapple chunks. Both were equally toothsome, with savoury thin crust and titillating gooey cheese, peppered with fragrant oregano and basil. *drooling* :p

My beloved wifey-My model for the day. :p

 Hand-tossed pepperoni chicken pizza.

Crispy Hawaiian Chicken Pizza.

We took our own sweet time, slowly munching our pieces of cheesy pizzas while enjoying the Italian milieu in the little chic restaurant. As for my daddy, well...he preferred something not too Italian...something he was more comfortable with-chicken. So he placed an order for black pepper chicken with fries and fresh salad dressed with Thousand Island Sauce. Well, he seemed to be quite content with his tender chicken chop with black pepper sauce, no? :D

You will never go wrong with black pepper chicken right dad? :)

Daddy and my brother. :)

Obviously, he was digging it.

Here comes the highlight of the day: Tiramisu Dessert Cake. Yupe! If you had patronized Bel Pasto before, you would have known how good their Tiramisu Dessert Cake is right, hands down! In fact, a lot come to Bel Pasto just to savour their famous Italian confection. I honestly believe the Tiramisu Cake is the best I have tried in my entire life. Our slice of coffee-flavoured dessert was layered with a mixture of sugar, cheese, cocoa, eggs and of course coffee. OMG! The moment you shovel it into your gaping, watery mouth, the divine tang of the tiramisu will immediately burst in your mouth, lathering every single taste bud on your tongue. Each piece of this gratifying dessert will only cost you RM8.90 which is really cheap. Ha :DBest Tiramisu Cake in KL

Are you ready for the "main course"?

 Behold the famous Tiramisu Dessert Cake

OMG...look at the inviting layers of cake...

Meticulously prepared.

 Are you drooling already?

Each piece is only RM8.90.
You can order 1KG of this special Bel Pasto Tiramisu cake at only RM44.

My wife loved it.

I guess words alone will not suffice to describe how good the food was at Bel Pasto Italian Restaurant, especially the Tiramisu dessert cake. Of course, my photos do not do any justice as well. If you are near the Desa Aman Puri, do head over to this Latin restaurant to have your lunch or dinner (they operate at two different times) with family and friends. You will surely enjoy the casual and cosy setting and the great food of course.

Bel Pasto Italian Restaurant

Address:

23A, 2, Jalan Desa 2/2, Desa Aman Puri, 52100 Kuala Lumpur, Selangor

Operating Hours:

11a.m.-3p.m. and 6p.m. -11p.m. Open every day except Tuesday.

Contact:

011-1041 2110

Two thumbs up! We will be back to Bel Pasto again soon.


Dining In Manhattan Fish Market To Celebrate Wife's Birthday [PICS]

Some time ago, yours truly me brought my whole family to a fish market in Manhattan to celebrate her birthday. We bought a few mackerels and a huge lobster for us to cook later in the afternoon... OK...that didn't happen of course. And, certainly we did not fly all the way to New York to have seafood. However we did drive all the way to the Manhattan Fish Market in IOI City Mall, Putrajaya to enjoy our tantalizing luncheon to celebrate my wife's birthday. It was an important day for my big baby indeed. :)

Tell us what day is today?

This was perhaps the 5th time we have dined in The Manhattan Fish Market to sample morsels of scrumptious seafood. I first tasted how good it is like 8 years ago back in KLCC. Since then I have always tried to have a bite of this lip-smacking seafood from Manhattan whenever I can such as in MidValley. This goes to show how I approve of this restaurant. *thumbs up* I am glad that last year, The Manhattan Fish Market has finally realized that Malaccans are rich enough to enjoy our platters of fish and chips and give us our very own Fish Market from Manhattan right here in Mahkota Parade. Ha :D

 Wait! Wait! Wait...I want to say something...

 Happy Birthday Mommy! :)

My little Jasmine was shy as usual. :p

OK! If I could have dined in Malacca, why would I take all the trouble to go to IOI City Mall in Putrajaya to eat a plate of Spaghetti in The Manhattan Fish Market over there? You will find out in one of my posts in the future. :p Like I have aforementioned, this meal was supposed to be my wife's birthday celebration...hence it had to be an awesome one at least in terms of portions. That was exactly what we did, by ordering a lot for us to feast on. :D

Mushroom soup as our appetizer.

Altogether we ordered 4 different dishes plus one soup of the day to gratify our hunger pangs. The first dish to land on our table was my Mediterranean Baked Dory (RM24). The flavourful blend of herbs and spices really baked the dory fillet to perfection, making it succulent and oozing with spicy goodness. Mix this spiciness of the fish and the aromatic garlic herb rice and you will have luscious tingling sensation in your mouth. *drooling*

My delicious Mediterranean Baked Dory

The next dish to be served was the mouth-watering Olio Shrimp (RM24) which was arguably the best pasta meal I have ever eaten in my entire life. The spaghetti was flawlessly cooked till it was 'al dante'-not too chewy and yet not overly mushy as well. Likewise Olio Shrimp would not be complete without these huge, succulent shrimp which tasted so fresh that I could not stop myself from having another...and another. Lastly a few dash of garlic and chili flakes totally complemented the spaghetti and shrimps, making this Olio Shrimp dish a fiery delight.

 Unbelievably good Olio Shrimp!

She loves it. :)

I love her...I mean I love it too. :D

As for little Jordan and Jasmine, their taste buds were not fully accustomed to seafood yet. Therefore we needed a special order for them; One that they were familiar with...fries...egg and something cheesy. Both of them shared Fishy Chicky Bang Bang (RM25) which I thought sounded really hilarious. Bahahahaha :D Ok..back to the Bang Bang dish: Besides fries and egg, the main star for this dish was the heavenly match of dory and chicken, which sandwiched the irresistible cheddar cheese in the middle. Unfortunately there was some leftover which was green...of course. :p

Fishy Chicky Bang Bang-A cheesy delight inside out.

Last but not least, our most "gempak" (awesome) dish to arrive last was the Grilled Flaming Lobster Platter. It made quite a grand entrance, forcing us to be fixated by the burning flames, dancing in sync to blaze the huge, juicy lobster *drooling* (RM152). The sweetness of the fresh lobster made me yearning for more while I sucked my juicy fingers (gosh! This sounded so wrong). Though I am not a big fan of mussels, the garlic herb helped me review my opinion of the clams. You can never go wrong with fried calamari and crispy fish fingers as my two kids had shown. :)

 Here comes the highlight of our luncheon!

Buurrnnnnnn!

If you smeeelllll......

Look at how the fire dances with the dead lobster! :D

My wife, Jordan, Jasmine and I had a unbelievable feast at The Manhattan Fish Market...one that we would not forget for a long time to come. Besides being so finger-licking good-Good, the food was of big portion and each of them was bursting with their own unique unmistakable flavours. Will we dine in The Manhattan Fish Market again? Definitely as it can be considered as the  De Facto seafood restaurant of our choice. :)

 Our Grilled Flaming Lobster Platter *drooling*

Happy Birthday my one and only wife. :p

I love you~Muack 😘

We wish that each of us had another stomach on that day. We could barely move with our bloated tummy towards the end. No picture to show. Sorry. Buuuuuurppppp....


Happy Birthday Ah Gong [PICS]

It is that time of the year again for Ah Gong to relish the precious moments he will be sharing with his grandchildren-birthday. We traveled back to our second home just to celebrate this important day with my father-in-law. In fact, both Jordan and Jasmine were looking forward to celebrating their grandpa's birthday. So much so that they actually talked about it days (or even weeks) before our departure. I guess they missed their Ah Gong a lot. :)

Jordan boy's face when he is hungry... :p

And what is the most important event when we celebrate a birthday? Makan of course! After our 7 hours journey from South to North, we were anticipating for a scrumptious reunion dinner that night. True enough we headed to our favourite foodie hangout at Pokok Assam called Kedai Makanan Hong Yun. This special al fresco eatery is situated just next to a temple, so you can easily locate it if you are in the area. :)

It's time to dig in! :D

By the time we arrived at our destination, the restaurant was already brimming with hungry patrons, eagerly waiting for their platters to be served. We hurriedly bolted to an empty table and placed our orders. Otherwise...we might need to wait for a very long time before we could sample our dinner. Ha :D Then again it should be alright, as the service in this restaurant is excellently swift.

Awwww.....Marmite Chicken!

After around 10 minutes, dinner was served...let's dig in of course. No dinner with my father-in-law is complete without fish. We had crispy stir-fried fish with soya sauce. Wifey ordered my favourite Marmite Chicken which was ouh-so-heavenly! I believe all of us enjoyed this dish and it blends really, really well with rice. Yum! Yum! We also had claypot mixed-vegetables with mushrooms which I thought was equally delectable especially the savoury, smooth broth. And in order to have a balanced meal, we had to order vegetables right? :p

No dinner is complete without chilly and garlic. :)

All in all, the dinner was really satisfying. I always enjoy dining in Taiping as the Chinese food in this City of Rain is really, really luscious. My father-in-law was of course very delighted to enjoy his special birthday dinner with us as well especially his two daughters and two naughty grandkids. LOL :D Nothing beats eating your favourite food with your beloved ones right? After our heavy dinner, we went for a stroll to help us with our digestion. :)

Grandpa holding his two dearest gifts. :D

Happy Birthday Ah Gong


Happy Birthday Daddy @ PappaRich [2015]

Time flies and another year has gone...and last week we celebrated my beloved daddy's birthday. The wrinkles around his eyes and the creases on his forehead show how he has aged. So on his birthday, wifey, our 2 babies and I brought our Papa to Pappa Rich for his birthday dinner. Ha :D Usually we will bring daddy to a cafe for dinner because (sometimes) he is a picky eater. :p Initially we wanted to have our dinner at old BUT...Old Town is really lousy place to dine in right now (terrible food), hence we decided to give daddy a feast at Pappa Rich instead.

It's your big day daddy. :)

I personally love Pappa Rich a lot because of the conducive environment which exudes such a calming ambiance that makes us feel right at home. When we arrived at its doorstep, there was no other customer...maybe because of its price? Though the food and beverage can be slightly pricier, I don't really mind because the food that Pappa Rich serves is really scrumptious and the portion is quite big. Yep! So you don't feel like you are being short-changed while dining here. Period.

While waiting for our food.

Wifey and Jasmine girl.

Both Daddy and wifey ordered Nasi Lemak With Curry Chicken while I chose to try their chicken rice. Just look at the chili sambal that we were served. Not only was the sambal tasty, PappaRich was also very generous by giving us a lot of sambal (something that Old Town has failed terribly). Likewise my Chicken Rice was really good as well. Just like the curry chicken, the flesh of the "white" chicken was really tender and juicy, something that a lot of similar cafes (Old Town :/) couldn't really offer. The bean sprouts were crunchily toothsome with a hint of saltiness which I really like. To top it off, the chili paste that comes with the chicken rice was really appetizing which made everything that shoved into my mouth tasted so much more delectable. Ha :D

Nasi Lemak with curry chicken.

Chicken Rice with Bean Sprouts.

So what did our two rambunctious babies had for their dinner? Besides sharing our Nasi Lemak and Chicken Rice, we ordered steamed bread and Pappa Naan. This Pappa Naan with curry sauce is really a must have when you patronize Pappa Rich. The Ouh-so-creamy curry sauce really brings out the best in the texture of fluffy naan. Every bite will leave you satisfied and your taste buds gratified (Wow...it rhymes). All in all, we enjoyed our dinner and my Daddy certainly had a great birthday feast to say the least. :)

Pappa Naan-highly recommended.

Let's makan. :)

What birthday would be complete without a cake right? My daddy was grinning from ear to ear the moment we took out his birthday cake. More importantly Daddy was happy because his two little grandchildren were beside him to sing his birthday cake as well. Perhaps his two boisterous grandkids are the best birthday gift I could give him every year as a son. LOL We bought tiramisu cake for daddy. I think the cake looked rather special because on top of it was a cup with overflowing coffee...or maybe chocolate. :)

Daddy's Tiramisu cake.

Ok~it's time to switch off the lights.

Happy birthday to you~Happy birthday to you. :)

Let's blow the candle.

Happy Birthday daddy.

Last but not least was my father's birthday gift. However we didn't give my daddy his birthday gift immediately after eating his cake. Therefore my daddy assumed that there would be no gift for him. After all we had treated him to a hearty birthday dinner and then presented him with a birthday cake. Ha ;D When he was no suspecting anything (notice that he was wearing his normal shirt), out came a small gift. Daddy of course happily received it and started to unwrap his birthday gift. So what did he receive for his birthday?

Daddy excitedly unwrapping his birthday gift.

What do you think is inside of this white wrapper?

A new smartphone for you daddy.

Happy Birthday Daddy! Hopefully you will enjoy using this new smartphone of yours. I love you daddy and I know you love me a lot as well. You will always be my hero. Muack :-X


Hard Rock Cafe Malacca-Wifey's Birthday Dinner

We can eat like a pauper on our normal days but we must at least eat like a prince during our birthday. So on my beloved wife's birthday, I treated my wife to a luxurious dinner at Hard Rock Cafe Malacca. I wanted my wife to eat like a queen on her birthday. Ha :D It was our first time dining in this "posh" restaurant since its inception. We pass by this fancy eatery quite often, so to be enjoying our dinner in it was quite a pleasant surprise. In fact my wife didn't know we were going to Hard Rock Cafe for her birthday treat until we turned our car into its parking space. :p

Welcome to Hard Rock Cafe Malacca.

One of the most outstanding part about Hard Rock Cafe Malacca has gotta be their customer service, which is not only uber friendly but also very professional. The moment we stepped into the restaurant, a few waiters and waitresses greeted us warmly and they directed us to the place that we wanted to sit. They were very enthusiastic and they made us feel really appreciated as customers. Since it was still early, we could choose to have our dinner at a comfy sofa.

One for the photo.

Jordan boy doodling with his crayons.

What are you colouring Jasmine girl?

Inside Hard Rock Cafe Malacca

The Bar

So when will our dinner be served?

We really love the ambiance in Hard Rock Cafe Malacca. It was really soothing and relaxing. The whole restaurant felt really classy, the lighting and the passion exudes by the waiters did help a lot as well I guess. Speaking about the excellent waiting service, we were really dumbfounded by the personalized and extra care given by all the waiters and waitresses. You see, my wife and I ordered their large Nanchos thinking that all 5 of us (3 adults+2 toddlers) could finish it...however the waitress advised us to take a smaller portion because she was worried that we would not be able to finish all our (other) meals. My! This is what I call 5-star service!

Dad's coffee. :)

Wifey's amazing Strawberry Basil. You should try this.

Our appetizer-Nanchos! This first dish was already very filling. :p

After placing our orders, we eagerly waited for our scrumptious dinner to be served. While waiting, the waiters handed Jordan and Jasmine colouring sets for them to doddle on. Both of them sure had a lot of fun colouring with their crayons. Again~another brilliant plus point for Hard Rock Cafe Malacca for being really kids-friendly. I really didn't expect their services to be this good honestly! As usual our beverages touched down first on our table. Daddy had his usual sip of Cappucino while wifey tried her tantalizing Strawberry Basil drink. :)

Wifey's Twisted Mac, Chicken & Cheese

Can you finish this? :p

Daddy's Fish & Chips.

Looks like...a bit too HUGE?

Jordan boy holding my barbecue chicken. :D

Look at the slices of perfectly smoked chicken. *drooling*

Do you think the food here is nice sweetie? :p

After waiting for around 10 minutes, our dinner was served. First up~Daddy met his rather humongous Fish & Chips. I must say that the fillets of seabass were really, really enormous. We didn't expect our meal to be served in such a huge portion. The fries were extremely "large-sized" as well. Next was wifey's Twisted Mac, Chicken and Cheese where the grilled chicken was really, really delectable. Wifey really enjoyed her meal especially the three-cheese sauce that came with it. Last but not least was my Barbeque Chicken. OMG! It was really tender-licking good, just like what they said in the menu-"fork-tender". Ha :D The portion was really huge too.

So how much did we pay to dine in Hard Rock Cafe?

Cappucino RM15.00

Strawberry Basil RM25.00

Nanchos RM43.00

Twister Mac, Chicken & Cheese RM35.00

Fish & Chips RM40.00

Barbecue Chicken RM35.00

GST (6%) RM11.58

Service Charge (10%) RM19.30

TOTAL = RM223.90

All in all our dinner in Hard Rock Cafe Malacca was an enjoyable affair to say the least. We really love the ambiance in Hard Rock Cafe Malacca, the unbelievably good waiting services and of course the scrumptious food. So will we return? Most definitely but...we must be careful not to over-order what we want to eat as the portion of the meals can be really huge for our otherwise small local tummies. Though a bit pricey, dining at Hard Rock Cafe Malacca was still a very pleasant experience for my family. So if you are a Malacca (or in Malacca), perhaps you should pay Hard Rock Cafe a visit.

Will we come to Hard Rock Cafe Malacca again? Why not? :p


Hokkaido Cakes From Butter & Olive Pastry House

Some time ago 2 years ago, a new bakery called Butter & Olive Pastry House was officially open for business near our old home. It is really a famous bakery which is patronized by customers every day. So one day, my wife and I thought that we should pay this famous place a visit and we were really amazed with what greeted us inside. Everything looked so beautifully edible in this bakery. And of course the price tags were marginally higher compared to other bakeries.

From Butter & Olive Pastry House

Back then we were looking for something nice for our little babies. Jordan was 2 years old and Jasmine was only a few months old. After looking high and low behind the glass panels, we had finally decided to buy Hokkaido cakes for our little babies. We did grab a loaf of their famous bread as well...which I had forgotten what it was called. Fruit cake maybe... Then off we headed home to pick our babies home from the babysitter's place. :)

Hokkaido Cakes-we bought this for our babies.

Aww...look at those delectable icing. :D

Wifey is feeding our Jordan boy.

At home, the moment we took out the Hokkaido cakes, Jordan was happily jumping around, waiting to feast his treats. Hmm...obviously he had tasted the cakes before. Perhaps our babysitter's had bought some for him and his sister before this? Jordan boy was so in love with the Hokkaido cake that he insisted on eating it on his own, much to our delight. Jasmine girl...was a bit too young back then...so she wasn't really into it, was she? Ha :D

So how was it Jordan boy?

Of course it was delicious right?
See, he wanted to hold his feast on his own.

YUMMY!

Uh ouh...someone (little Jasmine) was not happy that only
Kor Kor got to lick the Hokkaido Cake. ha :D

Look at little Jordan's expression. Apparently he was savouring every single chunk of those fluffy Hokkaido cakes huh. Not to mention they were really creamy on the inside as well. If these Hokkaido cakes are served slightly a bit chilled, then they would taste even more delicious. The fluffy texture, the chilling cream...my...just let them melt in your mouth. Hmm....perhaps we should go grab some Hokkaido cakes right now for our little Jasmine didn't really get to it them back then huh. :)

I want to eat Hokkaido Cake as well *drooling*


Porridge @ Yoke Fook Lau Seafood Restaurant

It was a rarity that I would get to eat porridge when I am in my second home-Taiping. Being a rice-y kind of guy...or in fact most Malaysians' staple food are rice, eating porridge just doesn't seem that right to me. Not satiating either to say the least. But thanks to my father-in-law, I had a wonderful dinner eating porridge at Yoke Fook Lau Seafood Restaurant recently. A fresh, welcome change indeed. :)

You won't miss this huge billboard.

Welcome to Yoke Fook Lau Seafood Restaurant.

Gotta place our orders immediately. :p

It was pretty late (me and my babies overslept our afternoon naps :p) to have heavy dinner back then, so my father-in-law suggested that we try something lighter as in porridge. We happily obliged as we had not been to this restaurant before. Once we arrived, we could see that many tables had been occupied and people were waiting for their dinner to be served. Obviously the food here must be quite toothsome!

While waiting~Jordan boy was busy entertaining himself and us.

Jordan boy "headbutting" his grandpa.

YOU~cheeky little boy. :D

Yours truly and my little princess.

You are hungry already Jasmine girl?

Food is coming. :D

After placing our order, we excitedly waited for our huge pot of porridge. We chit-chatted a bit to stave off the nagging hunger pangs. Cheeky Jordan was busy playing with his grandpa while little Jasmine girl was quietly checking out her new toy-keychain. A moment later it started to drizzle and that was why our hot steaming porridge that came later was really enticing. Ha :D I can't but feel happy while eating porridge on a rainy day. It makes me feel warm and cozy.

Our porridge is here....finally!

But wait...have to stir it right.

And now...finally

Dinner is served. :D

Served in a huge clay pot, the billowing scent of porridge immediately made our gaping mouth wet. We were drooling when the fragrance broth was stirred to give it a more balanced texture. The sight of those luscious meatballs didn't help at all! Then one by one, our bowls were filled with our dinner-PORRIDGE. Once I shoveled them porridge into my mouth, my taste buds were sent into frenzy modes. The porridge was really sweet and flavourful.

I love the fish fillet which was really supple, sweet and fresh.

Father-in-law enjoying his porridge.

So do you enjoy yours wifey? :D

The porridge was oozing with the sweetness of those huge meatballs and fresh fish fillets. I must admit that I had not eaten any porridge as delicious as this for a long, long time. It was really smooth and creamy. When I was done licking my bowl, the pot was squeaky clean empty as well. Guess everyone was really hungry. How I wish I could have another bowl of porridge. Perhaps another visit next time? I heard they have other good recommendations such as Asam Steamed Dragon Grouper, Ginger Steamed Lala and Salad Prawn. So if you happen to be in the City of Rain, do drop by here for dinner. :)

Buurrrpppp

Opening Hours:

Monday-Sunday: 11:00a.m.-3p.m. (Lunch)

Monday-Sunday: 5:30p.m.-12:00a.m. (Dinner)

Address:

No. 332A, Jalan Gajah,

Kampung Pokok Asam,

Taiping, 34000 Perak.

View Larger Map

Yoke Fook Lau Seafood Restaurant


Dinner @ Ole Sayang Nyonya Food Restaurant

Some time ago...our whole family went to one of the famous restaurant serving baba nyonya food in Malacca-Ole Sayang Nyoya Food Restaurant. This is actually my second time dining in this rustic restaurant which exudes so much Baba Nyonya culture in its simple decoration. We love the cosy ambiance. There were probably around 20 of us from three different generations gathering for our mini family reunion. Heartwarming, it was, as most of us rarely had such opportunity to sit down together and enjoy a meal as a big family.

~The famous Ole Sayang~

Address: 198-199, Taman Melaka Raya, 75000 Melaka.

Business Hour:
Lunch: 11:30am-2:30p.m.
Dinner: 6:00p.m.-9:30p.m.
Closed on Wednesday.

Do you like look of the entrance?

It is warm and cozy.

Located in Melaka Raya, Ole Sayang serves delicious nyonya food that will leave your taste buds tantalized even after you have left. I wouldn't say that their dishes are authentic but they certainly are delectable. Initially we had a hard time, trying to decide what we wanted to order as we wished to savour something different; something that we don't get to eat every day. Why? Because our family cooks nyonya food as well from time to time. Ha :D

Let's start ordering our food.

My cousin and his family.

My uncle and aunt.

My son~which one do you wanna eat first?

My aunt and my cousins.

Upon ruminating for some time, we had finally made up our minds with 8 different dishes. First up we had otak-otak (fish+prawn). Even though it looked rather unsavory, the otak-otak was actually very, very spicily scrumptious. Looks can be deceiving indeed. We also had kang kung fried with belacan which was not bad as well. If you like to eat "cencaru", you will love the next dish-Cencaru Omelet. The texture of the omelet was just nice and the aromatic cencaru will make you crave for more! *drooling*

Nyonya otak-otak.

Can you see the fish meat?

Cencaru Omelet

Ladies fingers and sambal belacan

Black Pepper Brinjal

Our next dish was boiled ladies fingers with sambal belacan. The ladies fingers were still young and they were perfectly boiled. Combine this with the toothsome sambal belacan, you are in for a crispy treat. Spicy black pepper brinjal was on our menu as well. Aww...of all the vegetables dishes, this is the one I loved the most. The spicy black pepper brinjal was succulent and juicy, not to mention it gives you that hot and spicy kick in your tongue. A must try at Ole Sayang.

Black pepper lamb

Sweet & sour fish

Tau Fu soup

We had something pretty unusual on this occasion. Our next dish was meaty but it was not chicken nor pork (of course)...it was lamb, black pepper lamb to be precise. Although I didn't really like the texture of the meat for it was a bit hard, I did enjoy the mouthwatering black pepper sauce that came sparingly with it. And of course no reunion dinner was complete without fish right? As the saying goes "every year we will have plenty of fish" (年年有余) and surely we must have fish as one of our main course. I give-deep fried fish with sweet and sour sauce. Crispy on the outside~lusciously smooth on the inside. Yum! Yum! :)

We must have nyonya cendol.

Who wants some?

Last but not least our 8th dish for the day was tau fu soup. The soup was ok, flavourful enough to end our 8 course dinner. Wait...wait...how about dessert? Dinner cannot be complete without dessert right? So we ordered the nyonya cendol which was really, really sweet. I totally loved it because there was a lot of coconut milk and gula melaka. That pretty much bloated our stomach. *buurrrp*

Rewind a bit~let's wallop!

Let the feast begins.

My son, wifey, daddy and daughter enjoying their dinner.

Wifey feeding our Jordan boy.

Our you wanna try to eat on your own?

Grandpa feeding little Jasmine. Look at her face. LOL

Everyone must be really hungry. :D

My cousin with her family.

Her two little daughters.

My cousin and my aunt.

So how's your food?

Do you enjoy the food wifey? I think yes...your plate is almost "empty". :p

After walloping so much, we needed to digest our food a bit before we could move. So we did some exercise...we chatted. Ha :D I am happy to see all of us get together to catch up a bit. It was a great family outing. Hopefully we can continue with this tradition from time to time. :)

Remember Jordan boy~family is the most important.