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Food Review: Ikan Bakar Fend

17 Jul 2009 by Legendria

Every town usually have their own famous favourite eatery. Like for TTDI, it’s Muhibbah. For SS2, it’s SS2 Murni. For the previous Lim Kok Weng area, it’s Wiliams. Well, for the Kelana Jaya area of SS6, it’s this corner lot Malay restaurant that’s gaining increasing popularity and customers day by day. Let’s get smoking with Restoran Ikan Bakar Fend.

Restoran Ikan Bakar Fend

Located at the corner shop of E-G-01, Jalan SS6/20A, Dataran Glomac, Pusat Bandar Kelana Jaya, my Kelana Jaya friend told me that Restoran Ikan Bakar Fend used to operate out of a white van just outside the nearby mosque and was always packed with customers, regardless whether it’s lunchtime or not. I guess they made more than enough money to actually open a real shop in mid-2008, much to the happiness of their customers, both old and new.

Employee roasting fishes

Now what’s so special about this place? The food, and only the food, which is how a real eatery should be. The main focus here is the ‘ikan bakar’ (roasted fish), which is the first thing you will smell and see as you approach the restaurant. A lone man can be seen right at the front, fanning smoke as he flips and roasts tons of fishes on his gigantic grill. True, the smoke can be irritating to some but it’s all part and parcel of eating ‘ikan bakar’.

With my friends encouraging me to try the ‘ikan bakar’, we went inside to queue and choose our fish. Yep, this is not a sit-down-wait-for-waiter restaurant. You have to line up and pick the fish you want (my favourite is the ‘ikan pari’ (stingray) and you can even pick which part of the fish you want), and then pay before you can sit and enjoy your meal. Don’t worry about drinks, once you sit down then someone will come and take your drink orders.

Choosing your fish

Choice of chickens

Ikan Pari Bakar with rice and sauces

The ‘ikan bakar’ comes with rice, tom yam soup and chilli, costing you around RM7+ inclusive of one drink. I have tasted better tom yam soup before but Fend’s soup isn’t too bad but the chilli is damn spicy so for those of you with a weak stomach, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Aside from fish, there’s also chicken available but I haven’t ordered that before, though some online reviews said it was quite good. There’s also a small stall selling ’sup tulang’ (a meaty soup) and mee hoon soup, but the appeal of coming to Restoran Ikan Bakar Fend is the ‘ikan bakar’ so give that a try before you taste anything else.

Chi Kong Mangga

There’s also quite a few tasty desserts and drinks to try aside from the heavy meals. My friend ordered something called Chi Kong Mangga (about RM3), which is some sort of jelly with mango and a few other fruits. It’s really delicious and cooling on a hot day, especially after eating all that spicy food.

If you want something more familiar, try their ABC. I’ve seen some of the other customers ordering it and I’m definitely going to try it the next time I’m there.

Ice Bandung

My favourite drink there is this tall pink drink I saw someone ordered, which I immediately asked the waiter to bring me one. Apparently, it’s an Ice-blended Bandung with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream, costing about RM2 if I remember correctly. This drink is simply lovely in my opinion.

The restaurant may not be super clean and it may not look much, and the service is not spectacular but the food is the reason to try the place at least once in your life.

Judging by the amount of customers Restoran Ikan Bakar Fend keeps getting, I have no doubt that it will be there for many years to come. Enjoy!!

Category: Food & Drinks Tags: ikan bakar, Kelana Jaya Leave a Comment

Food Review: Takoyaki

26 Jun 2009 by Legendria

I Japanese food and one of my ultimate favourites is okonomiyaki (a sort of pizza). Wikipedia described it as “a Japanese savoury pancake containing a variety of ingredients. The name is derived from the word okonomi, meaning ‘what you like’ or ‘what you want’, and yaki meaning ‘grilled’ or ‘cooked’.” The first time I had the chance to eat it was at Sakae Sushi, but they took it out of their menu a while back. So imagine my happiness when I saw that this new Japanese shop at 1 Utama’s new wing is selling it.

Takoyaki

Simply named Takoyaki, it’s located at LG311F of the new wing (right beside New York New York Deli and opposite Cold Storage). Their menu consists purely of Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki, which in my opinion, taste pretty good.

The Takoyaki is a sort of ball-shaped fried batter and, according to Wikipedia, it’s made with ‘tempura scraps, pickled ginger and green onion, topped with okonomiyaki sauce, green laver, mayonnaise and fish shavings’. It’s usually filled with baby octopus but in Malaysia, however, we seemed to have innovated the takoyaki by filling with it other ingredients.

Takoyaki (fried octopus in batter)

For Takoyaki’s takoyaki, you are offered a choice between the traditional baby octopus, prawn, or sausage and cheese, which costs RM4.00 for 3 balls, or tako (octopus) or unagi (eel), which costs RM4.50 for 3 balls. Served in a boat-like paper packaging, you can either eat it there or have it packed for take-away.

You have to eat it while it’s still hot so that the warm filling almost melts in your mouth along with the delicious topping. Once it gets cold, the taste is not as good. However, my cousin said that the takoyaki sold in Jusco’s food centre, opposite the supermarket, is better but to each his/her own. By the way, the exterior looks exactly the same so be sure to ask the cook which one has which filling or else try it and find out.

Cook making okonomiyaki at Takoyaki

Okonomiyaki (sausage & cheese)

The Okonomiyaki tastes about the same as the takoyaki and is available with the toppings of baby octopus, prawn, sausage and cheese, unagi and seafood, all at the cost of RM8.00 each. According to the cook, the seafood okonomiyaki consists of prawns and baby octopus toppings but since I only had one slice of it, I can’t confirm it. It’s easier to differentiate the okonomiyaki because you can see the topping through the lines of mayonnaise and tempura flakes. It is also served in a paper box packaging for easy eating and take-away.

Okonomiyaki (seafood)

One okonomiyaki will fill you up just like a regular meal but for some people, the taste of the okonomiyaki sauce and the mayonnaise might make you ‘muak‘ (fed up) so it’s best for first-timers to share it with someone.

Of course, being an eatery, there’s bound to be drinks and I’m happy that Takoyaki offers bubble tea in their beverage menu. Ever since 1 Utama’s Yippee Cup closed down, I had nowhere else to buy decent bubble tea in the shopping mall.

Peach Milk Bubble Tea

I love peach so I ordered a plain, ‘bubble-less’ peach milk tea while my cousin had the bubble milk tea with the same flavour, which are both RM4.00 each. The choice of flavours is tremendous so don’t be surprised if it takes you a while to decide which flavour you want.

As if choosing the flavour wasn’t hard enough, then you have to choose the drink type. There’s flavoured tea (green tea or red tea), milk tea, snow shake, snow blended and ice blended. I haven’t had the chance to try the snow shake and snow blended so I’m not sure exactly how it looks or tastes like.

Beverage choices at Takoyaki

There are so few people manning the small shop (about 2 employees) so you might have to wait for your food because as far as I can see, only one person cooks and makes the drink. If there are more than 2 employees, then it might be a little faster. If the batter is already prepared, it shouldn’t take the takoyaki long to cook, maybe around 5 minutes, but if the batter isn’t ready then be patient because it will take about 10 minutes. The okonomiyaki, though, will take a while because it has to be cooked in a pan on the stove.

It may not be a swell place to have a proper meal or a date but it’s fun to sit and chill while watching your food being made right in front of you. Enjoy!!

Category: Food & Drinks Tags: 1 Utama, Japanese food, okonomiyaki, Takoyaki Leave a Comment

Food Review: Singapore’s Book Cafes

19 Jun 2009 by Legendria

When I was rounding Singapore by myself a while back, I decided to go round the famous book cafes that were featured in the Time Out magazine and that were raved in the blog-sphere. To my delight, I managed to find (thanks to my handy map) all three of the book cafes I looked up but only two of them met my expectations; 25 Degree Celsius and The Book Cafe.

25 Degree Celsius

25 Degree Celsius is located at #01-01, 25 Keong Saik Road, which is kind of hard to find as it’s not visible from the main road. I went down the wrong road twice before I finally found it. The first impression you get from it is the white old- fashioned exterior of the shop with its modern shiny chrome-like signboard, a combo of old and new.

As you step into it, you start to think whether you accidentally wander into a book store until you catch sight of the dining area at the back, decorated mainly with white tables and furniture. The whole front of the store is filled with shelves upon shelves of cookbooks, culinary delights from East to West.

You are allowed to browse through the books at your leisure but I am unsure of whether you can browse the books while you eat as there is the possible chance of you dirtying the pages. However, when you have had your fill of delicious photos and exquisite recipes, you can then whet your appetite and thirst with 25 Degree Celsius’s menu selection.

Having walked for a few hours in the middle of the afternoon, my throat was parched and I asked the helpful lady of the book cafe to suggest a nice refreshing drink and a dessert. She recommended a cooling Ice Fruit Tea (SD$8.50) and a lovely Warm Chocolate Cake (SD$12.80).

Warm Chocolate Cake

The Warm Chocolate Cake is served with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream and half a strawberry, and is drizzled with chocolate sauce. The cake itself is soft and moist with warm creamy chocolate in the inside. I know it’s bad to show a picture of a half-eaten food but I couldn’t help myself, it was that good.

Iced Fruit Tea

The Ice Fruit Tea really hits the spot on a hot day with its chilled fruity taste. I would have loved to try one of their main meals but since I had dinner planned with my friend, I had no choice but to content myself with dessert. And it was well worth it, I dare say.

The next day, I went to find the other book cafe I was itching to visit. Apparently, it’s not that hard to find but you need a cab or car to take you there as it’s far from any near MRT. I almost resigned myself to miss it but managed to squeeze in a visit at the last few hours before my flight back.

The Book Cafe

The Book Cafe is set up at #01-02, Seng Kee Building, of 20 Martin Road, Robertson Quay (I keep pronouncing it as ‘Coo-ay’ instead of ‘Key’ ). It’s easy to miss as you wouldn’t expect a popular book cafe to be located in a political-looking building.

The outside may seem formidable with its formal signboard but once you step inside, the interior welcomes you invitingly. Nice dark chocolate tables and chairs are arranged on hardwood floors at the cafe side of the shop and a long menu board hangs on a far corner of the wall while magazine shelves and music posters hang on the other walls.

The book side of the shop has big comfy beige couches and light brown coffee tables, and tasteful book shelves line the walls filled with all sorts of titles for adult and children. The books are not for purchase, mind you, and are only for browsing. There are also overseas newspapers as well as my Singaporean friend told me The Book Cafe is popular among foreigners living in Singapore. The book section can be cordoned off with black curtains for private function.

Interior of The Book Cafe

The Book Section

Hot Cocoa & Apple Pie

Here, too, I decided to pass on the main meals as it was already 5pm and so, I picked a nice Hot Cocoa (SD$5.95) and the recommended Apple Pie with Ice Cream (SD$7.95). The Hot Cocoa is not sweet but has just the right amount of cocoa. As for the Apple Pie, it’s very good, possibly one of the best apple pie I’ve had. Apple pies are usually too tart for my taste but The Book Cafe’s pie is just nice with some sweetness. Unfortunately, it crumbles too easily.

We had a few book cafes in Malaysia but many have died and gone. I wish there are some nice book cafes nearby but the one good book cafe I heard about is located way in the middle of KL City. There used to be one in Damansara Perdana but either it’s invisible to my eyes or it has gone away. So if you’re ever in the vicinity of any of the book cafes in Singapore, I highly recommend you to try it out. Enjoy!!

Category: Food & Drinks Tags: 25 Degree Celsius, book cafes, Singapore, The Book Cafe Leave a Comment

Food Review: Garden Cafe, One Utama

05 Jun 2009 by Legendria

Trying to find new places to eat is never easy. After a while, every place starts to look the same, the food starts to taste the same, and the service never seems to improve. So I’m kinda glad that I finally had the chance to put all those mamaks and 5-star restaurants aside and go for something in the middle. Let’s take a stroll through the Garden Cafe in 1 Utama.

Garden Cafe Main Entrance

I still remember when the Garden Cafe was just an unused space, just a whole lot of empty space hidden by the escalators. It’s hard to imagine, as I walked down the hallway to the eating area, that they had done so much changes to it.

If you take the real entrance of Garden, which is where the small booth is beside Reebok, you forget that you’re actually in a noisy shopping complex and you start to feel more relaxed with each step you take, filling your eyes with white picket fences, white tables and chairs, and white overheads decorated with endless greenery, flowers and mini pots of plants. I half expected to see Princess Giselle from Enchanted flitting around with birds and squirrels.

Second entrance after the small booth

Interior of Garden Cafe

The service is the first thing you will notice about Garden. Each staff seems to be on high alert whenever a customer needs anything. And they’re always doing their rounds around the entire place and trust me, Garden has many corners that some waiters can easily forget about.

Soda Lavender, Soda Rose & Red Apple

The menu was quite extensive, covering Western and local main dishes, snacks and appetizers, and plenty of desserts and drinks to choose from.

For drinks, my cousin and I chose some of the soda selection; Soda Rose and Soda Lavender (RM11.90 each), which are carbonated soda drinks with flavoured syrup. My Soda Rose is very yummy but my cousin described her Soda Lavender as ‘our uncle’s cologne’. For those who order this drink, please stir the syrup fully before drinking it, or you might just think you had swallowed a mouthful of soap.

Since one of my cousins didn’t feel like eating, she just ordered the Red Apple dessert, which has sorbet ice-cream squeezed into a red apple. It tastes heavenly, especially when you scrape off a piece of the fruit with the ice-cream and add a touch of the chocolate syrup.

Garden Sandwich (RM13.90)

The rest of us were feeling a tad hungry so we ordered the Garden Sandwich (RM13.90), the Garden Black Pepper Chicken Chop (RM17.90) and the Garden Beef Burger (RM15.90).

The Garden Sandwich is a triple-decker sandwich with egg, lettuce and slices of chicken/turkey ham accompanied with a side of salad and fries. There’s nothing special about this dish but for the price of RM13.90, the sandwich is slightly cheaper than other posh restaurants that I’ve been to.

Garden Black Pepper Chicken Chop (RM17.90)

The Garden Black Pepper Chicken Chop has just the right amount of seasoning and black pepper sauce. The meat is soft and juicy, easy to cut and chew. If I’m not mistaken, this dish is served with small bits of potatoes hidden under the chicken and topped with some asparagus.

Garden Beef Burger (RM15.90)

The Garden Beef Burger is my favourite among the three dishes. Its meat is really soft and the taste reminds me of my other favourite burger at Damansara Perdana’s Pannaz. The side dishes for the burger comprise of salad and fries.

Truth be told, there’s nothing really specially about the dishes we ordered but the environment and fast service play a big part in the enjoyment of our dinner. I was amazed at the fast time the food was served to us. Even with a full house, we got our dishes before we realized it.

Located at the New Wing of 1 Utama, at LG308CC to be exact, the Garden Cafe may not have anything special as far as food goes but it’s really a nice place to chill out with friends, family and even your loved one. The price is reasonable and the service is quite fast, and though the portion may look small, it’s actually more than enough. Enjoy!!

Category: Food & Drinks Tags: 1 Utama, Garden Cafe 2 Comments

Food Review: Homst Restaurant

15 May 2009 by Legendria

Sometimes we find ourselves going back to a place we used to love but had forgotten over the busy years filled with work, friends, family and events. For me, Homst Restaurant is one of these places.

As I stepped onto the blue tiles, a flood of memories washed the cobwebs in my brain away and I remembered the many occasions my dad, my brother and I had eaten here. Perhaps, one of the reasons I stopped coming to Homst was due to my now-estranged father but re-visiting the place made me remember why I liked eating there in the first place; the food!!

The first and original Homst Restaurant

A Chinese Muslim restaurant, Homst is not much for the eyes but the menu is a whole lot for the stomach. Located at 48, Persiaran Za’aba, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur (my area, woohoo!!!), it is one of the few restaurants that had withstood the many changes TTDI has seen over the years.

They serve Chinese-style food, not unlike the menu at Muhibbah (another well-established restaurant in TTDI) and is, as my dear companion for the day said, “Not bad, although I think the taste is slightly different because of some missing ingredients which I don’t they can use since it’s a Muslim shop.”

Wet Buttered Chicken

I have to admit that I didn’t exactly knew what I wanted to order since I haven’t been there in ages so I decided to go with what my cousin always ordered when she eats there; Wet Buttered Chicken (around RM12 for a small size, which is more than enough for two people). The sauce is amazing, although some people might get ‘muak’ (fed up) with the buttery taste. Just like my cousin, I highly recommend this dish but don’t order it all the time unless you want to gain weight. It’s sinfully delicious.

Kung Po Chicken

My companion ordered the Kung Po Chicken with rice (which is, I think, around RM10). You can really taste the chilli in the dark sauce, giving it a combination of salty soy sauce and slight spicyness. Amazingly, it offsets the buttery gravy of the Wet Buttered Chicken so I think we made some good selections. I like the fact that both the chicken dishes didn’t have bones in them, except for very small pieces. I hate biting into a piece of chicken and cracking my teeth on a stray bone.

Kangkong Belacan in Oyster Sauce

Of course, whenever I eat rice, I must have veggies. So I ordered one of my favourites, Kangkong Belacan in Oyster Sauce (less than RM10 for a small size). My companion really loved this dish. I was surprised because to me, it was just one of the most common dishes ever but I guess the taste must have really struck his core.

There are other dishes that you can try such as the Sharkfin Soup (if you’re okay with eating an endangered species) which is mixed with crab meat or chicken (these dishes are expensive though, with the smallest size priced at RM22) and any of the fish dishes. One of my absolute favourite, which I can’t find elsewhere, is the Yam Basket. It used to be on Homst menu but they took it out years ago, saying that the item wasn’t popular at all. However, my cousin told me that they still have it. I guess we have to special order it.

Let’s move on to service and environment. The service is not bad. The moment you sit down, someone will attend to you, handing over the menu and taking your drink orders. The food is served quite fast too, unless there’s a crowd or you order way too much for the cooks to handle.

Inside Homst

Don’t expect too much for the interior though. Like every other mamak and local middle-class restaurants, the furniture and fittings are common and normal. If they really do up the restaurant, I doubt the menu would be as affordable as it is now (it costs the two of us RM30.50 for 3 main dishes, 3 rice and 2 drinks). But to me, as long as it’s clean and I don’t find insects in my food or crawling around my table and chair, I’m fine with it. The restaurant is open-spaced though so do expect the next table to start puffing on their cigarettes.

Apparently, you can call them up at 03-7728 0760 and order some dishes for take-away. However, some people said that Homst is opened daily until 11pm but is closed from 3pm to 6pm so maybe it’s best to use the number to check on their opening times.

If you can’t come all the way to TTDI to taste their food, you can try their second branch at Dataran Sunway, Kota Damansara. They have the same menu there but there are some additional stalls inside it so you have other food choices to fulfill your tastebud’s needs. Enjoy!!

Category: Food & Drinks Tags: Chinese Muslim Cuisine, food, Homst, TTDI One Comment

Food Review: Mango Mania

08 May 2009 by Legendria

I believe not many people outside the Bangsar area knows of this little delight. I didn’t know about it either until my friend keep harping on the place every single time we see him. So this week, let us go totally psycho on Mango Mania!!

Mango Mania

It’s easy yet kind of hard to miss this eatery. When you drive on Jalan Maarof (between the shoplots and the housing areas), you can’t really see the shop unless you know what you’re looking for. But when you’re walking/driving down Jalan Telawi, the bright mango colour of the shop just pulls your attention to it. However, right now, Eon Bank’s current branch advertisement (which is just opposite Mango Mania) is all fruits and orange-coloured too, so don’t get the two shops mixed up. I doubt Eon Bank’s personnel would serve you mango drinks and desserts.

Mango Mania Menu

I’m telling you, about 95% of the food served here has mango in it. No, I’m not kidding. And no, they’re not a fruit seller that only emphasizes in mango, and no, they don’t just have sweet things on the menu.

Alongside the treats, they have savouries like pasta, spaghetti and even a mango burger (yep, mango burger ). With the exception of a few dishes, most of the main course meals have their own unique mango addition. Their fish and chips are even served with mango tartar sauce. That is how manic they are about mango.

For my first visit, I limited myself to the sinfully yummy desserts and as per my friend’s suggestion, I taste-tried one of their specialties, the Yo Froz, which is a 98% fat-free frozen yogurt. You can ask for a taste and they’ll hand you a teeny scoop of it. The mango taste is not overpowering but blends nicely with the yogurt taste.

Chocolate Fantasy (around RM12.90)

For my second visit, I decided to go a step higher and ordered something called the Chocolate Fantasy. A peak of vanilla frozen yogurt is drizzled with chocolate sauce and topped with a stick of chocolate Pokky and a lone strawberry. A moat of Coco Crunch and cubes of mango surrounds the bottom, adding crunchiness and juiciness for a unique refreshing taste.

Sean & Yo Mango Mania (around RM11.90)

My friend’s all-time favourite is the Yo Mango Mania smoothie, which he described as “…a smoothie that does not use artificial mango flavourings or puree, but real mango as evident in the taste. It’s not too sweet and its consistency is not like an ice-blended but rather silky and smooth.” It’s his, and I quote, “favourite mango-based product from Mango Mania!” I had the chance to taste one of the other smoothie but personally, I didn’t really like it. I forgot which smoothie I chose but the mango taste didn’t completely come through. There are also other flavours available but most will have that oh-so-crucial fruit, mango.

Mango Mania Interior

I like the interior of the shop. You can sit and relax with a few free-to-read magazines and chit-chat with your friends on the long-joint white couch. However, there are not that many seatings so I guess on a busy day, people will just have to content with take-aways or wait for a free seat. There are a few paintings, which I think are for sale but I never did take a look at them. One side of the shop is pretty interesting too as the wall is totally covered in pictures.

As for service, well, there only seem to be two employees at each time, so they’re kind of slow because they are the ones who take the order and prepare the food, but I didn’t mind it much.

At the time of this post, Mother’s Day is coming up and Mango Mania is having a promotion to celebrate this event for the whole month. 20% off whole cakes, 20% discount on hot kitchen items when you dine in with your mom, and more. So get your tastebuds down to 36, Jalan Telawi Bangsar Baru!! Enjoy!!

Category: Food & Drinks Tags: desserts, Mango Mania One Comment

Food Review: Pannaz

17 Apr 2009 by Legendria

This week’s food review is one of my favourite haunts, partly because of its food choices and service, and partly because it’s the restaurant I feel most comfortable in that is near my boyfriend’s office. Let’s get hot with Pannaz!!

Pannaz Restaurant

Still less than a year old at the time of this post, I have watched as Pannaz improved itself constantly as it attempts to survive longer than the predecessors that were located at the same corner of G-8, Ground Floor, Jln PJU 8/3A, D19 Damansara Perdana, Bandar Damansara Perdana. One thing is for sure, they’re doing a good job.

While the prices may be higher than its surrounding eatery-neighbours, the quality of the food is well worth the price tag. Serving mostly Western food with some choices of local dishes, Pannaz never fails to add its own unique flavours and special presentation to its cuisine. Every menu item I have ever sampled was always nicely presented and made with fresh ingredients.

I usually take my own pictures of the food I eat but since I eat here all the time, it never occurred to me to photograph their dishes, and I do not wish to encrouch on any copyrights Pannaz might have on their food images. So kindly check out Pannaz’s menu at their website, http://www.pannaz.com.my. You can even download their menu for your perusal and for catering purposes.

My favourites at Pannaz are the Sauteed Button Mushroom in Garlic Butter Sauce served with soft bread (Tapas, RM11.00) and the Grilled Pitta Mayo accompanied by french fries (Deli, RM11.00). Another recent favourite of mine is a new menu item they introduced just a short time ago, the Pannaz Lamb Burger (Deli, RM13.00). Their mint relish sauce transformed the taste of what would be a normal burger into something exquisite. However, some might find the sauce too thick for their taste so I advise a light spreading of it before eating.

Braised Lamb Shank with Mashed Potatoes & Asparagus

Another menu item that you might want to try is my companion’s favourite, the Nyonya Fried Rice served with grilled chicken, egg & fish crackers (Main Course, RM12.90). My companion also tried their Braised Lamb Shank (Main Course, RM36.00), however, his comment was that it was only satisfactory.

Here’s a warning to busy people, some of the dishes might take some time to prepare, up to 20 minutes. So if you’re in a hurry for lunch, you might want to try their RM9.90 Set Lunch of one main course (pick one out of four pre-chosen dishes) and one drink (pick one out of two pre-chosen beverages).

We love Pannaz’s Iced Cappucino. When it’s a hot day and you need something that will put some light in your tired eyes, this drink is the way to go. If you’re not a coffee drinker, you can always try their Frizzy Ribena Longan or their new selection of mixed flavoured drinks.

I’m not much of a dessert person (I’m trying to watch my weight) but if you love sweets, you’ll surely love the Warm Chocolate Cake with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream and strawberry compote. It is truly delicious!!

As usual, I always comment on the quality of service for every eatery I’ve been to because to me, the service from the employees reflects the image of the restaurant, and for once, I have nothing to complain.

The Pannaz staff never fails to greet their customers. Whether we are stepping inside or just passing by, they are always ready with a cheery ‘Hi’. The moment you step in, they will be ready to hand you their menu and wait patiently a few feet away for your order. Usually, they will serve you a free glass of water but there are times when they forget. One of the waiters often checks with me on the food I order and is open to any suggestions and comments I might have.

For those who are always on the go, never fear. Pannaz offers free Wi-Fi so you can eat your breakfast, lunch or dinner from Monday to Saturday, 10am to 10pm, and still do your work or surf the Net. You can also just chill out and watch TV there. Though they are located opposite the ongoing noisy renovation of the second phase of Metropolitan Square, their ambiance is still cozy with their red comfy couches and dark wood furniture.

There is only one con I have found with Pannaz so far. For non-smokers, like me, there is no partition to cover yourself from cigarette and cigar smoke. You can only pick a spot far away from the crowd and hope that the people sitting next to you won’t start puffing like chimneys. The only saviours for non-smokers are Pannaz’s wide open doors and many high-speed ceiling fans.

Pannaz is a place where you can experience quality food and service for a fraction of the price you might pay to experience the same things in a 5-star restaurant. I love eateries that serve great food with excellent service but most importantly, I love eateries that make me feel comfortable, and I am happy to find one that have all my requirements just a short drive away. Enjoy!!

Category: Food & Drinks Tags: food, Pannaz Leave a Comment

Food Review: New York, New York Deli

10 Apr 2009 by Legendria

New York, New York, the place so nice, they named it twice.

New York, New York Deli

And the place is so nice, you definitely want to come back again. But you don’t have to go all the way to America to get a taste of New York, we have our very own version right here in Malaysia; New York New York Deli, 1 Utama.

Instead of starting with the food as I usually do, I’m going to start with the service and ambience.

When you first step in, they’ll immediately seat you (depending on the hecticness at the time), set your menu down and discreetly wait for your order a few feet away. This way you’ll get your privacy and time to drool over the menu without them hovering over you, seemingly hurrying you to order. What I like most about the waiters is that they are constantly available and on the alert. This is one of the few eateries I’ve been to that I didn’t have to constantly wave my hand around like an idiot just to get their attention.

With white walls, white tables and white counter all around you, you get a sense of freshness as you sink into the comfortable, yet weird-mane-coloured, round chairs. The chairs are kind of heavy, though, so it’s best if your boyfriend or husband helps you in your seat. One problem with the location of the shop is that it faces Cold Storage. Depending on where you sit, you have to endure stares and glances from shoppers who are waiting for their parents/spouses/children outside the grocery market and those walking by. So there’s not much privacy for you to enjoy your food unless you sit way inside the restaurant.

Now, on to the delectable eats. We started with the Broadway Tomato Salad (RM9.50) and the Fisherman’s Clam Chowder (RM9.90).

Broadway Tomato Salad

Fisherman's Clam Chowder

The tomato salad wasn’t much to shout about. A dish of lettuce with tomatoes and slices of chicken ham, it was big enough to eat alone or for two. The salad dressing was the only factor that made it different from any other salads with its dark colour and sort of tangy, sour-y taste. The clam chowder, on the other hand, was a bowl of creamy joy with small bits of clam. Not too thick, not too salty, not too creamy, it was just perfect.

For our main courses, I ordered the Smoked Salmon Velvet Sandwich (RM14.90) while my companion had the Juicy Burger Supreme (RM16.50).

Smoked Salmon Velvet Sandwich

I love salmon so I enjoyed my sandwich tremendously. Instead of just one sandwich cut into two, as most Malaysian eateries do, I was surprised to see that they actually gave two entire sandwiches, talk about value for money. Below the salmon was layers of mixed vegetables and tuna, which actually tasted quite good but at times tasted…..‘different’, probably because of the mixture of veggies with its eggplant, lettuce and a yellow cucumber-thing that I don’t recognize. Maybe I’m more of a plain lettuce kind of girl.

Juicy Burger Supreme

The Juicy Burger Supreme is actually one of the recommended dishes on the menu, and though it looks like any plain burger with cheese, mustard and sauce, the meat is not any ordinary, fastfood processed meat. Soft and juicy (I’m not kidding), the thick slab of beef seemed to break down in your mouth for easy chewing. The small side of salad is actually for you to decide whether you want it as a side dish or if you want to put in on your burger, so you don’t have to waste time pulling those unwanted onions off your burger. The fries, in my opinion, had too much salt and was nothing special.

If you’re not much of a burger or sandwich fan, don’t worry, there are lots of offers available. There are pasta, chicken, pizza, fish and chips, breakfast, seafood and beef dishes just to name a few. The biggest thing, and I do mean big, on the menu is their humongous burgers, The Giant Yankee Burger. It’s eight inches wide and four inches high with two, count ‘em, TWO pounds of chicken or beef meat!! This is the way to burger heaven. *drool*

The choices for dessert are heaven as well, offering pancakes, crepes, brownies, ice cream and many more for your sweet tooth.

Ultra Rich Hot Chocolate

For drinks, I had the healthy Green Tea (RM5.90), which was served with packets of sugar. 8O I have to say this is the first time anyone had ever brought sugar with my green tea. My companion tried the Ultra Rich Hot Chocolate (RM8.90) which was topped with a mountain of whipped cream and a few mini minty marshmallow. However, my companion said it was too sweet!!

Unfortunately, at this point in time, Malaysia only has two branches, one in 1 Utama and the other way in Kota Kinabalu’s Hypermall. But it’s definitely worth the trip to try any one of their menu items. If you don’t have time to go there, you can always check out their website at http://www.newyorknewyork.com.sg (Malaysia doesn’t have a website yet). Enjoy!!

Category: Food & Drinks Tags: burger, New York New York Deli, sandwich Leave a Comment

Food Review: Krispy Kreme

03 Apr 2009 by Legendria

This week’s food review cannot be said as a true review as I have never tasted it before. However, based on the comments I’ve gotten from those who have, they dubbed it as one of the best doughnuts, or donuts (whichever you please), they’ve ever eaten. Ladies and gentlemen, let us all welcome yet another doughnut franchise coming to Malaysia, Krispy Kreme.

Glazed Doughnuts (from charlielovett.com)

I know that last year, many people have been talking about Krispy Kreme coming to Malaysia but we never did get wind of when exactly they were opening up here. But the story is that we might welcome it in a very short while. Last month, as I was browsing through the classifieds in The Star paper ,I saw that Krispy Kreme was hiring baristas and store managers for their upcoming branches and were asked to report to Berjaya Times Square. Most likely, in my opinion, the first branch will be in Times Square, but don’t start groaning that it’s too far. Berjaya is opening an estimated 20 stores throughout the country, as reported by Bernama back in August 2008 here.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (from www.boogspace.com)

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Variety (from www.boogspace.com)

But I’m getting w~ay ahead of myself. What is Krispy Kreme? Owned by a US company, Krispy Kreme is a chain of doughnut stores with a wide variety of these doughy treats, but is especially popular for its glazed doughnut. It’s much like Big Apple Doughnuts, but some has dubbed Krispy Kreme as the mother of all doughnuts. One of my friends who ate it in Australia related that it practically melts in your mouth. *drool*

Malaysia’s Krispy Kreme has already set up their website at http://www.krispykreme.com.my/ and according to the site, yes, it has been confirmed that their first store is located at Berjaya Times Square at the Ground Floor, Lot G-08A. They are open from 10am to 10pm. I assume they are operating daily but it isn’t indicated in their site. Newsflash: my friend checked them out and told me that the Berjaya Times Krispy Kreme branch will be opened on April 27, 2009. YES!!

Of course, when you have donuts, you must have drinks, right? Well, Krispy Kreme is not going to play second fiddle to Big Apple and J.Co in their coffee range with choices of espresso, hot chocolate, iced beverages and chillers. Unfortunately, most of the drinks are coffee-based with only hot chocolate, iced chocolate, hot tea, Fruity Chiller and Kremey Chiller to add other flavours to the beverage menu.

The website even showcases some Krispy Kreme collectibles such as T-shirts and mugs, but I’m unsure if they’ll be available for sale at the store.

I haven’t gotten wind of whether they are officially opened but you can check it for yourself by calling their store at 603-2119 7373 or e-mailing them at enquiry@krispykreme.com.my. By the way, the official name for the company in Malaysia is Berjaya Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Sdn Bhd and their office is located at Lot 09-26, Level 9, Berjaya Times Square. All these contact details and more are available at their website, which I mentioned earlier.

When they are open, those who have eaten it overseas simply must try it and tell the rest of us whether it tastes the same. This is so we know if the quality is as good or better (or, God forbid, worse) than the predecessors. Enjoy!!

Category: Food & Drinks Tags: food, Krispy Kreme Leave a Comment

Food Review: TJ Haus

27 Mar 2009 by Legendria

There’s only one word to describe TJ Haus; magnificent!! And no, seriously, I’m not exaggerating. No matter how many times I have been there, the restaurant has always blown me away with their array of delicious food, refreshing drinks and sinful desserts.

TJ Haus

Hidden among an isolated area of shop-houses at 19, SS 18/1B, TJ Haus is a well-kept secret of Subang Jaya, known only to those who stumbled upon it and who spread the word to friends and families. Operating since 2004, I’ve often wondered why they have not expanded the business, but I’m happy that they stayed small. It is a well-known fact that once a restaurant grows bigger, their food and service quality drops.

Haven’t been there in a while, the girls decided to spend an evening catching up on each other’s news and gossips at TJ Haus. Climbing up the narrow staircase, I hesitantly entered the dining area and to my joy, the place is still as cozy as I remembered and the waiters are still as friendly.

Interior of TJ Haus

Albeit smaller than most restaurants, the decor is sort of like a mild English house with mainly wooden furniture and soft, low lighting, perfect for a romantic dinner with your beloved. Although the balcony overlooks the nearby highway and the busier shoplots across the street, it’s not as noisy as you might expect it to be.

I can’t remember the difference between the current menu and the old one but I know that the chef had introduced new dishes to his selection. This time around, I was insistent on trying something I rarely ate there and elsewhere.

Graved Lachs with Rosti

Cream of Seafood French Style

Being the first to arrive and desperately hungry, my cousin and I decided to fill our stomaches with an appetizer called Graved Lachs with Rosti (RM19). When the rest arrived, they too shared an appetizer, Cream of Seafood in French Style (RM7).

For the main course, we each had something different so we could all have a taste. We cajoled each other to try something we all haven’t tried before at TJ Haus and so we ordered the Roast Beef (RM29), the Lamb Shank (RM24), the Crispy Duck (RM23) and the Provence Style Loin of Lamb (RM30).

Crispy Duck German Style

Lamb Shank with Mashed Potatoes

Provence Style Loin of Lamb

Roast Beef with Veggies

Mmmm, those pictures are making me hungry.

Now, I’m not much of a lamb or duck person but I highly recommend the Roast Beef. It comes with this exquisite sauce that just fills your mouth with flavours. If I were to vote, I would pick Roast Beef first, the Loin of Lamb second (very soft and the sauce is nice too), the Crispy Duck and lastly, the Lamb Shank. I didn’t really like the Lamb Shank because it was kind of tasteless even with the sauce.

Chilled Cheese Cake with Peach Toppings

Anyway, we went all out that night, to hell with diets and low-carb food, so we ordered desserts, and thank God we did!! The Chilled Cheese Cake with Peach Toppings (RM11) is to die for!!! Seriously, if you’re a cheesecake lover, you MUST try it at TJ Haus. The portion is so much bigger than most other cake shops and the taste…swoon.

You can also try the Bravarian Cream (Vanilla Flavour) with Fruit Compote (RM10), it’s like a really soft and creamy jelly, and the Fried Banana with Ice-cream (RM8.50), I know it’s kind of normal but it’s really mind-blowing.

Fried Banana with Ice-Cream

Bravarian Cream with Fruit Compote

Brazilian Smoothy

Apple Schorle

Of course you can’t have food without drinks and I highly recommend the Brazilian Smoothy (RM7), for those who like the milkshake kind of drinks, and the Apple Schorle (RM4.50), for those with fruity taste buds. There’s this coffee that my cousin really loves but I can’t remember the name.

Must-try Coffee at TJ Haus

See if you can find the time to try this place out, and see if you can find it. But believe me, once you try, you will want to come again and again. Enjoy!!

Category: Food & Drinks Tags: food, TJ Haus, western 2 Comments

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A Malaysian Life

Archive for the Category »Food & Drinks «

Food Review: Ikan Bakar Fend

Food Review: Takoyaki

Food Review: Singapore’s Book Cafes

Food Review: Garden Cafe, One Utama

Food Review: Homst Restaurant

Food Review: Mango Mania

Food Review: Pannaz

Food Review: New York, New York Deli

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