Day: August 16, 2023

A Week of Culinary Celebrations


The past week has been a whirlwind of joy, laughter, and above all, scrumptious food. With hubby’s relatives (two families) visiting from the UK and celebratory occasions filling the calendar, our home has transformed into a hub of feasting.

Our week of culinary delight commenced with a visit to the renowned Makoto restaurant again. Nestled in Sri Hartamas, Makoto’s unagi (grilled eel) has become somewhat of a tradition for our family gatherings. Makoto is my UK SIL’s favorite unagi restaurant in KL. When she came back to KL in May this year and December last year, she treated us to a sumptuous unagi dinner at Makoto. With this visit, she again treated us to a delectable unagi lunch at Makoto. As we savored every bite of the tender, flavorful fresh eel, the cozy ambiance and lively conversations only added to the experience.

Fresh Hamachi (Yellow Tail) sashimi. I like Hamachi more than salmon.

Our first time trying these super crispy and flavorful charcoal roasted Unagi bones. It has a slight hint of the Fear Factor but I enjoy crunching on them!

RM88 for half a whole eel without rice for me.

Unaju set each for MIL, SIL and nephew.

Alycia’s Hitsumabushi set @ RM153. It comes with instructions on how to eat it.

Alycia’s Hitsumabushi set.

Ayu Shioyaki. We call it the “R U Sure” fish coz when the waitress introduced this fish to us, we kept hearing her say “You want R U Sure??” and we all had a good laugh over this 😆

My favorite grilled Hamachi head.

The bill for 5 of us.

After our unagi lunch, we segued a few doors away to a waffles and ice-cream cafe to have desserts. While everyone had a lcohol infused ice-creams, I had a taro ice-cream which was a delight.

Saturday arrived with excitement as we gathered at hubby’s UK uncle’s brand-new luxury condo in Mont Kiara for a BBQ party. Hubby, a skilled caterer, took charge of the grill, turning an array of meats into mouthwatering masterpieces. The luxury condo’s setting provided a splendid backdrop, making this BBQ party a memory to treasure.

Everyone had a fun time at the games room.

Hubs playing a game of Pool with his UK cousin.

My figure skater.

View from the 22nd floor of the condo.

Sunday marked a special day as we all came together at the Oversea Restaurant to celebrate the 100th day of hubby’s aunt’s first granddaughter. This momentous occasion was about more than just food – it was a testament to family bonds and unity. As we enjoyed the delectable dishes, the shared stories, a session of karaoke, and lots of laughter reminded us of the importance of coming together to celebrate life’s milestones.

Four Seasons platter – my all-time favorite Chinese restaurant dish. I’m usually 50% full after having this dish.

Red eggs, a customary gift to celebrate a baby’s full moon or 100th day.

Roast Spanish ribs with a very refreshing salad with Calamansi juice dressing.

Steamed Soon Hock fish.

Steamed village chicken with minced ginger dip.

Braised tofu and gourd.
Stir-fried assorted veggies with macadamia nuts.

Fried rice

Red bean tong sui (not in pic) and Wo Paeng (lotus pancake)

Alycia alongside her second cousin (they’re the same age) who’s back in Malaysia for summer break. She’s currently studying in the US.

Alycia, Sherilyn and Cass went for another session of bouldering with their cousin from the UK and second cousins (hubby’s cousins) on Sunday. It’s the girls’ second time bouldering with hubby’s cousins. Bouldering is a form of free climbing that is performed on small rock formations or artificial rock walls without the use of ropes or harnesses. Unfortunately this time, Sherilyn slipped from the wall and landed on her ankle. She ended up with a badly swollen and painful foot. The next day she went to our regular acupuncturist for a session of acupuncture and bloodletting. Thankfully this treatment managed to relieve the pain and pressure on her ankle.

Bouldering

Alycia in action. It looks easy but it’s no easy feat.

My SIL, her son, MIL, and Alycia are currently on vacation in Penang and then to Ipoh. When they return on Friday, there’s bound to be a new round or two of dinners at restaurants. These upcoming dining experiences will undoubtedly add another layer of richness to our week-long eating marathon.

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Tips For Ordering the Perfect Pizza at a Restaurant

If you’re planning on ordering pizza for a group of friends, it’s important to remember that everyone has different preferences and dietary restrictions. So, here are a few tips to help you order the perfect pizza.

When it comes to pizza, the order in which ingredients are layered on the crust makes all the difference. Lifehacker recommends asking for your pizza to be uncut so you can cut it into slices yourself.

Choose your toppings wisely.

Many believe that more toppings equals a better pizza, but this is not necessarily true. According to a former employee, more toppings decrease the overall quality of your pie.

Consider how the ingredients will react to the oven’s heat when choosing your toppings. Toppings likely to dry out, or burn should be buried underneath the cheese, while those that will benefit from the heat should be placed on top of the pizza.

Peppers are an excellent choice for pizza because they add a delicious crunch that complements the soft and melted texture of cheese and sauce. The natural sugars in peppers caramelize during the cooking process, which gives them a delectable sweetness. The peppers’ rich red and deep green colors make for a visually appealing pizza.

Order your pizza by the slice.

Most pizza restaurants in Baltimore, OH, have loyalty programs that reward customers for ordering certain foods. As reported, these programs can boost revenue by encouraging repeat business.

When a group of friends is hanging out at a restaurant, they may want to order pizza by the slice rather than an entire pie. This will allow them to try a few different pizzas without feeling too full. Plus, it’s a great way to save money on food.

Typically, pizzas are cut into small, medium, and giant slices. However, you can also request a double cut or strips of pizza. This is especially useful when feeding children, as smaller slices are more straightforward for their hands to manage. It can also help prevent topping slippages, like cheese and meat rolling off the sides of a piece and onto the floor or lap.

This method of slicing can even be used for delivery orders. Preheating a baking sheet in your oven before tossing the pie on top can help keep the crust crispy during transport.

Order your pizza ahead of time.

Call ahead and place your order if you’re ordering pizza for delivery or pickup. It’s also a good idea to calculate your tip before ordering. This way, you can ensure you have the correct cash to pay for your pizza and any other extras.

Generally, pizza restaurants like Creno’s Pizza Company are happy to accommodate special requests. However, they may require more time to prepare. Ask about the estimated wait time when placing your order, and remember that a delay is sometimes unavoidable.

If you’re ordering for a large group, try to poll your guests about their preferences. This will help you avoid over-ordering and throwing away a pizza that nobody will eat. Moreover, it’ll help you ensure that everybody has a slice of the pie they want. Adding more toppings can help you improve the quality of your pizza. They will add more flavor and texture to the food.

Don’t forget the crust.

The perfect pizza crust is subjective because each person has a different sense of texture and flavor. But the basics of a great pizza dough include:

  • An airy, light consistency.
  • A crisp edge.
  • A flavorful center that stands on its own without additional toppings.

To prep the dough, gently rub the surface with a light coating of flour to prevent sticking. Then gently (without overhandling the dough) roll it into a rough oval or circle shape and gingerly stretch it onto a prepared pizza peel.

Creating a perfect pizza crust can be complex because it requires specific temperature, proofing, baking time, and other variables that are not always easy to master, especially in a busy restaurant. Plus, providing too many choices can confuse staff and lead to inconsistent results from one shift to the next.

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HEALTH FREAK MOMMY