Before my parents returned to Ipoh after a 4-day celebration of papa’s 81st birthday, we had dim sum brunch at Ming Room at BSC and then proceeded to Momaku x BaristArt Coffee Malaysia for coffee and desserts.
My parents couldn’t stay longer in KL as they had an upcoming trip to Hainan Island the following Thursday (15 August). Roy, my younger brother drove them back to Ipoh. Though they were in KL for a short 4 days, I thoroughly enjoyed their company and all our celebratory feasts.
Dim Sum brunch at Ming Room, BSC.
Coffee and desserts at BaristArt Coffee:
Perfect cuppa! Latte with Hokkaido BIEI Jersey milk is rich and creamy with a tinge of sweetness—perfect to make a smooth velvety latte.Soft-serve ice ceam made using Hokkaido Biei Jersey Milk – Momaku x BaristArt Coffee at Bangsar BSC is currently the only cafe in Malaysia that serves beverages and desserts made using Hokkaido Biei Jersey Milk.Alycia’s mixed berries smoothie.Lemon Creme BrûléeBaristart Coffee began as a boutique craft coffee café in Sapporo, Hokkaido. An outpost was opened in Singapore before one finally landed in Malaysia in 2022 at BSC.Mum with Alycia & Cass. Sherilyn couldn’t join us as she was at her university for an event to showcase her team’s architectural projects to the public. Sherilyn had 5 projects selected for showcasing.
Momaku x BaristArt Coffee Malaysia Address: Lot G133A, Ground Floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre, Bangsar, 59000 Kuala Lumpur. Opening hours: 8AM – 10PM
As the final moments of 2023 fade into the past, it’s time to reflect on the year that was—a year marked by swift transitions, unexpected turns, health scares, and a myriad of experiences.
The passing of 2023 seemed almost like a blink of my eye. In the ebb and flow of life, our family encountered moments of triumph and challenges, creating a mosaic of experiences that shaped the year. Despite the ups and downs, the overarching sentiment is one of gratitude. Gratitude for the lessons learned, the strength discovered, and the love that held us together.
Welcoming the first day of 2024, my heart is filled with hope—for brighter days, for new opportunities, and for the chance to create more cherished memories with those I hold dear.
My greatest wish for the new year centers on the cornerstone of well-being—good health and safety. I pray for robust health and safety for myself and all my loved ones. May each day be a gift of vitality, strength, and well-being.
For my husband’s catering business, I wish for its continued success and prosperity. May the coming year bring new opportunities, satisfied clients, and the continued growth of a venture that brings joy to our family and those we serve.
Academic success is a beacon for my three daughters. As they navigate the halls of education, my prayer is for diligence, resilience, and the attainment of academic goals. May the new year be a chapter of learning, growth, and accomplishments for each of them.
I pray for God’s blessings to encompass every aspect of our lives—for guidance in moments of uncertainty, strength in times of weakness, and grace that abounds in both joy and challenges.
As I pen down my reflections and wishes for the new year, I extend the same sentiments to you and your family. May 2024 be adorned with blessings and good health, days filled with joy, and marked by prosperity. May your journey be guided by love, strengthened by resilience, and illuminated by the light of hope and God’s blessings.
In closing, let’s step into 2024 with hearts open to possibilities, minds attuned to gratitude, and spirits anchored in faith. Here’s to a year of abundance, growth, and the unwavering presence of love. Happy New Year to all my readers!
We had our first brunch of the year at UO Shin Japanese Restaurant at Millerz Square today, followed by coffee and desserts at HWC x Quack Quack Bakery.
The only day that hubby has the time to have lunch with us is on Sundays. Sometimes though, he has to work on weekends, so I will settle lunch with the girls. Since Sunday is the only day that we get to eat with the girls, we usually eat at a nice cafe or restaurant to chill and enjoy our lunch together before a new hectic week begins and busyness fills our lives again.
Below was our lunch three Sundays ago at Seoul Korea, our top favorite Korean restaurant. Everyone was present for the lunch, which is really hard these days as the girls are all grown up and have their own activities.
The best Banchan in terms of variety, taste and quality. These are replenishable.
Seoul Korea is an authentic Korean restaurant run by a Korean family. Our family has been patronizing this restaurant for over a decade and have celebrated countless birthdays and anniversaries here.
Assorted BBQ meat. We love the melt-in-the-mouth and flavorful boiled pork belly (top left photo).Kimchi soup (filled with loads of ingredients) and ox tail soup.By far the best seafood kimchi pancake. Every mouthful is seafood and kimchi with very little flour.
Two Sundays ago, my lunch was with hubby alone. Cass was in school to sit for the UEC exam, Alycia was at her part-time job at the cafe and Sherilyn decided to sleep in to catch up on her sleep after a week of sleepless nights completing assignments. Hubs and I couldn’t decide what to eat and finally settled for North Indian food at Lion of Punjab. I can hardly say no to cuisine from this part of India.
Paneer Naan, Naan stuffed with minced chicken, Tandoori Roti and Palak Paneer. Palak Paneer is a classic curried dish from North Indian cuisine made with fresh spinach, onions, spices, paneer and herbs. ‘Palak’ is a Hindi word for ‘Spinach’ and ‘Paneer’ is ‘Indian cottage cheese’. This is our family’s favorite North Indian dish.Mutton Briyani, which was very flavorful.Butter chicken, another favorite dish of the girls.Bhindi Masala, which is another super delicious dish. It’s bursting with aromatic Indian spices and herbs. Even Cass who dislikes lady’s fingers devoured this dish.
I wonder why the dishes are filled to the brim and piled on top of a super tiny bowl, making it so difficult for us to scoop the dishes without dropping bits of it on the table 🧐
Our usual Sunday routine involves Cass going to Pavillion Bukit Jalil early in the morning for figure skating practice. Her classes are on Friday but she goes to the skating rink on Sunday to practise. We then fetch her back at noon. Next, hubs will go on a food hunt to explore new cafes and restaurants. This past Sunday, we discovered a hidden gem that left our taste buds dancing with delight – Ah Ma Jia Café.
Nestled next to Pavillion Bukit Jalil, Ah Ma Jia, which translates to “grandma’s house” in Mandarin, promises to serve up traditional dishes reminiscent of the comforting meals your grandma would lovingly prepare.
Ah Ma Jia is a new cafe with double-decked seats, similar to Lhong Tou Café in Yaowarat, Bangkok that’s famed for their double-decker seating.
Photo credit – Ah Ma Jia FacebookPhoto credit – Ah Ma Jia Facebook
One of the things that immediately won us over was the extensive menu. From the moment we perused the choices, we knew we were in for a treat. The dishes spanned a wide array of flavors, each with a hint of nostalgia and a dash of authenticity. And the best part was the prices were all very reasonable.
For our Sunday lunch, we decided to indulge in a feast of our favorite dishes:
Bubur Cha Cha: This delightful dessert, made with thick coconut milk and a variety of sweet potatoes and tapioca, was an absolute hit. It was a bowl of creamy heaven that left me craving for more; I ordered two bowls! This is my favorite ‘tong sui’ as I am a sucker for anything with coconut milk.
Curry Laksa: Ah Ma Jia’s curry laksa was a flavor explosion. The curry broth was rich and intense, and each bite was a symphony of spices and flavors.
Chinese Sausage and Pork Lard Rice: Topped with a perfectly fried egg, this dish offered a tantalizing combination of yumminess from the fried Chinese sausage and crispy pork lard. A must-have dish for pork lovers.
Siam Laksa: The Siam laksa was a fragrant and spicy delight with lip-smacking thick broth.
Yam Cake: The yam cake was a savory indulgence, with a generous amount of aromatic ingredients within.
The adults shared a pot of refreshing flower tea, which comprised of chrysanthemum flowers, lemon and stalks of lemongrass.
Stir-fried Rolled Up Chee Cheong Fun: This dish is a unique twist to the traditional CCF, where the chef stir-fried the rolled noodles with cabbage, eggs, carrots, etc. It was very flavorful and surprisingly, we finished the entire plate.
Cantonese Fried Mee Sua: Cass chose this noodle dish. It’s a comforting noodle dish with smooth egg sauce and a variety of ingredients such as prawns, fish cake, ham slices, cabbage and carrot strips.
Coconut Milk Shake: Cassandra’s choice, this refreshing drink was a delightful blend of creamy coconut goodness, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Snow Fungus Tong Sui: Hubby’s choice. A sweet and soothing dessert that provided a sweet ending to his meal.
While Alycia and Sherilyn couldn’t join us for lunch, we got them takeaway spaghetti with grilled chicken and braised pork belly rice, ensuring that they too could savor the delicious food of Ah Ma Jia. The braised pork belly dish was superb, just the way I like it with tender pork in a flavorful sauce. The spaghetti noodles were a tad dry though, according to Alycia but the grilled chicken was delicious.
Ah Ma Jia Café truly captures the essence of home-cooked nostalgia. The affordable prices and prompt service were the icing on the cake. This café is a culinary gem that we will cherish and definitely revisit to explore the rest of the menu. I’ll order Bubur Cha Cha again, for sure 😋
Ah Ma Jia
Address: * within walking distance from Pavilion Bukit Jalil N-13-1 , Jalan Persiaran Jalil 3 , Bukit Jalil City, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur. Opening hours: 11AM – 7PM (closed on Mondays)
My husband is a gourmand in every sense of the word. He’s the kind of person who doesn’t just eat to live; he lives to eat. While some people splurge on clothes, cars or dream of globetrotting adventures, my husband’s heart and wallet are devoted to one thing – food. He’s incredibly generous when it comes to indulging in exquisite culinary experiences, and together, we embark on food hunts that are nothing short of delightful.
Our most recent culinary escapade led us to a charming new café along Old Klang Road in Kuala Lumpur, a hidden gem called SunSan Bake. Nestled in a hidden slope off Old Klang Road, SunSan Bake is housed in a cozy refurbished bungalow. This café is a haven for brunch enthusiasts and coffee connoisseurs alike.
SunSan Bake is a bakery café by day and casual dining restaurant by night.
Outside the bungalow is a pristine, green lawn and a smattering of trees and wild reeds that create a green environment. There’s a zen garden path with gravel and pebbles. Once inside, there’s plenty of natural light, thanks to plenty of French windows. What I like about a café that’s brightly lit up with natural light is that my photos will turn out beautifully, without needing much editing.
SunSan is renowned for its Western fusion cuisine and specialty coffee. What sets it apart is the dedication of its baristas, who are true artisans in the craft of hand-brewed coffee. Every cup is expertly crafted to perfection, ensuring a memorable coffee experience for patrons. For filter brews, they offer two options: “competition” beans as well as seasonal filter coffees.
Game to try the Black Truffle Shiopan? It’s made with black truffle butter, white truffle oil, bamboo charcoal and smoked Maldon salt. The shape and color can be suggestive of something else though, 💩 😂
Our visit to SunSan began with the tantalizing display of pastries next to the entrance, each arranged like a work of art in a gallery. The attention to detail was undeniable, and it was clear that this place aims to be a gallery of edible works of art.
Sunsan Bake menu
For our breakfast, my husband opted for the Sunshine Breakfast set, a delightful spread that came at RM36. The plate featured a harmonious blend of flavors, including eggs, sausage, ham, grilled portobello mushroom, a handful of raw greens and a slice of toasted artisanal bread. It was a hearty breakfast that left him thoroughly satisfied. To accompany his meal, he chose a Flat White coffee (RM15).
Sunshine Breakfast set, RM36
To satisfy our sweet tooth, we couldn’t resist trying the cempedak pandan cake, priced at RM20. The cake was a revelation, with the tropical flavors of cempedak and the aromatic essence of pandan creating a harmonious and unforgettable dessert.
Cempedak Pandan cake, RM20Flat white, RM15
As for me, I had already eaten breakfast at home and wasn’t particularly hungry, but I couldn’t resist trying the cake and hubby’s breakfast set.
SunSan Bake proved to be a delightful discovery, and we left with the promise to return and explore more of their menu. We were charmed not only by the delectable food but also by the café’s commitment to creating a welcoming space where food truly becomes art.
On a serene and gloomy Sunday afternoon, my family and I had a delightful lunch at Kayra Restaurant, Bangsar Village. With its promise of authentic Kerala cuisine, we were eager to indulge in the rich flavors and aromatic spices of India. As we entered the restaurant, we were immediately captivated by the leafy terrace adorned with a mural of Kerala’s backwaters, setting the tone for a truly immersive dining experience. Every dish that we ordered was truly a masterpiece of taste and tradition.
We ordered a roast chicken dish cooked with aromatic spices and onions, mango and prawn curry, mutton stew, spinach and dhal curry (my top favorite), ghee roast Paneer (cottage cheese) with onions curry, appam, chapati, Neer dosa, puffed roti, Khameer roti, Masala chai, biryani rice, and okra Poriyal.
Spinach and dhall curry. One of the best dhall curries that I’ve tasted. Rich, thick and flavorsome. I love the crispy fried spinach sprinkled on top.Biryani rice.Ghee roast paneer – one of the tastiest paneer that we’ve tasted.Chicken roast. The rich flavors of this dish are quite similar to the Ayam Kuzi dish from hubby’s central kitchen.Everyone loved their range of rotis! Clockwise from top: puffed bread (hollow inside), Khameer roti, apam, and chapati.
The roast chicken, cooked with a melange of aromatic spices and caramelized onions, left us wanting more with its tender and succulent meat. The mango prawn curry infused a perfect balance of tangy and spicy notes, a delightful combination that had us craving for extra helpings.
Mutton stewPrawn and mango curry.
The mutton stew, immersed in a rich and savory gravy, showcased the finesse of Kerala’s culinary heritage. The true star of the meal for me was the spinach and dhal curry, an exquisite concoction that won my heart with its comforting and wholesome taste. Paired with various bread options like chapati, dosa, puffed roti, and Khameer roti, each bite was a delightful dance of flavors and textures.
We liked the ghee roast Paneer and spinach and dhal curry so much that we ordered a portion for takeaway, along with chapatis for Alycia and Sherilyn who didn’t join us for lunch.
For our vegetarian choices, we were delighted by the ghee roast Paneer (cottage cheese), which was a delightful contrast of soft mild cheese and robust spices. The okra (lady’s fingers) Poriyal provided a unique twist to a commonly used vegetable, elevating it to a whole new level of delectability. Cass who doesn’t like okra surprisingly helped herself umpteen times to the okra dish.
To accompany our meal, we enjoyed aromatic biryani rice, perfectly cooked to enhance the already flavorful dishes. And no meal is complete without a cup of Masala chai, its warmth, and spices creating a harmonious ending to a soulful feast.
The ambiance at Kayra further heightened our dining pleasure. The moment we walked into the terrace, the feeling was one of stepping into a holiday resort with cool breeze blowing in. The leafy terrace, adorned with its picturesque mural, exuded the essence of Kerala’s landscape, while the rattan furnishings and lush greenery created a tranquil oasis in the heart of the bustling city. It was a perfect respite, allowing us to immerse ourselves fully in the flavors and atmosphere of the restaurant.
Kayra’s inclusion in the Michelin Guide 2023 and its accolade in the top 20 restaurants of the Tatler Dining Awards are well-deserved honors. The restaurant’s dedication to preserving and presenting the essence of Kerala cuisine shines through in every dish.
Our Sunday lunch at Kayra Restaurant was a beautiful experience, where the flavors of Kerala’s cuisine painted a vivid picture of its cultural richness. From the perfectly spiced dishes to the inviting ambience, Kayra delivered a culinary journey like no other. While the prices may be slightly higher than other Indian restaurants, the quality, taste, and ambiance are well worth it. As we bid adieu to Kayra, we left with hearts full of contentment and a resolve to return soon to explore more treasures from their extensive and intriguing menu.
KAYRA, BANGSAR VILLAGE F08, 1st Floor, Bangsar Village 1, Jalan Telawi 1, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur +60 (17) 215 7382
Two Sundays ago, we had the pleasure of indulging in a remarkable dinner at Makoto Unagi Restaurant in Desa Sri Hartamas. The occasion was made even more special as my eldest sister-in-law from England was visiting us and treated our family to a sumptuous meal at Makoto.
Makoto, renowned for its expertise in charcoal-grilled eel, is helmed remotely by executive chef Mr. Otani Shinichiro, who also manages a family-owned authentic unagi omakase restaurant in Tokyo.
Makoto takes pride in sourcing its eels directly from Shizuoka Prefecture, the birthplace of unagi breeding. This attention to detail ensures that only the finest and freshest eels are served at the restaurant. As we savored the perfectly grilled unagi, we were captivated by the delicate balance of flavors and the melt-in-your-mouth texture that the dish offered. Each bite was a testament to the chef’s mastery and expertise.
This is our second time savoring Unaju from Makoto. When my SIL came to KL in December last year but couldn’t visit us during her first few days in KL as everyone was down with Covid, she ordered two Unaju sets and had them Grab-ed to our house.
Makoto Unaju Special (RM183) – this set showcases eel cooked in two styles- half served kabayaki-style and the other half shirayaki-style (seasoned only with salt, without tare sauce, perfect for unagi purists). The set comes with an umami-rich soup of eel liver with a lovely earthiness, as well as Makoto’s own pickles. We ordered three sets of this and the other two sets came with a clear soup.RM88 for half a whole eel without rice for me.
While Makoto specializes in grilled eel, we also explored other offerings on the menu. One standout dish was the hamachi head—a magnificent yellowtail head grilled to perfection. The dish was a visual feast, with the cheeks and collar beautifully charred, and the bones filled with succulent, tender meat. The flavors were unparalleled, making it the most delectable grilled fish head we had ever tasted.
Hamachi head (RM138) – the huge yellowtail head has plenty of succulent meat on its bone and is by far the best grilled fish head I’ve tasted.
Our dinner at Makoto went beyond grilled eel and hamachi head. We embarked on a gastronomic adventure, sampling a range of dishes that showcased the restaurant’s expertise. The tempura was flawlessly executed, featuring a light and crispy batter that complemented the freshness of the ingredients. The chawan mushi, a silky steamed egg custard, delighted our taste buds with its delicate flavors and velvety texture.
Kaisen Futomaki. We ordered two plates of this.
For sushi lovers, Makoto’s maki rolls were a revelation. The soft-shell crab maki combined the briny flavors of the crab with the creaminess of avocado, resulting in a delightful combination of textures. The kaisen futomaki showcased an assortment of fresh seafood, artfully rolled into a substantial and satisfying bite. And the tiger prawn maki delighted us with its succulent deep fried prawn filling, perfectly balanced with the vinegared rice.
Tempura.Tiger prawn maki (RM38) and soft shell crab maki (RM38).
Chawan mushi (RM8) for everyone.
While the food at Makoto was undeniably remarkable, the true essence of the evening lay in the joyful company we shared. Also, the attentive and knowledgeable staff at Makoto added to the warm and welcoming ambiance, ensuring that our dining experience was as enjoyable as it was delicious.
Recently, the hubs had a pleasant dining experience at Baristart Coffee and wanted to share the culinary delight with us. Eager to explore the menu, we ventured to the café to sample their famous food offerings.
Baristart Coffee, a renowned Hokkaido-born establishment, has found its way to Malaysian shores with its first outpost in Bangsar Shopping Centre. Since opening its doors in 2022, this coffee haven has been captivating the hearts of locals and tourists alike with its delectable food and beverages infused with Hokkaido milk.
Our brunch spread consisted of an enticing assortment of dishes, each prepared with the finest ingredients and meticulous attention to detail.
Avocado Toast with Scrambled Eggs: This classic combination was elevated to new heights at Baristart Coffee. The creamy avocado paired perfectly with fluffy scrambled eggs, creating a harmonious blend of flavors and textures.
Ocean Trout with Salsa and Brown Butter: A true treat for fish lovers, this dish featured succulent ocean trout with crispy skin adorned with vibrant salsa, brussels sprout, and brown butter. The flavors danced on our taste buds, leaving us wanting more.
Beef Sukiyaki Sando on Hokkaido Bread: A true standout, the beef sukiyaki sando was sandwiched between incredibly soft and fluffy Hokkaido bread. The tender beef, combined with the rich flavors of sukiyaki sauce, made for a delightful culinary experience.
Mixed Tempura Bowl: A medley of perfectly fried tempura showcased the chef’s expertise in capturing the essence of Japanese cuisine. The crispness of the tempura paired flawlessly with the accompanying dipping sauce, raw cabbage, and rice, making it a satisfying choice.
Cinnamon Rolls: These warm, fluffy rolls were generously dusted with cinnamon sugar and topped with a luscious glaze. Each bite was a burst of comforting flavors, making it a perfect companion for our coffee. The mil liked it so much that she ordered one more for takeaway for her breakfast the next day.
Strawberry Cream Puff: A delicate choux pastry filled with velvety strawberry cream, this dessert was a refreshing and light option to satisfy our sweet cravings.
Hokkaido Milk Ice Cream: True to their roots, Baristart Coffee showcased the creaminess and richness of Hokkaido milk in their delightful ice cream.
Milk Cake Nutella: This unique creation resembled a tiramisu but without alcohol. The combination of Nutella and the creamy milk cake base made for a decadent treat that delighted our taste buds.
While our experience at Baristart Coffee was overwhelmingly positive, we found the bombolini to be slightly too sweet and cloying for our liking. However, this small hiccup did not overshadow the overall culinary journey we embarked on during our Sunday brunch.
Despite our delightful brunch experience, we left with an eagerness to return and explore more of Baristart Coffee’s offerings. We are particularly excited to try their range of sandos, known for their delectable fillings and usage of Hokkaido bread. Additionally, the cute Shiro Kuma bear-shaped shaved ice bowl with milk syrup has piqued our curiosity and eagerness to try it on our next visit.
My pick – Ocean Trout with Salsa and Brown ButterMixed Tempura BowlSukiyaki beef sando with fluffy Hokkaido milk breadAvocado Toast with Scrambled EggsMIL’s favorite – Cinnamon roll Alycia’s pick – strawberry cream puffLatte and flat white; signature Hokkaido milk ice-cream which was very creamy and smooth.Milk cake NutellaOvomaltine Bombolini on the foreground. This Italian doughnut has a gooey center with creamy chocolately filling and sugary, soft dough.
If you’re looking for a place to enjoy a scrumptious weekend brunch, Strangers at 47 Café @ Section 17 PJ is definitely worth checking out. Located in PJ, this cozy cafe occupying three shop lots is one cafe that won’t be a stranger to success with its striking selection of fanciful & flamboyant crepes, some lip-smackingly savory, and others magically sweet. Even the ordinary-sounding components here are top-notch.
We started with the Lethal Shrooms Crepe and Uncle Salmon Crepe, both of which were perfectly cooked and complemented the filling ingredients perfectly. We wanted to try the crepes with sweet fillings but by the end of our meal, we were too stuffed to try them. We even had to doggy-bag some of the cakes and savory crepes home.
Next came the big breakfast set, which was a hearty combination of eggs, ham, sausage, sauteed spinach and mushrooms, hashbrowns, baked beans and a fluffy crepe that was sure to fill us up for the day. The food was brought to the tables by a robot.
Big Breakfast with crepe.Toasts with scrambled eggs.The Lethal Shrooms crepe has fillings of portobello, shimeji, baby king oyster mushrooms, soft and flavorful spinach, caramelized onions, tomato relish and poached egg.The Uncle Salmon crepe is delightfully filled with pan-seared salmon fillet, sweet potato fries, sautéed cream mushroom & spinach, and miso cream.
Next, we tried the Tomato Chicken Linguine and the Roast Chicken Cajun. The linguine was cooked al dente and had a rich and thick tomato sauce with a generous serving of minced chicken.
The roast chicken was cooked to a T and accompanied by fried potato rings and a cucumber and pineapple salad. It was succulent and packed with flavorful spices. Tomato Chicken Linguine
For desserts, we indulged in the Cendolier Cendol Cake, Pandan Mochi Swiss Roll, Chocolate Brownie, and Moist Chocolate Cake. Each dessert was a work of art in itself and tasted as good as it looked.
Chocolate brownie, Pandan Mochi Swiss Roll, Pandamic (pandan, lemongrass and ginger drink) and apple juice.
The Cendolier Cendol Cake was a cheesecake with a refreshing and unique twist on a classic Malaysian dessert. The cendol jelly added a fun, chewy element that was a delight to bite into.
The Pandan Mochi Swiss Roll was a delightful combination of chewy and fluffy textures. This unique swiss roll cake featured pandan-flavored sponge cake with a pandan mochi right smack in the middle. This cake had a very aromatic pandan flavor that was simply irresistible. The pandan sponge cake was light and fluffy, and the mochi filling added a wonderful chewiness that contrasted beautifully with the softness of the cake. Overall, this cake was a winner in our books.
The Moist Chocolate Cake, on the other hand, was very rich, moist, and decadent and was simply heavenly. The chocolate flavor was intense and we loved how the cake practically melted in our mouths.
Each cake had its own unique flavor and texture, but all of them were delicious in their own way.
This cafe is pet-friendly and if you’re planning on bringing your pet, you can dine outdoor (right outside the cafe). We waited for about 15 minutes for a table outside the cafe.
Overall, our experience at Strangers at 47 was fantastic. The food was superb, the staff were friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was cozy and inviting. We’re already planning our next visit and can’t wait to try more of their dishes and cakes.
Strangers at 47
47, Jalan 17/45, Section 17, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
This is our typical Sunday now, after hubs sends Cass to the skating rink for figure skating practice on Sunday morning – we have brunch together. Sometimes Alycia and Sherilyn join us, sometimes only the mil joins us, sometimes it’s the five of us, sometimes it’s only the two of us and sometimes we have full attendance at the dining table, which is rare now as the girls have their own activities respectively.
Two Sundays ago, hubs and I had brunch at the famous O&S Restaurant (coffee shop) at Paramount Garden PJ. We tucked into our favorite Yong Tau Fu, char koay teow, crispy apam balik, prawn paste Chee Cheong Fun, and prawn noodles.
Getting a table is always a daunting task as the coffee shop is perpetually packed with patrons, no matter what time you’re there. To get a table, you have to stand shamelessly next to tables where people are still eating but look like they’re about to finish their meal.
When you stand next to a table with people still enjoying their food, it’s a non-verbal sign to tell them “hey, I’m waiting for your table. Pretty please hurry up” 😆. But so far, we’ve met only kind and really nice people. They hurriedly gobbled down their food so that they can let us have the table. Likewise, we do the same when we see people standing next to our table when we’re still eating. At this coffee shop, you cannot sit and enjoy your milk tea for hours on end. Everyone is considerate and we eat and leave. And adjourned to a cafe for dessert and coffee and chit chat.
A couple of times, when there were one or two available seats at a table that was already occupied, the strangers offered us the available seats. They then chatted up with us while they quickly finished their food. One time, when hubs didn’t have coins to pay a server, the stranger seated next to us offered to pay for us. Eating at O&S is always heartwarming as we always chance upon really nice strangers.
Ok, coming back to our brunch two Sundays ago.
After our heartwarming breakkie at O&S, we segued into Bröom Artisan Bakery & Kitchen for coffee and desserts and to get something for Cass and Sherilyn. Actually the main reason why we went to the cafe was because I had to pee and I didn’t want to use the wet and stinky loos at O&S coffee shop, thus hubs brought me to Bröom 🤭
We love the wide inventory of artisan sourdough breads at Bröom. This time I chose a loaf of jalapeno and cheese for Sherilyn & Cass who both know how to appreciate sourdough bread. Sourdough bread and products are a tad sour and to be able to appreciate this unique flavor and texture often requires an acquired taste.I also chose a Portobello Cheese Croissant for Cass’ lunch.Artisan lemon meringue tart and latte. The lemon meringue tart has a very buttery, firm and crisply crust that crumbles in my mouth creating a perfect foundation for the tangy lemon filling. The filling itself is bursting with bright and zesty lemon flavor, with just the right amount of sweetness to balance it out. The meringue topping is light and airy, with a melt-in-your-mouth texture that contrasts beautifully with the lemon filling.
Bröom Artisan Bakery & Kitchen
27, Jalan 20/13, Taman Paramount, 46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Yesterday was the 5th day of Chinese New Year and since hubs had some time in the morning, he drove us to Yulek, Cheras to sample the freshest seafood noodles at Hai Kah Lang, a Michelin-approved seafood noodles restaurant.
Hai Kah Lang was awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022 recently. The judge commented, “Rest assured, only the freshest catch (mostly from northern Borneo) can make it to the table,” as the owner is also running a seafood stall opposite the street.
When we arrived at around 10-ish a.m., there was already a long queue outside the restaurant. There were chairs lined outside the corridor for waiting patrons and some patrons, like us, were standing on the road under the hot sun.
We waited for almost 30 minutes before our number (183) was called. The number that was called when we arrived was 170. Nonetheless, the restaurant’s operating system is systematic and efficient. After I had gotten a printed number on a paper, a staff came to take our order by entering the items into an iPad. The staff members were very patient and friendly, unlike some popular restaurants with rude staffers.
To sample what it has to offer, first-timers may order mixed seafood noodles or rice porridge with crab, clams, fish, squid, shrimp, and laver seaweed in a briny-sweet fish bone broth that exudes rich aromas of Chinese cooking wine. This costs RM25 a bowl.
The fresh seafood can be paired with rice porridge and a variety of noodles such as meehoon, thick meehoon, kuey teow, lou xu fun, wanton mee served in clear soup or milky soup. If you’re on a keto diet, you can omit the carbs and savor just the seafood.
Hubs, Alycia and Cass went for clear soup noodles and I opted for rice porridge. The soup looks clear with a tinge of yellow hue coming from the Chinese cooking wine and it’s naturally sweet, thanks to the essence from a variety of seafood.
Every bowl of noodles and porridge came with a generous portion of fish and shell fish, which is well worth the price of RM25 a bowl, and cheaper than other popular stalls selling seafood noodles.
The side dishes menu is very attractive and extensive ranging from fried fishcake to fish balls, braised shark lips, blanched octopus, fresh raw oysters, California oysters, tiger prawns, fresh scallops, giant clams (lala) etc. Hubs ordered fish balls, fresh oysters (blanched in clear soup) and giant clams.
Side dish of giant lala in clear soup.Side dish of fresh oysters (fat and juicy) in clear soup.My seafood porridge, side dish of fishballs and giant lala.Everyone had to wait for me to do the compulsory food shots before they’re allowed to dig, though their tummies were rumbling away 😁My seafood rice porridge. The consistency of the porridge is not the usual creamy mushy type but soft rice in soup type. Being the super small eater that I am, I could only polish off half the bowl here and doggy-bagged the rest home.Yummy for the tummy. Generous amount of very fresh seafood, makes the long wait all worth it.The long queue outside the restaurant when we arrived. When we left 1.5 hours later, the queue doubled.Good choice of fresh seafood to you to pick.Pick the exotic seafood if your wallet allows it!Total bill was RM251.75 for 6 bowls of mixed seafood noodles, side dishes and drinks. This includes two portions of takeaway for MIL who was on her way back from Ipoh and Sherilyn who was in school. The milk tea was very thick and milky, which I liked a lot. The barley drink was thick and nice too.
This restaurant is worth a visit despite the difficulties in getting parking and traffic jam if you go during the weekends and public holidays. It’s very common to see cars double parking in the vicinity of the restaurant. We were very fortunate to have found a proper spot to park a few steps away from the restaurant. We can’t wait to come back to try more items on the menu, especially the fish head noodles, fried fish cake (the aroma of the fish cake frying in the wok was heavenly) and other fresh seafood items.
They are open daily from 8 am to 5 pm, so be sure to reach there as early as possible, to avoid standing in the long queue and under the hot sun.
Hai Kah Lang
44, Jalan Kaskas 2, Taman Cheras, 56100 Kuala Lumpur
Sunday, 5 June 2022 ~ Hubs brought us to try a ‘new’ Chinese ‘tai chow’ restaurant – it’s a first try for us but not for him.
As catering functions have picked up ever since Malaysia reopened its borders and economic sectors, hubby’s catering business has been making a rebound. He’s been busy almost everyday, including Saturdays and Sundays. His business was at an all-time low for almost 2 years during the pandemic with on-off lockdowns. Only God knows what we’d gone through during the difficult 2 years.
Anyway, onwards and upwards!
If there’s a Sunday that hubs doesn’t have to work, he will drag all of us to ‘jalan-jalan cari makan’ (loosely translated in English to – walk around and find food) with him.
Pudu is a place where one can find many good eateries, from street food to cafes, ‘tai chow’ stalls and decades-old -restaurants that withstood the test of time with their good food.
Yi Sheng Huat at Pudu is famous for their ‘tai chow’ dishes, especially steamed fish. We were there a little before 12 noon, which is the start of their operating hour and waited for almost half an hour, with growling tummies before the dishes arrived.
Steamed fish with loads of garlic. Stir-fried ‘sang cheong’ (pig’s intestines). Not my kind of dish but hubby’s favorite.Steamed lala clams with Chinese cooking wine and ginger.Stir-fried spinach with garlic.‘Phai kuat wong’ (pork ribs king)Deep fried squids, which is our favorite dish.
Food was great and we enjoyed our meal thoroughly. We’ll definitely be back again to try other dishes when hubs is free again on a Sunday. This time, I want the entire steamed fish all to myself! I’m a sucker for restaurant-style steamed fish.
Yi Sheng Huat Seafood Restaurant 357 & 345, Jalan Gajah, Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur Opening Hours: 11.30AM – 2PM; 5.30PM – 11PM Contact: 012 – 2685 638
For weeks hubs had been raving about this Chinese restaurant that he went to a couple of times with his besties at Bandar Mahkota Cheras. This restaurant requires advance booking from their customers before going. If you plan on a walk-in, chances are you’ll be told that they are fully booked. Their dishes are often sold out due to their popularity.
The restaurant only opens at 11 a.m. and we were there a little before 11 and waited for about 20 minutes before the first dish arrived.
The first dish is pork lard rice, one of the restaurant’s signature dishes.
The pork lard rice came piping hot in a rice cooker. It has generous amounts of pork lard and gravy with bits of pork belly. This is the ultimate killer dish to thwart your diet plan if you’re on one. This dish is so delish and addictive that it’s just so hard to stop at just one bowl. Totally stunning combination of flavors – rice mixed with aromatic crispy pork lard, gravy, and chopped raw garlic. Sauteed baby French beans with smashed dried shrimps, red chilis and big onions.Steamed chicken drenched in garlic sesame oil, served alongside minced ginger and house-made chili sauce. The chicken is so beautifully glossy with a luxurious mouthfeel.Big prawns cooked in Nyonya style curry.Squid rings cooked to tender perfection in a concoction of aromatic spices and chilis. The squid rings are all infused with decadent flavors.Fried pork neck with an inhouse made dipping sauce. By the time this dish arrived, I was already very stuffed, so didn’t try it.Silky smooth ‘Choy Heong’ tofu topped with fried minced pork.
The bill came close to RM300 for this meal.
After lunch, we segued into Ding Dang, a titbits shop just a few steps away. This super huge snacks shop is a paradise for junk food lovers as it’s replete with hundreds of types of biscuits, chips, nuts, candies and every snack you can think of. We bought some snacks home, of course. It’s really dangerous to walk into such an enticing titbits shop if you lack self-control. It can be hard to leave the shop empty-handed when every step of your way in the shop has something luring and screaming out to you to take it home 🤪
Legend Seafood Restaurant Jalan Laksamana, Bandar Mahkota Cheras, 43200 Cheras, Selangor 010-254 3216
As I was typing the title of this post, the date suddenly hit me. It’s the month of May and the anniversary of Cass’ surgery and our 3-week nightmarish stay in Gleneagles Medical Centre (GMC), Penang exactly 13 years ago. The days spent with Cass at GMC were so overwhelming that it’s hard to repress the memories of the 21 nightmarish days spent with her in the hospital. Seeing my baby in pain with tubes sticking into her nose and body and not knowing what was wrong with her after the first surgery, the feeling of hopelessness and misgivings and finally the shock of seeing the 5-figure amount on our final bill when we were finally discharged left me in a complete funk – these feelings are sometimes still raw and impossible to palliate even with time.
Back to our Mother’s Day celebration this year!
Brunch was at Feeka Coffee Roasters. It’s our family’s first celebration at a restaurant since two members of our family recovered from Covid over a month ago. Finally there’s a little semblance of how our lives used to be pre-Covid days.
Image source – theyumlistBig Breakfast setFish & ChipsPeruvian grilled chicken served with fresh and crisp watercress and a minty sauce.Carbonara pastaBeef burger
Our verdict on the food? Just mediocre. Plus we sat outdoor at the courtyard and it was humid in the current sizzling heat.
After brunch we segued into the nearby Pizza Mansion to get takeaway wood-fire pizzas for dinner.This place exudes the vibes of a pizzeria in the 1980s with songs of the 80s played. I suddenly felt like I was in an eatery in Ipoh Old Town back in the mid 1980s.Pizza Mansion has another outlet at Happy Mansion, PJ.Our 3 finicky girls devoured the pizzas once we were back home. They commented that we should have dined in at Pizza Mansion instead of Feeka. Hubs also brought the girls to a bakery to get strudels while I surveyed another new bakery (Hogan) in the vicinity.
Our Mother’s Day lunch ended with a ‘saman’ ticket from DBKL! Hubs had parked right opposite Feeka thinking that it was a Sunday and it was a pretty quiet street with low traffic. But the DBKL officers (who were supposed to be on Raya holiday and not working on a Sunday!) were out to hunt down unsuspecting parkers like us! We didn’t even notice them though we were seated al fresco. About 20 diners who parked there were all greeted with the long ticket after their lunch 😑
Alycia and I realized that our dear in-house chef has a special preference when it comes to cooking. She seems to really enjoy making sushi/Gimbap and egg rolls. And everything Korean and Japanese! With whatever she can find in the fridge, she has the Midas touch to transform all the ingredients into some very appetizing and aesthetically pleasing sushi, Gimbap and egg rolls in a jiffy, like a professional chef. Her grandma and I can already hang up our aprons as we have such a talented and earnest chef at home to take over this chore. And my very persnickety and critical MIL is starting to love what her talented grand daughter could dish out 😊
But we can only enjoy her cooking and bakes during the CMCO and holidays. Once school resumes when the CMCO is lifted, she’ll be back to her hectic life again.
Yesterday Sherilyn dished out these yummy egg rolls for lunch, as there was still quite a bit of leftover egg whites in the fridge after she used the yolks to make Frangipane tart and orange curd.
Fried spam and carrots in the middle, followed by seaweed, pan fried egg whites and lastly pan fried whole eggs. These keto egg rolls not only look alluring, they are really scrumptious. I wonder where she learned to make all these from!
Lovely craftsmanship of artisanal food!
In the evening she prepped these Gimbap/Kimbap in a jiffy again because everyone else had Yomei’s purple rice yoghurt and this fussy girl finds it yucky to be chewing and gulping down rice with cold yoghurt 😬
Such a LOT of work goes into her Gimbap – the julienned carrots were sauteed, the sweet potato leaves were blanched, then seasoned the Korean style with sesame seed oil and soy sauce, egg strips and SPAM were pan fried before these were rolled with rice in a bamboo sushi mat. But for someone who loves cooking, the entire preparation is a joy, though very tedious.
Alycia and I thoroughly enjoyed our Yomie’s purple rice yoghurt for dinner and Cass had melon yoghurt. I think it’s quite a well balanced drink with protein from the yoghurt, and carbs and fiber from the chewy and addictive flavorful purple rice. The fresh yoghurt and purple rice blend give the beverage a viscous and creamy consistency, while not being overly sweet. These drinks are filled with beneficial probiotics and many people consume this drink as a meal replacement or diet drink. Even the mil approved this drink as a meal for dinner! 😆
I love Saturdays simply because Maria comes in on Saturdays. Maria has been our part-time helper for the last 8 years. She used to come in 5-6 times a week but because we’re on an austerity drive now, a consequence of the MCO and RMCO (and possibly another MCO/restriction order if Malaysians don’t behave and don’t adhere to Covid-19 SOPs), we have to prune off unnecessary expenses. Part-time helper is one on the list. When the pandemic eases off and hubby’s business rebounds to how it used to be, our helper can come in 5-6 times a week once again. For now, I’ll have to soldier on. Oh. My. Poor. Hands.😓
I first heard of the term “austerity drive” when I worked in the bank some 20 years ago, when the bank I worked in had to implement some austerity measures to cut costs due to recession. That was circa 1997 or 1998. So I learned a few tips and tricks to cut costs from the bank and from my parents, who also had to invoke a host of harsh cost cutting measures during the recession in the mid 1980s when my dad lost his job. I can splurge when times are good and I am also able to ride out a humble lifestyle with no luxuries. I am resilient and so are our girls. I’ve always been drilling into their heads to be thrifty and to always always have as much savings as they can for rainy days like this darn pandemic. Because it sucks and rips your entire dignity off your soul to have to borrow money from friends and relatives. This is something I wish I never have to do but if this pandemic and MCO never ends, I’m not too sure about it. Well, maybe half the world population would be dead by then 😪
As Maria is around to help us clean up, we could cook up a storm! 🤭 I dug out the packet of rack of lamb that hubs bought about a month ago and told our baking queen the menu of the day. She’s always more than happy to cook, especially new recipes. She spent almost the entire afternoon in the kitchen — first with making Taiwanese sweet potato dessert and then seared the rack of lamb.
Pistachio crusted grilled rack of lamb:
My house rule is: if you want to eat, you have to help out. And I roped in the littlest brat to make mashed potato.
Alycia the ‘tai siew jie’ (big princess) with royal fingers who doesn’t like kitchen work was roped in to cut a big cantaloupe. With an inflamed wrist, I have to delegate all the heavy duty chores to the girls whilst I stand, supervise and do spot cleaning 😁. OCD me will freak out at any crumb, juice, sauce and food remnants on the floor. The ants in our house seem to have bionic sensors as they would come and feast on even the tiniest piece of food crumbs within 5 minutes of dropping it on the floor!
Midas touch – this girl seems to have magic in her hands. Everything that she dishes out is delish!
Pan seared + oven grilled pistachio crusted rack of lamb with sides of mash and grilled carrots, celery and garlic.
Hubby’s friend went to Seremban and gifted us a famous Lucky King chicken curry bun. Gawd, it’s humongous! One bun is enough for 3-4 eaters with ravenous appetite. The chicken curry is such a delight and very flavorful. We had this for dinner as well. Yummsss!
A very pregnant bun with a huge packet of chicken curry within.
But mil and I were not too comfortable eating something that’s cooked with aluminum foil and plastic. The chicken curry is wrapped in a plastic bag and a layer of aluminum foil is then wrapped over before the bun is baked 🥶 😱. Imagine the chemicals leached out into the food!
Someone couldn’t wait to mop the curry sauce with the bun:
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