Alabama Mud Pie @ Bubba Gump

If you love ice cream (seriously, LOVE), you’d fall hard for this dessert. The vanilla (top) and chocolate (bottom) ice cream sandwiches a caramel ribbon in between. Finished with a layer of fresh whipped cream, drizzled with rich chocolate syrup and freshly roasted cashew nuts. One thing’s for sure, the roasted cashew nuts are delicious!

Best shared between 2-3 people, unless you’re really all out and hardcore to down it all by yourself :p

**********

Snowflake Taiwanese Dessert Secrets @ SS15

Although we really can’t recall what each of ‘em are called, but they have this uniquely sweet taste to it. Some may find it too sweet, though. But the reasonable pricing makes it a worthy try.

The main components of the desert we ordered was cincau, ‘tang yuen’-ish balls, sweet potato and yam. Cool, eh!

Sweet enough for you yet? :)

Restaurant One Noodle @ SS2:

We basically only had a rather light lunch and there were only two of us, so we didn’t order much food, though. But it is recommended that you try out their specialty noodles (hence the name of the restaurant). Another highlight is their dimsum promotion: 50% off from Mondays – Saturdays! Who doesn’t love good food at a better price? :)

From top left: ‘Xiao Long Bao’; ‘Siew Mai’; ‘Sui Gao’ Wantan Noodles

Their dimsum really is not too bad; simple and sufficiently satisfying. Their ‘xiao long bao’ is juicy enough and a good substitute for the ones at Dragon-i. The rest of the dimsum is satisfactory.

The ‘sui gao’ noodles we ordered came in a medium sized serving in a big bowl – just right for one person. The three pieces of ‘sui gao’ were quite flattering in size – quite worth a try. However, we hear that the pork chop noodles are one of the best they have. Should try on the next visit!

Right: Pork Ribs; Left: Glutinous Rice (aka. ‘Loh Mai Kai’)

Tram Car @ Dataran 3 Dua Square:

It has a nice ambience to it, as suggested by some friends, a bunch of us decided to try it out. It’s quite an easy place to locate; right next to the Toyota showroom around Seksyen 13, PJ.

Here are the main courses we ordered:

Baked Seafood

Baked Fish

Roast Chicken

We didn’t really take a liking to the baked seafood and baked fish, but the roast chicken is quite appetizing. The servings are just nice for one person, though, that’s if you’re planning to share. In addition, we spotted the Chicken Cordon Bleu – it looks good!

Well, not much for a first little PJ escapade, but we intend to go all out the next time we venture into the streets of the PJ area to eat! Wait up for that :)

In another sense, Kris Allen won American Idol! *cheers

To date, our diet has been successfully complied to despite minor exceptional occasions to nibble a little bit here and there.

Here’s to share with you part of our menu during this week of strict eating:

Baked Codfish:

Delicious and totally healthy!

Ingredients:

1. Codfish
2. Big or medium mushrooms
3. Onions
4. Garlic
5. Olive oil
6. Big oven

Step 1: Defrost the codfish, and cut the mushrooms if you like. (Put it on a tray as we’re going to be baking it this round)

Step 2: Add chopped up onions, pressed garlic and a tablespoon of olive oil.

Step 3: Heat up the oven for 5 minutes at about 200 degrees before putting in the tray. Allow it to bake/cook for 5-7 minutes.

Voila!

Steamed Cabbage and Chicken:

Ingredients:

1. Chicken
2. Cabbage

Step 1: Lightly marinate the chicken chop with a hint of salt and pepper. Then let it cook in boiling water. In the mean time, wash and chop up the cabbage.

Step 2: After 7-8 minutes, check if the chicken is almost cooked. If so, time to put in the chopped cabbage to cook.

There you have it; takes only 15 minutes!

Balanced Brunch:

We had this for breakfast three days in a row and it was no where near boring!

Ingredients:

1. Long beans
2. Ham
3. Eggs
4. Lettuce

Step 1: Chop up the long beans into small pieces and cut the ham slices as well. Break one egg, but take only the egg white.

Step 2: Heat up the pan with a little bit of olive oil and throw in the long beans and ham first. After cooking for about 3 minutes, pour in the egg white and stir fry.

Step 3: Prepare a hard boiled egg separately. Boil some water in another pot and put in the egg whole only when the water starts boiling. From there, let it boil for 5-6 minutes. It should turn out just right.

Step 4: Get the lettuce; go ahead and add in cucumbers if you like.

Step 5: Pack and go!

The two dishes are simple and easy to prepare with no stress or sweat involved. So get planning on that diet, and start cooking!

We sincerely apologise for the inconsistency in our updates. Henceforth, we have decided to update twice a week – on Sundays (today!) and Wednesdays – to bring you different food highlights each week.

After many sessions of stuffing ourselves with food, we have decided to take necessary disciplinary actions – we’re DIETing! Fret not, the next few posts will bring up how you can still eat good food, but still lose those few extra pounds. One thing’s for sure, we won’t need to shut ourselves away from food :)

Here’s one to start off the day; we had this for lunch & dinner:

Ingredients:

1. Japanese Tofu
2. Chicken
3. Lettuce
4. Water

Absolutely oil-free!

Step 1: Boil enough water to cook. At the same time, lightly marinate the chicken with small dashes of pepper and salt.

Step 2: By the time the water boils, throw in the chicken and allow it to cook for a while before putting in the tofu. Boil until the chicken is properly cooked.

Step 3: Just before turning off the stove, throw in to the lettuce and stir for 30 – 45 seconds – just a simmer will do.

And serve! There you have it!

Each year, we try to come up with sincere, thoughtful and surprising gifts for the beloved mothers. We are sometimes faced with the problem of not knowing what to buy, make or do for Mother’s Day. Fret not! We hope that what we share today will give you inspiration or a rough idea to prepare for the big day.

Why SEVEN ideas? So in case you couldn’t decide on which idea suits you best, you could always tell the Queen of the house, “Oh Mummy, you’re going to get a week full of surprises from me!” – and there are SEVEN days in a week!

For one, there’s nothing better to consider than food!

All pictures credited to Google Search unless stated.

Idea #1: Breakfast in Bed

The classic! You can never go wrong with this simple gesture. Instead of expecting Mummy to get up at 7am to fry sausages and eggs for you, take the initiative to serve her a surprise. Here’s one of the signature, easy to prepare, yet presentable dishes;

Sausages & Omelette

Whip it up in 10 minutes!

Ingredients:

1. Eggs
2. Sausages
3. Omelette ingredients – ham, mushroom, cheese
4. Salt & pepper
5. Olive oil

Step 1: Heat the frying pan with just the right amount of olive oil. While waiting, beat the eggs.

Step 2: Throw in the main ingredients to fry first, the ham and mushroom, and let it fry until the ham reaches a slight golden brown.

Step 3: Pour in the eggs, stir it together with the ham and mushroom, and let it cook. When the omelette is almost done, put in some cheese for the extra sensation.

Step 4: On a separate, fry the sausages until they are cooked.

Step 5: Serve on a plate, with coffee or juice.

Credited: Ham and Cheese

Idea #2: Mother’s Day Coupons

A home-made coupon book will never go wrong. Fill it in with all the little favours your mother asks you to do; decorate the coupons with small family photos and her favourite things.

Some catchy examples:

• Dish duty for the rest of the week
• One-hour foot massage
• Full-day shopping companion
• One day of being an angel
• Hugs and kisses every hour for 24 hours

You can think up the rest yourself – be creative!

Idea #3: Flowers and Chocolates

The all-time favourite! You can never go wrong with these, well except if your mum’s allergic to flowers.

Don’t know how many or what colour roses should be in a bouquet?:

Of course, you don’t have to get roses;

And the chocolate!:

Idea #4: You’re the Best, Mum!

Let your mum know that she is indeed the best. Let her be self-indulgent with these goodies:

She’s our inspiration!

If your mum’s a supermodel like Kate Moss, you can kick the everyday “I love mom” tee up a notch.

Idea #5: Let’s Get Cuddly

… With a big ol’ teddy bear!

This one we googled is incredibly adorable! Put a little card and a huge ribbon on it  and watch your mum go gaga.

Idea #6: Chow Down

Treat your mum to a nice, cosy meal. You could dine at her favourite Italian restaurant, or opt for a good buffet.

We received news of a Mother’s Day promotion at one of our favourite restaurants, Bubba Gump:

We got this in the mail

Check out the newspapers for advertisements on Mother’s Day promotions. They often add in a special treat for your mum :) Surprise her with a small cake, too! Or treat her to her favourite dessert after.

Idea #7: Take Her Out

Offer to take your mum out for a day of pure fun and enjoyment, and take the family along. Surprise her with a carefully planned agenda for the whole day, and prepare everything she needs for her.

If it’s a picnic at the park, you prepare the food.

If it’s an outdoor activity, you make sure everyone has their necessary equipment.

If it’s a shopping trip, you pay for something your mum has been eyeing for.

Bottom line is; make her feel like she’s the luckiest person in the world :)

If nothing triggers your innovation or creativity to get started on doing something for Mum, take out a pen and a piece of coloured card and start writing everything you want to thank her for. And seal the letter with a kiss!

God bless!

Day 3: RM10/pax (half a day)

The Wet Market

How does 50 cents for a pack of healthy, fresh, succulent ‘tauge’ sound to you? Satisfaction guaranteed!

The ‘tauge’ in the middle of the crate is said to be the best batch.

Restaurant Yoke Fook Mun @ Opposite Excelsior Hotel

Note: Pictures are not enlarged :)

One of the best places to get ‘dimsum’! Overall: 5♥♥

Spot: egg tarts, prawn rolls, sesame balls with lotus paste

Big Fishballs

Best fishballs ever! Look at the way they’re stacked on top of each other. There are about 20 fishballs in one basket, and Ipoh residents take-away one basket for a family of four.

Steamed goodies

See, they practice hygiene by using stainless steel containers.

The take-away order lady.

Spot: big ‘pau’ in the big basket behind her

Egg Tarts

This actually is its actual size. Beats the mini egg tarts we find in most restaurants in Kuala Lumpur.

Prawns Rolled with Beancurd Skin aka. ‘Fu-cuk’ Roll

‘Loh Mai Kai’ (Glutinous Rice)

‘Wu Kok’ aka. Yam Ball

Does a 3 inch ‘dimsum’ appeal to you? They’re huge!

‘Sang Chow Loh Mai Fan’ (Fried Glutinous Rice)

An inside look into the ‘Char Sieu Pau’

It’s uber tasty! The best around Ipoh.

‘Tai (Big) Pau’

It really is big, so much so that we divided it into a portion each for the nine of us. It’s almost the size of a dinner plate. What’s inside?: chicken meat, turnip, egg, mushroom, chinese sausages and celery.

Steamed Goodies

Clockwise from Top Left: ‘Har Mai’, Prawn Ball with Sour Sauce, ‘Har Gao’, Melted Ginger with Fish Paste

Top: Pork Ribs (look at the quantity in one serving)

Bottom: ‘Siew Mai’

‘Kau Choy Mai’

Very special taste

Left: Otak-otak ‘Taufu’ – really worth trying!

Right: Special Muachi, Chinese Style

The Original Restaurant Sun Yuan Loong

Remember we had coffee in Sun Yuan Loong on the first day of the trip? This is where it all started. Even the coffee tastes slightly more original :)

The Supporting Stalls

Grab a bite? :)

Restaurant Chuan Fatt @ Old Town

This was our last stop for lunch, and we left with 100% satisfaction. The youngest in our group claimed, “I would never leave Ipoh without the crispy pork!” Find out exactly what he means, and why for yourself :)

The Preparation Process: Curry Noodles and Fried Pork

Fried Pork with Special Hainanese Curry Sauce: 5♥

Hainanese Curry Noodles: 5♥

And there you have it, the Ipoh Food Escapade! If you would like a memorable eating experience whenever you go down to Ipoh, be sure to drop by as many of the restaurants we’ve highlighted in this series.

For any further details on any of the restaurants, or simply any extra information on Ipoh itself, please drop us and e-mail and we will not hesitate to provide you the information you need. We might even manage to snag some good deals for you here and there!

God bless :)

Day 2: RM50/pax

Keledang Wantan Noodles @ Menglembu

After a refreshing and much needed semi-mountain trekking session, we headed over to a coffee shop nearby Keledang Mountain, Menglembu to have a taste of their much heard of ‘wantan‘ noodles: 3♥.

“Want a taste of the biggest nuts in the world?”

Coconuts

– Our uncle cum trekking guide

Totally appetizing!

Restaurant Yum Yum @ Town Centre

Just a note: It’s a 3 minute walk from the new Tower Regency Hotel

Here, you’ll find that their signature dishes have a very authentic and unique taste as compared to the normal Nyonya cuisine. Yum Yum is of a Thai-Nyonya origin, hence the difference in taste. What’s more, the famous actor, Chow Yun Fatt, has stepped foot in that restaurant itself! Word is that he didn’t get a chance to dine in because of a sudden rush of people to the restaurant once they found out that he was present. How could you resist, right?

‘Mango Kerabu’: 5♥

The most scrumptious ‘Mango Kerabu’ you’d get around. A good blend of sweet and sour, you just can’t stop scooping some onto your plate.

‘Perut Ikan’: 5♥

Cooked with a dash of coconut flavour – indescribable!

Curry Fish Head: 5♥

‘Kangkung Belacan’: 5♥

Fried Chicken: 5♥♥

It’s fried chicken like you’ve never had before. Personally, we have honestly never tasted anything like the one they serve here. We suspect a hint of herbs and spices used in preparing this dish, and trust us, it’s nothing like what the Kolonnel does. Another dish we’d advice you to experience on your own. One of us devoured one piece in a record time of 30 seconds. Not kidding.

Souvenir Shopping @ Chop Wong Yew Kee

There are many places around Ipoh where you can get goodies for your family and friends back in Kuala Lumpur. This is just one we stopped at. Here, we bought ‘Hiong Piah’, which is loved by many.

Mun Cheong @ New Pasir Puteh

This is yet another of our main stops in Ipoh. The food here is really good, and what’s more is the affordability – the food is cheap, seriously. We’ll just let the pictures do the talking as there isn’t much we could put in words. Make it a point to visit this place when you’re down in Ipoh!

‘Taufu’ with Minced Meat: 5♥♥

A perfect gravey base.

“I didn’t know it was so cheap; we should’ve ordered two!”

‘Yin Yang’ Pomfret: 5♥♥

One of their signature dishes; the fish is fried on one side and steamed on the other. We have no idea how they do it, but the result is amazing.

Big Headed Fresh Water Prawns: 5♥♥

The star of our meal. These prawns are huge! They are about two thirds the size of a small plate (+/- 3.5″), and we ordered them only “medium sized” this time round. The “big sized” ones really are gigantic, you’d have slight trouble trying to dig out every edible part. They taste simply magical when prepared in ‘si yao wong’ sauce. A definite must try!

Stir Fried Vennison Black Pepper Meat: 3♥

We had this to add some variety to what we had on the table. The meat that day was a little bit tough though. We should’ve sent it back to the kitchen, they’d cook up a new serving for us.

Stir Fried Hot ‘Wok’ French Beans: 5♥

This dish depicts the saying “looks can be deceiving” very well. It looks simple and maybe even a little bit boring, but each bite is crunchy yet soft at the same time. You’d change your perspective on long beans.

Canning Garden Food Court

After that filling dinner, it’s amazing how we still had space for dessert! That’s how life is like in Ipoh – you eat as many meals as you like in a day.

‘Ice Kacang’: 5♥

It’s a wonder sometimes how something so common can somehow taste different at different places. This one’s creamy, soothing and original.

‘Rojak’: 3♥

Apparently the ‘rojak’ tasted better 30 years ago.

Curry Noodles: 5♥

The curry noodles, on the other hand, taste the same then and now. Totally original with a slightly sourish taste.

The last day, coming up soon! We had ‘dimsum’ for breakfast :)

Day 1: RM40/pax

Some of you may be aware that there is a TV programme on Astro that features places you can go to and spend less than RM50 in a day. Well, we’re under that RM50-a-day budget and we’re proud of it!

The first thing we did when we passed the tolls was to head directly for a short rest stop before speeding to our lunch.

Restaurant Kong Heng @ Old Town

Kong Heng has been around for at least 35 years, and that’s only as far as we remember. Here, we revisit the food them Ipoh folks have been living on for many decades.

Sotong Kangkung with Satay Sauce: 4♥

A pure authentic taste that you will find hard to get in other places.

‘Popiah’: 4♥

30 years ago, one roll of popiah here cost only 25 cents! The lady who created this recipe has passed on, but the popiah never changed its taste. She used to sarcastically say back then, “If it’s 25 cents a roll, then it’s only 5 cents a bite!” (1 roll was cut into 5 portions) – “Did she just mock us?”, was the normal response in those days. Of course, now you won’t be hearing any of that anymore.

‘Chee Cheong Fun‘: 4♥

Chee cheong fun in Ipoh is different from the ones you normally see in Kuala Lumpur. Ipoh’s version is very original, and as you can see, is mostly stuffed with a few ingredients which blend superbly well in taste. It is stuffed with long beans, turnip, small prawns, and eaten with sweet sauce, chilli sauce and pickled green chilli.

‘Kai Si (Chicken) Hor Fun’: 2♥

Now here’s a slight disappointment. The noodles are no longer at the two thumbs up level it was at before as the original founder passed the business to his son. The noodles were served messily and didn’t the taste was not up to par as compared to the older days.

Caramel Custard: 5♥

This, however, is a definite MUST try in Kong Heng. The custard is of a very smooth texture and the caramel doesn’t make it too sweet. Even the ‘aunties’ enjoyed it without complaints. The old man who created this delicacy is still collecting money at the cashier, and he should be around 90 years old. Now that’s what we call endurance.

Kedai Kopi Sun Yuan Loong @ near Pasir Puteh

Firstly, the original Sun Yuan Loong has been around for many decades and is the oldest restaurant we visited. during the trip. This Pasir Puteh branch has a more contemporary atmosphere than the original location which we visited on the last day.

There’s a Petaling Jaya branchof this coffee shop in Aman Suria, but the coffee and toast taste had somehow lost its touch although it still tastes good.

Toasted Hainanese Bread with Butter and Kaya: 5♥

Toast has never tasted this good. The bread used is very special in terms of texture – it’s very light and is not compact like Gardenia. You’ll have to try it yourself to know what we really mean!

The person preparing the toast works so fast, we couldn’t get a proper snapshot of her.

The Toast Process

Ipoh Original White Coffee: 5♥

This is the origin of the originals we see in Kuala Lumpur. The perfect blend of the white coffee simply cannot be put into words :)

Conclusion: Cheap and fulfilling!

Funny Mountain Soya Bean @ Jalan Theatre

They have a business card which says:

Seems like we’re doing a little bit of promotion for them. But they somewhat do deserve it!

The come up with the best tau foo fah ever – the smoothness in every bite is amazing; and the freshest soya bean and cincau drinks.

This is how they operate:

1. Drive your car and park in front of the stall. If there’s a line, queue!
2. Order from the nice gentleman who approaches you
3. Collect your drink delivered to you at your car
4. Enjoy every sip, but finish within 3 minutes or so
5. Return the glass or containers
6. Drive off

Approximate time: 5-7 minutes

Level of satisfaction: Maximum

The Soya Bean and ‘Cincau’

The ‘Tau Foo Fah’

‘Yin Yang’ – ‘Cincau’ + Soya Bean: 5♥♥

‘Tau Foo Fah’: 5♥♥

Look at the line!

Operating Hours

You’d better not go there too late, they might “habis”! Too cute.

Skyway Eatery @ opposite Excelsior Hotel

Though a relatively new restaurant, the food selection here is not to be taken lightly. It’s home to the one of a kind Claypot Crab and Glass Noodles ala Thai - a fusion of Thai and Cantonese taste. This dish is not as widely known as the rest of the food we’ve come across because it has been under the radar. We are lucky to come by and discover this delicacy by word of mouth or referral.

Self-made Fisballs: 5♥

The fishballs are made by the founders themselves, and do not disappoint at all. Served in a perfect soup base, each fishball has an unbelievable texture and is as big as a pingpong ball!

‘Wat Tan Hor’: 5♥

Dry Stir Fried Noodles with Mixed Meat: 5♥

One word for both dishes: Superb!

Clams: 3♥

And we begin the preparation of the much anticipated claypot crab dish!

Claypot Crab and Glass Noodles ala Thai: 5♥♥

Now that’s the way to eat!

Lou Wong Tauge Chicken

This is another place you should never leave Ipoh without. No regrets whatsoever! Also, the presence of the night market on the street itself makes the atmosphere more lively.

You got that right!

The Big Boss

As you can see, the simple process of preparing the ‘tauge’, chopping chicken, and boiling the noodles require much skill and precision. Each chicken is chopped into equally sized pieces at lightning speed; the man at the ‘tauge’ corner never leaves his post with one plate, always two or more; each serving tray is never brought out if it is not filled with as many bowls of ‘hor fun’ noodles it can hold.

Two words: Efficient perfection.

Whole White Chicken: 5♥♥

‘Tauge’ in Soya Sauce: 5♥♥

Dried (left) and Soup Based (right) ‘Hor Fun’ Noodles: 5♥♥

DONE, in just 10 minutes! – eventhough we were already 95% full.

Stay tuned for Day 2 on our food escapade!

But heads up! We’ll be leaving for a weekend trip to Ipoh, Perak tomorrow morning and will be back on Sunday evening. Hence, there will be a massive update then on the food expedition we will be embarking on when we’re there. Ipoh has a reputable variety, taste and quality of food, so this should not be missed!

Keep checking in! :)

Currently, the Marriage Course is run by one of the ‘elders’ in church who so happen to be one of our long time friends. We have been preparing lunch for them every Saturday the course is on since its first session a while back. There are about 40 couples who attend this course, and we’re assuming that they are fans of the food we prepare as leftovers are rare occurances.

Last Saturday’s (28/03) meal was Fried Yee Mee Noodles, Fried Spring Roll and Fruit. Here’s how it went:

Fried Yee Mee Noodles: One of our signature dishes – enjoyed by many and definitely an all time favourite.

Ingredients you will need:

1. Yee Mee Noodles – can be found in grocery stalls and supermarkets
2. Mushroom
3. Fishcake/Fishball
4. Round cabbage
5. Chicken Stock
6. Optional: Add shrimp to your fancy

One packet of noodles (4 blocks) should be enough to feed 5 to 6 people, so you can gauge how much you need based on the number of people you’re cooking for.

Remember, the amount of food we cooked in the pictures below are for 80 pax.

Step 1: Fry the mushroom and fishcake/fishball separately first. These are to be added in to the noodles later on.

Step 2: Likewise, boil the cabbage in a pot of hot water. Do not pour out the water when you’re done with the cabbage.

Step 3: Using the remaining water from boiling the cabbage, put the noodles in block by block and stir. Add salt, pepper and a dash of chicken stock for the extra flavour. You can also add some ‘black sauce’  if you like. There should be enough water; we don’t want the noodles to be too soggy. Add water slowly if insufficient.

Step 4: When the noodles are just about cooked, pour in the cabbage, mushroom and fishcake we prepared earlier. Stir everything together well and allow it to cook on a smaller fire.

Step 5: Pour it out to cool, and you’re done!

Fried Spring Roll:

Ingredients: Frozen Spring Roll (We bought the ‘otak-otak’ filled ones)

Step 1: This one’s simple. Just fry the spring roll! After that, lay it out on kitchen paper to absorb the extra oil. Keeping it oily will cause it to become soggy at a faster rate.

Pretty, aren’t they? :)

The Final Product:

Help yourselves!

Honestly, the noodles are really really goooood :)

Fruits are a must-have. Papayas do the trick in digestion, and the papayas ripened just right.

As predicted, no leftovers that weekend either :)

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