Fancy Dinner at KL Tower

A while back ago, I attended a fancy formal dinner at KL Tower.
It was my first time there, ever.

As I arrived at the base/entrance of the tower, I was given a VVIP tag (as part of the formal dinner). Sounds great, but is actually nothing. I was briskly shown into the lift and up we went to the top of the tower where the restaurant is.

The view at the tower was great, as expected. The night view of KL was enchanting. And I was lucky that the skies were clear that night. The tower actually rotates about 40 or 60degs every 1/2 or so. So by the time you finished dinner, you would have at least a 360deg view of KL's skyline.





Unfortunately, the food was just so-so. Large variety of offering on the buffet table, but not quite on par with other top restaurants in hotels around KL.

But the atmosphere and view more than makes up for it. But I have to say, it is very pricey. As nice as it was, I don't think I will be back there anytime soon.

Under The Big Tree

During the long Christmas weekend while I was back in Ipoh, I had lunch at a place Ipoh folks call 'Tai Shu Kiok' - literally meaning 'at the feet of big trees'. The name is quite apt, as the tables were set out within a grove of shady trees.

I had not been there for quite a while, and was surprised at the changes there. For one, a hawker centre has suddenly sprung up next to it. Although it was doing relatively good business as well, it does not seem to have affected the original shop as it was just as crowded.

Secondly, plastic 'canvas' canopies now cover the entire area under the trees. While it is probably good for practical reasons, i miss the time when it was all open air. I miss the 'torpedoes' of falling leaves and twigs everytime the wind blows.

Anyways, most importantly the food has not changed. I could still have my laksa bee hoon (yes, bee hoon) there. Ipoh remains the only place i've found that i could have laksa with bee hoon, (just the way i like it). I don't fancy the thicker noodles that normally accompanies laksa dishes.

Plus the large variety of 'stuffed snacks' or 'liu' as we call it in cantonese is just marvelous. Add to the fact that everything is freshly fried at the stall itself, the entire lunch was just amazingly mouth watering and very much satisfying. I guess that is why the place is so popular. I was there at about 2pm, and the place was still packed with the lunch crowd...

This remains as one of my favourite makan places of all times. Compared to this, I just can't understand what the fuss about 'Ampang Yong Tau Foo' is all about...


Delicious stuff just waiting to be fried...







Yummy Stuff...










The lunch crowd...

Gathering of the Lee Clan

My family got together for a family vacation at Putrajaya during the last CNY. Since I had lots of siblings and loads of nieces and nephews, it was a huge entourage. 6 rooms, and 7 car loads.

We stayed at the Marriott hotel. It was a very nice and spacious but quiet hotel. Perfect for a get-away type of holiday. We spend the evenings at the pool (my nieces and nephews - 12 of them - swarmed the whole pool. It was fun seeing them play and enjoying snacks at the pool side.

In the day time, we had short excursions to 'The Eye' at Tasik Titiwangsa, KLCC, Alamanda shopping mall.

Before heading back to Ipoh, we dropped by Klang to savour the famous Bak Kut Teh. But we arrived quite late and all the famous restaurants were sold out. We had to settle for one of the smaller restaurants. It wasn't great, but since we were starving, we enjoyed it tremendously nonetheless.

Photo images...

The Eye and it's reflection forming an auspicous figure of 8



Another shot of The Eye


The famous Satay Kajang Restaurant


So many satays ready to be served



It's the sauce that makes it good



Such a long long satay stove!

Gastronomic Reflections On Thaipusam

Today's Thaipusam... a day for reflection, a day for contemplation.

Without meaning any disrespect to our Hindu frens, we had a our own day of reflection today, albeit with our tummies.

As with most holiday/celebration, food is never far from our mind. Today Soo Sean and Wei Ye dropped by my place to cook up a feast for dinner.

We headed to Queensbay mall, to get the necessary grocery. We bought lots of stuff... sauces, herbs, vege, salmon, and others. Once back at my place, Soo Sean started working on the mushroom soup by finely chopping the mushrooms. Wei Ye worked on the lamb, while being the one with the super sweet-tooth, i took up the dessert.

After a couple of hours.... ta da!!!

A full course dinner...

We had salmon cocktail for appetizers, followed by a creamy mushroom soup. Entre was mixed herb lamb shoulder with some vege and japanese sweet potato.

And for dessert....


Unfortunately, I don't remember the name of this dessert, I just followed the recipe from Wei Ye's magazine. It turned out quite alright. ;)

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The Chef:


And the Dishwasher:

Back In Ipoh for Christmas...

I'm back in Ipoh for the holidays... So far so good, doing the usual. Sleep late, have good food, etc.

As today was still a working day, I took advantage of it to get my passbook updated in CIMB Bank, Tasek. The last entry on my passbook is dated Feb2007. Ha ha.

Once done, I had my lunch at the famous Mee Rebus Ramli nearby. There was a huge lunch crowd and I had to wait a while for a table.
But I noticed one thing, despite the full house, I was the only non-Malay in the restaurant. Wonder why...

The Shop


The lunch crowd...


The famous Mee Rebus. Yummy!!!


Plates of Nasi Ayam waiting to be served


For those who have not tasted it before, give it a try. Highly recommended.
The tastes is quite similar to the usual mee rebus, but what sets it apart is the thick gravy. It tastes superb, with a strong hint of potatoes. I think they must have blended potatoes into the gravy to make so thick and tastes so good.

Another plus point is that although the lunch crowd was huge, the taste of the mee rebus is just as great. This differs very much from some of the laksa shops in Penang that i had the misfortune to try. The taste and thickness of the laska soup is in inverse proportion of the demand. For those not technically inclined, it means the soup gets diluted as demand outpaces supply laa.

I'll be meeting up with some old Carsem colleagues later tonite. Till then i will probably take a afternoon nap. :p

What's For Dinner???

It's a holiday today... So naturally, I woke up quite late.
The long long sleep is most welcome. It has been a long and hectic week at work. Plus I came back last nite from the Christmas gathering at Chiang Mei's new place.

Waking up late, I had a very late breakfast. So by about 4pm i was quite hungry already. Since it was a bit too early invite anyone out to have dinner, I decided to whip up something simple for myself. So I went out to get a piece of Salmon from Tesco.

Half and hour later... Behold!!!
Cajun Pan Fried Salmon... Doesn't it look inviting? (Or maybe it's just me coz i was starving!)

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Five minutes later....



Burpp!!!
:p

Many Firsts in Japan

My trip to Japan is coming to an end. I am now in the hotel, just finished clearing my email.
Will be flying back home tomorrow morning.

Although this trip was tiring and packed, but it was interesting for me. Despite this being my 4th trip to Tokyo, this trip has many 'firsts' for me, especially food-wise.

This trip, I had my first shabu shabu, my first fugu fish, my first Korean BBQ, and my first Teppanyaki in Japan. All very very yummy!!!!

I also had the good fortune to witness first hand the most beautiful koyo (autumn leaves) in the hills... The scenery was truly out of this world. The hills were filled with patches of green, yellow and red in many shades.

Below are picture dumps from my trip...

(Most of them are taken within the time span of about an hour that i had to walk about. Good thing the sun rises early in Japan. I had to wake up at 6am to make time to go walk walk before the day begins.)

View outside one of the hotels i stayed in



Shrubs in the park changing colour:



Another shot of the park:



Trees along the pathway turning red:



A nice willow tree:



Shot of some branches:



Outside a temple:



With a Yellow Tree:


A beautiful, multi-coloured tree: