Wander & Blossom

The folks behind The Gardens Chinese New Year decorationdid such a wonderful job this year it attracts not only shutterbugs but pretty ladies who dressed up in Cheongsam as well. Agnes and I fall into the former category though the idea of starting an OOTD post in Cheongsam is equally fascinating.

We then had our lunch at Le French Wrap, a relatively new crêperie located within The Gardens lower ground floor, yet already a second outlet after Publika. Of faux greenery, living pots, standing chalkboards, wooden tables, finite thus exclusive seats on Tolix French-made Marais A chairs and Marais barstools; cleverly embellished with that lamp post in creating that French café atmosphere.

By adding a few ringgits extra in upgrading our à la carte wrap to set lunch, we get to enjoy 1 side order (choice of coleslaw/potato salad/steamed spinach/salad) and 1 drink (choice of house juice/coffee/tea). Served in plastic cups, plastic cutlery, cardboards and wrapping papers, the aftermath would be well taken care of although this may be an issue among environmentalists.

Le Norwegian (à la carte RM15, set lunch RM19)

Smoked salmon, herbed cream cheese, cherry tomatoes, lettuce

They can’t go wrong with the combination of salmon and cream cheese, but made better with generous amount of smoked salmon. The crêpe layer was nicely done; of perfect thickness, moisture and came warm after heated on iron plate. Not knowing the repetitive ingredients (romaine lettuce and cherry tomato) used on both Le Norwegian and their side order of salad, it was as if I had the same meal twice.

La Riviera (à la carte RM15, set lunch RM19)

Chicken sausage, sautéed mushrooms, roasted capsicums, lettuce, wasabi mayo

Romaine lettuce seems to play an indispensable role in all savory wraps with no escape thus a mention beforehand is necessary for those who do not fond of it. The addition of minimal wasabi mayo into the slight peppery chicken sausage was brilliant enough to stimulate the nasal passage for every next bite.

Potato salad with what believed to be dill was appetizing, preferably served chilled.

On a side note, their portion of set lunch was not meant to please big eaters though it would be just nice for ladies.

Mille Crêpe Choco-star RM6

My impression of mille crêpe was that it consists of many crêpe layers, made as thin as possible with fresh cream in between, so smooth that all layers spread out on my tongue as if it melts inside. Here at Le French Wrap, they made it differently; crêpe layers of spongy texture where one can still feel the porous within. It was as dense, moist and creamy.

Le French Wrap

LG K23, The Gardens Mall, Mid Valley City,

Jalan Lingkaran Syed Putra, 59200, Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-7887 8417

info@lefrenchwrap.com

Facebook

Isetan KLCC is currently hosting Malaysia's first ever All Kansai Festival as we speak. The event will end on 26th February 2014 (next Wednesday) but I am honored to witness its ribbon cutting ceremony on 14th February, the Valentine's Day.

In conjunction to the All Kansai Festival's tagline of "Spreading Smiles and Food", it features not only delicacies from Osaka but also expect heart-warming smiles from these pretty Fuku Musume(福娘), which also known as Lucky Maidens.
Every year on the 9th-11th of January a much celebrated festival called Tōka Ebisu(十日戎) will be held at Imamiya Ebisu Shrine (今宮戎神社) where it attracts over millions of people. As such, 50 Fuku Musume (between 18-23 years old, unmarried) will be selected out of 3,000 applicants nationwide each year in representing the shrine after their submission of 1 resume and going through 2 interviews. It is said that whoever selected will gain popularity overnight hence the fierce competition as they may be the next lucky maidens.

Kansai (関西), is a region that lies in the south-central area of Japan main land where it includes Osaka(大阪), Kyoto(京都), Hyogo(兵庫), Nara(奈良), Shiga(滋賀), Wakayama(和歌山), Mie(三重), Fukui(福井) and Tokushima(徳島) in this context though the borderline is ambiguous.
As the famous saying goes 京の着倒れ、大阪の食い倒れ which means "Dress (in Kimono) till you drop in Kyoto, while eat till you drop in Osaka", describing the rich traditional culture at Kyoto and amount of eateries at Osaka, especially famous for its Takoyaki (たこ焼き) and Okonomiyaki(お好み焼き).

Dive into the wonders of Ikura(イクラ, salmon roe) as they pops in your mouth or choose a few slices from the limited fresh seafood selection air-flown from Japan (on 21st & 24th Feb) to go with a bowl of rice in making a don (丼).

Flavored Dried Scallops (味付貝柱) to be eaten as it is or to be tossed into rice cooker as suggested by the Japanese. The latter sounds great for an effortless meal.

Made without any additives, not even sugar, these Dried Persimmons (柿チップ) can be of equally delectable yet healthier alternative.

While the idea of preserved cherry blossom petals in the form of Sakura Jam (桜ジャム)intrigues me, its 2 weeks life span on the tree now prolonged to another half a year on shelf felt as if I was holding the jar of eternal spring, made even better for its palatable nature. Yuzu Jam (柚子ジャム) on the other hand giving out this citrusy scent so marvelous one cannot forget. Both jams are of low viscosity which implies lighter texture.

These strawberries are extraordinary; the aroma that can be detected inches away, the flesh so soft and juicy it’s going to burst anytime soon with each bite, full of natural sweetness not even the slightest sourness managed to squeeze in. Though priced at a staggering RM60/pack, the name Amaou Strawberry is self-explanatory; of Akai赤い (red), Marui丸い (round), Ookii大きい (big) and Umai旨い (tasty).

Also, visit the eat-in counters on the same level as promotion hall, located at Isetan KLCC Concourse Floor that offer delicacies from Osaka.

Takoyaki たこ焼き(By Aiduya 会津屋)
To date, Aiduya has 81 years of experience in handling Takoyaki ever since its establishment in year 1933. Offering 7 Takoyaki flavors in its 9 outlets throughout Japan, Aiduya brought only the Original flavor of tako/octopus (元祖たこ焼き) to this Kansai Festival. 4 pieces of Takoyaki are going for RM10 while 9 pieces for RM20. Relatively smaller in size, these Takoyaki also came without mayonnaise, dancing bonito flakes, and slices of seaweed; Fret not as these are the characteristics of Aiduya’s Takoyaki. The taste of Takoyaki can now be better appreciated along with its chewy texture without any condiments on top.

Naniwa Inari浪花いなり (By Edosan-Yamatoya 江戸三・大和屋)
What a mouthful it would be judging from the plump appearance of these beautifully highlighted Inari. Dig further in and I found bits of meat slices done in Yamatoni 大和煮 way, seasoned with ginger, soy sauce, sugar and other spices.

Deep Boiled Creamy Chicken Soup Special Ramen RM36 (by Tentenyu 天天有)
How rare can we get pork-free Ramen around Malaysia? Established since year 1991, Tentenyu takes pride in its 18 hours deep-boiled creamy chicken soup, to be paired with few slices of seaweed, spring onions, bean sprouts, generous amount of chicken meat, last but not least the onsen tamago (though I would prefer a runny egg yolk). Sips after sips of heavily-flavored soup while slurping the alkaline-free noodles imported from Japan.

On the next day I attended their Nankintama Sudare Show (南京玉すだれ), a unique traditional Japanese street performance where each performer holds a small screen (sudare) made of loosely woven bamboo sticks in portraying different objects like fishing rod, bridge etc while chanting a rhythmic poem.

Fugu (河豚) is the Japanese word for pufferfish which can be lethally poisonous due to its tetrodotoxin. Hence, only skilled chef with Fugu preparation license shall be allowed to handle it. Never sampled any Fugu slices in my life, I took up the challenge on one of the demonstration sessions last weekend, which of course I survived to tell the tale. The thin-sliced thus translucent Fugu sashi were served in what believed to be Shio Ponzu hence the taste of pufferfish itself could not be identified, but the pairing was indeed a surprise combination.

Limited 100 packs of Fugu sashi with each containing 12 pieces, going for RM45/pack sold out within 1 day.

Head on to Isetan KLCC 2nd floor for this weekend performances and also don't forget to check out the schedule here.

For more information on Isetan, kindly visit their website or facebook page.

Reminder: The All Kansai Festival ends 26th February (Wednesday) so be quick!

Being pushed down the long travel list after picturesque islands of vividly blue sky and pale white sands such as Sipadan, Redang etc, Pangkor just wasn’t the island I long to be. Yet, seeing photos of these A-Chalets by Nipah Guesthouse regained my attention towards this little island off coast of Perak state. It was January last year that both Jason and I decided to travel there, for the sake of unique accommodation, just like what we did for La Pari-Pari.

I still remember the day we arrived at Pangkor later than expected due to some complications and got Alicia the owner so concerned she made a call to us. We managed to rent a motorbike at the port as our transportation for the next few days after much haggle with different parties. We then, as first-time Pangkor travelers had to drive all the way to Nipah Guesthouse where I had moments of doubt passing through roads under dimmed light. Jason, the one with great sense of direction (which I now consider this to be a form of talent) drove as if he knows those roads like the back of his hand.

It was about 10pm when we finally arrived and I was relieved to see Alicia expecting us by the entrance. She then lead us to our A-Chalet while briefed us some of the house rules. Equipped with TV, air-conditioner, wall fan, racks, double bed and en suite bathroom, the chalet was roomier than what I would have imagined. It might not feature wardrobe or even white fluffy comforter, but the level of cleanliness here can definitely match 3-star hotel standard. Not bad for RM150/room/night (peak season rate).

It rained heavily during the midnight and the sound somehow amplified when it hit the zinc roof. I couldn’t sleep well though I admit to be a heavy sleeper myself.

On the next morning, we woke up to the DIY home breakfast. Breads, butter, jams, fruits, eggs, and pancake syrup are provided in such a way anyone can prepare them according to their liking so we made ourselves scrambled eggs and pancakes. Another simple DIY breakfast is to spread some butter on the toasted bread then sprinkle coarse sugar on top for the crispiness; a trick I learned from the older generation.

Nasi Lemak is always there by the corner for anyone else who doesn’t feel like cooking or preparing their own meal so no worries.

Exploring the island on a motorbike was wonderful; pull over whenever we spotted something interesting then get back on again to continue our journey, under the lovely weather and cooling breeze.

Later the day, it was our plan to go for dinner at Daddy’s Café, a restaurant at Coral Beach famous for its scenic sunset and romantic dinner. As we came out from Nipah Guesthouse, we noticed a huge crowd feeding hornbills on the same street. Believe it or not, I have yet to see a hornbill, alive. The person-in-charge was kind enough to give us some bread crumbs for free (as opposed to other places where they would charge) and taught us how to feed them the right way. As stated on the banner, just bring your camera and be there 6.30pm sharp.

The sunset wasn’t as magnificent as shown in some Tripadvisor photos yet more than enough for a romantic candlelight dinner on the beach. We were given the menu and while browsing at the options, we giggled looking at “Fish and Chips” description. Good try but we chose to go for Daddy’s Chicken Chop and Pineapple Chicken Rice instead. I couldn’t recall any taste of the dishes right now but the portion was huge. The price ranges from RM15-RM25/dish if I remember correctly, definitely worthy for it was the best meal we’ve had there for 3 days. Oh, not to forget the part where we were dining while listening to the waves!

We returned to Nipah Guesthouse again, opened our laptop and did the virtual surfing (instead of the real ocean surfing). The cat too, joined us for almost half of the night.

The next morning, we woke up to 2 special guest appearances on the dining area. It turned out that not only Nipah Guesthouse has a cat; they’re having 2 hornbills too. How cool is that?

Before I end this post, I present to you a GIF file compilation of photos we shot in front of A-Chalet. May you too, find comfort in their great hospitality.

Nipah Guesthouse

Lot 4506, Teluk Nipah, 32300 Pangkor, Malaysia

Facebook

Tripadvisor

Baguette is just not something I would fancy. The brick-hard texture serves good as gum exercise or even the ability to disguise as self-defense weapon against stray dogs just put me off. The 2 trips I have made to Vietnam didn’t help a single bit on lessen these horrible experiences. No matter how good the filling might be, I just won’t fall for the baguette.

Still, sitting here while drafting a post trying to recommend this extraordinary fluffy baguette was not something I would have foreseen:

The restaurant name Obanhmi is self-explanatory; selling mainly Bánh mì, the Vietnamese term synonymous with Baguette though it refers to bread in general, while offering Vietnamese coffee and fried spring roll too in their menu.

Vnmese Milk Coffee (Hot) RM4

No doubt the coffee here is rich, though there is still a gap to fill compared to those at Vietnam.

Vnmese Milk Coffee (Cold) RM4& Vnmese Iced Lemon Tea RM3.5

The hot coffee was stronger in aroma while this cold drink served best as thirst quencher. Iced Lemon tea was sour and refreshing enough though my palate detected more lime than lemon. Pair them up with any baguette and save RM1 each.

Spring Roll/ O’Rolly

Order a whole plate for RM7 or pay RM2 extra from drink + baguette meal deal for one roll. Deep fried spring roll of rice paper filled with seemingly healthy shredded vegetables like carrots, black fungus, cilantro and mung bean noodles, yet the amount of oil oozing out following each bite just horrified both of us.

Freshly baked baguettes would be the key for such perfection with new batch available daily at 8.00am, 12.30pm, 1pm and 6pm.

O Sunny RM9.20

Pâtés the rich and succulent spreadable paste of pork and beef, hams the extra layers of meaty bites, pickled radish & carrots in bringing out their natural sweetness minus the pungent vinegar smell; all lies within the crispy yet fluffy baguette. It would be perfect if the egg given was sunny side-up as stated.

O BBQ RM8.20

No more pâté and ham here as they have been replaced with BBQ pork. The meat was flavorful enough for hearty bites and I must credit the runny egg yolk else this baguette would be on the dry side.

O.M.G. RM11.20

Twice the loads of O Sunny but pay only RM2 extra sounds like a good deal hence the limitation of up to 30 pieces per day.

O Roasted Pork RM12

A choice you won’t regret going for if you’re a pork lover.

Obanhmi Shop

No 33, Jalan SS 21/56b, Damansara Uptown, Selangor.

Tuesday – Sunday

9.30am-9.30pm

03-7732 8540
Facebook

Strategically tucked between the famous Jalan Alor and Tengkat Tong Shin, The Yard Boutique Hotel is the place when it comes to serenity within bustling area. Access to The Yard is rather convenient by public transport (Monorail Bukit Bintang) then follow by another 10 minute walk. Drivers, on the other hand, have to bear with the traffic jam but rest assured that there will be parking spaces at outdoor carpark just next to and about double the size of The Yard.

It is a totally different world upon stepping in; the colonial tiles beneath, long tiled benches on the side, illuminated tealight lanterns hanging on the tree, white cast iron outdoor benches along with tables on wooden platform…and the spacious courtyard.

The interior design of deluxe double room (about RM180 after tax) was amazing; the high ceiling hence good ventilation, bare concrete floor and walls, a work desk with chair, LCD TV mounted on the wall, semi-open shelf for closet & safe box that is also acting as a divider to separate wash basin area, transparent sliding door with blinds on the other side for rain shower and a toilet.

Despite the great design, the cleanliness of the floor was disappointing as if we barefooted outdoor. Paper slippers provided had just become one of the essentials.

This seemingly leisure moment of reading while enjoying a cup of hot Lipton tea in the courtyard came only after solving the mystery of missing kettle in our room. Perhaps it was due to safety or hygienic issue that no kettle provided hence we had to get hot water from water dispenser at the lobby. Luckily I only needed 1 cup.

Whenever we enter the room, we had to play this game called "who shuts the door faster". It was pretty interesting as we were competing against the amount of mosquitos that somehow, would successfully enter our fort. Tracking and slapping those victory mosquitos with our bare hands would be the price to pay. I saw hi-tech mosquito repellent system, I saw mosquito repellent vaporizer and it seems that they have tried everything they could to deter those mosquitoes but sadly, it did not work well.

All in all, the location was strategic with access to eateries, pubs and shopping area but it was also concealed in the dimly-lighted smelly back alley of rats hence it is strongly recommended to walk with companion. Some complained that it was noisy but I have experienced none so far. Mosquitos too, would be an issue for some. Still, The Yard is the place to fall for interior design enthusiast and landscape lover. Trust me, we have fallen twice!

The Yard Boutique Hotel

Lot 623 (No.51D)

Jalan Tengkat Tong Shin

50200 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
(Behind Alpha Genesis Hotel)

Telephone: +6 03 2141 1017

FAX: +6 03 2141 1079

E-mail: contact.us@theyard.com.my

In conjunction with Seeties' new FOLLOW feature, they're launching Getaway Treat Campaign: Outdoors and Beautiful in which they're giving away 10 getaway treats plus 1 special lucky draw getaway!

A total of 11 winners will get 2 days 1 night stay at a villa of their choice:

The Dusun (Berembun House)

Malihom (Sripatum)

The Stable Malacca

The Happy 8 Retreat

The Village House (Rajah Room)

Clove Hall (The Cinnamon Suite)

Cameron Highland Resorts (Deluxe)

The Majestic Hotel (Deluxe)

HOW?

1)Post at least 1 recommendation on Outdoors & Attractions category and 1 on any category you love at Seeties platform from 2 April 2014 - 30 April 2014.

2) Each recommendation should have at least 3 photos, interesting and helpful info, and correct locations on Google Map.

3) The Campaign will only include Recommendations about places in Malaysia.

SELECTION CRITERIA OF WINNERS

1) Seeties will select ten (10) expert’s recommendation with most beautiful photos to win the getaway treats!

2) One (1) special lucky draw getaway for those who participate in the Getaway Campaign!

TO PARTICIPATE

1)You must be a registered Seetizen Expert of Seeties, click here to join if you are not.

2) Share and post the campaign poster with your own unique picture URL on your blog.

For any further information or enquiries, please contact audrey@seeties.me

Find out more about terms & conditions here.

Located on concourse area of Starhill Gallery, dining at Shook! couldn’t be a more pleasant experience; the exceptionally tall ceiling spanning across 7 levels giving it the perfect condition in echoing live jazz music by performers on stage while I sat comfortably on jester colored attention-seeking chairs, overlooking the open kitchens that feature Chinese, Italian, Japanese and Western cuisine.

All these only made possible when Agnes invited me to share this gift certificate she won from work, which included one night stay at Ritz-Carlton hotel, dinner at Shook! and breakfast at Cesar’s.

For dinner, we started off with complimentary whole wheat bread slices. The olive oil glass cruet with elevated grape-bunch chamber for balsamic vinegar fascinated me a bit.

The menu was specially customized to suit the gift certificate hence there were only two 4-course meal to choose from. No specific name or whatsoever to indicate them, but if I had the honor, it would definitely be hers and his.

Agnes chose hers, the lightly seasoned, colorful and delicate while my his menu was completely opposite, of meaty and huge portion.

Hers: Insalata

Layered Fresh Tomatoes with Buffalo Mozzarella and Basil Coulis

His: Snow White Dancing Prawns

Deep Fried Prawns with Hot Mayonnaise, Sprinkled with Honey Glazed Walnuts

Bites of warm and bouncy de-veined prawns further elevated with crispy walnut bits. It was one of the best.

Hers: Oki Dobin Mushi

Japanese Clear Soup with Chicken, Prawns, and Vegetables served in Teapot

Dobin Mushi (土瓶蒸し) , a traditional Japanese steamed broth served in dobin teapot , is widely available in the season of autumn and winter. Here in Shook!, they served us this pretty teapot of bamboo pattern, a perfectly match to its bamboo handle.

To enjoy this to the fullest, first open the lid and take a sneak peek while sniffing the aroma swirling out from within the pot. Next, put back the lid, pour out some clear soup into a small cup and drink it. For second cup, squeeze in a bit of lemon follow by clear soup. If you would like the citrusy taste, squeeze in the lemon directly into the teapot. Half way through drinking the soup, place those ingredients to a small plate using a chopstick or spoon before eating them. It is uncommon to consume directly from the teapot.

His: Wild Mushroom Cappuccino

Exotic Fresh Mushroom Soup flavored with Chili Truffle Oil and Fresh Cream

A bowl of satisfaction; be it in the rich taste or huge portion.

Hers: Grilled Salmon Steak

Grilled salmon steak on sautéed zucchini, matched with pop-in-the-mouth fish roes sauce, and on top of them a bunch of perfectly grilled sweet cherry tomatoes. Salmon was slightly salty to my liking.

His: Spiced Rack of Lamb

Racks of lamb sitting on a bed of mashed potato, accompanied with pearl Spanish onion confit, onion ring, and served in apple fig sauce. It came in medium doneness as requested and the pinkish meat was absolutely gorgeous.

Hers: Chocolate and Peanut Heaven

Layers of Rich Chocolate Ganache Biscuit and Peanuts, served with Caramelized Bananas and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

His: Rich Chocolate Snicker Bar

Our desserts were very similar; the same rich chocolate ganache biscuit and peanuts bar, chocolate stick, strawberry, blueberry, physalis, but hers with vanilla bean ice-cream while mine with fruit salsa. The chocolate ganache biscuit was indeed rich, just to be spoilt by the bad oily taste of peanuts. The mix of diced dragon fruit, papaya, honeydrew with chili made this fruit salsa too hot to bear.

Even though the dessert didn’t put a happy ending to our dinner, the other dishes were pretty good. Before we left the restaurant, I found out that the actual cost per person was RM200…and we didn’t have any alcoholic drink to begin with, only plain water. Again, thanks to Agnes (and her gift certificate) for the wonderful dinner!

Shook!

Feast level (LG), Starhill Gallery,

181, Jalan Bukit Bintang,

Kuala Lumpur

03-2719 8330

Hotel breakfast to me was obligatory. More often than not, I would drag myself out of bed around an hour before the serving time ends in order to make full use of my stay. Nothing follows after that, and certainly not a full blog post. César’s, however, was an exception.

The next morning after our comfort stay at Ritz-Carlton Hotel Kuala Lumpur (made excellent with their turndown service), we went down to César’s at Level 1 for breakfast. Once seated, we were given an ala-carte menu to choose from, and there was no such thing as limited one dish per person. With choices spreading across two pages, it was indeed tough to make up our minds. Ah, how I wish to taste a bit of everything from their healthy selections of organic (cereal, milk, oatmeal), gluten free (bread & muffin), egg dishes (poached, omelette, benedict) to sweet specialities (toast, pancake, waffle).

Owing to the limited capacity in the ladies’ stomach, we’ve ordered only Eggs Benedict (poached eggs served with beef bacon, mushrooms and hollandaise sauce), Eggs Royale (poached eggs served with smoked salmon, grilled tomato and hollandaise sauce), Belgian Waffles (served with maple syrup, honey and berry compote) and French Toast (served with roasted almonds and berry compote).

While waiting for our orders to arrive, we browsed at their nicely arranged buffet spread of cereals, muesli, fruit (including seedless grapes), cold cuts (salmon, chicken, beef), grilled zucchini with capsicum, salads, pickles and much more, which of course we couldn’t help but to take a few more plates.

Everything on our round tabletop that were meant to cater for at least 4 people had to be rearranged, just to make space for all the food, including pastries of croissants, Danish, as well as the cute swirling jam holder.

Yes, only 2 ladies against one whole table of food. They were colorful, appealing, and made us look like we've starved for at least 2 days. As mentioned in Agnes’ blog, we really didn’t know how we managed to finish them. The food in general was so good I couldn’t find fault whatsoever. Oh and did I mention they served us free flow of fresh fruit juice? The service was impeccable.

I wouldn’t find myself asking for hotel breakfast walk-in rate (RM68++) in most cases but again, César’s was an exception.

César’s (Buffet Breakfast)

Monday-Friday 6.00am-10.00am

Saturday & Sunday 6.00am-10.30am

Level One, Ritz-Carlton Hotel

168 Jalan Imbi

55100 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

+6 03 2142 8000

Dining at Luk Yu Tea House was a rather unique experience; its open concept of merging carved latticed window and stained glass window panels allows soothing live jazz music as Fly Me to the Moon propagating into the ears of patrons while enjoying rows and rows of dim sum in bamboo steamer baskets, sitting comfortably on crafted Chinese wooden chairs and perhaps, admiring the Chinese chess tabletop alongside with porcelain tableware.

Being served all day, their pork-free gourmet dim sum varies from steamed dumplings (including the must-have Siew Mai - steamed chicken and prawn dumpling and Har Kau -steamed crystal prawn dumpling), crispy deep-fried (radish cake, yam puff), buns (barbequed chicken, golden custard), to Chee Cheong Fun and porridge. In addition to this, Luk Yu Tea House also serves other ala-carte dishes.

Steamed Shanghainese Chicken Dumpling “Xiao Long Bao” 上海小籠包 RM9.80

Bursting of flavorful broth followed after one single bite through the slightly thick skin. The chicken filling was so good it made almost no difference.

Deep Fried Prawn and Mango Roll 香芒鮮蝦筒 RM7.80

Sinful yet crispy bites from the breadcrumb deep-fried method made lighter by the mango fruitiness.

Steamed Scallop Dumpling 鮮蝦帶子餃 RM10.80

Bouncy prawn and scallop beneath the translucent dumpling skin, beautifully embellished with black fish roes.

Wok Fried Radish Cake with Egg and Bean Sprout 香炒蘿蔔糕 RM10.80

Stir fried with chives, bean sprouts, egg, aromatic dried radish, crispy dried shrimp and mild chili just for the spiciness, this radish cake is another must-have here.

Wok Fried Prawns Coated with Chicken Floss and Mayonnaise Dressing 雞絲蝦毬 RM39

Such pretty presentation as if these fried battered prawns with mayonnaise dressing sitting on top of a bed of chicken floss rolling their way out from the basket. They were sweet, bouncy and nevertheless great touch with that chicken floss.

Fried Noodles “Sang Mee” with King Prawns Topped with Egg Broth 滑蛋生蝦面 RM48

Like an island, these two halved king prawns laying graciously on top of deep-fried crispy Sang Mee and an ocean of thick broth with egg. The combination was great and nothing too greasy.

*This food tasting session was organised by HungryGoWhere Malaysia– Discover, Eat, Share today!

Luk Yu Tea House 陸羽茶館

Feast Village, Starhill Gallery 181,

Jalan Bukit Bintang, Starhill Gallery,

55100 Kuala Lumpur.

+603 - 2782 3850

Mon – Sat 12pm – 11pm

Sun & Public Holidays 10am – 11pm

It has been a long time since my last female portrait, perhaps years.

When my sister Alice from Sunny Days asked if I would be interested in the rare David Austin roses, it was yes, a definite yes. Finding a model would be the next step, but it didn’t take long for me to figure out. It has to be May Ching, the girl who born naturally beautiful yet never once overwhelmed. Shiny black straight hair, snowy fair skin, rosy cheek and always slim.

The photo session took about few hours with the help from Hui Wei, who suggested few poses and carried the fan for some home-made wind. Finally, Jason helped with the super impose.

Model: May Ching

Photographer: Cheryl Chan

Assistant: Guan Hui Wei

Photo Editing: Jason Low

Flower: Sunny Days

About a year ago a videowent viral on the internet. It shows how a talented chef prepares his omurice (aka omuraisu). First flipping and tossing the frying pan with rice in it, carefully fitting the fried rice into a lemon-shaped rice mold followed by placing it on the plate. Then he diverts his attention on the stove again, making this rugby ball like plump omelette where he then carefully balances it on top of the fried rice. When he cuts the omelette from one end to another, it opens up to both sides like flower petals while the inner fluffy egg sliding out from the bud. For the final step he pours some brown sauce on the top and it shines in the eyes of this foodie. Almost magical.

Later did I figure out that it was by Japanese Chef Motoyoshi Yukimura (幸村元吉) from Kichi Kichi (キチキチ), a Western restaurant located at Kyoto, Japan.

After 10 months of waiting followed by a 6 hours 50 minutes flight from Kuala Lumpur, I finally made it to Japan this March! Well, Osaka and Kyoto, to be exact. And Kichi Kichi became the highlight of my trip.

Due to the limited seats (only 8 seats by the counter) in this small and cozy restaurant, it is best to make reservation before visiting; by filling up this reservation form on their website or by calling the restaurant, either from own cellphone or in the case of overseas patrons, only phone reservation from hotel/lodging host. I made our reservation by submitting the online form and it didn’t take long for them to send me the confirmation email. It was all set.

What made me even excited was the close proximity to our rental house at Gion, a mere 15 minutes walking distance, or maybe even 10. For those who are taking public transport, it is accessible from Kawaramachi Station 河原町(exit 5) or Gion Shijo Station 祇園四条(Exit 3/4). The landmark to look for would be Matsumoto Kiyoshi, a famous drugstore chain in its yellow signboard. From there, either take a walk through buzzing narrow alley of Pontocho 先斗町(right lane) with chances of bumping into a Geisha, or through Kiyamachi dori 木屋町通(left lane), a wider road next to small running river, and take a peek into their red light district.

Knowing the basic survival Japanese and its characters, I matched the shoplot names in this google map provided by Kichi Kichi as we walked through Kiyamachi dori. About 10 minutes later, we found this striking red Kichi Kichi (キチキチ) signboard hanging on the right side whereas the restaurant itself is well-concealed at the back lane.

Once entered, I told them about the online reservation made and we were welcomed by the chef along with his assistant.

It was almost surreal that we are actually here.

We then took off our coats and be seated by the counter while the pretty assistant passed us the menu (with photos). While we were making up our minds, she gave a gentle reminder that even though sharing is allowed; each of us should order at least 1 dish.

Upon seeing our DSLRs, the chef happily put on a show for us. Even though I knew what to expect from the video, the feeling was somewhat different; like watching a youtube concert video to watching it live. Except that this is much closer. And camera is allowed, even better, welcomed.

ふわふわ卵の逆さオムライス Omurice with Fluffy Omelette 2,500 yen

(ハーフサイズ Half-sized / ミニ Mini 1,350 yen)

On the first look, this plate of half-sized omurice was way too small to fit into any part of my stomach, let alone feeding me full. We shared these 2 plates among 4 of us and when I had the first spoon, it was OMG so delicious.

It has to be the best omurice I’ve had so far.

Unlike the usual tomato omurice that’ll leave me craving more due to its appetizing nature, the savory type fried rice right here was filling by its own. I must say the rich demi-glace sauce and fluffy omelette made this omurice memorable in just a few spoons. The portion turned out to be just nice; satisfied my craving yet not too satiated to return within short period.

シェフお得意クリームコロッケ (Chef’s Specialty) Cream Croquette 1,350 yen

A well-executed dish: juicy, succulent yet not too greasy.

超おすすめビーフシチュー (Chef’s Recommendation) Beef Stew 2,800 yen

This beef stew was another marvelous dish in what I believed to be demi-glace sauce. Rich flavor, thick sauce, and the beef so tender it literally melted in my mouth. Simply divine.

自家製パン Homemade Bread (1 set/ 2 pieces for 250 yen)

An additional order made spontaneously after we’ve finished our meal which I’m glad we did. There was no other bread like this; the outer was so crispy it formed an egg-shell like crust and cracks like one too whenever I bite. The inner, was exactly what in the description; soft, fluffy and full of yeast (yuzu-like) aroma. Another must-try.

The concept of sitting by the counter may not be common to us, but it is the best seat, for we can always communicate face-to-face with Chef Yukimura, a friendly, cheerful guy that likes to share on food.

Our bill came to a total of 7,750 yen (about RM244) for 4 of us. Even though the price was on the “ouch” side, the meal and dining experience here are definitely worth every penny.

Else, you can always go for the lunch set where it comes with soup and entrée salad for the same price: Omurice (full-sized 2,500 yen / half-sized 2,000 yen), Beef Stew (2,800 yen) and others. Well here’s the catch; their lunch session only opens on reservation basis (a day before for Japanese while 2 days before for foreigners).

ザ・洋食屋キチキチ The Western Restaurant Kichi Kichi

京都府京都市中京区材木町185-4

Operating time: 5pm - 9pm

Website

*Accepts credit card

The more conversations I have with Agnes on her Japan trip last year Spring, the more I miss Japan. You see, Japan never ceases to amaze me and it is my dream to go back once every year. Like my brother said, it’s almost like balik kampung.

Even better, Malaysia Airlines (MAS) promotion came on time. For only RM1,029 I get to enjoy:

* A round trip to Osaka (6 hours 50 mins per way)

* Comfort seat with legroom

* Blanket (keeping me warm throughout the flight)

* Unlimited beverages

* KL-Osaka:

1 breakfast (omelette with sausages, bun and butter, fruits, coffee/tea) and 1 snack (hotdog)

* Osaka-KL:

1 dinner (fish with rice, zaru soba, prawn salad, fruits, bun and butter) and 1 snack

(matcha ice- cream)

* In-flight entertainment

(lots of movies & dramas to catch up, or even listen to soothing music while sleeping)

* 30kg luggage allowance per way (mine was about 18kgs only for return flight)

* Wonderful KLIA facilities

Unlike the previous years where I travelled with my family (Osaka, Kyoto & Nara, Oct year 2012) and my beloved Jason (Tokyo & Nikko, Oct year 2013), this year it’s all about girls under Sakura! Group selfie is inevitable.

23rd March 2014, Sunday

Hello Japan!

My mind barely function following the 2 hours meal intervals during mid-night flight. Must they wake us up just to eat? Yet, standing here on Osaka ground was exciting! First thing first, is to leave the luggage at our Kyoto rental house.

The cheapest way is to buy Haruka+ICOCA card, according to my fellow travel companions who did the survey. Let’s see, a round trip pass for 4,000 yen, inclusive of 2 Haruka pass (to and fro) and prepaid card ICOCA loaded with 1,500 yen credit (another 500 yen as deposit). Only foreigners are allowed to purchase this where we have to show them our passports. Also, the return Haruka pass has to be used within 2 weeks from date of purchase. We all got ourselves the cuter Hello Kitty cover instead of the traditional Fūjin(風神)&Raijin(雷神), God of Wind and Thunder.

While it’s still early to board the rain (every 30 mins), we ran against the freezing wind to Lawson, just across the pedestrian link to Aeroplaza. I was spoilt with choices but managed to get myself a colorful bento for 450 yen. It comes with 689kcal, as stated at the back, along with all ingredients they used for this bento. How thoughtful and thorough.

We ran again to catch our train, while all those strangers staring at us. I suppose we must walk elegantly in Japan no matter what. Ah well, we finally catch our train, it’s time to enjoy the 1 hour ride while having my oishii bento.

Kyoto station is huge. We saw with our own eyes how a garbage trolley can literally “climb” stairs and how they would reverse the direction of a seat simply by lifting the handle up then putting it down in a triangle-like motion(video). They also have these rotating seats as their new technology 5 years ago. Now I feel like I just came out from a jungle.

We stopped at the stairs that supposed to lead us to our platform. Then we looked at our luggage again. We had to find alternatives to go up, but escalator and elevator are nowhere to be seen. Gosh I must jot this down in my achievement book: Successfully climbed at least 10% of Batu Caves steps (272 steps) lugging a 12kg luggage. I changed my mind, it should be at least 20%.

Here is a website called Hyperdia for those who do not understand the complicated Japan spider web subway map, made my life so much easier. All I need to do is to type in both departure and destination stations, Hyperdia will then suggests a few routes including details such as the duration and fare. It can also convey accurate real-time information as when the next train will come. I downloaded the app to my mobile for more convenient access. It is absolutely free.

From Kyoto 京都station, we took JR Nara line to Tofukuji 東福寺station, then change Keihan Main Line to Gion Shijo 祇園四条station. Total fare was 270 yen.

Now that we dropped the luggage at our rental house at Gion, it feels so much lighter.

We then had our lunch at Sukiya, a Japanese style fast food restaurant serving mainly gyudon (beef bowl). In Sukiya, they have up to 6 sizes of servings to suit people with different appetite. Here I have NegiTama Gyudon ネギ玉牛丼 mini size for 330 yen, top up another 100 yen for a small plate of pickled vegetables and miso soup おしんこセット, making total 430 yen (about RM14). Else, the cheapest food in Sukiya would be a plain bowl of mini beef rice for 230 yen (about RM7).

Most often than not, Japanese food is taken as synonymous with expensive food, but now you can scrap that off knowing there are quite a number of Japanese fast food restaurants (where plain water is refillable for free). It’s even cheaper than McDonald’s!

Now would you excuse me, my all-time favorite and also one of the popular food in Sukiya, the NegiTama Gyudon is waiting. What makes this different than the usual gyudon back in Sukiya Malaysia is this key ingredient of Japanese spring onion, the Negi. Also known as Welsh Onion, this leek like spring onion is less aromatic than our chive like scallion but the texture is so crisp, just by shredding it alone will go well with almost anything.

I separated the raw egg, placing the egg yolk nicely over the bed of negi, poke it and stir them together. So smooth, crisp, warm, and oishii!

Then I pour over the remaining raw egg white into the miso soup, as learned from Meshibana Keiji, a manga turned drama where the police office uses his extensive food knowledge to open up uncooperative suspects. Maybe the soup wasn’t hot enough so the raw egg white remains to be nasal mucus inside my miso soup. Uh-oh…

Branching out from the busy road of Shijo-dori四条通 up until Sanjo-dori三条通, Shinkyogoku-dori新京極通and Teramachi-dori寺町通form main shopping district right in the middle of downtown Kyoto, selling all kind of things from clothes, souvenirs, food to religious items. These interlinked and fully covered main streets would be a great place to shop even in the case of rainy days.

Also known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen”, Nishiki Market錦市場offers all food related things from fresh seafood, produce, preserved vegetables, sweets, to utensils and cookware. Certainly is a place not to be missed by fellow foodies.

The direction is fairly easy. From the shopping street of Shinkyogoku-dori, keep walking until you find Nishiki Tenmangu錦天満宮on the right, an entrance with rows and rows of hanging white lanterns. Then to the left would be Nishiki koji (lane), where the Nishiki Market lies.

With over one hundred shops and restaurants stretching along the length of 400 yards, Nishiki Market can be easily distinguished from the other interlinked streets simply by its Nishiki flag or the traffic light colored roof. Once you are here, expect to spend at least half of your day as it takes time to properly scan all the items in each stall while being part of the slow-moving crowd. For those who would like to visit only a few stalls of their choice, this directory from Nishiki official website sure comes in handy.

Tsukemono 漬物 plays a noticeably important role in Japanese cuisine. These Japanese preserved vegetables, pickled using different ingredients and hence categorized after them, are often used in Onigiri, Bento and Curry Rice, just to name a few. It is therefore not surprising to find quite a number of stalls selling Tsukemono within Nishiki, the very traditional market. They would make meaningful souvenirs as you bring back the Japanese food culture as well.

If you are gastronomically adventurous enough like Cheeserland, you might find yourself ponder over these Shirako, be it from Tai (red bream/snapper) or Tara (cod fish). While it is considered affordable (300yen for 100g of Tara’s Shirako), try scouting for those pre-packed Shirako in black container with transparent cover (going for about 400yen) as they come with sauce and toothpick for easier on-the-spot consumption. After all it makes a better impression, especially for first timer.

Some may have not realized that Dorayaki (Doraemon’s favorite) is part of Wagashi, the general term for Japanese confectionery. Others include Daifuku (pounded sweet rice stuffed with red bean paste and sometimes one whole strawberry), Dango (small, sweet mocha skewered on a stick), Mochi (I believe this needs no introduction), Sakuramochi (glutinous rice cake filled with red bean paste and wrapped in pickled cherry leaf), Taiyaki (fish-shaped cake) and many more.

Wagashi can be further categorized into Namagashi 生菓子(wet confectionery), Han Namagashi 半生菓子(half-wet confectionery) and Higashi 干菓子(dry confectionery) according to their production method as well as moisture content.

My favorite of all has to be Jōnamagashi 上生菓子, which share the same characteristic of 30% or more moisture under Namagashi. These delicate pieces inspired by nature thus vary according to season; sakura design is common during spring as chrysanthemum in autumn. However, do take note that due to its high moisture content; it can only last up to maximum 2 days from production date. Some may be best-consumed within the same day. The cost to pay for a single piece of Jōnamagashi from Kōfuku-dō 幸福堂 would be at a staggering 250yen yet it is priceless for an edible art.

Nishiki Market is also a great place to find some of the accessories for traditional clothing such as Geta (wooden shoes), Obi (belt) and folding fan.

KariKari Hakase カリカリ博士is the only store selling takoyaki within Nishiki. Tempted by its tagline of “crispy on the outside while remains pulp on the inside”, we thought no harm giving their Jumbo Takoyaki a try. Plus, we get to buy meal ticket from a vending machine. It would probably be my cheapest Takoyaki (in Japan) so far with its pricing of 180 yen for 6 pieces. If you are a member, you have the privilege of buying them at only 100 yen. The takoyaki was pulp, no doubt on that. But only half of the tagline was true to me.

Nishiki Market Official Website (Japanese)

Operating time varies according to stores

Watching movies under the star sounds romantic and fun yet I had my moment of doubt given the hot and stuffy weather hitting Malaysia recently. Nevertheless I gave it a try since Samsung Galaxy Life is giving out free movie passes!

It took us about 30 minutes driving time from KL city center to Bukit Kiara Equestrian Club, and of course we were able to avoid some of the heavy traffic area thanks to Waze. There were also plenty of parking spaces available so no worries.

The movie has already started by the time we were there. We showed the registration counter staff our Samsung Galaxy Life app in redeeming free passes (1 phone for 2 free passes). Then it struck us that we actually forgot to bring ourselves a picnic mat so we have to sit on the jackets. Silly us.

The weather was better than I thought, not too stuffy though not windy either. We noticed the moisture on the ground; perhaps they sprinkled some water mists to keep it cool. With no boundaries or space restrained like in the conventional cinema, we can sit in whatever positions we like. Bring a picnic mat, blanket, and pillow or even wear a pajama if you have to, it’s all about watching the movie comfortably here.

The quality of the screen was great, not projector type that I would have imagined. It felt like I’m watching the movie on my Note 2, on a much bigger scale. Oh, not to mention the surreal surrounding echo off their sound systems.

They’ve got our dinner/supper covered; gelato from Sub 18, banana pecan cupcake from Project C, french fries from Crazy Potato, drink from GongCha, burger from Burger Bakar Kaw Kaw, personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut and many more. Best of all? They are all free! We just had to show them our magical phone with Samsung Galaxy Life app installed! *while stocks last

There were also some stalls selling lady accessories, available throughout the movie session. So we ladies can shop while watching movie. It’s going to be one of the kind shopping experiences.

All in all, Starlight Cinema is an experience worth going for. It’s not every day we get to enjoy movie under the star while lying on an open field.

On 21st June (Saturday), the last night for Starlight Cinema, they will be having Samsung nightwhere you can redeem special deals as follows:

1. Free 300 pairs of tickets to Starlight Cinema

2. Free 100 Burger Lab burgers

3. Free 200 cupcakes from Project C

4. Free 500 Slurpee from 7-Eleven

5. Free 100 Burgers from Burger Kaw Kaw

6. Free 100 Gongcha

7. Free 100 scoops of Sub 18 Gelato

8. Free 100 standard Crazy Potato packs

9. Free 100 personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut

10. Free 50 cups of Mango Smoothie from Coffea Coffee

Download Samsung Galaxy Life to redeem free passes to watch with your loved ones.

Click here for details on movie schedule.

Hello! Just a casual sharing on this useful app I discovered recently.

It all began on the day Daniel asked me for dinner at BBQ Plaza. Now that’s a specific restaurant. You see, our style is more like making decision on the spot. But anyhow, I thought that he might be craving for some grilled meat.

So we were at the restaurant, settling down when he flashed his Samsung phone to the waiter with this: “FREE Chicken Wings with Crispy Garlic (worth RM8.50) with purchase of Family Mixed Set”.

Wait, what? There IS a promotion?

What sorcery is he using to make his handphone give promotion like that?

I gave him this perplexed look like how people would say “bo jio” in Facebook. Now you bo jio me into your magical phone world.

He then showed me this app on his phone called Samsung Galaxy Life. Okay, so it has to be a Samsung phone to be such magical. Got it.

Let’s see… *scrolling down*

FREE mini square softcover photobook, buy 1 free 1 Jollibean J freeze, RM10 off great deals with a minimum spend of RM15 from Livingsocial (Oh man! I just bought a voucher there last week!), save 25% on all booking fees from roomorama….

Wow, basically there are rewards covering almost all categories from food, beauty, entertainment, travel and fitness. Also some app recommendations from Samsung like how someone would be motivated to run by installing this app so zombie can actually chase him. Haha.

Now that I share to you this wonderful news, you are more than welcomed to download Samsung Galaxy Life app aka ticket to my money-saving, hungry-for-promotions world.

p.s.: Tapping “redeem it” will activate 1 hour countdown so please take note to tap it only when you are there.

Gion, Kyoto’s famous Geisha district, is a place not to be missed.

The washed-out planks of traditional merchant houses, gray roof and walkways covered in stone would set anyone back to its time of glory. As if they each have a long story to tell since then.

Having stayed at Seiun-An, a former house of Geisha (or Geiko in local term), taking the scenic route to and fro Gion-Shirakawa Dori was one of the anticipated moments during that few days. In some days Geiko shuffling through in her cumbersome zori sandals while in others, ladies in their sophisticated kimono would walk by. We were lucky enough to witness a pre-wedding photo shooting of Japanese couple under the beautiful sakura. That is definitely a beautiful frame to show in front of their future offspring.

When it comes to night life in Kyoto, one can either shop within the metropolitan area or spend some time socializing in Izakaya (Japanese drinking establishment), holding beer in one hand and skewer in another.

While Izakaya at Gion offer a more luxury setting of spacious seating along with some well-lit blooming sakura outside the window, Pontocho possesses the charm of small intimate eateries in which should you go in a big group of 10, some of the smaller ones would be yours for the night.

Runs parallel to Kamo River between Sanjo and Shijo, Pontocho is famous for their Kawayuka 川床(outdoor riverside dining) during summer hence some of the eateries can come in a hefty price tag. It is advisable to browse through the menu displayed outside before entering.

Then again, Izakaya is an experience not to be missed. Try once and you will understand the reason for it being the usual hang out place for Japanese after a long day of work.

Ranked as the top attraction on Tripadvisor, Fushimi Inari Shrine (伏見稲荷) is the place to be in Kyoto. To reach there, one can either take JR Nara Line to Inari station, or Keihan Main Line to Fushimi Inari Station. Having said so, both stations lead to different experience; JR Inari offers immediate glance of the shrine and hence quicker access while Keihan Fushimi Inari gives everyone the opportunity to feast along the way.

Located about 2 minutes away from the Keihan Fushimi Inari station lays Oshokujidokoro Inari (お食事処いなり), a small family-run restaurant that welcomes the patrons in sky blue sun shade. As the arrangement of about 10 tables with 4 low-back chairs each leaves almost no gap in between, this authentic Japanese restaurant can be occupied easily during lunch hours.

When it comes to food selection, Inari Sushi and Kitsune Soba/Udon are highly recommended for being part of the tale behind Fushimi Inari Shrine; comes in rice and in noodles, both feature the same piece of aburaage 油揚げ(deep fried tofu skin), which believed to be favorite food of Kitsune (foxes), messengers of Inari Okami (Shinto God of Rice).

Map

After a full meal, one can go to Kyōzuan (京豆庵), a dessert shop specializes in tofu (bean curd) flavored soft ice-cream located just opposite the street. Their reversible ice-cream added a playful feature on top of the soft texture and rich tofu flavor, making Kyōzuan a popular spot to check in.

Map

While Oshokujidokoro Inari is not the only one offering full meal here, most restaurants would display these plastic food replicas in providing an insight of their menu to the passers-by. For those do not understand Japanese, this may be the perfect solution in ordering food as they can take a photo of their choice and show it to the waiter. Else, they can always ask for a English menu.

Featuring rows of food replicas on the right and a Japanese chef noodle making process on the left, Fushimi An (伏見庵) surely knows how to attract the customers. The seating arrangement here is more comfortable with the options of low-back chairs or zabuton (Japanese cushion for sitting) for large group. The portion here may not be as huge but what it lacks in quantity it makes up in variety within a set. Price wise is slighter higher but still within 1,000yen range.

Map

For those who take pleasure in street food, these few stalls of yakitori, taiyaki parfait, yakisoba and others would satisfy the cravings. Selling at 500yen each, one stick of these large sized yakitori (grilled chicken on skewers) is more than enough to exchange for a nice big bowl of gyudon (beef don) at Sukiya yet the succulent chicken meat between those negi (Welsh onion), either immersed in their special sauce or sprinkled with some coarse salt definitely worth every penny.

On rare occasion do I get to take a break from my hectic schedule, and these are the days that I treasure most. To leave from the comfort of my home sweet home is totally out of the question, for it is the only place where leaving my hair unkempt, wearing a loose t-shirt while sitting on the floor legs wide open seems perfectly okay.

However there is one and only problem. Setting its own feed-me alarm, my groaning stomach would always come between me and my dearest drama. To cook an instant noodle takes up 5 mins the max, but the aftermath of washing pot and dishes is tedious. Plus, I would like to reward myself something more than just Maggie mee.

My usual list of home delivery options tend to get boring hence it was time to try something new. The name FoodPanda (http://www.foodpanda.my/) sounds familiar but I am a total newbie to its service. Apps downloaded, delivery area filtered, and I was left with only 3 fast food restaurants. After 5 mins of struggling between the options, order has been made with Cubes Pizza.

5 mins later this lady from FoodPanda called where we went through a negotiation and I had to compromise. No soup, no thin crust, and no round-shape pizza (odd enough). We waited an hour (as stated in the delivery time) before the food arrived.

Having ordered a bit from everything, it sure looks like someone is throwing a party here. Buy 1 free 1 pizza (6” inch) for RM19.80 (Pizza Vienesse and Pizza Quattro Formaggi, the Four Cheese Pizza), Fresh Garden Salad for RM7.80, BBQ Chicken Wings for RM11.80, Onion Ring for RM5.80 and Pasto With Fresh Basil Pasta for RM12.80, the total bill came up to RM72.80. No tax, no delivery fee. Oh, they were kind enough to replace 1 missing pair of chicken wings with 1 box of nuggets.

The food came hot which matters a lot to me. Also, I am experienced enough not to expect crispy fried stuff from delivery as they tend to get soggy but Cubes Pizza managed to surprise me. My favorite of all would have to be the fingers licking good BBQ Chicken Wings.

Such a satisfactory meal! Now back to my drama.

Le French Wrap @The Gardens

All Kansai Festival @Isetan KLCC

Getaway @Nipah Guesthouse, Pangkor Island

Obanhmi @Damansara Uptown

The Yard Boutique Hotel

Win Yourself A Getaway Now!

Shook! @Starhill Gallery

César’s @Ritz-Carlton Hotel Kuala Lumpur

Dim Sum @Luk Yu Tea House 陸羽茶館, Starhill Gallery

Au Naturel

My Best Omurice at Kichi Kichi (キチキチ), Japan

Hello Japan!

Shinkyogoku Shopping Street 新京極商店街 @Kyoto

Kyoto Nishiki Market 錦市場

Starlight Cinema: Movies Under The Sky

Samsung Galaxy Life: of Rewards and Privileges

Kyoto: Gion 祇園

Pontocho 先斗町, The Izakaya Alley

What to eat around Fushimi Inari 伏見稲荷

Feasting at Home