Beer & Food Pairing @ Spring Garden 荔苑, KLCC - Oktoberfest!!!

What comes into your mind when it comes to Oktoberfest???
Filling pork knuckles, meaty sausages and potatoes to go with the beer?!


Feeling sick of those... How about an oriental twist with the beer?! It is not about having Chinese dishes and beer-drinking but make use of beer in Chinese cooking and then pair it up with the beer.



Spring Garden; a member of Tai Thong Group has collaborated with Guinness Anchor Beer (GAB) and brought out the idea of pairing food and beer through dishes cooked using GAB beers and ingredients, as well as the ideal beverages to complete the gastronomic experience.


Special thanks to GAB for the warmth invite, I get to sample some dishes on the evening with a gang of beer lovers. :)



Deep Fried Soft Shell Crab & Chilled Pigeon with Tiger Beer 芋絲軟殼蟹拌啤酒乳鴿 (RM22 per pax)

Soft shell crab was battered with right amount of curry powder and deep fried into perfection; a great snack to kick start and go with the beer. While its companion, the chilled pigeon was immersed with the Tiger beer overnight; resulted a very well infused meat with the white beer.  

Lai Ching Yuen 荔晶园 @ Grand Millennium Hotel KL - MIGF 2011

When it comes to fine dining, is it only about Western food, Italian cuisine or French cuisine?! Not really as we do have Chinese fine dining nowadays. 


***



Lai Ching Yuen 荔晶园 (or previously known as Zing 晶苑) is one of the few Chinese Restaurants that participated in Malaysia International Gourmet Festival (MIGF) 2011 which is happening in the whole month of October. Together with the couples from Brought up 2 Share, Eat Only Lar and Citygal, we were here to sample their MIGF menu. 



The interior is decorated in a modern classic way, mainly in red. 

Hee Loy Fatt @ Kampung Baru Balakong, Seri Kembangan

We are bored with our usual family-dining-out restaurant/ chu char place. It is time to check out some new places. 



Travel a little further away from Cheras, we found this hidden gem, Hee Loy Fatt which is located inside Balakong New Village. I am sure the Balakong folks know quite well about this restaurant. During the days, it draws patrons for lunch; especially patrons who are working around that industrial or office area. Actually, it is not a new place to us as we were brought to this restaurant for few times; just happened that my camera was not with me every time I went there. Not until a family gathering recently, I was finally equipped. 



Vege (RM 12)



Stir-fry Long Bean with Salted Egg Yolk (RM 15)

Dim Sum @ Jade Pot, Old Klang Road

My last visit to Jade Pot for steamboat was a great and satisfying one. When I learned that Jade Pot serves Dim Sum daily from morning till late noon; I decided to pay a visit with my family.




Tea (RM 2 per pax)



Jade Pot Egg Tart 一品蛋挞仔 (RM 4.80 for 3 pcs)



BBQ Pork Pastry 香麻叉烧酥 (RM 4.80 for 3 pcs)

Chee Cheong Fun @ Restoran You Lee, Taman Connaught, Cheras

Besides the Dai Be Steamed Fish that is located inside the You Lee Kopitiam, there is another good stuff to try out - the chee cheong fun from the stall that tucked in one corner end in this kopitiam 



This stall owner (the uncle) is very patience in preparing every plates of chee cheong fun. He will flip open the chee cheong fun and lay them flat; then add a little sesame oil and chop them horizontally to create the kuey teow-liked noodles. Finally top it with the sauce and garnish with the fragrant toasted white sesame. 



White silky smooth chee cheong fan drenched with homemade black sweet sauce (tim zheong) and home-grinded chilli sauce. Toss-toss everything together to create a well balanced flavour in every strand of chee cheong fun. I find their CCF is quite addictive and will have it at least once a week for breakfast or lunch. Slurrrp Slurrrp... 



If you don't fancy tim zheong, you can try this version of chee cheong fun which is drizzled with chilli sauce and soy sauce. Not to forget the pickled green chilli that go great with the chee cheong fun, this plate of CCF is something my mum loves. 

Hung Kee Wanton Mee @ Taman Shamelin Perkasa, Cheras

Who doesn't know this famous Hung Kee Wanton Mee located at Jalan Loke Yew?!


Established since mid of 1960s by the Phoon family from a small shoplot and now has expanded to air conditioned shoplots and a branch in Taman Shamelin Perkasa. 



I frequent to their branch; say like once a week after grocery shopping nearby and ordered myself a plate of wanton mee. Hmmm, to be specific, that will be their noodles with char siu (BBQ pork) only (RM 4.50 per plate). You can always have their noodles with char siu and wanton (come in 6 pcs) but I never like their wanton(s) as the skin may be too thick to me. 



Their wanton noodles are handmade; every strand is springy in texture and tossed in well seasoned sauce. Do opt for semi-fat char siu (半肥瘦叉烧) that comes fattier (this time the char siu was not fatty enough); I enjoyed chewing the fatty charred part that gave a sweet aftertaste. 


Verdict: Their char siu may not be the best one you have had; but the yellow thin strands of springy noodles are something you will love. Another reason I love coming here is, I don't have to fight through the traffic and travel down to Jalan Loke Yew for a plate of wanton mee as we have one Hung Kee (their branch) in Cheras :)


Note: All photos above by iPhone. 


Restoran Hung Kee (Taman Shamelin)
18 - 20, Jalan 4/91,
Taman Shamelin Perkasa
56100 Cheras
Kuala Lumpur.
(Located opposite Pudu Ulu Park)

Aik Yuen Restaurant @ Setapak - for glossy and fragrant Hokkien Mee

Where to find a good plate of Hokkien Mee / Hokkien Char?!

Well, Aik Yuen Restaurant that is located at Setapak is one that serves great plate of Hokkien Mee. 



Here you go, the glossy looking Hokkien Mee (RM 13 for 2 pax) coated in dark brown colour. Came piping hot and full with real wok heil tossed with right amount of pork lard and other ingredients such as pork slices, squids, prawns and the sweet dark sauce that flavoured and coloured the thick far noodles.  



Fried "Peh Ge" (Rice Cake) (RM 6.50) was another good to try. Cooked in the way same as Hokkien Mee;  the only difference is the rice cake that came with chewy texture. 



Cantonese Fried (Yin Yong) or Wat Dan Hor (RM 6.50) had the smoky aftertaste. Perhaps the chef forgot to season our Yin Yong; it was tasteless and unmemorable. 

Flavours of Shanghai @ Zuan Yuan Chinese Restaurant, One World Hotel, PJ

What comes into your mind when it comes to Shanghainese Cuisine???
Xiu Loong Bao?! Is that all???


Well, that's not all...


Zuan Yuan Chinese Restaurant which is located on the lobby level in One World Hotel is currently running the 'Flavours of Shanghai' promotion and this promotion is only available for 10 days (23 June to 2 July 2011).


Four chefs (Chef Terry Yu Ning, Chef Fanny Le Fei, Chef Lion Yu Sheng and Chef Navy Yang Tian Hai) from The Eton Hotel, Shanghai were invited to showcase the shanghainese dishes in Zuan Yuan Chinese Restaurant. 


Love Shanghainese food? here is an opportunity for them :)


At the launch event, i get to sample a few Shanghainese dishes...










Started with Three ShanghaiStyle Appetizer 上海三喜冷菜.
They were the cold dishes

Zong Zi's season is here...

Time to have some alkaline dumplings (Zong Zi) first...


and the best thing is, it is homemade :)

Old Man Restaurant 老吔海鲜饭店 @ Bandar Baru Bangi / Kajang

I am really happy to have these 2 Kajang "worms" as my food buddies - Chris&Christine. I know nothing about Kajang besides Kajang satay, satay and just satay. Glad to have them around, this time they brought me to this Old Man's Place... 


Oooops, not owned by a really old man, but well... that's the name for the restaurant. 



Old Man Restaurant serves Chinese fares. and their specialty was featured in local programme Ho Chak! before



Menu on the wall.



Superior Fried Rice with Tobikko 食神炒饭
This is their specialty and was featured in Ho Chak! before. Really unique type of seafood fried rice with lots of seafood chunks in it and garnished with ebikko. Additianal of ebikko gives the crunchiness to the fried rice. A word 'Fresh', i would describe it. 

Zhen Liew Siang (Lau Heong) @ Sentul Raya, KL

I love food-exploring with them.
Together with Chris&Christine and WenChing, we were brought to Zhen Liew Siang (Lau Heong) by Citygal for some real Chinese food that prepared with real wok hei.




Nam Yu Fried Chicken
This is the must have item. The chicken wings were perfectly fried to golden brown and crispy-ly with a distinctive taste of fermented bean curd (Nam Yu). Crispy on the outside and juicy in the inside. A fingers-licking-good item!



Sizzling Calamari (sotong) on Hot Plate
Calamari came drench with buttery sauce and served on a banana leaf on a hotplate. Yum



"Siong Tong Lala" Clams in Broth
Packed with spices and herbal taste of wolfberries, garlic slices and cili padi. This one was kinda hot as they added too much garlic slices into it. Definitely a great one to warm your tummy.

Restoran Sim Hap Ke 新口纪 @ Taman Connaught, Cheras

This is another restaurant where I used to frequent for great Chinese food spread with my family. Restoran Sim Hap Ke 新口纪, located at this busy food hub in Taman Connaught serves one of the Chinese chu char dishes that fill with wok hei. 



Menu on the wall - all their specialty. 



Stir-Fry Vege 潮州奶白

Celestial Court 天宝阁 @ Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur

为了配合渣打银行 (Standard Chartered Bank)的Extravagant 8 Menu promotion， Celestial Court 天宝阁坐落于Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur 也参与了这项优惠，好让持有渣打银行信用卡的用户以RM 888++ （一桌8位至10位）享用这一桌子美味佳肴。


说实话，天宝阁所准备的食物分量真的是好大。我们一桌子10人，可花了不少的“精力”去消耗桌子上的食物。


你准备好了吗？？？



1. 三文鱼，鱼籽捞生 Yee Sang with Norwegian Salmon and Fish Roe
为了迎接兔年的到来，师傅动用了脑筋，使出小小的创意来完成它。看吧，一只雪白的兔子在绿绿的食材，犹如在草地上；花生宛如沙。而兔子上面的，犹如花，犹如云朵，就随你想象。可爱的兔子栩栩如生，够创意吧？！



之后，服务员会将其他的调味料，食材和三文鱼等，铺满兔子上。再浇上香油和酸梅酱，就这么演变成传统的捞生了。



捞呀捞，捞呀捞。配上一人一句的祝福语；你一言，我一句，然后再开开心心的享用它。

Zing 晶苑 @ Grand Millennium Kuala Lumpur

续上一回的上海苏浙苑 Shanghai @ JW Marriott KL 后，这回我们来到晶苑 Zing ， 坐落于Grand Millennium Kuala Lumpur（就在Pavillion KL 旁的那家酒店）。


晶苑 Zing，也是渣打银行 (Standard Chartered Bank) 严选的其中一家餐厅，推出这Extravagant 8 Menu,好让持有渣打银行信用卡的用户，以 RM 888++ （一桌8位），享用这一桌子美味佳肴。优惠从 20 January 2011 至 17 February 2011



华丽堂皇。



喜气洋洋；铺满了红红的摆设，吊饰等等，就连餐桌上的摆设也十分的讲究。


不但餐桌上的摆设讲究，就连取的菜名也非常有意头。



1. 鸿运捞生 （三文鱼捞生）Yee Sang with Norwegian Salmon
比较正统式的捞生配料，铺满了比较传统式的材料。
红的，绿的，黄的，白的，袍成一丝丝；加上脆脆的饼，浇上香油和调味后的桃子酱和草莓酱， 还有一片片厚厚的三文鱼片。

Mun Kee Steam Fish Head 文记鱼头王蒸鱼头 @ Taman Segar, Cheras KL

Cherasan should know about this: There is a crowded steam fish head STALL located at Jalan Manis has expanded their business into a shop opposite his own stall!


Well, that is not what I wanna write about; but a steam fish head restaurant too located a few doors away from it. 



Mun Kee Steam Fish Head 文记鱼头王蒸鱼头
This is my recent find for steam fish head. 






Very unique kitchen facing the main entrance; you can actually observe how they prepare/cook/steam the fish. 

Shanghai 上海苏浙苑 @ JW Marriott Hotel, KL

好久没有扑华文文章了，心血来潮之下，决定写一章。





自古以来，八（8），是华人最爱的号码。它的译音同等于“发”，带给我们发财，福气。。。今年，也因如此Standard Chartered Bank 特别严选了八家在巴生谷一带的华人餐厅，特别推出了Standard Chartered Bank Extravagant 8 Menu， 让持有 Standard Chartered Bank 信用卡卡主在特别的优惠下，跟家人朋友们一同品尝佳肴，一同迎接兔年。





上海苏浙苑，坐落于JW Marriott Hotel 的一楼。光看名字，就知道他们家是以江苏和浙江菜为主。室内装潢得古色古香之余，也带点了摩登的气味在里头。





捞生是华人新年间一定要做的事。边捞边念着吉利的字、词，互相的献上祝福给对方，希望大家在这一年捞得风山水起，有个开心快乐+“发发发”的一年。所以，第一道就是捞生 - 鸿运大捞生 Salmon Yee Sang。 在脆脆的饼上，铺满了一丝丝的菜等材料，再摆上新鲜的三文鱼片和雪白的扇贝；浇上香油，花生酱，芥末酱等秘制酱料，吃起来有犹如生菜沙拉似的，酸中带甜，是他们唤醒了我的味蕾。

Teow Chow Seafood Restaurant @ Kepong

When it comes to fresh seafood that is cheap and fresh, you may think of Klang! 
But then Klang is sooooooo far away and it may take up to 1 hour +++ journey to reach there. By then, everyone will feel very hungry; unless you wake up very early, get prepare and go.


My dad who is the seafood-super-fans loves persuading us to Klang for seafood, but we always complain that it is very far away and rather spend the time sleeping at home or gaming. He never gives up looking out for a great seafood place. Till he found out this place....... 



Teow Chow Seafood Restaurant located at Kepong has come to his mind one Sunday. Since he was so keen into seafood that day, we decided to give a try. Besides, the journey isn't that long. So, Why not?!


The seafood comes from Kuala Selangor and Sekinchan. They don't serve freshwater fish, and only fish from the sea. With the Menu plastered on the walls, we just ordered randomly.



Clams in Kam Heong Style 甘香啦啦 (RM 12)



四大天王 Vegetables (RM 11)
With lady fingers, eggplants, long beans and petai stir-fried with sambal belacan.

Tien Sun Tien Restaurant 天上天美味园 @ Taman Connaught, KL

Tien Sun Tien Restaurant 天上天美味园 is my recent find for a great spread of Chinese dishes at a reasonable price. I have been frequent here lately; at least once a week for their flavourful Chinese dishes that prepared with real ‘wok hei'. Besides that, the servings are quite generous.







金瓜豆腐 Homemade Tofu in Pumpkin Sauce (RM 8)
The smooth and velvety homemade tofu and enoki mushroom were drenched with lil' sweet golden pumpkin sauce.