15
July
2010
Well it was about 4 weeks ago where my dad had an impromptu plan to visit the historical state of Malacca on a 1-day trip..
It was our first family outstation trip after my mom had passed away in 2006 and not like we traveled a lot when my mom was still around back then..It’s like a first-timer thingy..
So off we went off early in the morning for some breakfast before the 1-hour plus 2-hours trip..
A big mistake was we took the LEKAS highway via Kajang route, where we thought passing by Seremban would be faster as Cheras is nearer to LEKAS (Lebuhraya Kajang-Seremban)..
Once we reached Seremban we had to take a detour and exit to PLUS highway to follow Johor Baru, which is the very same highway if we were to follow KL-Seremban highway..
So a reminder to first-timer to Malacca, unless you are staying in Kajang-bound area, keep off LEKAS highway to go to Malacca..Always take KL-Seremban highway..
So on the highway it’s all the way follow road sign on the highway and we exited at Alor Gajah if not mistaken..By the way, my family is not a keen user of GPS-device, though we did try it on my phone for that trip..
Once you’ve passed the toll plaza, follow Pusat Bandaraya Melaka or something like that..
Straight away we headed to Jonker Walk (or some say Jonker Street) as most people know there’s nothing much to do in Malacca other than going to Jonker Walk..
*Kedai Kopi Chung Wah - Hainanese Chicken Rice Ball*
Our first stop in Jonker Walk, to find Kedai Kopi Chung Wah, the Hainanese Chicken Rice Ball shop..
It’s located at the end of Jonker Walk connecting to the famous red colored Christ Church Malacca..
There were a few chicken rice ball shops but I’ve heard of good reviews on Chung Wah so we decided to queue up despite the long queue under the hot sun..
The queue was not like freaking long but I guessed we’ve waited at least 30-40 minutes, standing under the hot-burning sun..
Coincidentally, while we were queuing, I bumped onto Akira “Jian” ceo, Jacquelyn, and Alex..
*The chicken rice balls*
*Steamed chicken*
I would say it’s not like superbly delicious but it’s way better than a lot of chicken rice..The rice balls are to die for..
It’s difficult to find any chicken rice that you can eat just the rice without putting any sauce or gravy on it..In Chung Wah you can..
The steamed chicken is quite tender and not too salty, which is just right and just dip into the chili for better taste..
*Both my sisters Min, Eshan and my dad*
Once again I wouldn’t it’s especially great that you have to travel so far just for it but if you are already there, why not?
*Walking distance*
In Malacca town, where Jonker Walk, Christ Church, and few other places are all just walking distance..
*Trishaw rental rate*
Other than walking around you can also rent a trishaw which is equipped with sub-woofer audio system blasting on Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” and Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life”..
*Walk walk*
We opted to walk around instead of taking the trishaw..
Reminder, do apply sunblock lotion and take necessary pre-cautions to deal with the heat in Malacca..
*Ice kacang*
After the long-haul under the hot sun, it’s best to sit down and have a bowl of ABC a.k.a ice/ais kacang before you leave..
We didn’t stay for the night nor stayed for satay celup dinner due to fatigue and the heat is hitting us..
So off we went back to KL at about 5pm..
It’s a good journey and definitely will be there again..
Posted: Eats, Travel & Places
19
June
2010
Okay I have no idea what Dragon Boat Festival is and all I know is there is a Dragon Boat Festival/Competition going on at Putrajaya every year..
Little did I know this Dragon Boat Festival thingy is actually related to the Tuen Ng Jit (???) and of course zongzi, the “rice dumpling festival”..
For all I can remember there’s no publicity on anywhere on printed media, online media, social media, or any kind of media..
Suddenly in 2010 everyone and everywhere is talking bout Dragon Boat Festival and indirectly linking it with “rice dumpling festival”, instead of the Dragon Boat Festival in Putrajaya 
Anyway, back to glutinous rice dumpling (ham yuk chung)..Found a pack of ham yuk chung in the fridge and I’ve decided to steam it for supper..
*Glutinous rice dumpling aka ham yuk chung*
For someone with big appetite like me, one dumpling is never enough..As the saying goes, two is better than one 
*Drop it like it’s hot*
Instead of really steaming the dumplings, boiling them in the hot-boiling water is more efficient than steam..
Steam is a bit waste of time for a quick supper and boiling a nicely wrapped ham yuk chung is never a problem..It doubles or even triples to speed!
One might thought that water might get inside or the leaves might fall off and all but rest assure that it’s very safe to boil the dumplings..
*Hot-boiled glutinous rice dumpling*
Boil for about 10-minutes (or any time depend on your preference), poke with chopsticks to check if it’s good to eat..
Once you have opened the leaves, you can’t throw it back into the pot of boiling water because it will ruin your dumpling..
Take one out at a time so that you can reheat or keep the second one hot if your first dumpling isn’t hot enough..
By the way, turn off or lower down the level of the stove when you are eating the first one..Save gas!
A home made glutinous rice dumpling is always good because of the generous amount of fillings..This one was done by my sister’s boyfriend’s mom..
Instead of the usual pork meat and lard and mushrooms, generous amount of chicken meat and floss and lots of shrimps is used..It’s pretty good too..
Now when you’ve finished the first one, second dumpling is still hot when you take it out from the hot-boiling water..
Here’s a bit of Dragon Boat Festival facts from Wiki..
Tuen Ng commemorates the life and death of the famous Chinese scholar Qu Yuan..He was a loyal minister serving the King of Chu during the Warring States Period in the third century BCE..
Initially his sovereign favored Qu Yuan, but over time, his wisdom and erudite ways antagonized other court officials..
As a result Qu Yuan was accused of trumped-up charges of conspiracy and ejected by his sovereign..During his exile, Qu Yuan composed many poems to express his anger and sorrow towards his sovereign and people..
In the year 278 BCE, at the age of 37, Qu Yuan, drowned himself in the Milo River..He clasped a heavy stone to his chest and leaped into the water..
Knowing that Qu Yuan was a righteous man, the people of Chu rushed to the river to try to save him..The people desperately searched the waters in their boats looking for Qu Yuan but were unsuccessful in their attempt to rescue him..
Every year the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated to commemorate this attempt at rescuing Qu Yuan..
When it was known that Qu Yuan had been lost forever, the local people began the tradition of throwing sacrificial cooked rice into the river for their lost hero..
Here’s the full page of Duanwu Festival (Tuen Ng Jit)..
Have a great ham yuk chung everyone!
Posted: Eats
26
May
2010
Instant noodles are my best friends during the midnight..
PAMA Kua Teaw Segera is definitely one of my favorite brands and flavors..Other than the Kua Teaw (Kuey Teow) PAMA also have Vermicelli (Bihun/Mihun/Mee Hoon), which is the only Bihun that I would buy..
*PAMA Kua Teaw Segera*
It’s not the clear chicken soup kinda flavor..It has curry powder to be added on..
*The finer kuey teow*
This kuey teow is of course firmer than those kuey teow you usually had for fish ball noodles or pork noodles..
*Hot boiling kuey teow and curry powder*
This kuey teow is almost same like vermicelli, you don’t have to cook it for too long if you want the firm texture to stay..
*Smooth slurpy kuey teow*
Add an egg into the noodles is a must for most of my instant noodles supper..
*Stimz*
Now you know you just have to try this, if you don’t dislike vermicelli
Posted: Eats
17
May
2010
D’lish, one of the restaurants under the Delicious Group umbrella - including Delicious, Reunion, and Delicious Ingredients -is somewhat a fast-food concept joint where you get to have a quick meal if you are in a hurry..
Instead of dine-in like in Delicious and others, D’lish has cooked food to be taken away..
*Bakery*
Delicious Group is now introducing their very first issue of its own in-house magazine, Delicious Times, an issue every quarter of they ear..
Delicious Times aims to appeal to a wide variety of readers by featuring a broad range of topics guaranteed to be of interest to its base of sophisticated customers..
Its maiden issue boasts an array of articles on culinary experiences, emerging trends and sensations and up-to-date information relevant to KL-lites..
Delicious Times stands out with its tastefully written feature articles accompanied by lush use of color, sharp design and layouts..
*Chef in action*
Of course bakery is not the only thing on their shelf..They are introducing new menu and it has quite a variety..
Chef Ravi and Chef Mimi injected some new and refreshing flavors to the menu, namely Spanish, Greek, and Middle Eastern inspired delectable dishes..
Their new signature dishes include salt beef and ox tongue sandwiches, roast lamb, and mint salad..A new dedicated dinner menu is also served from 6pm daily..
The sausages and burgers are pretty nice to my liking..The steaks were pretty good too but I was a bit too full after that..
*Cupcakes*
*Me and Jessy*
I think Jessy quite like their cupcakes because she had two! Well you better see her size before you judge
*L>R - Jessy, Me, Carole, Mike (back), Leonardo (front), Joshua*
They even had a frame section for some syok sendiri moment for the guests..So we had a few too, and had them printed out on A3 sheets..
It’s an interesting and simple concept..I like the “frame” thingy..Other guests can’t get enough of it..
Posted: Eats, Events
7
May
2010
Theobroma Chocolate Lounge recently culminated their very own campaign Theobroma “Sweet Essentials” Campaign which ran from 1st of December 2009 till 31st of January 2010..
The “Sweet Essentials” campaign was jointly supported by PrimaNora Medical Centre and managed to raise RM20,000 for the Pride Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to enhance breast cancer awareness and improving accessibility to treatmeant and care amongst Malaysian women..
Throughout the campaign period, RM1 from every transaction made at all Theobroma Chocolate Lounge outlets was being accumulated to be donated to the Pride Foundation..
*Datin Azrene Abdullah and Ms Chi Oi Meng*
Executive chairperson of Hing Yiap Group Berhad, Ms Chi Oi Meng announced the figure and presented the cheque to Pride Foundation chairperson Datin Azrene Abdullah..
*Salina & Associates PR too contribute RM2,000*
Salina & Associates PR also jumped on the wagon and contributed RM2,000 to Pride Foundation in support of breast cancer awareness..
*Customize our own crepe*
Apart from the cheque presentation ceremony, Theobroma Chocolate Lounge also treated the guests with their latest menu and also to a chance to customize our very own crepes..
We got to choose the ingredients, such as chocolate chips and strawberry, to go with the crepe..
Continue on to see Felicia had her hands on the pan to make the crepe and something new in their menu..
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: Eats, Events
4
May
2010
If you are a full-time student having holiday a.k.a semester break like me (a week ago), most of the time you’ll sleep very late, or perhaps VERY early in the morning..
As a result, waking up a bit too late for lunch coz day-time stalls/shops close around 3-4pm and night-time stalls/shops haven’t fully operating yet, some not until 5pm..
Even if you still haven’t eaten your lunch at 5pm, something big portioned is not too good coz it’s nearing to dinner time already..
What’s the best lunch when this situation kicks in? Double roti telur from a nearby mamak stall is good enough..
*Two pieces of roti telur*
You can make it double roti telur or a piece of roti telur and a piece of roti kosong..
It’s good enough to hold you til dinner at about 7-8pm..
Posted: Eats
