Hong Kong – Chez Patrick
The concept is simple – one chooses either the 3- or 4-course (with cheese) set dinner.
Now, the broth was rich and comforting. We were served a platter of thin toasts that we left aside after a bite. Chef Patrick actually came by to enquire if anything was wrong with the bread. He was not looking too happy and I wished I could joke and tell him I was on low-carb diet but I thought he would definitely blow up. As it turned out, the bread was not crunchy because they were air-dried. That would allow the bread to soak up the broth without turning into a mess. Ah! I felt enlightened after his lecture.
Overall, I enjoyed the dinner very much. The food was decent and the atmosphere was just very homely ( I loved its old colonial style toilets with octagon marble tiles!).
Chez Patrick
G/F, 26 Peel Street
Central, Hong Kong
Tel: 2541 1401
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By Invitation: Karaikudi Restaurant at Market Street, Little India
My family and I eat regularly at , but we’ve never gone to the original outlet at Market Street. I’ve always enjoyed the food there which serves Chettinad cuisine and immediately said yes when the invitation came in from PenangTuaPui. I was excited to see what the original outlet had to offer! The menu for the night mainly focused on South Indian cuisine and we were told that the food is cooked fresh everyday!
First up to whet our appetite was a Chettinad style Vegetable Soup (RM3). It was a light clear soup with cauliflower, carrots and french bean. The soup was a great start to the meal! We were told that the soup had a yellow tinge due to the use of dhall.
Next up was Bitter Gourd Chips (RM6). This was a surprise as it was sliced really thin and crispy to the taste! I’m not a big fan of bitter gourd though cos I don’t like the bitterness and this was plenty bitter!
The Squid Fry (RM8) was dish I really enjoyed. Squids are very easy to overcook. But there was no sign of hard rubbery squids here. Even after it cooled down substantially from all the photography, the squids were still nice and tender.
Meanwhile, the chicken cutlet (RM6 for 2 pieces larger than the photo above) is easily my favourite appetizer of the lot. The cutlets were very flavorful thanks to the generous use of spices with a slight tinge of heat to it. And there were also very soft with a slight crisp edge. I would definitely order this again!
The luciously thick Mango Lassi (RM4 – comes in a bigger glass than the photo)
The Ladies Finger Pepper Fry (RM7) was an instant hit! The ladies fingers were finely chopped and had a surprising chewy texture. The generous but not overboard use of black pepper gives the dish its zing. I’ve never had ladies fingers cooked in such a delicious manner!
The Kadai Vegetable (RM9) was an assorted vegetable dish cooked in a rich slightly spicy gravy. I tasted beancurds, tomatoes and lots of button mushrooms in the dish. We were told that Kadai is the big vessel that is being used to cook the dish, hence the name.
The Mutton Chukka Varuval (RM18) is another one of Karaikudi’s specialities. This turned out to be the spiciest dish of the night. But I loved it! The mutton pieces were scrumptiously tender and very well marinated with spices. I wouldn’t hesitate to order this again as I found it paired very well with naan bread.
Next was the Chettinad Potato Masala (RM6) which was a mild dish. It would go well with the spicy mutton dish too! I liked the fact that the potatoes here were not too mushy so there was still a bite to it.
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Cake Decorating & Tiramisu Baking Class in Penang!
As a baking enthusiast, it thrills me to bring you this piece of news that Big Boys Oven will be back in Penang for another round of classes!!
This time, there will be an exciting full day cake decorating class (using fondant) and also a tiramisu class!! ~swoon~
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–> Cake Decorating Class (Hands On Class)
Pastry Chef Sunny Yaw will share with you:
- How to make your own fondant (sugar paste) and gum paste
- How to cover a 2 tier cake with fondant
- How to decorate the 2 tier cake with flower theme (similar to photo above)
Time : 9.30am – 5.00pm
Date : 18th April 2009 (Saturday)
Fee : RM550 per student (All materials included, plus tea break)
(Limited to only 6 students)
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–> Glorious Tiramisu (Hands on class)
Tiramisu, a rich decadent and desired dessert! Come learn the art of making this glorious dessert with Sunny Yaw!
Time : 9.30am – 12.30pm
Date : 19th April 2009 (Sunday)
Fee : RM150
(Limited to only 6 students)
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Limited seats available! To register for the class please email bbonorth@gmail.com or sms/call 012-4209433
I can hardly wait!! 
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OXO Cafelab @ Queensbay, Penang
is one of the latest additions to the eating scene in Bayan Lepas area. I found out about it when a friend had sent me their Opening Promotion Brochure. RM9.90 for set lunch! RM13.90 for set dinner! the brochure had said. I liked the Red, Black and White color scheme. I liked their quirky cute logo. And the brochure certainly looked interesting! So kudos to their advertising agency!
Incidentally, as I planned to visit the place for dinner, I had read of it. I was impressed that they offered a Healthy Steam Cusinese Set complete with herbal soup! So off we went!
I had high hopes for the place as we entered the venue. It was very well decorated. Very chic! And complete with pool table too!
Glancing through the menu, OXO Cafelab serves a variety of cuisines – Asian, Western, Local. And they serve breakfast too from 8am-11am.
For their opening promotion, OXO Cafelab is offering 15% discount for their set meals. A set meal comes with a drink (cordial), soup OR salad, main dish and dessert. No discount for ala carte orders. I opted for the set meal and chose the Soup. Soup of the day was Mushroom Soup. I didn’t really care for the soup as I found it too starchy and bland.
We had another set meal and opted for the salad, which thankfully fared better than the dismal soup.
My main meal choice was the Juicy with Boxthorne Fruit and Plum Sauce. (This set is normally RM18.70, after discount – RM15.90) The chicken piccata here was basically chicken chop coated with egg and then pan fried. I found the boxthorne fruit and plum sauce interesting as it gave the dish an Asian twist to it. Overall, a very normal dish save for the interesting sauce.
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2nd Anniversary Haagen-Dazs Voucher Winners!
First and foremost, thank you so much to all of you who left congratulatory comments and ideas on what you’d like to see on lingzie.com!
Each idea and comment is important to me and over the next few weeks, I’ll be incorporating them onto the blog as best as I can. For now, you may have noticed that there is already a Search funtion up on the right. There is also a Search box under the Archives page.
I was so happy and grateful for the comments that instead of 3 vouchers, there are now FIVE vouchers to be given away to the randomly picked lucky winners!
And so without further ado…. the lucky winners are……
1. Karen
2. J2Kfm
3. Min
4. Jennifer
5. Kenneth
Congratulations to the lucky five above!!! Do email me your mailing address at lingzie@gmail.com
Your vouchers will be on the way! PS: Vouchers are valid til 31 Dec 2009.
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Dim Sum Food Restaurant at Macalister Road Gets Thumbs Up!
As much as I love my dim sum, I do shudder at the thought of doing a post on dim sum eating places. Because it would mean lots and lots of photos of decadent delicate morsels of popping flavour!
However, since I also lament on the lack of decent dim sum in Penang, I just knew I must do this post. Because… Dim Sum Food Restaurant definitely serves one of the better dim sums in town! My family and I like this place so much that we’ve been here almost 10 times since we discovered it early this year! (which also explains my expanding waistline…sigh…)
And therefore, without further ado… the photos (lots and lots of them!)
I usually measure a dim sum place by 3 items – the first being the ’siew mai’. The ones here definitely measure up! Lots of flavourful meat with a crunchy bite to it. So far so good!
The second crucial item would be the ‘Char Siew Pau’. And I do like the ones here very much! The filling is rather sweet but still agreeable to me. And the buns are nice and soft.
And the final third crucial item would be the much loved “Har Kau”. The ones here have got whole prawns wrapped around a nice soft chewy skin. Its really no wonder that this place is packed especially during weekends!
Other items we’ve tried and liked:
Meaty pork ribs
Salad Har Kau. Again lots of prawns!
“Wu Kok” These pork filled yam morsels are really addictive! I like the fact that the yam is not drenched in oil that’s been used over and over again.
“Hor Yip Fan” Lotus leaf rice. Sinfully oily but oh so good!
I have no idea what this is called. But it’s pretty good! Similar to “wu kok” but with different filling.
Egg tarts!! I do prefer the ones at Canton-i. But these are much cheaper.
“Pi Tan Chook” Century egg porridge. A bit on the salty side for me but still does the trick!
This is another must have for me whenever I have dim sums! Love the lotus paste filling!
Other than dim sum items, their noodle dishes are pretty good as well. So far I’ve tried and loved the Singapore Bee Hoon. Its rather wet and can be a bit too salty at times. But otherwise tasty and lots of ‘wok hei’!
Crispy noodles – crispy and tasty!
And perhaps the best thing about this place is the really affordable prices! Most dim sum items are about RM2-3 per portion. Meanwhile, medium sized noodles are RM8. Usually our bill for the 4 of us comes up to about RM40+, and we walk out stuffed to the brim!
Dim Sum Food Restaurant is operated by the same people behind Zim Sum Restaurant (at Anson Road). Dim Sum Food Restaurant is located at 63 Macalister Road, 10400 Penang (next to Guang Ming Daily’s office). Dim Sum is served from 9am-3pm Mon-Fri, and 8am-3pm Sat/Sun/Public Holidays. T: 04-229 7273.
This place turns into Town Steamboat Restaurant from 5.30pm-11.30pm serving all you can eat buffet style steamboat barbeque.
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Kek Seng Kopitiam – Still Cheap and Good!
The iconic Kek Seng kopitiam is definitely no stranger to local Penangites. Having been in business since the early 1900s, Kek Seng kopitiam has consistently served cheap and good food.
It’s been years since I last visited Kek Seng. It used to be my grandfather’s favourite eating place. And I remember that I hated going there because it was really hot and packed! Little did I realize at that young age, that I was being brought to one of the best places to eat in Penang!
Over the years, we somehow have forgotten or overlooked this old gem which still stands proud today. I suspect that the kopitiam still looks exactly like it did when it first opened its doors. It hasn’t been renovated much or given a new coat of paint. It may even turn off some people who prefer dining at newer, cooler and cleaner places. But there was definitely something nostalgic about Kek Seng as I stepped into it on a recent overcast afternoon.
The Asam Laksa immediately caught my eye. Although this may not be one of the more famous stalls, the laksa definitely packs a punch! Chockfull of fish and served with lots of ‘he ko’. Heaven!
Everything at Kek Seng seemed to appeal to me that day. And so I went on an ordering spree. Pie Tee (Top Hats) was next. Crispy pastry cups filled with vegetables (turnips) and topped with shredded egg. A truly unique snack!
Oh oh and of course who can forget Kek Seng’s star item – their home made durian ice cream!! Best eaten with the Ice Kacang topped with their signature jelly. Very refreshing on a hot day.
I was on a roll now, so we ordered ‘lor bak’ (fried pork rolls) , ‘he chee’ (prawn fritters) and a piece of fried beancurd (I love beancurds!). Comes served with a chilli dip and a starchy ‘lor’ dip. Yet another great snack!
Just outside Kek Seng Kopitiam is the Char Koay Teow and Mee Jawa stalls. The Char Koay Teow here tastes good too! Lots of ‘lap cheong’ (Chinese sausages) to flavor the dish. I still prefer , but Kek Seng’s Char Koay Teow is a different style of preparing the dish which also sits very well with me.
By this time, I was too stuffed to try the Mee Jawa and the chicken rice, which if memory serves me well, should also be good!
I am glad to find that the food in Kek Seng kopitiam is still as good. And definitely affordable! Expect to pay about RM2.50-RM3 for the noodle dishes. Its no wonder that Kek Seng has managed to stand the test of time!
With more development and modern shiny new places coming up, something in me desperately holds onto memories and tastes of my younger years. In future, I would love to take my grandchildren to places filled with nostalgia just like how my grandfather took me to Kek Seng. And I would chuckle to myself when they complain about how hot and ugly the place is. Here’s to many many more years of Kek Seng!
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Johnny’s Nasi Lemak – A Truly Unique Treat!
Nasi Lemak is indeed one of the best loved staple foods in Malaysia. Various versions are available, from the simplest form (those RM1 per packet nasi lemaks) to the more elaborate types where you can pick and choose your dishes to go with the rice.
One of the most unique nasi lemaks I’ve come across is Johnny’s Nasi Lemak in Pulau Tikus.
Basically, what you get is VERY FRAGRANT rice, 2 prawns & 1 fish, cucumbers and a dollop of fiery hot ’sambal belacan’. That’s it. No curry, no ’sambal ikan bilis’. This is so unique that when I brought a KL guest to try it, he couldn’t really accept it, because to quote him ” I just can’t believe that nasi lemak comes without sambal ikan bilis!”
And it does not come cheap too! A plate like that would set you back RM3.50! You can opt to skip the fish if you’re not a fan of fish. It’ll be replaced with an extra prawn (hence the photo above has got 3 prawns instead of the usual 2)
Some would think it’s crazy to pay RM3.50 for a rather small plate of nasi lemak. In fact, most guys would need to order an extra bowl of rice! But I urge you to give it a try. The rice is sinfully rich and fragrant, living up to the ‘lemak’ claim. Mix up the rich rice with that dollop of spicy belacan and you would think that you’ve died and gone to nasi lemak heaven!
Perhaps another reason for this nasi lemak being such a hit is the limited supply. Johnny’s Nasi Lemak opens at 8.30am (on the dot, no earlier than that) from Mondays to Saturdays only. And they only make and sell one big pot of rice. So he’s usually all sold out by about 10am!
To get your hands on a plate of this really yummy nasi lemak, make your way to Jin Hoe Kopitiam, which is located in the shoplots opposite Bandar Baru supermarket in Pulau Tikus.
There are 2 stalls in this kopitiam. Johnny’s Nasi Lemak is the stall on the left. The stall on the right sells economy rice. And remember, don’t go too late as they sell out really fast (by about 10am). 8.30am onwards, Mon-Sat only.
Price List: Normal nasi lemak – RM3.50. Extra rice – RM.160, extra fish – RM1, extra prawn – RM0.70, ikan bilis – RM1
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Love, Life & Chocolates @ Schokolart, Solaris Mont Kiara
Chocolate oh chocolate, how I love thee. Let me count the ways….
Anyone who knows me well would know what a chocoholic I am. There is something so soothing and so exquisite in a piece of really good chocolate melting slowly in your mouth…
And so I practically jumped for joy when we headed to Schokolart at Solaris Mont Kiara. My first time going to Solaris Mont Kiara too!
White, black and pastel pink is the theme of the interior of Schokolart. And there’s even a more private corner with seating for two, separated by fringed curtains. I would have picked those seats had I not wanted more light for photography sake!
Upon entering Schokolart, a glass case of chocolates and cakes greet you. I was estatic!
After glancing through the menu, we settled on a set lunch for RM18 (which includes a drink, choice of main meal – various types of or sandwiches, and a chocolate praline)
We tried the Apenzeller Rosti with a Jalepeno sausage. The generous portion of Apenzeller rosti came with bacon bits inside. I’ve tried the Rosti at Marche in the Curve but found that theirs was drenched in oil. Not very appetizing at all. Fortunately the rosti here at Schokolart fared much better! Crisp external layer and soft flavorful shredded potatoes on the inside. It paired well with the salty and spicy sausage.
The Schokolart Satay (RM20.90) immediately caught our eye and it came highly recommended. I just could not imagine how satay would taste, coated with chocolate!
I just loved the presentation of this dish! The chocolate satay came with fried ‘man tau’ and a very mild peanut sauce (tasted like it was made out of peanut butter!) So how did the chocolate satay taste? It was good!! I loved it! Very delicate hints of chocolate which your tongue might miss if it eaten with too much of the peanut sauce.
After much debate between getting chocolate pralines or a chocolate drink (I was trying to do my waistline some favors by not indulging in both), I finally decided to go for the pralines. A box of 6 pralines would set you back RM27. For dine in, they offer you 100gm of pralines (9 pieces) on a platter at RM36.
Raspberry Wasabi (white praline on the left) and Sweet Spice (on the right).
The Raspberry Wasabi consisted of white chocolate encasing a raspberry and wasabi center. Odd as it may sound, this combination actually works very well! The sweet white chocolate was balanced with the sour raspberry while the wasabi center gives it a lil bit of kick.
Meanwhile, the Sweet Spice was a combination of chilli, cinnamon and chocolate. Another winning combination! Don’t be alarmed by the chilli as it isn’t at all spicy. Just enough to give you a hint of spiciness.
Rocker praline (on the left) and Sesame praline (on the right).
I didn’t quite fancy Rocker as it had orange peel in it. I liked the nuts though. But I’m the type who likes my chocolate as is – no nuts, no fruits and most definitely no orange peel!!
Now the Sesame praline on the other hand, was a different story altogether. It was perfect!! Chocolate encasing a smooth nutty flavored center that melts in your mouth! ~swoon~ I heart!!!!!!!
Almond & Fruit Chocolate (on the left) and Mango Passion Fruit (on the right).
For the almond & fruit, I chose the bitter chocolate version. There’s a milk chocolate version too. I liked the bitter chocolate. But again, did not like the orange peel.
The Mango Passion Fruit was another winner for me. I have always liked both mango and passion fruit, so these flavors mixed with white chocolate were a delight for me.
There were a few other chocolate pralines that I didn’t get to try, not to mention a whole glass case of mini cakes. For the pralines I’ve tried so far, my favourites would definitely be Sesame, Sweet Spice, Raspberry Wasabi & Mango Passion Fruit (in that order).
I have not been to the other chocolate specialty place – Theobroma, so I wouldn’t be able to compare the two. But from this particular experience, I must say that I do like Schokolart. I’m not crazy in love with it, but thats just probably cos I would need to sample their menu in more detail. I would like to see more chocolates though. And I will definitely come back to try their chocolate drinks. Alcoholic drinks available too!
is located at Solaris Mont Kiara – opposite Tenji, above COld Storage. Block K-01-05, SohoKL @ Solaris Mont Kiara 2, Jalan Solaris, 50480 Kuala Lumpur. T:03-6203 0968
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BigBoysOven February Baking Classes in Penang!
Our favourite baker boys are coming back to Penang once again! This time they bring you dainty desserts, tantalizing tarts and a King of Fruits cake! So why wait? Register now to learn the art of baking these delectable goodies!
Japanese Cream Cheese Tart
Elegant bite sized tarts with rich cream cheese filling
Date: 28 February 2009 (Saturday)
Time: 9.00am-12.00pm
Venue: Hong Yap Trading (56-B Siam Road, Penang)
Fee: RM150
Macaron Tart
The exquisite macaron gets a Sunny Yaw twist – infusing the macaron with a tart base resulting in a surprisingly delightful dessert!
Date: 28 February 2009 (Saturday)
Time: 2.00pm-5.00pm
Venue: Hong Yap Trading (56-B Siam Road, Penang)
Fee: RM200
Durian Mousse Cake
The King of Fruits takes center stage in this heavenly cake
Date: 1 March 2009 (Sunday)
Time: 9.00am-12.00pm
Venue: Hong Yap Trading (56-B Siam Road, Penang)
Fee: RM160
*All photos courtesy of BigBoysOven
For more information and to register for the class, please email bbonorth@gmail.com or call/sms 012-4209433
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