Kwong Eats ....

Room Service @ Sheraton Miyako Hotel, Tokyo

2012-02-12T05:14:00.000-08:00

It's been a year since my brother Kim and I last visited Tokyo. Like last year we checked in at Sheraton Miyako Hotel around 9pm. Remembering how good their room service food was we decided to order it again.

Grilled Japanese Steak

The steak was really tender and juicy. It had a nice Teriyaki flavor and was really good with the rice. I only wished the steak was bigger.

Grilled Yellow Tail

This was my favorite last year. It wasn't as good this time. The Yellow Tail was overcooked making it a little tough and dry.

Beef Curry

The Curry was surprisingly really good. It tasted more like a North Indian Curry rather than Japanese Curry. The only thing we wished for was more Beef.

Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: N/A
Price: $$$$ (USD $40 per person)

Contact Information
Contact Information:
Address: 東京都港区白金台1-50-1, Japan
Tel:+81 3-3447-3111 ‎ ·
Web: starwoodhotels.com
Map:

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Japanese Food @ Sugimoto, Desa Sri Hartamas

2012-02-06T08:44:00.000-08:00

Sugimoto has been serving decent Japanese Food for many years catering mainly to Japanese Expats and Japanese Foodies. It was also one of my favorite restaurant till bigger Japanese Restaurants like Rakuzen sprung up. After many years we decide to give Sugimoto a visit again.

Crispy Salmon Salad

This was very good. I loved the contrast in texture between the greens, salmon meat, crispy salmon skin and Pine Nuts. The dressing was also very well balanced it wasn't too sweet or sour.

Braised Beef Tongue

The Beef Tongue was braised in a Demi-Glace Sauce that contained carrots, potatoes and shallots. Some of the Tongue was tender and others were a little over-cooked. The meaty flavor of the Demi-Glace complemented the Tongue really well.

Salmon Platter

Our Salmon Platter came with a Salmon Maki, Salmon Sushi and Salmon Sashimi. The Salmon was very fresh and had quite a bit of marbling which gave it a nice flavor and texture.

Chicken Teriyaki Set

The Chicken was tender and the skin was grilled crispy. The Sauce wasn't too sweet just the way we liked it.

Salmon Kichi Nabe

The Kimchi Nabe was quite good. The sweet Miso Soup was rich and went well with the spicy flavor of the Kimchi.

The food in Sugimoto is still quite good with menu items such as Braised Beef Tongue and other Japanese Dishes that are not found in more popular Japanese Restaurants like Rakuzen.

Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 3/5
Price: $$$ (Approximately USD $20 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 36-1 Jalan 27/70a, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Sri Hartamas, Malaysia
Tel: +603-2300 1102

Noodles and More @ Jeff Lee's Kitchen

2012-02-02T08:38:00.000-08:00

There are a couple of restaurants my colleagues frequently visit when we're working in Sungai Buloh. The first is LYJ for their Poon Choi, Steam Chicken and Char Siew. The second is Jeff Lee's Kitchen which is opened by the brother of LYJ Restaurant.

Visiting the restaurant for the first time I left my colleagues to do the ordering...

Crispy Roast Duck

The Skin of the Duck was very crispy from the being re-fried before serving. The meat was also very tender but I found the flavor of the Duck to be a little bland

Paku-Pakis

I've never had vegetables served like this in a Malaysian Chinese Restaurant but I thoroughly enjoyed it! The greens were served cold and tasted like a Thai Dish with a balance of sour, sweet and a little heat. I loved the addition of crispy baby fried anchovies which gave a nice crunchy texture and salty flavor.

Signature Steam Fish

The pungent Garlic and Ginger Gravy was very good with the Fresh Water Fish. The Fish was very moist and steamed just right.

Minced Pork Noodles

Another signature of Jeff Lee's Kitchen. The Noodles had a nice stringy texture and was really good with the salty minced pork and pork lard.

I thoroughly enjoyed all the dishes at Jeff Lee's Kitchen and the price was very reasonable. The location might be a little obscure and you might need to endure a few road bumps to get here. But people should definitely give this place a try if you're around the area.

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 2/5
Price: $ (Approximately USD $8 per person)

Contact Information
Address:Lot 4133, Jalan Perkhidmatan, Kampung Baru Sungai Buloh, Selangor, 47000, Malaysia
Tel: +60 3-6156 1817
Map:

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Favorite Classics @ Dave's Deli, KL

2012-01-30T05:39:00.000-08:00

After going through a major face-lift several months back, Dave’s Deli is open for business serving their timeless classics but with a much brighter and airier environment.

Ox-Tail Soup

A favorite of mine at Dave's since I was a kid. The Ox-Tail was fork tender and the soup was full bodied from the herbs and spices used. I loved the addition of Fried Shallots which gave it an extra dose of flavor.

Grilled Foot Long Sausage

Another classic. The Chicken Sausage was definitely processed but it was still good. What I liked most was their Cole Slaw.

Grilled Chicken Chop

Simple but really good. The chicken was crispy from being pressed grilled and was juicy.

Chicken Schnitzel

Eric's main. The Schnitzel although not pan-fried evenly was quite tender.

Dave's Roast Beef Panini Sandwich

This was a killer sandwich. The combination of crispy Panini, melt in your mouth cheese, soft pineapple and tender roast beef is indescribable.

Steak and Mushroom Pie

Another classic of Dave's Deli. Tender chunks of Beef that's enclosed in a Puff Pastry.

Despite giving their One Utama outlet a much needed face lift I am glad they did not change any of their classics. The food we had was the way I remembered it to be when I was a child simple but really good.

Food: 4/5
Service: 3/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Price: $ (Approximately USD $10 per person)

Contact Information:
Address: 1 Lebuh Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Bandar Utama, Malaysia
Tel: +603-7726-9490
Web: www.davesdeli.com.my‎

Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner @ Ee Cuisine, Eastin Hotel

2012-01-27T06:44:00.000-08:00

The year of the Dragon is finally here and I am back in KL to celebrate Chinese New Year with my family and friends! We celebrated the most important meal "The Reunion" dinner this year at Ee Cuisine in Eastin Hotel. Like many other Chinese Restaurants in KL, ala Carte menu was not an option as diners had to pick from a number of Set Menus that are "Auspiciously Priced".

Gold Leaf, Tuna and Caviar Yee Sang

I had such high expectation for this Yee Sang and was expecting Tuna Belly and Black Caviar. To my disappointed we were served regular Tuna Sashimi and Flying Fish Eggs. The Yee Sang overall was decent.

Charcoal Roasted Suckling Pig

The Suckling Pig was quite good. It was crispy but was not shatteringly crispy as my favorite "Full Wealth Restaurant" which in my opinion is still king of Suckling Pig.

Double Boiled Shark's Fin with Shark's Bone Soup

The peppery broth was milky from the long hours of boiling the soup. The Fin had a nice texture.

Steamed Giant Century Garoupa with Beancurd Skin in Soya Sauce

The fish had a nice meaty texture and was steamed just right with the Soy Sauce not being too salty.

Combinations Two Varieties Fresh Scallops served with Yam Basket

The worse dish of the night. The Scallops Stir-Fried with assorted vegetables was decent but the Deep-Fried Scallop Rolls were chewy and cold.

Braised Fish Maw, Sea Cucumber and Dried Oyster with 'Tian Jin' Cabbage

The Cabbage was very sweet and tender and I liked the flavor combination of the Fish Maw, Sea Cucumber and Tofu Puff.

Fried Fragrant Rice with Wax Meats

This was good. But again for such an expensive menu I was hoping for "Lap Mei" Rice and not a simple dish such as this.

Deep Fried Sesame Balls filled with Peanut Butter

The Sesame Balls was a little cold and the Peanut Butter filling was still solid inside. I would have liked it to be melted which would have given it a nice contrast in texture.

Deep Fried Nian Gao

The Nian Gao was really good. The batter was very light and crispy and the Nian Gao was very soft and gooey.

Sweetened Sweet Corn with Pumpkin Puree

The combination of Pumpkin Puree and Sweetened Corn did not really work well with me. Most of us did not finish this dessert soup.

For the price I was really expecting a lot more from the dishes we had at Ee Cuisine. Most of the dishes were traditional Cantonese Dishes that tasted above average. I was definitely expecting a lot more from Ee especially when the restaurant was only doing one service per table for the night.

Food: 3/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Price: $$$$$$ (Approximately USD $62 per person)

Contact Information
Address: Eastin Hotel, 13 Jalan 16/11, 46350 Pusat Dagang Seksyen 16 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: +603-7655-1111 ‎
Map:

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Japanese Buffet @ Yang's Kitchen, Markham

2012-01-22T08:37:00.000-08:00

We held our company's annual dinner at Yang's Kitchen this year. A popular all-you-can-eat Japanese Restaurant the menu at Yang's Kitchen is quite extensive serving a number of Rolls, Salads, Teppanyaki Meats, Tempura, Skewered Meats, Sashimi and much more.

Ordering nearly every item on the menu I find the quality of their cooked food to be very good comparable with Akina and Ten-Ichi. The Sashimi and Sushi however wasn't very fresh and their rolls were so-so.

Overall Ten-Ichi and Akina are still my favorite places for Japanese All-You-Can-Eat. The quality is better especially their Sashimi and Rolls.

Food: 3.5/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 3/5
Price: $$ (Approximately USD $25 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 4261 Regional Road 7, Markham, ON, Canada
Tel: +1 905-944-0818

Hainanese Chicken Rice @ Kim Po Vietnamese Restaurant

2012-01-20T09:08:00.000-08:00

Located near my office, Kim Po Vietnamese Restaurant is one of my places for lunch during my work week. The food is cheap, fast and they serve up one of the best Hainanese Chicken Rice in Toronto.

Hainanese Chicken Rice

Kim Po's Chicken is very tender and juicy. It is topped with a Soy Sauce mixture and chopped scallions and is served with minced ginger and their own chili sauce blend. The Rice is also pretty good both in flavor and texture. It doesn't clump together and is quite fragrant.

Egg Drop Soup

This was their soup of the day that comes with the Hainanese Chicken Rice as part of a Combo. The soup was rather bland.

Grilled Pork Neck

Another dish I usually order together with my Chicken Rice. The Pork Neck tastes similar to Malaysian style Char Siew. It also has a charred exterior giving it a slight crunch

Food: 4/5
Service:4/5
Ambiance: 2.5/5
Price: $ (Under USD $10 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 550 Hwy 7 E #6162a, Richmond Hill, ON, Canada
Tel: +1 905-763-8338 ‎
Web:
Map:

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Excellent Dinner @ 21 Steps, Whistler Village

2012-01-19T07:28:00.000-08:00

I stayed an extra night in Vancouver after finding out Mike was actually there for the week skiing in Whistler. Not wanting to waste the opportunity, I bought my ski gear the night before and headed to Whistler at 6am where I spent the entire day with Mike and Ralph skiing beautiful Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains!

To end what would be my shortest but really fun holiday we had an excellent dinner at 21 Steps in Whistler Village.

Tuna Tataki

The fresh field greens were nicely complemented by the honey mustard dressing. We were however slightly disappointed with the small slices of Tuna given.

Thai Red Curry Mussels

Recommended by our waiter. The Thai Red Curry was mild in flavor which was good because it complemented the freshness of the Mussels rather than overpower it.

Garlic Chili Prawns

The Mildly Spicy Garlic and Hoisin-Based Sauce surprisingly went well with the Juicy Prawns. I particularly liked the Crisp Wonton Crisps which was soaked up the sauce.

Roast Chicken

My Roast Chicken was really tender and flavorful. I loved the Barbecue Sauce which had a nice kick from the Black Peppercorns.

Wild BC Salmon Fillet

Ralph ordered this and it was amazing! The salmon had a nice sweet flavor probably from Maple Syrup and it literally melts in your mouth.

Prime Rib

This was Mike's order. The Prime Rib was cooked to a medium as ordered and had a nice outer crust. It was well seasoned and very tender.

We were stuffed at the end of our mains and decided not to order any desserts. Everything we had was delicious particularly my Grilled Chicken and the Garlic Chili Prawns. Dinner at 21 Steps definitely ended by holiday with a bang!

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Price: $$$$ (Approximately USD $40 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 4433 Sundial Place #10, Whistler, BC V0N 1B4, Canada
Tel: +1 604-966-2121 ‎
Web: www.21steps.ca
Map:

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Lobster and Crab @ Provence Marinaside, Vancouver

2012-01-18T07:34:00.000-08:00

I met up with my friend Imm who is currently studying in Vancouver for dinner. Working part-time at a Thai Restaurant she wanted to eat some local seafood that is not cooked Asian style.

Searching through Open-Table we decided to give Provence Marinaside a try after browsing their menu.

Croutons with Black Olive Tapenade

We began with some Crudites that was served with some Black Olive Tapenade.

Fresh Baguette and Herb Foccacia Bread

The Breads were nice especially their Herb Foccacia which was quite dense but still had a little crust.

Grilled Squid

The Squid was simply grilled and tossed in some Olive Oil and topped with Fresh Parsley. It was very tender and flavorful.

Seafood Stew

Our stew consisted of Scallops, Salmon, Prawns and Oysters that were cooked in a Seafood Broth that was finished off with Cream and some Gruyere Cheese. The Seafood Broth enhanced the natural sweetness of the juicy Scallops, Prawns, Oysters and Salmon.

Mediterranean Fish Soup

The Tomato-Based Fish Soup definitely tasted Fishy. It was very good when eaten with some Croutons and Garlic Aioli.

Steamed Dungeness Crab Provence Style

The Crab was very fresh and the flavors of the sautéed Tomatoes, Butter and Garlic complemented the sweet crab meat.

Sauteed Whole Lobster Provencal Style

The Lobster was broiled to perfection. Like the Crab the sautéed Tomatoes, Butter and Garlic really complemented the meat.

Cheese Cake

The Cheesecake was actually quite good. It was light and creamy though I prefer the crust to be a little crunchier.

The food at Provence is best described as simple but done right. The prices are also very reasonable making it a memorable meal.

Food: 4.3/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 3/5
Price: $$$$$ (Approximately USD $60 per person)

Contact Information
Address:1177 Marinaside Crescent, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2Y3, Canada
Tel: +1 604-681-4144 ‎
Web: www.provencevancouver.com
Map:

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Japanese Bar Food @ Hapa Izakaya, Vancouver

2012-01-15T23:19:00.000-08:00

Visiting an Izakaya is a must whenever I'm in Vancouver. This time round instead of visiting Guu we opted to try Hapa Izakaya on Robson. Unlike Guu, Hapa spots a modern and romantic ambiance similar to Wine Bars instead of a traditional Sake Bar. The menu is focuses on a number of typical Izakaya Style Agemono dishes, Salads, Sashimi and some seasonal specials that are only featured at Hapa's Robson Branch.

Beef Tataki

The Beef just melts in your mouth. It was complemented with some Scallions, a Sweet and Spicy Sauce and sliced Shallots.

Goma-Ae

A beautiful way to plate Goma-Ae. The Sesame Sauce was really good with the Spinach which was cooked soft but still maintaining some good crunch.

Spicy Tuna Tartare

I’ve never had a Spicy Tuna Tartare before. Hapa’s rendition of a Tartare uses Korean Bean Paste Sauce, Diced Scallions and Flying Fish Eggs all tossed together to make the Tartare. It was actually really good with the buttered croutons.

Mentaiko Udon

This was actually my first time Mentaiko Udon and I loved it! The Udon was a little chewy and had a nice bite to it. It was so good with the Fish Eggs, Tomatos and Mayo Sauce!

Grilled Saba Sashimi

The Fresh Saba Sashimi was torched right infront of our table. The Saba did not have a fishy taste that is usually associated with it and had a nice firm texture.

Ebi Mayo

The Ebi Mayo was disappointing. Although the Prawns were fresh, the batter was very soggy. Guu in my opinion still has the best Ebi Mayo.

Except for the Ebi Mayo the food at Hapa was good especially their Mentaiko Udon and Beef Tataki. The prices are a little steeper than Guu and the ambiance is modern and not as noisy.

Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Price: $$$$ (Approximately USD $45 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 1479 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Tel: +1 (604) 689-4272
Web: hapaizakaya.com‎
Map:

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Salads and Wings @ Romers Burgers, Vancouver

2012-01-12T06:45:00.000-08:00

I was in Vancouver for two days of work and a day of skiing in Whistler. My first meal was with my client who took me to Romers Burgers for a quick lunch. As the name suggests Romers specializes in Burgers but also serves up a variety of Salads, Starters and Sides.

R Wings

The Wings were really good! The batter was light and crispy and the wings were seasoned just right.

Sesame Crusted Wild Salmon Salad

This was my salad. The Salmon was a little dry for my liking but I liked Miso Dressing and Mango Drizzle which gave the Salad a Sweet and Sour flavor.

Mango Chicken Salad

Food: 3.5/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Price: $$ (Approximately USD $20 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 1873 W 4th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6J 1M4, Canada
Tel: +1 604-732-9545 ‎
Web: www.romersburgerbar.com
Map:

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Excellent In-Flight Service Meals @ Cathay Pacific Flight CX826 (HKG-YYZ)

2012-01-06T16:25:00.000-08:00

A month ago I received an email from a reader asking what do I usually eat on my long-haul flights. To answer his question I whipped out my camera on my latest long-haul flight from Hong Kong to Toronto via Cathay Pacific Flight CX826.

First Class Cabin

Cathay's First Class Seat is really spacious with ample storage space and a dining table that can serve two people. The Seat converts into a fully flat bed upon which my friendly Flight Attendants Cindy and Roslyn will turn it into a proper bed complete with Bed Sheets, an Over-sized Pillow and a really soft Duvet. The Seat also features a massage function.

Amenity Kits

Unlike Business, First Class includes a nice set of Pajamas from Shanghai Tang. The Amenity Kit features a Ermengildo Zegna Bag that includes a Dental Kit, Face Moisturizer, Lip Balm and a Comb

Dinner Service

Caviar and Balik Salmon “Tsar Nicolaj” with Garlic Bread on the side

My meal began with Sevruga Caviar and Balik Smoked Salmon that is served with minced egg yolk, onions, sour cream, spring onions and really good boiled Yukon Gold Potatoes

Grilled Vegetable Salad with Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

A rather simple but delicious salad. The Grilled Bell Peppers were very sweet and went really well with the tangy Balsamic Vinaigrette

Smoked Bacon Miso Soup with Shiitake Mushrooms and Leek

The soup was more like a Consomme. I could definitely taste the smokiness of the Bacon and flavors of the Shiitake Mushrooms and Leek

Apple and Juniper Berry Marinated Grilled Australian Lamb Chop, Baby Capsicum, Roasted Garlic, Baked Potato and Sun Dried Tomato

Senior Purser Cindy prepared and plated the Lamb to perfection. It was heated to a perfect Medium (a first for me on board a plane) and the Lamb was very tender. This dish is comparable to eating at a top rated restaurant.

Fresh Berries with Cream and Vanilla Ice Cream

The Berries consisted of Strawberries, Blueberries and Raspberries. They were really fresh and was delicious with the Vanilla Ice Cream and Cream

Assorted Truffles

Breakfast

Fresh Seasonal Fruits and Fruit Yogurt from La Ferme du Manege

Fresh Multi-Grain Toast served with Mrs. Bridges Scottish Preserves, Tasmanian Meadow Honey and Butter

Freshly Scrambled Organic Free Range Egg Whites served with Steak, Sauteed Button Mushrooms, Roast Tomato and Potato Cake

The eggs were cooked on-board the flight and as such we could have it any way we liked. I had mine Scrambled and requested it to be only Egg Whites and it was cooked beautifully.

Of all my flights I had in 2011 this was the best In-flight Meal I've had and the only flight where the Lamb was prepared Medium and was really tender (something that's hard to do on a flight). Special thanks to Senior Purser Cindy for prepping and plating the food!

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 5/5
Ambiance: 4.5/5
Price: N/A

Contact Information
Address: Flight CX826 (Hong Kong to Toronto)
Web: www.cathaypacific.com

Japanese Food @ Toshi, Munich

2012-01-05T07:36:00.000-08:00

We were so stuffed from Lunch at Spatenhaus and Desserts at Café Maelu that we decided to have a much later dinner and some Japanese Food at Munich’s best Japanese Restaurant called Toshi.

Operated by Japanese People Toshi serves up traditional Japanese Food and offers an Omakase Menu for guests.

Edamame

Sashimi Salad

The Sashimi Salad was quite good. It contained a number of diced fish such as Salmon, Tuna, Snapper, Tako, Shrimps and others that was tossed in a light vinaigrette.

Sushi and Sashimi Moriawase

The Moriawase consisted of your regular Fishes such as Saba, Salmon, Amaebi, Tuna, Eel and Surf Clam. Most of the fishes were quite fresh.

Unagi Maki

Grilled Miso Cod

My favorite dish of the night. The Cod had a nice textural contrast from the crispy exterior and really soft meat. The marinade was a little on the sweet side and the Cod was very rich from being grilled in Butter. It was also served with some sautéed mushrooms.

Overall I felt the food at Toshi was above average . However for value I feel it is way over-priced for the type of food we had.

Food: 3.5/5
Service 4/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Price: $$$$$ (Approximately USD 55 per person)

Contact Information
Address: Wurzerstraße 18, 80539 München, Germany
Tel: +49 89/25546942 ‎
Web: restaurant-toshi.de
Map:

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Decadent Cakes and Hot Chocolate @ Cafe Maelu, Munich

2012-01-04T14:12:00.000-08:00

After a heavy lunch in Spatenhaus my eating spree continued with Desserts at one of my friend's favorite Dessert Cafe called Maelu. The ground level of the cafe featured a display counter showcasing a beautiful array of Mini-Cakes, Eclairs, Pralines and Tarts and the second floor was the seating area.

Hot Chocolate

Adam insisted I had to try Maelu's Hot Chocolate claiming it to be the best in Munich. The Hot Chocolate was extremely creamy and chocolaty but somehow it did not feel heavy. It was definitely one of the best Hot Chocolates I've had.

Provence

The Provence consisted of Sacher Sponge with White Chocolate Mousse and a hint of Lavender that was infused inside a dark chocolate cream.

Maelu

This is the Cafe's signature Cake. It is an ultra decadent Chocolate Mousse Cake that uses only the finest Chocolate Mousse (according to the Cafe the Chocolate used is from the 2004 world's best chocolate) with Chocolate Meringue, that is garnished with Chocolate Shavings and 24k Gold Dust.

Black Forest

The Black Forest Cake consisted of Sacher Sponge with a Cherry Berry Infused White Chocolate Mousse, Dark Chocolate Mousse and was filled with Sour Cherries.

The Cakes at Café Maelu were all really good in my opinion. Most of the cakes we ordered were Mousse Cakes but they tasted deceptively light and wasn’t very sweet.

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 3.5/5
Ambiance: 3.5/5
Price: $ (Approximately USD $12 per person)

Contact Information
Address: Theatinerstrasse 32 D-80333 MÜNCHEN,
Tel: +49 (89) 2429 2597
Fax: +49 (89) 850 2840
Web: www.maeser-luksch.de/index.php
Map:

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Bavarian Food @ Spatenhaus, Munich

2011-12-29T21:32:00.000-08:00

After two days in Essen I spent the weekend in Munich visiting Bali and Angelina. For lunch Bali took me to sample some authentic Bavarian Food at Spatenhaus, a very popular restaurant among locals.

Pretzel

Bavarian Pretzel are different from other regions because they tend to be crustier and more dense than their Northern Counterparts.

Bavarian Plate

My Bavarian Plate came with Crispy Duck, Pork Knuckle, Sucking Pig, Sausages, Apple Red Cabbage, Sauerkraut Potato and Bread Dumplings . The Meats were all very tender and I particularly enjoyed the Pork Knuckle whose skin was super crispy.

Schweinebraten

One of my favorites in Germany. The Roast Pork Shoulder was very tender and seasoned just right it was served with some Red Cabbage, Sauerkraut and Knoddle.

Plate of Game

The Platter of Game Meats came with Grilled Wild Boar, Fillet of Hare, Saddle of Venison and was served with a side of Spaetzle and Brussel Sprouts.

Roast Deer Medallions

The Deer Medallions was served with a bowl of Buttered Spaetzle. The meat was tender and went really well with the Glazed Grapes and Mushroom Sauce.

If you are craving for some authentic and good traditional Bavarian Food, Spatenhaus is definitely a place to visit. The portions are big so it is recommended that you come really hungry.

Food: 4/5
Service: 3.5/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Price: $$$$ (Approximately USD $45 per person)

Contact Information
Address: Residenzstraße 12, 80333 München, Deutschland
Tel: +49 089 290706-0
web: www.kuffler.de‎
Map:

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Christmas Market @ Essen, Germany

2011-12-27T22:16:00.000-08:00

I've always loved the Christmas Markets in Europe and was so fortunate to visit one this year when I was in Essen for the Motor Show. The market was really festive and featured a wide variety of Stores selling Christmas Gifts, Food, Toys, Chocolates and my favorite Gluhwein.

I loved it so much I spent both nights sampling the food and walking around the various stores with my buddy Bali who again took some time from his busy work schedule to accompany me.

Gluhwein

Flammkuchen

Curry Wurst and Mushrooms

Langos

Confiserie

I really miss the Christmas Market in Essen and really wished Toronto had one that was just as big. Anyone visiting Germany in December should definitely visit the Christmas Market.

Contact
Address: Near Essen Hbf
Tel: N/A

Huge Buffet @ Studio B Show Kitchen Buffet, M Resort Las Vegas

2011-12-22T20:21:00.000-08:00

You can’t leave Vegas without eating in one of their Hotel’s famous Buffets. And this was what we did on my last night visiting Studio B’s Buffet at M Resort. Although Studio B is located off the strip it is popular among locals for their quality buffet

The Buffet features a large live Kitchen Stations specializing in different cuisines and foods such as Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Spanish, South-Western, Roasts, Salads and much more.

Desserts was also extensive with a variety of Cakes, Pies, Mini-Shooters and Gelato.

Overall I would say Studio B is probably the best Buffet in Vegas I've had so far. The quality and variety is comparable to that of Wynn and Bellagio but because it is not located on the Strip the price is much lower.

Food: 3.5/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Service: 3.5/5
Price: $$ (Approximately USD $25 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 12300 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Henderson, NV 89044
Tel: +1 (702) 797-1000
Web: themresort.com‎
Map:

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Decent Japanese Restaurants off the Vegas Strip @ Osaka Japanese Restaurant, Las Vegas

2011-12-20T09:14:00.000-08:00

After our heavy dinner at "The Cheesecake Factory" we decided on something light the following night by having some Japanese Food at Osaka Japanese Restaurant. It is one of a very few Japanese Restaurants off the strip that serves up some decent Japanese Food.

Miso Soup

California Hand Roll

Sashimi Moriawase

Surprisingly the Sashimi was really fresh particularly the Salmon. We really enjoyed it.

Screaming Orgasm

Basically Tuna Sashimi with a Mayo mix Thousand Island and Tobiko Sauce. The Sauce went really well with the fresh Blue Fin Tuna.

Agedeshi Tofu

The Tofu was deep fried perfectly maintaining a nice light crust. However the Tofu they used was Chinese Tofu which wasn't as soft and silky as Japanese Tofu.

Beef Roll with Spring Onion

The Beef Roll was pretty good with some pieces very tender and some a little chewy from being overcooked.

Grilled Chicken Wings

The Chicken Wings were not grilled but deep-fried. It was quite bland.

Katsudon

Brandon's main course. The Pork they used had the right amount of fat making it very tender and juicy. The egg on top was also really good and the rice wasn't too soggy from the Katsu Sauce that was poured on top.

Cold Soba Noodles

Hamachi Kama Shioyaki

The Hamachi was grilled just right and was not overly salted.

Ebi Fry

The Prawns were fresh and the batter was crispy. It was so good we had two orders of it.

Fried Ice Cream

This was bad. The Tempura Batter was not completely cooked through leaving the inside very doughy.

Pineapple Sorbet

This was the best dessert we had among the desserts we ordered. The Pineapple flavor was quite pronounced but the Sorbet was a little too icy.

Molten Chocolate Cake

This was really bad. It tasted like it came out from a packaged dessert. The Cake was very dry and too sweet.

Our supposedly light meal did not turn out so light after everything we ordered. Most of the dishes we had were good except for their Desserts.

Food: 3.5/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 3.5/5
Price: $$$$ (Approximately USD $40 per person)

Contact Information
4205 West Sahara Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89102
Phone: (702) 876-4988
Web: www.lasvegas-sushi.com/html/contact.html
Map:

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Cheesecakes and more @ The Cheesecake Factory, Summerlin Las Vegas

2011-12-14T13:38:00.000-08:00

A month ago I was back in Vegas for the SEMA Convention where I also spent 4 days with my Cousin's Family who were living there. For my first Dinner my Niece took me to The Cheesecake Factory a very famous chain that most would know but one I've never visited despite my frequent visits to the US.

It was a weekday but the restaurant was extremely packed and we had to wait another 20 minutes despite making a reservation.

White and Pumpernickel Bread

We were served combination of White and Pumpernickel Bread. I really liked the Pumpernickel Bread which was a little sweet and warm.

Fried Calamari

This was really good. The batter was really light and the Calamari was very tender.

Factory Famous Meatloaf

This was my main course and the Meatloaf was really moist and tender. It had a texture that was almost like spam. The Onion Brown Gravy was a little on the sweet side but it went well with the saltiness of the Meatloaf.

Pork Chops

This was Brandon's main course. The Pork Chop was quite moist and had a nice charred exterior.

Bang-Bang Chicken and Shrimp

This was Phoebe's Entree. The creamy sauce tasted similar to Butter Chicken. It was definitely a very rich dish.

Seafood Pasta:

This was Florence's order. The Pasta was Al Dente and the Seafood was cooked just right. My favorite of the night.

The Original Cheesecake

I liked the texture of the Cheesecake which was really fluffy and creamy. It was a little sweet for my taste.

Red Velvet Cheese Cake

Like the Original Cheesecake I preferred it to be less sweet. The texture however was really good.

The Cheesecake Factory not only offers a wide variety of Cheesecakes but its menu is also extensive offering something for everyone. Service was attentive and friendly and the food came out fast.

Food: 3.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 4.5/5
Price: $$$ (Approximately USD $30 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 750 S Rampart Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89145
Tel: +1 (702) 951-3800
Web: www.thecheesecakefactory.com
Map:

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Terrible Dim Sum Brunch Buffet @ Toh Yuen, Hilton PJ

2011-12-07T10:32:00.000-08:00

Over the years I’ve always had a bad habit of applying to too many Hotel Memberships without ever using their Complimentary Meal or Stay vouchers until it reaches its expiry.

Not wanting to waste away my vouchers this year, I started using them every month beginning with Hilton’s complimentary lunch voucher, where I used at Toh Yuen for their Sunday Brunch Buffet.

Toh Yuen’s Dim Sum spread was halal and featured a variety of stations including Dim Sum, Chinese Cold Platter, Salads, Fried and Baked Dim Sum, Sashimi, Noodle Bar, Peking Duck and Desserts.

The spread in my view was quite limited for its price and the quality of the Dim Sum was poor. BBQ Chicken Charsiew Pastry was left sitting on the counter for way too long making the pastry dense and not good. The Har Gow did not contain much shrimps and the dough was very thick.

My Noodles that was made to order contained overcooked prawns and Wontons whose skin was thick and chewy.

The only thing I enjoyed was the Salmon Sashimi and cold Peking Duck which was decent compared with other dishes we ate. Desserts were not impressive either with miniscule cakes that were dry and rather plain.

Overall for the price one would expect a much better Dim Sum Brunch Buffet. Being a Dim Sum Buffet Toh Yuen should focus on serving high quality Dim Sum rather than offer a myriad of sub-par dishes. Diners that want to enjoy a full buffet can always op for their Coffee House Buffet.

Food: 2/5
Service: 3.5/5
Ambiance: 3.5/5
Price: $$$ (Approximately USD $30 per person)

Contact Information
Contact Information:
Address: Hilton Petaling Jaya 2 Jalan Barat, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Tel: +60 3-7955 9122 ‎
Map:

Bak Kut Teh @ Hock Kien Klang Bak Kut Teh, Kepong

2011-12-02T00:25:00.000-08:00

My recent stay in KL saw my colleagues take me to their new favorite Bak Kut Teh spot called Hock Kien Klang Bak Kut Teh. This place is known for serving up some really good Clear Soup Bak Kut Teh and apparently has a number of locations across the Klang Valley.

The restaurant was packed the day we went with Tauke’s, Office Staff and Families all having their lunch.

Yao Cha Kwai

Oddly enough this is one of a places that actually serves up some really good Yao Cha Kwai. It was crispy and did not taste too oily. An excellent sponge for the Broth.

Fried Tofu Puff

A favorite of mine when having Bak Kut Teh especially when the broth is really good.

Pork Ribs and Pork Belly Bak Kut The

The reason why my colleagues brought me here. Their clear version Bak Kut Teh really accentuated the natural flavors of the tender Pork Ribs and Pork Belly.

Pork Intestines

The Intestines had a bitter taste which I did not enjoy. Initially I thought it was caused by the chefs not cleaning the Intestines properly but was corrected by my friend who said it came from the internal organs of the Intestine which they intentionally left intact.

Yao Mak

The Yao Mak was boiled just right maintaining light crispness to it and not being too oily.

Hock Kien Klang Bak Kut Teh serves up some excellent Bak Kut Teh around the Kampung Baru Sungai Buloh/Kepong Area. The place is clean and the service is good, which is something uncommon with good Bak Kut Teh joints. It is no wonder why so many people visit this place.

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 3.5/5
Price: $ (Under USD $10 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 31, Jalan 3/62A, Bandar Menjalara, Kepong
Tel: N/A
Map: N/A

Sampling some of Malang's delicious local dishes!

2011-11-29T07:33:00.000-08:00

A while back I had the opportunity to visit Malang on a short business trip to learn more about the Coffee Industry. It was an amazing experience where I had the opportunity to learn how Coffee was grown, sorted, processed and packaged.

During my short two day trip I also had a chance to sample some of my host's local favorites of Malang’s popular dishes, Sate Kambing, Gule Kambing and Soto Ayam Lombok.

Rumah Makan Cairo

The first night my host took me to her favorite restaurant for Sate Kambing and Gule Kambing called Rumah Makan Cairo. The restaurant was small and without much decor but according to her this is the place for Sate Kambing and Gule Kambing.

Gule Kambing

Gule Kambing is a Goat's Innards stew that taste like a cross between Soto Ayam and Soto Lembu. It was my first time having Goat's Tripe and Liver and I really enjoyed it especially with rice. The flavorful broth covered any gamey flavor of the Tender Goat's Innards.

Sate Kambing

The sate had a nice combination of Fat and Meat. The Sate was seasoned with just salt and some spices that contained Cumin. This was definitely different than Malaysian Satay, which uses Lemongrass, Turmeric and a host of other ingredients. Nevertheless I enjoyed Malang’s version as well.

Contact Information:
Address: Jl Kapt. Piere. Tendean 1, Malang, Indonesia
Tel: (0341) 366433

Soto Ayam jl Lombok

For lunch the next day I was taken to a little restaurant that is famous for their Soto Ayam on Jalan Lombok called Soto Ayam JL Lombok. Considered by many to serve the best Soto Ayam in Malang locals actually calls their version of Soto Ayam, Soto Lombok.

Soto Ayam Lombok

This was delicious! Their Soto is much more flavorful than the one's served in KL. The combination of their Spice Paste, Fried Shallots, Spring Onions and Cilantro made this such an aromatic and hearty Noodle Soup Dish. The Chicken Flavor was definitely very pronounced here.

Lontong

My host was going light that afternoon and ordered a plate of pressed rice cakes called Lontong. It is usually eaten with Soto Ayam but in her case she had it with some Chili Garnish

Prawn Crackers

These weren’t very good in my opinion. It was not very crispy and lacked Prawn Flavor.

Contact Information
Address: Jl Lombok 1 Klojen Kota Malang, Tlp 0341-366226, Indonesia
Tel: +62 341 366226 ‎

Eating around Frankfurt!

2011-11-27T00:59:00.000-08:00

After having a really expensive but mediocre meal at G Buzzano, Bali and I decided to try out simpler foods during our next two days in Frankfurt having Vietnamese to Flammkuchen!

Pho @ Pho 79

The Pho here may not have all the usual ingredients of a typical but it was decent. The Bean Sprouts were a little stale and the use of Basil and Lime was substituted with Parsley and Lemon

Spiesbraten @ IAA

Three years in a row I ate at this stall for their Spiesbraten at Messe Frankfurt and it is still good! This is to me is lunch for Champions. Flavorful Pork Shoulder braised with Onions and served with two slices of German Rolls.

Macarons @ Imori Patisserie

We stumbled upon this little Pastry Shop while walking around Romer Platz. The Macarons had a nice flavor but the texture was a little bit too chewy for my liking.

Grilled Sausages and Flammkuchen @ Street Food Stalls along The Zeil

There were a ton of Food Stalls celebrating Oktoberfest along the Zeil. The Sausage was really good but the Flammkuchen was only so-so.

Hotpot Buffet @ Yan Jing

The only Hotpot I've ever had in Germany. The Lamb meat was exceptionally good but the beef and other meats and seafood were not very fresh. Overall good value since it was all you can eat for 20 Euros.

Dry Aged Porter House Steak @ G Buzzano, Frankfurt

2011-11-22T08:04:00.000-08:00

I'm back in Frankfurt again for a couple of days to attend the IAA Convention. Traveling alone, my friend Balazs decided to visit me in Frankfurt for a night where I took him around Frankfurt for a quick tour around the City Center.

I was craving for some good Scwheinebraten but settled for a meal at an Italian Steak House called G Buzzano because Balazs was sick of Pork after living in Munich for several years.

Although G Buzzano is an Italian Steak House the steaks they serve are USDA Prime Steaks which was quite a relief for me because I've never heard of Prime Beef coming out of Italy or Germany.

Olives and Bread

The serving of Olives and Warm Bread was a very traditional way of starting our meal at a Steak House. This definitely kept our hopes high as we wait in anticipation for our Steak!

House Salad

This was such a simple but excellent Salad of Fresh Field Greens and Balsamic Vinaigrette! The Greens were light and crisp and the dressing had a nice balance of sweet and acidity

Truffled Mash Potatoes

The Truffle Mash had a really nice buttery flavor that was complemented by the earthy flavor of the White Truffles. The consistency however was not very fluffy.

Dry Aged Porter House Steak for two

Our Porter House Steak was very tender that almost melts in your mouth. The flavor however was disappointing for two reasons. First their so-called "Jus" was actually clarified butter which they poured all over our steaks making it too oily. Second the Steak was very under-salted.

Apple Tart

I enjoyed the crumbly tart shell and also the filling of the Apple which wasn't overly too sweet.

Strawberry Tart

Bali's favorite. The Strawberries had a nice balance between sweet and sour and was very soft in texture.

Overall I enjoyed the Salad the most at G Buzzano but was terribly disappointed with the expensive Porter House we ordered. Nothing is worse than having a chef destroy what would have been a perfect piece of Steak by under seasoning it...

Food: 3.5/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Price: $$$$$ (Approximately USD $85 per person)

Contact Information
Address: An der Welle 3, 60322 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Tel: +49 69/9778 ext. 7676 ‎
Web: www.buzzano.de/

Pig's Head @ Au Pied de Cochon

2011-11-11T22:47:00.000-08:00

I've always wanted to sample some true Quebecois Food at Au Pied de Cochon but have never gotten a chance to do so till my recent trip to Montreal. The restaurant is always fully booked whenever I visit Montreal but somehow Cindy managed to get a reservation for us that night!

Bread

Our meal started with some sub-par bread.

Bison Tongue

The Bison Tongue was tender and had a nice chewy texture. The flavor of the Tongue was phenomenal went really well with the Mustard Sauce. This was my favorite of the night!

Foie Gras with Caramelized Apples

The chef was definitely generous with their Foie Gras, which was served on top of a Buttered Brioche. The Balsamic Glaze and Apples add a nice Sweet and Deep Flavor to the Foie Gras which was cooked just perfect. The Brioche gave it a nice crunchy texture to the soft Foie Gras

Foie Gras Poutine

An artery clogging but sinfully good Quebec Dish. The fries were a little soggy but was seasoned just right and full of potato flavor. The rich Foie Gras Brown Gravy was so good we could have used as a sauce for anything.

Pig's Head

This was our main course that Laurent and I shared. Our Pig's head came with Baked Clams and Cheesy Mash Potatoes. The Head was really tender but very fat! The only part that contained meat were the cheeks which was good. The Clams were my favorites. It was baked in Salt and was so fresh.

Hunter's Pork Chop

The Pork Chop was very good! It had a nice crust from being Pan Seared and was very tender. The Mushroom Ragout complimented the meaty flavor of the well marbled pork.

Mash Potatoes

The Mash was really good! It was a good combination between creamy potatoes and potatoe puree. The flavor was really good especially with the Olive Oil.

Chocolate Mousse

We were so stuffed there wasn't room for dessert. Cindy however ordered a Chocolate Mousse which we tried. It was good but way too rich for us after our Pig's Head.

After Au Pied de Cochon I can truly say I've had true Quebecois Cuisine. One would probably need to go on a green diet for months after this one meal but it was truly an experience I would never forget especially the Pig's Head.

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 4.5/5
Price: $$$$ (Approximately USD $70 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 536 Avenue Duluth Est, Montréal, Québec H2L 1A9, Canada
Tel: +1 (514) 281-1114
Web: restaurantaupieddecochon.ca‎
Map:

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More Phuket Lobster @ Da No.1 Thai Seafood Restaurant

2011-11-08T20:06:00.000-08:00

Da No.1 Thai Seafood

Our most memorable meal throughout our trip in Phuket was our first day at Kang Ean Pier where we had the huge Phuket Lobster. On our last night we had to have it again and toured around the various Seafood Restaurants along Patong Strip to find the freshest seafood at the lowest price.

We settled on Da No.1 Thai Seafood after seeing their King Mantis Prawns and reasonable price.

Thai Style Fried Prawn Omelet

The Omelet was fluffy but not crispy enough. It had a nice eggy flavor and was seasoned well.

Tom Yam Goong

Their Tom Yam was spicy and sour but the flavor was a little too diluted from the coconut milk.

Moo Pad Prik

Their Moo Pad Prik was quite good. The Pork Neck Meat was very tender and went well with the thick red curry. It was one of our favorites of the night.

Deep Fried Phuket Lobster with Garlic

The Lobster Meat was deep-fried and tossed with some Minced Fried Garlic. It had a nice crust from being fried and the meat was firm. It was delicious.

Grilled Phuket Lobster

We preferred the Garlic Version to the Grilled Phuket Lobster because the meat wasn’t taken out from the shell. The Meat was firm and was seasoned just right.

King Mantis Prawn Torpedo

The meat of the Mantis Prawn was very sweet but we felt the bland cream sauce didn’t do it justice.

Deep-Fried King Mantis Prawn with Soy Sauce

This was the best way to eat the Mantis Prawn. Deep Frying the Prawns made it much more flavorful and the sweet and salty soy-sauce glaze went really well with the prawns.

Our entire meal cost no more than THB 4000, which in our opinion was very cheap considering the seafood we ordered. The food was not as good as Kang Ean but for the price it was well worth it.

Food: 3.5/5
Service: 3/5
Ambiance: 3/5
Price: $$ (Approximately USD $30 per person)

Contact Information
Address: Soi Happy Bangla Road, Patong, Kathu, Phuket 83150 Thailand
Tel: +66-076-344-338

Buffet Breakfast @ Holiday Inn, Phuket

2011-11-03T06:11:00.000-07:00

We stayed at the Holiday Inn, Patong during our trip in Phuket. Our room rate was inclusive of Buffet Breakfast and throughout my four days I managed to drag myself out of bed to it out.

The spread was your typical 5 star Hotel Buffet Breakfast that included a Hot Section featuring a variety of local dishes like Pad Thai and Green Curry Chicken and also a made-to order noodle station.

Their continental section had a number of Danish Pastries including cereals, bircher muesli, cold cuts, salads and fruits.

My favorite however would be their carving station that featured a slab of Honey Roasted Ham, Roast Pineapples and Onion Rings. There was also a live egg station where the eggs were made fresh to order and also Waffles.

Compared to similar Hotels, Holiday Inn’s breakfast was above average. The spread was quite large but the quality does not compare with Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit or Le Meridien Bangkok which by far are my favorite hotels for Breakfast.

Food: 3.8/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Price: N/A

Contact Information
Holiday Inn Resort Phuket
Address: 52 Thaweewong Road, Patong Beach,
Phuket 83150, Thailand
Tel. +66 76 340 608-9 - Fax. +66 76 340 435
Map:

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Phuket Weekend Market, Phuket

2011-10-13T06:48:00.000-07:00

A visit to Phuket is not complete without visiting their Weekend Market in Phuket Town. Although it is much smaller than Bangkok's Chatuchak Market, the weekend market in Phuket offers a wide variety of local Thai Street Food that in many ways differ Bangkok.

Fried Worms and Insects

Coconut Ice Cream

Assorted Siu Mai

Southern Thai Grilled Chicken

Khanom Buang

Fried Fish Crackers

Waffles

Stir Fried Noodles

Deep Fried Prawn Patties

Roast Chicken

Chiu Chow Braised Meats

There was so much food in the Market we had no way of sampling everyone one of them. There was one stall however that deserves a mention. It's the stall selling Southern Thai Grilled Chicken that is located at the corner end of the Market next to a Fried Potato Stand and a host of food stalls.

Contact Information
Address: Phuket Town, Phuket
Tel: N/A

Phuket Lobster @ Kang Eang Pier, Phuket

2011-09-29T22:33:00.000-07:00

We had our first dinner in Phuket at Kang Eang Pier after browsing through several websites to find out which Restaurant in Phuket serves up good seafood and offers a beautiful environment.

Kang Eang boasts a beautiful outdoor setting that overlooks the Sea and features a variety of live seafood that can be cooked using several methods. Phuket Lobster was definitely on our list of dishes to order as we picked a hugh 2.8KG Lobster in addition to other dishes.

Fried Oyster Omelet

We were hoping for a Crispy Omelet but got a rather soft Omelet. Nevertheless the Omelet was delicious. It was light, fluffy and contained a lot of mini-oysters that were not overcooked.

Tom Yam Goong

The Tom Yam Soup was spicy but had a nice Sour Taste that was balanced with a slight touch of Coconut Milk.

Green Chicken Curry

The Chicken Curry was rich and thick from the Coconut Cream used. It was really fragrant and went well with White Rice.

Pineapple Fried Rice

The Fried Rice was good but was not the best I've had. I wish it had more curry powder to give it more flavor

Grilled Calamari

The Squid was so tender and well seasoned!

Grilled Tiger Prawns

These were so fresh and good. The prawns are not overcooked and had a nice meaty texture! The Roe was also equally delicious.

Salt-Baked Fish

We were so stuffed when the Fish came but it was quite good nevertheless. It was moist and wasn't too salty.

Baked Lobster Thermidor

One of my all time favorite methods of cooking Lobster. The Lobster Meat had such a nice meaty texture and was very sweet. It went well with the Mustard Cream Sauce and of course Cheese :)

Grilled Lobster with White Wine and Garlic

Delicious as well! The Lobster was grilled perfect and went well with the White Wine and Dill.

Overall we thoroughly enjoyed the food at Kang Eang. One could definitely get better food at a cheaper price elsewhere but Kang Eang's beautiful setting, excellent service and good food more than makes up for the price.

Food: 4.3/5
Service: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 4.5/5
Price: $$$$$ (Approximately USD $50 per person)

Contact Information
Address: Viset Road, Muang, 44/1 Moo 5, Muang, Phuket 83130, Thailand
Tel: +66 8 3173 1187 ‎
Web: www.kaneang.com
Map:

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Pad Thai @ Random Street Stall, Karon Beach Phuket

2011-09-26T04:25:00.000-07:00

A bunch of us were craving for some "real" Pad Thai for lunch and asked our Tour Guide to take us to his favorite Pad Thai Stall and not some Tourist Restaurant like what we had for Breakfast this morning.

The drive took a while and eventually he stopped us at some random street stall. The looks made us excited as we knew this was probably the real deal. Not one tourist in sight and the menu was in Thai.

Every table had a bottle of "Tiger Pepper Powder" which was something I've never seen in Bangkok before. I guess Tiger Pepper Powder is a staple for the crowd.

Pad Thai

The Pad Thai was pretty good. The Noodles was a little bit soft for my liking but the flavor was really good! It has a very strong sour flavor similar to Malaysian Mee Goreng which I much prefer compared with the sweeter version found in Bangkok.

Moo Krapow

This was one fiery dish. Despite asking for mild spicy the dish still packed a lot of heat. The flavor of the Basil was really imparted into the Pork making it a very aromatic dish.

Thai-Style Fried Omelet

The Omelet was not bad. I would have liked it to be crispy on the outside.

Overall we asked for an authentic Thai Street Meal and we got our fix at this stall. The food was very satisfying and the environment just makes it even more authentic!

Food: 4/5
Service: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Price: $ (Under USD $5 per person)

Contact Information
Address: N/A
Tel: N/A

Local Thai Dim Sum in Phuket!

2011-09-19T16:49:00.000-07:00

Recently we were in Phuket for a 5 day holiday where we had a chance to snorkel and visit some of the Island's beautiful beaches. Food was also important for us as we did some research and also asked our Tour Guide for some recommendations.

Our first meal of the trip began with some Thai-Style Dim Sum for Breakfast which our Tour Guide took us. We were initially disappointed after seeing there were other tourists eating inside with their Guides and thought the food would be bad.

Like many Thai-Style Dim Sum Restaurants our waitress came with a wide spread of Dim Sum that were laid on the table. We were only charged for the Dim Sum we ate and the waitress would take back whatever was left.

In addition to Dim Sum they also had a number of local Thai Ala Carte Dishes such as Pork Noodle Soup, Chicken Rice and Roast Pork Rice. We gave their Roast Pork Rice and Pork Noodle Soup a try.

Overall the Dim Sum was decent but the variety and quality were nowhere near what I had in Trang a couple of years back.

Food: 3/5
Ambiance: 2.5/5
Service: 3.5/5
Price: $ (Under USD $5 per person)

Contact Information
Address: N/A
Tel: N/A

Haute Cuisine @ Senses, Hilton KL

2011-09-14T14:26:00.000-07:00

The last time I visited Senses at Hilton, KL was a year ago when Mathieu Pacaud visited the restaurant to showcase his Michelin 3 Star Cuisine from L'Ambroisie. This trip we had a chance to sample Resident Chef Michael Elfwing's Cuisine.

Bread with Imported French Salted Butter

Our meal began with a basket of Assorted Breads that were served warm with imported French Butter.

Smoked Trout Mousse with Apple and Pumpkin

Chilled Shellfish and Primeurs

Game Consomme, Mushroom and Truffle

Zhao Phin's Soup. It was a full bodied Consomme that was very earthy in flavor from the Black Truffles.

Seafood Soup

This was delicious. The soup was served with some Cod Fish, Scallop topped with Avruga Caviar, Scampi and a Fingerling Potato and Tomato. The Soup tasted like a really rich Lobster Bisque and was so good with the caramelized onions that was hiding inside the soup. Presentation was also beautiful.

French Leek and Cod Soup

Michael's Soup. I had a taste of it of his soup. It was much lighter than my Seafood Soup and the soup contained what I think to be a puree of leeks and potato. The soup was also loaded with Caviar!

Black Angus Tenderloin

Wayne and Michael ordered this as their main course. The Tenderloin was cooked medium rare and had a really meaty texture. I liked the smokiness from being grilled over Charcoal but it was lacking a nice crust which I like on my Steaks.

Summer Truffle Chicken

My main entree and I loved it. My chicken was more of a roulade and was really tender and flavorful. It went really well with the earthy flavor of the freshly shaved Black Truffles and Truffle Potato Puree. The combination of Baby Vegetables made it feel like a rustic French Country Dish.

Scallop and Saffron Risotto

Our least favorite of the night. The Risotto was undercooked and as a result the starch from the Arborio Rice did not come out making this a rather dry Risotto that's not very smooth in texture. The Scallops however were seared perfectly.

Black Angus Short Rib

The Short Rib was so tender and melts in your mouth. It was one of my favorite main courses of the night.

Jumbo Quail and Summer Truffle Pasta

Another favorite of ours. We ordered two plates of this. The Quail was very tender and did not have any gamey taste to it. The Fresh Papardelle Pasta had a nice Al Dente texture and went so well with the Quail and Earthy Flavor of the Truffles!

Plum Sugar Mousse, Glutinous Rice and Jack Fruit

An inspiration from Thai Mango Sticky Rice. This was our Palate Cleanser. I loved the aromatic flavor of the Jack Fruit which cuts right into the creamy Plum Sugar Mousse and Glutinous Rice.

Chocolate Tart "Michel Chaudon"

This was my one of favorite desserts

Manjari Emulsion

Summer Berries

Vanilla Brulee

Creme Caramel & Cloudberries

Petite Fours

We really enjoyed the meal at Senses. Everything was beautifully presented and most of the dishes we ordered were excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed their Seafood Soup, Summer Truffle Chicken and Jumbo Quail and Summer Truffle Pasta.

Food: 4.6/5
Service: 4.6/5
Ambiance: 4.5/5
Price: $$$$$ (Approximately USD $100 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 3 Jalan Stesen Sentral 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur Wilayah Persekutuan
Tel: +603-2264-2264
Web: life.hiltonkl.com/restaurants/
Map:

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Refined Thai Cuisine @ Baan Khanitta & Gallery, Bangkok

2011-09-01T02:17:00.000-07:00

We decided to try visit Baan Khanita after hearing it was consistently ranked as one of Thailand's Best Restaurants by Thailand Tatler nearly every year. The restaurant specializes in Royal Thai Cuisine and is known not only for its Food but also its rustic Thai Interior. The menu is quite extensive featuring a number of Thai Dishes from different provinces.

Miang Kham
Our meal started with a complimentary appetizer of Miang Kham. The proper way to eat it is to wrap the Betel Leaf with some Dried Shrimps, Lime Slices, Toasted Coconut, Peanuts and Palm Sugar.

Yam Sam-O (Pomelo Salad)

One of my favorite Thai Salad that balances between sweet, sour and salty. The one here uses ample Pomelo Chunks and shredded Chicken Meat. We asked for mild Spicy because Wayne's parents could not handle the heat.

Neur Yang (Thai Grilled Beef)

This was really good! Their Grilled Beef was cooked medium and was really flavorful from the marinade. It had the right amount of meat and fat.

Tiger Prawn Pad Thai

The Tiger Prawns were huge and went well with the Tamarind Sauce from the Pad-Thai. The Pad-Thai was the way I like it, a little sweet, sour and not too oily.

Green Chicken Curry

A signature of this restaurant. The Curry was thick from the Coconut Cream and contained a lot of Thai Egg Plants. It was very fragrant and went well with White Rice.

Baked Fish in Banana Leaf

The Fish was baked in a chili paste marinade. I liked the flavor of the Marinade which had some Coconut Cream mixed into it but didn't quite enjoy the rough texture of the fish.

Pad Krapao
A popular Thai Street Food Dish. The Basil flavor was well accentuated with this spicy dish. It was a little salty which was great when eaten with rice but not alone.

Glass Noodle Soup with Minced Pork

Dark Chocolate Souffle

One of the best Souffle's I've had. The Souffle was warm, light and fluffy. The bitter dark chocolate went so well with the Vanilla Ice Cream.

Mango and Sticky Rice

The Mango's were really sweet and went well with the Sticky Rice which had a nice Coconut Milk Flavor. The texture of the rice was just right. It wasn't too wet like many others I've tried.

Water Chestnut Dessert Soup

The Coconut Milk had a nice Jasmine scent to it and was good with the crispy Water Chestnut. It wasn't too sweet and also contained chunks of Jack Fruit. A refreshing Dessert.

The Thai Dishes at Baan Khanita were very good although some people might find it a tad bit pricey. My favorite however, was their desserts especially their Dark Chocolate Souffle. Even though it's not Thai they make one of the best Souffle's I've had. Anyone looking for some good Thai Food with an environment to match should give this place a try.

Food: 4/5
Ambiance: 4.3/5
Service: 4.5/5
Price: $$$ (USD $30 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 36/1 Sukhumvit 23, Khlong Tan Nuea, Vadhana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 258 4181 ‎
Web:
Map:
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Famous Curry Crab @ Somboon, Bangkok

2011-08-27T21:43:00.000-07:00

Wayne's parents were over from Canada for a 2 week holiday and were looking to try out some of the local restaurants in Bangkok. We headed to Somboon for our first night near our Hotel on Surawong Road to sample their famous Curry Crabs.

Fish Maw and Crab Meat Soup

Delicious! The soup was very thick and had a stronger broth than the clearer Cantonese Version from the use of Soy Sauce and Oyster Sauce. The Fish Maw was soft but at the same time had a nice bite and the soup also contained a lot of Crab Meat Chunks.

Curry Crab

Somboon's signature dish. The Curry Sauce contained a lot of eggs and was really smooth and flavorful. The crab however did not contain as much meat as I had hoped. Fatty Crab still serves up the meatiest Crabs.

Sauteed Beef with Oyster Sauce

The Beef was way too chewy for my liking. It was like rubber.

Braised Pork Ribs

The Pork Ribs were really tender but the flavor was a little bland.

Somboon's Herbal Duck

The Duck was deep fried and then braised in a broth that's similar to the Fish Maw Soup. The duck was quite crunchy despite being soaked in the Broth.

Goong Ob Woon Sen

Their Goong Ob Woon Sen was good. The glass noodles were not overcooked and absorbed all the flavors of the prawns, pork fat and sauce.

Sauteed Morning Glory

The sauteed morning glory was a little too salty for my liking.

Braised Goose Feet Noodles

Not bad. The Noodles were a little overcooked and was too soft.

I must say after our meal the food was not as what we had expected. The Curry Crab's Eggy Sauce was good but the Crab rarely had any meat. Other dishes were decent but not exceptional except for their Goong Ob Woon Sen and Fish Maw and Crab Meat Soup which were my favorites of the night.

Food: 3.5/5
Service: 3/5
Ambiance: 3.5/5
Price: $$ (USD $20 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 169/7-169/ Surawong, Suriya Wong, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 233 3104
Web: www.somboonseafood.com/
Map:

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Small Sushi Bar, Big Menu @ Sazae Sushi Bar, Bangkok

2011-08-23T09:11:00.000-07:00

I was in Bangkok for several days and during our first night Dee took me to one of his favorite Sushi Bar called Sazae. The place was really small and catered mainly to single working Japanese Expats but the menu was extensive serving dishes bigger and more established chains did not have like Nankotsuage (Chicken Soft Bones).

Pickled Radish and Carrots

Natto

Popai Salad

Gyutataki Salad

Sushi Moriawase

Sashimi Moriawase

Uni and Ikura Sushi

Maguro Tataki

Buri Kama Shioyaki

Hamachi Kama Shioyaki

Tempura Moriawase

Shishamo Yaki

Kinoko Oven Yaki

Nankotsuage

Katsu Don

Waffle Ice Cream

We ordered a ridiculous amount of food for 4 people but we probably only covered a third of the menu. The quality was not the best but the price came up to around THB 5,852.90 including tips and taxes which was cheap considering the type and amount of food we ordered!

Food: 3/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 3/5
Price: $$ (Approximately USD $25 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 593/27 Soi Sukhumvit 33/1 Sukhumvit Rd. Klongtoey Nua Wattana, Prompong, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 260 3615
Map:

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Comfort Food @ Dave's Cafe, One Utama

2011-08-21T08:35:00.000-07:00

I've eaten at every major Restaurant in One Utama and frequent restaurants like Sushi Zanmai, Kura, Delicious, Grand Imperial and Canton-I whenever I'm back in KL. But Dave's Cafe is one place that I have never eaten in despite being opened for more than 5 years in One Utama. I've always avoided Dave's because of it's Dark Decor which in my opinion doesn't really suit its open concept dining area, but at my brother's insistence we went there for dinner.

The menu features a number of typical Comfort Food Dishes such as Creamy Pastas, Soups, Salads and Pizzas with an emphasis on using Pork as an ingredient in many of its dishes.

Seafood Bisque

Kristina had this as her Appetizer. The Soup's portion was generous with chunks of Mussels, Squid, Prawns and Scallops.

Ox-Tail Soup

This was delicious! The soup was rich, creamy and flavorful with the Ox-Tail Meat falling off the bone. I loved the use of Fried Shallots which added an extra depth in flavor to the soup.

Seafood Carbonara

The Seafood Carbonara was really creamy and the pasta was cooked Al Dente. The generous servings of Seafood was also done just right

Bacon and Mushroom Carbonara

Like the Seafood Carbonara this was also really creamy and the pasta was done Al Dente. Once could definitely taste the smokiness of the Bacon and earthy flavors of the Button Mushrooms.

The Whole Love: Dave's Signature Honey Cured Ham with Mayo, Aussie and 4 Cheeses Pizza

The Whole Lot allowed us to customize 3 different toppings of our choice. The crust of the Pizza reminded me of Flammkuchen. It was light and very crispy and went really well with Dave's Signature Honey Cured Ham with Mayo.

Everything I had at Dave's was good! I can't believe I've always avoided it since it opened in One Utama. It'll definitely be a place I'll dine in more often whenever I'm in One Utama.

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 3/5
Price: $$ (Approximately USD $20 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 1 Utama Shopping Centre 1 Lebuh Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Bandar Utama
Tel: 6-03-7726-9490
Web: www.davesdeli.com.my‎
Map:

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The best Fine Dining I've had so far @ Nota Bene, Toronto

2011-08-16T09:33:00.000-07:00

It was my final week in Toronto before I head back to Asia for a month. I wanted to sample another fine dining establishment and decided on Nota Bene after reading a lot of positive reviews on the Internet.

The cuisine as described by Open Table is Contemporary American and featured a Hog Summer Night Special every Tuesday in July and August. Fortunately for us we dined there on a Tuesday night and had a chance to order their Hog Special.

Bread

Our meal started off with some Rye Bread which was served cold. I'm not a fan of Cold Breads in fine dining establishments as it tends to be a little too chewy.

SUCKLING PIG TACO

This was the first course of the Hog Summer Night Special. The shredded pork was tossed in a rather bland spice mix and is served with some Pork Crackling, Tomatillo, Sour Cream and Butterhead Lettuce

RICOTTA-STUFFED ZUCCHINI FLOWERS

The Zucchini Flowers had a nice textural contrast between the crispy batter and soft ricotta cheese. It was seasoned just right and the Ricotta Cheese was really good

HAMACHI CEVICHE

Absolutely delicious. The Hamachi literally melts in your mouth. The Acidity was perfectly balanced with the use of Buttermilk which toned down the sourness. Eaten together with the Cilantro and Avocado it was a really refreshing appetizer.

NOVA SCOTIA LOBSTER SALAD

Crisp Romaine Lettuce, Perfectly Cooked Lobster Meat, Crispy Croutons and Bacon Bits tossed with a Butter Milk Dressing that did not overpower the salad. This was another solid appetizer.

SUCKLING PIG PORCHETTA

The main course of the Hog Summer Special was simply divine. The natural flavor of the Pork Loin and Stuffing is accentuated so well in this dish. The Pork was moist and the Skin and Crackling was crisp. Easily one of the best Pork Dishes I've had.

12/OZ GRASS-FED NEW YORK STRIP

The Striploin was cooked perfect Medium Rare. It was had a nice flavor but it did not had a crispy crust like what I had in Giby's. It was definitely a very good Striploin but Giby's still has my vote for the best Steaks.

RABBIT SOFFRITO, PAPPARDELLE PASTA

This was Katrin'a entree and I had a little bit of it. The Pasta was cooked Al Dente with the Rabbit Meat really tender.

MEDITERRANEAN SEABASS

This was Lily's main course and we found it to be a little disappointing because it tasted similar to Chinese Steam Fish. Given we were in Nota Bene we expected something different.

SHAVED ONION RINGS

We ordered a side dish of Onion Rings. It was seasoned nicely with Sea Salt, had a light crunchy texture and the Onion Rings was sweet.

STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING

A sweet but sinful dessert. The Caramel had a nice deep flavor and was really good the Sticky Toffee which contained some Pecan Praline adding a nice crunchy texture to the soft Pudding.

LEMON CURD, BUCKTHORN BERRY SORBET

My favorite dessert of the night. This dessert was an interplay of Texture and Flavors. The Lemon Curd's sourness complemented the Buckthorn Berry Sorbet and Raspberries. The Raspberries were served frozen giving it a crispy texture to contrast the soft texture of the Sorbet and Lemon Curd.

PISTACHIO ICE CREAM

The Ice Cream was decent. The Pistachio Flavor was strong but it wasn't as creamy as we liked. We did however enjoy the Sugar Biscuit.

Overall Note Bene is the best Fine Dining Restaurant I've had so far in Toronto. There were a number of dishes I really enjoyed such as their Hamachi Ceviche, Lobster Salad, Suckling Pig Porchetta and Lemon Curd with Buckthorn Berry Sobert.

People looking to visit Nota Bene should definitely go on a Tuesday to try out their Suckling Pig Porchetta!

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Price: $$$$$ (Approximately USD $65 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 180 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 3X3, Canada
Tel: +1 (416) 977-6400
Web: www.notabenerestaurant.com/welcome/
Map:

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Tapas @ Cava Restaurant, Toronto

2011-08-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

We were craving for some Tapas and stumbled upon Cava Restaurant while browsing Opentable. Browsing through the numerous positive reviews from both Diners and Food Critics we decided to give the place a try.

SMOKED KINGFISH CEVICHE WITH A FRISÉE SALAD

This was my first time having Smoked King Fish. The King Fish has a meaty texture like Tuna but was a mild in flavor similar to Hamachi.

SUPERGILDA

A combination of Toasted Baguette, Mackeral, Ancho Chili (I think), Pickle and Anchovy. The bitesize Supergilda packed a lot of fishy flavor that was accented with a little spiciness from the Chili and Sourness from the Pickle. I enjoyed it but Verna did not.

SALT COD CAKE WITH PIPERADE AND CHIPOTLE CREMA

The Cod Cake was molded perfectly and held its shape without disintegrating into bits upon forking into it. The Crust was crisp and the shredded pieces of Cod Fish Flesh was seasoned just right.

WATERCRESS AND ROASTED BEET SALAD WITH VALDEON AND MARCONA ALMONDS

My least favorite of the dishes. The pungent earthy flavor of the Raw Watercress was balanced by the Sweetness of the Roasted Beets. The one thing I disliked was the use of Blue Cheese.

STEAMED CLAMS WITH CHORIZO AND FRESH BAY LEAVES

The smoky flavor from the Chorizo Sausage added a depth of flavor into the broth that was used to steam the Clams. I enjoyed mopping the Clam Jus with the Baguette more than eating the Clams itself.

GRILLED SQUID AND FINGERLING POTATOES, GREEN ONIONS AND ROMESCO

The Squid was tender and went well with the nutty Flavor of the Romesco Sauce.

VEAL SWEETBREADS WITH RADICCHIO-POBLANO CHILE SALAD AND WALNUT VINAIGRETTE

I rarely have Veal Sweet Breads. The Sweet Breads had a nice crust and was quite soft in the center. The Vinaigrette and Salad help cut down the richness of the Sweetbread.

FORTY-EIGHT HOUR BEEF CHEEK OR THREE MINUTE FLANK STEAK WITH WHITE PURÉE AND CHIMICHURRI

The Beef Cheeks melts in your mouth and was delicious with the Chimichurri Sauce. Loved the combination of Meat and Fat.

VENISON ANTICUCHO WITH A WARM RED CABBAGE SALAD

The Veal was very tender but I didn't really taste much of the Anticucho marinade in the Veal

BEEF TRIPE BASQUAISE

My favorite dish of the night! The Tripe was so soft and tender and was so delicious with the Tomato-Based Sauce. The Chickpeas added a nutty flavor and texture to the Tripe.

Overall the Spanish and Mexican inspired Tapas we had were really good at Cava. Dishes I really enjoyed were their Beef Tripe, Beef Cheeks, Salt Cod Cakes and Squid. It is highly recommended to make a reservation because the Restaurant is small and can accommodate no more than 50 diners.

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 3.5/5
Price: $$$$$ (Approximately USD $50 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 1560 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M4V 3C6, Canada
Tel: +1(416) 979-9918
Web:
Map:

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8lb Lobster @ Best Dragon Seafood Restaurant

2011-08-01T09:12:00.000-07:00

I never knew there existed a Cantonese Restaurant around the Yonge and Steeles area till my buddy Baldwin treated me for dinner at Best Dragon Seafood Restaurant. Located in a plaza just right opposite Canadian Tire on Steeles just west of Yonge, Baldwin recommended Best Dragon for their cheap and good Lobsters.

Soup of the Day

Steamed Oyster with XO Sauce

The Oyster was not overcooked with the XO Sauce not overpowering the natural sweetness of the Oyster.

8lb Stir-Fried Lobster in Soy Glaze with Fried Garlic

Our Lobster was perfectly cooked with the meat maintaining a nice chewy and bouncy texture. The Soy-Glazed gave the lobster a nice Caramelized Flavor while the Fried Garlic added a nice depth in flavor.

Stir-Fry Morning Glory with Fermented Bean Curd

The Morning Glory had a nice crunchy texture but was a little too oily for my liking.

Lobster Roe Fried Rice

The Fried Rice was Excellent! The Roe was fried to crisp texture which complemented the soft long-grain rice.

Best Dragon definitely serves up some really good Cantonese Food and to top it off it is really cheap! Our lobster was priced at $10.99/lb which is about the same price as purchasing a fresh Lobster to be cooked at home from TNT!

Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 2.5/5
Price: $$$$$ (Approximately USD $50 per person. It's only this price because we ordered an 8b lobster for two. Otherwise it's alot cheaper!)

Contact Information
Address: 100 Steeles Avenue West Vaughan, ON, Canada
Tel: +1 (905) 731-3288
Map:

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Seriously Good Steaks @ Gibby's, Montreal

2011-07-29T23:38:00.000-07:00

If you're looking to splurge your mullah on a good steak look no further than Gibby's. According to Laurent, Gibby's serves up some serious Steaks and Meat dishes but is an over-priced restaurant that is usually frequented by Tourists due to it's historical charm as it's located inside a 200 year old building in Old Montreal. Locals apparently would only go there during special occasions.

The restaurant sure does look historical with the furniture looking old and tired including their friendly wait staff who looked like they've been with the restaurant since the early 50's.

Pickles, Bread and Bacon Bits

Like many other Montreal Steakhouses we were served some Pickles and Bread. We were also given Bacon Bits which we used as a topping to the really soft and buttery bread.

Salad

The Garlic Dressing was really good on the Salad. It gave it a nice flavor and went really well with the Anchovies and Home Made Croutons.

Palate Cleanser: Lime Sorbet

Giby's Cut Bone-in Rib Eye

One of the best Steaks I've ever had. The Mustard Seed Crust was crispy and the steak had the right amount of Fat and Meat. It was juicy, flavorful, tender and big!

Crepe Jubilee

Basically it's an Ice Cream Filled Crepe. The Crepe was little hard because it was chilled together with the Ice Cream. I found the dessert a little too sweet for but I did enjoy the Cherry and Blueberry Compote which was a little sour to offset the sweetness of the Ice Cream Crepe.

Vanilla Creme Brulee

This was delicious. The Creme Brulee had a really nice eggy texture which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Gibby's Mint Chocolate

We ended our meal with Gibby's Mint Chocolate. I loved the bitterness of the Dark Chocolate.

Overall I would definitely recommend Gibby's to any Rib-Eye lover. It is definitely very expensive but Gibby's Bone-in Rib-Eye is one of the best I've ever had. Not to mention they also serve a very good Creme Brulee!

Food: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 3.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Price: $$$$$ (Approximately USD $100 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 298 Place d'Youville, Montreal, QC H2Y 2B6, Canada
Tel: +1 514-282-1837 ‎
Web: www.gibbys.com
Map:

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Charcoal Grill @ Izakaya Ju, J-Town

2011-07-27T07:31:00.000-07:00

Located in J-Town, Izakaya Ju specializes in Japanese Style Grilled Food using imported Bincho Charcoal from Japan. It is one of a very few Japanese Restaurants around Markham and Richmond Hill that is owned and operated by Japanese people.

The menu features a number of Grilled Items such as Chicken Wings, Chicken Balls, Chicken Gizzard, Beef Tongue, and Pork Cheek. In addition, Ju also serves up a number of Izakaya Dishes like Takoyaki, Osaka Style Fried Rice, Soba Noodles and much more.

Grilled Squid

Grilled with just Salt and a squeeze of lemon. The Squid was very tender.

Grilled Pork Belly

Pork Belly had a nice Crisp although some parts were a little dry from being over-charred.

Seared BC Tuna Tataki

I've always loved BC Tuna over the regular dark red Tuna. The texture of BC Tuna is much softer with a less fishy flavor. Here it was served with some Ponzu Dressing and was topped with some sliced Onions.

Grilled Atka Mackeral

This was delicious. The Mackeral had a slight sour note from being marinated and was lightly grilled giving it a slight Charcoal Flavor. It was topped with minced Raddish and Ginger. There was no fishy flavor that is usually associated with it.

Pork Cheek: Delicious

The Pork was grilled Crispy but because of it's high fat content the meat was still very juicy with a nice chewy texture.

Bincho Grilled Teriyaki Salad

My favorite dish at Ju. The Charcoal Flavor was imparted so well into the Chicken with the Teriyaki Sauce giving it a nice sweetness. It went well with the Soy-Based Salad Dressing.

Grilled Miso Cod

The Cod had the right amount of Miso Paste without being too sweet. It was however a little too charred on the sides.

Nankotsu

The Grilled Chicken Breast Bone was so-so. I loved the one's at Ri-Yakitori in KL which serves the Breast Bone with some Meat. Eating the Bones on it's own was a little too dry.

Kamo-Soba

Uncle Richard Ordered this for himself. I did not really try it.

Gyu Tongue

One of my favorites in Ju. It's a little expensive but the Tongue was grilled simply with some salt and pepper. It had a light crisp and was very juicy.

Most of the dishes we had were good with my favorites being their Grilled Bincho Chicken Teriyaki Salad, Grilled Beef Tongue and Pork Cheeks. Service is excellent even during busy times with the waiters and waitresses always smiling and tending to customer requests.

Food: 4.3/5
Service: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 2.5/5
Price: $$ (Approximately USD $20 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 3160 Steeles Avenue East Markham, ON, Canada
Tel: +1(905) 474-1058
Web: www.izakayaju.com/

Patio Dining @ Shaw Cafe & Wine Bar, Niagara on the Lake

2011-07-22T18:56:00.000-07:00

We visited Niagara on the Lake and had lunch at Shaw Cafe seeing that it was packed with people sitting outside their beautiful Patio. The Lunch Menu is what you would expect from your typical Cafe with Salads, Sandwiches, Pastas and a selection of Entrees.

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

The Cafe was generous with the Chicken giving me an entire leg. The Chicken was quite tender and Romaine was fresh and Crispy. The dressing tasted like a really good store bought dressing.

Barbecue Chicken

The Chicken was very tender and was basted with some BBQ Sauce that tasted similar to Ketchup. It came with a really good Potato Salad.

Penne Pasta

The Penne was cooked perfect Al Dente and was delicious with the artichokes, Asparagus, Red Onions, Black Olives and Spinach in a Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Pesto with Asiago Cheese and fresh herbs.

Verdict
Food: The portions qwew generous especially my Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad which came with a generous amount of Chicken Meat. Quality of the food was decent with my favorite being the Penne Pasta.

Service: Service was a little slow and unfriendly with our waitress forgetting our requests on several occasions and rarely smiling.

Interior: The Restaurant has a huge Patio that is great during Summer time where people could dine and enjoy the weather with a glass of wine.

Food: 3.5/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Service: 2.5/5
Price: $$ (Approximately USD $25 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 92 Queen Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0, Canada
Tel: +1 905-468-4772 ‎
Web: www.shawcafe.ca
Map:

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Nouveau Japanese Cuisine @ Ame, Toronto

2011-07-20T22:37:00.000-07:00

A joint venture between the Rubino Brothers and Thomas Khabouth, Ame replaced the Rubino Brother's critically acclaimed Rain. The menu focuses on Nouveau Japanese Cuisine with familiar foods such as Sashimi, Nigiri and Tempura that are interpreted with a modern twist.

Nigiri: Tempura Dungeness Crab

The Maki had a nice crispy exterior and the Dungeness Crab Meat went really well with the Aioli. The Sushi Rice however was very soggy.

Salmon Sashimi with Spring Melon

This was really good. Reminded me of Nobu's New Style Sashimi. The Salmon went really well with the meaty texture of the Watermelon. The chef also added some Coconut Cream Powder on top which surprisingly tasted really good.

Spicy Tuna Tartare

This was really good. The Spicy Tuna Tartare had no fishy flavor to it and the Spicy Mayo Dressing did not over power the Tuna.

Baby Mizuna, Watercress, Sudachi Lime

The Sudachi Lime helped cut the otherwise really Earthy Flavor of the Baby Mizuna and Watercress. I don't really like a Salad like this

Prawn Tempura

The Prawns were very fresh and had a lot of meat. The Tempura Batter however was a little dense in texture. I much prefer the lighter Tempura Texture.

Japanese Squash Tempura

The Squash had a very sweet flavor that was good. Presentation was a little gothic as they came skewered.

Miso Cod, Kochujan, Baby Bok Choy

Another typical Japanese Dish. It was well executed with the Cod Fish tender and the Miso Marinade not being overly too sweet.

Wagyu Short Ribs, Black Vinegar, Tomato Jam

The Short Ribs were fork tender and its natural flavor was heightened by the Tomato Jam and Black Vinegar which gave it a mild sweet and sour flavor.

Striploin (8 oz), Black Garlic, King Mushroom

The Striploin was cooked medium as ordered. It was very juicy and well seasoned.

Roasted Sweet Pork, Umeshu Glaze

This reminded me of Chinese BBQ Pork. The Pork Belly was very tender and had a mild Chinese BBQ Pork Flavor. It was also served with Kimchi and Potato Puree.

Liquid Chocolate

This was my Dessert. The it was pure Chocolate Indulgence as my plate contained a Chocolate Mousse Cake, Chocolate Crisp, Chocolate Ice Cream and Cocoa Beans. The combination of textures from the different Chocolate Ingredients was really good.

Cheese Cake

This was Katrina's Dessert

Raspberry Mousse with Vanilla Ice Cream

This was Calvin's Dessert. We're not really sure what it's called.

Overall I really enjoyed the food at Ame. Favorite Dishes of mine included their Wagyu Short Ribs, Roast Sweet Pork, Spicy Tuna Tartare and their Salmon Sashimi with Spring Melon. The interior's use of Wood, Kimono Fabrics, Murals all fuse together to make a space that reflects Ame's Modern Japanese Cuisine.

Food: 4.3/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 4.5/5
Price: $$$$ (Approximately USD $55 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 19 Mercer Street, Toronto, ON M5V 3C6
Tel: +1 (416) 599-7246
Web:
Map:

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Dinner @ Bier Markt, Toronto

2011-07-15T22:41:00.000-07:00

We met up with a couple of friends over dinner at the popular Bier Markt on Esplanade. Despite being a weekday the restaurant was rammed with people drinking and eating!

The Beer List seemed very extensive with over 100 Brands from 24 different countries. And to enhance the Beer Experience even further there is also a Lunch and Dinner menu offering dishes that will complement their Beers.

Freshly Baked Brioche

We began with some freshly Baked Bread which looked like a Brioche. It had a very Buttery Flavor and was very fluffy on the inside.

Oyster Tower

Our Oysters were served in a Tray because they ran out of Towers. We were given different species of Oysters (Fanny Bay, Pickle Point, French Kiss and Beausoleil) but they pale in flavor and texture to the one's we had in Vancouver.

Mussels Provencale

We ordered 1KG of Mussels which were cooked just right but was lacking in flavor. I was hoping for a stronger flavor from the Garlic, Shallots, Tomato Concasse and White Wine.

Ahi Tuna Liegoise

The Tuna was seared Medium Rare and had a nice Meaty Texture. However I found the Citrus Beurre Blanc to be a little too bland.

Atlantic Salmon

The Salmon was overcooked and dry except for the Belly. The one thing I enjoyed from this dish was the All-Crust Potato Gratin which tasted like a flattened Rosti.

Wednesday Special Seafood Bouillabaisse

This was the best dish of the night! The Tomato Lobster Broth was very flavorful and was so good with the Grilled Bistro Bread. The Seafood inside was cooked perfect.

Spicy Sausage FLAMEKUECHES

The Flamekueches dough wasn't as light or crispy as the one's I had in Germany but it was nevertheless really good. I loved the flavor of the spicy sausage which was good with the Creme Fraiche on top.

The food in my opinion definitely plays second fiddle to the Beer. The only dish where everyone agreed was good was their Seafood Bouillabaisse. Bier Markt is recommended for people looking to socialize with friends over lots of Beers in a noisy and packed environment.

Food: 2.5/5
Service: 3/5
Ambiance: 3/5
Price: $$$$ (Approximately USD $40 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 58 The Esplanade, Toronto, ON M5E 1R2
Tel: +1 (416) 862-7575
Web: www.thebiermarkt.com‎
Map:

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Summerlicious @ Blu Ristorante, Yorkville-Toronto

2011-07-09T07:34:00.000-07:00

Summerlicious is finally back in Toronto and this year there are a total of 150 participating restaurants that offers a delicious 3-course prix fixe menus with prices ranging from CAD $15 to $25 for lunch and $25 to $45 for Dinner.

I had my first Summerlicious Menu at Emily's Birthday where we celebrated at Blu Ristorante and Lounge in the trendy Yorkville Area. Blu's $45 Summerlicious Menu featured the following:

APPETIZER
choice of:
-Blu Caesar
crisp romaine hearts, caesar dressing,
croutons, parmesan chip
-Arugula Salad
goat cheese, walnuts, cranberry
and a chianti vinaigrette
-Soup of the Day
----------------------------------------
ENTRÉE
choice of:
-Fusilli al Gorgonzola
gorgonzola cheese, leeks, bourbon,
cream sauce and arugula
-Grilled 10 oz Beef Striploin
mushroom veal jus, served with
roasted herbed polenta and peppers
-Baked Atlantic Salmon
honey glazed cipolini, sautéed rapini
with a lime, caper, white wine sauce
----------------------------------------
DESSERT
choice of:
-Tiramisu
-Vanilla Crème Brulee
-Chocolate & Raspberry Tartufo

Wanting to try more than one dish Calvin and I both ordered different dishes so we could swap.

Foccacia Bread

The Bread was served slightly warm and had a nice Herb Crust. It was Dense and nicely salted.

Calvin's Appetizer: Blu Caesar (Crisp Romaine Hearts, Caesar Dressing, Croutons and Parmesan Chip)

I had a small taste of the Caesar Salad. The Romaine was crisp and I enjoyed the Garlic Dressing.

Arugula Salad: Goat Cheese, Walnuts, Cranberry and a Chianti Vinaigrette

This was my appetizer. The Arugula Salad was delicious. The Dressing had a nice Sweet and Acidic Balance. I loved the mixture of Arugula, Cranberry, Walnuts and Goat Cheese.

Grilled 10 oz Beef Striploin, Mushroom Veal Jus, served with Roasted Herbed Polenta and Peppers

This was Calvin's Main Course and I definitely enjoyed it more than my Main Course. The Striploin was well seasoned, had a nice crust and a Meaty Texture.

Baked Atlantic Salmon, Honey Glazed Cipolini, Sautéed Rapini with a Lime, Caper, White Wine Sauce

This was my main course. This would have been a perfect Fish Dish had they not overcooked the Salmon which made it dry (I requested to have it Pink in the middle).

Vanilla Creme Brulee

This was Tina's Dessert. I had a taste of it and found it to be ok. One could definitely taste the Vanilla inside but the texture was a little too smooth for my liking

Chocolate and Raspberry Tartufo

Tartufo (Italian Ice Cream) was my Dessert. The Dark Chocolate had a nice bitter flavor but I didn't quite like the dense texture of the Tartufo. It was still a little Frozen.

Tiramisu

This was Calvin's Dessert. The Tiramisu was beautifully presented but tasted so-so. I had a couple of spoons of this dessert and found the Savoiardi was dry giving it a hard and chewy texture. Maybe it's because I took it from the edge of the Tiramisu

Overall I enjoyed my Arugula Salad and Calvin's Steak. If only they cooked my Salmon Pink in the middle it would have been perfect! Food aside, the ambiance of the restaurant was Romantic and was definitely a good place to celebrate Emily's Birthday!

Food: 3.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 4.5/5
Price: $$$$$ (Approximately USD $55 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 17 Yorkville Avenue, Toronto, ON M4W 1L4
Tel: +1(416) 921-1471 ‎ ·
Web: www.bluristorante.com
Map:

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Dim Sum Madness @ Grand Imperial, One Utama

2011-07-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

Among all the Dim Sum Restaurants I’ve eaten in KL, my favorite has to be Grand Imperial at One Utama. The quality and variety of Dum Sum is similar to my favorite Dim Sum places in HK and Toronto. In my opinion it is the probably the only restaurant that really serves up HK-Style Dim Sum.

Caramelized Octopus Tentacles with Cashew Nuts

This was my first time having such a Dim Sum dish. It was sweet and sticky. The Octopus Tentacles were actually quite dense in texture.

Siu Mai

Shrimp Dumpling: Har Kow

The Shrimp Dumpling here was really good! The skin was thin and the Prawns were very fresh

Shanghainese Pork Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao)

Malaysian Lo Mai Kai

Stir Fried Raddish Cake with XO Sauce

Deep Fried Yam Dumplings

Spring Roll

Yong Tau Food

Roast Crispy Pork

The Cripsy Pork was quite good. The Skin was crispy and had the right amount of Fat.

Preserved Egg and Pork Congee

Egg Tart

Braised Lamb Shank

Drunken Chicken

Roast Spare Rib Skewer

Not very good. The Pork Ribs were served cold and was very hard to chew on.

Deep Fried Nam Yue Pork Ribs

Braised Bok Choy in Superior Stock

Wonton Noodles with US Beef

My favorite Noodle Dish. The Noodles have a really good Springy Texture and the Beef was super soft and had a nice Oyster Sauce Flavor.

Hand Made La Mian with Spicy Beef Brisket

Another really good Noodle dish. The Brisket was very tender and was very good with the Chili Oil. The Noodles had a nice Springy texture as well.

Shanghainese Wo Ba

Eric ordered this dish which he had in Shanghai. I'm pretty sure Grand Imperial modified it here to include Soy Beans with Sambal. Basically we top the Rice Crispy with the Minced Pork and Soy Bean with Sambal.

Peking Duck

The Peking Duck looked really good but was disappointing because they left the Skin inside the Crepe way too long before serving it.

Pan Fried Pumpkin Cake

Mango Pudding

Mango and Pomelo with Sago Dessert Soup

This was definitely Dim Sum overkill as we ordered not only the usual Dim Sum dishes but also all the specials that were available during Sunday such as their Drunken Chicken, Braised Lamb Brisket and Nam Yue Pork Ribs. I wasn't the only one that thought Grand Imperial served good Dim Sum. My relatives from Hong Kong also felt the same.

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Price: $$ (Approximately USD $15 per person)

Contact Information
Address:G218, Promenade, Ground Floor,
1 Utama Shopping Centre,, No. 1, Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama, 47800 KL
Tel:+6 03-7729 7223
Web: www.grandimperial.com.my/
Map:

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Italian @ Michaelangelo’s, Solaris Mont Kiara

2011-06-30T20:45:00.000-07:00

Kim and I were craving for Japanese Buffet and decided to give Tenji at Solaris Mont Kiara a try arriving only to find the restaurant was closed for renovations. We decided to give Michaelangelo’s a try since it was just downstairs.

Bruschetta with Pate

A simple but good starter. The Bread Slices were toasted giving it a nice crunch to be dipped with the mild Pate, Arugula and a Sweet Jam which I don't know the flavor of.

Ox-Tail Soup

Tasted more like Malaysian Style Ox-Tail Soup. Broth was delicious but the Ox-Tail was very tough.

Cream of Mushroom Soup

The Mushroom Puree had a strong flavor and was very creamy.

Prawn Salad

For RM 28 it was a rip-off. The Prawns given were very small and they only gave two pieces. Salad dressing was so-so.

Sizzling Seafood Marinara Spaghetti

Pasta was just a little over cooked but the flavor was good. One could taste the Prawn Flavor infused into the Marinara Sauce and most of the Seafood wasn't overcooked.

Food: 2.5/5
Service: 3.5/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Price: $$ (Approximately USD $25 per person)

Contact Information
Address: Lot No. J-OG-03 & J-OG-04, SohoKL No. 2, Jalan Solaris, Solaris Mont Kiara
Wilayah Persekutuan, 50480, Malaysia
Tel: +603-6203-7734
Map:

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2011-06-25T12:26:00.000-07:00

Ri Yakitori is one of those restaurants I’ve always wanted to try but have never done so because of its location. The thought of getting stuck in traffic and finding parking in "The Gardens" have kept me away from Ri until I finally had a real reason to visit Mid-Valley. My brother Kim had booked a movie I really wanted to watch for 7:30pm at GSC.

Ri is a Yakitori Bar that specializes in grilled foods with an emphasis on Chicken. Nearly every part of the Chicken is available for order including a few Rice Dishes and also some Beef Skewers. We were seated at the counter where we had a chat with our Yakitori Master-Chef who hails from Osaka while we waited for our food to be grilled.

Complimentary Salad

Our Salad came with a Wasabi and Sesame Dressing. The Lettuce is shredded so finely and had a nice crunch that was very refreshing to eat. It reminded me of the salad I had in Genkatsu, Tokyo.

Grilled Shiitake

Seasoned simply with just Salt. It was Juicy and packed a lot flavor. Went well with the Bonito Flakes.

Chicken Breast Bone

I love Nankotsu and the one at Ri was really good. Unlike other places which only served the Softbone, Ri has the Softbone sandwiched between some Chicken Meat that was surprisingly not overcooked.

Chicken Gizzard

The Gizzard was disappointing. It was very dry and overcooked.

Chicken Cartilage

Another favorite of mine. Somehow at Ri it is a little too dry and I couldn’t not really taste the Chicken Flavor from the Fat surrounding the Cartilage.

Chicken Thigh and Leek

This was good. The Thigh Meat was tender and juicy with the Leeks nicely charred.

Chicken Thigh Meat

The Chicken Thigh Skewer was very dry and overcooked.

Wagyu Beef

This was not bad. The Tip was a little hard from being too cooked. But the middle and bottom half was very tender.

Gyu Tongue

The Gyu Tongue was a little overcooked and bland.

Chicken Donburi

Kim ordered this. The Donburi was actually pretty good. The egg was left runny giving it a rich flavor to the tender pieces of Chicken Meat and Rice

Overall I had mixed feelings about Ri Yakitori. Some Skewers will well cooked and seasoned but others particularly my favorite Chicken Cartilage, Chicken Gizzard and Gyu Tongue were not very good. However with only two Yakitori Bars I know off in KL Valley I would definitely visit Ri again whenever I have cravings for some Yakitori.

Food: 3.5/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 4.5/5
Price: $$ (Approximately $25 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 7th Floor, The Gardens Hotel,
Mid Valley City, Lingkaran Syed Putra, KL.
Tel: +603-22681188

Sunday Brunch @ Avenue Bar, Four Seasons Toronto

2011-06-21T19:40:00.000-07:00

I’ve only got one Sunday in Toronto to spare for brunch with my friends and really wanted to spend it on something nice. After a long debate between Avenue @ Four Seasons and Origin we finally settled for Avenue’s Sunday Buffet Brunch.

I only managed to take shots of my food and not the actual Buffet Line as there were quite a number of people dining in the brunch. The Buffet was split into several small sections that included a Cold Cut/Salad Bar, Cooked Food Buffet, Carving Station, a Live Cooking Station for Eggs and Pasta and Desserts.

The quality of the food was good and favorites of mine included their Maple Roast Salmon and Eggs Benedict. However I was a little disappointed with the variety of the food especially their Dessert Station which had a limited number of Mini-Cakes and Pastries.

So far I’ve only been to two other Sunday Buffet Brunches in Toronto, Markham Hilton Suites and Windsor Arms. The quality of Avenue’s Cooked and Live Food Stations are on par with Windsor Arms. However I still prefer Windsor Arms as my favorite among the Brunches for offering a Wider Array of Dishes that includes Alaskan King Crab Legs and made to order Waffles, Pancakes and Scones.

Food: 3.7/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Price: $$$$$ (Approximately USD $55 per person)

Contact Information:
Address: 21 Avenue Road, Toronto, ON M5R 2G1, Canada
Tel: +1 416-964-0411 ‎
Web: www.fourseasons.com
Map:

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Dim Sum @ Royal Tea House, Richmond Hill

2011-06-14T10:04:00.000-07:00

Royal Tea House is a perennial favorite among some of my friends for their good value Dim Sum. Located on Woodbine and 16th Avenue, this was my first visit to the restaurant where we ordered quite a few Dim Sum Dishes.

Ham Sui Kok (Deep Fried Glutinous Rice Dumplings

The Rice Dumpling was quite crispy and had a nice chewiness to it. However there was too little Minced Meat filling inside

Cha Leong (Flat Rice Noodles wrapped in Deep Fried Crullers)
The Deep Fried Crullers were a little too dense and chewy for my liking

Pan Fried Radish Cake

This was pretty good. The Radish Cake had a nice crunchy exterior and was quite soft inside

Roasted Pork Neck

My favorite of all the Dim Sum dishes. The Pork Neck was chewy and had a very nice Char Siew Flavor.

BBQ Pork Bun

This was decent

Siu Mai

The Siu Mai had the right amount of Meat and Fat Ratio and was quite flavorful

Glutinous Rice wrapped in Lotus Leaf

This was really good. The Rice had a nice flavor from the Lotus Leaf

Stir Fried Choi Sum with Garlic

Har Gow (Shrimp Dumplings)

The skin was a little too thick and the Prawns were not very big. I prefer the one's at Casa Victoria and Crown Prince

Beef Cheong Fan

Spare Ribs with Black Bean Sauce

The Spare Ribs was very good. It had a lot of meat and the added Chili Slices help give it a little spiciness

Overall I found the quality of the Dim Sum at Royal Tea House was decent but definitely could not compare with Casa Victoria and Crown Princess (my two favorite Dim Sum places). However if one were to factor in the price this is definitely a good place for value Dim Sum

Food: 3.5/5
Ambiance: 3/5
Service: 3/5
Price: $$ (Approximately $20 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 10 Apple Creek Boulevard, Markham, ON, Canada
Tel: +1 905-946-1898

Persian Cuisine @ Zaffron Ristorante, North York

2011-06-12T07:49:00.000-07:00

Zaffron Ristorante is a Mediterranean Restaurant whose menu emphasizes Persian and Italian Food. The restaurant has earned numerous local and foreign awards and is Zagat Rated. Since it was our first time dining our friendly waiter gave us some recommendations on what to dine.

Sabzi Khordan: Persian Assortment of Fresh Herbs

Our Herb Plate consist of Mint, Parsley and Radish to start of our meal

Kashkeh Bademjan

It may not look pretty but this is one of Zaffron's Signature Starter. It's a Persian Eggplant Dip that's topped with Fried Crisp Onion, Fried Garlic, Olive Oil and Kashk (A Whey Type liquid). Mixing all the condiments with the Eggplant gave it a robust flavor that beats Hummus any day as a Bread Dip.

Focaccia Bread

One of Zaffron's Signature Breads. The Bread was served fresh off the oven and was fluffy on the inside and crisp. It was very good with Kashkeh Bademjan.

Salad and Pilaf

We had the option of Salad or Rice to go with our Meat Platter. I chose the Salad which came with a Thousand Island Dressing. The Pilaf was a simple White Long Grain Rice mixed with some Saffron Flavored Rice.

Assorted Meat Kebab Platter (Ground Beef, Ground Chicken, Veal and Lamb)

We each ordered our preferred meat kebabs which was then placed in a single platter for us to share. The meats were all delicious. My favorite was Lamb Sashlik which was super tender and had the right amount of seasoning.

We were a mixed bunch after our meal. Some enjoyed it and others thought it was so-so. As for me I enjoyed their Eggplant Dip, which I thought was much better than Hummus as a bread dip. The kebabs were they way I liked it, grilled and seasoned just right allowing the natural flavors of the meat to speak out.

Food: 4/5
Service: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 3.5/5
Price: $$$ (Approximatley USD $35 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 6200 Yonge St. North York, ON M2M 3X1
Tel: +1 (416) 223-7070
Web:
E-mail: info@zaffron.ca
Map:

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Peking Duck @ Xindalu China Kitchen, Hyatt on the Bund Shanghai

2011-06-03T14:46:00.000-07:00

I've read a number of reviews about Xindalu Restaurant at Hyatt on the Bund. It is supposedly the place in Shanghai for Peking Ducks. Ducks are specially imported from Beijing which are then roasted in a specially made Clay Oven on Red Date Wood. In addition to their Peking Duck, the restaurant also serves a number of dishes from Shanghai, Suzhou, Beijing and Hangzhou.

Picked Raddish with Soybean

This was our Amuse Bouche. The Pickled Raddish was sour and salty which was a good pallet opener.

Peking Duck

Our Chef presented our beautifully Roasted Duck and carved the Skin and Meat out Table Side.

Peking Duck Crepe

For such an expensive Duck one would think they made the Crepe from Scratch. With an open Kitchen we caught one of the chefs opening a brand new packet of pre-made crepes.

Peking Duck Condiments: Assorted Dipping Sauces and Cucumber and Green Onion

Our Peking Duck was served with some Hoisin Sauce, Sugar and another Dip which I don't know what it is. The Hoisin Sauce was very mild compared with other places.

Peking Duck Skin

Like the other Peking Ducks I've had in China I found the Duck Skin to be very fat and oily. The Skin was roasted really well but contained a lot of Fat that wasn't rendered out. It has to be eaten with the Crepe because upon biting the crispy skin all the Duck Fat came oozing out. It wasn't something you could eat more than a couple of pieces of.

Peking Duck: Meat

Ironically this was the best part of the Peking Duck. The Meat was very flavorful and Tender.

Shanghai-Style Smoked Fish

A Shanghainese Cold Dish recommended by our Waitress. Like Fu1088 it was served hot with the Fish Deep Fried and then tossed in a Sweet Sauce. The Fish was very crispy with the meat not overcooked. However the sauce was way too sweet.

River Prawns with Long Jing Tea Leaves

A typical Shanghainese Dish with a twist where Long Jing Leaves were added. The Prawns were very smooth in texture and was firm to the bite. However I could not taste the flavor of the Long Jing Leaves.

Stir Fried Peas

Stir-Fried Peas was part of their Seasonal Menu. The Peas had a nice crunch and was nicely salted from the use of Chinese Cured Ham/Bacon.

Mui Choi Pork

Recommended by our Waitress. The Pork was very good. It was very tender and was not too sweet. The Fat literally melts in your mouth.

Dessert Sampler: Tearamisu, Fried Banana Spring Rolls, Shanghainese Rice Cake, Mango with Sago and Fresh Fruits

This was probably my favorite course of the night. I enjoyed all their desserts particularly their Tearamisu.

At the end of our meal we felt the food at Xindalu was over rated. It was definitely above average but the prices were definitely on the steep side. The Peking Duck although perfectly roasted and crisp, contains way too much Fat making me feel nauseous. Maybe it's just my personal preference but I still prefer the Peking Ducks served in Thailand and Malaysia where the Skin is Crispy and contains very little fat.

Food: 3.5/5
Ambiance: 4.5/5
Service: 4/5
Price: $$$$ (Approximately USD $40 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 上海上海市虹口区黄浦路199号, China
Tel: +86 21 6393 1234 ‎
Web:
Map:

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Shanghainese Cuisine @ Shanghai Spring, Xintiandi-Shanghai

2011-05-29T15:25:00.000-07:00

We were in Shanghai for a couple of days and wanted to have dinner at Din Dai Fung in Xintiandi. Having arrived and seen the ridiculous queue we decided instead to dine in "Shanghai Spring" which was located right next to Din Dai Fung.

Browsing their illustrative menu Shanghai Spring offers up a wide variety of popular Shanghainese Dishes and is one of the many restaurants that are recommended by the government during the Shanghai Expo. With the help of our waitress we ordered a number of their signature dishes.

Minced Chives

A traditional cold dish of Minced Chives that was given a twist with the addition of Cooked Salmon Pieces and placed in a ring mold. The Chives were pretty tasty. I don't know how the Salmon plays a role in the dish but it was there.

Bok Choy with Beancurd Sheets

This was really good. The Soup tasted like it was made from Chinese Salted Ham and gave the Crunchy Bok Choy a nice flavor. The Bean Curd Sheets were excellent. It had a nice bite to it.

Braised Crab Meat Roe with Tofu

Another good dish! The Tofu was super soft and went well with the rich and flavorful Shanghainese Hairy Crab Roe.

Grandma's Meatpot

My least favorite of the dishes. The Pork was a little too chewy and was less flavorful compared with other restaurants we've had this.

Lionshead with Crabmeat Roe

The Crabmeat roe was just as good as the one in the Tofu but this time it was served with some big Pork Balls that was super soft. The Pork Balls had a good flavor but we felt really oozy after eating one probably due to the amount of Pork Fat it contained.

Pan Fried Meat Dumplings

This was my favorite. The Dumplings wasn't too oily and was intentionally pan seared only at the bottom giving it a very crispy texture contrasting with the soft texture of the top. The filling contained a mixture of seasoned minced pork with some soup stock. Delicious!

I enjoyed some of the dishes at Shanghai Spring particularly their Pan Fried Meat Dumplings and their Crab Roe Sauce which in my opinion is better than FU 1088.

Food: 4/5
Service: 3.5/5
Ambiance: 3.5/5
Price: $$ (Approximately USD $20 per person)

Contact Information
Contact Information:
Address: 2nd Floor, South Block,Shanghai Xintiandi
Tel: +8621-32089777
Web: www.xnggroup.com
Map:

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Roast Suckling Pig @ Jasmin Cantonese Restaurant, Bangkok

2011-05-23T17:41:00.000-07:00

Prior to our flight to KL, we paid a visit to Jasmin Cantonese Restaurant located within the Times Square Building. Since 1991 Jasmin is known for serving authentic Hong Kong Cuisine at a reasonable price that is frequented by locals and expats.

Roasted Suckling Pig

This was recommended by Eric's Grandpa who visited this restaurant a number of years back. The Suckling Pig was quite good but was definitely not as good as Tang Jai Yoo nor Full Wealth Restaurant KL. The skin was quite crispy but did not shatter in your mouth. Our Pig also came with a basket of Bread Slices which was great with the Skin.

Deep Fried Pork Meat with Garlic

This was our second course of the Suckling Pig and I'm not a fan of it. The Pork Meat was quite dry. We only had a few pieces

Braised Sharks Fin Soup

Eric ordered this soup. We both found the soup to be a little bland despite the generous portions of Sharks Fin. The texture of the Sharks Fin was excellent. It had a nice bite.

Mushroom and Fish Maw Soup

This was my soup and it was decent. The Consomme had a very clean flavor and was good with the Fish Maw and Mushroom

Mushroom Siu Mai

The Siu Mai did not resemble any Siu Mai I've had before. It looked more like a Minced Pork Ball that was topped with Mushroom. Flavor-wise it was good. It had a nice combination of Pork Meat and Pork Fat making it flavorful and maintaining a bouncy texture. The Mushroom reinforced the meaty flavor of the pork.

Stir-Fried Morning Glory with Garlic

The Morning Glory was perfectly cooked maintaining a nice crunch with a nice garlic flavor infused into it.

We were definitely stuffed from our meal having shared an entire Suckling Pig between the two of us. However the quality of the food was mediocre in my opinion.

Food: 3/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 3/5
Price: $$ (Approximately $25 per person)

Contact Information
Contact Information:
Address: สุขุมวิท สวีท, 23/2 Sukhumvit Soi 13, Sukhumvit Road Klongtoeynua, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 250 0502
Map:

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Contemporary Thai Cuisine @ Bolan

2011-05-19T07:01:00.000-07:00

I’ve been wanting to visit Bolan after reading about it on Reader’s Digest a few months back. focuses. We made a reservation a week in advance to ensure we had a seat when we arrived and were definitely lucky to do so as the Restaurant was fully booked.

Bolan offers an ala Carte for people that are familiar with Thai Cuisine or regulars of the restaurant and a “Bolan Balance” Tasting Menu which features a Thai Salad, Chilli Relish, Stir-Fried Dish, Curry and Soup based on the Chef's recommendations.

Despite Eric’s weak stomach we chose their Tasting Menu but made a few changes over certain dishes that were deemed too spicy.

Lemongrass Water

We were given a welcome drink of Lemongrass Water upon seated. The Lemongrass Water was mildly sweet and very refreshing.

Ya dong grachai dum served with sour fruits

Starting from the far back, is a blend of Thai Whiskey and Herbs, Pandanus Juice and Sour Fruits. The Thai Whiskey was actually quite smooth probably from the herbs. The burning sensation was then toned down with the Pandanus Juice. The Sour Fruits were really sour when eaten alone but when dipped with some salt and chili flakes it wasn't as strong.

Bolan Amuse Bouche (From the right Crispy Crepe with Chicken Meat, Mint Salad with Thai Mackeral, Pork with Fried Garlic and Mango, Fermented Rice Noodles and Prawn Mango Salad)

The Mint Salad was just fabulous. The Fish Sauce Dressing was well balanced and went so well with the Mackeral and Mint. The Fermented Rice Noodles was another favorite! It contained Pineapple Chunks, which was neither sour nor sweet. The flavors and textures were just so nicely balanced!

Pad gung sai sator gratiam dong lae cha-om (Stir-fried prawn with sator bean pickled garlic and acacia leaves)

This was another excellent dish. The Prawns were stir-fried with Mung Bean Noodles and Egg. One could definitely taste the flavor of the egg permeate into the other ingredients. The flavor reminded me of Thai Style Claypot Prawns with Mung Bean Noodles except it was without any gravy.

Gaeng hung lay moo bab Chiang rai (Northern pork rib and belly curry with Hunglea)

The Curry did not contain any Coconut Milk but was still quite thick. The Pork Ribs were very tender and flavorful but was very spicy because of the absence of Coconut Milk.

Yum chakram sai Gung mae naam Ayutthaya (Salad of Samut Songhram samphire and grilled Ayuthaya river prawns)

This was delicious. The River Prawns were grilled just right and the Salad had a nice amount of heat.

Lon gung jom naem duay kai fuu buu (Preserved fresh water prawn simmered in fresh coconut cream with lemongrass, white turmeric and chili served with deep-fried crispy egg and hand-picked crab meat)

My favorite dish of the night! The Turmeric Cream Coconut Concoction was creamy and smooth and went so well with the ultra crispy but light egg! When eating the Crispy Egg, Velvety Smooth Gravy and the soft texture of Blanched Vegetables it was so good!

Dtom klong bai makam sai pla grob (Spicy soup infused with smoked fish and young tamarind leaves)

The soup was quite spicy. It was less sour than Tom Yam Soup and had a mild smoky flavor from the fish. I loved the combination of Shallots, Lemongrass and Chillis all of which accentuated the flavor of the Soup.

Bo.lan pre-dessert (Mango with Sticky Rice)

The best I've had. The Mango was sweet and went so well with the Sticky Rice which just had the right amount of stickiness and was very moist from the Coconut Cream. What I loved was the yellow crispy bits which gave a nice contrast in texture.

Bo.lan dessert du jour (Water Chestnut and Jackfruit in Jasmine Syrup w/Crispy Wafer)

A refreshing dessert. The Water Chestnuts had the right amount of crunch and the Jackfruit was very fragrant. The Jasmine Syrup had a very fragrant and smoky flavor that wasn't too sweet.

Petit fours

This was the biggest platter of Petit fours I've ever had! It was basically a Thai Dessert Sampler. Favorites of mine included the Egg White Meringue, Caramel Nut Cluster, Pandanus Layer Jelly and the Guava and Rose Apple which was great with the Chili-Sugar Crystals.

I truly enjoyed the Dining Experience at Bolan. I loved the chef's use of creativity for their First Two Courses and Petit Fours but kept it traditionally Thai with the serving of all the Main Dishes at once to be eaten with rice.

Food: 4.7/5
Service: 4.7/5
Ambiance: 4.8/5
Price: $$$$$ (Approximately USD $65 per person)

Contact Information
Contact Information:
Address: 42 Soi Pichai Ronnarong Songkram Sukhumvit 26 Klongteoy Bangkok 10110
Tel. +66 (2) 260-2962

Map:

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Soft Launch @ Curries and More by Bhaan Khanitta, Bangkok

2011-05-14T14:22:00.000-07:00

Soft Launch @ Curries and More

Opened by the owners of the famed Baan Khanita, Curries and More is a new Wine Bar and Restaurant that is perched along the trendy Sukhumvit area. Their new location features three different restaurants that encompass a Casual Thai Restaurant, Chic Wine Bar and a Dessert Restaurant.

We visited Curries and More during their soft launch and dined at their Wine Bar, which featured a modern design of steel and dark wood. Neon-Blue LED lights gave the entire space a futuristic feel as it lighted up the Wine Bottles behind the bar.

The menu was quite extensive with a focus on simple classical French and Thai-Fusion dishes. Hungry, we ordered quite a number of dishes to share.

Tom Yam Goong Caesar Salad

I was surprised by this combination. I've never thought Caesar Dressing would go well with Tom Yam Paste but I was wrong. The Shrimp Paste from the Tom Yam complemented the Anchovy-Based Caesar Dressing really well!

Deep Fried Soft Shell Crab Salad

The Soft Shell Crab was perfectly fried. The Field Greens were crispy but I wished the Balsamic Dressing would contain a little more acidity.

Porcini Soup

The Soup was creamy but flavor wise it was bland. Maybe the use of stronger flavored Mushrooms such as Shiitake and Morels might be better than Poricini.

Seared Scallops

The Scallops were perfectly seared and seasoned. It went well with the Balsamic Glaze which gave it a nice caramelized flavor.

Grilled Giant Ayutthaya River Prawns with Chili-Lime Garlic Sauce

The prawn was perfectly grilled and was really moist. It was good with the Chili-Lime Garlic Sauce, which came in the form of Compound Butter. The Baked Potato was mediocre.

Pan Seared Duck Breast with Blue Berry Sauce and Scalloped Potatoes

The Duck was tender and cooked to Medium. The Blueberry Sauce was sweet and savory at the same time and was perfect with the Duck. A classic but well executed dish.

Chicken Roll with Spinach and Cheese

This was the least favorite of the dishes we ordered. The Chicken was very dry which made it difficult to eat.

Norwegian Meringue

The Meringue was a little under whipped as evident by it melting a little when served. The Napoleon Ice Cream inside was good as it contained Raisins and Chocolate Chip Chunks giving it a nice crunchy texture.

Dark Chocolate Souffle

This was so good! The Ice Cream went well with the Bitterness of the Souffle, which was light and fluffy but at the same time was left a little undercooked in the center which gave it a molten-like chocolate texture. Delicious!

We were really stuffed from our meal and enjoyed quite a number of dishes especially their Pan Seared Duck Breast, Grilled Giant Ayutthaya Prawn, Tom Yam Khung Caesar Salad and Dark Chocolate Soufflé. Together with a chic

Food: 3.8/5
Service: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 4.5/5
Price: $$ (Approximately USD $20 per person w/o Wine)

Contact Information
Address: 31 Soi Sukhumvit 53 Bangkok 10110
Tel: +66 2 259 8530-4 / 84 929 4123
Web: www.curriesandmore.com/index.php?action=home&&lau...

Japanese Food @ Aoi Japanese Restaurant, Bangkok

2011-05-10T02:48:00.000-07:00

This trip to Bangkok I had a quick lunch with my friend Eric at Aoi Japanese Restaurant in Siam Paragon. The restaurant offered an ala Carte menu that featured a Kaiseki Set but we opted instead for their Lunch Sets.

Salmon Donburi Set

This was Eric's order. The Salmon was partially cooked and thinly sliced giving it an almost melt in your mouth texture and was served with Sushi Rice that had the right amount of Rice Vinegar. The Salmon Roe gave it a nice hint of saltiness.

Sashimi Set

The Sashimi at Aoi was very fresh. The Tuna and Salmon Slices were cut thick and was really fresh. Eric who also eats a lot of Sashimi finds the quality to be much better than those served in KL and Hong Kong unless you're willing to pay top-dollar.

Grilled Beef Tongue

The Beef Tongue was cut the right width. It wasn't too thick or thin giving it a nice bite. It was well seasoned and tender.

Grilled Ayutthaya Prawns with Cod Roe Mayonnaise

The Prawns were smaller than what we saw on the Menu but tasted really good. It was grilled just right and the Cod Mayo added a little richness to the Prawns.

I've eaten Japanese Food in nearly every City I've visited and outside of Tokyo, Bangkok is still my favorite. Aoi like many other Japanese Restaurants in Bangkok serves up such good Japanese Food that in my opinion is unrivaled in similar restaurants elsewhere. This maybe attributed to the large number of Japanese Expats living in Thailand (Thailand is home to the largest Japanese Population in Asia outside of Japan).

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Price: USD $$$ (Approximately USD $35 per person)

Contact Information
Address: G floor, B.Naturale, Siam Paragon, 991/1, Rama 1 Rd., Pathum Wan, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 Thailand See map
Tel: +66 (0) 2129 4348-50
Web: http://www.aoi-bkk.com/index.htm
Map:

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Thai Food @ Bangkok Wasabe, Kota Damansara

2011-05-07T20:12:00.000-07:00

My friends and I were keen on trying out Erawan in Kota Damansara but soon found out the restaurant required us to book most of their dishes a day in advance. Realizing this when we were at the restaurant we decided to eat elsewhere and save Erawan for another week.

A little research via our Phones led us to Bangkok Wasabe which incidentally was just a few minutes walk from Erawan. We were a little confused by the name thinking it was some kind of Thai-Japanese Restaurant but were wrong as we soon found the place serves up Thai Food with an emphasis on Street Fare.

Goong Ob Woon Sen

Their Goong Ob Woon Sen was the way I liked it. The Mung Bean Noodles had the right amount of sauce and the Prawns were cooked just right. They were actually very generous with the Prawns.

Som-Tam

The Papaya Salad was Spicy and Sour the way I liked it. The only thing missing were the Fermented Crabs.

Pandan Chicken

This was also really good. The Pandan Leaf Flavor was imparted well into the Chicken and the Chicken was quite tender.

Moo Larb

Their own version as well as most Moo Larb comes in Minced Pork. I don't know if I liked it at that much.

Green Curry Chicken

This was a bad dish. The Coconut Milk was expired giving it a bad after-taste. We told the waiter about it who graciously took the food back and replaced it with another curry of our liking.

Seafood Otak-Otak

This is not like any Otak-Otak I've in Thailand. The Seafood were left in their chunky form and was just stir-fried and baked in curry.

Gaeng Som

Unlike the Gaeng Som I've had in Trang or Bangkok. It was more like Steam Fish but spooned over with Gaeng Som Sauce.

Stir-Fried Mixed Vegetables

Standard Thai Chinese Dish that was well cooked with enough Wok-Hei. The vegetables were well coated with the Oyster Sauce and the Prawns cooked just nice. I liked the addition of Deep Fried Minced Garlic which gave it a deeper flavor profile.

Dry Chicken Curry

The Chicken Pieces was quite tender and the Dry Chicken Curry Sauce was excellent. It actually tasted a little like Indian Butter Chicken.

I have not yet found a really good and authentic Thai Restaurant in KL. Some of Bangkok Wasabe's dishes were close to what I had in BKK like their Goong Ob Woon Sen, Som Tam and Pandan Chicken. However modified dishes such as Moo Larb, Gaeng Som and Seafood Otak-Otak were a little too different for my liking.

Food: 3.5/5
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Price: $$ (Approximately USD $20 per person)

Contact Information
Address : No. 16-1, Jalan PJU5/15, Dataran Sunway, Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel : +603-6156 7078
Map:

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English Food @ Mayfair English Kitchen and Bar

2011-05-03T08:54:00.000-07:00

I haven’t had any English Food in KL and had my first at Mayfair on PJ Trade Center. Owned by the people behind Jarrod and Rawlins, Mayfair is tucked in a corner of Menara and spots a décor that resembles a posh Night Club.

Tucked in a quiet corner of Menara Taiko, the restaurant was busy on a Wednesday night and offers a menu that’s not really Traditional English Food but rather a mix of popular Western Dishes like Roast Pork Knuckle, Pizzas and Pastas.

Our waiter made several food recommendations and for beverages "insisted" we have bottled water despite us asking for regular Hot Water.

Roasted Tomato and Bell Pepper Soup

This was quite good. The Bell Pepper gave the soup a smoky flavor and went well with the Tomatoes.

Cream of Mushroom Soup:

The Mushroom Soup was decent. One could taste some Mushroom bits but the flavor was a little bit mild.

Caesar Salad

The Caesar Salad was quite good with the dressing not being too tangy. The Deep Fried Butter Croutons was a little too oily for my liking.

BBQ Ribs

This was recommended by our Waiter since the Pork Knuckle wasn't available. The Pork Ribs had virtually no meat and was very tough probably from being over charred. Taste wise it was very oriental.

Chicken Escalope

The Chicken was very tender and the Crust was crispy. It was served with some Yogurt which help cut the oiliness from the breaded Chicken.

Beer Chicken

The Beer Chicken was terrible. It came with a knife stabbed right into it’s thigh and was over-salted and over-cooked.

Duck Basil Pesto Spaghetti

The Pasta was cooked just a little over Al Dente. The Basil Pesto was a little mild but was compensated with the flavor from the Duck.

Spaghetti Carbonara

The best dish of the night. The Carbonara Sauce was very creamy and clung on to the Pasta. The Bacon Bits gave it a nice smoky flavor.

Chocolate Cheese Brownie

This did not taste like a Brownie. It had a texture of a Butter Pound Cake with Dark Chocolate Sauce poured all over it. It was ok.

Bread and Butter Pudding

This was good. The texture was just right, not too fluffy nor stiff. The Pudding had a nice buttery flavor and the raisins were good. The only thing I wished for was for some Custard sauce to be poured over it.

Overall I felt the food at Mayfair needs improvement. Prices of their food are a little steep but the food quality pales in comparison with chain restaurants like Delicious, TGI Fridays and Chilies who serves up similar food.

Food: 2.5/5
Service: 3.5/5
Ambiance: 4.5/5
Price: $$ (Approximately USD $20 per person)

Contact Information
Address: DG-03, Menara Taiko, PJ Trade Centre, Jalan PJU 8/8, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, 47820
Phone 603-77264131
Fax 603-77264131
Web:
Map:

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Kwong Cooks: Easter Weekend

2011-05-01T08:28:00.000-07:00

It was great to spend my Easter Weekend back in KL as I got the opportunity to cook an Easter Meal for my colleagues. Lamb was obviously the main dish along with other requests that included BBQ Pork Ribs and Salmon.

Romaine Salad with Garlic Dressing, Bacon Bits and Croutons

Having quite a bit of garlic heads I made a Garlic Dressing to go with the crisp romaine lettuce.

Herb Crusted Salmon

This is one of my favorite dishes to make as I love Salmon. The mixture of Breadcrumbs and Herbs give the Salmon a very strong flavor and at the same time provides a crispy crust. The Salmon was baked pink to the middle

BBQ Pork Ribs

My ribs were dry rubbed with Cumin, Paprika and other herbs and spices and were then slow baked in the oven till the meat is falling off the bone. I finally basted it with some BBQ Sauce over the grill. This was a crowd favorite.

Roasted Leg of Lamb

This was my first time having a Roasted Leg of Lamb. I bought a de-boned New Zealand Leg Roast and rubbed it with a mixture of Mustard and Herbs and roasted it Medium. The result was mediocre because it wasn’t as flavorful as I hoped.

Lamb Curry

The Lamb Curry was bought with the Biryani Rice for people that would like to have some curry to go with the Biryani

Biryani Rice

I bought the Biryani Rice from a nearby restaurant and cooked it again adding Raisins, Cashew Nuts and Shallots to make it more aromatic. This was made to go with the lamb.

We were really stuffed after the meal. Although we finished the Lamb there were a few improvements I could have done especially the flavor of the lamb. The Ribs and Salmon were popular and was finished that night.

Kwong Cooks: Seafood

2011-04-25T21:50:00.000-07:00

For those that have been following my blog you'll probably realize that I spend 6 days of the week eating out. However whenever I do have some free time I'll usually spend it on my other hobby Cooking. Despite my relatively short stays in KL and Toronto I usually cook for my friends at least once during my stay.

Recently a close friend of mine wanted me to cook an all Seafood Meal. Flipping through some recipes and with a little tweaking this was what I made.

Crab Meat Salad

I loved the Salad Dressing at Sushi Zanmai and decided to replicate it based on what I think it contained. Mine had Mirin, Carrots, Shallots and Vegetable Oil. Since it's a Seafood Menu I decided to add in Lump Crab Meat and Chopped Avocado

Lobster Bisque with Lobster Roe Toast

Lobsters in Canada are way cheaper than in Malaysia and so I've decided to make a Lobster Bisque. Using a mixture of Prawn Heads and Lobster Shells. My 3lb Lobster had a lot of roe and so I used it to make some Toast

Roasted Salmon, Potato Croquette and Roasted Carrot Sauce

I made a simple Roast Salmon initially Pan-Searing the Skin to make it crisp. The sauce was a combination of Roasted Carrot Puree, Cream and Curry Powder. It was served with a Potato Croquette

Smoked Salmon Fettuccine

I loved the Smoked Salmon Spaghetti at Italian Tomato when it was opened in KL. I used Fettuccine instead since I had leftovers.

I was quite happy with the food I made with the exception of the Smoked Salmon Spaghetti where I couldn't draw out the Smoked Salmon Flavor well enough.

Heavy Lunch @ Restaurant in Ningbo City

2011-04-22T09:35:00.000-07:00

I'm back in Ningbo City and this time I'm taken by one of my colleagues to a brand new restaurant that just opened in Ningbo's new Commercial District for lunch. There were only the 6 of us but with so much food on the display counter and fresh seafood we ordered food that could feed a table of 12!

Braised Taro

The Taro was braised in a gravy whose flavors I can't describe. It was very soft almost mushy in texture.

Stir Fried Local Greens with Eggs

The Greens had a taste similar to Spring Onions but the texture of Choi Sum. It was very good especially with the eggs.

Stir Fried Local Greens

The Greens tasted like Kai Lan but was a little soggier. It was fried with some Garlic.

Braised Cabbage

This dish I think is from Hunan. The Cabbage wasn't overcooked and had a nice crunch. The chef's use of chilies gave the dish a nice spicy flavor.

Shark Meat

This was my first time having Shark Meat. It was quite chewy in texture but was very good with the soy-based sauce which had some heat from the use of chillies.

Herbal Lamb Soup

The lamb soup was mediocre. The Lamb meat was a little chewy and the herbal soup was lacking in lamb flavor.

Pork Rib Soup

This was an attempt on a Cantonese Style Soup by Ningbonese Chefs. The Soup was a little too bland for my liking.

Peking Duck

The Skin was quite crispy but not very flavorful. The crepe however was way too chewy.

Stir Fried Noodles

A solid dish. Not too oily and the egg flavor was well drawn out into the noodles.

Braised Local River Fish

This was good. The River Fish was flaky in texture and their Ningbonese BBQ Sauce was savory and aromatic from the use of Ginger.

Overall the food was decent. The restaurant I felt featured way too many dishes from different regions of China which made it impossible for the chefs to master any of them except for their own local dish which was the Braised Local River Fish.

Food: 3.5/5
Ambiance: 3.5/5
Service: 4/5
Price: $$ (Under USD $20 per person)

Contact Information
Address: N/A
Tel: N/A

Bak Kut Teh @ Tean's Kitchen, Klang

2011-04-18T22:07:00.000-07:00

I recently had a craving for Klang-Style Bak Kut Teh and was recommended by Aunty Siew Keng to try out Tean's Kitchen. With the help of our GPS we managed to find the restaurant which was tucked on a side street.

Dry-Style Bak Kut Teh

This was my first time having Dry Bak Kut Teh and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The flavor was definitely more robust from the soup version because the stock is reduced down to almost a syrup-like consistency. Chili's and Fried Anchovies were stir-fried together with the Pork Belly making it a very aromatic and robust dish!

Bak Kut Teh: Lean Pork

I ordered their Lean Pork and it was very tender despite having very little fat. This maybe attributed from the long hours of being braised in the stock. I also enjoyed their Soup which had a very strong and rich herbal flavor.

Bak Kut Teh: Medium Fat Pork

The Pork was really good. It was fork tender and had the right ratio of meat and fat.

Bak Kut Teh: Pork Intestines

The Pork Intestines had a chewy texture and no foul aftertaste. The heavy soup base of the Bak Kut Teh was good with it.

Rice and Yao Cha Kwai

Rice and Yao Cha Kwai are a must when eating Bak Kut Teh to soak up the delicious Herbal Soup!

It's been so long since I had Klang-Style Bak Kut Teh and Tean's Kitchen did not disappoint. Everything I had was really good especially their Dry Bak Kut Teh. For those that has never had it you should definitely give it a try!

Food: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 2.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Price: $ (Under USD $10 per person)

Contact Information
Address: No.6, Lorong Gudang Nanas 4, Jalan Pasar,, 41400 Klang, Malaysia
Tel: N/A
Web: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=151749191504054

Smoke Meat Galore @ Chenoys, Montreal

2011-04-13T03:01:00.000-07:00

I'm back in good old Montreal for a day and had to make a stop at another Montreal Smoked Meat joint called Deli Chenoys before heading back to Toronto. This place was recommended by a friend of mine for their creative use of Smoked Meat. They've got it on Sandwiches, Rice, Pastas and even Pizzas! And to top it off diners have the option of having their Smoked Meat cuts Lean, Medium or Fat.

Smoked Meat Platter

I was conned into believing the Platter would be small until it came. There's probably Half a Pound of Medium Smoked Meat on the Platter. It was quite juicy and had a good flavor. However Schwartz in my opinion still has the better Smoked Meat.

Extra Fat Smoked Meat Sandwich

My friend ordered this Caloric and Cholestrol Nuke. The medium Smoked Meat was already very juicy and tender but this literally melts in your mouth. I guess MORE FAT equates to MORE FLAVOR

Fried Dover Sole on Pilaf

Don't ask me why we ordered Fish in a Smoked Meat Joint but we did. The crust was a little dense and the Fish was a little under-seasoned .

My meal at Chenoy's definitely satisfied my craving for Smoked Meat for probably a few months. The food may not be as good as Schwartz. But for the price they sure are pretty generous with their portions!

Food: 3.5/5
Service: 3.5/5
Ambiance: 3/5
Price: $$ (Approximately USD$20 per person)

Contact Information
Address: 3616, boul Saint-Jean Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC H9G 1X1, Canada
Tel: +1 (514) 620-2584
Web: www.chenoys.com‎