As a food blogger, I think it is an appropriate topic of discussions, and a timely one too, to talk about what type of foods that you wouldn't eat for ethical, moral, religious, cultural or just humane reasons. As we are all people from different backgrounds and beliefs, it is something to ponder over what type of foods that are acceptable to us, and what are not acceptable. I hope to get as many feedbacks as possible on this topic, so please leave your generous comments ok.
To get the ball rolling, here's a list of the type of foods I shun in general due to various reasons:
- shark's fin soup : This dish, ever so popular amongst the Chinese, is just plain wrong in my opinion. The demand for this dish is contributing to the decline in shark's population. Not to mention that it's also a cruel practise. I've been a consumer of this in the past, I admit, during my younger and ignorant days, especially during wedding dinners. But now that I knew better, I no longer care for it.
- dog meat : I don't even know where to begin on this one. As far as I'm concerned, dogs are PET. They're companions for humans. Not for consumption. They're called man's best friends for a reason. Again, the Chinese, along with many Asian countries, are proponents of this. Once, I watched a documentary where an Asian lady brought a basket full of live cute puppies into her kitchen, where she casually pick of the pups and place it on the chopping block. And then, she position the puppy belly up and, using a large butcher knife, slice the animal's belly open and start pulling the innards out while the pup is STILL alive!!!!! That visual haunts me until this day, people! It's true. Not only that, but I've also heard another cruel practise by dog-meat lovers where they would beat and torture the poor animal to death before cooking them. They believe that this would make the meat tastes better because the greater blood circulation or flow in the dogs during the beating process actually makes their meat more delicious. Now I'm not a violent person, but reading about something like this makes me want to hurt someone real bad.
pork : I know some of you would label me as a hypocrite because I still eat pork. However, my pork consumption has declined greatly, and I normally would not order something with pork in it unless there's no choice. I've been to a few pig farms and slaughterhouses during a short stint as a market researcher for animal feeds. Those little piglets are very very human-like in their behavior! And the way they keep adult pigs, OMG, it's pure torture people! The cage where these poor animals are kept in are so small they can't even budge an inch, let alone move. And they are being fed and fed until they're big and fat enough to be slaughtered. And here's the worst part: to those who have never witness a pig slaughtering, trust me, that's a jarring experience that will stay with you for the rest of your lives. The scream, the flow of blood, the long and torturous death...Now I can't say that I've sworn off pork forever. I still eat it form time to time, but eventually, I do intend to stop completedly
insects : eating insects are very popular in many countries. If you go to Thailand, you can buy fried grubs and scorpions form roadside stalls. I don't eat these because I personally don't like insects, and eating them is something so gross that my stomach just couldn't digest. I know a lot of people like such delicacies, and I respect that. Insects are supposedly to be more healthy and nutritious than meat, sooo..enjoy it if you like them.
turtles and toads : one word : disgusting! Those who likes them said the meat have health-boosting properties. I'm sure they are the same people who say the same thing about tiger's testicles and monkey's brain.
Fois gras :This dish, more popular amongst the Western populace, is made from duck or goose liver. Its literal translation from French is FATTY LIVER. There have been much controversies focusing on the cruel, force feeding practise that some farmers employ to make the poor birds' liver more palatable. Under such practise, the bird are being fed continuously until their liver grow so big, it occupy almost two thirds of their internals. Can you imagine the pure torture the duck or goose have to endure through this? Just imagine if your own liver grows so big it takes up more than 50% of your body...Try imagining that!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Do's And Don'ts of Eating Out (Part 2)
WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN EATING OUT
1. Taking too long to decide what to order : Ahhh..the menu. The first thing that we all get when stepping into a restaurant. Now I know a lot of people gets intimidated when facing a menu, especially one that's almost as thick as a novel. Too many options, too many choices, what to do, what to do??? Now, when in a situation like this, the sensible thing to do is to scan through the menu quickly to get a good idea of what are being offered. Also, this will give you a bearing of where the main sections are, such as the food section, beverage section, dessert section and other sections , thus making your second reading much easier. The proper way to order your foods and drinks from the menu is to go in reverse. Yep, that's right. Start ordering the least significant items before moving to the main course. Work your way backwards. For an example, try ordering your drinks, desserts or side dishes first, because these items take shorter time of consideration, so you should have an easier time deciding on them. Once you're one with that, you can spend more time to mull over your main course choices. Clever, ain't it?
If you're really stumped, it's not a bad idea asking the waitperson for recommendations.
2. Bring and eat your own foods : In general, it's considered a big NO-NO to bring and eat your own food to whichever restaurant you're going to. Unless, of course, you're a parent, and the food are for your child. Kids and parents tend to be able to get away with most things, it seems. And, if you must eat your own foods, do ask for prior permission from the staff, and try to be at least discreet about it ok.
3. Be obnoxious, too critical/ demanding: Admit it, some of us do get a bit critical or demanding when eating in a restaurant. The rice has to be just warm enough. The fish head curry is too spicy, the juice is too sweet. If you must make a demand, please do so in a courteous manner. No need to shout or give your blackest face to the waitperson. And, unless it's major screw-up, try not to demand to see the manager. No need for such theatrics....Aside from ruining your meals, you also don't want to piss off the restaurant staff. Trust me, all that horror stories you've heard or read about restaurant staff spitting, peeing and doing other unimaginable things to your meals, at least 90% of them are TRUE. I've personally worked in no less than five restaurants, plus a short stint in a hotel bar, and so I can vouch for that...The things that some of them do, *HORRORS OF HORROR!!!*. However, if your demand is reasonable, like the food isn't cooked properly, which can sometimes happen to red or white meat, or you find foreign objects in it, then by all means do ask for replacement. BUT, having said that, don't eat like half of it and then only ask for a replacement.
4. Make loud noises : It's really simple..people who are loud in public tend to give the impressions of bad upbringing and poor manners. You really don't want to be perceived as such and give your parents a bad name, do you? How many times have you seen a group of people in restaurants talking and laughing loudly, acting as if the place is their own home? How many have seen someone talking too loudly on their handphones, almost shouting even? Scolding their kids, clearing their throats loudly, etc etc. A bit of noises are tolerable, but ry not to overdo it ok. Think of other people who have to endure your hyena-like laughs, or even worse, your half-laughing-half-snorting. Burping and slurping are not OK too. I've seen a women who laugh so loudly and in such an intense manner that she was banging the table and rocking back and forth in her seat. I thought she was having a seizure or something. And I was unfortunate enough to be sitting behind her. The temptation to yank on her long hair was so great that I've to dig my fingers really deep into the table cloth. Thank God I am a quite patient person, or the newspapers the next day would have something interesting to read. Talking about spoiling the appetite. In short, try to be more considerate to other patrons of the restaurants.
5. Issues with tissues : This is a pet peeve of mine. Try not to leave your snot-covered tissues on the table, or worse, on your plate or bowl...That's just poor hygiene people! What I always do is to take whatever tissues I used along with me and dispose them in a trash bin somewhere. Spare a thought for the poor fella that have to clear your table afterwards.
1. Taking too long to decide what to order : Ahhh..the menu. The first thing that we all get when stepping into a restaurant. Now I know a lot of people gets intimidated when facing a menu, especially one that's almost as thick as a novel. Too many options, too many choices, what to do, what to do??? Now, when in a situation like this, the sensible thing to do is to scan through the menu quickly to get a good idea of what are being offered. Also, this will give you a bearing of where the main sections are, such as the food section, beverage section, dessert section and other sections , thus making your second reading much easier. The proper way to order your foods and drinks from the menu is to go in reverse. Yep, that's right. Start ordering the least significant items before moving to the main course. Work your way backwards. For an example, try ordering your drinks, desserts or side dishes first, because these items take shorter time of consideration, so you should have an easier time deciding on them. Once you're one with that, you can spend more time to mull over your main course choices. Clever, ain't it?
If you're really stumped, it's not a bad idea asking the waitperson for recommendations.
2. Bring and eat your own foods : In general, it's considered a big NO-NO to bring and eat your own food to whichever restaurant you're going to. Unless, of course, you're a parent, and the food are for your child. Kids and parents tend to be able to get away with most things, it seems. And, if you must eat your own foods, do ask for prior permission from the staff, and try to be at least discreet about it ok.
3. Be obnoxious, too critical/ demanding: Admit it, some of us do get a bit critical or demanding when eating in a restaurant. The rice has to be just warm enough. The fish head curry is too spicy, the juice is too sweet. If you must make a demand, please do so in a courteous manner. No need to shout or give your blackest face to the waitperson. And, unless it's major screw-up, try not to demand to see the manager. No need for such theatrics....Aside from ruining your meals, you also don't want to piss off the restaurant staff. Trust me, all that horror stories you've heard or read about restaurant staff spitting, peeing and doing other unimaginable things to your meals, at least 90% of them are TRUE. I've personally worked in no less than five restaurants, plus a short stint in a hotel bar, and so I can vouch for that...The things that some of them do, *HORRORS OF HORROR!!!*. However, if your demand is reasonable, like the food isn't cooked properly, which can sometimes happen to red or white meat, or you find foreign objects in it, then by all means do ask for replacement. BUT, having said that, don't eat like half of it and then only ask for a replacement.
4. Make loud noises : It's really simple..people who are loud in public tend to give the impressions of bad upbringing and poor manners. You really don't want to be perceived as such and give your parents a bad name, do you? How many times have you seen a group of people in restaurants talking and laughing loudly, acting as if the place is their own home? How many have seen someone talking too loudly on their handphones, almost shouting even? Scolding their kids, clearing their throats loudly, etc etc. A bit of noises are tolerable, but ry not to overdo it ok. Think of other people who have to endure your hyena-like laughs, or even worse, your half-laughing-half-snorting. Burping and slurping are not OK too. I've seen a women who laugh so loudly and in such an intense manner that she was banging the table and rocking back and forth in her seat. I thought she was having a seizure or something. And I was unfortunate enough to be sitting behind her. The temptation to yank on her long hair was so great that I've to dig my fingers really deep into the table cloth. Thank God I am a quite patient person, or the newspapers the next day would have something interesting to read. Talking about spoiling the appetite. In short, try to be more considerate to other patrons of the restaurants.
5. Issues with tissues : This is a pet peeve of mine. Try not to leave your snot-covered tissues on the table, or worse, on your plate or bowl...That's just poor hygiene people! What I always do is to take whatever tissues I used along with me and dispose them in a trash bin somewhere. Spare a thought for the poor fella that have to clear your table afterwards.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Do's And Don'ts of Eating Out (Part 1)
We all love eating out...it's so much easier to enjoy your food when you don't have to worry about preparing and cooking or cleaning up afterwards, isn't it? And with so many restaurants out there, with new ones popping out like zits on a teenager's face, we are truly spoilt for choices. However, how many of us are truly aware of the proper way to behave when dining in a restaurant? Do you have the proper table manners and dining etiquette down to pat? Do you know what's acceptable and what's deplorable? How do you carry yourselves in a posh restaurant or a casual cafe? Unless you're really the anti-social type, chances are you'll alway be eating with other people, be it your friends, colleagues, dates, friends of friends, relatives and whatnots. So, you don't want to give the impression that you're just out of prison every time you "attack" your food with gusto. Me and my family are guilty of this, cos everytime we eat out, we tend to 'attack' the food rather than slowly enjoy every bite. We can go through the whole seven-course dinner in just 15 minutes, believe it or not. I'm not sure if it's genetic, or we're just victims of poor dining etiquette.
Of course, you don't have to go all out with these etiquette and practise them to the T either. Or people will probably think you're a houlier-than-thou, uptight, pretentious little prick. Hmm..it's truly a fine line to walk.
Well, fear not food-lovers, for help is at hand with this handy guide to the do's and don'ts of eating out. And by no means that these tips are original or comprehensive. You can probably find all of these, or better tips, easily through Googling. But let me save you the time and hassle, so you can read all about them in one article.
For the first part of this article, I'll focus on the DO'S
Do's:
-Know your audience: when eating out with friends or other people, always make sure that the venue you choose is acceptable to everyone. Some people are vegans, while some can't take certain foods because of their cultural or religious practices. And then there're people who are allergic to certain types of foods. It pays to double check on this before deciding on where to eat. Also, when eating out with a bunch of seniors, choosing to go to Burger King is probably not such a swell idea. You don't want to see them pop their dentures when chewing the burger halfway. As well, some people may not like certain type of food, like for me personally, I don't like seafood or certain Japanese foods like sushi. So, checking on your dining mates' preferences before hand will SAVE you lots of headache.
- Be punctual: Because nothing spoils the appetite than waiting for late-comers. You're not fashionably late, you're just late. AND unless you're out there saving the world or making babies, always make sure yo arrive a bit earlier if not promptly. And the 'better late than never' excuse only applies if you're a celebrity or a VIP. We should make a new rule that whoever arrive the latest will have to foot the bills. Oooh, that will scare a lot of people into being punctual.
- Dress for the occasion: This mostly applies when you're dining in a 'proper' restaurant where they have a dress code. There's a distinct difference between casual wear and formal wear. A good way to remember it is this: casual is hat you usually wear when meeting up with friends, while formal is what you wear when attending weddings or going out with your boss. I think for most women this shouldn't be a problem, but for some men, it could be a HUGE problem . Also, I have to say for the ladies, try not to wear something so slutty that you'll have all the slimy uncles in the restaurant salivating over your half-exposed bosoms. As for the guys, just be more aware of your self-hygiene and try to look more presentable. Just take a good look in the mirror and sniff your armpits...that'll be a good start. I know some men who treat their washing machines like their closets: After washing their clothes, they just pull out random clean shirts and pants from the washer and put them on. Ever heard of ironing? What's that?
- Know your tableware: Again, this only applies if you dine in a restaurant where you'll likely to bump into Michelle Yeoh or Siti Nurhaliza. In most table set-ups, the sharp cutleries, aka your forks, are placed on the left side of your plate. The biggest fork is for your main meal, while the smallest is for your desserts or salad. Meanwhile, on your right side you'll often find your dinner knife placed along with the spoons. You should be able to distinguish between the soup spoon and tea spoon, the former has a rounder shape to it, and the latter will be the smallest spoon on your table. Sometimes, you'll also find a smaller knife that is used for cutting bread and spreading butter or jam.
The way these cutleries are placed and arranged depend on the way your foods are served. So you'll find the salad fork and soup spoon placed the farthest from your plate, as these are served first. So just work your way in, or towards the plate. If you're right-handed, like most people are, you hold the fork in your left hand and the knife in your right hand. And oh, before I forget, you place that napkin on your lap when you're eating, and on the table to your left side or on your chair when you have to excuse yourself from the table. You place it on your plate when you're done eating.
- What's on the menu?: It is also a good idea to ask the waitperson/chef on the house specials or hot favourites, especially if you don't knowwhat to eat. When you come across a dish you're not familiar with, always ask for clarification. This is often the case when you're dining in a country-specific restaurants, like an Italian or Jordanian restaurant, and you don't understand the language. It beats blindly ordering a dish only to regret it later when it turns out to be something you don't like. Those waitpersons, they are not there just to bring your foods or clear your tables, but they serve as your food guides as well. So feel free to fully utilise them! After all, that's what you pay service tax for. That dish in those lovely-sounding French words may sound tempting when read off the menu, but without knowing what they actually mean, it could turn out to be a glass of plain water with ice. And by all means, do not resort to using sign language or body gestures to convey what you want, because they're not retarded. Not everyone knows that you want chicken wings when you flap your arms and squawks...
- Compliment the chefs : .....if the foods are really good. On the other hand, if the foods are bad, just eat quietly and then blog about it..hahahaha..
- To tip or not to tip....: If you enjoy the great service they provide, or if you like the friendly, smiling, and ever-patient face of the waitperson, do leave a tip for them. Or if they're really gorgeous, tip them too. Bottom line: There're a lot of reasons why you should tip, but only one reason why you shouldn't. And how much to tip? Well, there's no proper tipping range, but I'll say anything between RM 1 and RM 5 is reasonable. Also, did you know that the proper to say thank you to the waitperson when he/she is serving your food or refilling your drink is to place one of your hands next to the plate or glass, and gently tap the table twice using your index and middle fingers?
(To be continued.....)
Of course, you don't have to go all out with these etiquette and practise them to the T either. Or people will probably think you're a houlier-than-thou, uptight, pretentious little prick. Hmm..it's truly a fine line to walk.
Well, fear not food-lovers, for help is at hand with this handy guide to the do's and don'ts of eating out. And by no means that these tips are original or comprehensive. You can probably find all of these, or better tips, easily through Googling. But let me save you the time and hassle, so you can read all about them in one article.
For the first part of this article, I'll focus on the DO'S
Do's:
-Know your audience: when eating out with friends or other people, always make sure that the venue you choose is acceptable to everyone. Some people are vegans, while some can't take certain foods because of their cultural or religious practices. And then there're people who are allergic to certain types of foods. It pays to double check on this before deciding on where to eat. Also, when eating out with a bunch of seniors, choosing to go to Burger King is probably not such a swell idea. You don't want to see them pop their dentures when chewing the burger halfway. As well, some people may not like certain type of food, like for me personally, I don't like seafood or certain Japanese foods like sushi. So, checking on your dining mates' preferences before hand will SAVE you lots of headache.
- Be punctual: Because nothing spoils the appetite than waiting for late-comers. You're not fashionably late, you're just late. AND unless you're out there saving the world or making babies, always make sure yo arrive a bit earlier if not promptly. And the 'better late than never' excuse only applies if you're a celebrity or a VIP. We should make a new rule that whoever arrive the latest will have to foot the bills. Oooh, that will scare a lot of people into being punctual.
- Dress for the occasion: This mostly applies when you're dining in a 'proper' restaurant where they have a dress code. There's a distinct difference between casual wear and formal wear. A good way to remember it is this: casual is hat you usually wear when meeting up with friends, while formal is what you wear when attending weddings or going out with your boss. I think for most women this shouldn't be a problem, but for some men, it could be a HUGE problem . Also, I have to say for the ladies, try not to wear something so slutty that you'll have all the slimy uncles in the restaurant salivating over your half-exposed bosoms. As for the guys, just be more aware of your self-hygiene and try to look more presentable. Just take a good look in the mirror and sniff your armpits...that'll be a good start. I know some men who treat their washing machines like their closets: After washing their clothes, they just pull out random clean shirts and pants from the washer and put them on. Ever heard of ironing? What's that?
- Know your tableware: Again, this only applies if you dine in a restaurant where you'll likely to bump into Michelle Yeoh or Siti Nurhaliza. In most table set-ups, the sharp cutleries, aka your forks, are placed on the left side of your plate. The biggest fork is for your main meal, while the smallest is for your desserts or salad. Meanwhile, on your right side you'll often find your dinner knife placed along with the spoons. You should be able to distinguish between the soup spoon and tea spoon, the former has a rounder shape to it, and the latter will be the smallest spoon on your table. Sometimes, you'll also find a smaller knife that is used for cutting bread and spreading butter or jam.
The way these cutleries are placed and arranged depend on the way your foods are served. So you'll find the salad fork and soup spoon placed the farthest from your plate, as these are served first. So just work your way in, or towards the plate. If you're right-handed, like most people are, you hold the fork in your left hand and the knife in your right hand. And oh, before I forget, you place that napkin on your lap when you're eating, and on the table to your left side or on your chair when you have to excuse yourself from the table. You place it on your plate when you're done eating.
- What's on the menu?: It is also a good idea to ask the waitperson/chef on the house specials or hot favourites, especially if you don't knowwhat to eat. When you come across a dish you're not familiar with, always ask for clarification. This is often the case when you're dining in a country-specific restaurants, like an Italian or Jordanian restaurant, and you don't understand the language. It beats blindly ordering a dish only to regret it later when it turns out to be something you don't like. Those waitpersons, they are not there just to bring your foods or clear your tables, but they serve as your food guides as well. So feel free to fully utilise them! After all, that's what you pay service tax for. That dish in those lovely-sounding French words may sound tempting when read off the menu, but without knowing what they actually mean, it could turn out to be a glass of plain water with ice. And by all means, do not resort to using sign language or body gestures to convey what you want, because they're not retarded. Not everyone knows that you want chicken wings when you flap your arms and squawks...
- Compliment the chefs : .....if the foods are really good. On the other hand, if the foods are bad, just eat quietly and then blog about it..hahahaha..
- To tip or not to tip....: If you enjoy the great service they provide, or if you like the friendly, smiling, and ever-patient face of the waitperson, do leave a tip for them. Or if they're really gorgeous, tip them too. Bottom line: There're a lot of reasons why you should tip, but only one reason why you shouldn't. And how much to tip? Well, there's no proper tipping range, but I'll say anything between RM 1 and RM 5 is reasonable. Also, did you know that the proper to say thank you to the waitperson when he/she is serving your food or refilling your drink is to place one of your hands next to the plate or glass, and gently tap the table twice using your index and middle fingers?
(To be continued.....)
From the world of Pandora, to the arena of DOME (Durian-flavored ice, anyone?)
Do you agree people, when I say that good movie and good food go together like good wine and meat? It's a real treat when it happens..Nothing beats the visceral combination of visual feast for the eyes topped by a sumptuous feast to titillate your taste buds. That's what I had one fine Saturday in Suria KLCC mall during an outing with a good friend of mine. First thing on the agenda for the day is a 3D journey into the world of Pandora, where all the Na'vi lives in perfect harmony, that is, until those meddling humans come in with gun fires ablaze, squandering all things in sight. Yes, AVATAR is an "awesome movie", to quote the Americans. And if you haven't seen it, run, don't walk, to the cinema before it's too late. It's a moving tale of.....err..what's that?....what? ......This is not a movie review blog you say? Really?? .. Right, right, right. Sorry, I tend to get carried away sometimes.
Anyway, before making our ways into the cineplex, we managed to settle down and quench our thirsts with Malaysia's favourite desserts, ABC! If you're familiar at all (and why shouldn't you?) with the layouts of the mall, just take the escalators to the food court located right below the cineplex and the ABC stall is slightly to the left when you come up the floor. Really, you can't miss it...They have rows and rows of fresh fruits adorning their display cases.
Anyway, I was delighted to find a durian-flavoured ABC on the menu, and of course, since I'm such a queen for the king of fruit, I HAVE to have it.
It does have an authentic Durian taste to it, but too bad, it only serves as a topping. When you finish that, you are left with just an ordinary bowl of ABC. Still, I love it!
My friend, on the other hand, decided on err...what is it again? Lychee ABC?
That piece of chicken is HUGEEE!!!! It looks just like an ordinary plate of nasi lemak, but the taste is great, I have to say. And, surprise, surprise, even I couldn't finish it. Price is at RM 19.50. A bit steep..yeah..
My friend ordered the grilled chicken in creamy sauce, which is priced at RM 23.00.
Anyway, before making our ways into the cineplex, we managed to settle down and quench our thirsts with Malaysia's favourite desserts, ABC! If you're familiar at all (and why shouldn't you?) with the layouts of the mall, just take the escalators to the food court located right below the cineplex and the ABC stall is slightly to the left when you come up the floor. Really, you can't miss it...They have rows and rows of fresh fruits adorning their display cases.
Anyway, I was delighted to find a durian-flavoured ABC on the menu, and of course, since I'm such a queen for the king of fruit, I HAVE to have it.
My friend, on the other hand, decided on err...what is it again? Lychee ABC?
(THREE HOURS AND 45 MINUTES LATER....)
After the movie, we were scouring the whole mall looking for a good place to eat. As both of us are tech-savvy people with laptops, we want to find a place with wifi so we can surf the net while our tongue surf the plates...You'd be surprised how very, very few restaurants in the mall, supposedly the most visited mall in the country attracting tourists from all over the world, that have Wifi. It's atrocious really.
At long last, we found ta place with Wifi. Tt's DOME, one of those places where most of us walk pass by but never ever really has any intention of going in. It just doesn't have that 'welcoming' vibe to it, in my humble opinion. Plus, we are doubtful the place will have any decent things to eat. Boy, we couldn't be more wrong...
Perhaps it's the weekend, but the place was jam-packed with people. We were lucky, I guess, to find available seats at all. I ordered the nasi lemak chicken special, which according to the menu, is a house specialty.
That piece of chicken is HUGEEE!!!! It looks just like an ordinary plate of nasi lemak, but the taste is great, I have to say. And, surprise, surprise, even I couldn't finish it. Price is at RM 19.50. A bit steep..yeah..
My friend ordered the grilled chicken in creamy sauce, which is priced at RM 23.00.
It looks, errr, a bit uninteresting...and dry. And, judging by the non-reaction from my friend, I guess it is not so good. She did gave me a chunk to try, but since I couldn't remember how i tasted like, I just deduced from that memory lapse as to mean that the dish is mediocre at best. Ever heard of vegetables, people? Geez, would it hurt them to throw in a handful of broccolis to go down with those meat?
We also ordered the potato wedges (RM 8.50) as a side dish.
It tastes quite good actually, slightly better than the wedges you can get from KFC. And no, that's not a backhanded compliment, in case you're wondering...
Also, they have a beverage called ESPRESKI. I don't know why they call it that, but it's not very tongue-friendly....Even after looking at the name a few times, I still couldn't remember it afterwards. Is it Expressti? Kepresski? Espreksi? Espreseksi?
Despite its terrible-sounding tongue-twisting name, the drink is actually very very nice. I ordered the Choc-a-Bloc version, priced at R 17.50, while my friend settled for the Honeycomb Goldrush version, priced at RM 16.50. The chocolate-coffee concoction is topped with good chunks of the aforementioned chocolate biscuits, and my oh my....my tongue was dancing with joy at every sip. It's so rich and sinfully good, I know I'm coming back very soon just so I can have one again (and again..and again...). I believed someone from an obscure site summed up the drink perfectly : Crap Name, Awesome Drink. Hey, maybe that's what they should name the drink. Easier to remember than Esprek..errr..what is it called again?
So, DOME is actually not bad at all. You discover new things all the time. I love the ambience, it has a feel of a crowded, smoky little French cafe during a sunny Sunday evening in Paris with the clankety-clanking noises of plates and forks and the excited buzz in the atmosphere as people sit and gossip over good coffee and meals.....err...not that I know what would that be like as I've never been there...but imagine it, people, just imagine ok.
Good eating and happy burping, everyone.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
It's Raining Mien at Rain Nudle House, Pavilion KL
Hmm..choices, choices, choices. Sometimes, having more choices isn't necessarily a good thing. It tends to lead to bad decision. Choosing what to eat for lunch is an everyday battle for me (I know, I'm too privileged). But only it's because I have a very discerning palette (although some people say I'm very choosy). Once again, my fellow food blogger Ash and I made the choice to visit to the Rain Nudle House at the Pavillion mall to see what they are offering for lunch....
I'm not sure why they used the word '"Nudle"....is there a special meaning behind it? Or are they just wanting to sound cool? We will never know, nor care...
There are four set lunches that we can choose from. Ash chose Set 2 of the lunch deal, while I chose set 1, each priced at RM 17.90.
In my humble opinion, Rain Nudle House has to really improve on their food quality as they are facing stiff competition from better eateries like Little Ben and Pepper Lunch. Personally, I won't return here unless they come out with 'better-than-average' fares. And they prices? Way too high, considering what they are offering!!
I'm not sure why they used the word '"Nudle"....is there a special meaning behind it? Or are they just wanting to sound cool? We will never know, nor care...
There are four set lunches that we can choose from. Ash chose Set 2 of the lunch deal, while I chose set 1, each priced at RM 17.90.
Mine is the Beef Nudle Soup that is served in a big bowl that reminds me of a potty training pot used for babies. I have to say that I am disappointed by it. The soup taste OK, but the noodle and the beef balls are a complete let down. IT tasted like something I can cook at home, and I am a pretty bad cook. And why do they have to put in so much taugehs? Those things are tasteless!!! So, you got a bowl of noodle that are no better than the taste of instant noodles you can make yourself...
Each set lunch also comes with a drink, in this case, we had iced lemon tea, as well as a side dish of either fish cakes or spring rolls. They are as generic as they come...bleurghhhh!!!!
In my humble opinion, Rain Nudle House has to really improve on their food quality as they are facing stiff competition from better eateries like Little Ben and Pepper Lunch. Personally, I won't return here unless they come out with 'better-than-average' fares. And they prices? Way too high, considering what they are offering!!
Seeing Red at Pancake House, Pavillion KL
Sometime ago, me and my fellow food blogger-cum-colleague, Ash (I hope you don't mind me calling you this, I just think it's a cool-sounding moniker :)), had lunch at the Pancake House International, Pavilion KL. It's a chic-looking place with a RED HOT theme. According to Ash, restaurants tend to use red as their main interior color because it's supposed to inspire hunger. I don't know if this is true, but it sure worked that time. It's a red overdose, really...
As for me, a good restaurant is not just about the food, but the ambience plays an important role as well. And that's why, most of the reviews I posted feature equal number of interior shots and food pictures. Of course, there are some instances where this rule don't apply, such as when you are having a meal at a mamak stall or other roadside stalls where dusts, smoke and all sort of pollutants form part of your meals.
I ordered the House Specials Set, at RM 15.00, which is a mixed plate of taco, fried chicken, spaghetti and toast. An odd combination, for sure, but nonetheless, very satisfying. The taco is the best dish here, as it taste really fresh. The spaghetti comes in second, while the chicken is a bit too oily to be enjoyed. Some people even claimed that the dirtiest foods are usually the tastiest too. Well, that may be the case, but personally, I'm MORE THAN WILLING to sacrifice taste for cleaner eats.
The lunch sets are hugely satisfying, though they are just a tad too pricey, if you ask me. Maybe that explains why we are the only two people in there, because you have to fork out a lot of RED ringgits for the bill (Bad jokes, I know...)
Me, doing my best food reviewer's pose.
Go RED!
As for me, a good restaurant is not just about the food, but the ambience plays an important role as well. And that's why, most of the reviews I posted feature equal number of interior shots and food pictures. Of course, there are some instances where this rule don't apply, such as when you are having a meal at a mamak stall or other roadside stalls where dusts, smoke and all sort of pollutants form part of your meals.
Meanwhile, Ash ordered the Roast Beef Special set, also priced at RM 15.00. It comes with rice and generous amount of greens. Looks DEEELICIOUS to me....And judging by her face, it must be really good..
The lunch sets are hugely satisfying, though they are just a tad too pricey, if you ask me. Maybe that explains why we are the only two people in there, because you have to fork out a lot of RED ringgits for the bill (Bad jokes, I know...)
Me, doing my best food reviewer's pose.
Go RED!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Central Market's Malay Tea House, Jom minum!
Malaysians are a spoilt lot when it comes to food...there are so many types of foods you can pick no matter where you are or what your preferences. Having said that, mamak stalls remain one of our favourite hangouts for cheap foods and good times. For the coffee lovers, there's Starbucks, Coffee Beans and San Francisco Coffee. For the Chinese traditionalists, thee's the ubiquitous kopitiam to whet your appetite. And now, you can add Malay tea house to the list of places where tea enthusiasts can gather and have a good cuppa. Located inside Central Market is the aptly named MALAY TEA HOUSE on the ground floor that offers a much-needed respite for those who yearns for a good cup of tea. However, don't expect to find Earl Grey or oolong tea here, because this teahouse specialises in local Malay and herbal teas like Emas Cotek, pegaga, Daun Misai Kucing, Daun Hempedu Bumi and Daun Limau Purut, to name a few, which are said to have various healing properties.
The place is has a very distinctive 'kampung' feel to it, with wooden doors, chairs and table, and even ceiling lamps that are made to look like 'pelita'.
There's one section where you can see rows and rows of herbal teas for sale. But the highlight for me is the two huge tables in the central area, which have glass tops, and underneath them, you can see compartments of different types of spices that can be found locally.
There's one menu just for the herbal teas on offer, and another one for meals. The foods offered here are standard 'kampung' fares like nasi lemak, nasi goreng, nasi kampung gulai ikan, nasi ayam, ayam rendang, as well as other local faves like mee rebus Perak, Laksa Penang, Rot Jala and Bihun Singapura.
On top of that, they also offer specialties like Nasi Goreng Herba, Nasi Ayam Rempah and Ketupat & Rendang Tok, where spices and herbs are used in the preparations.
The obligatory pictures of me and my colleague, Ash, posing before our meals arrived.
I ordered the Nasi Ayam Rempah (RM 7.90) with a glass of iced ginger tea (RM 6.00). I picked the ginger tea because I was still recovering from cold and ginger would be good for me, or so my friend said.
The herbal flavour is a bit too subtle for my taste, as I am so used to the strong herbal concoctions that are present in Chinese dishes. Otherwise, this is a light meal that is very easy on the tastebuds.
My colleague had the Nasi Lemak Ayam (RM 7.90) with pegaga tea (RM 6.00), which she loved, and I have to say, looks more delicious than mine. Prices here are pretty standard, for teas it's RM 6.00 each, and for meals it's between RM 6.00 and RM 10.00.
SO, the next time you are in Central Market, and you want to sip some fine herbal teas in a quaint, soothing environment that takes you back to the good old kampung days, hop over to the Malay Tea House.
Jom minum teh herba!
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