Dinner at SUMMER GARDEN RESTAURANT & CAFE, Era Square Seremban

Era Square is one of the newer hot spots that Seremban town has to offer. The main area, called Era Walk, is littered with a host of pubs, bars and restaurants that caters to both Asian and Western palettes. One of the outlets, called SUMMER GARDEN, is a restaurant that serves mainly Chinese dishes with a dash of local influence. On a particular evening, I decided to invite one of my long-time friends, Eddie, to have dinner with me at this place. Located at 30, Ground Floor, Jalan Era Baru 3, Era Walk, the restaurant has a nice ambience that is obvious even from the outside.

We both ordered the Coconut as our drinks, as the tropical fruit is an excellent thirst-quencher. Price is at RM 4.80 each.

For the main meal, Eddie ordered the Fried Kueytiow with egg (RM 6.50), which comes in big portion, but a bit plain for my liking...

As for myself, I ordered the Assam Fish with Rice, which never came. Their excuse? The waitperson told me this - "Sorry ya mister, we're really busy la this evening." I see. So what he's basically saying is they're too busy serving other people, everyone but me?

We ordered two other dishes, the Thai styled Tauhu (RM 6.00) and Kangkung Masak Belacan (RM 9.00), a personal favourite of mine.

One other thing that I would like to bring up here is, they served all of our foods lukewarm. It kinda spoils the taste and the enjoyment of the foods...

Bad and slow service aside, I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. That's because I would like to come back in the near future just to see if there's any improvement. I hope they do improve, or else, they shall feel the full wrath of my proverbial poison pen. And when that happens, it will no longer be summer in their garden. it will be a cold, cold winter of discontent!

Enjoying brunch at Kenny Rogers Roasters, Seremban Parade

CNY day 3.....my sis and I went for another shopping spree at Seremban Parade, one of the more laid-back shopping malls that you can find in the sleepy town of Seremban. For brunch, we decided to visit Kenny Rogers Roasters, simply because it's been a long while since either of us have been to one of their outlets. This KRR restaurant is located next to the main entrance of the mall, with both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned areas catering to different needs.

When you talk about KRR, you can't miss out their legendary muffins. I just love their banana muffins! They should open another chain just for selling muffins. Chocolate muffins, vanilla muffins, coffee muffins, nut muffins, durian muffins.....mmmm..

For drinks, both of us ordered the ice blended mocha...which is goood!!

There's really nothing to talk about KRR's main offering, the quarter chicken meal. It comes with the usual three side dishes...BORINNGGG! It's about damn time that the chain revamp its menu. You hear me, Kenny?

That's not a happy face. On the plus side, the chicken is huge, unlike the meagre portion the KRR restaurant in KLCC Convention Centre dish out. (That's right, I'm calling you guys out!)

As for me, I decided to try out something new...(new for me that is)...their Tangy Chicken Spaghetti. It is better than what I expected, and my expectations are quite low..so go figure. The menu described the meal as having a hint of spiciness, and for me, that's the only saving grace for it. Otherwise, I would have chuck this into my expanding Compendium of Bland Foods. 


Kenny Rogers just got ROASTED!

Enjoying CNY dinner at.... The House of Bento!!!!

CNY day 2...me and my sis went for a late shopping spree in Suria KLCC before settling for dinner at the top-level food court, called Medan Selera Food Arena, where we discover.....THE HOUSE OF BENTO!!!!!!!! HOIITTTTT!!! MUSHI MUSHI!!!

For the uninformed, Bento is a Japanese art of lunch preparation, where you cook and arrange your meals in often colourful and creative way. The lunchbox used are rectangular, with compartments of different sizes to accommodate different dishes. Trust the Japs to turn something so mundane into an art form. 

I ordered one of their specials sets, the Teriyaki Chicken Rice, which is priced at a promotional rate of RM 10.90. The chicken is nicely done, and the rice quite fragrant. Really, I have no complaints here.

My sis ordered the Kare Katsu Don, the curry chicken rice bowl, priced at RM 11.90, as well as a bowl of miso soup (RM 2.80) and Chawanmushi soup (RM 3.00). She's just nuts about soups!

On top of that, we also ordered the Idako (RM 9.00), a plate of seasoned baby octopuses. I kinda like it, but it's served cold, which don't sit well with me.

If you're a fan of Japanese foods, and especially like their Bentos, this is a place you must check out. It's good food at affordable range. Overall, we did have a good dinner at...... THE HOUSE OF BENTO!!!!!HOITTTTT! ARIGATO GOZAIMASU!!!

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR 2010!!! ROAR!! ROARRR!!!

Just would like to take this opportunity to say Happy CNY to everyone...Hope you all have a roaring good year ahead in the year of the Tiger. It's time to show off your stripes and earn your keeps.

GONG XI, GONG XI

PEACE TO ALL!!!

Your GoodEater,

Calvin F

Enjoying CNY breakfast at Old Town Kopitiam (ERA Square, Seremban)

I think most, if not all of us, have been to Old Town Kopitiam, a chain of Asian fast food outlets that serves  foods and beverages of the 'good ol' days'. It's a place where most of our parents can sit and reminisce about how in their good ol' days, they have time-tested goodies like white coffee, toasts, boiled eggs served with kicap, porridge and whatnots, in bustling good ol' coffee shops frequented by mothers who just came back from the wet markets, and old men who are chess aficionados  and keep birds in wooden cages.  Ahhh..the good ol' days indeed...too bad I wasn't born yet.
This Chinese New Year (the year of the Roraring Tiger 2010), my sis and I decided to have our breakfast at Old Town Kopitiam, just for old time's sake.

Sipping coffee from old-fashioned cups like these really do make one feels like travelling back in time. I could almost taste the air of 1950s....

For starter, I ordered the white coffee and toast with peanut butter...Ahh..the perfect breakfast, IMHO.

For more filling breakfast, we both ordered their Nasi Lemak Special.

Call me old-fashioned, but I still like my nasi lemak served on banana leaf. The fragrance of the leaf usually adds to the experience of enjoying my nasi lemak. Sigh, how I yearn for the good ol' days when banana leafs are aplenty...

Old favourites at OLD ASIA

Located on the first floor of MENARA THE WELD in KL is a little spot called OLD ASIA that serves Asian fusion foods that are both tasty and pocket-friendly. It's a place where I visit quite frequently, whether on my own or with friends. 

This time around, I ordered one of the specials, Sliced Beef cooked with black beans, served with rice (RM 12.90). The meal also comes with a free drink, Iced Lemon Tea. It tastes a bit too 'home-cooked' to me (read: bland). It's not too bad though, if you have a softer palette. I think, as a dinner set, it is just nice.

My friend, Ash, went for the Seafood Platter (RM 15.90), a sumptuous plate of oceanic delights (err...does that sound right?)

I think the picture speaks for itself.....

For further indulgence, my friend also ordered the Mixed Cendol (RM 3.90), another mouth-watering delight (oK, Ok, this is the last time I'll ever use that word).

OLD ASIA is a nice, quiet and comfy place to have dinner with a small group of friends. They also have a balcony for those who smoke or just want to dine while watching the mesmerizing KL traffic. I definitely recommend this place to everyone. What we sampled today is but just a small portion of what they have to offer. I will post more reviews of their menu offerings later on. So, stay tuned, folks.

Madam Kwan's Restaurant Beckons

Madam Kwan's Restaurant has earned itself a quite good reputation amongst Kl-ites. It's a place to go to if you're craving truly Malaysian foods like nasi lemak, chicken rice and char kuey tiao. If you stumble upon their Suria KLCC outlet on any given day, chances are good there'll be a decent line of eager customers waiting to get in. The one that Ash and I went o this time is located in Pavillion KL, which, fortunately, is not as packed as the other outlets.

The place is really cosy, with light charcoal hue being used as the main colour palette to help invoke a calming sensation, strategic and comfortable table arrangement that creates the illusion of a spacious area, as well as harmonious implementation of a rocky stream that surround the outer perimeter that further lend a relaxing mood to the ambience....Yes, I read a book on Feng Shui, and I'm not afraid to give my 20-sen worth..Lillian Too, you better watch out!

I ordered their Char Kuey Tiow (RM 15.40), which is also a house favourite. The portion is generous, the taste...satisfying. 

Meanwhile, Ash ordered their Nasi Lemak (RM 14.90), also a popular dish amongst its patrons.

For drinks, I ordered the Ice Campur (RM 6.80), which is so good that Ash couldn't resist 'stealing' some...As for me, I think it's a bit too plain...

For herself, she had the teh tarik (RM 5.60). Sh said the only time she order the drink is when she eats at Madam Kwan's. I'll take her words for it.

I wonder if the 'mug' on the mug is Madam Kwan herself....I think I heard of a place in Paris that is also called Madam Kwan, but instead of food, it specialises on something of a ......errr...more 'exotic' nature, if you get my drift. But that's another story for another blog.

This is a nice place, if you do not mind forking out a bit more for staple Malaysian foods that you can get cheaper elsewhere. Well, you pay for the ambience, I guess. I will suggest coming here once in a while when you can splurge a bit.