ION Orchard

I am in Singapore this week!

Orchard Road.. shopping mecca.. and now, ION Orchard:)

The first shop ever on Orchard Road was TANGS founded in 1934 and established on Orchard Road in the 1950s.

Orchard Road is flanked by pedestrian malls. The latest addition, ION Orchard has the distinction of also being a future residential area and has a fantastic, modern facade.

I really like this place - it looks sleek, cool and calculated. A true Ice Maiden.

All the my favourite shops under one roof, i.e. over 300 retail, F&B and entertainment stores, which includes luxury brands, international brands and popular high street fashion and lifestyle stores all housed in funky, innovative retailing concept stores. Paradise!

ION Orchard photos from here .

Yea, I was prepared to shop till I dropped... but first, lunch!

The Nautilus Project - Contemporary Pan Asian cuizine, specializing in seafood. Many of the dishes are influenced by the Mediterranean, Californian and South East Asian cuizine. If you click on the link, you will read that this place is owned by an Indonesian, conceived by a Swede and branded by a Brit. How exotic. The restaurant is operated by the Prime Society group which also operates a steak house restaurant at Dempsey.

Anyway, the most appealing thing to me on the menu was the fact that this place offers lunch specials such as raw oysters + a glass of prosecco at only SD45. What a steal.
However, since my stomach was tender and empty, I went for the Oceanic Platter instead. Oh, and also, a glass of prosecco, of course.

The total bill set me back by only SD40.00, but I ate till I was stuffed.

The seafood was fresh with crisp, clean flavours. I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch.

Add:
The Nautilus Project - Fishtaurant & Ice Bar,
2 Orchard Turn,
#04-09 ION Orchard

As for the shopping, I didn't have time to photograph a lot because my hands were full (of shopping!) but I will say this.. Custo Barcelona has got to be my favourite shop of the lot.
Custo Barcelona was created by two brothers, Custo (surprise, surprise..) & David Dalmu.

The Californian lifestyle, expressed in the look of surfers living in the southern part of the state is the basis of their creation, evident in their colourful fashion. The use of textures, colour combinations and printed patterns is a common theme - the designs are great.. street-wear that also looks sophisticated.

The outfits look good, wear comfortably and most importantly, do not cost an arm and a leg.

I hope Custo comes to KL soon;)

Finally, I checked out SINS - Singapore's multi-award winning chocolatiers. Apparently SINS is famous for coming up with new ideas in creating unusual tastes in chocolates.

I tried their dark chocolate cookies for a quick snack, in case I got hungry later at the hotel. Crunchy when eaten fresh, and with a rich ambrosial flavour - this later made the perfect midnight snack with milk.

(Oh dear, how will I stay slim on this trip I wonder.. :P)

to be continued..

Hakka Republic

Hakka Republic is KL's newest bar and bistro, located on the 2nd Floor of Menara Hap Seng (the old MUI Plaza) on Jalan P Ramlee.

Their chef has spent 10 years working in a Tokyo restaurant and it really shows in his subtle but creative way in food preparation.

First up, the beef. Served in little dimsum steaming trays, their plump, juicy, glistening bodies were begging to be photographed.. (right, then eaten...)

What can I say. The steamed grade 9 wagyu was exquisite. So light and soft with marbling that it literally disintegrates as it touches your tongue. Dip the wagyu in ponzu sauce and sesame sauce to take the flavour up a notch. This dish is priced at RM120/100g of Grade 9 Wagyu beef. What a start to the night.

Bread, bread, bread. What's there not to like about bread?

Well, Hakka Republic's corn bread and sweet buns are freshly baked and go fantastic with either the salted butter or the olive oil they serve. These buns possess a sweeter taste over normal bread and this goes perfect with the salty edge of the butter.

The next dish along was the Tuna Tartar with Green Tea Cold Soba was priced at only RM25 - was light and refreshing, served to whet your appetite and to really get the dining experience rolling. What is it about little swirls of pasta stacked high with fish and roe that gets my pulse pumping.. not unlike that feeling I get as I look down the running track!

The things that I look for in my mushroom soups are a generous portion of fresh wild mushrooms, a tasty but not overly salty base and finally a creamy finish. This Wild Trio Mushroom Soup with Truffle Oil had all three components. Very nicely done. (RM22 per bowl).

The Ciku Sorbet! Sorbet is served as a dessert or, sometimes, between courses of a meal to refresh the palate. In this case, it was the latter.

I liked the Ciku Sorbet because it was not too sour and did not give my head an immediate 'brain freeze'. I also liked the fact that it imparted a local touch to the meal. The word Asian Fusion comes to mind.

My favourite dish of the night was the Miso Marinated Black Cod. This dish has been my all time favourite mains in Nobu, LA, and at Hakka Republic they really do the dish justice. At RM55, it is worth every penny.

The Slow Braised Black Angus Beef Cheek with Creamy Polenta was my least favourite dish of the lot. It lacked that robust, gamy taste that I've come to lust after/hanker for, in any good Beef Cheek.. know what I mean? :P Anyway, it was OK, but not something I would order again. Texture wise it was above average - wobbly with cartilage and smooth on the palate! This dish was priced at RM52.

Desserts served were the Hakka Republic’s Special Rich Fruit Cake with Brandy Sauce, Sticky Date Pudding, Baileys Infused Croissant and Butter Pudding.

Oh no! Do I have to be a wet blanket again and say that nothing on this platter really excited me all that much? Well, it's just a matter of preference and I don't really like fruit cake or dates or butter pudding etc etc.. give me chocolate cake, pavlova.. any-day I tell ya! Anyway, my dinner companions loved it so all I can say is that for the Fruit Cake lover, this would be a great choice!

What's better than beer on tap?

Well, WINE on tap of course (so says Ciki, the wine drinker). Just looking at the Enomatic Machines, I am in love! (What's better than wine on tap? Well, whisky on tap of course... ahem! is anybody listening out there?!)

Anyway, which ever genius invented this Enigmatic Enomatic machine... , He or She, should get an award! These wonderful wines by the glass keep well for at least 3 weeks.

Magic.

Well, here ends the wonderful dining experience at Hakka Republic. Of special note is that all the portions you see are really tasting portions i.e. smaller than the actual price size. We started off with Champagne, on to the lighter Whites and finally finished with a Full bodied Reds. This is probably why our meal tasted so good as well, because almost each course, had its own complimenting wine.

To re-cap, The Steamed Wagyu was exquisite and the Chef's recommendation of the Black Cod in Miso which was incredibly delicious. Hakka Republic has an outstanding selection of Italian wines and all in all, for what it is, the meal was really affordable.

I would recommended this place to anyone who enjoys good food!

Add:
Hakka Republic,
Lot 2.05, Level 2,
Menara Hap Seng,
Jalan P Ramlee,
50200 KL
Tel: 03-2078 8908

*footnote: Cheers Ryan Khang of My Nourishment and FBB for organizing this amazing dining experience at Hakka Republic!

Kokopelli - bloggers eat, hangout & 'gila'

"If Kokopelli has lured you with his magical flute, it is time to listen to his song.
This song is one of fertility. You are being asked to use your talents to
create fertility in some area of your life. If things have been slow moving,
Kokopelli's song is saying that whatever you intend to plant at this time will
be very productive for you.

Planting seeds for the future takes effort on your part, so now is the
time to use your skill and resources to make use of the magic.
If you have a project to begin or an idea to develop, the timing couldn't be better.
Shift away from any old, limiting ideas and move forward.
The time is now - the power is you !"

(* Kokopelli - prankster, healer, fertility giver and story teller.. Kokopelli has been a source of wonder.. a mythical creature of the American southwest.. for centuries.) - www.indigenouspeople.net/kokopelli.htm

Yes, how true. I feel that year 2009 is indeed the year for change, for taking on new challenges and honing our skills and talents to perfection. Push yourself, reach higher, stretch further, experience in greater depth - keep going until every fibre in your body screams to stop.. and then push just that one inch further.. That which doesn't kill you , makes you stronger! We thank God for family, loved ones and the friends he has blessed us with. We have never eaten so much cake or food in our lives!

As we approach the halfway mark of the year.. want to thank all the people who have been a blessing in our lives. You know who you are la.. ;P

All systems go!

Click below to see our creative fellow Monkey's amazing pix !
A lil' fat monkey



Add:
Kokopelli Travellers Bistro
(across the road from Three Two Square),
4, Section 14/46.
Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel: 03 7956 7505

Delicious at Dua Annexe

Outside, it's raining and wet and I am stuck in a JAM on Jalan Tun Razak. Just my luck.. this evening I have a run, but looks like due to wet weather conditions, that will be cancelled too.

This is bad. I need something to cheer me up.

I pull into Dua Annexe and things start to look a little brighter. I see a friend and decide that my luck is well and truly improving.
I sit down, we chat, we order the Lamb chops -exquisitely succulent with a zingy mint sauce to dull the gamy taste of the meat, the cod fish - light, oceanic and sweet, and by the time we hit desserts, I have forgotten what a lousy, rainy day it has been.

Digging into my pavlova and carrot cake I am totally over my annoyance at the KL jam and am ready to take on the second half of the day again.

See how a nice meal with a kind friend can turn a day around.

I drive off into the jam again and this tune plays on the radio..

"Things can only get better
Can only get, can only get
They get on from here
You know, I know that
Things can only get better

I sometimes lose myself in me
I lose track of time
And I can't see the world's formed trees
You set them alight, burning the bridges as you go
I'm too weak to fight you
I got my personal health to deal with
And you say

Walk my path
Wear my shoes
Talk like me
I'll be an angel and

Things can only get better
Can only get better
Now I've found you
(That means me)
(Will you teach me now)
Things can only get better
Can only get better
Now I've found you - D:ream"

I agree. I totally agree!

Delicious at Dua Annexe,
Ground Floor,
Jalan Tun Razak
Kuala Lumpur
Tel No: 03 - 2166 2066

Eishun ki'anu rifs @ Decanter Too

de·cant·er (d-kntr)

A vessel used for decanting, especially a decorative bottle used for serving wine.

a stoppered bottle into which a drink is poured for serving

ox·tail (äks′tāl′)
noun: the tail of an ox, steer, or cow, esp. when skinned and used in soup/stew.

flash (fl' esh)

v. flashed, flash·ing, flash·es

v.intr.

1. To burst forth into or as if into flame.

2. To give off light or be lighted in sudden or intermittent bursts.

3. To appear or occur suddenly

4. To move or proceed rapidly

spic·y (spai' si)

adj. spic·i·er, spic·i·est

1. Having the flavor, aroma, or quality of spice.

2. Piquant; zesty: a spicy tomato sauce.

3. High-spirited; lively.

4. Slightly scandalous; risqué

hand·some (han' shum)

adj. hand·som·er, hand·som·est

1. Pleasing and dignified in form or appearance.

2. Generous or copious.

3. Appropriate or fitting.

4. Large.

de·li·cious (di-lishus)
adj.

1. Highly pleasing or agreeable to the senses, especially of taste or smell.

2. Very pleasant; delightful.

Asian Keanu Reeves ( ei-shun ki'anu rifs)
1. actor, born September 2 1964 in Beirut, Lebanon, and raised in Canada.
2. Well known for playing Neo in the action film trilogy The Matrix.
3. heart-breaker/hunk.

des·sert (di-zûrt)
1. A usually sweet course or dish, as of fruit, ice cream, or pastry, served at the end of a meal.

sa·ti·ate (say-tee' ated)

tr.v. sa·ti·at·ed, sa·ti·at·ing, sa·ti·ates

1. To meet expectations (an appetite or desire) fully.

2. To satisfy to excess.

Decanter, more famously known for being a pub, is now changing its concept to restaurant. The main improvements they have made (other than having a young, good-looking keanu reeves look-alike manager ahem..) include no smoking indoors till after 10pm(i.e. after dining, so other non smoking customers can enjoy their dinner properly and not leave the place smelling smoky), upgrading their chef and food and revamping their style so that more executives will drop by and have a great chill-out 'makan-spot' for both lunch and dinner.. and finally, the best part is that alongside all these improvements, their prices are really reasonable. So , there you go. Check it out today! For more info, click here.For a map, click here.

*definitions courtesy of thefreedictionarydotcom.

Bookfest !

Our feet are killing us! After walking all day at the KLCC convention centre, at the Bookfest.. we were ZONKED out!


Not only that.. ravenous!


No time to lose! Onward to Madam Kwan.. at least we won't have to wait there as they are renown for their fast service and YUMMIE food!


Yikes! We were wrong.. at 9.00pm it was still packed to the rafters...


My all time favourite !! The fried chicken at Madam Kwan's is to die for... I must have this everytime I am here..


Spicy curry laksa.. apparently the noodle texture was disappointing (hard) but the soup was good...

The Ipoh sar hor fun.., MINUS the hor-fun... so it was just beehoon, as they had run out. This affected the bowl of noodles... not as tasty to be sure.

Nasi Bojari!!! I find this the best dish of the LOT. It's still good, after all these years.. and it helps that my favourite fried chicken is part of the dish!

On to Chinoz on the Park for dessert because it is now 10.30 pm.. and there aren't many places left open in KLCC...
The chocolate cake is OOZY, WOOZY with chocolate... comments my friend happily.

The blueberry cheese cake was tangy, sour and sweet .. with a great creamy base... GOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!




Time to go... if I can lift the huge-ass bag of books next to me and make it to the car.. I will be a happy gal indeed... :)

Roppongi ,Asian Fusion in La jolla

I heard so much about Roppongi at La jolla!

I just had to eat there.

Imagine my delight when I found out that it was happy hour at Roppongi!

Roppongi is an Asian fusion restaurant in the heart of La Jolla Village. They offer food specials only with 50% off of their appetizers (tapas) menu and 50% off of sushi rolls. Appetizers run anywhere from $10 for chicken satay or egg rolls to $17 for seared ahi or mini lamb chops. Sushi rolls are $8 for a standard California roll and $16 for a rainbow roll. It can get a little touristy and crowded.. so... eat early !

We had the steak on hot stone...

very hot stone..!

grilled protabella mushroom with spinach...

the Mongolian shredded duck quesadilla with spicy Asian guacamole...

many, many rolls...

(did i mention , many rolls ?)


and... the famous spicy Kung Pao Calamari steaks with Hazelnuts... !
To tell you the truth , the hazelnuts were soggy... but the calamari steaks were out of this world!

We will be back !

Food : 7/10
Price : very affordable because of the happy hour
Service : Poor (slow) - must be because of happy hour


Next stop.... junk/fast food and coffee in San Diego..!