Food Explorer & Home Chef
One of those days, we dropped by Cafe Chef Wan TTDI and found the quality of food indeed deserving of his high accolades. The menu is a gastronomic compilation of his travels worldwide, featuring international and traditional Malaysian favs. We had Cucur Udang (RM36) as …
I really like this hidden Korean Resto, @thechois_official in SS2 The Hub which I had my eye on for a while. We could get single portions of favs like beef and seafood jjampong, chicken tangsuyuk and beef doenjang, and prices were more than reasonable. Even …
With a name like Makan Time, you know they get right down to business with their best food forward. The decor evokes nostalgia, and you can’t help but feel you’re having a taste of home. The interior resembles an old-school coffeeshop, and the entrance is partly shielded by lush greenery, giving off kampung vibes, replete with a kiln which the owner Dan Chong himself built.
Specialising in Ipoh fare, the resto’s kai si hor fun (shredded chicken with rice noodle) is well-known, the broth sweet from hours of boiling chicken bones and meat, topped with large fresh bouncy prawns, to be slurped down with slippery silky kway teow. A once a week special, the smooth tender poached chicken completes the excellent ensemble. Daily breakfast here includes staples like nasi lemak, mee Siam, kaya toast, local kopi and an assortment of Nyonya kuih.
Dan who hails from Ipoh, also gave us a taste of beef noodles – robust soup with tender meat – cooked with a myriad of herbs and condiments, giving layers of flavour that you can’t put your finger on and can’t get enough of. Usually not a fan of Asam Laksa outside of Penang, this scored big time – sweet, sour and spicy – generous ingredients, hitting all the right taste notes. Comes with fuchuk as well, not typical but nice addition.
The Nasi Kerabu checks all the boxes and is highly recommended. What’s even more impressive is the authentic Kelantanese Nasi Khao Jam, and if you’re lucky to catch the special, the Myanmarese Biryani. The unique flavours are indescribable and you will hardly find anything like this replicated in town. This alone is worth going all the way there to eat.
Makan Time also features different chicken and rice one dish meals, very generously portioned. The fried chicken and petai sambal rice in particular caught my attention as I loved the sambal! The Hainanese chicken chop is good too, comes in minced chicken patties and house gravy.
I won’t wax lyrical about the cendul which has gone viral. The pandan jelly here is something else, handmade by Dan himself after painstaking research. You cannot leave without having a bowl, it’s really that superb. I’m not a cendul fan but this I will eat.
P/s: they open at 7.30am and by 1.30pm most food will be gone. So go early or be prepared to queue.
Add: Jalan Teknologi 3/9, Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya. hp: 013-323 9366
Tucked away in a corner of Shah Alam, this dish alone was worth my trip to Spiced Pumpkin Cafe. I discovered a Johor-style Lontong Kering Rendang Daging which had cubes of pressed rice cake, tossed with serunding kelapa (grated coconut floss), sambal tumis, peanut sauce, …
Tiger has been on a journey of overcoming the odds since 1932, and the brand believes that much of its success is owed to its loyal fans. This is why the bold lager has brought to life the Tiger Den – dubbed as the home …
I like that Cafe Bistrot David has a casual Parisian vibe about it. Having been around for a few years now, the cafe’s menu is David Chin’s playground to create and experiment with new ingredients and food ideas. Cooking out of passion to please himself, it’s a luxury not many chefs have.
The man behind the iconic Dave’s Deli recently opened Bar X Grill upstairs of the cafe, focusing on food cooked on a Spanish grill. Serving cafe food with a gourmet slant, pies and sandwiches which I’ve had here are out of this world. The stained windows which you see are from the home of the sugar king in Java, century-old terracotta tiles for the stairs, and emotive photographs by well-known photographer SC Shekar adorn the walls.
He’s also launched his Penang outlet, Beach St Bistrot in a heritage building in Penang.
At the last visit, we tried the CBD Original Burrata with tomato, beef cecina, pecorino, parsley butter and basil oil. This unique ensemble had two shards of beef standing tall in the middle of the creamy cheese. Smothered with passata, the saltiness of the beef, sweetness of the cherry tomatoes, combined with all the other elements make this a must-try dish here.
Fat Hokkaido scallops, sea prawns and baby octopus enriched the linguine with Garlic Kombu Butter sauce. Definitely not your average pasta dish, the Italian Mama would be so proud of this exquisite offering.
David jokingly said his Paella with Mixed Seafood from Bar X Grill, was the best in town. And after we’ve had a try, we’re inclined to agree. Stacked with prawns, mussels, clams, baby octopus and scallops, the paella is cooked over hot coals on the grill, and finished in the charcoal oven. The rice had a deep flavour, infused with the juices of the seafood, and each mouthful was a treat that teased the palate with a promise of more good things to come.
Prices may be a little steep but justifiably so as only premium ingredients are used. Service is impeccable and my only regret is that I am limited by my tummy and my wallet.
Add: 135, Jln Aminuddin Baki, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 018-912 0332
Tasty Australia 2023 takes you on a culinary journey showcasing the best of Australian gourmet food and beverages at Isetan KLCC from June 9 to 21. Presented by The Model Cook and Isetan Kuala Lumpur, this is the 10th year and the biggest, most integrated …
Renowned for their fine Chinese cuisine, the Oriental Group of Restaurants is recognised as one of the top Chinese restaurant groups in Malaysia, showcasing exceptional Cantonese cuisine. When it comes to commemorating Chinese festivals, the Group never fails to impress when it’s down to curating …