Just FORK it!

Served From Abroad

2009-10-15T11:12:00.059+08:00

Kangaroos and koalas make people think of only ONE thing

(or place for that matter)...

DOWNUNDER AUSTRALIA!!

My recent trip to MELBOURNE proved to be more than just the animals! They have a variety of excellent food!

Because I love both COFFEE and CHOCOLATE so much;

I will start with exactly just that! =)

MAX BRENNER;

is a chain store all around Melbourne town that has earned its popularity by the fine chocolates they have to offer. All the way from Venezuela; the most popular hot chocolate sold there are served in a hug-mug shaped like a teardrop that fits perfectly into cupped palms for a cold day.

Yes! It IS that deliciously creamy!

And the variety of chocolate indulgence may look like the usual, but they sure don't taste like the usual!

Belgium Waffles with Milk Chocolate drizzled all over it served with bananas, strawberries and a scoop of creamy vanilla (or coconut) ice cream. Banana cake, marshmallow, fresh bananas and strawberries served fondue style with two types of chocolate! Dark chocolate for those who enjoy the slight bitter-sweet flavour and Milk chocolate for those who prefer the typical rich creamy sweet chocolate.

And not forgetting. "The Bald Man" (on the napkin!) This infamous logo of the man who started it all! A contented look, plastered over my sister's face.

Melbourne's famous CROWN CASION looks pretty much like just another building in the city with bright sparkly lights. If you walk round the building, however you will find that along the river, there are rows of restaurants, cafes and hang out spots. All worth a try; but this caught my attention as I waltzed pass. This place is called Gerco...pronounced Grek-co.

Nose pressed up the glass window, peering into the shop's counter, I decided that I HAD to try some!

and so I asked for a slice of chocolate cake...and I got a HUGE-a** slice! Whipped cream and all!

Two attacked one slice...and some was still left!

It was very rich and G-O-O-D!

And what harm is it that the scenery is a bonus and plus!

ST. KILDA BEACH

Row and rows of window display, showing racks after racks of MORE sweet cakes and delicious treats.

But we didn't head to St. Kilda for more sweets. This time its for fresh seafood, cooked in front of you at your request.

Looking at the variety to choose from, the decision was made; SCALLOPS it was! Pan fried with fresh salad. Abit pricey , but the SIZE and the freshness! AWESOME and worth every penny spent.

And then, THE ULTIMATE!

Fresh Oysters!!!

Half a dozen wasn't enough, and we went back for more!

GRILL ON THE HILL

The Best Steakhouse in Melbourne!

That is an expression of pure content on my face! Why?

THIS! This is no ordinary sausage! This is top class duck sausage! Even if hot dogs aren't your thing; this you will surely love! Utter bliss!

This steak may look plain. But mind you, it is juicy as a juicy steak can be. Done perfectly as requested (medium-rare)..bloody and tender! All 300 grams of it. Although it cost a bomb, every bite is worth the dollars and cents!

"I'm so full but my wallet is so empty now!"

Prices that make a hole in the pocket for a meal usually make you think twice about going back. This place however has me craving to go back; ignoring the hefty price tag!

MARCADANTE

Along Lygon Street, one may find that it seems almost impossible to choose and pick from the many choices of restaurants available. Ranging from Italian to Greek, Thai to Indonesian. Marcadante, however, is a gem among the varieties available. This is simply because of the quality of the food and its authenticity.

That is one happy baby! He was as excited as we were when our food arrived.

Seafood Paella served with Seasonal Vegetables.

Rich and creamy like any Paella dish should be!

My sister had a heaping serving of Calamari Rings served on a bed of fresh Salad. The sauce that came with it was especially delicious, not the regular sauce that's usually served along with seafood.

And what I absolutely LOVE about Melbourne is; wherever I go,
I always (I mean always!) get a fantastic Caesar Salad. And that is what I got here too =)

Steak with Mushroom Sauce and Seasonal Vegetables. Looks pretty average; but trust me, flavour wise; it is anything but average! It is BEYOND!

CHOCOLATE BUDDHA

Right in the middle Federation Square there are several hang out spots which serve good food. Chocolate Buddha is just one of them. With such a name, one would expect it to serve something more along the lines of chocolate or Chinese-y. However, this place serves up what they call new-age fusion style Japanese cuisine. Interesting yes?!

Miso Soup? Seems like it to me! It was delicious, hot, steamy; exactly what I was looking for on that cold evening! And a bowl of Beef Noodles; something quite unconventional! The broth was superb and the beef was delicately rear and the bean sprouts were crunchy! Perfect!

Gozya =P

Avacado and Chicken Sushi served with preserved ginger slices and a lime wedge? Unconventional, as I said. Something in the combination was utterly mind-blowing! I don't mind having some now as I reminisce the flavour hahaha =D

GARAGE CAFE AND BAR

An Indonesian restaurant, with a very odd/interesting/peculiar concept. Set in a garage (literally), this place doesn't spell romance or expensive, but who cares when the food is GOOD right? And this place is all about good food I'd say!

The Baby is happy again! And sucking his thumb!

He must have spotted this Nasi Ayam in Lemak! The gravy is pure coconut cream (how fattening!). I was apprehensive to try this as it looked plain, but when the gravy touched my lips, an explosion of flavour hit my tongue and I took a 2nd, a 3rd, a 4th and more ..

Ayam Penyet served on a heavy cold stone. The sambal (right in front) is lethal but delicious all the same. Second helping costs too! And then the meal comes with a side dish of other fried delicacies! A whole fried hard-boiled egg, fried tempeh (made of soy), fried firm tofu and more!

NORTH MELBOURNE

I got to be honest here and admit that I forgot the name of this place! But it is worth mentioning, so that if you do happen to be in the area, you could keep an eye open!

This little rustic cafe is tucked neatly away along a row of shop lots. It serves nothing but CREPES!!!

Savory Crepes: choices of Smoked Salmon and Spinach, Sausages, Cheese and many other delicious varieties are offered as the main course. Sweet Crepes; dessert of course! Banana and Chocolate anyone? Or fresh Strawberries and Chocolate? A swirl of ice cream comes with it, buts its never enough; so ask for moreee =P

RIVERSDALE VILLAGE

Cafes line the main roads where the tram lines run along this village. Any cafe you walk into, you'd be able to find a selection of pies, sandwiches, quiches and salads.

And since it was my last day there, we decided to take it a notch down and enjoy some fun in the sun and took a stroll to a nearby cafe and had some grub.

This is my Lamb Wrap; slices of juicy and tender lamb folded neatly in a pita bread with fresh salad and a delicious mix of dressing. And a Vegetable and Cheese Quiche was what my sister had. Served along with a helping of fresh salad.

I looked intensely at my wrap; savoring the beautiful sight as I knew it would be my last meal there for a long time to come!

After stuffing our faces and tummies; and having to head back home (and reality) soon, we took a really slow walk back to my sister's place. It did help that the sun was out and bright! All in all the trip there was fantastic and the food was double the happiness. THIS is probably why so many Malaysian students go to Australia to study and not come back! Malaysia is a food nation, and a food adventure in Melbourne is always something so diverse. Almost a new experience everyday!

And then it was time to say GOODBYE. So there!! I've posted my memories and adventures (especially with food) through their Post, by EXPRESS nonetheless =)

Written by,

Jody Wong

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When you're done drooling over Jody's exclusive photos, let me know.

Because I would very much like to bring you on an Asian trip to another part of Australia known as, BRISBANE!

Let's catch a glimpse of.. Hanaichi (from their very own kitchen)! Seriously.

You can of course know more about this place with accompanying photos of what they serve at their official site but at Just Fork It, nothing beats the REAL DEAL! I personally must thank my dear friend who juggles his studies with his part-time job at this place for his help in reviewing Hanaichi. So without further ado, these were the photos that have travelled from the heart of Brisbane to fill my inbox.

Beef Yakiniku

For the record, Beef Yakiniku is NOT yucky ok? This colourful and tasty dish is mainly made up of tender beef slices cooked with capsicums, bean sprouts and onions. These are all then mixed with some Japanese beef sauce. It comes in a bowl of rice, showered with a layer of beef slices, together with a handful of vegetables and is topped off with the ingredients; sesame seeds, yellow pickles, shallots and coriander leaves. It goes for the price of AU 6.80 for a small bowl and AU 8.30 for a large one. I don't know about you but I'm quite yakin I'm getting hungry just staring at this dish.

Chicken Hanaichi

Chicken Hanaichi is very much like a salad. The juicy pieces of chicken in this dish are first battered before frying. After it has been fried, it is mixed with a delicious sauce known as, "Hana" sauce and placed on top of a layer of rice. A tomato chopped neatly into four slices, along with some tartar sauce, shallots and corriander leaves grace this dish as the finishing touches. The price, depending on the size of bowl you want (and your appetite) is the same as Beef Yakiniku. Overall, a simple and healthy dish to chow down with no regrets.

Chicken Katsudon

This dish has rice covered with fried chicken breasts pieces all over. If you're wondering where the rice and chicken are, look under the egg that has blanketed the surface of the dish. The egg you're looking at was carefully pan fried with Japanese Katsudon sauce before serving on top of the layer of chicken pieces. The price? AU 6.50 for small and AU 8.00 for large. Can you imagine the sweet pieces of chicken melting in your mouth? I know I can =)

Chicken Miso Katsudon

No questions asked on why Chicken Miso Katsudon does not look anything like Chicken Katsudon. The one word that makes the difference between these two dishes happens to also be the source of flavour to this dish -Miso sauce! Chicken Miso Katsudon is a yummy dish that is served rice, salad, chicken pieces and of course, Japanese miso sauce! Lastly, the dish is sprinkled with some sesame seeds and yellow pickles at the side. For a small bowl, it's AU 6.50 and a large one is AU 8.00. In case you didn't realize, the pricing is the same as Chicken Katsudon. A must-try when you're over at Hanaichi!

Teriyaki Chicken

Ah.. a very common dish. There is nothing much to highlight about this dish as it tastes alot like any other ordinary Teriyaki chicken dishes you can find in Japanese restaurants. However, there is nothing wrong about ordering it if you're craving for it. The Teriyaki Chicken comes with huge chunks of Teriyaki chicken and rice. Teriyaki sauce is then added to define the flavour of this dish well and lastly, it is served with yellow pickles, sesame seeds, seaweed and shallots. It costs AU 6.50 for a small one and AU 8.00 for a large one. Again, same price as the previous two dishes! So which will it be for you?

Ramen Noodles

Ramen Noodles are egg noodles that are boiled in hot water and mixed together with a special sauce (that unfortunately, my friend is not told of). It is only cooked by the chef and the staff there has no idea what are the true ingredients to this delightful dish. A layer of pork is then placed on top of the noodles and soup, together with some seaweed and shallots. There is only one size and price for this. That is, AU 6.90. It's best to reveal the secrets to this dish by eating it!

Tempura Udon

For the same price and size as the Ramen Noodles, you might want to try the Tempura Udon. This dish is basically Japanese Udon noodles that are boiled, and served with a big tempura shrimp, seaweed, shallots and fishcakes. Just as good as the Ramen Noodles but with a slight twist to it ;) The sight of it is enough to make me as hungry as a wolf, whatmore with the descriptions!

Although these photos are not of the best quality (The batteries of his camera ran out so he was forced to use his camera phone), this post wouldn't be possible without it. The photos my friend has sent were taken during his work shift and were actual customers' orders before serving them. I hope the variety of dishes Hanaichi offers has managed to tempt your tastebuds (or at least, it has to mine!). Now you know where to drop by if you happen to be in Brisbane, Australia ;)

To Jin Han,
Thank you for taking the time and trouble to snap these photos. Really appreciate it. Hope to see you back in Malaysia soon. Keep in touch! =)

Written by,

Melissa Teh [with the help of Tang Jin Han]

Note: This blog was part of Assignment 2 in the subject Newswriting for Electronic Media (MCD3024) for a Diploma in Mass Communication course at KDU College, Petaling Jaya. Our group has chosen Food as our weblog topic. In terms of the assignment, this will be our last post. It has been a great experience doing this assignment. A debt of gratitude to our lecturer, Ms. Sheila for the wonderful opportunity and all who have participated in our small food discussions.

THANK YOU

The best is yet to come!

Hell's Kitchen

2009-10-13T05:10:00.000+08:00

We bet some of you out there have heard of the show Hell’s Kitchen. It’s a show which is about a man who runs this fancy kitchen, and he has apprentices which compete against each other to keep themselves from being sacked. However, we are not here to talk about the show, but Hell's Kitchen itself.

Once you hear the word hell, what comes to mind is pain, suffering and immense heat. What we have reviewed this week are some choices of the most spiciest food that will for sure let you feel and taste what they serve in 'hell' if they did serve food. So come and join us in the journey, through “Hell’s Kitchen”.

First stop on our journey through “Hell’s Kitchen” is
The Street Cafe "The Best Korean Street Food" @SS15, Subang Jaya

The Street Cafe is located right in the heart of SS15, in the heart of the most busiest street, which is what we call it “The College Street “.

The location of this cafe is very well placed, because students are always in the area. Without fail, it is always packed during any hour of the day!

Furthermore, The Street Cafe offers 20% discount to students! How great is that? They serve good food and it’s cheap! They also have free WI-FI.

The Street Cafe makes its premises very student friendly :) Although we would not recommend eating spicy dishes and typing on your laptop at the same time.

The interior of the place is very nice. It gives a nice gloomy, relaxed feel!

Patrons also can stick notes about anything they want to say, or maybe to even to express themselves to other people.

The Street Cafe is opened on weekdays at 10am until 11pm and weekends from 11am to 11pm. Without further ado, we present to you the first dish in The Street Cafe!

The first dish is called “On Fire”. The name says it all! This dish is for sure a mouth-watering yet mouth-burning dish! The portions are big, and the heat from the dish itself will make you sweat from eating it.

Just look at the color of the noodles! It just makes you want to run away from it, but we assure you that once you take a mouthful, you can never forget the taste or the spiciness of this dish. "On Fire" will leave you wanting for more!

This dish will get the rating of 3/5 for it's spiciness!

The second dish is our personal favourite. Why? Because it is spicy, yet it has a taste of sweetness to it. This dish here is called the "BBQ Spicy Chicken Rice.

This dish just burns your tongue so bad that you will gobble down the rice before you can even get to eat it with the chicken. It is covered with a sweet and spicy sauce which is mind-blowing. This dish will get a rating of 4/5 on the spiciness scale.

The third dish is pretty much an appetizer to get your mouth used to the spiciness of the food in this cafe. This dish may just look like a normal piece of fried chicken with some sweet sauce on it, but you are wrong!

This little dish here may look harmless to you, but we can tell you that it packs an out-of-this-world spiciness that you can't find anywhere else! This is a must try!

The rating for spiciness will be a 4/5 on the spiciness scale!

The next stop on the journey through "Hell's Kitchen" is
Restaurant Tanjung Mamak @USJ 9, Subang Jaya

This restaurant has been in the business for many years. They have many branches around the Klang Valley area. They serve all kinds of food that is expected to have in a mamak, for example roti canai, tandoori chicken, nasi goreng and many more.

This place is a hang out place for teenagers who stay around the Subang Jaya area. Every night without fail, Tanjung Mamak is packed with people of all kinds of ages, races and places.

Tanjung Mamak is known for its many dishes, but the dishes which are spice worthy is firstly the Seafood Tom Yam. This particular mamak is very generous with their servings of seafood, chili padi and their spices.

Hence, making the Seafood Tom Yam a must try. The taste of the Tom Yam soup can never be explained because there is a distinct taste that no other Tom Yam soup has.

We don't know exactly what they put in it, but the taste of the spiciness just makes you want to never stop eating it. Looking at the color of the soup and the smell of it just makes you want to drool.

This dish is rated a 4/5 on the spicy-ness scale.

The other dish that will also make you drool is Tanjung's special Soup Ekor (Oxtail Soup). This dish is one of the most ordered dishes in this mamak. The taste of the pepper and the spiciness of the chili padi crushed inside just makes this dish one of the most spiciest dishes ever. The large chunks of meat makes the Soup Ekor even better.

By just looking at the picture you can see that it is just topped with chili padi which is crushed into the soup added with pepper. This dish will for sure blow your mind and will make your tummy go crazy! This is a must, must, MUST try! If you haven't tried this soup then you have never experienced the spiciness at all. Even with a mouthful of soup can make a person choke and cough due to its spiciness.

This dish is for sure a 5/5 on the spicy-ness scale!

Now the last dish!

It is always ordered by people, whether from Malaysia or from overseas, the people will for sure order the Nasi Goreng Kampung. This dish is served with little shrimps, ikan bilis (anchovies) and with kang kung which is a lovely vegetable which goes well with this dish.

The trademark of this dish is the sprinkled chili padi all over the top of the rice. Chili padi is also fried with the rice. The golden brown rice makes this meal a enjoyable one and a very spicy one. This dish can really make your years smoke up! Biting into a chili padi can really make it an unforgettable meal, but it always adds to the flavour of the rice. This meal is a sure sweaty and a very thirsty meal, due to the spices they use to make this dish.

Just look at the chili padi, yummy!!!!! :)

Hope you enjoyed this selection of food from "Hell's Kitchen" :)

Till we meet again,

The F Crew

Snack Attack

2009-10-08T19:04:00.004+08:00

After all the mouth-watering food The F Crew has posted, we're sure the majority of you has gotten hungry while scrolling. To counter your hunger pangs anytime of the day, this week we present to you, the Snack Attack!

Snack Attack place #1:
My Waffle - Damansara Jaya

The Pro Extreme cyber cafe is well-known to students of KDU College. Often Blitzone is the prefered choice, but that is beside the point.

We're not promoting the cyber cafe, but the food offered. You know how they always say, "it takes awhile to see things clearly that are right in front of you"? This little place is the epitome of it. You may have walked past it without a second glance, but once you notice and tasted what My Waffle has offered, you will never ignore it ever again ;)

This stall is manned by two persons, who will take and make your order

My Waffle offers a choice of normal toppings or savoury waffles. Pick any two flavours for the normal toppings for only RM2.50!

The savoury waffle is slightly more expensive due to different fillings. We picked double chocolate for our waffle :D

The types of flavours offered

Sweet corn and fishballs are also sold to suit different hunger pangs :) The hotdogs are for the savoury waffles

It only took a few minutes to complete our order. This is essential for any KDU student or lecturer in the need for a snack to rush out, buy a waffle and head back within ten minutes.

My Waffle is open until the wee hours of the morning, to cater to the patrons of both cyber cafes. If you live near Damansara Jaya, hooray for you! Waffles at anytime of the day.

The end result: crispy golden-brown waffle with melted chocolate. A snack that won't break the bank, at only RM2.50

If the weather is getting you down, beside My Waffle is a beverage stall.

Grape juice bubble tea; shaken, not stirred :D (pun intended)

The grape bubble tea tastes standard; nothing to write home about.

My Waffle gets no less than a 4 star rating

Beverage stall gets a 2 star rating

Snack Attack place #2

Ming Tien food court - Taman Megah

Once an empty plot of land, Ming Tien food court has now flourished; filled with customers every night.

We're sure if you ask around, majority of the people have at least tried the Taiwan sausage, or at least seen it. The Taiwan sausage is infamous for its extreme spiciness; eating this sausage can make you cry.

A test for your tastebuds, this harmless looking sausage is not to be taken lightly. Eating the Taiwan sausage is a common dare among the boys.

The sausage comes in different levels of spiciness; mildest is Honey and Lemon, spiciness... The limit is the sky ;) The vendor makes custom orders for the brave ones, the one in the picture is extra extra extra extra extra extra spicy.

The price differs with the level of spiciness.

A classic example of a Taiwan sausage dare:

The excessive sweating, agonized expression and burned tongue.

Dare you? ;)

A word of caution, the sausage is to be eaten in moderation, as too much chili at one go is bad for the stomach. Not to mention when you head for the toilet in the morning.

Another personal favourite of ours are the Fried Mushrooms. Grey oyster mushrooms coated in batter and deep-fried, it tastes better when shared :) A plate of fried mushrooms costs RM5.50. Accompanying the plate are shredded lettuce and sweet chili sauce.

A fried mushroom dipped in sweet chili sauce. Fantastic!

The stall has other fried varieties such as lotus root, pineapple and lychee. Having tried the other fried varieties, fried mushrooms remain our favourite :)

Taiwan sausage gets a rating of 3 stars
Fried mushrooms get a rating of 3 and a half stars

Snack attack place #3

Restoran KTZ Food - SS2

After consuming heaty food, here's something cold, light and refreshing!

Nestled among the back shoplots of SS2, KTZ Food holds court here. It is on the same row as Maybank. KTZ Food offers types of Chinese desserts such as tong sui, light biscuits and their well-known ice loh loh.

We came here mostly for the ice loh loh :D

Buisness hours are from 12.00pm to 1.00am, everyday. So no worries about dropping by and finding the place closed. What you should be concerned about is finding a place to sit. KTZ Food is packed with customers mostly at night.

Pretty lights of the interior

Sidewalks are also filled with tables and people.

Black sesame tong sui.

This tong sui may not be visually appealing, but your tummy would love you for it as it is very nutritious. Each spoonful is thick, not watery. Warms and calms the soul :)

And the moment you all have been waiting for:

(Left, top to bottom) Mango, Honeydew and Strawberry

(Right, top to bottom) Kiwi, Kiwi and Mango

Each loh loh is priced according to the fruit. For example, Kiwi loh loh is priced at RM6.00, Honeydew RM5.50 and Strawberry at RM8.00. The loh loh is too pricey for regular trips, however, dropping by once in awhile reminds us of its heavenly taste.

The loh loh mainly consists of ice shavings mixed generously with kiwi flavouring and sago with slices of the fruit on the side.

Can you see the sago? Yumm.

Each spoonful was cold and sent a tingle to the tummy :)

KTZ Food gets a 3 and a half star rating

See you next week,

The F Crew :D

Great flying noodles!!

2009-10-01T21:41:00.013+08:00

Sounds contradicting? Read on to find out!

Breakfast - Jalan 222 hawker center @Petaling Jaya

Don’t know what to eat for breakfast? Tired of the usual toast bread, cereal or even roti canai? Have no fear, try the nasi lemak located at the Hawker center in Jalan 222.

Though it looks simple, this little guy here will spice up your day - it’s a guarantee. Besides its sweet and spicy sambal, the best part of the nasi lemak here is that it is fresh and hot. And can you believe it? They actually give you half an egg unlike most places! All this for the mere price of RM1.20, it’s a steal.

People are willing to wake up as early as 6.30am for this nasi lemak. By 7 to 7.30am the place will be so crowded until it is almost impossible to move around, let alone find a place to sit.

If you somehow don’t like the nasi lemak or can’t stand the spiciness, there are always the half-boiled eggs waiting to be devoured.

And don’t forget to try the Teh-o-ais limau while you are there, it tastes great :D. Well, that’s if you do not mind drinking cold drinks in the wee hours of the morning.

This place gets a 3 star rating.

Lunch - Sea Park’s Sunrise Restaurant

Looking for that Peking duck continues to elude you? Well have no fear, we have found a place that serves roast duck which is just as good. Where can you find such a place? No worries, you don’t have to travel hundred of miles into the jungle or even board a plane. The restaurant is located in Petaling Jaya; Sea Park to be precise, and is called Sunrise.

This restaurant only sells roast duck, and is open from 11.30am until the duck is sold out. Trust us; it won’t take more then 3 hours for it to be. Below is the restaurant at 11.45am.

Judging from the crowd, it took us 20 minutes to find a place to sit before ordering their famous duck.

Wonderful, that was how the duck tasted like. It had almost driven us to a state of reverie. The mouth-watering, taste bud tingling duck had gone beyond in exceeding our expectations. The skin of the duck was crispy; meat not too soft nor too chewy with not too much fat. Just to show that not only we felt that way, below is a picture of another customer enjoying his meal.

Tantalizing crispy duck skin

It was not long before we finished our duck and headed to the counter to pay our bill. We saw two duck ornaments that the owner told us was rumoured to be their source of success. When we wanted to take picture of one, the owner insisted we should take two of them because they were twins.

This place deserves nothing less then a 4 star rating!

Dinner - Sea Park

Feeling lazy to cook for dinner or bored with places like McDonald's and Burger King? Then this is your lucky day, because while on our food hunt we stumbled upon this place that sells excellent wantan mee. Where is it you ask? It is near the Sea Park market.

Unlike most places which only sell the standard wantan mee which has only “char siu” this place has everything; "siew yoke" (roast pork), white chicken, shredded chicken, roast chicken, “char siu” (barbequed pork), curry chicken and even prawns.

White chicken

(Top) Char siu

(Bottom) Siew yoke

Looks mouth-watering doesn’t it? Well, not only does it look good, it tastes really great as well. It comes in 3 different portions; small, medium and big. The picture above is a big portion

Another special thing about this store is the demonstration of great hand-eye coordination by the cook. Intrigued? We would like to take this opportunity to dedicate these extreme photos below for someone who requested for something "out-of this-world". Here you go. Specially for you :)

(Spot the mee)

Anyone saw the “Flying Mee”? Anyway, not too bad for a roadside stall right? Reasonably priced food, food variety and a live performance, this place deserves at least a 3 star rating.

Supper - Restoran SS2 Murni

There is this familiar, strange sound, “grrrr grrrr grrrr”, you track the sound and follow it to your tummy; the sound intensifies, you feel weak… What do you do?

Go to SS2 Murni for supper!

SS2 Murni has been around for more than a decade and each year, or possibly by day, the number of people that visit the place increases. Murni is constantly full; always packed with people, tables are lined up from one end of the shoplot and extends almost to the other end. Sometimes there is even a crowd until three in the morning.

What makes Murni so famous is probably the countless variety of food that it boasts; from roti-canai to beef steaks. It even has a wide array of fusion food. Some of the cuisines sold here can rival those of a high class restaurant.

Looks delicious doesn’t it? It is also open for dinner if you can’t wait for supper. All-on-all, Murni is a great place to hang out with friends for a drink or have meals due to its cheap prices and variety of choices.

Murni gets 3 and a half star rating.

'Til next week,

The F Crew

Something, simply simple.

2009-09-18T13:26:00.000+08:00

Breakfast - Jalan Kelang Lama

Bak Kut Teh anyone? You must be from a foreign country if you dare to refuse this delicious dish. Repeat: DARE. Who has the heart to resist a hot, steaming pot of pork in sweet broth? Especially on a rainy morning (like in our case). Served often with a bowl of rice, it was as good as a bowl hot soup on a cold day. It must be odd to think that one can have such a heavy dish for breakfast. Truth to be told, being Malaysians we cannot care less about what others think as we live to eat! Besides, what better way to wake ourselves up but with a steaming good meal?

This restaurant, tucked away in the corner of the main road off Jalan Kelang Lama is quite an eye-catching sight with customers pouring in throughout their opening hours. Service was good as our orders were taken immediately after we were seated. Not long after that, we found ourselves indulging in those juicy pork pieces along with several pieces of foo chuk (bean curd) and tofu. Of course, we did not forget to take a picture of this mouthwatering dish before we pigged out (pun intended :D)

Bak Kut Teh

Tender and melt-in-your-mouth pieces of meat is what we are after when on a hunt for the best Bak Kut Teh; and that's exactly what we got here! Furthermore, the soup does not leave a garlic aftertaste as most Bak Kut Teh usually do! Making this the perfect meal if you're craving for good food and intending to kiss someone after that ;)

This place also prepares well for dinner (If you're wondering, yes, we came back again on another day for dinner. Mostly to dine with the unresistable Bak Kut Teh. Obviously). Well, enough said.

If you are a frequent customer, you would know all the dishes on the menu by heart. Not to worry if you don't, the ones taking down your orders will give you a brief rundown of the standard, but not too extravagant menu. From what we know, one of the must-have is steamed fish which can be done in several ways like with Assam (sour and spicy), Ginger, or "Cheng Cheng" (steamed plain with soy sauce). First glance at the steamed fish, it was undeniably fresh. The flesh was steamed to perfection. Not even closed to being over-cooked or dry. We even spotted a man licking off bits of the fish bone at the table next to us (only we thought it would have been a bit rude to capture a picture of him doing it! Honest!!). It's that good!

They also offer a variety of vegetables and other dishes like cold tofu, stewed mushrooms and many more.

Yau Mak (Stir Fried Vegetables)

This place never fails to draw a good crowd =)

Keep a watchful eye for this if you lost your way here!

Although the name of this restaurant is unknown, it is a place that is not only worthy to be patronized but also deserves 4 good stars!

All hail Bak Kut Teh!! =P

Lunch - Restoran Mirasaa @ Bandar Baru Seri Petaling

We already had in mind where to feed out hunger pangs since breakfast was a little earlier than usual that morning. Despite having to tolerate with the rage of our tantrum-throwing tummies, we did not just head to any place nearby for lunch. Instead, we decided to live through one of our crew's childhood memories at a mamak restaurant.

"Restoran Mirasaa is a place I've grown up with! For the past 22 years of my life I have always dined at this place without fail. It used to be just a stall under some trees and then, it progressed to a pair of shop lots back-to-back with its success of delicious mamak-style cuisine. Back in the early days, I would frequently go to this place for their delicious Roti Canai. And I still do!"

-Jody, The F Crew-

     The partially blur photo above can certify how hungry we were at that time as it illustrates how swiftly our fork dived into that scrumptious Roti Telur. It was served hot and crispy, right off the griddle at our table but was left with nothing except a few crumbs in mere minutes!
Like any ordinary mamak, this place also offers Roti Planta, Roti Sardin, Roti Pisang and many more.

      Apart from the common multi-flavoured Roti, we also ate some good old mamak-style mixed rice. Although the dishes here do not vary much daily (The usuals are fried chicken/fish, assorted curries including squid, mutton, fish, chicken and various types of vegetables), the mutton curry is a dish not to be missed. Covered in delicious gravy, the mutton curry comes with huge chunks of potatoes and soft pieces of meat that will make you come back for more.

     They say save the best for the last. We did just exactly that. Tempeh is by far one of the most nutritious dishes you can have at a mamak. This is a dish made of soy beans that is fried with Ikan Bilis (anchovies) and tofu, mixed in a slightly sweet chili sambal. In short, a great dish to have with or without rice. We personally, for one, never ever say "no" to this dish whenever we drop by here.

This place rates 3 and a half stars!

Dinner/ Supper - Sri Petaling Neighborhood

What or who could pull such a large crowd?

FOOD of course! :P

This is the night market that graces the streets of Bandar Baru Sri Petaling every Tuesday night! Year by year it has grown to an unbelievable size.

FAT ONE BBQ STEAMBOAT in our opinion is the best lok lok one can ask for and the most original in the market. There are many similar looking vans with similar names and logos; so be sure that you never never never make the mistake! It's crucial to us to emphasize on this!

We really suggest you try the BBQ lamb and the deep fried bacon! Also, who can ignore the abundant piles of cockles, pork balls, fresh spring fish balls and beef balls! All these finger food can be cooked in your preferred way. Be it boiled (just like a steamboat, only your food is on a stick), deep fried or barbecued. The uncle who owns this stall is very friendly, and always provides the freshest food you can find on a stick! Each stick cost ranges from RM0.90 to RM2.50.

Another favourite stall of ours is Taiwan Pizza. The pizza slices look a lot much like a normal pizza slice, only thing that it's fried, very light, thin and without cheese. Sounds good? It gets better as it only costs RM0.70 per slice. Extremely reasonable.

This vendor also sells Fried Ice Cream which might sound impossible to those who have not heard of it. The interesting but fragile dessert is basically a scoop of cold ice-cream coated with a mixture of flour, that is fried meticulously. What makes it so good is the fact that it provides two opposite flavours at one time; cold in the inside and hot on the outside.

Here are a few regular sightings when we were there:

If you have been wondering why the Dinner and Supper sections are put together; you should have figured it out by now ;) This night market offers so much more than what we could squeeze into this space we call a blog. You can stay here all night if you want to in this food paradise. Just to name more yummy goodies we saw (but had no more spaces in our bellies for); Fried chicken, fried fish balls, fried sausages, potato wedges, curry noodles, Penang laksa, fried kuey teow, preserved fruits, cakes, tarts... and the list goes on! Whether it's for dinner or supper, you will be spoiled for choices at this night market!

With all that sinful food being gobbled down, you certainly need a drink or two to quench your thirst. The common beverages sold here include lemon jelly drink, bubble tea, coconut and sugarcane. For weight watchers however, you might want to try out this particular fruit juice stall below. A cup of fresh juice will cost you RM3. Slightly pricey for night market standard but worth every bit as they squeeze and blend your choice of fruit and vege right in front of your eyes!

A trip here was absolutely appetizing. Four fat stars for this place. We dare say it is actually possible to gain weight in one night. Before we end this post, we want to treat you with a sweet picture from the night market. Just to tease your (by now) grumbling tummies and to whet your appetites :D Well, ENJOY!

Braced yourselves to be forked next week!

The F Crew

Let's Talk the F Word!

2009-09-03T03:48:00.000+08:00

Greetings!

Perhaps the best thing about being a Malaysian is the fact that FOOD is always (and we mean 24/7 ALWAYS) available for us. Regardless of good or bad taste, we cannot doubt food awaits our humble presence anywhere and anytime of the day in this sweet country. As food is crucially essential in our daily lives, we present to you our picks for this week!

Breakfast – Key Hiong Dim Sum @ Taman Megah

Armed with six grumbling tummies, we charged right into this restaurant immediately after our first class ended. Their service was excellent. The workers there did not hesitate to find us a table and grab us a few extra chairs the minute we stepped into the shop. Trays of delicious-looking Chinese delicacies greeted us as we were seated. It was as though they knew a gang of hungry bears were about to attack their site. (Just so you know, we're not implying here that we look like bears. Figurative speech is what we talk best. We'll be in the wrong course if we weren't doing Mass Communication!)

Moreover, the shopkeeper was really friendly. He was the only reason we managed to snap these mouth-watering photos.

On the other hand, the food served was averagely good with reasonable pricing. There is nothing extraordinary about the quality of food. However, the place is kept clean, making it a typical Chinese place to hang out with fellow friends to catch up over a cup of tea. Literally.

Note: Key Hiong Dim Sum has been operating for more than 19 years (and still counting!). It opens 6am-9pm on weekdays and 6am-3pm on weekends. For more information, call 03-7804 6912.

Lunch- Restoran Choy Kee @ Damansara Jaya

This place ought to ring some bells in the name of KDU College. Admittedly, we're only fans of this place because of its convenience during breaks between classes. For that, we feel it's a courtesy to review our favourite hangout spot.

Choy Kee Restaurant has a variety of food ranging from stalls that sell Chicken Rice, Pan Mee, Wan Ton Mee, Mix Rice, Fried Koay Teow, and many more. There is even a fruit stall located just outside the restaurant if you opt for something healthier.

The prices for most of food served here are reasonable except for the mixed rice. The picture above on the top left can illustrate this clearly. With only three dishes and rice, this plate costed one of us RM5. Thus, we normally go for the Pan Mee which only costs us RM4.

Being loyal customers of Choy Kee, we reckon' this place should consider giving special discounts to employees and students of KDU College!

Dinner – Bazaar Ramadhan @ Taman Tun Dr. Ismail

What better way to join in the festive season than to be at a Ramadhan Bazaar? Be warned though, you can forget about that diet of yours if you happen to drop by here. This place cooks enough to feed an army! We kid you not!

Only a few seconds in the bazaar and barbequed chicken wings were the first to catch our attention. RM1 per piece!! The price must have been in conjunction with our "One Malaysia" theme this year.

The bright red "ayam percik" is another sight not to be missed. Impaled on what look like lantern sticks to us, these chickens will make you go back there for more!

Honestly, it was a 2-hour eye-opening experience for us. A fantastic experience if we must say so ourselves.

A little reminder, do come about 4pm to avoid the human traffic jam. Plus, you might want to bring a lot of tissues. Our sweat glands were practically over-producing by the time we left.

Because there were just too many food and a picture can speak of a thousand words, be prepared to..

FEAST YOUR EYES ON THESE!

We rate this place with a superb F! In our terms, it's for F A N T A S T I C!

Supper – Al-Safa @ Bandar Sri Damansara

Calling all Petaling Jaya dwellers, you’ve got to know this mamak!!!

Did you know that AL – Safa has more than four franchises in Petaling Jaya? Talk about being successful in the food industry, even mamak is making a “food statement” these days.

Avid mamak-goers should know that mamak food can be terribly inconsistent! One day, the food may taste awesome but the next day, it's just horrible! Through our experience, we find this mamak is not only consistent in their food quality but also in their service. Maybe this is what makes Al-Safa more prominent compared to the other mamak stalls.

Not everything offered there is extremely good but you must try their tosai telur and their ayam goreng peha (fried chicken) It's really good! Worth ordering another plate!

Until our next forking session,

The F Crew

PS: Have a great week ahead (losing those extra kilos).