Johor Archives

In Bangsar By Taufulou 5 Mins Read

HAPA-GAB Outlet Of The Year: WIP @ Bangsar Shopping Centre

26/12/2012 No Comments

Coming to year end, what we usually do is hunt for nice spot to eat and drink with friends and family. Recently came across this outlet located at Bangsar Shopping Center, that had instantly top in my list of recommendation with a great balance of scrumptious food, excellent service, great entertainment and of course, an environment to die for. WIP at bangsar is one of a many favourite hangout spot

The name itself already very catchy that evolve from “Work In Progress” and now mature to WIP is short for “Whipped Into Place”

Congratulations to WIP for winning Outlet of the year from HAPA-GAB. How did this whole quest stood up?

It was GAB set out on a quest to find the top outlets in Malaysia which offer the best in quality, service, entertainment and ambience through the inaugural HAPA-GAB Excellence Awards 2012. Out of 69 outlets from the Klang Valley, Penang and Johor that participated in the awards program, ONLY 4 of these outlets on the list have proven themselves to be the best of the best.

• Service Excellence – won by SOULed OUT Sri Hartamas
• Best Entertainment – won by The Beer Factory (SetiaWalk)
• Best Product Quality – won by Chin’s Stylish Chinese Cuisine (Penang)
• Most Innovative Guest Experience – won by Chin’s Stylish Chinese Cuisine (Penang)
• Outlet of The Year – won by WIP Kuala Lumpur

Luscious cuisine featuring a hearty selection of Western, Asian and Northern Indian cuisine will more than satisfy the palate.

Its a huge restaurant that have a few sections in it with bar counter are uniquely design. If you look and feel, its more like a indoor tropic garden interior like.

For huge family they have a long table, that is sited slightly higher compare to other dining area and its a bit close up that give you privacy on it.

Cigar anyone?

Offer great selection of Mocktail, Cocktail and wine too.

A great dinner of course my accompanied by favorite alcohol, with Strongbow, Guinness and Paulaner in presence.

Find that North Indian cuisine are slightly different compare to the south, as its more usage of spice rather than spicy. Mutton Varuval, is one of the dish that first came out from appetizer menu. Chunky cubes of mutton being well marinated with spices, aromatic with bursting flavours. Not spicy at all.

Grilled Portobello Mushrooms – something simple is with this juicy mushroom and eat along with garden salad is just nice.

Never knew that Mushroom and Spinach Pizza @ RM 31 falls into appetizer catagory as its not small ordinary pizza, its quite huge to feed for 2 person. Made fresh with paper thin crust that is crispy on the edge, with cheeze, mushroom and spinach.

I love The Chicken Chimichangas @ RM 22 were actually flour tortilla stuffed with chicken and cheese, deep fried and served with spicy tomato salsa. Well prepared, and love the condense ingredient that added in. To me, its like Curry Puff in Spanish style – Recommended~

Kakiage looks plain, but with just only first bite, you will never stop. Something simple and the magic is the sauce that will keep you going.

Every restaurant sure will have their special item. Well in WIP Espetadas are their signature item. Typical Portugese dish made of chunks of meat on skewers, seasoned and grilled. As right in the restaurant I was very curious as I saw many people order this dish with skewers all hanging on the metal pole. Presentation sure its eye catchy as already caught my attention from the beginning.

Special sauces are created to match the right food.

Lamb loin marinated with garlic herbs and balsamic vinegar, Sirloin chunks marinated with garlic and traditional herbs @ RM 92 , Chicken breast and chicken thigh chunks marinated with jerk spices, and Prawn, squid and fish marinated with olive oil, garlic and herbs @ RM 78

Roasted Caribbean Chicken. A whole chicken thigh, marinated with spices, oven roasted and served with potatoes, vegetables and roasted garlic sauce.

Branzino – Barramundi fillet pan fried and served with grilled vegetables, potato wedges and bisque sauce. Fish meat is soft, with a sign of freshness, and the sauce just make it more delicious.

WIP’s version of Sang Har Mein is using deep-fried wantan noodles and fresh “blue-legged” prawns cooked and shower in a thick eggy grav.

Another one of my favourite North Indian cuisine here is Chicken Makanwala marinated chicken breast cooked in hot and spicy gravy and served with chana masala (chickpea in spicy gravy), aloo methi (potatoes cooked with fenugreek leaves), salad, papadum (Indian crackers) and naan or briyani rice. I prefer this to be with Nan as its well prepared, as its soft and pair very well with the gravy. – Recommended~

The Tropical Fruit Pavlova is a meringue-based dessert topped with dragon fruit, orange, mango and passion fruit with coconut cream filling.

First bite on the crust of the pavlova, it instantly reminded me of kuih bangkit (Coconut Cookies) that I eat during Chinese New Year. Crust easily melts in my mouth.

Another creative invention by their great pastry chef is this Trio Creme Brulee (Vietnamese coffee, passionfruit and ginger).

No doubt with great ambiance, services and great food quality that they have that won them this award. Surely its one of the restaurant that I have been recommending my friend even before I am witting this.

*Pork Free

Location:
WIP @ Bangsar Shopping Centre
Lot G111, Ground Floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre
285 Jalan Maarof, Bukit Bandar Raya
59000 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: +603 2094 1789 / 2789 (for reservations)

Fax: +603 2094 3789

Website: www.wip.com.my

In Coffee Place By Taufulou 5 Mins Read

Lonbay The Farm’s Best Coffee @ Paradigm Mall

04/12/2012 No Comments

I guess more and more people are into coffee business now. Its a picking up trend that Malaysia have lots of coffee lover. How many do you have your favorite morning coffee besides Nescafe? I am sure that now we can spoilt with choices when comes to coffee and I have found one of my favourite hang out join which I am not going to blog about it.

Lets head down to Paradigm Mall that I am sure those of you who come here often would not miss out this little coffee place located in front of Tesco.

update: Nov 2016 – [no longer in operation]

Lonbay coffee is actually operated by young entrepreneur that he have the passion of coffee and looking for something that can suits local taste bud. Originate from Johor and now bringing up to KL to share with other coffee lover. Beans are roasted in his yard in Johor and its organic. . .

Why Lonbay Coffee?

Siphon brewing method that have a special coffee that takes about 2 days to for the process and make about 8 bottles per time.

coffee price is not that bad along with light food.

Coffee Luwak is something new to me yet I have heard it many many times from coffee lovers and friends. Its a love and hate relationship like durian according to them. It doesnt come cheap yet its good to try once.

Kopi Luwak – is known as the most luxurious coffee in the world. How me and my friend always describe on this is – poo from Musang, that is how it is price so expensive. Kopi Luwak is a name for many specific cultivars and blends of arabica, robusta, liberica or other beans eaten by civets. The ‘Luwak’ or known in Malaysia as ”Musang”, eats the raw coffee berry and because it cannot digest the berry, proceeds to secrets the bean. It can easily cost up to USD500/500 grams, roughly RM 150 per 100grams.

Kopi Luwak is brewed in siphons using organically cultivated beans with certificate of authenticity and it can cater up to 2 person per session.

Tadaa. . .here is our version of coffee luwak. Light in body and slightly bitter after taste.

This is what attracts me, makes me feel they really do heavy research on their coffee line in Spiderman movie. My attention have all move to this little tubes.

Its Coffee Enzyme. Something new and first time hearing it too. . Lonbay Coffee Enzyme is extract from organic Liberica coffee bean. It helps the body to digest food and converting it into nutrients and assimilate nutrients from proteins, carbohydrates, fats and fibre. Top it all, Lonbay Coffee Enzyme supplementation in our diets as below:-

Improves overall digestion so we have more energy for life
Aids in disease prevention and boosts the immune system
Minimizes the negative effects of the cancer therapies
Reduces the effects of aging, wrinkles, sun spots, inflammation or soreness of muscles and joint pain
Prevention of heart disease and speed healing after surgery
Cleanses our system from allergic reactions

If you smells direct from the tube it gives a strong smell of vineger like and very sourish. We did try to have a little sip from it and it taste like a strong compact essence.

Honey Lemon with Coffee Enzyme is one of the way to pair it and it had turn into our favourite. Sourish end that pairs well with lemon and honey that gives a slight hint of sweetness. If you have not tried this before, its a great glass or drink to have before or after meal. Highly Recommended!

The LonBay Iced Drip is the one that settle at the counter with the huge siphon process that can be served in two ways, warm or chilled. Another type of coffee that is light in taste, not too strong and mild after taste.

Besides that, they do serve light food .. Hawaiian Toast

Taj Burger

Bolognese Seafood

Bolognese Chicken Mince

Green Sauce Spaghetti

Club Sandwich

Peanut + Butter thick toast and they have their bread made by themselves and the texture of bread is pretty unique. not bad`

Kaya + Butter

Sour Sop Smoothies, Honey Peach Smoothies, Ice Blended Mochaccino

Milk Tea HK Style & Kung Fu Tea Tarik

American Chocolate

Classic Cheese is also not to be miss with soft cheeze texture and crust at the bottom is not too hard and would go well with coffee.

One thing if you would love to try out is their Enzyme coffee. and I sure do not mind to come here to have enzyme coffee honey lemon with their spaghetti that easily beats many places in their flavor and a slice of cheese cake to close the meal here. Pretty good~

All pictures and video taken with Samsung NX 210

Location:
Lonbay, The Farm’s Best Coffee
Lot LG-13, LG Floor, Paradigm Mall,
Jln SS7/26A, Kelana Jaya, Petaling Jaya,
Kuala Lumpur, 47301 Malaysia

Tel : +6 03 – 7887 5258

In Featured By Taufulou 4 Mins Read

Best ever Malay Food – Kampung style home-cook @ Johor

24/10/2011 4 Comments

To further our experience in Johor, things got more interesting after we have check into our lovely hotel Pulai Desaru Beach Resort then most of our schedule for the day got arrange by the hotel person, as we requested something unique. . .

Then we were brought to this lovely kampung (village) after 35 minutes ride from the hotel which is quite a journey . ..

Honestly, this is my very first time visit a rumah kampung that I step my foot inside it which I am excited. No public that can come to this area as this house was specially choosen by the hotel team as to promote local culture food and dining experience to their customers.

The hotel team hunt down many kampung house, as they got a strict criteria to be in the list, 3 of the most important criteria is must be a rumah kampung, kitchen must be clean and always stay hygiene before, during and after cooking, lastly must be a low income group with skills that can cook.

They help to promote this selected village on food and also enables those family to get extra income to get into better living which I think they are doing a good job much better than our ruler.

all dish were prepared and we are just responsible to eat.

All this malay classic dish are home cook style.

ikan masin, homemade sambal, fried chicken, cekodok pisang, veggie are all old school .. .

This is by far one of the best malay food that I have come across, which is very authentic and old school, the ikan masin(salted fish) is fried to crispy and to get the perfect combination, you have to dip along with some sambal.

Sambal is so good that for the first few mouth, you do not feel the spicyness, as it progress, your tears and sweat will drip, spicy and sour blend very well and we are looking to ta pau back the sambal..to bad that the auntie do not do in mass as only to accommodate this few dish.

I have long not eaten cekodok pisang that I cannot remember how it look and taste like till I saw this back. Very soft, using bit rotten banana to get the strong taste of it and it was cook perfectly.

we enjoy the process of shooting the dish as this is the first time we all shoot by sitting down and the food is on the floor. . 😀

This curry might look very simple, and watery, but it taste sooooo goood till we drink it like soup.

This teko is not meant for you to drink, as it is meant for you to wash your hand before you eat, as there are no fork and spoon are given, therefore the only option is you have to use your hand.

Why? they want all the people that dine in here, to blend in to the local malay culture which is using hand to eat your rice. The base at the bottom of the teko is to store the dirty water.

This is how we eat our rice, taking all the dish that you want, and put it on your plate, then use all your 5 fingers pressing it all together and use your thumb to compress it like a small solid ball so that you can bring it up, if not you will only ended up with a few rice drops on your finger before you putting inside your mouth.

Their homemade coffee is good too, not too robust in flavor, mild and aromatic which is a satisfaction ending after the meal.

This is how a malay house look slike and nearby some of these locations, they do offer homestay. Great to those of you like to experience our local Kampung house accomodation.

There are a few ways of calling this house:

1) Rumah Melayu

2) Rumah Kampung

For more info you can read in Wikepedia: Rumah Kampung

The secret cook behind all the superb dish is this makcik and we did a little donation for her as her husband was diognose in hospital on that day. We wish him recover soon.

Found a perfect spot.. and just plank~

Well, it was a great dining experience that we do not get to do it everyday, and the only method to come in here is to stay in Sri Pulai Resort then they will arrange for you. This is by far the best malay food we have come across and if you do drop by Johor and happen to stay in the resort, this place is Highly Recommended!

*Halal

In Featured By Taufulou 6 Mins Read

Holiday gateway to Pulai Desaru Beach Resort & Spa @ Johor

22/09/2011 5 Comments

What did you do during last week of Malaysia Day? I guess some of you will have plans as its a bit long weekend for us. As for me, me and my friends heading wayyy south to Johor for holiday which by far the furthest I have travel down south is only Melaka. Pulai Desaru Beach Resort & Spa All of us work hard, just that once a while, we need to take a break, to cool us down, chill on more relaxing area then head back fresh, and the last round I took myself off was heading to Pulau Pangkor for a short stay. (click here)

One of the reason that we head down south for this stay is because, we have special arrangement with my friend that had called her up and every everthing for me. For being first time in this state, alot of things I want to discover and share out. When she send me the itinerary, I got excited that it is seriously fill with lots of visits and food to visit.

Well, after 3 n half hours drive from Kuala Lumpur, we had reach Pulai Desaru, whereby its a located on the east side of Johor that takes another 35-45 minutes drive from the city..

Pulai Desaru Beach had its new offering to public with 200 newly refurbish rooms to provide all holiday travelers with an ultimate comfort and lifestyle. This resort also had attracted a number of celebrity to stay here and most of the their guest from Singapore, which is very nearby. With their new concept, the resort have design their rooms in a few types with season colour and lovers wing. Part of it is to make holiday travelers enjoy their stay and would want some changes in their room ambiance, they can do so.

The newly refurbish lobby are build in contemporary style to bring modern ambiance to travelers.

A simple bar at the lobby with 2 pool table and draft tab is available for you too. . .

One of the thing I like the most is this hotel lift. Feels like you are heading into some where cool.

After checking in, I head back to my room. Its very simple, spacious and comfy.

Best of all, I have one of the best view facing garden swimming pool view that smack near right in the middle and on the highest floor.

I like the toilet design which is just simple, and nice, bath tub is spacious too.

We do have welcome fruits in our room.

Then I went over to my friends room which they have a queen’s size bed and realize that, there are slight different compare to our room that the colour of the wall is different as this room is painted in orange, ours is painted in green and toilet design is also different. I only manage to catch up this 2 rooms.

night proceeds, then went down to do some photo shoot around the resort. . .

For family that bring kids here, they do have 2 sections for your kids to play around, this ping pong area, and a video game console which is attach next to it, that allow your kids to glue to their seats and you can go for a comfort swim.

For younger kids, they do have this little indoor play ground for them to play around as its covered with glass panel.

In Buffett By Taufulou 4 Mins Read

Ting Ting. . . .Durian Buffett Round 2! @ SS2

19/07/2011 No Comments

Just bout 10 days ago, I went to this stall to have durian buffet with my colleague and since then I updated a picture on Twitter and FB, I was scolded and curse by my friend for why tempt them with such King of Fruit in season which makes them drool just by that picture(click here for part 1). Then during that time I was told by a guy that since last weekend they will have more better quality durians from Pahang as previously it was mostly from the southern part, like Johor. . .Since then I did told some of my friend then they directly ask me to do secound round of buffet and last night, I had organise one again and consider it Durian buffet get together part 2~ or SS2 durian buffet

This round I decided to go more premium as last round I just thought that the max was only RM15 and last night get to discover that RM20 you eat more premium quality durian such as Udang Merah and others that those durians can cost RM12-RM15 per kg easily . . without much hesitation direct jump to that. . . and ask them start opening the durians. .RM 20 durian buffet for this round . ..

PRICE:
RM 9 normal durians – guess its durian Kampung??
RM 15 better grades durians..
RM 20 premium grades durians. . (we have this for this round)

Weekdays all 3
Weekend only available RM 15/ RM 20 ONLY. .

* i think this price is applicable to peak season only.. if durian is getting lesser the price will increase. ..

I must say that durian on this round taste much better compare to what I had but according to Jolyn n Lyn when they came by as they dine the RM15 they find it much better as to me I find this is much better compare to last round . . I guess seasonal durian makes different taste in each batch. .

Last night, I had most of the durian better quality in its meat more solid, a bit milky, not too sweet yet you can eat alot bitter ones, there are mixture of yellowish and fair mild creamy colour . . not so watery base meat . .

Feeq is another hardcore durian fans as when the durian was open and right infrot of him or I would say right after this photoshoot he just whack the durians like no tomorrow and so fast. . .ko’ed after 20 minutes later. .

*remarks – durians are not meant to eat fast as you eat too fast its hard to digest and feel abit bloated.

Today, Jolyn is on a mission that she want to filled the whole basket at least.. .and her mission complete? scroll till the end. . . .

Every one happily eating the durian and great to see all stranges talking in one table just because of durians .. .

This guy is one of the best guy that he usually serve us. . and he is funny. . also with another guy..

Verdict: did itu Jolyn Cheah manage to fill up the whole basket ? well, actually she did, not her, is we.. for a pax of 8 ppl we filled 1 basket n another quater of it . .as shown in the pics are 2nd basket arleady . .:D

This is Jolyn Cheah with her very happy durian in her mouth, that she is a very simple person to cheer, when she is sad just buy her durians, she will go hyper and make you happy. .wakkakaka~ :p

Might have ROUND 3 coming up.. just don know when..of course wont be this 2 weeks, as I had too much durians in a row . .need to take a break . .

Results: we are satisfied with it . .no complain and looking forward to come again . .

-= Ka Ching =-

Food Rating 9/10, si pek good ah~ Satisfied & Recommended -Stamped-

–Warning– This is based on my individual taste. Try it at your own risk-

Location:
SS2 Durians
SS2 – Behind BHP Petrol Station
Selangor .. .
(with a L shape stall at the corner junction nearby traffic light)

View SS2 Durian Buffet in a larger map

In Ayer Itam / Paya Terubong By Taufulou 3 Mins Read

Famous Kueh Chiap @ Wah Meng Kopitiam, Ayer Itam Market, Penang

22/06/2011 9 Comments

Penang is always known for its hawker food and around Ayer Itam area which is well know for their morning market for all the neighbors to buy fresh ingredient to cook or even supplies to restaurant which makes them one of the big market in Penang. I did write about a famous elderly selling classic curry mee in the market, click here. Around the area there are many hawker which are famous tag along the morning market, one which is in particular was one of my friends favourite Kueh Chap stall is in this Wah Meng Kopitiam that host also variety of food.

Do not have a proper sign for it as the main entrance are all covered up with busy hawker stalls.

instead the signage are hidden inside .. which is next to a TOTO store. .

In the early morning, this coffee shop is pack with lots of people..not to mention during public holidays or long weekend.

Then they have this nasi kandar stall infront of them . .

selling Roti Canai next to it which is done fresh while ordering . .

and here comes my thin fluffy roti Kosong as its not bad just that the curry gravy is quite watery which turns it to be quite disappointing for RM 0.70 per piece, no complain.

Then I saw this uncle stall for Char Koey Teow frying non stop, yet I have tried. . .

and Char Kueh Kak also . .

This is the famous Kueh Chap which my friend is talking about and we waited for bout 25 minutes for it ..

It is one of my favorite and its very hard to find in KL.

and according to some explanation that I found over Google, this is actually a Teochew dish that started off during Ming Dynasty, which previously known as Ding Bian Cuo (鼎邊挫) or Ding Bian Hu (鼎邊糊), being translated as Wok-side Cooking or Wok-side Frying. Read more at javewu.

Kueh Chap is a word from Hokkien language and can be found in a few states like Penang, Johor, Kuching and Singapore. In Penang we utilise the whole duck including the spare parts of it like innards, blood, intestine to add it in and some other states they used pork.

This is the classic bowl of Penang version Kueh Chap ((flat broad rice sheets))

which is filled with kueh a texture similar like flat big koey teow type to cook along and add in all the duck parts in it like braised duck meat, bean curd, congealed blood, hard-boiled egg and innards of intestines and liver. Then top with fried garlic oil on top to bring the extra kick in it. The soup is black in colour that its boil along with the duck and aromatic, yet I find it a bit salty after finishing the whole bowl, i still prefer mine to have it in thicker soup base which is located at Kimberly street that I didnt blog bout it, then overall it is still quite satisfying to have it in early morning.

-= Ka Ching =-

Food Rating 7/10 quite good ah . . -stamped-

–Warning– This is based on my individual taste. Try it at your own risk-

Location:
Kedai Kopi Wah Meng
612 Jalan Air Itam
11500 Air Itam
Penang

Business Hour : 7am – Noon

GPS Coordinates : N5 24.010 E100 16.682

View Wah Meng Cafe near Air Itam Market in a larger map

Johor

HAPA-GAB Outlet Of The Year: WIP @ Bangsar Shopping Centre

Lonbay The Farm’s Best Coffee @ Paradigm Mall

Best ever Malay Food – Kampung style home-cook @ Johor

Holiday gateway to Pulai Desaru Beach Resort & Spa @ Johor

Ting Ting. . . .Durian Buffett Round 2! @ SS2

Famous Kueh Chiap @ Wah Meng Kopitiam, Ayer Itam Market, Penang

FunNow GastroMonth KL and Penang

Hidden Cocktail Bar, Her House, Chinatown KL

Waig by Chipta11a @ APW Bangsar

Heineken Ghosted Bar

FunNow GastroMonth KL and Penang

Hidden Cocktail Bar, Her House, Chinatown KL

Waig by Chipta11a @ APW Bangsar

Nice Bubble Milk Tea Chatime from Taiwan had landed @ Pavilion

12inch Burger at Cravings Kitchen and Bistro @ Sunway Giza

Hong Kong Disneyland