Days in Christchurch

Just came back from a short trip to Sydney and Christchurch. It was amazing.. Sydney was PERFECTION. (Perfect sun, temp, heat, crowd, fun, shops, musical, hype etc). But nevertheless, CHC didnt come short as well. So here's just a few pictures to share and imagine the COLD temperature of CHC.. it was freezing. A whole new world compared to Sydney..

Didnt get to do any of the (MUST DO ITINERARY's).. due to financial and other circumstances (broke and lazy).. So just a few surroundings to share.

spring is definitely in the air...

bridge of remembrance

A nice-and meaningful foundation building

(The Dyslexia Foundation)

The famous CHC tram. A must ride..

(But i didnt get to ride that either.. Blame it on my friend. He was suppose to bring me around to enjoy the pleasures and wonders of CHC. In the end, walked for about 40 minutes to Pak n Save. Most exciting trip there actually.)

Away on Business

Hei i'll be away to Kaikohe a rural town, 4 hours away from Auckland.. NO INTERNET... the place that im staying doesnt even have signals for my phone.. Imagine the trepidation of going there but it is for 'business' - studies actually.. Anyway let you know how is it there..

Enjoy your days

Creative Neighbours

Dont think you can ever find such artwork in Malaysia. It not only takes time but it requires creativity and money as well. Which im quite sure Malaysian arent that keen in investing BOTH money and time into their bushes or lawn. And from a creativity point of view, it is argueable anyway...
BTW, this was seen in Hillsborough, Auckland..
thanks Karen for sharing it with me...


Nice and cute isnt it..

Pleasure Platter

I guess starting off with a simple sweet dessert is a good kick start for this blog...

A simple recipe i call 'Pleasure Platter'

Ingredients;
Mini cream puffs
Bananas (peeled and sliced)
Kiwis, Red Apples (sliced) (2 each)
Bread (torn to smaller pieces) (3 pieces)
Ice Cream (as required)
White wine (5 spoons)
Sugar (3 table spoon)

1. Start off by heat the pan with minimal heat. The fire has to kept at the lowest point at all times. Then, add the apples and kiwi and stiry fry for a couples of minutes. Add sugar and stir it all till the sugar melts and the fruits caramelized. Add in the wine to bring its aroma, coating the fruits. Set aside in a plate with the ice cream, cream puff and bananas.
2. The bread has to be pan heated for quite some time to have all the moisture drained out and have the bread crispy as a biscuit.

Serves 3 pax.


Chocolate ice cream is not recommended as it will not go well with the wine fried fruits. Vanilla raspberry is a better choice. Enjoy. Remember, when stir frying fruits or sugar, DO NOT cook with a high fire. It will burn the fruits faster than you can imagine.
Grapes can be another fruit of choice..

Enjoy trying it out...

REVIVAL

I think im back.

Love criticizing places i guess.

With the places ive been to and going to go..

I guess i would have lots of things to share..

So here goes ..

Not that im that free but im sure i can work something out

Its Time

Its time to say goodbye to this blog.. 1 blog is to much to handle... 2.. impossible. Let you know soon...

In India Now... SILENCE

Suffering while i enjoy the spicy food and cheap shopping....

Hopefully, i'll get the time to blog... Not like all my other empty promises...

Wait till you see the weird and of course the FUN of INdia...

Meendum Sandi Pom (see you soon - in tamil)

Hong Kong Delicacies

Temporarily, i do not have time to blog but notice the improvement? Shall put up places in Hong Kong soon. Now, feast your eyes on foods that i couldnt resist...

Thought all the walking will do me some good there but seriously, ANOTHER LAND, ANOTHER FEAST. Money is definitely a factor... Thanks to my friends' aunt, seafood was accessible.

Now feast your eyes...

Hong Kong Milk Tea - Never leave Hong Kong with out trying one

BEN & JERRY'S ICE CREAM - (Chocolate Temptation)

Seafood from Temple Street, Hong Kong - A whole different cooking style and seafood

Food from Lamma Island - Bamboo Clam, Roasted Pigeon, Garlic Prawns & 'Yen Kuk' Fish Fillet

Tau Fu Fah from Lamma Island; They uses orange sugar.. Weird...

Pork Curry Hong Kong style and Cheese Bake Rice - from Ocean Park

(Their curry isnt as spicy as the ones in M'sia. Adapted to their taste buds)

Seafood Display

(These are crabs by the way)

Western food at Sai Kung - The lamb rack was the best tasted ever. Their aglio was amazing as well.

Others from all over Hong Kong...

Their typical noodle

Another cheese bake rice from another shop

Common local noodle dish

Their famous set breakfast

My best sandwich there - Smoked Salmon Bread

Most heavenly microwaved, 7/11 food ever bought in my entire life. Curry Rice

That's it. More bout hong kong soon. Enjoy the food...

My Sincere Apologies

My deepest apologies for all the silences and boring waiting for me to actually update my blog. Dont worry i shall do it soon...





I've got a few things in mind but will require some time to actually posts stuff up soon... Foods frm Lutong Cafe.... Hanoi.... Trips ive been too... All those... you wouldnt want to miss it. Maybe a few recipes of my own... And tips of the day...

So wait some more for more...

Pan Fried Lamb Cutlet

A dish to be reckon with... This is a dish i've tried a few times few years ago to bring the effect of it being grilled on the actual barbeque pit... Prefer it to be of cutlet sizes for easier cooking and to shorten the marinating process... So here's the recipe..

Ingredients for the Lamb Marination(the measurement varies for each person as i didnt use any equipments to measure the ingredients)

Lamb Chops (1kg) chopped into cutlet sizes
Black Pepper (3 table spoon) 1/2 mashed and 1/2 ori sizes
White Pepper (3 table spoon) 1/2 mashed and 1/2 ori sizes
Oyster Sauce (3 table spoon)
Thick Dark Soya Sauce (2 tablespoon)
Light Soya Sauce (1 tablespoon)
Pepper (in powder - 2 teaspoon)

Marinated all the ingredient above and make sure you use your hand to mix the mixture and not with spoon... It really need to be well mixed and prepped. Put it into the fridge and leave for about 2 hours. Its only because it is of cutlet size... If you were to use the whole lamb chop, leave it for about 1/2 a day..

Then, grill the lamb cutlet using the pan and olive oil (safer and nicer) and make sure you use the tongs to flip the lamb cutlet over and DO NOT use spatula.
A reminder - for extra taste, you can use the cheese butter and melt it on the pan then remove the cheese debris before grilling..

The Final REsult... Remeber, if you are serving to your guests always add a few lettuce leaves for the colour...



Tip of the day - The healthiest way to improve your dishes for taste is to use pepper.

Salt - can cause hypertension
Chillies - overdose can cause diarrhoea
Mayo - fattening

Station Kopitiam, Times Square (A Place Not to Be)

My first review...

Station Kopitiam (unfortunately) is one of the places that ranked in my bottom 5 locations to eat in the WORLD. I have had myshare of experience eating there twice not learning from my experience the first time. Thought of being an angel giving it the second chance all places deserve have proved me right about how i felt about this place the first time.

Lets see, where to start off. The environment. The location of this joint is located at the 4th / 3rd (couldnt remember - not going there ever again anyway) in Times Square Mall. The service start with a wait for about 10 minutes for the waiter to give you the menu and a matter of 15 minutes for them to take the order.

The gadget on the table was a sight to be please with as it signals the table number at the LCD board at the counter for the waiter/waitress to reckon which table require's assistance but just like the dying plants and the pictures hanging on the wall, it serve no purpose as NO ONE is BOTHERED to even catch a glimpse at the board. What a waste of technology.

And now for the food. As i was served with the food on the tray, little cute cockroaches cavorting around on the tray having fun on the plastic playground.

I held on to myself not thinking of what is off the plate but what is on the plate instead. 5 scrawny pieces of microscopic fish pieces covered with generous amount of flour. 5 pieces people. The agony of my hunger facing this plate was debilitating.

Experiencing it the second time assured me of my taste for this place. It is blasphemous of me if i were to say that this place is remotely good. Edible maybe but good? NO.

As you can see below as my friend slowly and sufferingly (maybe she doesnt look all so suffering) taking a bite at a time igniting her immune response to be prepared for any allergic response, the food was weird. Though this visit left me sad as i wasnt able to see the cockroach circus, i did have a taste of the weird watery dried chilli chicken and out of the world (literally breath halting - NOT breath taking) sambal squid. The essence of the food was gone as water became the diluting factor for the taste of the food to resurface as we put it into our mouth.

My final rating;

There isnt anything wrong with your computer. There is only this much of stars that i can give before giving up on myself. I have to admit the food has improved from eating in the dumpster while entertained by cockroach circus to snacking in an area with poorly cooked food.

May be i should try it for the 3rd time. (some say third times the charm)... Erm come to think about it i better not put my immune system to the test.

A Moment of Silence

I'll be going to HAnoi for about a week... So wait for me to be back... HANOI, HALONG BAY & SA PAH. So it shall be my first tour post here. All my previous location shall be posted soon as well but i have to see are there enough pictures to give you a view of the place.

Dont cry over my absence and dont miss me too much ok?

Au Revoir

I'll be right back....



Await for my first

- Critic on one of the 5 worst place to eat

- My opinion on the Latest Recipe, Le Meridien KL

- Appraisal on one of the 5 best place to eat

- My experience in Hanoi


see you soon...

Official OPENING...

This is the official opening of my blog - Entourage and Food Journalist. The official date is 08/02/2008. I'll be critic if your food isnt good and i'll be reviewer if your food is great.

Travelling will be sort of my dessert or appetizer but the entree is the food and location reviews. Ok? Pls do not hesitate to place critics or put forth what is in your mind of the place that i have reviewed. Its all about views from different people so im really up for any comments as well.

People, a celebration is about to begin

Cover your ears as it will be very LOUD!!!

As everyone celebrates with wine, cakes and fireworks

As the fireworks shot up in the sky with colours and design beyond our imagination

So people enjoy this grand opening as more will be up with words and taste buds filling each post.

Au Revoir

The BEST according to me (MIRI)

I may be a critic in so many ways but each superhero has a soft side for certain things. These are just a few of the best picked food from my tryouts in Miri, Sarawak.

BEST STRAWBERRY FRAPPE

Strawberry Smooch (San Francisco Coffee House) - For strawberry lovers, this drink brings you a step closer to heaven. As the chilled and smooth strawberry taste lingers in your mouth, the essence of the cream brings out the sweet tooth in you.

PRICE - RM 15.40 (reg) and RM 16.50 (large)

p/s -Though you might say that it's the same in every San Francisco franchise, my personal best is the one in M2 Mall, Miri. The person makin the drink has been there for the past few years. This shows experience matters most.

BEST TURKEY HAM SANDWICH

Turkey Ham Sandwich (San Francisco Coffee House) - This sandwich is amazing to its last bite. As you set your teeth into the sandwich, you'll feel the perfect chemistry between the turkey ham, lettuce and mayo. However, the sandwich is much better eaten with wholemeal bread. I think that the delish sensation brought upon this sandwich is that the ingredients are fresh.

PRICE - RM 6.55++

p/s - the p.s. above also applies to this sandwich as well.

BEST TOAST

Toast (Fortuna Cafe, Miri) -This toast is perfect to its core as you sink you teeth in it, you'll have the sensation of having the warm taste of kaya and cold butter mixed in your mouth filling the warm toast that is toasted to perfection. *this toast is only best eaten immediately. NOT FOR TAKE AWAYS and is definitely your money's worth in comparison to the toast from Kopitiam.

RM 0.60 ++ (a price that is only found in Miri)

BEST PORK (PIGLET) - NON HALAL (duh!!)

Roasted Suckling Pig (Golden Restaurant, Miri) - This juicy and mouth watering pork meat is a sinful dish. The speciality of this pork dish is the skin; which is roasted till it is crunchy enough to make your neighbour hear you bite it and savour it with the gravy prepared but it is a dish that will send your calories sky high.

PRICE - RM 220.00 (6 person per serving)

BEST PORK LEG - Non Halal

Phillipine Pork Leg aka Crispy Bata (Lutong Cafe) - A tantalizing dish that brings all pork leg in the world to shame. The pork leg was broiled for a few hours to soften the meat then it is deep fried to perfection and that is the speciality of this dish. As you bite through the crispy pork skin, you'll be chewing your way through the juicy and tender meat.

PRICE - RM 30-35

That is the few recommended dish from Miri... Sarawak...

Enjoy a Ratty New Year.