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.

Malaysian Airlines (Domestic)

Traveling with Malaysian Airlines
(its suppose to be quite good for all the awards that the airline has won)

Traveling domestically in Malaysia has never been a hassle of choices when it comes to airlines. Either pick the no-food-low-budget AirAsia (AA) or the throat-cutting Malaysia Airlines (MAS). It is that simple and yet people often compare how each airline win over the other.

Malaysian Airline has been a choice of mine as I travel around Malaysia (so to speak) – as I never considered AirAsia (only if I was to buy the ticket at the last hour). Obviously, price was the MAIN determinant of my choice of airline and yet I’ve endowed a sum of money to MAS; enough to buy myself 3 sets of PSP to know enough that there isn’t much difference between these two technically speaking.

So a little about the recent flight experience KL-Miri (and I have to admit, it isn’t up to my standards anymore – regardless its due to the deteriorating service or the increase in my standards) but it is still providing a sufficient level of standard to NOT make me feel cheated of my money.

Upon sitting on my allocated seat 7F(window view), I felt there isn’t a difference in the seat width but a slight disparity in the contour of the seat of MAS in comparison to AA. As the sulking and grouchy looking air steward performing on the ways of putting on a seat belt, I glanced over my seat to see the person behind me contentedly digging through the engorged nostrils of his. Maybe there should be a sign stating; EXCAVATING OF NOSE HOLE IS PROHIBITED.

As the plane is up in the air and I was slowly drifting away from the tight and uncomfortable seat of mine, an abrupt announcement was made by the Captain as he sigh throughout the entire announcement about the weather and the altitude we are in, dragging me back to notice that I am still in the plane suffering another ear pressure block. What a timing.

After a few moments of gazing aimlessly into the tight space given, the aroma of tea and coffee mixing in the plane awaken the entire cabin of stingy passengers thirsting for food and drinks.

As Yusniza (the only smiling air stewardess) serves row by row the packaged goods, faces of the passengers changed from eagerness to disappointment as they open up their goodie box and saw what it seems to be;---

3 sandwiches (tuna, egg, cucumber ), a packet of biscuits, a old looking apple, a puny tub of water and cutlery (don’t know for what purpose). I had much better choices in previous flights such as Nasi Rendang or Pasta. But what to do, beggars can’t be choosers right? The orange juice was given upon request.



The apple in the box that had a hole in it... Disappointing...

As I observed how Yusniza chatted with a few passengers, building rapport while serving them, I couldn’t but help to think that Is she really sincerely talking to them or she’s just doing her job? Just something for your mind to wonder for a moment.

DO NOT EXPECT THIS

(Unless you have to cash/credit card to spend on)

This is NOT how the economy class looks like. I couldnt even find the Economy Class picture online so i have noticed that only the business and first class pictures are available. Liars BUT great marketing strategies.

So people, that was my personal experience with Malaysian Airlines KL-Miri. Before my official ratings, just a few positive points to ponder upon if you DO choose MAS airline,

1. People or in most context taxi drivers will perceive you to be the upper class of the society.

2. You DO NOT have to exhaust your dinner or lunch on climbing stairs or walking to the plane.

3. You DO NOT have to fight for seats as it is allocated to you upon checking in.

4. You actually get free food and drinks (I had 3 orange juices) though the standard of the food is still something you have to stop expecting.

The final rating is;

I will definitely upload if there is an improvement or downgrade in the service.
Please refer to the table at the side for more details on how much each points at the rating means. Thank you. If it is not available yet, pls wait for it within a weeks time. Au Revoir

C0uNtiNg DoWn to the RELEASE of EnF

MORE TO GO

I'm anticipating the official release of this blog to my friends and the public. I'll make sure for the next few days and maybe even weeks after the date of release, people will be going around saying, have you seen EnF or Entourage and Food Journalist?

The official date of release is;

8th of Feb 2008.

Venue: http://entourageandfoodjournalistblogspot.com

Theme: Potluck and Passport

EnT0uRaGe (The PILOT)

Why the word ENTOURAGE?

Seriously, there’s been countless brain storming, mind twisting that was done to get the perfect blog website title or whatever you people call it…

The list ranges from;
The Little Cottage, Me the Food Critic, Durianz and Travel, Travel and Livin It, Entourage Critics, Food Spams and Way of Life and the list goes on and on…

And yet I finally come to an absolute decision.

The Entourage & Food Journalist.

This might sound uncanny for those who comprehend the meaning of entourage…

entourage
noun.
A group of attendants or associates; a retinue.
One's environment or surroundings.
[French, from entourer, to surround, from Old French entour, surroundings : en-, in; see en–1 + tour, circuit; see tour.]

and for those out there who happen to NOT own a dictionary, …

Journalist
A person who practices journalism, the gathering and dissemination of information about current events, trends, issues and people and in my case; FOOD and TRAVEL (that's why its enTOURage and FOOD journalist)

The word entourage can be broken down to EN-TOUR-AGE which is partially perfect for my case as I am going to spend every drop of my allowance on trips rather than letting it flow down the drain with material items and this year 2008, I’m officially 21 years of age… so i'm ready to surf porn legally or enters the mystery world of casinos that has been a thrist of mine to try it out.

Just to let you know, I am going to be dreadfully honest with the food and the place that I have visited. If the food is good, why not share it with the world and if the food is awful why keep it a secret? So, I apologize for my comments and remarks if it turns out bad but I promise you, you’ll only hear of the truth.

I will be giving tips on certain stuffs as well but just hang on tight while reading this and hopefully you enjoy what you read. Any enquiries or suggestions are welcome at the chatbox.