Malaysia Food, Travel & Tourism Blog
vkeong loves good food, travel and photography!
Ole Ole Bali Balinese Specialties @ Solaris Mont Kiara
Jan 2nd
I have been reading about Tenji’s Japanese Buffet at SohoKL, Solaris Mont Kiara recently. It seemed like an deal too good to miss out for only RM49.90 for the full session. Being hooked on Japanese food recently, I am going to try it later this month before the luncheon buffet promotion ends.
But, first I need to find out how to go to SohoKL. All I know about Solaris Mont Kiara is that you would surely see it if you’re traveling in and out of [tag]Kuala Lumpur[/tag] via the highway. It is so huge you won’t miss it especially when it’s lighted at night, just like a bigger and better version of Autocity. Yesterday, we finally found the way to SohoKL via Sri Hartamas and had dinner at Ole Ole Bali shortly after that. Our choices were limited because it was New Year’s day, so many shops were closed.
Since Ole Ole Bali is a sister restaurant of Bumbu Bali (they are owned by the same management), the menu is very similar and perhaps too familiar for a long patron of Bumbu Bali like me. Most of the food on the grilled and main courses menu have been tried and tested except for [tag]seafood[/tag]. So, as an attempt to try something new, I had a Seafood Platter @ RM32
The Seafood Platter comes with a very generous portion of Grilled Dory Fillet, two fresh prawns and squid. Side dishes are a bowl of salad, some spicy fries and a slice of juicy, sweet watermelon. I think you could easily make out the prawns.. so the dory fillets are at the bottom, while the squid is that one piece sitting on top.
When Ole Ole Bali says generous portions, they really meant it – there were three dory fillets! Taste wise, the grilled seafood is lightly seasoned to put more emphasis on the natural, fresh flavor. But, if you like your food with a stronger taste, the brown sauce provided does a good job in enhancing the flavor.
vkeong’s Top 21 Food in 2008
Dec 31st
Throughout the year 2008, I have blogged over 100 food related entries. Bak kut teh, dim sum, sushi, shabu shabu, Korean BBQ, steamboats, buffets, steaks, hawker food.. You name it, I got it. So, I thought it would be interesting to list the top 21 either most memorable or nicest food I had in my humble opinion. Clicking on the images would bring you to the post itself.
21. Sushi Zanmai, Sunway Pyramid
In year 2007, Sakae Sushi was my favorite sushi joint. Now, it has been overtaken by Sushi Zanmai.
20. Matsuki Japanese Restaurant, Cantonment Road
The teriyaki sauce is so thick and tasty, you will feel that you are getting your money’s worth. Other restaurants would be stingy and pan fry the chicken with more oil.. making the dish watery and lack of taste. I didn’t really believe it when told it was this good.. but yeah it’s true.
19. Nagomi Shabu Shabu, Menara Hap Seng
Kobe Beef really lives up to its reputation and price tag, it is simply a heavenly meat with unmatched flavor and tenderness. Because they are sliced thinly enough, they usually cook within seconds in the boiling broth.
18. Abang Is’ Malay Char Koay Teow, Bukit Mertajam
Bukit Mertajam is the place where this variant of char koay teow originated. It is so well received that many have taken the opportunity to setup their own char koay teow stalls in Penang. The many cockles and prawns are the biggest contributor to the koay teow’s tastiness.
17. Lebuh Acheh Beef Soup Koay Teow
This is definitely the place for the best beef soup koay teow in Penang. You will regret if you didn’t try, no joke. And most Penangites refer this as the one “opposite balai bomba”. The other things I like are the tendons, tripe (soft jelly texture, nice) and thinly sliced beef which are cooked by quickly dipping them in the boiling soup.
16. Eel Fish Ball Noodle, Heng Seng Kopitiam
The noodle here was awarded one of the best street food in Penang. You could see the news being shown in the poster put up in front of the stall. It is a pity that Heng Seng’s Eel fish ball noodle does not receive as much publicity compared to other Penang hawker food. Because after Googling around I only found a few food bloggers who mentioned this place. Well I think they really deserve more.
15. Ngau Kee Beef Noodle, Tengkat Tong Shin
I hate to admit this, but Ngau Kee’s beef noodles taste nicer compared to Penang’s beef koay teow.. especially the dried one. Really hou hou sek. The beef soup is thick and flavorful, and the minced meat is just awesome.
14. Fong Keow Bak Kut Teh, Klang
I look for tender and fresh meat, herbal thick and sweet soup in a good claypot of Bak Kut Teh. And Fong Keow doesn’t disappoint. Pork ribs were actually given, which made me a happier man lol.
Fancy Mee Corner Pan Mee Restaurant @ Desa Setapak, Wangsa Maju
Dec 29th
Fancy Mee Corner at Desa Setapak, Wangsa Maju is a relatively new restaurant that specializes in Pan Mee, dumplings, snacks and homemade drinks. 爱面子 is the restaurant’s name in Chinese, which could be translated to ‘loving noodle and dumplings’. It opened about 6 months ago and promotes a unique home style feel on the second floor’s seating. Despite not being a huge pan mee fan, the cozy environment was attractive enough for me to pay them a visit.
There are roughly twenty snacks to choose from at Fancy Mee Corner. One of them is the Traditional Fried Dumpling @ RM4.20.
There’s nothing fancy about the nice dipping sauce, it’s simply Thai chili sauce with a dollop of mayonnaise at the center.
Fried Pan Mee @ RM2.50 comes in a rather huge serving and it’s a novel dish created by the chef. It tastes like muruku, minus the spiciness. Quite an awesome snack for a cheap price and I gotta applaud the chef’s creativity. Who would have thought deep frying pan mee could be so tasty?
Best of all, the crunchiness was retained nicely even being left on the table for hours. I could see the potential of fried [tag]pan mee[/tag] being developed into a commercial snack.. I bet it will be popular among the younger people.
Restaurant Shabu Shabu @ Bandar Puteri, Puchong
Dec 29th
How did you celebrate your Christmas? Well, I kind of celebrated it over a shabu shabu meal at Restaurant Shabu Shabu located in Bandar Puteri Puchong. And since most of my friends have went back to hometown on the very day, I went alone. Sounds damn pity huh, lol.
Even after blogging about food for three years, I have yet to really get used to all the glares and stares from other customers when they see me whipping out my camera and taking photos. And the fact that I was eating alone made it looked even weirder, lol. If you spot any poor soul armed with a camera (especially those eating alone), try not to look please. Probably just a food blogger trying to do his/her thing.
Some things I like about Japanese [tag]shabu shabu[/tag] are the hygienic concept of not having to share your boiling pot, and easy heat control just by using two buttons (either warm or cook)
But, the most interesting thing for me about this particular restaurant is the shabu shabu ingredients that go around on the conveyor belt. It’s like eating [tag]steamboat[/tag], sushi style. If you think plain soup is too boring, you can find ABC soup ingredients to be added into your soup. It comes on the belt too so keep an eye for it ok.
