To all those whom are planning to get married, you should come checkout Holiday Inn’s bridal show which is jointly hosted by the hotel and the popular wedding magazine, “Weddings Malaysia” with over twenty of their wedding partners. The fair will showcase the hotel facilities and services for a wedding event and useful advice and tips for creating the perfect wedding. They’ve even tied up with CIMB bank to provide 0% interest free installment plan which to me comes in very handy since weddings nowadays can be quite costly.

For couples who book their wedding at the bridal fair, the hotel will offer one complimentary table for every thirty tables including twenty percent discount on food & non alcoholic beverage at any of their outlets valid on day of the wedding. If you are planning a traditional wedding reception or a more formal celebration, Holiday Inn Kuala Lumpur Glenmarie offers an unforgettable experience that is uniquely yours.

Galore of free prizes worth over RM30, 000 are to be won, including holidays to exotic locations in Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, China, Philippines, Indonesia, Maldives and many more.

To get a copy of their wedding package, please call their wedding planners at +603. 7803 1000, fax at +603. 7800 4880 or email at wendy.lee@holidayinnkl.com.my

For one of our usual hunt for food, this time round Ken and I decided to look for the highly recommended roti canai in Jalan Semarak KL called Valentine Roti. It is located just across Menara Celcom although you could easily miss it if Menara Celcom is on your left since the flow of traffic bends just right in front of this shop.

A romantic name but I wonder how many people had their valentine dinner here? :p

A slight detour to this post was that we notice while driving to this shop that it felt like we were in Penang because some of the roadnames closeby had exact names such as Persiaran Gurney(Gurney Drive), Lebuh Maktab and Padang Tembak (Rifle Range) as those found in Penang.

Anyway, back to the review

Roti Canai Kosong – RM 1

Crispy and yet not oily  served in the traditional metal plate with 3  sections for sauces which are sambal, dhal(Dhal is a dish of lentils often found in Indian cuisine) and fish curry.

Chicken curry

See how thin and crispy this roti canai is!

Here we have the roti canai tossing action:

Tossing it up high and notice how thin the dough has become(check out the fingers) but yet it isnt torn

It is now chucked and folded onto the hot plate to cook until golden brown

While eating we were even given a poster showing us that they were one of the nominees for Best Roti Canai in the Klang Valley organised by friedchillies. The website to vote is http://www.loveyourstreetfood.com/

Ordered Teh Ais (Iced Milk Tea) RM 1.30 to quench our thirst which wasn’t too sweet and had the nice aroma of tea leaves. Definitely a recommended place for those looking for good roti canai.

Location: Jalan Semarak (Opp Menara Celcom)
Opening Hours: 4 p.m. – 2 a.m. (Closed on Sundays)
GPS Coordinates: N3.167997, E101.714958

Ahoy me mateys! Popped over recently to try out Manhattan’s latest promo which is their mediterranean baked fish. The last time I did a review was on their Rush hour promo which made it very convenient for us to order over the phone and have it ready to be picked up and packed nicely for people on the go.

So this time round, this promo revolves around the Mediterranean Baked Fish. A basic platter is priced at RM 13.90 while you have a choice of one add on topping at RM 2.90. The choices are clams, mussels, calamari and shrimps.

Pirate themed Menu

Pink Lemonade @ RM 5.90

Tried asking what made it pink but guess its a secret thats buried in a treasure chest located in the kitchen

Captain’s Clam Chowder @ RM 5.90.

This thick tasty chowder, one will discover hefty chuncks of potato and clams.

Ahoy Mediterranean with Baked Clams @ RM13.90 + RM2.90 for the add-on of clams (Lots of Clams! )
This is the basic platter consisting of the fresh fillet of white dory marinated with coriander and slowly baked till tender and flaky. It is served with their famed Garlic Herb Rice and broccoli, carrots and corn on the side. Not to forget its generous portion of gravy that all of us happily slurped away and especially Xin whom finished it till the last drop.

The remaining dishes are the same just with different various add-ons.

Ahoy Mediterranean with Baked Calamari

Ahoy Mediterranean with Baked Mussels

The waitresses in their get up of hats and moustaches creating that extra ambience of having pirates around…shiver me timbers!

So head on over to any of their outlets. This promo will end on the 6th November 2010.

Jezebel gave birth to a litter of 4 healthy baby kittens in early July 2010. Unfortunately, after a period of 2 weeks, one of the kittens didn’t make it and I am now left with 3 kittens whom are very active, playful and loving.

As much as I would love keeping them all since they are all very adorable and loving, I need to find good homes for them. So if you know of anyone looking for kittens, do let them know.

Jezebel herself is your typical alley cat compared to the pedigree cats like persians but she makes up for it by being very affectionate..which is more than I can say for other cats that I have known and most which are pedigrees.

The mommy herself – Jezebel

1st Week

Eyes still shut and sleeping soundly most of the time

All of em getting their much needed calcium to grow strong and healthy bones

2nd Week

Eyes have opened now and they’re starting to crawl about and explore their surroundings…

4th Week

3 of them now able to somewhat sit and move more

Will try to upload more pics as some were taken on my mobile.

The Mid-Autumn Festival or more popularly known as the Mooncake Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, around the time of the autumn equinox.  For this Mid-Autumn Festival, Dim Sum Chef Lo Tian Sion and his team have created a range of innovative and modern mooncakes, THE FIVE ELEMENTS MOONCAKES… each one symbolic of the key elements of the celebration and the five elements of the universe.

Harmony, friendship, abundance, colour and fullness are the key elements of the Mid-Autumn Celebration which is very much aligned with the principles of the five basic elements of the universe …Fire, Earth, Water, Metal and Wood….symbols of energy, development, change and movement.  Each element is represented by a specific colour, as colour is the easiest way to use the five elements principle to bring harmony and auspicious overtones to any celebration.

Chocolate Paste with Mixed Nuts.  Brown in colour to represent the EARTH element.  Earth gives stability and also relates to real estate and legacies. Earth is patient, just, honest and methodical. Priced at RM13.00++ per piece

Mini Japanese Anko Paste with Rose Flavour.  Pink in colour to represent the FIRE element.  Fire gives energy and enthusiasm.  Fire warms and cheer; and represents the element of the natural leader. Fire represents red, summer and south. Priced at RM13.00++ per piece

Mini Green Tea Paste with Single Egg Yolk.  Green in colour to represent the WOOD element. Wood is creative and innovative. Wood can be pliant and bending (willow) or strong and unyielding (oak). Wood is sociable and community minded. Wood also represents the colour green, the season spring, and the direction east. Wood also represents birth and early childhood. Priced at RM13.00++ per piece

Mini Bamboo Charcoal and Egg Cream Paste with Silver Dust.  Black in colour to represent the WATER element. Water indicates travel, communication, and learning. It also relates to literature, the arts, and the media. Water nourishes all living things and represents winter and north. Priced at RM13.00++ per piece

Mini Pumpkin Paste with Cream Cheese and Gold Dust, Mini Durian Paste with Milk Cream and Mini Egg Cream Paste with Bird’s Nest.  White in colour to represent the METAL element. Metal (also frequently referred to as “gold“) indicates harvest, business and success. This is usually financial success. The color is usually white, but can also be gold. It symbolizes autumn and west; and represents the adult years. Priced at RM25.00++ per piece

(L-R) Mini Mooncakes: Durian ( Gold ), Green Tea ( Green) , Charcoal( Black) , Japanese Anko ( Pink) , Chocolate ( Brown)

The traditional baked mooncakes such as White Lotus with Single Egg Yolk, Pure White Lotus Paste with Nuts, Pandan Paste with Egg Cream and Walnuts, Red Bean Paste with Sunflower Seeds and White Lotus with Double Egg Yolk are also available to cater to the traditionalists. Prices ranging from RM16.00++ per piece to RM21.00++ per piece

The packaging of the mooncakes in brilliant purple and yellow color.

Before the Raya festivities begins, comes Ramadan (ninth month of the Islamic calendar) which is the Islamic month of fasting whereby participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking and sexual activites from dawn until sunset. Families will gather to eat in the early morning before starting their fast and beginning their day and then gather together to break fast in the evening.

In conjuction with the holy month of Ramadan, Eccucion’s culinary team has prepared a special menu of exceptional Malay cuisine to close your evenings during the month of Ramadan with over fifty (50) buffet items that changes daily ranging from popular Malaysian dishes of various States and home-cooked “kampung” dishes.

Enjoy some keropok(crackers) before beginning your meal

Some of these items to feature are specialty “Hawker stalls” comprising the Meat carving highlighting Kambing Bakar, Eccucino Signature Kampung Style hot Pot Soup, Beef & Chicken Rendang, Lemang and Ketupat, Roti Canai, Murtabak as well as Noddles, Satay, Deep Fryers and other popular malay dishes.

Hot Pot soup – Signature beef ribs and oxtail with root vegetables and spice

The chefs preparing the soup in the huge kuali (wok) as how it would be done traditionaly especially with big families

Kambing Bakar – ala Roast Lamb

Lemang(Bamboo Coconut Milk Rice)

The lemang being sliced after being removed from the bamboo

Lemang with beef rendang

Laksa counter – The Noodle Hawker stall

loads of assorted condiments to add into your laksa like lime, sliced boiled eggs, onions, cucumbers, pineapple and especially the thick prawn paste.

3 flavours of laksa to choose from laksa penang, asam laksa and also Thai style laksa lemak

Nangka muda masak ikan masin(young jack fruit with salted fish)

Udang sambal petai (Prawns with chilies paste and pods)

Tulang rawan masak kuzi (Braised beef ribs kuzi style)

Ikan patin masak tempoyak (Cat fish simmered in fermented durian gravy)

Ayam perchik (Malay style roasted chicken with fresh herbs)

There is also the cold selections of a range of salads and appetizers such as acar, otak-otak, kerabu, ulam-ulam and serunding.

The highlight on the buffet are the famous Malay Hot seletions such as Bubur Lambok, selection of Kurma, Indian slections, Chinese selections, Western selections such as Seafood on Ice, Japanese selections such as Teppanyaki Stall and of course not forgetting dessert like the Cold Slab Ice Cream(Imagine teppanyaki on ice!).

Bubur Lambok(beef congee with spice, coonut milk and dried shrimps)

Nasi briyani(basmati rice) cook in briyani style

Ais Kacang & Cendul Stall

Traditional way of shaving ice

It really makes us appreciate how easy we have it now with machinery

Lots of condiments to choose from

Pulut being addded to the Ais Kacang (shaved ice) – its something different from the chinese ais kacang

Local refreshing shaved ice dessert with palm sugar, rose syrup and condiments

Cendul – shaved ice, palm sugar, corn and kidney beans

Also one can find Berbuka Puasa condiments available like Buah Kurma, Sweets, Kuih Muih and Drinks/Juice.

Dessert Section

Strawberries to be either eaten as so or dipped in the chocolate fountain

*Guest who wishes to perform their Maghrib prayers, separate male and female prayer rooms are also available on Level 5.

Ramadhan Gathering buffet is available from now. Also you can now purchase Early Bird Special Price at RM88++ till 11 August 2010.  The dining date for early birds will be from 11-17 August. (Usual Price: 98++ per person)

They also have the early morning Sahur buffet @ Eccucino (RM 50++ per person)

Eccucino (Prince Hotel & Residence KL)
Jalan Conlay, 50450 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: +603 2170 8888 ext. 8119 or 8120
Email: restaurants@princehotelkl.com.my
Website: www.princehotelkl.com
Berbuka Puasa Buffet Availability : 6.30pm to 10.30pm from 11 Aug 2010 till the Eve of Hari Raya 2010

Its rush hour now but not on the roads but at the Manhattan FISH MARKET. Tick..Tock..Tick..Tock..as time waits for no man or woman, its essential that every moment is spent well.  Hence that is how they came up with their new menu promotion “Rush Hour @ Manhattan“.

Along with this new menu, the Manhattan FISH MARKET also introduced a concept as well called “Takeaway-Friendly“. How this works is diners can choose to pre-order their meals via a phone call to their nearest restaurant, swing by the restaurant and their food is conveniently waiting to be ‘taken-away’.

Unmissable entrace with their big neon lit logo

Their new menu for the promotion

To not waste anymore time, lets dive down into their new offerings….

Awaken your taste bud with their new drink. Made out of crushed ice with refreshing lemon juice with a dash of cool mint, this refreshing drink is just what is needed to quench your thirst.

Citrus Mint (RM 6.90)

For the healthy folks out there, this salad is a combination of tuna flakes served on a bed of fresh greens with a choice of 2 dressings, Caesar Chutney or Cajun Honey Mustard.

Flakin’ Fun in the Garden (RM 13.90)

The Caesar Chutney and Cajun Honey Mustard dressing for the salad.

Time to play with some fire…unfortunately you don’t get to flame it yourself. Lol. Just like the sheppard’s pie or any other pies, there is 2 layers to it. The layer at the bottom consist of chunky tuna bits, packed with sauteed veggies. Then a layer of mash potatoes (not the powdered kind) is added along with creamy mozzarella cheese and flamed!

Flamin’ Tuna Pie (RM 15.90)

See how the process starts from the left top corner of this picture to the huge flames and finally the finnished product. A flamed tuna pie. *Note: Click on the image to have a better view :p

We were told that this dish is ‘takeaway- friendly’ since eating this on-the-go with your hands is possible. Packed with scrumptious tuna flakes wrapped in tortilla and also filled with garden-fresh veggies drizzled with the famous Manhattan Flaming Sauce and served with a side of Chips.

Wrap ‘N Roll (RM 14.90)

For pasta lovers, they have a dish ala aglio olio which consists of swirls of delicious spaghetti in a light garlic, corinader and olive oil sauce, tossed with succulent sauteed shrimps and dusted with zesty chili flakes. The flakes added a nice kick of spicyness.

Shrimp my Pasta (RM 16.90)

For those regulars of the Manhattan FISH MARKET, this next dish is not something new but popular since it is their signature dish. The seafood platter consist of a few deep fried items, calamari, oysters, fish and their prawns which is covered in a special flaming sauce served on a bed of garlic buttered rice.

This dish is recommended for 2 but I am pretty sure it will even be able to cater for 3. The batter of the fish was very nice and crispy while the imported oysters tasted good as well.

The Manhattan Seafood Platter (RM 46.90)

Some close up of these nice golden seafood

Time for somemore flaming action! You can literally see smoke coming off the prawns on the last pic on the bottom right.. *Note: Click on the image to have a better view :p

More seafood to offer, is their New Zealand imported mussels.  Poached mussels served in creamy garlic butter sauce. Comes with slices of toasted garlic butter bread.

Garlic Butter Mussels (RM 16.90)

The Grilled Norwegian King Salmon Fillet (RM 26.90) – Grilled in basic salt and pepper topped with Manhattan garlic butter sauce.

To finnish of with desserts,

Tuscan Tiramisu (RM 9.90) – MFM version of the famous Italian dessert

Manhattan Mud Pie (RM 10.90) – MFM version of the sinfully rich moist chocolate cookie ice-cream pie topped with nuts and syrup.

Some good to know information on their menu as what goes into their dishes.

Bloggers enjoying their meal…..long tables can be arranged to cater to huge groups as well

So head over to their website to see the nearest outlet to you!

The Rush Hour campaign will start from 5th July till 8th August 2010.

The Manhattan Fish Market
e@Curve
Lot LG – 17(1), Lower Ground Floor,
2A, Jalan PJU 7/3, Mutiara Damansara
47800, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel: 03 – 7728 7303
website: www.manhattanfishmarket.com

If you’re reading this in the morning then.. Ohaiyou Gozaimasu! If not then Konnichiwa!! With a new master chef in Enju @ Prince Hotel & Residence Kuala Lumpur, we were there to sample his offering of creative authenticity in Japanese cuisine.

With 46 years of experience(that’s like 1 ½ years of my lifetime!) under his belt dealing with Japanese cuisine, both traditional and fusion, it was natural to expect the standard he brings with him.

Master Chef Heiji Kasuga himself

As we entered the restaurant, you would instantly see a bongsai plant and the various decorations adorned on the walls of the restaurant.

Various Sake bottles and also an award that was given to the restaurant

While we were happily sipping our green tea, the chef came out and greeted us briefly before quickly heading back to his kitchen to prepare his dishes.

The first dish that we had and which should always be the first item is sashimi. This is so that you can taste the natural flavours that is so fresh and pure. On this platter of 20 assorted pieces, you have the usual items like butter fish, salmon, tuna, octopus, squid, yellow tail and fish roe.

Sashimi Fuji @ RM140++

The salmon was fresh and the thickness of each slice was just right. It is always a nice sight to admire how it is sliced such that grains of the salmon flows.

Just gotta love this fish roe as the size to me looked larger that what I would normally find. I picked them individually and each bite is like a burst of your senses…yumm.

nice vibrant colour of the raw Tuna

Another dish to savour is this. A slightly fusioned dish, Grilled mussels with egg yolk sauce. The mussels were juicy and still retained its sweetness and the rich creamy sauce paired with it went well together. Even Witch was pleasantly surprised since she usually isn’t so keen due to the fishy smell of mussels she encountered.

Murugai Yaki @RM32

Served in chinese soup spoons for easy eating, this bite sized fish is marinated cod with miso and then grilled. Sometimes one would have grilled cod with mayo but you just have this on its own and let it melt in your mouth.

Gindara Saikyo Yaki

Next up was the makis. The first two were rolled in a reverse fashion whereby the seaweed was within the roll and not at the exterior and then sprinkled with different roes. One was with orange fish roe that was filled with crabstick, egg, cucumber and avocado while the other one that had green roe was filled with pickled daikon (radish), crabstick and cucumber.

Assorted Makimono #1

Assorted Makimono #2

This next maki is a variation making it Enju’s own version. Wrapped in seaweed, it contains fresh salmon, cucumber, flying fish roe, tempura flakes, avocado and very minimal vinegared rice.

ENJU Dynamite Roll @ RM22