Lemony Olive Oil Banana Bread

You can't really know what to expect in regards to the weather when someone invites you to a late-October wedding near Monterey, California. A wedding at an off-season summer camp. I thought there was a good chance I'd be wearing Wellies under whatever dress I picked out, sloshing around in puddles. Not the case! The sun was strong, old moss-laced oak trees lent some shade, and the guests swam, shot rifles, barn danced, and drank plenty of bubbles at this multi-day fete. Knowing I couldn't go off to camp without a couple treats in my bag, I wrapped a massive piece of Melissa Clark's Lemony Olive Oil Banana Bread in parchment paper and tucked it away for snacking later.

If you drive south, and then a bit east from Monterey, the landscape changes from the big horizons, slates and blues of the coast to rolling, golden hills, warmer temperatures, craggy trees, and horse properties. I grew up north of here by an hour, also inland in a similar way - oak trees, hills, yellow/gold, hot days that extend into warm nights. The setting of the wedding felt incredibly familiar to me. In a way, those trees, the colors, that sky have always been a part of my life. It was nice. And I suppose it goes without saying, I was happy to have a camera with me to try to capture some moments from the wedding, as well as some shots that share a sense of what I love about this part of California.

The banana bread - it's amazing. And, if you ask me, best served on a picnic table. There were a couple tiny tweaks I made to Melissa's recipe (it's one of about a dozen recipes I tagged from her new book, Cook This Now). Instead of using a loaf pan, I couldn't resist baking it in the bundt pan I recently picked up in an antique store. And, because I love the flavor combination of lemon and brown sugar, I worked some brown (muscovado) sugar into the icing. The icing sets up firm, and wrapped in paper (and taped or tied), slices won't mess up your purse (or suitcase). The cake is made with a good amount of whole wheat flour, generously chocolate-studded, with a good zing of lemon in the cake itself (and from the icing).

Congratulations Oliver & Naya, it was incredibly special to be part of your beautiful celebration - and (!) to finally meet Alana in person. And thank you Melissa, for a recipe I look forward to revisiting regularly. - h

Continue reading Lemony Olive Oil Banana Bread...

Breathing the Revolutionary Air @ Publika, Solaris Dutamas

Publika More than just a lifestyle mall, the interior of the creative retail haven appeared distinctively different from the other shopping outlets in Klang Valley; this one inspired by the magic of arts and creativity.

Come find me at Publika in Solaris Dutamas okay?

And I was like Huh? What Publika? A new business centre (again)? Another towering block of offices? Or another Empire wanna-be? (sans the horrific blast that left me Empire-less for more than a month now!)

A quick search around the web got me linked to a few reviews on Eat Food Village and B.I.G (Bens Independent Grocer), both anchor tenants of the relatively new shopping mall in Solaris Dutamas.

Exuding a youthful vibe and unorthodox flair perfect for yuppies, hippies and foodies. You can even imagine them organizing arts festivals, cultural events and the likes in this premise without people raising an eyebrow.

Read on to find out more about Publika; a playground for the creative minds .

Chatime is the culprit in spreading this undying cravings for Taiwanese-style freshly brewed/roasted milk tea with bites of b! ouncy (Q Q) pearls. Theyre EVERYWHERE. (It was Halloween when we were there, hence the cobwebs and gory setting)

EAT FOOD VILLAGE A quick glance will lead you to thinking that wait, is this another Hutong @ Lot 10? (Heres a post on Yeohs Bak Kut Teh @ Klang)

You must be wondering why have I never written a piece on Hutong, in spite of this passion for writing about street food.

The fact is, I have been there for a couple of times. Yes, the selection of famous hawker fares from all around the Klang Valley (plus a few modern/clashing elements like Kissaten, etc) seems to be magical on paper, yet the claustrophobic ambience with dodgy nooks and corners (coupled with an unmistakably bad ventilation system) did not leave a fine impression on me.

Okay, maybe they were trying to replicate the exact environment of a glutton street (wai sek kai), but Hutong could do with more space and better lighting. Just personal observations.

BM Yam Rice; Bukit Mertajam in Penang is a place famous for the duck egg char kuey teow, and yam rice. This stall at Eat Food Village serves the classic yam rice without much frills, yet satisfying enough with various options of braised meats. I chose the braised pork set (RM9.90/USD3.20) that came with a side of braised egg and beancurd, a peppery soup lightly garnished with some coriander and of course, a luscious bowl of po! rk cuts braised in a dark, starchy gravy that brought to mind a very homely, comfort dish.

Hence, cant blame me for having second thoughts about Eat Food Village @ Publika. Same concept, different execution. And thankfully, the food court was tastefully done; elements of old Shanghai and a bright dining area with comfortable spaces between the tables.

Of course, how could I have missed the chance to sample the famed Kin Kin Pan Mee. After all, they started this chili pan mee craze years ago back when they had only one outlet on Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman. And theres the endless rants on the amazing chili pan mee they serve, balanced with equally nasty posts about the quality of their service.

Personally, I have not visited the original outlet. But the second branch at Pandan Indah got me so disappointed. And that was my first chili pan mee experience. To the extent that I was doubting the positive feedback from various sources.

Of course, a stream of me-toos ensued; the most prominent being Super Kitchen that I actually enjoy though there were times when the Chow Yang branch failed me. Yet, I found myself going for more tormenting sessions.

This one at Publika? Still failed me. Though relatively better than the branch at Pandan Indah. The poached egg was okay, yet a little too cooked rendering the experience more of a lumpy, sticky affair rather than a moist, lubricated one. (Wait, I couldnt have sounded more obscene.). The plate of chili flakes (THE measuring stick for good chili pan mee) was about 2-3 teaspoons-full. Probably not enough for daredevils/masochists seeking for a scorching experience, but the portion was just right for me.

There was this Sentul Hokkien Mee stall that was doing brisk business and received accolades from my friend who works at Publika. The Lorong Seratus Tahun curry mee and Loke Yun Ampang chicken rice stalls were receiving cold shoulders, surprisingly. The wantan mee stall (sorry forgot the name) was comparatively successful too; the noodles retaining the much-desired crunch and tossed in a savoury sauce.

And of course, what better way to douse the fire (or maybe, lack thereof) from the chili pan mee than a refreshing cup of Chatimes signature? The QQ Milk Tea had coconut jelly (nata de coco) and the omnipresent pearls (tapioca balls). At RM4.90 per cup, fire extinguishers dont come cheaper than this.

Still seeking for more caffeine intoxication, we ventured over to Our Daily Bread next to I Love Yoo! on the same floor as Eat Food Village, but outside of the food court.

They serve Illy coffee, with a myriad of freshly-baked pastries and cakes. A corner tucked hidden away from general view, we walked past this a few times yet Our Daily Bread did not catch our attention.

The Belgian chocolate lifted the unassuming piece of pastry to a different level, while the cupcake w! as a far cry from being the best that I have tasted. Since the proprietors are Malaccans, you should probably give their homemade kaya a try (not extra smooth and artificial, but with a coarse texture yet redolent with flavours so they claimed).

Oh, and they make Whoopie Pies on certain days. So its best to call up and reserve this rarely found specialty.
Our Daily Bread @ UG1 55 (Tel No : +6017-883 4438)

Bens Independent Grocer stocks up on various fresh produce (even hydroponic plants ready for harvesting!), and imported goods. Theres a cafe/bistro that attracts a steady stream of patrons so overwhelming that you have to line up to grab a seat!

PUBLIKA @ SOLARIS DUTAMAS
More information from their website including the Location Map, other retail outlets, promotions, the concept etc.

Mizu @ New Farm, Brisbane

We are always on the look out for inspiring breakfast places with a menu that goes beyond the poached eggs, bacon and coffee. After complaining (something I am getting quite good at), one of my friends said if we wanted to try a Japanese breakfast instead. Off we went on a Sunday morning, warm and bright to Mizu.


An immediate bonus about this place was that it was near empty when we walked in at 10am. No long queues, no standing outside the sun and no crying stomach.

Instead of my coffee, we had the green tea latte instead. Done exactly the same way using green tea (powder I suspect). To really appreciate the drink though, I suggest putting a little bit of sugar. The iced version which comes with ice-cream was tempting for a takeaway but luckily a pinch on the leg reminded me that I should be on a diet (of some sorts).

I was expecting a nice big rustic looking okonomiyaki with the lot although at AUD10, you had to be realistic as to what you would get. What I did get was 2 patties which tasted spot on and a nice smiley face with some salad. Not exactly the item to fill me up for half a day but something for a change.

The Bento Box is much more filing and you can see a couple of pickled items used to presumably wake up the sleeping palate. Simple but nice for a change unless eating rice in the morning is not your cup of tea.

Overall, if you are looking for something different and think eating a bento box in the morning might do the trick, Mizu is the place to go. Having tried their food at breakfast which was quite promising, I do want to drop by for a lunch or dinner.

Address and contact details:

Verdict: 3.5 stars out of 5 stars. Japanese breakfast, how cool is that?

VIDEO: Rebecca Saw burns the tracks drifting!

Driftinggggg!!

Its my new found thrill! Now I just got to get myself BEHIND the wheel and actually drive that car!
(Yes, unfortunately Im not trained to actually drift.YET).

The whole video is shot with the Samsung Galaxy S2 and edited by Nigel Tee.
(To contact him on potential video works, leave him a comment on his blog http://blog.flymenigel.com/).

Whatcha think? Whatcha think??

Note:
Thanks to Vernon and http://ignition.my/ for the opportunity!

Waterfall

Some folks warned us: Don't go chasing Waterfall, please stick to the restaurants & cafes that you're used to. But naturally, we had to uncover the truth for ourselves at this Native American-influenced outlet in Bangsar.

Waterfall's menu comprises a hodgepodge of Tex-Mex favorites, pizzas & pastas. We skipped the calorie-laden nachos & cheese-stuffed jalapenos, opting instead for a Butch Cassidy Burger, featuring a 220-gram rib-eye rubbed in Cajun spices. Not bad for only RM20, thanks to the thick, tender hunk of meat.

Peanut Butter Panic. This was supposed to be peanut butter ice cream, layered with peanut butter mousse & chopped Reese's peanut butter cups. But what it really tasted like was vanilla ice cream with melted peanut butter. Sigh, right?

Let's get this party started: Boston Tea Party (gin, vodka, rum, grand marnier, triple sec, tia maria, cranberry juice). Buy one cocktail, get one free before 7 p.m.

Flaming Dr Pepper, a fabulous flaming shooter comprising Amaretto, Bacardi & beer.

Waterfall Restaurant & Bar,

Jalan Telawi 2, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.

Miele Guide Asia's Top 20 for 2011/2012

Cilantro has made us proud again, going up two places to No.6 this year in the Miele Guide. Congrats!


Results from the Miele Guide 2011/2012 (Top 20):

1. Iggy's, Singapore

2. Andre, Singapore

3. L'atelier de Joel Robuchon, Hong Kong

4. Robuchon A Galera, Macau

5. Caprice, Hong Kong

6. Cilantro Restaurant and Wine Bar, Kuala Lumpur

7. Modern Eatery, Shanghai

8. Pierre Gagnaire a Seoul, Korea

9. Bo Innovation, Hong Kong

10. Tippling Club, Singapore

11. Antonio's, Phillipines

12.Mozaic, Bali

13. Otto e Mezzo Bombana, Hong Kong

14.Gunther's Modern French Cuisine, Singapore

15. Dum Pukht, Mumbai, India

16. Dakshin, Mumbai, India

17.Yung Kee, Hong Kong

18. Sarong, Bali, Indonesia

19. Les Amis, Singapore

20. Bukhara, New Delhi, India


Would be interesting to see which restaurants made it into Top 5 Malaysia Restaurants this year.

The Miele Guide 2011/2012 Asia Top 20

Tonight was the big gala night at Resorts World Singapore where they announced the Asia's Top 20 for The Miele Guide.


Here's the results:


1.Iggys, Singapore (1)
2.Andre, Singapore (new)
3. L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Hong Kong (2, down)
4. Robuchon A Galera, Macau (3, down)
5. Caprice, Hong Kong (10, up)
6. Cilantro, Kuala Lumpur (8, up)
7. Mr. & Mrs. Bund - Modern Eatery by Paul Pairet, Shanghai (new)
8. Pierre Gagnaire a Seoul, Seoul, South Korea (new)
9. Bo Innovation, Hong Kong (19, up)
10. Tippling Club, Singapore (15, up)
11. Antonio's, Phillipines (5, down)
12. Mosaic, Bali (6, down)
13. Otto e Mezzo Bombana, Hong Kong (new)
14. Gunther's Modern French Cuisine, Singapore (13, down)
15. Dum Pukht,Mumbai, India (17, up)
16. Dakshin, India (new)
17. Yung Kee, Hong Kong (12, down)
18. Sarong, Bali (new)
19. Les Amis, Singapore (11, down)
20. Bukhara,New Delhi, India (14, down)


Notes


Three restaurants from India in the Asia Top 20. An increase from two last year.


There are no restaurants from Tokyo considering it is the city awarded the most Michelin stars. Last year's L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon in Tokyo was placed in no. 9 but had dropped out from the top 20.


Our own Cilantro Kuala Lumpur goes up two places to no. 6.


New award called Chef of the Chefs Award goes to Umberto Bombana from Otto e Mezzo Bombana, Hong Kong.

Fresh Snow Pears in Chicken Soup with Snow Fungus

Soup Name: Fresh Snow Pears in Chicken Soup with Snow Fungus

Traditional Chinese Name: (xu l xu r j tng)

Introduction:

This end of autumn and into winter soup is slightly sweet, not too cooling and is deliciously simple to make. With only a handful of ingredients, it is an ideal soup for the whole family and will have your kids asking for more. Add more pears to sweeten it, but you can also use the Chicken Herbal Soup base to start as well.

What ingredients are required?

1 chicken (whole), skinned and quartered
2 whole dried snow fungus, cored and quartered
4 fresh snow pears, halved and cored

2 L of water

How do I prepare it?

Rinse and soak dried snow fungus in a bowl of enough water to immerse it in for about an hour (or until soft)

Clean and prepare the chicken

Boil a pot of water to blanch the chicken in and when water boils, add in the chicken and boil for 2-3 minutes

Drain and set aside

Cut the soaked snow fungus into edible portions while discarding the core (which is usually very yellow and hard)

Boil your soup water

Prepare the snow pears by coring and halving (keeping the skin will prevent disintegration)

Add all the ingredients together and boil on high for 30 minutes. Reduce to a low boil for another hour.

Serve and enjoy!

Any benefits?

• Excellent source of collagen (from the snow fungus)
• Naturally sweet and packed with Vitamin C
• Helps nourish the lungs, assist with cough and soothe the throat

Any precautions?

• Be sure to purchase snow fungus from a reputable source and rinse thoroughly before consumption

Selangorlicious Foodster Trip to Ampang Hulu Langat Vegetable Fish Farm Thai Restaurant

Baby C's Birthday Cupcakes @ Delectable by Su, The Gardens Mall, Kuala Lumpur

Not only did the birthday girl want a special carrot/ladybird birthday cake, she also asked if she could have the cute cupcakes from Delectable by Su. Her first cupcake from Delectable was actually one that she "won" by being one of the first 5 customers to high-five at their Pavilion outlet. Since then, she has always been telling me that she wants some for her birthday.

To be honest, I think she wasn't too fussed about which flavour we got her. She loves the fondant artwork.... I mean who doesn't, look how cute they are! Baby C's face lit up when she saw that we remembered her birthday cupcakes :)

Delectable cupcakes come in a pretty box

Hello cuties

We got these few characters for her - Jo, Teddy and Wendy. Set of 3 cupcakes cost RM33. Baby C likes Jo the best since Jo is holding a carrot - her birthday cake criteria this year! When it comes down to the flavour of the cupcakes, we prefer Teddy and Wendy. The cupcakes are really moist.

Jo - Ginger cake with vanilla buttercream

Teddy - Chocolate cake with espresso buttercream and chocolate ganache filing

Wendy - Chocolate cake with mandarin orange buttercream

Baby C's homemade birthday cake complemented with 3 beautiful cupcakes

Full set of photos available to view here.

You can also read about Delectable by Su's macarons and 7 Sins of Chocolatehere.

Location: Delectable by Su, Lot S213, Second Floor, The Gardens Mall, Mid Valley City, Lingkaran Syed Putra, 59200 Kuala Lumpur. (Robinsons side)

Tel: 012- 508 1855

Join their Facebook page here.