Pork Burger Brussels, Jaya One

I came here underneath the recommendation of the arguable foodie who knows her burgers.

And we came here for the burger alone as we have never remembered food at Brussels to be memorable. So the single can say this was the flattering straightfoward mission; get to Brussels, get the table, get my order fired & wait for for to devour the burger & split out my judgement.

The alternative half kept himself assigned with the Leffe, whilst eyeing me pitter-patter my fingers impatiently for the burger. we just couldnt wait for for to prove my curiosityof this moist, juiciest ever & thick porki-licious patty, as such was the lip-smacking description communicated to me by my friend.

Then the burger arrives..& my crony was right on many accounts. Most.

For RM26 (or somewhere around there), it came justifiably labelled with the cut of bacon, juicy tomatoes, cheese & an strange but pretty decent- sized patty.

1st fault was on the bun. we never favourite those airy, unsound buns. But we do conclude that it was smeared with pungent garlic butter, the good shift from normal spread. The patty itself was approach too sodium-fied for me & we had trouble finishing it. we wonder if burger patties kurang masin is ever possible??
Texture-wise, it is roughly the same as the a single we sampled in Smore, Bangsar South. Gummy & paste-y, that cos my ratings for this to reduce substantially, asI in all prefer my patties wi! th the c hunkier meaty bite.

The most appropriate pig burger in town? Nahhh, not by my standards.

Brussels Beer Cafe
L-20-G, Block L
Jaya One
No. 72A Jalan Universiti
46200 Petaling Jaya
Selangor Darul Ehsan

Tel 03-7954 2000

Plum Crumbles & Ginger Ice Cream

Summer is looking to find Fall around here it seems. Today for example is what we similar to to call "une journee formidable" - the stately day. And as trite as it sounds, (I similar to corny, there) I've been humming this aged strain all day. Bright sunshine, mild heat as good as the good breeze. we turned the A/C off as good as opened up all the windows.


And breathed. we have put myself upon imperative time outs during 11 as good as 3 o'clock every day as good as go outside, do the musty shake down - pierce about in the residence or just fool around with the pups. Days have been intense, yes, though absolutely gratifying. we was just thinking the other day which we might have the lot of projects in the works though all have the wonderful personal relationship trustworthy to them. Everyday we am since the possibility to assistance someone's vision come true. That is the privilege.


When Holly as good as we decided to applaud the operative together upon her cookbook, she graciously invited us to her residence as good as we volunteered to bring dessert. we was not going to bring tarts, that's for sure...! we took advantage of the farmers market bounty the single weekend as good as bought tons of fresh dark as good as luscious plums.


I indispensable something which could go upon the little float around the block as good as still make it in respectable form. we was, indeed, going to have dinner with the Cordon Bleu graduate, eheheh! As usual during the farmers market, we bought the litt! le more than what we indispensable so we done the single 8x8 pulp to take to dinner as good as the couple of not as big ones for us to enjoy again later.

With travels, work as good as just "being" (friends, weeekends, parties,...), we did dont think about they were there, all by their lonesome self in the freezer. Yep. we know. Sad. Well usually for the short moment when we satisfied they had been unresolved out with the full container of ginger ice thickk thickk cream we had just done for the party. we took the crumbles out the single dusk as good as selfishly kept the little of the ginger ice thickk thickk cream for us too.

Indeed, Summer was job upon Fall which night. And utterly perfectly so...



Plum Crumbles With Ginger Ice Cream:

Serves 4 to 6

Notes: we can replace the gluten free flours as good as the cornstarch with the same amounts in all purpose flours.

For the plums:
4 plums, pitted as good as thinly sliced (skin on)
1/4 crater sugarine (I used sucanat - the non refined sugar)(use regular sugarine if needed)
zest of the single lemon
2 Tb lemon juice
2 Tb cornstarch

For the pulp topping:
For the topping:
3/4 crater (90gr) millet flour
3/4 crater (120gr) brownish-red rice flour
1/2 crater (65gr) cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
pinch of salt
6 tablespoons (80gr) unsalted butter, cold, in small pieces
1/4 crater sucanat (or sugar)

Prepare the pulp topping:
In the vast bowl, stir together all the flours as good as cornstarch, cardamom as good as pinch of salt. Add the butter as good as sucanat as good as begin mixing everything together with your fingertips. You wish to form the couple of vast clusters of dough. It will be easier to grate once cold. Freeze the mixture while we hope for the fruits.

! Preheat the oven during 350F as good as position the rack in the middle.

Prepare the plums:
In the vast mixing bowl, mix the plums as good as the rest of the ingredients. Toss well. Divide in between 4 -6 ramekins as good as place them upon the baking piece as the fruits have been most expected to release their juice, causing the spill. Top with the pulp topping as good as bake for 30-35 minutes.


For the ginger ice cream:
See this post.

ARSE 2: The Wines

from [Spittoon] Full Postings

What I have to ask is what exactly DID I do during the ARSE 2 tasting/picnic? I served the wine, unveiled the hidden wines to the sounds of tuts and "I told you so's", and nibbled a bit of the food. I must have been enjoying myself too much as I didn't take a video as planned and I certainly didn't get to sample all the wines!

For those interested in seeing what was available (or what you missed if you didn't make it) here is the full list:

Wines generously supplied by Bordeaux Undiscovered

The Sparklers
Champagne Barnaut Secondé-Collard Blanc de Noirs Brut NV £17.49 (100% Pinot Noir)
[Bordeaux Undiscovered/Adegga/Snooth]
This proved the star of the tasting if the conversation was anything to go by, but also view the mentions on Gastonomy Domaine "a lovely toasty nose and a crazily low price" and Wine Woman Song "has the nose of a much more expensive Champagne".

Adam Crémant d'Alsace Chardonnay Extra Brut NV £12.99 (100% Chardonnay)
[Bordeaux Undiscovered/Adegga/Snooth]
This I slipped on while nibbling on the canapés; all seemed divine.

The Rosés
Chateau Ballan-Larquette Bordeaux Clairet 2008 £6.83 (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc)
[Bordeaux Undiscovered/Adegga/Snooth]
Totally flummoxed most when served blind...

Chateau Roques Mauriac Rosé 2005 £6.84 (Merlot 60%, Cabernet Franc 40%)
[Bordeaux Undiscovered/Adegga/Snooth]

The Whites
Chateau Laures Bordeaux Blanc, 2006, Entre Deux Mers £7.25 (60% Semillon, 30% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Muscadelle)
[Bordeaux Undiscovered/Adegga/Snooth]
Fleur de Luze, Bordeaux 2007 £6.15 (100% Sauvignon Blanc)
[Bordeaux Undiscovered/Adegga/Snooth]
This I enjoyed a few months ago as a great accompaniment to Scampi with Tartare Sauce - every bit as fresh and delicious now.

The Reds
Chateau Bel Air, Bordeaux Superieur, 2007 £7.10 (50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc)
[Bordeaux Undiscovered/Adegga/Snooth]
Chateau Peynaud Bordeaux Superieur, 2008 £7.56 (50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc)
[Bordeaux Undiscovered/Adegga/Snooth]

Wines from Hardys
Supplied by Frank Pr
Hardys Varietal Range Pinot Grigio 2009, South East Australia 11%
Hardys Nottage Hill FreshCase Cabernet Shiraz 2008 South East Australia, 13.5%
Those on twitter may have spotted a photo of The Wine Sleuth grasping hold of this environmentally friendly case on the Chiltern Line train back to Marylebone.. says a lot about the quality of the wine as old Sleuthy has very exacting standards when it comes to wine!

Wines Purchased

Henschke Henry's Seven, 2006, Eden Valley, Barossa, Australia £17.99 Waitrose (75% Shiraz, 15% Grenache, 8% Viognier, 2% Mourvèdre)
[Adegga/Snooth]
Didn't even get a snifter of this - plenty pointed out how good it was mind! Don't you just hate that - someone with a mouthful tapping the empty bottle and nodding enthusiastically!?

Tomàs Cusiné Auzells, 2008, Costers del Segre, Spain £14.49 Oddbins (32% Macabeu, 19% Sauvignon Blanc, 16% Parellada, 10% Viognier, 8% Chardonnay, 8% Müller Thurgau, 3% Muscat, 2% Riesling, 1% Albariño and 1% Roussanne) Lees tank "batonage" and 10% fermented in French oak barrels. Alcohol 12%.
[Adegga/Snooth]
A question - does 1% of anything actually make a damn bit of difference to any wine? I really enjoyed this, if only for the interesting mix angle. Textural and fresh.

Doña Paula Series Naked Pulp Viognier, 2008, Mendoza, Argentina £12.99 Oddbins (100% Viognier) 8g/l Residual sugar Alcohol 14.5% 8 months in new French oak.
[Adegga/Snooth]
Rather rich and mouthfilling. A glorious joy; if perhaps a touch too rich to enjoy with food.

Bellbird Spring Home Block White, 2008, Waipara, New Zealand £18.99 Oddbins All four varieties (Pinot Gris majority, Riesling, Muscat, Gewürztraminer) grown in a one hectare parcel of vines. Residual Sugar 19.9g/l Alcohol 13%
[Adegga/Snooth]
High in residual (that's a little sweetness for the interested but non-wine-geek) but hardly noticeable. Bloody delicious.

10 Facts about Xantham Gum, a very popular food additive

from Fooducate by Editorial Staff

Have you heard of xantham gum, one of the 30 most popular ingredients used in food products? You’ll find it in salad dressings, sauces, ice cream and also gluten free foods. What is xantham gum, and why is it such a popular ingredient?

What you need to know:

1. Xantham Gum is made by fermenting corn sugar with a bacteria, Xanthomonas campestris. It’s the same bateria that creates black spots on broccoli and cauliflower. The result is a slimy goo that is then dried up and ground into a fine white powder.

2. Xantham gum is an emulsifier. It helps ingredients blend more effectively and stay blended while waiting on a shelf. For example – water and oil mixtures, as well as bits of spice in a salad dressing.

3. Xantham gum is also used as a thickener. Add a bit to water and it becomes more viscous. Many fat free salad dressing maintain and oily visosity by using thickeners such as xantham gum. In pastry fillings, it prevents the water seeping out and soaking the dough, thus protecting the crispness of the crust.

4. Xantham gum is used in ice creams as well to prevent the formation of ice crystals and keep the product “smooth”.

5. Xantham gum has become popular in the gluten free circles. It helps give the dough a sticky consistency.

6. Only a small amount of xantham gum is necessary to achieve the desired result, usually less than 0.5% of the food product weight.

7. When mixed with guar gum or locust bean gum, the viscosity is more than when either one is used alone, so less of each can be used.

8. Nutritionally, xantham gum is a carbohydrate with 7 grams of fiber per tablespoon. This may cause bloating in some people.

9. Xanthan gum may be derived from a variety of sources such as corn, wheat, or soy. People with an allergy to one of the above, need to avoid foods with xantham gum, or to ascertain the source.

10. Xantham Gum was “discovered” by a team of USDA researchers in the 1960’s. In 1968 it was approved for use as a food additive in the US and Europe.

What to do at the supermarket:

So is Xantham Gum safe to consume or not? It’s perfectly safe to consume if you don’t have any allergy issues as mentioned above. However, most people wouldn’t prepare a salad dressing at home with xantham gum, nor add it to a pastry filling. When you see xantham gum labeled on products at the supermarket, you realize that you are buying an industrial processed product. In this case the health/nutrition consequences are minimal, but check what other, more sinister additives are lurking in the product as well.

FTC Accuses POM of False Advertsing

The Federal Trade Commission announced yesterday which it has filed a complaint against POM Wonderful for false advertising. From a FTC:

As partial of a ongoing efforts to uncover over-hyped illness claims in food advertising, a Federal Trade Commission has released an administrative complaint charging a makers of POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice as well as POMx supplements with creation fake as well as unsubstantiated claims which their products will prevent or treat heart disease, prostate cancer, as well as erectile dysfunction.

The FTC complaint charges which POM Wonderful LLC, sister house Roll International Corp., as well as principals Stewart Resnick, Lynda Resnick, as well as Matthew Tupper violated federal law by creation false mildew prevention as well as treatment claims. The ads in question appeared in inhabitant publications such as Parade, Fitness, The New York Times, as well as Prevention magazines; upon Internet sites such as pomtruth.com, pomwonderful.com, as well as pompills.com; upon bus stops as well as billboards; in newsletters to customers; as well as upon tags trustworthy to a product. read more

POM boasts having outlayed over $30 Million upon dozens of studies which infer their products superior antioxidant properties. The FTC does not appear impressed.

In an almost immediate response to a FTCs allegations, POM said:

POM Wonderful essentially disagrees with a FTC as well as believes which a commissions allegations against POM have been utterly unwarranted.

Pomegranates have been food highly nutritious produce, designed by nature itself. Because POM products might in fact offer a guarantee of improved health, we believe it is critical to share a research formula as they turn available. This is generally loyal since a products do not lift a risks compared with c! urative drugs. Its a shame which a supervision is unable to understand this fundamental distinction, as well as instead is wasting taxpayer resources to plague a pomegranate.

We do not make claims which a products action as drugs. What we do, rather, is communicate, through advertising, a promising scholarship relating to pomegranates. Consumers as well as their illness providers have a right to know about this research as well as a results.

What we need to know:

We wrote about POM earlier this year. It is one of a favorite juice treats, enjoyed any once in a whilst for a extraordinary blend of spicy as well as sweet. And yes, a fact which it is 100% pomegranate juice as well as not some fizzy cocktail does play into account.

However, lets not child ourselves a intensity illness benefits of a every day does of POM have been overshadowed by a seventeen tsp of sugarine in any personal expenditure bottle. Much improved to eat a genuine deal, messy squirting red seeds as well as all.

As we probably know, all fruits as well as vegetables have been good for you. Pomegranate included. But fruit juice is a different story. It loses most of a nutritional potency of a strange fruit, generally a fiber. What it does benefit is a very concentrated sip of sugar.

What to do during a supermarket:

As treats go, POM is great. But for every day consumption, save your income as well as select tap water.

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Crazieapple reviews: Deadman Espresso

Along side with Market Lane Cafe,Deadman Espresso is the single of the prime cafenistas' hangout jointthat serves fine house-blend espresso roasted by Seven Seeds.
They say, Melbourne is the locale of coffee.. Anyone who lives here prolonged enough would turn into the cafenatic. I couldn't agree no more.. I was never the big caffeine fan though i'm the devotee noww!!
There have been the days when we would usually walk up to the pointless cafeteria next to your uni or workplace for the discerning repair of daily needs. But there have been always the days when we wanna bite your fine peculiarity coffee whilst welcoming the arrival of spring (in melbourne, which is).And when these days come, you'll need the text of where to get the excellent coffee. And Dead Man Espresso should definitely tip your list.
The aromatic smell which strike we the impulse we step in, Theintensity of thecoffee mix once we take the sip, The warm as well as friendly welcome of the staffs,Well, Hello Heaven!!

A couple of perches along the window outdoor, as well as the couple of communal tables which have been routinely packed tothe brim upon weekends as well as rise hours. Lucky for me which i'm not the sunrise person. But be aware which kitchen closes during 4pm!! Trust me..You wouldn't wanna miss out upon their food menu..
Some outside seats available upon weekends ornice-weatherdays.. A usual sequence for me would be Latte as well as prosaic white for the comp! any.
I love how the people there unequivocally know what they're doing with the coffee.. Well during slightest they LOOKED similar to it. They surely take their coffee commercial operation really seriously!!My cafeteria latte was pure bliss, the boundless multiple of perfectly textured divert as well as the rich espresso which was the single of 7 seeds finest. What some-more can we ask for upon the sunny Sunday morning??The answer to it is....
their infamousBLT. Not usually any BLT similar to bacon lettuce n tomato.. *yawn of boredome*
BLT Pork Belly & Spinach puree upon brioche with gazpacho is the single of their signature. It's similar to starting to KFC as well as sequence the beef burger (ok, i know they dont serve beef burger.. But u get my deposit rightt??) It applies the same- starting to Deadman Espresso as well as NOT sequence their BLT. Shame upon you!!
Lesson schooled upon initial attempt: Please disintegrate your BLT with flare n knife. Using barehands to conflict the pig swell will usually outcome in messy dishplate as well as unwashed hands!!
A shot of chopped tomatoes extract helps us cleanse the taste as well as refresh the appetite whilst indulging in this corrupted yet worthy pig belly. This herby-dressed pig swell brioche sandwich that's the indeed toasty, decadent, fatty delight. Who needs bacon for breakfast when we have pig belly??

Deadman Espresso35 Market Street, South Melbourne, 03-96862255

Searching For Superlatives. Gu Yue Tien, Chulan Square, KL.

(non halal)

Preserved Chinese Mustard

Sometimes, writing about food which is so devastatingly artistic as well as beautifully suspicion out as well as breathtakingly innovative demands superlatives. When difference fail, it is exasperating since we could never communicate a artistic wish of a stimulation of senses a food offers.

Oven Baked Calamari

Take for instance, a common calamari. Not any Calamari, a mutant feet prolonged ones perfectly Oven Baked until it is crunchy as well as somewhat charred outward nonetheless as proposal as fish upon a inside. Stuffed with corrupted roe as well as intriguingly rich, somewhat bitter nonetheless delicately uni, a combination was so ethereal which it has dampened my appreciation of a normal grilled Calamari forever. Such is a cost of perfection, generally when a richness was tempered down with a tanginess from a crowd of lemon as well as a sour as well as tart chili formed dip. Breathtaking.

The Filling of Roe as well as Uni (Sea Urchin)

Stepping in to Gu Yue Tien from a busy as well as traffic clogged streets itself is therapeutic. An oasis of ease an sanity greets we as we stand up a stairs in to a categorical dining area which is decorated in Neo-Chinese style. It is not sincerely fancy or ostentatious, but functional as well as clean, with 6 in isolation dining rooms upon both sides of a restaurant.

Bacon Salad

We had ordered lunch "O! makasen" style, as well as left a boredom of deciding what to sequence to a chef. The first plate did not stir me during all. It was Bacon salad, served with red as well as green corals with Thousand Island dressing. Although a Salad was unblemished as well as their beautiful bacon smoked in-house was beautifully balanced in flavour as well as texture, it did not daunt my palate.

Clams as well as Apple Salad

By a time a second course arrived, we was ready to eat my words. The Giant Clam as well as Apple Salad was a creation of pristine genius. It was a melange of flavours, sweet, sour as well as salty with a little spiciness from chili. Not usually that, a flavour of a chewy clams were brought alive by apples which were crunchy in contrast.

Fish Cake with Cheese Stuffing

Even a solid aged fish baked sweat bread was since a brand new lease of life. It was playfully filled with a little melted Cheddar Cheese. we would never have suspicion which Cheese as well as Chinese food could have such a happy union.

Wok Fried Beef with Mushroom Reduction as well as Tempura

The Pan Fried Beef served with Mushroom Reduction, served with Wasabi Sauce as well as Tempura Spinach was a revelation of a Chef's capability to compound Western, Chinese as well as Japanese cuisine. The beef was delightfully proposal as well as a perfectly fried Spinach complemented a plate very well.

Close up of a Spinach Tempura
I hav e often suspicion of Chinese Food as being rsther than stodgy as well as conventional, but Chef Frankie has since Chinese Cuisine a opposite revelation, bringing with it a little unequivocally brand new as well as sparkling flavours as well as as well as Western inspired plating.


Braised Pork Knuckle

I am not a fan of Pork, as well as will give up from commenting upon a next dish, which was Braised Pork Knuckle with Preserved Vegetables (Mooi Choi) as well as Pumpkin Puree.

Mooncakes for Dessert

That was one of a many engaging Chinese Meals we have had this year. In fact, we am expecting a return to try out a rest of their menu after my break, as well as will keep we posted.

Gu Yue Tien
Lot 5A Chulan Square
Jalan Raja Chulan
50200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +6.03.21.48.08.08.