First my PC acted up and now the modem... so I'm without internet at the moment. I will post up the Lompat Tikam recipe later on since there were requests for it. Here's a simple recipe (well not really a recipe since there isn't any measurements :p) while I sulk waiting for magic to happen.
This is another version of stir fry of whatever vegetables I found in my fridge. If you follow my blog, I tend to do this a lot, well to clear up whatever I have plus this let me to be creative once in a while heh.
I just needed a little bit of everything and they really do bulk up when put together. This time round, I have a little of cabbage, a stick of celery, a small segment of carrot, a few pieces of oyster mushrooms and half a piece of firm tofu. Sliced up the cabbage, celery and carrot.
Cut tofu into slim sticks and pan fry them with a little oil. Remove from pan when all sides are browned and set aside. Add a little oil if there isn't enough of it. Once it's hot, stir in chopped garlic. When it's fragrant, put the carrot and cabbage in. Sprinkle some water all over so that they both can soften a little. Add in the celery, mushrooms and tofu. Stir and season with salt and black pepper. Dish up and serve with steamed rice.
So this is another one of my easy stir fry dish that contains lots of fibre and some protein.
Mixed Vegetables and Tofu Stir Fry
Fresh Sushi Co @ James St Market
I am glad out of all my readers out there (I know there aren't too many) that one amongst them all did come forward to make a donation to my team who in less than 2 months will trek 100km in 48 hours. Thank you so much J!
If you have a spare dollar or maybe two, please give it another thought, the details are in my team page (which is rather sparse till I get some time off during Easter to brighten it up with some content).
---
Back to the Brisbane eating scene.
Last weekend, the Wife and I finally had some sort of alone time with friends out of town, studying for exams and so forth. When we were having our dose of caffeine at Driftwood and Dandelion, we decided that we didn't want to feel left out after hearing that my friends were digging at seafood in the Sydney Fish Market by going to eat some oysters too. Where to go we wondered and we decided to try our luck at the James St Market.
Being the fancy high end super market, this place is still packed to the brim and we were incredibly lucky to find a car park space within seconds.
If you have a spare dollar or maybe two, please give it another thought, the details are in my team page (which is rather sparse till I get some time off during Easter to brighten it up with some content).
---
Back to the Brisbane eating scene.
Last weekend, the Wife and I finally had some sort of alone time with friends out of town, studying for exams and so forth. When we were having our dose of caffeine at Driftwood and Dandelion, we decided that we didn't want to feel left out after hearing that my friends were digging at seafood in the Sydney Fish Market by going to eat some oysters too. Where to go we wondered and we decided to try our luck at the James St Market.
Being the fancy high end super market, this place is still packed to the brim and we were incredibly lucky to find a car park space within seconds.
Fresh Sushi Co is attached to Fresh Fish Co. With relationship to a fishmonger and manned by everyone Japanese, it gives you that little more assurance that the seafood quality should be tip top.
The sushi platter gives you a complimentary miso soup to warm you up, considering the chilly days that we have been going through (not that I am complaining, rather I am loving it!)
The platter is slightly expensive at AUD 33. However it does come with premium ingredients including salmon roe, sea urchin and scallops. The thick fish slice wraps around the small ball of sushi rice making it a perfect light meal (which burns the pocket). Accompanying it you have three different kind of soya sauces for you to dip the sushi.
The oysters came very fresh and juicy topped with a vinegar jelly (the name escapes me) which matches the seafood perfectly. A dozen for AUD 26 which is a slight premium considering we bought another dozen from a fishmonger for AUD17.
All in all good quality seafood that does come with a premium, just for those occasions where you want to splurge a bit and enjoy life.
Verdict: 4 stars out of 5 stars. Worth a quick bite if you are into sashimi and sushi.
Simply Cooking: Stir fry Kai Lan (Chinese broccoli) with waxed meat
Not every Chinese loves Chinese broccoli aka Kailan. Chinese broccoli is reputed for its bitter after taste and strong greenish smell. However, if you cook Chinese broccoli right, you will love it like there is no tomorrow. I used to hate Chinese broccoli because my mom did a rather lousy job in cooking when I was about 5 or 6. However, as I grew older, her cooking skills improved as well - thanks to our dining experiences and the amount of cooking programmes that she watch.
She learnt the art of stir frying Chinese broccoli and handed over the book of tricks to me. Now, I shall share it with all of you because good food ought to be shared.
Well, there are three important ingredients when it comes to cooking good Chinese broccoli:
-Finely chopped ginger (Preferably young ones)
-Chinese rice wine
-Raw sugar
Yes, it is as simple as that. Yet, this round, I added a bit of waxed meat to provide a bit of colour and add a subtle taste to this simple, homely dish.
Recipe: Stir Fry Kai Lan (Serves 2)
Ingredients:
-2 drops of sesame oil
-1 stick of waxed meat, rinsed with boiling water and sliced
-2-3cm young ginger, skin peeled off, chopped finely
-1 bunch of Kai Lan, dried up stalks chopped off. Kai Lan must be further cut into half
-A dash of Chinese rice wine (around 1.5 tablespoons)
-1 teaspoon of dark raw sugar
-A pinch of ground white pepper
Instructions:
1. Heat up a deep pan on medium gas. Place waxed meat and sesame oil. Fat will be rendered out from the waxed meat so there is no need to add any more oil.
2. If the pan appears oily, add in ginger pieces. Stir for 1 minute. Add in the kai lan.
3. Stir kai lan for 2 minutes and add in Ch! inese ri ce wine and sugar. Stir for another 3 minutes.
4. Finish off with a pinch of ground white pepper. Serve with rice and another meat dish.
Cooking vegetables is only easy if you know the tricks to preparing it. Otherwise, you will end up with the worst tasting vegetables ever! This is one of the reasons for the love towards meat. Have you ever went wrong with cooking meat? Overcook it, it still tastes meaty and just a little tough. Undercook it, you can treat it as rare (Provided its not white meat!). Vegetables, when undercook tastes absolutely disgusting for some people. Overcook it, it looks unsavory.
It's so easy for vegetables go wrong and easier to hate it. Yet, vegetables are as important as meat. Without meat, you get no zinc and protein. Without vegetables, you get no vitamin C and other essential vitamins.
I hope this message gets across. Oh, in case you're wondering about my skin. I am not traumatized by the way it looks. I'm more worried about my skin's health.
She learnt the art of stir frying Chinese broccoli and handed over the book of tricks to me. Now, I shall share it with all of you because good food ought to be shared.
Well, there are three important ingredients when it comes to cooking good Chinese broccoli:
-Finely chopped ginger (Preferably young ones)
-Chinese rice wine
-Raw sugar
Yes, it is as simple as that. Yet, this round, I added a bit of waxed meat to provide a bit of colour and add a subtle taste to this simple, homely dish.
Recipe: Stir Fry Kai Lan (Serves 2)
Ingredients:
-2 drops of sesame oil
-1 stick of waxed meat, rinsed with boiling water and sliced
-2-3cm young ginger, skin peeled off, chopped finely
-1 bunch of Kai Lan, dried up stalks chopped off. Kai Lan must be further cut into half
-A dash of Chinese rice wine (around 1.5 tablespoons)
-1 teaspoon of dark raw sugar
-A pinch of ground white pepper
Instructions:
1. Heat up a deep pan on medium gas. Place waxed meat and sesame oil. Fat will be rendered out from the waxed meat so there is no need to add any more oil.
2. If the pan appears oily, add in ginger pieces. Stir for 1 minute. Add in the kai lan.
3. Stir kai lan for 2 minutes and add in Ch! inese ri ce wine and sugar. Stir for another 3 minutes.
4. Finish off with a pinch of ground white pepper. Serve with rice and another meat dish.
Cooking vegetables is only easy if you know the tricks to preparing it. Otherwise, you will end up with the worst tasting vegetables ever! This is one of the reasons for the love towards meat. Have you ever went wrong with cooking meat? Overcook it, it still tastes meaty and just a little tough. Undercook it, you can treat it as rare (Provided its not white meat!). Vegetables, when undercook tastes absolutely disgusting for some people. Overcook it, it looks unsavory.
It's so easy for vegetables go wrong and easier to hate it. Yet, vegetables are as important as meat. Without meat, you get no zinc and protein. Without vegetables, you get no vitamin C and other essential vitamins.
I hope this message gets across. Oh, in case you're wondering about my skin. I am not traumatized by the way it looks. I'm more worried about my skin's health.
Restaurante Cabo da Roca
Portugal, Part VI: An eatery with a view of the Atlantic that seems to stretch forever.
Cabo da Roca is the cape that forms the westernmost tip of mainland Europe. It's a worthwhile stop, an hour's drive from Lisbon, with strong winds that threatened to blow us away.
The no-frills cafe here provides a wide range of Portuguese snacks, including "pastel de bacalhau," a cod fish-& potato croquette. Nicely battered comfort food.
The closest thing to a Portuguese cupcake. Sweet, moist and fresh-tasting.
Even the most humble outlet in Portugal serves wine. Gotta love it.
Restaurante Cabo da Roca,
Sintra, Portugal.
30 Hours In KL
Hub was going to KL for business and asked if I wanted to go. Of course I was game, provided it was a short trip. I can't stand KL. It is the perfect example of a defective city.
The prime grouse for any tourist in KL would be the lack of good public transport. The LRT, which runs above ground about the height of a 2-storey building, is a complete nightmare, a joke. The stations do not connect and you'll have to walk up and down and cross the road to get from point to point. KL taxi drivers are dishonest, especially the Chinese and Indians (the most honest being the Malays) and their standard excuse if you are taking a short ride is "The meter is not working" and for that they will charge you twice what you'd pay if the meter was working. I haven't tried the buses because I get weary enough already when I visit KL.
The only way the traffic jam in KL (and KK) can be alleviated is if there is good public transport. Failing that, people have no choice but to drive. The roads in KL city are so maze-like and crazy that if drawn on paper, they will look like piles of fish scales, curving everywhere. I think it's a hopeless situation. Unless they bomb the city and start all over again, KL is a disaster. I am surprised that the pavements are not maintained. The paving is uneven and large sections are missing. I thought DAP would do a better job but then again I hear that they are having a hard time running the place as opposition administrators. Still, it is inexcusable that this basic amenity--good, even pavements--is not provided. The authorities should be made to walk around the city, especially at noon, to get a feel of what it's like for tourists. There are few trees and the tropical heat and humidity makes walking around the broken paths very torturous.
So why go to KL? Oh yes, there's the Petronas Twin Towers, or KLCC. The KLCC is beautiful, especially at night, but there's nothing to explore in KLCC except for shops that sell hand bags at ! twice th e price in Europe.
KL's saving grace is its food. So that was all we did: eat.
12 noon: We checked into our hotel and headed straight for 'mamak' (Indian Muslim food) food: chicken tikka, nasi bryani and chilled pandan coconuts, next to our hotel in the middle of the city. The memory card in my camera chose to act up just then, so no photos.
In the city, we always frequent the malls because that's where we can escape from the heat. The food court in Pavilion is Hub's favorite whenever he goes to KL because again, he wants to get away from the heat and that's the only place where he can grab a quick and cheap meal.
4 pm: Oysters omelet, Penang fried kuey teow and soy bean milk at Pavilion:
7 pm: My feet were killing me (Rockport wedges don't work) and it was either back to the hotel then or hang around and leave earlier. Hub suggested Jalan Alor for durians, the only place we knew for the fruit although I had my reservations because about 10 years ago, I was fleeced by a durian seller and had an argument right on the street. I lost the argument because he started swearing in the foulest Cantonese I've ever heard but I just wouldn't cuss like him. Not that I couldn't. I'm Cantonese too.
Jalan Alor is now even more busy that before, with tables and chairs spilling ! onto the road. The crazy thing was, the road was open to traffic and the side mirror of an SUV scraped my arm as it passed by, the driver indifferent to my shouting. I think Jalan Alor is a perfect example of how badly the city is run. Why is safety compromised, with both vehicles and restaurant tables on the road? The road isn't long and can be closed to traffic after office hours. Is that so hard to do?
At the end of Jalan Alor are many Thai restaurants and the waiters who grabbed people off the street were all Thais,which was convincing enough to us so we sat down at the most populous restaurant.
Fried kang kong (RM10) was very good.
The seafood tom yum (RM18) was sweeter than sour, with very little seafood, a blah for us.
Glass noodles and prawns in clay pot (RM18) was more soy sauce-flavored. I liked it although Hub said it was too wet.
Durians are not fully in season yet and we checked out all the 3 stalls ! and sett led on the one by the Chinese restaurant at the entrance of Jalan Alor. The maw sang wong durian is currently the most sought-after variety and at RM28 per kilo, a little baby like this cost RM36.
I was disappointed. This maw sang wong didn't taste as good as the one we had in Singapore. The flavor was intense, which was great, but the meat was squidgy and wet. Unlike most durian aficionados, I dislike bitter durians and this one tasted as bitter as bittergourd. The durian seller said that wet durians are always bitter while the drier durians are sweet. Would you like another one, he asked. I may be a fool once in a while but I'm not always an idiot so I walked away. We realized once again that Jalan Alor is a tourist trap.
9:30 am, next day: I wanted to re-trace my old working days where I used to stay in Park Royal Hotel and ate breakfast in a corner coffee shopcalled Mei Sinaround Jalan Imbi. I especially craved their kuey teow soup with minced pork but of all days, they were closed. That was good news for Hub, because he wanted bak kut teh right across from Mei Sin. Secretly, I was relieved too because the restaurant and the area around it looked dingy and filthy, with garbage collectors doing their job at that hour in the morning.
But it was too hot for boiling-hot soup and bak kut tehwas not appealing to me in the morning. The congee looked good and can be digested quicker so that we can have lunch earlier, at the eating street in Pudu.
We enjoyed this bowl of congee (RM30) in Restaurant Sun Fong which Hub said was like pau fun (soaked rice), cooked rice soaked in hot boiling water which my in-laws eat when their appetite is down and which m! y father ate whenever he felt under the weather. I don't like pau fun but this bowl of dried oysters and pork ribs congee was tasty. However, I think I made a mistake because everybody else was eating bak kut teh, which was half the price of the congee. And the congee made us sweat just as badly. We decided that no matter how good the food is at sik gai in Pudu, we won't venture there in the boiling heat.
12:30 pm: Korean lunch at Koryo-Won, Starhill, a mall, which means air-conditioned environment:
The banchan was ordinary.
My fave Korean soup, yuk gye jang (RM30), was very satisfying. Hub may be warming to Korean food at last because this is the first time he didn't complain about it.
Beef rib galbi, RM70, for two strips.
Although expensive, the galbi was buttery, tender, delightfully flavorful and delicious. I prefer them au natural, without marinade, dip or even the lettuce wrap.
2:30 pm: The April issue of Time Out from the hotel was great because it listed some of the best restaurants (according to them) in KL a! nd this issue's focus was desserts. I checked out Su Yin's Delectablein Pavilion but unfortunately it was a take-out outlet only and there was no place to even stand to grab a bite and coffee. I was tempted to bring home one of her chocolate cakes but the buttercream wouldn't last the hour-long ride to the airport (KLIA is 80 km from the city, one of the furthest in the world, another stupid 'acclaim' if that makes the authorities feel better). There were other cake shops that looked really good but they were far away in Bangsar or Sri Hartamas so we checked out from the hotel, took a taxi to 7 Jalan Delima and had coffee and cake at Levain, a bakery and cafe that operated from a bungalow that had clearly seen better days.
Not bad, but didn't convince me that the cakes here are some of KL's best. About RM8 each piece.
At the airport, I bought two pieces of KFC chicken, hiding it from Hub because it's something I don't usually eat. I'm still wondering why I did that but if you look at the amount of food we ate in 30 hours, you'll know how badly and quickly the stomach rumbles the more you eat. Besides, there wouldn't be any food served on the new budget airline, Firefly. Speaking of ! which, I highly recommend Firefly. There was no one to check your hand luggage (unlike AirAsia) and theflight landed at KLIA. The plane was new, comfortable and the service was just like MAS'. In fact, Firefly is so much like MAS that the stewardesses slurred their announcement, especially the word 'gentlemen', just like all MAS flight attendants do. I'm just waiting for them to say "Flierfly", just like MAS girls say "We hope you had a great fright". Humorous, those girls.
The prime grouse for any tourist in KL would be the lack of good public transport. The LRT, which runs above ground about the height of a 2-storey building, is a complete nightmare, a joke. The stations do not connect and you'll have to walk up and down and cross the road to get from point to point. KL taxi drivers are dishonest, especially the Chinese and Indians (the most honest being the Malays) and their standard excuse if you are taking a short ride is "The meter is not working" and for that they will charge you twice what you'd pay if the meter was working. I haven't tried the buses because I get weary enough already when I visit KL.
The only way the traffic jam in KL (and KK) can be alleviated is if there is good public transport. Failing that, people have no choice but to drive. The roads in KL city are so maze-like and crazy that if drawn on paper, they will look like piles of fish scales, curving everywhere. I think it's a hopeless situation. Unless they bomb the city and start all over again, KL is a disaster. I am surprised that the pavements are not maintained. The paving is uneven and large sections are missing. I thought DAP would do a better job but then again I hear that they are having a hard time running the place as opposition administrators. Still, it is inexcusable that this basic amenity--good, even pavements--is not provided. The authorities should be made to walk around the city, especially at noon, to get a feel of what it's like for tourists. There are few trees and the tropical heat and humidity makes walking around the broken paths very torturous.
So why go to KL? Oh yes, there's the Petronas Twin Towers, or KLCC. The KLCC is beautiful, especially at night, but there's nothing to explore in KLCC except for shops that sell hand bags at ! twice th e price in Europe.
KL's saving grace is its food. So that was all we did: eat.
12 noon: We checked into our hotel and headed straight for 'mamak' (Indian Muslim food) food: chicken tikka, nasi bryani and chilled pandan coconuts, next to our hotel in the middle of the city. The memory card in my camera chose to act up just then, so no photos.
In the city, we always frequent the malls because that's where we can escape from the heat. The food court in Pavilion is Hub's favorite whenever he goes to KL because again, he wants to get away from the heat and that's the only place where he can grab a quick and cheap meal.
4 pm: Oysters omelet, Penang fried kuey teow and soy bean milk at Pavilion:
7 pm: My feet were killing me (Rockport wedges don't work) and it was either back to the hotel then or hang around and leave earlier. Hub suggested Jalan Alor for durians, the only place we knew for the fruit although I had my reservations because about 10 years ago, I was fleeced by a durian seller and had an argument right on the street. I lost the argument because he started swearing in the foulest Cantonese I've ever heard but I just wouldn't cuss like him. Not that I couldn't. I'm Cantonese too.
Jalan Alor is now even more busy that before, with tables and chairs spilling ! onto the road. The crazy thing was, the road was open to traffic and the side mirror of an SUV scraped my arm as it passed by, the driver indifferent to my shouting. I think Jalan Alor is a perfect example of how badly the city is run. Why is safety compromised, with both vehicles and restaurant tables on the road? The road isn't long and can be closed to traffic after office hours. Is that so hard to do?
At the end of Jalan Alor are many Thai restaurants and the waiters who grabbed people off the street were all Thais,which was convincing enough to us so we sat down at the most populous restaurant.
Fried kang kong (RM10) was very good.
The seafood tom yum (RM18) was sweeter than sour, with very little seafood, a blah for us.
Glass noodles and prawns in clay pot (RM18) was more soy sauce-flavored. I liked it although Hub said it was too wet.
Durians are not fully in season yet and we checked out all the 3 stalls ! and sett led on the one by the Chinese restaurant at the entrance of Jalan Alor. The maw sang wong durian is currently the most sought-after variety and at RM28 per kilo, a little baby like this cost RM36.
I was disappointed. This maw sang wong didn't taste as good as the one we had in Singapore. The flavor was intense, which was great, but the meat was squidgy and wet. Unlike most durian aficionados, I dislike bitter durians and this one tasted as bitter as bittergourd. The durian seller said that wet durians are always bitter while the drier durians are sweet. Would you like another one, he asked. I may be a fool once in a while but I'm not always an idiot so I walked away. We realized once again that Jalan Alor is a tourist trap.
9:30 am, next day: I wanted to re-trace my old working days where I used to stay in Park Royal Hotel and ate breakfast in a corner coffee shopcalled Mei Sinaround Jalan Imbi. I especially craved their kuey teow soup with minced pork but of all days, they were closed. That was good news for Hub, because he wanted bak kut teh right across from Mei Sin. Secretly, I was relieved too because the restaurant and the area around it looked dingy and filthy, with garbage collectors doing their job at that hour in the morning.
But it was too hot for boiling-hot soup and bak kut tehwas not appealing to me in the morning. The congee looked good and can be digested quicker so that we can have lunch earlier, at the eating street in Pudu.
We enjoyed this bowl of congee (RM30) in Restaurant Sun Fong which Hub said was like pau fun (soaked rice), cooked rice soaked in hot boiling water which my in-laws eat when their appetite is down and which m! y father ate whenever he felt under the weather. I don't like pau fun but this bowl of dried oysters and pork ribs congee was tasty. However, I think I made a mistake because everybody else was eating bak kut teh, which was half the price of the congee. And the congee made us sweat just as badly. We decided that no matter how good the food is at sik gai in Pudu, we won't venture there in the boiling heat.
12:30 pm: Korean lunch at Koryo-Won, Starhill, a mall, which means air-conditioned environment:
The banchan was ordinary.
My fave Korean soup, yuk gye jang (RM30), was very satisfying. Hub may be warming to Korean food at last because this is the first time he didn't complain about it.
Beef rib galbi, RM70, for two strips.
Although expensive, the galbi was buttery, tender, delightfully flavorful and delicious. I prefer them au natural, without marinade, dip or even the lettuce wrap.
2:30 pm: The April issue of Time Out from the hotel was great because it listed some of the best restaurants (according to them) in KL a! nd this issue's focus was desserts. I checked out Su Yin's Delectablein Pavilion but unfortunately it was a take-out outlet only and there was no place to even stand to grab a bite and coffee. I was tempted to bring home one of her chocolate cakes but the buttercream wouldn't last the hour-long ride to the airport (KLIA is 80 km from the city, one of the furthest in the world, another stupid 'acclaim' if that makes the authorities feel better). There were other cake shops that looked really good but they were far away in Bangsar or Sri Hartamas so we checked out from the hotel, took a taxi to 7 Jalan Delima and had coffee and cake at Levain, a bakery and cafe that operated from a bungalow that had clearly seen better days.
Not bad, but didn't convince me that the cakes here are some of KL's best. About RM8 each piece.
At the airport, I bought two pieces of KFC chicken, hiding it from Hub because it's something I don't usually eat. I'm still wondering why I did that but if you look at the amount of food we ate in 30 hours, you'll know how badly and quickly the stomach rumbles the more you eat. Besides, there wouldn't be any food served on the new budget airline, Firefly. Speaking of ! which, I highly recommend Firefly. There was no one to check your hand luggage (unlike AirAsia) and theflight landed at KLIA. The plane was new, comfortable and the service was just like MAS'. In fact, Firefly is so much like MAS that the stewardesses slurred their announcement, especially the word 'gentlemen', just like all MAS flight attendants do. I'm just waiting for them to say "Flierfly", just like MAS girls say "We hope you had a great fright". Humorous, those girls.
heavenly chocolate cake roll
I attempted to sidestep the expl! etives < a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2007/03/the-best-chocolate-cake-expletive-free/">a few years ago and shared a doubled version with you that was stacked four high, a layer cake of the finest proportions. I included directions for making it as a roll cake i.e. like a Yule log, or a Yodel, or a Ho-Ho but it seemed wrong not to have a post entirely devoted to the way we actually make it at home, and so I decided I would update the rolled recipe this year. Seeing photos of the process helps, I reasoned.
... Read the rest of he! avenly c hocolate cake roll on smittenkitchen.com
smitten kitchen 2006-2011. |permalink to heavenly chocolate cake roll | 9 comments to date | see more: Cake, Chocolate, Gluten-Free, Passover, Photo
Best Char Siew in Ipoh. Period.
Succulent. Caramelized. Crispy edges. Roasted sides. Melt in mouth. Do I get my points across now?
Miss your Ipoh food reviews!
Read that tweet earlier this morning, and that was like a jolt to the senses. Much like how it was raining dogs and cats in the middle of last night, complete with eruption of thunders and flashes of lightning. Not a very productive slumber, and I dont foresee this rainy spell in KL to end soon ..
Back to the case at hand. I do think that I have been straying off the beaten path; progressively as time goes by since moving to PJ four months ago. Felt like ages, huh? But I understand that I have been distancing myself from this blog, the readers (especially from Ipoh/Perak) and time allocated for surfing, reading blogs and social networking have become more of a luxury now, compared to the previous times when these were merely pastimes.
If you could lay your hands on a whole slab of caramelized barbecued pork belly (Char Siew), would you have done so?
I admit my fault. I seek penance. And ladies and gentlemen (the true blue Ipohans, Ipohites, or whatever you choose to call yourself ), heres where I think sells the BEST CHAR SIEW in IPOH Usually, we pre-order the roasted meats (chicken, char siew and siew cheong; aka mixed offal sausages) during festivities. For sure we would be walloping bowls of rice thereafter. Now if that did not work, then try this; Lets say if this particular stall comes to KL. And compete against the likes of Meng Kee, Famous Seremban Favourites, etc etc (sorry, havent tried Toast & Roast or 747), then I am sure they can hold their ground and create waves of gastronomical proportions. No ! joke, es pecially when Bercham Cheong Kee (pronounced as Seong Kee in Cantonese) does not only roast almost perfect Char Siew, but a mean Siew Cheong (those pork sausages with innards), and a commendable roast chicken too. Talk about deadly combo? Thats how Mum saves time and cut the Char Siew into bite-sized pieces. This slab looks rather lean, but in reality, the pork was tender, moist and perfectly balanced between lean meat and melt-in-mouth layers of fat. You dont even need the accompanying sauce, actually. Look at that Happy Face. Or wait, I hope he did not have cruel intentions in mind chopping a sausage with a sly smirk?! Did I go overboard? Nah . after repeated failed attempts at seeking for a Char Siew thats comparable to some of the better ones in KL (sorry, cant find a decent one in Penang in spite of my love for Penangs street food), Cheong Kee managed to impress again and again. That does not mean that this is the end-all, be-all King of Char Siew in Ipoh. For I am sure there will be feedback from you guys. I expect even some fireworks; from fans and detractors alike. Since I have experienced below-par Char Siew from Cheong Kee on busier days. But on the whole, if you wanna know where to satisfy your cravings for dark, caramelized, succulent and skilfully roasted pork, then you cant go wrong with Cheong Kee. There . you dont even notice the crowd, nor whatever theyre selling here. But come during peak hours (lunch only, by the way), or during festivities, then you will bear witness to their immense popularity. Bercham Cheong Kee Restaurant For other Char Siew options in Ipoh Oversea Restaurant, Sun Yeong Wai, Bercham Wong Fee Kee
12-14, Persiaran Medan Bercham 6,
Pusat Bandar Baru Bercham,
31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.O pens for lunch.
GPS Coordinates : 4.636817,101.134696
Google Map to Cheong Kee
A message to all of you.
Dear readers,
This is a message for all of you guys out there who are wanting to go for facials and so on. Pick the right esthetician (preferably who works for a dermatologist) and don't go for conjobs. So far, I've only met one good esthetician in my life (She works in KL and hello! I am in Melbourne) The rest that I've encountered have done numerous wonders to my face that one can only imagine:
1. The first time I've been to a facial in Melbourne, the lady was telling me how I should get a microdermabrasion etc etc. Also, she forced me to buy products. I did not listen to any of that crap and proceeded with my facial. After the facial, my skin worsened. There were more whiteheads than ever and she actually used something that resulted one of my brows to fade in colour (I had brow embroidery, K-style). She even dare to use a tinted sunblock to cheat me about how her extraction skills were superior. I discovered this when I returned home to rinse off the stuff she lathered on my face. I don't trust that lady because she was so harsh on my skin!
2. The second time I had facial. I took public transport to get to that place! Took me an hour and a half to reach there. The esthetician was nice and she was very gentle. She did not force any products upon me and recommended that I should get a chemical peel. I was very afraid of the word peel... I said no and proceeded with the facial. She was not gentle and left me with a very inflamed nose. I was stupid enough to sign a treatment course but thank god, I paid not even half of it and I got a coupon as a refund for ending my treatment.
3. The third times the strike. I finally got a chemical peel because a "skin clinic" told me that I should get it. It will help me clogged pores etc. I had 100s of whiteheads that are about to turn into pus filled babies. I had to address the matter. So, I did. The first time was amazing. My skin looked fabulous and it seems that brighter days are finally ahead! BUTthe nurse was pretty tough ! my skin despite post-peel. I mean, aren't nurses suppose to be gentle on your skin after a peel?
The second peel: the nurse said that I should get extractions RIGHT after my chemical peel. I said no. She said that I should. Well, she's the nurse. I trusted her. So I did and guess what happened? I look like someone domestically abused me. there were two "bruise" marks on my skin. Very red. My skin feels tight. I see fine lines despite using the best anti-ageing and nourishing products that I've been relying on for years. I went to the clinic today and guess what did the nurse told me? That chemical peels are not chemical. They are natural. What kind of bullshit is this? Then, I realized, that it was ALL A CONJOB . It is important to know that this clinic is just claiming to be a clinic because it is filled with people who do not know what they are dealing with. I also realized how if one person puts a lab coat, one trusts them more. So Milgram right? Because of the amount of publicity they have and reliable sources, I tried their products. Some of them worked. For example, the hyaluronic acid and the sunblock. However, for the amount of harshness that my face is getting? NOT WORTH IT.
Now, I'm disappointed. Most importantly, I hate myself for trusting the wrong people and making the wrong decisions. I always tell my sister to be careful and be wary of the people around you. Now, I have to tell myself this. I have spent so much of money on face that I feel very guilty for my parents. The money, I can use to buy my mom her Chanel bag instead of wasting money on unnecessary facials.
Well, on the bright side. I shouldn't hate myself. Thanks to these people who are lying to me, I've learnt a huge lesson. Never ever make snap judgements. Think rationally. Yet, I cannot blame myself completely. These people are MESSING ABOUT with a girl's precious asset: Her porcelain skin. MY porcelain skin.
SO finally, I've decided that ! I MUST v isit the dermatologist. It will cost me a bomb, my parents might protest but this is to ensure that I stop hearing lies that I should not hear. After all, I haven't got any bad experiences with the doctors in Melbourne (Touchwood, if I DID). They are very honest and stick to their ethics. Unlike the people from these salons. I know there are good estheticians out there but I haven't had the luck to meet any of them in Melbourne. Also, this teaches me one thing: When I become a psychologist in the future, I shall be honest with the patients who assume that they have disorders and not try to get them into a treatment when it is NOT necessary.
I've learnt it the hard way.
This is a message for all of you guys out there who are wanting to go for facials and so on. Pick the right esthetician (preferably who works for a dermatologist) and don't go for conjobs. So far, I've only met one good esthetician in my life (She works in KL and hello! I am in Melbourne) The rest that I've encountered have done numerous wonders to my face that one can only imagine:
1. The first time I've been to a facial in Melbourne, the lady was telling me how I should get a microdermabrasion etc etc. Also, she forced me to buy products. I did not listen to any of that crap and proceeded with my facial. After the facial, my skin worsened. There were more whiteheads than ever and she actually used something that resulted one of my brows to fade in colour (I had brow embroidery, K-style). She even dare to use a tinted sunblock to cheat me about how her extraction skills were superior. I discovered this when I returned home to rinse off the stuff she lathered on my face. I don't trust that lady because she was so harsh on my skin!
2. The second time I had facial. I took public transport to get to that place! Took me an hour and a half to reach there. The esthetician was nice and she was very gentle. She did not force any products upon me and recommended that I should get a chemical peel. I was very afraid of the word peel... I said no and proceeded with the facial. She was not gentle and left me with a very inflamed nose. I was stupid enough to sign a treatment course but thank god, I paid not even half of it and I got a coupon as a refund for ending my treatment.
3. The third times the strike. I finally got a chemical peel because a "skin clinic" told me that I should get it. It will help me clogged pores etc. I had 100s of whiteheads that are about to turn into pus filled babies. I had to address the matter. So, I did. The first time was amazing. My skin looked fabulous and it seems that brighter days are finally ahead! BUTthe nurse was pretty tough ! my skin despite post-peel. I mean, aren't nurses suppose to be gentle on your skin after a peel?
The second peel: the nurse said that I should get extractions RIGHT after my chemical peel. I said no. She said that I should. Well, she's the nurse. I trusted her. So I did and guess what happened? I look like someone domestically abused me. there were two "bruise" marks on my skin. Very red. My skin feels tight. I see fine lines despite using the best anti-ageing and nourishing products that I've been relying on for years. I went to the clinic today and guess what did the nurse told me? That chemical peels are not chemical. They are natural. What kind of bullshit is this? Then, I realized, that it was ALL A CONJOB . It is important to know that this clinic is just claiming to be a clinic because it is filled with people who do not know what they are dealing with. I also realized how if one person puts a lab coat, one trusts them more. So Milgram right? Because of the amount of publicity they have and reliable sources, I tried their products. Some of them worked. For example, the hyaluronic acid and the sunblock. However, for the amount of harshness that my face is getting? NOT WORTH IT.
Now, I'm disappointed. Most importantly, I hate myself for trusting the wrong people and making the wrong decisions. I always tell my sister to be careful and be wary of the people around you. Now, I have to tell myself this. I have spent so much of money on face that I feel very guilty for my parents. The money, I can use to buy my mom her Chanel bag instead of wasting money on unnecessary facials.
Well, on the bright side. I shouldn't hate myself. Thanks to these people who are lying to me, I've learnt a huge lesson. Never ever make snap judgements. Think rationally. Yet, I cannot blame myself completely. These people are MESSING ABOUT with a girl's precious asset: Her porcelain skin. MY porcelain skin.
SO finally, I've decided that ! I MUST v isit the dermatologist. It will cost me a bomb, my parents might protest but this is to ensure that I stop hearing lies that I should not hear. After all, I haven't got any bad experiences with the doctors in Melbourne (Touchwood, if I DID). They are very honest and stick to their ethics. Unlike the people from these salons. I know there are good estheticians out there but I haven't had the luck to meet any of them in Melbourne. Also, this teaches me one thing: When I become a psychologist in the future, I shall be honest with the patients who assume that they have disorders and not try to get them into a treatment when it is NOT necessary.
I've learnt it the hard way.
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