Kuching In 12 Hours, Part 2

Despite our hurry, we couldn't get to Choon Hui cafe before 11 am when they close and the other place for Kuching laksa as recommended by Kuching's golden blogger boy Kenny was Golden Arch at Golden Arch Mall. We got there but the laksa was all gone and they told us to get it from the cafe behind.

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Kuching laksa, RM4/USD1.30. Big portion but not exceptional soup. Maybe we were too full.I think Chinese vermicelli (thicker, more breakable and in individual pieces) is more suitable for soup while Thai vermicelli(thin strands, not easily breakable and usually in a large uncut bundle)is better fried.

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Boiled chicken and roasted pork with curry sauce on rice from Golden Arch Cafe RM4.50/USD1.40. Nah.

We sat alfresco behind Golden Arch Cafe. The pavement was uneven and broken, the floor dirty and the air smelt bad. A small roach came from under the table and explored our plates. Golden Arch Mall is such a nightmare, avoid it. It isn't even a mall. It's just two rows of crummy shop houses linked by an overhead shade.

Help came in the form of Greg and Nee, a couple I know through Nee's aunt, Linda. I hadn't intended to meet up with anyone in Kuching because of the lack of time but I messaged Nee for advice on where to eat Fuzhou ding bian hu. It turned out that everything I wanted to eat was in Sibu, the Fuzhou town of Sarawak. Kuching is a Hokkien town. But, true to Malaysians' ! reputati on of being super hosts, Greg and Nee and Nee's bro Roger who was visiting from Melbourne made sure we were happy for the rest of the time that we were there. Greg and Nee are both university lecturers and busy Nee not only owns a cake shop but also became a mom two months ago to a beautiful baby girl.

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Nee's cakes are made with the finest ingredients and baked at home with passion. Greg's creative masterpieces liven up the cafe walls.

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I especially liked the banana choc mousse cake, the banana cheesecake and the double chocolate cake while Yi loved the Rocher chocolate cake. Oh, the cookies are addictive!

A friend said to me one day "Kuching people are so lucky! How come they get a place like Nee's but not us?" I agree. Every piece of Nee's beautiful cakes was a! wesome. Her cakes are perfect in texture and taste, rich yet not cloying and the sweetness level just right. I am inspired by this young woman who only started baking seriously less than 6 years ago. I'm sure that if her cake shop is in a city like KL, she'll have big investors knocking on her door.

Our dinner, hosted by Greg and Nee, was at Stall ABC on therooftop of Permata Carpark, the place where the locals will without fail take their visitors. The rooftop is the place to go for seafood and the food was great.

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A thick seafood soup.

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My favorite dish of the meal, very fresh and sweet baby razor clams in soy sauce and lemon grass.

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An oyster 'pizza', something new for us. I think this was the only dish I didn't like because the oysters were too fishy and the sauce too gooey.

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Done very well if not too oily but then it was butter prawns.

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This is midin, a jungle fern. It tastes like a cross between the pakis and sayur manis. Love it and wish we have it in KK.

I was probably wrong about Kuching being the second best place in Malaysia for food after Penang. I actually think that KK is better because whatever they have in Kuching, we have too in KK and more, maybe because there is a sizable Sarawakian community here but not the other way around. The upside to Kuching is the much lower cost of living and the city is less crime-prone.

Kuching reminds me of colonial KK: big trees, big old bungalow houses, a lot of land and greenery. I can imagine that growing up there must be fun and coming home to a place that hasn't changed much is comforting. It does feel homey, even for me, and would I prefer to live in peaceful Kuching than chaotic KL. However, I didn't expect the city to be so far behind KK. Some say that Kuching is left behind because of its immigration policy. The state government is very careful about the people going into the state and although I am from the same country, I was only given 2 months' stay. The official reason is to protect the state from unwanted people and influence but this protective stance is a double-edged sword as it isolates the state from progress. That still doesn't explain Kuching's lack of progress because Sabah has the same immigration policy although not as stringently enforced.I think that there are political reasons in keeping Sarawakians in the backwaters.While development is not always necessary for the better, the young and educated are not going back to Kuching because jobs are scarce. Every family that I know in Kuching has family members (some are whole families)who have emigrated. The same situation exists in KK but I'm guessing that it's not as bad as in Kuching.Kuching should be a much better city given thatSarawak is the biggest and one of the most resource-endowed states in Malaysia. I ! may be w rong, but this is my impression of Kuching (Malay word for cat), the City of Cats.


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p.s. The best Kuching laksa according to Nee is found at Chong Choon Cafe.

Crazieapple reviews: A Breakfast place galore!

Are you guys up for a treat?? *grin*

With my terrible procrastinating habit, i have successful accumulated 3 breakfast post all mashed up in ONE post!!

I've recently founded a Breakfast club among 4 other friends..
Thank god for all day breakkie.. If not for it, i bet we won't even know how scrambled eggs taste like..

After years of studing in Melbourne, i've finally decided that it's time to explore some real Aussie breakkie.. The wonders of Google have introduced me toBirdman Eating.

Their menu is modern and refreshing, with brunch available until 5pm (YAY!!), dinner from midday and no time constraints on when to enjoy dessert. Special of the day are listed on the blackboard and changed daily.

The comprehensive breakfast list includes offerings from toasted banana bread with Couverture chocolate, hazelnut and olive oil spread to black pudding with braised tomato, potato hash and baked eggs.

Birdman Eating is nothing like our familiar "big breakfast", poached egg withhollandaise sauce what-not..But i'm not complaining, since i'm set to try out something different from now on.. *fingers crossed*.. Now now.. Don't you dare to roll your eyes on me!!! Let's have a lil' faith shall we?? *grin*

There's even the old favourites of Coco Pops or a boiled egg with soldiers. But seriously, i could never justify paying 5aud for Coco Pops.. I'm chinaman like that..

I've been converted. Latte to flat white...

The Genovese coffee is okay, though below par for the title of "best i've ever tasted". Yes, living in Melbourne gives me a right to have high expectation for coffee.. =P

Definitely an addict.. How am i gonna survive with bad coffee when i go back to KL???


(Sleepy-o-meter: My level of need-for-coffee is reflected by the size of my eyebag)

Eileen's Chai Latte comes with some complicatedscience instruments..

I was really excited to order those Baked Eggs that Birdman Eating is known for.. But was disappointed to find out that the only baked egg choice left (among 4 choices) didn't sound that ! appealin g to me. So i settled forthe corn, broccoli and ricotta hotcakes served with creamy smoked trout, avocado and Spanish onion.

My dish was weird but goood..in a weird way.. The hotcakes were bland on its own.. But goes well with the creamy smoked trout mixture.. What i thought was a bit turning off were those fish bones in the mixture.. It was a bit of hardwork trying to pluck out every single bit of them..

Smoked pulled pork, shredded lettuce mint open sandwich with roast pineapple sorbet

Dinesh's disappointing angus beef sandwich.. Turns out to look more like shaved beef slices.. We almost refused to accept it as our order because we were sorta expecting like a huge slab of angus steak.. Bland tasting and unsatisfying..

Brioche french toast, marmalade glazed bacon, orange pekoe tea ice
cream, maple syrup




I thought that the idea of mixing ice cream to asavorydish was weird but it turns out to be! quite w eirdly-good!! haha defintely a recommendation *thumbs up*

Breakfast club: Nesh
Eileen
Say hello to my twins eye bags- Momo and Chacha..  :xwhatevah:



THE Birdman hovering above our heads



Matt n Moi

I told Matt to help me take a picture of the interior cause i thought it was embarrassing for me to just walk in with my camera and start snapping pictures of random patrons.. He rebutted: "You're already wearing THAT THING on your head, how shy can u get??" -.- whats wrong with my beret??

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Auction Room
Who's got the highest bid??

Full of character and huge open spaces, former auction room, cum caf in fashionable Errol St.

Warehouse, industrial andhumour in the decor. Unpolished wood, raw brick walls.. This is an exact picture of my Dream cafe!!

Another Melbourne favo when it comes to breakfast.. Explains the crowd on a Saturday afternoon..

Ever since Tioks got her new car, she offers to fetch me around and is excited to explore places where previously needed to tram and walk what-not.. haha i'm definitely not complaining with my newchauffeur..

We! were se ated after a brief wait on a busy day..

Some people sure do love their breakfast

Flat white was average- in fact, i was disappointed because i have such high hopes prior my visit.. Loyal Auction Room supporters might js shoot me down after my comments on their favourite coffee.

I wanted to sit outdoor because it was such a sunny nice day.. In melb, you don't always get this opportunity.. As they say, Melbourne's weather is like a woman experiencing BAD PMS...

Tiok's poached egg on sour dough with extra mushroom and bacons..


She isn't very adventurous when it comes to food. Clearly.

My knuckle sandwiches


Everything was excellent and 2 thumbs up..Ham hock braised for hours and hours until it is falling apart, rocket (YUCK!!),piccalilli(made in-house English-style with cauliflower florets, courgettes, beans, cornichons, seeded mustard and turmeric) and Montgomery's aged cheddar toasted into a Dench ciabatta roll. It comes served with a pickled chilli. The meat retained its juiciness and tender to bites..

Being explained what's Syphon Coffee.. A rather interesting lesson learnt.. I would love to try this on my second visit!!



Do take a look at how syphon coffee works..


I wanna get one and try it at home too!!! =)

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Madame SouSou at Fitzroy
A French Restaurant nestled in the South end of Brunswick Street,
rich with ambience and atmosphere



"THE" must-have

When Fat Latte and Skinny Latte meet

Tiok's English Breakfast tea.

Eileen's Chai Latte

The legendary as much raved about



I always like to be the one who tries to be different.. haha
So i ordered my usual smoked salmon with poached egg drizzled in hollandaise sauce. I'm a big fat sucker for smoked salmon and oily food doesn't do my tummy good in mornings..


Verdict: Coffee was strong, palatable
Service was attentive, waitresses were surprisingly lively on a sunday morning. (while i was half dead)
Highly recommend "big breakfast" lover to try out THE sousou breakfast!! you'll never regret =)



Yummy Paradise @ Sunnybank Hills, Brisbane

Trust the local Chinese when it comes to Chinese food. A couple of weeks ago, a friend said his ex (who was been around in Brisbane for a while) recommended this new place that served Guizhou cuisine. Not entirely sure whether one should trust his or her ex when it comes to food recommendations but we were convinced it would be worth our effort.

Not exactly something that I have tried before but I found out Guizhou cuisine (according to Wikipedia is similar to Szechuan and Hunan cuisine) is a mix of sour and spicy and features quite a few soups / steamboat dishes too. None of our food was overly spicy which was probably the key difference.

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The mixed pork offal platter came with a variety of internal organs to the ears. Dipped with the spicy and salty sauce, this was a good starter if you like the "works" as I call it.



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The eggplant resembled the local Malaysian Yong Tau Foo style except this was deep fried and came with a sweet and sour sauce. This was probably the dish to drive us back a second time but alas the second visit, the eggplant had a heavy and chewy batter.



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This is comfort food at its best, the salted vegetable with pork belly. Personal preference says I rather have the pork with yam but beggars can't be choosers.

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As I am writing this, I am staring at this dish with a blur because I can't remember what was in it. If I am not mistaken, the tomato base was filled with generous fish slices. Although I do remember having another dish which resembled steampot and came with lots of fish slices too.


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Translated this dish is called "Water cooked Beef" but this was probably poached in chili oil which resulted in very succulent beef slices.

Overall, a very satisfying meal of Guizhou cuisine, the beef slices and the pork belly were a gem but because the Wife doesn't seem to appreciate those dishes nor the soup based dishes that they seem to be famous for, it might be a while before I revisit. Otherwise, a place for what looks and tastes authentic enough without a hint of adjustment for the Western palates (simply because they don't seem to be any, the crowd is about 100% Chinese).

Address and contact details:

Yummy Paradise on Urbanspoon

Verdict: 4 stars out of 5 stars. Authentic chinese cuisine and at reasonable prices too may I add. Let's hope it stays that way.