Chinese New Year and Valentines Day treats by A Slice of Heaven

Time certainly flies when youre having fun. Its been a mixed end-2011/beginning-2012 for me. Memorable events include a car accident that happened in December which tarnished my no-accident-in-25-years-of-driving record. The accident made me realise that shit happens no matter how well you think youve orchestrated your life. I rarely nag my husband (although he may choose to disagree with me), but the one thing Ive constantly tried to drum into his head is that no matter how careful you think you are on the road, someone else can come and screw it up for you. Sure enough, and without going into details, my experience serves as a reminder to him (and me) now.

But enough about the accident. We spent Christmas and New Year in Los Angeles with Tims family and it was just so relaxing and fulfilling to be able to enjoy the celebrations with such wonderful people.

And before we know it, Chinese New Year is upon us. I dont know about you, but I can barely breathe now. Unlike my yearly record of partaking in at least 10 yee sang sessions before CNY, Ive had only one at a reunion dinner with ex-colleagues. So this year, I plan to take it easy and embrace CNY hopefully before the end of the 15 days!

If youre planning on giving gifts to friends during the CNY period, perhaps youd like to consider the delicious treats that my friends at Just Heavenly have come up with. Their cakes are to die for!

Note that the final slide is for Valentines Day but thats in just 3 weeks so it isnt too early to start planning. The roses look so pretty, I wouldnt have the heart to eat them!

Happy Chinese New Year, dear readers. Enjoy the holidays and remember to drink lots of water coz its gonna be hot hot hot!

Top 10 luxury liquor brands announced

Delicious Chinese New Year greetings

Salmon Yee Sang... tossing for good fortune this Chinese New Year. Pic by Choo Choo May

PETALING JAYA, Jan 20 It's the perfect time for a restaurant to reopen with a new look. Ti Chen at The Saujana Golf and Country Club, with a new contemporary dcor, is all set for the comingChinese New Year celebrations. Set within the club grounds, the restaurant already has bookings for various celebrations.

Known for its Cantonese and Sichuan dishes, Ti Chen has put together four eight-course set menus to welcome in the Year of the Dragon.

Stirfried Prawns with Seasoned Salt wakes up the appetite. Pic by Choo Choo May

There is the Pearl Set, which at RM888++ comes with a complimentary bottle of Misterio Cabernet Sauvignon. The Jade Set at RM988++ has a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 years; the Golden Set at RM1,398++ comes with a bottle of Hennessy VSOP and Emperor Set a bottle of Singleton Single Malt Whisky 12 years.

We had the Salmon Yee Sang to toss, with a generous portion of salmon. The Sharks Fin soup with crabmeat and dried scallops followed. You can request for a replacement soup if you have ethical issues about eating sharks fin.

Braised Sea Cucumber with Fish Maw, Dried Oysters and Fatt Choy was a hit at lunch. Pic by Choo Choo May

The Roasted Chicken with Tong Kwai comes with a thick sauce infused with the herb. It does not drench the crispy skin of the chicken, which you can enjoy, and then dip the meat into the sauce.

The Stirfried Prawns with Seasoned Salt had a nice aroma, and there was talk at the table of eating everything, including the shell. They tasted good.

Steamed Red Snapper wit! h Superi or Soya Sauce carries with it the symbolism of abundance during the new year. So eat up and be prosperous.

Braised Sea Cucumber with Fish Maw, Dried Oysters and Fatt Choy was a popular dish at our table. The white smooth fish maw apparently gives you stamina if you eat enough of it, according to the restaurant manager. So whats not to like about this classic dish, especially if there is well-braised sea cucumber in it.

The Chef Special Loh Mai Fun is perfect for those who need a carb fix. Pic by Choo Choo May

The Chef Special Loh Mai Fan is sticky rice first sauted with mushroom, dried prawns and chicken, then steam wrapped in lotus leaves. There was a huge portion of this to satisfy those who love rice.

Dessert was Mochi filled with red bean paste.

Red Bean Mochi for dessert. Pic by Choo Choo May

If you dont have 10 people for this set, you can come in a group of five and pay half the amount for the table. This applies to the other sets too.

You can also order Yee Sang a la carte if you are not having the sets. Theres abalone, salmon, jellyfish and vegetarian goose Yee Sang, and the Rainbow Yee Sang.

Ti Chen is open from Tuesdays to Sundays. The Saujana Golf and Country Club is located in Jalan Lapangan Terbang SAAS, 40150 Selangor Darul Ehsan. Call 03-7840 5502 or email dine@thesaujana.com.

Traditional touches in the contemporary decor of the newly reopened Ti Chen. Pic by Choo Choo May

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Kelantanese Food @ Kg. Baru Kuala Lumpur

To all Kelantanese, I found a stall that serves your hometown food. I was told that this warong is famous among Kelantanese and if you do not know of this place probably you ought to check it out.....The spread of food here is huge and most of the dishes are alien to me.Anak Anak Kelate .... it's all about Kelantan in the warong.Sambal sauces, chilli soy sauces all stacked and ready for you.Too many to choose and having no good knowledge of Kelantanese food is a big disadvantage at this warong and none of my friends who came together are from Kelantan. So I have to be conservative in my selection.Just take what you like from here, bowls of different dishes that make you drool.Flower crabs the gravy is super duper good.Plenty of Ulam salad and not forgetting their sambal belacan...My favourite kambong fish and to be eaten with budu....Chicken curry.Chicken rendeng.Curry MuttonThat is what was left from the delicious makanan Kelate. The food is good and prices are reasonable.

Kedai Makanan MZ Darulnaim

Lorong Haji Hussien 2,

Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur.

Facing the Daruzzakah Building.
GPS : 310' 03.47"N, 101 42'00.58"E

Plan B @ Publika

The BIG Group has become so massive, its name is now an understatement. Its youngest offspring emerged extremely healthy from Publika's cocoon of cafes this week, twinned in both name & menu to Plan B in Bangsar Village.

Note that this branch could someday be christened Journal by Plan B, potentially offering discounts for journalists. That concept remains in its infancy, but this collection of typewriters at the storefront might be a harbinger of things to come.

Publika's Plan B is taking baby steps to move out of its Bangsar brother's shadow, serving several selections available only here at Solaris Dutamas, such as falafel with tomatoes, tabbouleh, pickled red cabbage & cucumber on chickpea spread in pita bread. Hearty & more than competently prepared; we imagine even the folks at Al-Amar might approve.

From the Middle East to Mother Russia: hot, wholesome bors! cht, bri mming with cabbage, beetroot & barley, topped with sour cream & parsley. A bargain for RM10++; it's nearly impossible to sample this soup at a KL eatery, but to find one so fine seems like a miracle.

Asia is represented by lamb briyani, fragrant with spices but not fiery-spicy. We like it this way, though some might say it lacks the oomph of hardcore Indian cooking.

European euphoria: Slow-cooked ox tongue with hot English mustard on wholemeal bread, served with gherkin & chips. A sandwich well-suited to encapsulate what BIG outlets offer; many of us relish the range of recipes here, while others insist it's all overrated & derivative.

It's not a BIG meal without dessert. The peanut butter milk chocolate cookie could be better, since its spongy texture is a turnoff (that's not the way the cookie should crumble!), but the flourless chocolate cake should please patrons who prefer light, mousse-like sweets.

It's a small world after all: beverages from opposite ends of the eart! h _ New Zealand Fire Road Pinot Noir & Brazil Rio Verde Yellow Bourbon coffee.

All in all, this Plan B can bear the BIG family name with pride. And since The BIG Group is still heavily pregnant with ideas, this won't be the runt of the litter.

Entry on Plan B @ Bangsar Village: November 28, 2010.

Plan B @ Solaris Dutamas,

Publika, Kuala Lumpur.