There's No Free Lunch...

... But definitely FREE LIQUOR!


/cue for banana emoticon dancing


A bottle of Piper Heidsieck (worth RM100 dutyfree price) and Macallan 12 Yrs, Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (worth circa ±RM140) and a bottle of Otard Cognac (worth circa ±RM120) as CNY gifts from my liquor suppliers from work. I have been wanting to try the Macallan for ages and the wish has come true, without my own expense! OoOh and the Piper Heidsieck champagne too... which I was too shy to help myself to at the Golden Lounge. I'm planning to give away the Otard though when I go for house visiting and I have exactly a house in mind *wink*.



Anyway the above picture is a teaser for a forthcoming post on the family's current liquor collection. More pictures of our alcoholic hobby soon!

p/s: Nolah we're not that alcoholic... there's a difference between buying then keeping and buying then drinking ;)


Work is out! CNY is in! Happy Chinese New Year people! Start eating, drinking and gambling... but don't get too fat, wasted and poor!

/ends banana emoticon dancing

the SOCIAL @ Bangsar

Where would be the perfect place to meet up with friends you have not seen for a long time? Not wanting to go to a place I have been before, I settled for the social at Bangsar, just next to the famous Nirvana Maju banana leaf house.

the SOCIAL is a bar, restaurant and a poolroom. 3 venues in one place. But perhaps because it is 3 venues in one place, we found the restaurant tad too noisy for some decent conversations without having to repeat our words and/or raise our voices to be heard. Maybe it's because the table next to us was just too loud.


Shepherd's Pie- RM24
Minced lamb and carrots, topped with mashed potato
and cheese served with salad garnish

Mel had the Shepherd's Pie which we all thought was lasagne or something from the look of it.


the SOCIAL All-time Signature Dish- RM30
Aromatic Crispy Duck


Aromatic Crispy Duck
House speciality of crispy duck served with homemade
pancakes, sweet plum sauce, chilli oil and julienne of spring
onions and cucumber

Khian and I had the SOCIAL all-time signature dish, Aromatic Crispy Duck. When it arrived, I was quite impressed at the portion of meat and don't we all love whatever that goes with those paper-thin pancake. I think the dish is supposed to resemble those peking duck wraps except at the SOCIAL, they don't give you the crispy skin, instead tender duck meat were used. Another misconception between the dish name and the actual dish itself is there was nothing crispy about it!

Overall, tastewise, I think the dish is alright. There are about 8 pcs of pancake wrappings so it was quite filling for us.


the SOCIAL
57-59, Jalan Telawi Tiga,
Bangsar Baru,
59100 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2282 2260
www.thesocial.com.my

~

We found the SOCIAL getting a little noisy for us to indulge in some proper down memory lane conversations, so we headed to Ronnie Q's down the road for some drinks.


Mojito- RM25


Glenfiddich 12Y- RM15.90

While I found the Mojito served here a bit sourish (maybe they were too generous with lime juice) and has little taste of alcohol, our friend Khian managed to turn all red after her drink. Maybe she has over-indulged *wink wink* My glass of Glenfiddich 12Y was nothing fantastic as I think they offered me too much 'rocks' making the drink a little bit too diluted. I would like to try Bruichladdich next as according to my lady boss, it is one of the best single malt she has had before. And lucky for us (or maybe her) we just met up with a supplier of this very rare single malt whisky!


Ronnie Q The Pub
RA House, 32, Jalan Telawi Dua,
Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur.
Opens Tuesday-Sunday, 11am-12 midnight

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

Flying High with MAS Golden Lounge

MAS Golden Lounge Satellite

2 weeks back, I was asked by my boss to have a field visit to KLIA, in her exact words, "to see what other people are doing". In my own interpretation it would be, "no need to go office and work, yay!"

I suppose one of the things that I enjoy being in the travel retail industry is having a pass to enter the insides of the airport freely, where most people would need a boarding pass and passport to do so. Although I do not have the privilege to own the real airport pass, having a "Pas Pelawat" does the trick too ;-)


First Class Lounge

So there I was in KLIA, armed with my camera. Eiling who was in KLIA that day promised me that she will bring me in to the exclusive Golden Lounge- where only First Class and Business Class passengers and the Very Very Important People are allowed access. The Golden Lounge is located at the Satellite Building (after stepping out from Aerotrain). Upon entering, there is a reception to greet you. Payphones and empty cubicles line along the way for you to make calls with a bit of privacy. Further inside, on the right side will be the special Platinum Lounge for the VVIPs and on the right is the lounge for Business Class passengers. Straight ahead, the largest lounge would be the First Class area (as shown above).


Buffet spread

There is an eating area where a buffet spread is ready for consumption. Here are what the buffet spread has to offer:


Clockwise from Top (L-R):
Assorted Malay Kuih, Assorted Desserts, Assorted Fresh Fruits,
Xmas House made from Fidani Chocolate, Hot Soup, Assorted Sandwiches


Salad Bar

Then there is also a salad bar for those who can't live without greens!


Appetizers

And some appetizers. There's the Coriander Ginger Fried Shrimp, Garlic Bruschetta with Roasted Tomato and Morrocan Fartoush Salad.


Assorted Cheeses, Plain & Fruits Yogurt

For those who love dairy.


Liquor Bar

And a liquor bar offering free flow of booze for the alcoholics or those who are deprived of booze on the plane (eh but I think if you're travelling First Class, they do offer you liquor on board right?). Johnnie Walker? Check! Chivas? Check! Absolut? Check! Jack Daniels? Check! Bombay Sapphire? Check! Grey Goose Vodka, Bacardi...



Assorted chilled wines for your unlimited consumption.



... Piper Heidsieck champagne included!


Ice cream Cakes, Non-alcoholic beverages

For those who prefer nothing alcoholic, there is always the soft drinks, lassi and juices chiller to fulfill your needs. Like me, I think many of you are more drawn to the liquor corner eh... If you prefer hot beverages like a cuppa cappucino or hot chocolate, you can always order it through the staff.

Oh there's also ice cream cakes, eat all you want and eat all you can! Not Baskin Robbins though but I don't think they will compromise quality when you're in a place called The Golden Lounge!


Fish Porridge

There was a menu on the table which lists the items available for breakfast and lunch. I wanted to have the Taiwan Beef Noodles but it was only available for lunch, so I had to settle for the Fish Porridge in the breakfast menu. Nothing fantastic but having fish porridge for breakfast in an international airport for free is quite a luxury to me already.


Coriander Ginger Fried Shrimp

Again nothing fantastic, though I really love the presentation of it!



Decided to make a move when my tummy's full and it was back to my assignment of the day- "seeing what other people are doing" instead of spending the day hanging out at the Golden Lounge! Tq E for the priceless visit, a place where I can only dream of!

On an unrelated note,



If you're traveling, do remember to stop by this shop just right after immigration and bag scanning. It is no doubt one of the best airport liquor shop in Malaysia! Note the creative use of martini glasses stacked on top of each other to create a very "glassy" perception.

Not only RIB-licious... @ Tony Roma's

Complimentary bun w garlic butter spread

Shamelessly I have to admit, I have never been to Tony Roma's. Yes, glare at me if you want but despite having read so much about it (most commented on the ridiculousness of TR Malaysia's 'halal' ribs), I wasn't too enthusiastic about it. But! Finally we managed to make a visit to a TR outlet at Sunway Pyramid few weeks back.

Walking into the restaurant, one can't help but to relate American food joints like TGIF, Itallianies and Chilli's to Tony Roma's. The familiar and default long benches and long tables for family gatherings and parties, the drinks bar, the way you're being greeted by the restaurant crews, the menu... and perhaps the pricing too ;-)


Half Loaf Onion Rings- RM12.90
Giant hand-cut Spanish onions, breaded, deep fried
and served with in house BBQ dipping sauce

I suppose this is a MUST HAVE item on the menu seeing that 9 out of 10 reviews I read had this on their tables. We ordered a Half Loaf option, just enough for 2 persons. The Onion Rings was pleasantly delicious. You could taste the onions in thick cuts, unlike other places where the batter overrule the onions or onions so thinly sliced that it taste more like fried rings w/o the onions.


Rib Dinner Combo- RM49.90
2 pcs ribs, grilled prawns kebab, pesto salad and mashed potatoes

We opted for the rib combo as it will be a better option to try some other things as well as the ribs. First off, The Ribs. What can I say... Though much criticized for being halal, the beef ribs is just as good as their porky counterpart. Smoky and grilled to perfection- the meat falls tenderly off the bones. Couple it with TR's Smoky BBQ Sauce, it was delicious! Please don't even try their other sauces (Honey, Original) as they taste bad and it will only destroy your perfect ribs.


Grilled prawn dipped in melted butter

The grilled prawns were very tangy and generous in size. It also comes with a little cup of melted butter and lemon for dipping. Squeeze the lemon juice over the melted butter and you're good to go to savour those lovely grilled prawns.

We opted for the pesto salad and mashed potatoes as sides. I love the mashed potatoes as it has some bits of skin inside, rather different from most mashed potatoes I've eaten. As for the pesto salad, well I've never been quite a fan of salad, so...


Empty plates: testament to good food... yumm yumm

Needless to say, we polished everything off! I even licked the bones clean :D

TR in my opinion deserves a comeback, not too soon but surely will.


Tony Roma's
LG1.43, Sunway Pyramid.
Tel: 03-7492 1188
(Old wing, facing skating rink)
www.tonyromas.com

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

Nose to Tail Eating @ El Cerdo

El Cerdo- nose to tail eating

Never one to be found hanging around Changkat Bukit Bintang for dinner, we found ourselves at the quaint little street again one fine evening as the craving for Parma Ham was too strong to be resisted and brushed aside as yet "another nasi lemak craving..." It was a weekday night, we didn't make any reservations. Well even if the restaurant is full, there're still so many choices out there. We can always make a quick exit to their next door neighbours, Bermuda & Onion or Flam's or Frangipani or even back to Chiaroscuro. But weekday being a weekday, we were lucky to get a table for 2.

Jamón Serrano from Spain- RM38

Imported high quality Spanish cred & air dried ham

served on rock melon and salad with Balsamico dressing

A menu was swiftly handed to us and it was a pork-lover's paradise! From left to right, up to bottom, all the items have some hints of pork (ok except the desserts and drinks). We couldn't quite make up our mind between the Paella or the Ham Knuckle. In the end, with a flip of the invisible coin, Paella it was. But for starters, it was the Jamón Serrano from Spain- in laymen's terms, Parma Ham with Rock Melon. The rock melon was too sweet, so sweet that a little piece of it is enough to complement the salty ham.


Paella- RM88
With Seafood, Chicken, Chorizo Sausage and Pork

It is a bit ironical, come to think about it. I was just saying in the car on our way there that I am not gonna have rice in an expensive restaurant as we were discussing on whether anyone of us had risotto (a type of Italian rice) before. And we ended up having Paella... a type of Spanish rice.

It was a very tough decision between the Ham Knuckle or Paella as both dishes are enough for 2 pax. After a bout of pushing the decision making to each other and flipping invisible coins, Paella won. And Paella we had. This being my second time having the Paella, first was at La Bodega's.





The Paella was dense with flavour- not surprising when you have a combination of seafood and poultry with the strong tomato flavour. Perhaps it is appropriate to say that the Spanish Paella is equivalent to our Chinese Claypot Rice. The portion is just right for 2 persons.


"Hot & Cold"- RM19.50
A sinful combination of Hot Mixed Berries and Red Wine
On Vanilla Ice Cream

Now, with the amazing starters and delicious mains, wouldn't it be wonderful if we could end the dinner with a sweet dessert? The dessert that managed to catch my attention was "Hot & Cold". They say "opposite attracts", I wonder how true it is. But as evidenced by the Parma Ham with Rock Melon in the starters, I guess it is safe to say, yes opposites do attract! The mixed berries were warm and instantly melts the vanilla ice cream. Yes, there was a strong hint of red wine too. The kitchen was very generous with the berries too.


Temptations...

If the name El Cerdo rings a bell in your mind for something outrageous they do... Yes, you've got the place right. They not only serve suckling pig, they also cut it with white plates and then smash the white plates after that. So, there can be quite a commotion in the restaurant whenever a suckling pig is served!


El Cerdo
43 & 45, Changkat Bukit Bintang,
50200 Kuala Lumpur.
(Opposite The Green Man Pub & The Magnificent Fish and Chips Bar)

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]

A Parisian Affair @ Café Café KL

Café Café's signature chandelier w crystal drops

"Stepping into Café Café, one leaves the mundate streets of Kuala Lumpur and is immediately enthralled by its lavish interior; magnificent Occident in this part of urban Orient. Café Café, quintessentially Parisian - echoes of the combination of Le Quartier du Marais, Montmartre together with a touch of Moulin Rough perhaps? offers those with a discerning eye and taste, a delicious smorgasbord of visual and appetising designer fetish.


Interior deco- cozy and quintessentially Parisian

Many urbanists have already claimed Café Café as their home away from home. An indulgent in luxury, rewarding with comforts of haute decadence, an escape from the harsh industrial and minimalist chic of too many modern restaurants. Here, the ones is to know enjoy privileges of classic dining, without pretentiousness. Classic yet modern, formally relaxed, flamboyantly simple. Café Café is truly a pastiche of styles that some together to enchant. A refreshingly informal place to meet freiends, colleagues, or even a special acquaintance.

Sumptuous dining in a classic European style; Café Café affords its patrons a unique atmosphere, where an opulent interior enable one's imagination and inspiration to be truly stirred..." (excerpt from cafecafekl.com)

Complimentary bread w balsamic vinegar & olive oil

Where does the tradition of starting the meal with bread w balsamic vinegar & olive oil come from? Is it an Italian or French tradition? Bites me, I really don't know because nowadays if you go to a steak house, Italian or French restaurant, this is the default 'appetizer before the appetizer' while waiting for your actual appetizers to come. Common, but good stuff.


Pan-seared Foie Gras

One of our main motives to come by Café Café is the Foie Gras. Since our last meeting with the Holy Grail of food (at least for me since FG is so expensive!) at Senjyu Sushi, we opted for the RM149 set dinner. The cheaper set, RM69 didn't have this on the menu. The more expensive set RM200+ was wayyyy beyond our bank account capacity.

Because the Foie Gras deserves a paragraph on its own :) Words can do no justice to describe this. It is so bloody awesome, every bite melts in your mouth. Soft buttery texture with an excellent gravy that very well complemented it. It makes life worth living and goose worth killing. Hehe just joking. I think I want to open a goose kandang and harvest all their livers and have foie gras everyday!


Garlic escargots

Escargots! In a much simpler way to savour without having to use the tweezers and all that equipments. It came in 3 little cups, with 2 escargots in each cup, drowned with chopped garlic and melted butter. Sinful? Yes.


Pink Wagyu Cheeks

The mains! There was a choice between chicken, beef and fish. No prize for guessing which poultry we chose- BEEF! When the dish came, I mistaken it for dessert! But of course wouldn't embarass myself by saying out loud :p Upon closer inspection (can't blame me, the lights were so dimmed!) it is the wagyu cheeks. To be honest, the wagyu was the star that night IMHO. The Foie Gras comes close to second, maybe about 0.00000001% variance hehehe. It was so tender, so so so tender, that it actually need no effort to even chew! It melts in your mouth. With a little hint of red wine, the meat was really good. Flavourful and tender, I'll give this a 100% A1 grade.

If ever I'm coming back, I'll definitely order this as a main again.


Slow-Cooked Lamb Shank- RM38

We ordered an ala carte lamb shank for sharing. The kitchen was very generous with the serving. What can you tell of the lamb shank just by looking at the picture? AWESOME. Again, meat was very tender too. It has a little sourish flavour to it contributed by the tomatoes, both gravy and meat complemented each other well.


Creme brulee

A dessert to complete a wonderful meal- creme brulee. Creamy and sweet, just the way we love it and this is how every dinner date should end- on a high, sweet and tasty note.



The only letdown besides the high price is they don't allow photography of its interior. Food and human photography are allowed though. It was quite a putoff to our high spirits and cheerful mood as we have read and heard so much about the nice decoration and wanting to do some photography on it.

Oh, if you're planning to come by, do observe their chairs. I suppose it is one unique thing about Café Café's interior decoration as well- no 2 chairs are the same :)

The total bill consisting of one RM149 dinner set an ala carte lamb shank (RM38) with a bottle of mineral water (RM4) came to RM250.10 after all the (un)neccessary taxes.



Café Café
175, Jalan Maharajalela,
50150 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2145 8141
www.cafecafekl.com

[disclaimer: the opinions expressed here are based on my personal views, tastebuds and preference and may vary for others. please dont sue me, i dont have money. kthxbye.]