Fancy A Taste of Thai in Damansara Perdana?

One should never judge a book by its' cover. For all its' simple facade, lies therein a place that really surprised me AND satisfied a sudden craving for Thai food yesterday night.

Taste Thai is the latest food biz to venture into Damansara Perdana.  Though it faces the main road of this neighbourhood, I must have passed it many times, not giving this place any attention.  After all, eateries come and go and a black and white signboard made it even more unattractive from the outside.  Thanks to a good neighbour and friend who has eaten here before, she recommended that I should also give this place a try.  And so, I did.  Boy, am I glad, I did!

Ladies and gentlemen, if you are looking for authentic Thai food with wallet friendly prices, this is a a great place for a meal. Especially if you are on the lookout for Thai cuisine with pork. 

The interior of Taste Thai is stark.  No posters or anything Thai-ish on the walls.  Maybe it's still new.  However, one can't say the same about their menu.  Plenty of choices, ranging from rice to noodle dishes,  single platter to soups and stir fries.  They also serve Moo Ka Ta which is Thai barbecue.  This, being a first visit, we went for the single platters.  We also ordered a pot of seafood red tomyum and a mango salad to share.

 Stir Fried Hot Basil Leaves - mix of minced pork, crispy pork, minced chicken and seafood  -RM8.50

 Stir Fried Kai Lan with Seafood - RM8.50

Stewed Pork Leg With Rice - RM10.00

The single platters were sufficient for a simple meal, be it, a stir fry of meats with hot basil leaves or with 'kai lan'.  I had the stewed pork leg with rice which was served with a side of 'hum choy' (preserved mustard greens) and half an egg.  Very homecooked feels to the food here.

I was particularly impressed with the red tomyum soup which was aplenty with a mix of squid, prawns and oyster mushrooms.  One pot was enough for three of us to share.

Tomyum Red with Seafood - RM14.50

The mango salad with peanuts was the bomb!  Fiery as can be.  It was still good, though, especially if you can take spicy.

Mango Salad With Peanuts - RM8.50

One more thing that definitely deserves special mention is their Thai ice coffee (RM5.00).  It was both strong and sweet at the same time.  It was heavenly!

Oh, by the way, their opening hours are quite interesting.  Except for Mondays (their off day), they are opened daily, Tuesdays to Sundays from 11 am to 4 am!   Good for those who like eating late or need a place to down a Thai Chang beer or two in the middle of the night!

Address :

Taste Thai
9-1 Jalan PJU 8/5H
Damansara Perdana, PJ

Tel No. +60 12 7845581

Anak Baba @ Brickfields

We have eaten at Baba Low's 486 on two occasions some years ago but have never returned after that, for the only reason that it's near impossible to get a car park around Lorong Kurau, Bangsar where Baba Low is located.   WSS is crazy about their signature nyonya laksa and I simply love their cendol.  Sometime last year, they opened a branch in Bangsar Utama, and then early this year, another sister outlet, Anak Baba in Brickfields.

And so, it was with much joy and anticipation, we made our way to Anak Baba for lunch.  They were not difficult to find; located two rows behind YMCA along Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad.  We managed to park at an open carpark space, indirectly across the street from Anak Baba. The restaurant is cosy and its' rustic feels, made us feel all the more welcomed.  

The Nyonya Laksa was as good as we remembered it to be!  The broth was not too spicy, delicious with generous helpings of bean sprouts, cockles, shrimps, taufu pok, sliced fishcakes and cucumber.  Good till the last drop!

Nyonya Laksa - RM8.80

Nasi Nyonya Platter (Rice + Dish + Bendeh Sambal Belacan) - RM13.00

I opted for the Nasi Nyonya Platter; steamed white rice served with okra in sambal belacan and my choice of dish was the Ikan Goreng Cili Garam.  The fish, slathered with a special spicy chilli topping (surprisingly, it was not super spicy, yay!) was fried just right, crunchy on the outside but not dry on the inside. 

We also ordered a breakfast set; a simple combination of 2 half boiled eggs and kaya bun.  No fuss, no muss.  

Breakfast Set - RM5.20

Popiah Peranakan - RM5.80

The Popiah Peranakan was a tad different from the sheer skinned spring rolls that we were accustomed to, but strangely, I really like its' thicker popiah wrapping which, apparently, is freshly made daily.  I also love the stuffing which is made of turnip, shallots, bean sprouts and egg strips.  My only gripe, it comes with a mortifying generous helpings of coriander which personally, I do not like.

And of course, the flavourful cendol wrapped up the whole meal beautifully.  

Cendol - RM5.80

Not only was our lunch a treat to our tummies but also a boon to our pockets.  With affordable prices and friendly service, echoing Arnold Schwarzenegger famous last words, I will be back (for more)!

Note :  Available car park space may be even more scarce on weekdays, so for an easier commute, one can take the MRT (Sungai Buloh Kajang line) and alight at the KL Sentral station, walk over to Nu Sentral, cross the road and walk towards the YMCA building (which is no more than a mere 5-minute walk).  Anak Baba is a hop, skip and jump away from YMCA.

Address :

Anak Baba

159 Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad

Brickfields, KL

Tel No. +60 3 22762815

Opens daily 7am to 5pm

Alibaba & Nyonya (not forty thieves... whew!)

It's Nyonya food for dinner tonight; an unusual choice since it was raining as we were leaving the house.  Normally, we would head out to the mall, just so that we get shelter and dinner at the same time.  But instead, we decided to be more adventurous tonight, braving the rain to be rewarded by a delicious dinner in Taman Tun Dr Ismail.

Alibaba & Nyonya is located in a corner shop lot, next to Secret Recipe along Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 1, opposite the famous TTDI Sunday night market.   We were really blessed because despite it being 'pasar malam' night, we managed to get a car park near the restaurant!  The rain had slowed to barely a drizzle, so with a palm over our heads (don't really know why we do it; not that the size of our palms can save us from getting wet!), we arrived at the pleasantly lit restaurant.  I love the welcoming mural at the entrance!

The menu was extensive; lots to choose from.  We ordered a few dishes to share.  We were also given the option to choose between white rice and 'nasi ulam' to go with the dishes.

 Solok Green Chilli Sotong (Squid) - RM23.90 (small)

 Sambal Fried Pucuk Paku - RM14.50

 Traditional Nyonya Chicken Pongteh (Stew) - RM21.90 (small)

 Telur Belanda (fried eggs in sweet and sour assam gravy) - RM10.80

Signature ABC (Ais Kacang) - RM7.50

 Cendol Gula Melaka - RM6.50

My favourite?  The Telur Belanda!  I must try to cook it at home one of these days.  It's simple enough and a sure way to whet the appetite.

Overall, the dishes were really tasty, especially the Chicken Pongteh although the 'cendol' didn't really make the mark.  The distinctive taste of 'gula melaka' was just not there.  Pity.

Still, if and whenever we want some good Peranakan Malay cooking that's not too far away from home, we know where to go!

Address :

Alibaba & Nyonya

54 Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 1

TTDI, Kuala Lumpur

Opens daily from 11am to 10pm

Oh, Those Mussels! And More at Two Sons Bistro

WSS and I had a fantabulous brunch this morning at Two Sons Bistro.  The lazy part of me just want to upload the few photos I had taken of our beautiful meal, onto Instagram, write a few words, throw in a few hashtags and I am done.  But alas, the more diligent me won the argument.  It was time to resurrect this food blog. Hence, this entry.

I have always loved seafood. Crabs, prawns, clams, squid, mussels and the like.  When Two Sons Bistro opened for business at the Starling Mall, I didn't give them much thought.  Eh, probably just another of your run of the mill cafe; a dime in a dozen these days. Then one fine day, walking past, I noticed these two sign boards outside their restaurant! 

They have clams and mussels on their menu!  And a whole lot of other dishes from pasta to steaks and desserts and even a few specially prepared Asian dishes.

We ordered a starter pot of mussels (450g) priced at RM30.00; clams and mussels here are prepared in 16 different ways, so we chose a clear broth called Basilisk.  The hot steaming pot of mussels were served with a side of french fries which we opted over the other option of garlic brioche.  Needless to say, it was good to the last bit.  Incidentally, the starter size was just perfect for the two of us.

Aside from the mussels, we also ordered an Aglio Olio linguine (RM21.00) with a choice of seafood (add RM12.00). Yes, there were more mussels and clams inside   Again, it was perfectly cooked. The seafood was fresh and the pasta was delicious.  No regrets at all!

Our appetites were truly ginormous today because we couldn't help ourselves and ordered an Egg Benedict (RM25.00) to share. It came in an unusual style of serving; in a huge charcoal bun. I swear I could hear the bun crackled as I cut into it to reveal the poached egg inside. Yup, we polished off every bit of that too.

There were just so much to digest!  Seriously, there's a treasure trove of food waiting to be discovered. One thing's for sure....we will back for more!

Psst.... only one teeny weeny gripe.  My flat white was served with just a hint of coffee.  Hopefully, it was just this one cup.


Address :

Two Sons Bistro
Level 1, Starling Mall
Damansara Uptown, PJ

OR

A4-G2-8, Publika
Solaris Dutamas
Jalan Dutamas 1, KL

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Hokkien Mee 福建面' & Cantonese Fried Noodles ' 廣府炒鴛鴦' @ Tiong Hokkien Mee, Damansara Uptown

This is NOT something one can eat as often as eggs on toast or some others foods that your body can digest easily without shaking up your annual medical report!  But I do have my fair share of  'zhi char' cravings and I am already salivating at the thought of a yummilicious portion of Hokkien Mee or Cantonese Fried Noodles 'gong fu chao yin yong' for dinner!  And thanks to another foodie friend who loves food more than his waistline, I have a new place to indulge in my favourite fried noodles.

The portions at Tiong Hokkien Mee in Damansara Uptown are good, prices reasonable and most importantly, at least in my books, the restaurant is clean!  The shop is brightly lit and even if you have to dine alfresco, the tables are not next to open drains with buzzing mosquitos to boot, unlike another restaurant serving similar food in the vicinity.  

Simply love the yellow noodles fried in dark soy sauce (Hokkien Mee) with a generous helping of prawns, pork meat and cabbage slices. Couldn't find many pieces of fried pork lard, though it's a good thing, preventing me from raising my cholesterol levels any higher than they already are!

The mix of fried beehoon and flat rice noodles (Cantonese Fried Noodles) was just as tasty and not as starchy as some others that I have consumed in other restaurants.

Tonight, we also ordered a plate of 'nam yue' fermented red beancurd fried chicken wings to complement the meal.  But this may not be to everyone's taste because the taste of 'nam yue' can be overwhelming for those looking for a taste of old fashioned fried chicken wings. Having said that, it's definitely palatable and quite pleasant to eat.

I don't profess to be an expert but tonight's meal was good enough for me.

Restoran Tiong Hokkien Mee
85, Jalan 21/37
Damansara Uptown
47400 Petaling Jaya

A 'Tea' Affair For Dinner - Purple Cane Tea Restaurant

Birthday celebratory dinners are always fun times.   Think laughter and light hearted chit chat around the dinner table with family and friends!  Last Saturday, it was that exact happy picture, complete with a good spread of Chinese food at the Purple Cane Tea Restaurant in Paradigm Mall.

Here are some photos for you to salivate over...

Sweet and Sour Prawns in Black Tea

Beancurd in Pumpkin Sauce

Sliced grouper (fish) with mashed ginger in tea sauce

Braised Chicken with Sweet Chili in Tea Sauce

 .... served with Homemade Fried Buns

 Kangkong in Sambal Belachan

Pu Er Tea Brown Rice

Braised Chicken withWood Ear

Sauteed Macadamia with Celery in Tie Guan Yin tea

 After dinner mints sweets

The meals here are infused with different types of tea which enhances the entire gastronomical experience.   Imagine having both detoxifying and natural antioxidants in your food, cooked with minimal oil, salt and seasoning!  And for the most of us who were at the birthday dinner that night, food with less fat, less sodium and less cholesterol fits the bill perfectly.

Purple Cane Tea Restaurant is a pork free establishment and their Klang Valley branches are in :

a. Gardens Midvalley, Kuala Lumpur
b. KL/Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Kuala Lumpur
c. Shaw Parade, Changkat Thambi Dollah, Kuala Lumpur
d. Paradigm Mall, Kelana Jaya, Petaling Jaya

Outside of Klang Valley, they can also be found in :

a. Tanarimba Janda Baik in Bentong, Pahang
b. Jalan Dato Tahwil Azar (Osborne Street), Ipoh
c. The Shore Shopping Gallery, Jalan Persisiran Bunga Raya, Melaka

Maggi Mee Goreng, Satu!

My last posting was in August last year.  What a long lapse!  Don't get me wrong.  I haven't been starving myself.  The added kilos and expanded waist line can testify to that!   Yesterday, I received a text message from Pathfinder who told me that he had posted his first food related entry to his blog. His enthusiasm drew me back to this blog, long neglected but not entirely forgotten.   So I dug through my reservoir of photos and to my dismay, I cannot recall enough about most of the foodie pics taken since August last year, to write a decent post.

As I have said  from the onset, I am not a food reviewer.   I just love to eat. So let me revive this blog by sharing with you, my love for a plate of 'Maggi mee goreng' - fried instant noodles - Maggi refers to the brand of the instant noodles, usually used for this dish.  But any other brands of instant noodles can also be used.

I am a great fan of Maggi noodles.  Why, I practically grew up on it.  Yeah, I know much have been written about the dangers of over indulging on instant noodles.  Wax lining one's stomach or overdosing on MSG (monosodium glutamate) are only some of the 'dangers' but I always believe that moderation is the key to enjoying good food and staying healthy at the same time.

Maggi mee goreng is on the menu of every little 'mamak' stall you can find.  It's basically noodles stir fried  with dark soya sauce, vegetables and egg.  Sometimes, tofu, bird's eye chillies or chicken meat are also added and the plate of noodles garnished with half a lime, which one can squeeze onto the noodles to get that tangy zing.  If you want it to be more 'pedas' (spicy), curry powder may be added to fire up the dish!

A plate of maggi mee goreng is enough to fill any hunger pangs or simply to satisfy a midnight snack craving. It's cheap; usually costs between RM3.00 to RM4.00 at the local mamak roadside stall but can go up to RM6.50, if ordered at one of those fancier, cafe style restaurants. It's the overheads, you know.

Most mamak stalls operate 24/7.  Anytime is a good time to have a plate of maggi mee goreng!