Big Nose Restaurant

Kuala Lumpur - The silkair flight into KL landed late and when I reach the immigration counter, there was a long queue of passengers.  Many of them were Arabs coming to KL to avoid their hot summer and having a long vacation.  On clock work, I took the luggauge cleared customs and took the KLIA to Sentral station.  

Le Meridien Hotel is undergoing massive renovation at the reception area and therefore I had to check-in at B3 instead of Level 1.   I was told the renovation would be completed by end of October 2012.

For dinner, we went to Big Nose Restaurant off Jalan Kuchai Lama.  

We chose the Kerai Fish which is a local fish.



Kerai Fish - the big fish on the left

Infamous Tahu Otah dish

The Otah is snugged between 2 slices of Tahu cooked with slices of petai (bitter beans).

You can see the Otah between slices of Tahu

Mantis Prawn fried with salted egg

The Mantis Prawn fried with salted egg was crispy on the outside, salty due to the salted egg and on the inside succulent and fresh.   This is a very delicious dish.

Not sure what's the name of this vegetable but it's my first time tasting it and it's good.  Stir fried with whole pieces of garlic.

Pork trotters tendons

This dish is new to me and it's Pork Trotters tendons cooked with Chinese wine and chilli.  The aroma is rich in wine and the tasted spicy due to the chilli.  More bones than meat, if you can call tendons 'meat'.  This is close to chicken feet cooked Cantonese style at Tim Sum (Yam Char) restaurant.

Steamed Kerai Fish Cantonese style

The Kerai Fish was served with their scales still on - of course it cannot be eaten so I wonder why the restaurant does not just remove them before serving.  The Cantonese style involves just good quality light Soya Sauce topped with garnishing of spring onions and Chinese coriander.   This is also my first time eating Kerai Fish and it's definitely fresh but there are lots of bones.   Caution when eating this fish with it's many bones and I will definitely not order this fish again.

As our stomachs still have room for one more dish - I ordered the steamed chicken garnished with lots of chopped spring onions and garlic.

I

Good Japanese food

Kuala Lumpur - Donny drove Edward and I to Mid-Valley for lunch and as we alight the escalator we came across this Japanese restaurant.  The food is very good and fresh similiar to what I tasted in Tokyo.

Address: Yuzu Japanese Restaurant - 3rd Floor, The Garden, Mid Valley City.
If google 'Yuzu Japanese Restaurant Malaysia' there are many good reviews on this restaurant too..

Donny and his fresh Soba

Edamame (Soya beans) and it's still steaming hot

Ebi Tempura

So fresh Sashimi - it just melt in your mouth

Sashimi - Tuna belly, Yellow tail, Squid and Salmon Belly

Klang for seafood

Klang - Lesley drove for over an hr to Klang for their famous and affordable seafood.   This is outside of Kuala Lumpur and is a predominantly a Chinese town.   Many shop houses and factories own by Chinese bosses are based here, also because it's near the port for easy shipment and transhipment.

The famous Klang seafood restaurant

Stir fried Tang hoon noodles with clams (La-la)

Bamboo Clams

Steam mud crabs

Marmite mud crabs

What's Marmite?

Found only in commonwealth countries like UK, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia.  Marmite is a bread spread from a yeast extract.   You either like it or hate it.   Malaysia seafood restaurant are inventive and found creative ways to cook crabs.  Here we have an example of Stir fried crabs cooked with marmite.   You can really taste the marmite in the crabs and it's good.

This is what fresh bamboo clams looks like...

Delicious Char Siew

Petaling Jaya - Met up with Donny and Edward adn we went for lunch at Oversea Chinese Restaurant for their famous Char Siew (roasted pork).  This roasted pork is so delicious is simply melts in your mouth.

char siew and roast porl

View from my Hotel room @ Hotel Hilton Sentral.

Indian Fare

Petaling Jaya - It was a full day of Seminar at Hotel Boulevard.  For dinner, we hankered for some spicy Indian fare and the most famous was

Authentic Taiwanese Food in KL

Kuala Lumpur - We lost track of time in our discussion at the Hilton Petaling Jaya executive club. This is one of best Hitlon Club floor that I have visited. The receptionist and waiters were professional, polite and patient, there was a good spread of food for executive floor guests. I stayed at a normal Hilton floor but as a Gold Hilton member, I am extended the priviledges to enter the Hitlon Club floor.

It was around 9pm, my good friends brought me to dinner at Petaling Jaya, this is the location of the most authentic and famous Malaysian food. This restaurant, new Formosa restaurant serves authentic Taiwanese food located @ 46, Jalan SS2/24, 47300 Petaling Jaya. Contact: 603-7875-1894. The food is really good and tasty and the price is reasonable, just over RM$130 for 3 of us.
Die die must try -
Sour Plum Juice,
Stir-Fry Buttered Eel,
This desert is very unique - Formosa Special Sweet Yam. The yam cubes were first deep fried and coated with a layer of melted caramel with sesame seeds. The cubes were then transferred to a basin of ice water for the caramel to cool and harden. Interestingly, the yam cubes were not wet at all when taken out from the water and they’re still piping hot at the inside. It was very delicious - in Singapore we have similiar but with Banana. I just love it....

Glorious seafood @ Damansara

Kuala Lumpur - Today I will be staying at Le Meridien KL Hotel located at Sentral. Just 28 minutes from KL International airport via the KLIA express. The rates of Le Meridien are RM570++ per night whilst at Hilton KL Hotel (next door) was RM$200 per night more. Well having stayed at both - the rooms at Hilton KL Hotel are much bigger and also their service is much better. Hilton KL Hotel has a concierge at the Sentral station that will help you with your baggage and checking in.

The last time I stayed at Le Meridien KL Hotel, there was a similiar concierge service but was told today by the front desk that they discontinue this service.

One of the reason I like about Sentral location, as the name implies - it's very central - all the trains run through this location - KLIA Express, Kotra, KL Express (formerly Putra) and LRT.

Dinner was at a remote location in Damansara @ a seafood restaurant called "Pantai Seafood Restaurant". The food is very fresh, very delicious and for 5 people it cost RM$380. The most expensive dish was the Mexican Geoduck prepared in Sashimi and cooked in soup costing RM$200 - not really worth that much though - maybe with the Mexican tag, the seafood restaurant can charge more. The most interesting dish was Marmite Crab. If my recollection is correct, Marmite is used as a spread on bread. I did asked many times, marmite? marmite crab? Ok, why not...let's try. It's not that bad actually but I still like other variants of crab dishes like salted egg crab, etc.

Roasted Duck @ Petaling Jaya

Petaling Jaya - I saw in a magazine about 3 famous roasted duck restaurant in Kuala Lumpur , but I have never been to any one of them. I decided to ask Donny and he replied the restaurant is always crowded...but strangely, I had a hankering for duck meat. So, we made a "beeline" to this famous duck restaurant that he knew of in Petaling Jaya.

Restaurant: Sunrise Roasted Duck restaurant
Located @ 31 Jalan 21/1, SEA Park, Petaling Jaya

Upon reaching, it was packed and the crowds kept pouring in. The restaurant ambience is by all standard looks old with tiled walls, plastic chairs and slopping looking attendants. To compensate this restaurant roasted duck is heavenly - the best I have ever tasted!

The roasted ducks are skillfully chopped up piping hot and served to customers. The duck meat is succulent and tasty. We order one whole duck and it cost M$40 each. This was the reason why customers keep coming back to this restaurant over and over again and don't mind the long queues everyday.

Bak Kut Teh @ Petaling Jaya

Kuala Lumpur - Arrived on time and I had already pre-paid my Hotel stay at Boulevard Hotel. A good class 4-star hotel that is new and clean. The rooms are well kept and that's one of the reason I am back again.

Donny arrived with his colleagues (Eunice and Donald) and together with Young Jin we hopped into his car for a sumptuous meal at...

Grandpa Bak Kut Teh restaurant - a very famous Bak Kut Teh restaurant in Petaling Jaya. The Bak Kut Teh has a strong herb aroma - the broth is thick and delicious. The Pork has definitely been cooked for many hours as the meat is tender and juicy.

What is Bak Kut Teh?
This is a Chinese dish and is very popular in Malaysia and Singapore. Literal translation means "Pork Bones Tea". The dish of meaty Pork ribs is served in soup of herbs and spices. The Malaysian Bak Kut Teh consist of more herbs whilst Singapore Bak Kut Teh has more spices especially pepper. The Bak Kut Teh is served with rice and often served with "You Tiao" (fried dough). The correct way is to dipped the "You Tiao" into the Bak Kut Teh and eaten.

It seems to be that many of the best no-frills restaurants are located in Petaling Jaya. Petaling Jaya is about 45 minutes away from KL.

I had 2 rounds of bowling @ Cosmic Bowl at Mid Valley Mall with my business partners. This is the first time I am bowling in this special effects lighting. The glow in the dark pins and bowling ball adds new excitement to the game. Lights go out, the pins light up and the bowling ball glows!

Unique Seafood

Review: Hotel Renaissance
Friendly staff abound this hotel - each staff wears a smile readily it makes you feel very welcome. The hotel has a East Wing (formerly the New World Hotel) and West Wing. The hotel is also located a 5 minutes walk to the "Bukit Nanas" monorail - which is just across the road. You need to be extra careful crossing the road because the pedestrian lights does not turn green and you do not know when is the time to cross or not. So, I had to time the red light and green light to make my way across the road but had a little help from a taxi driver when crossing the road - he was waving me to cross. Also about 15-20 minutes walk to KLCC - taxi about RM$4-$10 depends on the type of taxi.


Restaurant:
Eden Village @ Chulan Square - $$$$ - a western seafood and steak restaurant. Just not my type of seafood restaurant. This restaurant serves prawns, lobsters but not my favourite, crabs. Maybe too messy for a western diner? but one consolation is that I like their wild mushroom soup. At their entrance displayed frozen fishes, prawns and lobster but none of the live seafood as a typical seafood restaurant.

Unique Seafood @ Lot 9B, Jln Kemajuan, Sec 13, PJ - $$$ - upon entering you are met with the most awesome display of live seafood of different types of crabs, geoduck, abalone, prawns and fishes. For each variety you can choose the style of cooking - for crabs I chose for it to be cooked "Salted egg" style - it was my first time trying such a dish. It was deliciously cooked - KL is very innovative in their cooking unlike in Singapore, we only have steam, chilli or pepper crab. KL has steam, butter, sweet and sour, cheese (not tried yet) and now salted egg crab style. Geoduck was served sashimi style and also for those unadventurous they provide provide steamboat style. I recommend this restaurant for the ambience and good food but you need a KL friend to bring you there as the location can be very confusing - even for a taxi driver.

Kuala Lumpur - Fatty Crab

The flight into KLIA was brief just 50 minutes from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur - the best part was the fast and efficient KLIA express train from the airport straight into KL Sentral - cost me RM$ 35. From Sentral I catched the taxi to Federal Hotel . I usually stayed at Hilton Kuala Lumpur or Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur - both are 5-star beautifully designed hotels. Both have porters that will take your lugguage from the Sentral train station to the reception.

Hotel Review:

Hotel: Federal Hotel @ 35 Jalan Bukit Bintang

Pros: The Federal Hotel is very near the main shopping area of Bukit Bintang.

Cons: The hotel building looks old and badly needs a renovation. The reception was impersonal and this would be my last stay ever at that hotel until the hotel renovate or upgrade - the only reason I stayed there was because of my customer was located at Jalan Pudu - just a 10 minutes walk to their office.

There is a musky and stale air in the room - the furnishings was just basic and old - no broadband internet access in the room - the wash basin was even cracked -luckily it was just for one night. Even my room card key was worn out and broken - much afraid that when I slot into the door I would not be able to pull the card key out. I think it was not wise to use plastic wrappings for the iron board - the iron board wrappings starts to melt when you place the iron on the ironing board. Most hotels I stayed in uses cloth as their iron board wrapping - it is very strange to use plastic.

Food Review: I like to try different cuisines each time I visit KL and it is always good food,

• Jade Garden Restaurant - $$ - located at Blue Boy Mansion @ Jalan Bukit Bintang -this is a herbal restaurant that serves real good chicken brew for all cures - their detailed menu describes each dishes and it's medicinal purposes. The main herbal dishes are served individually and cost about RM$ 9 and above.
• Pangkor Fish Head Curry - $$$ - located @ 59, SS 24/8, Taman Megah, Petaling Jaya - serves very delicious Fish head curry - we had a small dish of Fish Head curry about RM$ 26.
• Madam Kwan Restaurant - $$$ - located @ Suria KLCC - Peranakan food - very tasty and good - highly recommended
• House of Sundanese - $$$ - located @ Suria KLCC - Indonesian food - part of the same restaurant chain as in Singapore
• Bangsar Seagood restaurant - $$ - located @ 1 Bangsar, No 63, Jalan Ara, Bangsar Baru - Seagood - recommend to try the Butter Crab
  
• Fatty Crab Restaurant- $$ - Highly receommended - located @ Mines Resort - (Fatty Crab Restaurant has a branch also opposite Pangkor Fish Head Curry @ PJ) - the crabs are Malaysian local crabs and are small compared to Sri Lankan crabs which Singaporeans are used to - but they are deliciously cooked. Differently done called sweet, sour spicy crab. The bread used are not 'man tou' but toasted sliced bread which you can then dipped into the crab sauce.

malaysia food