Asian "caviar"? ;)

Every time I'm back in my hometown Kuala Lumpur, I'd hunt for Nasi Lemak
On this trip, I have found the perfect Nasi Lemak! :)
- and it's all because the chef made one lil' interesting twist to the traditional Malaysian dish.
It's served with "asian caviar"

Notice the small (but very pregnant) anchovy-like fish? :))
60% of its size is its own eggs :)
very fattening - but very very yum :)
it tastes somewhat like fried cheese + egg yolk

The "Asian Caviar Nasi Lemak" is served at U-Cafe @ Sungei Wang Plaza, Kuala Lumpur
Lot No. C025 (Fiesta Street)

What I like about it:)
- moist & piping-hot steamed coconut rice
- generous servings of sambal (sweet & spicy chilli paste)
- aromatic chicken "rendang"
(rendang's quite similar to curry - except that fresh spices & 4 types of ginger (kunyit, lengkuas, etc) are used instead of dried powdered spices)

When I passed by U-Cafe, I thought it offers mediocre stuff like Old Town White Coffee, PappaRich...but I was pleasantly surprised by the food quality :)

If you ever visit Kuala Lumpur, don't leave the city without trying the Asian Caviar Nasi Lemak!!! :)

I used to like Madam Kwan's nasi lemak... but over the years, I found that the quality has deteriorated
- the chicken are overcooked & tasteless
- too much liquid in the curry/rendang (bland)
- the portion has also shrunk

That's Nisha my gym-buddy back in Uni :)
We went to Madam Kwan's when she and her hubby had a honeymoon in Malaysia
Gal, if you're coming back again, we'll go to U-Cafe this time :)))

Sahaa: best African restaurant in Aus & NZ:)

Tucked inconspicuously in a line-up of ethnic eateries near the busy intersection of Khyber Pass and Broadway (Auckland, New Zealand) , this superb little restaurant is a real off-the-beaten-track, local haunt.

You don’t often come across quality Algerian, Morrocan and Tunisian flavours in New Zealand.

In fact, Sahaa is the only one of its kind on the whole North Island, something that makes its menu shine even brighter.

Naturally, tagines are the specialty here and the setting is positively North African exotic with a private, traditional low-seating area, a family dining room complete with Moroccan fountain, colourful pottery on the walls and dainty glass cups from which to sip your mint tea.

Chef-owner Makhlouf (Marco) Benyettou cooks dishes from his native Algeria as well as Morocco and as well as Morocco and Tunisia.

Benyettou’s wife Dianna undertook the waiting duties by herself; ranging around providing efficient and knowledgeable service in a low-key dining room with lemon-yellow walls, Moorish pendant lamps and a smattering of rugs.

Tagine dishes symbolise North African cuisine, and here at Sahaa they are brought to the table piping hot and placed on a decorative tile in front of you. The conical lid is then removed so you can eat from the cooking platter.

The lamb, apple and prune stew ($26) - the large dices of lamb were very tender, and the fruit contributed a heady sweet-savoury character.

This dish was what good restaurant food should be: sublime in its simplicity, yet the sort of thing that would be difficult to recreate at home.

Sahaa's wine list was small, made up of good value Australian and New Zealand whites and reds, selected to match the food.

However, an evening at Sahaa does not require spectacular flourishes. The low-key service, calm atmosphere and satisfying food invite you to relax and enjoy your food, wine and company.

More info: http://www.viewauckland.co.nz/restaurants/sahaa-review-57866.html

Prices: Entrées $10 - $24, mains $20 - $26.

Contact:
475 Khyber Pass Road,
Newmarket,
Auckland
Tel: 09-523-4578
Fax: 09-523-4578
Email: sahaarestaurant@hotmail.com

World's best SEAFOOD @ Balkan Restaurant, Sydney

The Original Balkan Restaurant grill in Darlinghurst was established in 1964 and has been praised for over 45 years for its great atmosphere, excellent European style dishes and large servings.

Seafood platter

Famous for its authentic European style food which is prepared right at the window on the street-front grills, allowing everyone to have a look at chefs preparing ones favourite dishes.

The street-front grills...

My favourite dish:)

Grilled king prawns with chilli & olive oil dressing

Some of the special dishes that have come to hold the pride of place as the specialties of this restaurant are spicy sausages, pork on skewers, poached Tasmanian mussels, and whole Barramundi.

Seafool pasta - with abalone, king prawns , mussels, scallops, etc

Abalones :)))) *yum*

succulent prawns :))

"Balkan Grill Platter"

- juicy king prawns, sole, squid...

Balkan Restaurant's simple, stylish menu also offers freshly prepared salad of cabbage and potato which is served with the meats and seafoods barbecued on the "Balkan Grill".

A quck glimpse of the entree and dessert selections :)
Apple strudel

Croation sweets

Tiramisu :)

  Soft homemade bread

Crunchy & aromatic garlic bread with fresh herbs:)

I like the coat hangers on the wall :) very handy

Location:-

217 Oxford St,
Darlinghurst 2010 NSW

Business hours:
Mon- Thur 6pm to 11pm

Fri-Sat 12pm to 12am
Sun 12pm to 11pm

Gengis Khan Mongolian BBQ, Auckland City

I wasn't expecting to be impressed by Asian restaurants in Auckland, but I was pleasantly surprised by the good quality shrimps at the Gengis Khan Mongolian BBQ Buffet Restaurant.

You see, buffet meals don't normally fare high on quality, unless you're prepared to spend enough to buy every single quiche available at Fat Dog Cafe. 
Otherwise, you'd be eating "dog food-quality" grub.

Woof! woof! :) Good stuff

I had my very own customised plates of stir-fried prawns and fresh vege - lots of onions, capsicums, vege, chilli sauce, chopped ginger & juicy, crunchy prawns

Served piping hot:) - you can even see the steam!

(Oh, they're so yum!!!)

The chicken, lamb, beef and mussels looked pretty good too, but the prawns were so fresh that I had two plates of them and didn't even bother to touch other types of meat

20 types of oil/sauce to choose from. Oh, isn't that lover-ly?? :)

The appetizers section look pretty good too, - good dinner rolls, garlic bread & soup... but when you're at Gengis Khan, you probably won't even bother to look at them

I like the fact that they have an open kitchen - very hygienic!

+ you get to see the ethnic Mongolian chefs in action :))

It was almost like watching a Kung Fu show! hehe

It was such an entertaining dinner that I felt like a happy kid in a circus

The ice creams were good too - not too sweet or greasy

The pancakes were - but too bad, I didn't get try them because I was way too full

The chefs will make the pancakes only when you order them

5 types of syrups to go with the pancakes
Probably taste good, but geez... do we really need that much carb? 

Try the salad instead;)

 

Gengis Khan is an award winning restaurant:)

Address:

3001 Great North Road

New Lynn

Auckland

Tel: 09 827 0055

Fat Dog (Rotorua journey: Part 1)

When I first saw Fat Dog, I thought it’s a pet shop

I was wrong

Bacon and Egg pies

It’s a place that specializes in making dogs human beings fat

The food portion is unbelievable huge

and every single item on Fat Dog’s menu is so unbelievably yummy that you have no choice but to wolf down every single morsel on your plate even though your mind tells you not to

Bagels and salad

Just when I thought that Ronnie’s Café makes the best quiche in the world… I came across an even better one at Fat Dog

It’s not just a supersized version

There’s also more variety of vege in the quiche!
-    pumpkin, potato, capsicum, onion, broccoli, tomato, mushroom, etc

Gigantic Vege Quiche

The side salad is simply mind-blowing!
What I like most about it is that there’s no mayonnaise in the salad :)))

-    only fresh vege and healthy organic seasoning (I think it’s cranberry sauce)
(Mayonnaise is like… the most disgusting sauce. They’re made with raw egg white + vinegar + olive oil + lots of preservative to lengthen the shelf life)

Too bad I didn't get to try the dessert... They look absolutely heavenly

 The fruit salad is mediocre, though. Nice in photo only

It has a nice & cozy ambience

Fat Dog's own homemade beverages :)

Opening Hours

Open Sunday – Wednesday 8am till 9pm
Open Thursday to Saturday 8am till 9.30pm

Location
1161 Arawa Street, Rotorua, New Zealand
Just down from Rotorua's main information centre and directly opposite the Court House

Website
http://www.fatdogcafe.co.nz/

 

Fat Dog, I love you! Will be back some day!!!:):)