Happy 54th Independence Day, Malaysia!

Merdeka!  Merdeka!  Merdeka!

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri

2011 Ramadhan Bazaar

Ramadhan brings with it much flavours. I enjoy going to the few Ramadhan bazaars in Kuching whenever Ramadhan comes a-knocking as I know I’ll be greeted with a myriad of traditional delicacies which only surface during this time of the year. It is indeed a sight to behold.

The ever popular Satok Ramadhan Bazaar has never failed to please a shutterbug like me.

Satok Ramadhan Bazaar

This year, I also made my way to the Kem Penrissen Ramadhan Bazaar, sanctioned by the West Malaysians to be the bazaar to get authentic Semenanjung food like nasi kerabu, ayam percik, satar and the likes.

Kem Penrissen Ramadhan Bazaar

On the way back to Kuching City, I stopped by the Kota Sentosa Ramadhan Bazaar. My first time there, and I was amazed by the huge volumes of people. Walking the entire length of the bazaar with the intention to capture some shots required a Herculean effort. The crowds were shoulder to shoulder!

Kota Sentosa Ramadhan Bazaar

I decided that I should also visit the Stutong Ramadhan Bazaar, and I wasn’t disappointed for I was greeted by a kaleidoscope of colours upon my arrival.

Stutong Ramadhan Bazaar

Okay, you must be wondering if I bought anything at all from any of the Ramadhan bazaars. Well, I did, but none of them made a lasting impression. Till the next Ramadhan…

2011 BCCK Ramadhan Buffet, Kuching

The much anticipated Ramadhan buffet at BCCK is here again.  Due to the good response last year, this year, they are holding it in The Great Hall of BCCK.

Undeniably, the BCCK Ramadhan Buffet ensures a memorable experience for food lovers like moi. For the third consecutive year, I made my way to BCCK to indulge myself in the bountiful buffet spread. I must say the spread, as always, is slightly different from the run of the mill variety, and the price tag of RM65 nett is supplanted by the copious amount of food one can partake to his heart’s content.

The main buffet spread for the evening was diverse enough; it consisted of local and international cuisines made up of a myriad of appetisers, salads, meat dishes, and fresh seafood (though I was a little disappointed with its less than stellar choices of seafood). The innumerable assortment of desserts was certainly a feast for one’s eyes and tummy.

The roasted lamb was definitely a requisite; very juicy and tender it made me want to go back for more only that I had to resist from doing so. There seemed to be a perpetual queue for this delightful offering the evening I was there.

For those of you who are still contemplating whether BCCK is the right place for a truly delightful Iftar experience, wait no more. There are also various action stalls guaranteed to satisfy all the hungry palates. The menu changes every Friday, and the last day for you to spoil your taste buds will be Friday, 26^th August 2011.

Come, BCCK is certainly a wise choice. Savour the delectable spread and Maher Zain’s soulful voice. Your ears and tummy will no doubt rejoice.

Note: Alhamdullilah is a song sung by Maher Zain

RJ Ayam Bakar Kopitiam

RJ Ayam Bakar...dimiliki oleh RJ Ayam Penyet Kopitiam Sdn. Bhd.  My first time patronizing RJ Ayam Penyet Kopitiam was sometime in August last year.  During the month of Ramadhan to be precise.  This year, again in August, just as the month of Ramadhan was crawling to the end of the first week, I made my way to its branch, RJ Ayam Bakar.  It is located at Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, next to the Air Asia ticketing office.  You won't miss the signboard, simple yet eye-catching with big bold letters in dark brown, as you cruise along Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman.

The menu is more or less the same as it is at Raja Ayam Penyet Kopitiam.  Even before we plonked ourselves comfortably at the table with a ceiling fan swirling at full speed high above us, we had already made up our mind what to have.  Why, of course, the signature Ayam Bakar Special (which comes with tempe and tauhu goreng).

The chicken portion was rather small.  But with all the other condiments, fret not that you'd leave feeling half-fed.  The grilled chicken was so wonderfully infused with flavours that coupled with the piping hot rice, we were rendered dumb momentarily.  We shredded the chicken with our fork and spoon, stationed the shredded piece on some rice together with a very fresh cabbage leaf and topped it all with a big dollop of sambal.  Yeah, we went through that motion till we finished every bit of what was served to us on the plate.  Now, I must tell you, the sambal is spicy (not to the extent of torching one's mouth though) and appetizing.  You may ask for extra sambal to kick it up a notch, but that costs RM0.50 more, and I'm inclined to believe that it is a small amount to pay in return for total satisfaction.  :)  The young cabbage leaves, ulam raja and cucumber slices were all very fresh.

Ayam Bakar Special

Oh, yes!  You must try the Banana Fritters with Grated Cheese Topping served over a puddle of condensed milk too.  Only one word to describe this dish:  Scrumptious!  Eaten while they are still hot, these fritters are simply out-of-this-world.

Banana Cheese

RJ Ayam Bakar selling pastries too?  I did not try these pastries but they looked quite tempting.  Next trip perhaps.

Chicken & Mushroom Quiche

Seafood Quiche

Potato pastry

I am certain I'll go back to either one of the RJ Kopitiams to try out more food.  HHmm...Ikan Bakar perhaps?  I can't wait but I have to, for this month is going to be a heavy makan-makan month for me.

Sanga Japanese Restaurant, Kuching

From the Kingdom of Thailand to the Land of the Rising Sun, Japan...I greet you Yoi ichi-nichi!  I don't normally go for Japanese food for it is not my cup of tea.  But Sanga, a Japanese Restaurant at Jalan Chan Chin Ann, Kuching was where my friends and I ended up at last Christmas.

Maneki Neko beckoning us to enter the restaurant

What we ordered:

Shisamo Furai (Deep Fried Pregnant Fish)

What can I say?  The Shisamo Furai was so crispy and had no distinctive fishy smell even without being bathed with lemon juice.

As for the main dish, we ordered Unagi Don set and Chicken Teriyaki set.  Each set came with a bowl of miso soup and two slices of watermelon.  The unagi and chicken were well-marinated;  the herbs used were not too overpowering so as to overtake the original flavours of the unagi and chicken.  

Unagi Don set

Chicken Teriyaki set

Japanese Kimchi

Kimchi is a well-known pickled dish in Korea.  Why did it end up in a Japanese restaurant?  Could this be the Japanese version?  But I couldn't tell the difference.  To me, it tasted like...well, the Korean kimchi!

Yakitori

Skewers of chicken dipped in barbeque sauce and grilled to perfection.  That's Yakitori for you.  The chicken used for the yakitori was incredibly succulent that juices oozed out with each bite.

Ebi (Prawn) Tempura

Kraaaakkk krraaakk...This sound filled the air as we sank our teeth into these deep fried prawns.  I believe skills are required in order to make a good tempura batter.  This crisp treat is great for nibbles.  Oishi!

Edamame (Steamed soybean)

Having edamame is just like having groundnuts with beer.  One healthy dish that we ordered.

Lidako

Lidako is my favourite dish.  I like this steamed and well-marinated little octopus.  It was just sooo...chewy.  Every bite was just so delightful.  A must-try!

Hey, what is having Japanese food without ordering sushi and sashimi, right?  We ordered a random selection of sushi and sashimi.  The most important part of sushi is the rice.  Here, the rice is sticky enough just to hold all the ingredients together and not too dry.  Then  the ingredients, must be fresh.  Very fresh.

Unagi Maki

California Maki

Ebiko Sushi

Mixed Sushi

Salmon Sashimi

For a reasonably priced Japanese food, this is one restaurant to go to.

Selamat Berpuasa

To all Muslim readers, here's wishing you

Selamat Menyambut Ramadhan Al-Mubarak

&

Selamat  Berpuasa

Absolute Tribal...serving your senses

Sawadeeka...from Kuching!  Come, let's join me in getting our taste buds tingled all over.  I bring to you, the Absolute Tribal at The Hills Shopping Mall, Kuching which serves a good selection of mouth-watering Thai dishes.

On one occasion, my family and I headed here for dinner, just to try something different from our usual everyday fare.  Why here?  Yours truly is a food hunter, that's why!  And this restaurant does not disappoint me at all.  *glad*

Let's dig in...

Browsing the menu and deciding what to order was an ordeal.  Everything seemed just so scrumptious and attractive, and we could not decide.  But decide, we had to, nevertheless. 

Tom Yam Seafood (Tom Yam Thalay)

Thick, sour, spicy and flavorful.  This is indeed a Thai masterpiece.  Loaded with mushrooms, tomatoes, lemongrass, galangal and kaffir lime leaves, ooh la la...the broth is to die for.  The prawns, fish and squids, infused with the secret Thai herbs, were essentially fresh, making this dish a must-have.

Shredded Papaya Salad (Som Tam)

Shredded Papaya Salad...I'm loving it.  Looks rather labour-intensive to prepare for almost everything thrown into this dish is either cut or shredded rather finely.  You'll find a generous amount of of pound groundnuts mixing harmoniously with the shredded papaya, long beans, and chillies.  Doused with just the right amount of sweet, sour and spicy dressings, this dish makes you want to go back for more.  A good appetizer to kick start your meal.

Spicy Mango Salad (Yam Ma-Muang)

Another type of salad that we ordered - spicy mango salad, a dish which left me quite speechless. Another must-order dish.  Mark my word.  It will surely blow you away with its tastebud awakening flavours.  The combination of ingredients are simply out of this world.  Once, we asked for extra spicy.  Oh my...Biting into the crunchy texture of the shredded mango combined with crispy spicy cuttlefish, fresh red shallots and cili padi almost knocked me out of my seat.  But that hasn't deterred me from going back for more.  And I can easily finish a plate all by myself.  Such is the power of this dish.

Deep Fried Kai Lan (Kha-Na Tod)

Kai Lan deep fried to crispy perfection...How about that?  Initially, I thought this dish would just be a very normal dish, your usual homecooked fare.  But it turned out to be a rather impressive dish, garnished with meat floss, lending sweetness to the kai lan which sometimes leaves a bitter aftertaste.

Pandan Chicken

Unwrapping the pandan leaf reveals a very tender and juicy piece of chicken, very well marinated with a concoction of seasonings and spices.  The pandan leaf, keeps the juices of the chicken inside, hence lending a sweet aroma to the chicken which will definitely whet one's appetite.  This dish comes with a honey dipping sauce.

Pineapple Fried Rice (Khao Phat Sapparot)

Aroi!  This dish offers a unique taste and texture in one dish.  It can be a complete dish in itself. Chunks of pineapple and chicken, coupled with deliciously fresh prawns create a special flavour that is bound to make your dining experience a worthy one.  Hmm...it would be better though if the pineapple fried rice was served in a hollowed out halved pineapple. :P

Chicken Feet Kerabu

I heard eating chicken feet is an acquired taste.  To me, it is a delicacy in its own right.  Chicken feet is one of my favourite food, so it was no surprise that I ordered Chicken feet kerabu on my maiden visit to this restaurant.  It is one healthy dish and is usually eaten cold.  The chicken feet is deboned and marinated with lime juice, chillies, shallots, big onions and some sugar.  Come and try it.  Don't get cold feet when you hear cold chicken feet.  It's...AROI!  :)

The restaurant setup

My family and I enjoyed eating at this cosy restaurant.  Since our maiden visit, we have made numerous visits back there.  If you would like to challenge your tastebuds with unbelievable herbs and spices, but have no one to undertake this challenge with you, hey, I'm game for it.  Anytime.  :)

Recipe - Egg Tarts

The Pastry:

200g plain flour

1 tsp milk powder

25g castor sugar 

1/2 egg yolk

130g cubed cold butter

Filling:

100g castor sugar

250ml hot water

1¾ tbsp milk powder

1/8 tsp salt

1/2 tsp vanilla essence

3 eggs

Preparation:

(1)  Beat the butter, castor sugar and egg yolk until creamy and then sift in the flour and milk into a pliable dough.  Cover the dough with cloth and leave it for about 20 minutes.

(2)  Roll out the pastry in between two sheets of parchment paper.  Stamp out circles of pastry according to the size of mould.  Line the patty tins with the pastry circles.

(3)  Trim off the excess of dough and prick the base of dough with a fork.  Bake the dough in preheated oven for 10-15 minutes at 160°C.  Remove and let cool.

(4)  For the filling, dissolve sugar in hot water.  Stir in milk powder and salt.  Leave to cool and then add vanilla essence.

(5)  Break eggs into a bowl and stir lightly.  Do not overbeat.

(6)  Pour the cooled mixture into the eggs.  Mix well and then strain into measuring cup.

(7)  Pour the custard mixture into the pre-baked pastry until almost full.  Bake at 180°C for about 15 minutes or until filling is set.

Astana Grilled Burger

I have always wanted to sink my teeth into one of those roadside burgers, but I just never did stop by at any of those stalls until I heard about this grilled burger gerai at Jalan Astana.  Located at GPS Coordinate/Google Map: 1.575161,110.33595, this stall is just outside house No. 136, opposite a bus stop, and has a banner that spells ASTANA GRILLED BURGER which you won’t miss as you drive along the dimly-lit road.

This stall serves grilled beef burgers every day, except for Sunday which is their rest day.  And Saturday is special because they also serve grilled chicken burgers.

No. 136, Jalan Astana

The burgers come in different sizes, and of course, at different prices. The eclectic range of add-ons will surely thrill the taste buds of burger lovers to no end. You just have to go there and be witness to these mouth-watering creations yourself. 

On my maiden trip there, my makan kaki and I ordered Regular Beef Burger with Blackpepper Sauce and Regular Beef Burger with Meat Sauce. The moment I sank my teeth into mine, I was momentarily transported to seventh heaven. Not only was the beef patty flavourful, it was so juicy. It was not too overtly spicy. Just to my liking.

The beef patty is homemade from the freshest of meat daily. That we were told. Even the sauce is homemade. The lady who manned the stall assured us that they use only the freshest of ingredients.

Look at those mouth-watering beef patties

I must say that they also make hygiene their priority. 

Tadaaaa...our burgers!

Regular Grilled Beef Burger

On another trip there, I ordered a Regular Grilled Chicken Burger.  The grilled chicken patty was not as good as the beef patty. It was rather dry.  I guess I won't be ordering it anymore. :)

Regular Grilled Chicken Burger

So folks, wait no more. Go...go try it now!

Jom, iftar!

I thought it would be good to compile a list of 2011 Ramadhan Buffet Promotions in Kuching here so that it's easy to pick and choose!  Here goes:

(1)  BORNEO CONVENTION CENTRE KUCHING - Ramadhan Buffet @ the Great Halls

      5th - 26th August 2011, 6:30pm - 10:00pm

      Adult - RM65 nett / Child (5 - 12 years old) - RM25 nett

(2)  HILTON HOTEL - Ramadhan Buffet @ Waterfront Cafe

      1st - 31st August 2011, 6:30pm - 10:30pm

      Adult - RM89++ / Child (6 - 12 years old) - half price / Child (under 6 years old) - free

(3)  GRAND MARGHERITA HOTEL - Macam-macam Ada Ramadhan Buffet @ Orchid Garden Coffee House

      1st - 29th August 2011

      RM80++ (for ticket purchased after 31st July 2011) / RM70++ (for ticket purchased on or before 31st July 2011)

(4)  RIVERSIDE MAJESTIC HOTEL - Sungkei Ria Ramadhan Mega Buffet @ Blue Lagoon

      1st - 29th August 2011

      RM79++

(5)  PULLMAN KUCHING - Ramadhan Ramah-Tamah @ Ballroom

      The whole month of Ramadhan

      RM79++

(6)  MERDEKA PALACE HOTEL - "Mese di Digiuno Buffet"  @ Restaurante Beccari

      1st August 2011 onwards, 6:00pm - 10:00pm daily

      Adult - RM65 nett / Child (5 - 12 years old) - half price

(7)  GRAND CONTINENTAL HOTEL - Ramadhan Buffet

      1st - 29th August 2011

      Adult - RM55 nett / Child - RM25 nett

(8)  DORMANI HOTEL - Selera Ramadhan

      The whole month of Ramadhan

      Adult - RM33++ / Senior Citizen & Secondary School Children - RM23++ / Primary School Children - RM13++

(9)  SAMUDRA COURT - Iftar Ramadhan

      The whole month of Ramadhan, 6:00pm - 9:00pm

      ** Samudra Kopitiam - RM28.90 nett

      ** Flora d Station - RM24.90 nett

      ** Resto Galleria - RM18.00 nett

(10) THE BANQUET 
       1st - 29th August 2011, 6:00pm - 10:00pm
       Adult - RM44+ / Child - RM22+

(11) HARBOUR VIEW HOTEL Ramadhan Buffet
       1st - 29th August 2011
       Adult - RM48 nett / Child (6 - 12 years old) - RM25 nett

(12) DORSETT BOUTIQUE HOTEL Ramadhan Buffet
       1st - 29th August 2011, 6:30pm - 10:30pm
       Adult - RM25++ / Child (below 12 years old) - RM20++

(13) BANGKOK THAI SEAFOOD RESTAURANT Ramadhan Buffet
       1st - 29th August 2011, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
       RM35 nett