I EAT - WHERE THE FOOD CAN BE FOUND

On the food trail to weed out the good eats from the bad. Good food need not be expensive nor a luxury, and it is most often found on the street, in an alleyway or in a nondescript lean-to, where the locals flock

I EAT: Le Relais de l’Entrecote @ Boulevard Montparnasse, Paris – Delicious Steak Frites the way the French do it!

November 8, 2016

I was in Paris a little while ago, for the first time in almost 20 years. This time, I did a little homework for food, and one of the first places I went to eat was at Le Relais de l’Entrecote. I do enjoy my steak frites the way the French do them. While I don’t usually enjoy skinny fries, the French do do them very well!

Le Relais de l’Entrecote is a famous and popular bistro restaurant that serves, you guessed it, steak frites, and has a few different branches around Paris and apparently now, even globally.

I’d read about queues and long waits, but when the taxi pulled up at the Montparnasse branch, I was gratified to see that there was absolutely no queue! It might be because it had just opened for lunch.

I’d also read some unsavoury reviews that called this a tourist trap or that it served mediocre fare. But I was determined to try it anyway. You only live once!

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I DRINK: Takumi Craft Bar @ Isetan The Japan Store, Kuala Lumpur

November 4, 2016

The newest place to be is the Isetan The Japan Store at Lot 10, Kuala Lumpur. What you get, when you step into the minimally decorated space, is a feeling of zen and awe. Staff are courteous and polite without exception. Things sold are listed at eye-popping prices, and displayed in little islands of exclusivity around the store. It feels like you’re in a museum, not a department store.

I’m not sure how long it’ll survive to be honest.

So a drink was in order.

For fans of craft beer, head down to the basement, where the food is located. Tucked away on one side, is Takumi Craft Bar that serves up Japanese craft beers on tap and in bottles.

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I EAT: Angcle Peoh Air Itam Asam Laksa @ Bukit Tinggi, Klang : Original and Best Asam Laksa!

November 2, 2016

I told you a while ago that my favourite Penang Asam Laksa was at Air Itam, Penang. I can’t eat asam laksa anywhere else because everything just pales in comparison to what I perceived to be the original and best. Well, I don’t have to make that 4 hour drive to Penang any longer!

Now, I just have to drive 1 hour from KL to savour mouthwatering asam laksa!

Angcle Peoh Air Itam Asam Laksa – RM8

I found out only very recently, that the original owner of the Air Itam Asam Laksa is actually now here in the Klang Valley! Opened under the name Angcle Peoh (pronounced “Uncle Peoh”) the shop specialises in asam laksa, but also have other Penang delicacies to round up the menu.

There are now 3 outlets, but the one I’ve been to is at Bukit Tinggi, opposite the Aeon Bukit Tinggi mall. Use waze to find your way there – it’s a lot easier than trying to follow directions. …

I EAT: Sushi Jiro @ Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur – One price kaiten sushi!

October 31, 2016

I spotted a new kaiten sushi restaurant a little while ago at Mid Valley Megamall. I’m pretty much a sushi snob, so I haven’t had kaiten sushi in years, but here’s what intrigued me about Sushi Jiro Mid Valley Megamall. They boast of a single price per plate of sushi.

None of that colourful plates with different prices, so you don’t know how much you pay in the end. Every platter of sushi on and off the conveyor belt is just one fixed price RM3.38 each, and if you eat 6 plates or more, it’s just RM2.99 each. I was more curious about that, than the taste to be honest.

Sushi Jiro (not to be confused with the famous Jiro Sushi of Japan which is fine dining) is situated incongruously upstairs, in the middle of a walkway along the quieter sides of the bustling Mid Valley Megamall. It is just 1 floor down from the cinema, and makes a good place to pop by for a quick bite before a movie. …

I EAT: LoKhaba @ Jalan Telawi, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur

October 28, 2016

Espying a dish of “lontong kering” on a friend’s Instagram feed had me finding my way to what is a brand new eatery in town – LoKhaba. Hailing from the South, Lontong Kering is not new to me, and is a Malay dish that I often crave but am not able to find.

The Lontong Kering is served with nasi impit, sayur goreng jawa (which makes it unique), sambal ikan bilis and satay sauce. You can opt to have it with chicken rendang/ayam goreng (RM16.90) or with beef rendang (RM18.90). I opted for beef rendang and I wasn’t disappointed.

The beef rendang was very tasty, with tender pieces of beef. The taste of kerisik wasn’t as strong, which is how I prefer it, and while spicy, it wasn’t overwhelmingly so. The sambal ikan bilis is noteworthy, being flavourful albeit not as spicy as I might otherwise prefer.

I must admit that when the plate of Lontong Kering arrived, I was a little taken aback because I felt it to be a little small. You get only about 6 pieces of nasi impit, which to be honest, barely slakes the appetite. Overall, the dish was good and the beef rendang noteworthy, but I felt that a little larger portions wouldn’t go awry for healthier appetites.

That said, it is listed as a breakfast item, so perhaps that’s why the portion isn’t as hearty as I expected it to be. However, as I hail from a town which eats hearty mee rebus and satay for breakfast, I probably have a better appetite than most….