Happy 2010!

Happiness and Peace to All Beings in 2010!

Gaya Street walk about

The hand-made rattan basket.



Puppies for sell. Rm130 each.



Lime and Groundnuts sales. Rm1.50 and Rm5 per kg respectively.



Many types of key chain that made by wood, painted with "Sabah" words on the surface.



Cute elephant dolls that made by fiber I guess. They are cute, aren't they ?



A left handed violinist that are very rare to see.




Last, a portrait of a flower that which for sell.

Christmas's Presents 2009

In this warmly Christmas, unexpected i received three lovely presents from them. Allow me to identify in detail, so that i'll bear it mind in future.

From Left : Merry Cranberry Body Butter & Merry Cranberry Airelles Festives (shower gel)

Shamed! Cos this present was forced by me from my Jonathan. Normally i wouldn't never expected received any special gift from him in special season. Pop! Sorry, not for ths year. Christmas's present keep appearing in my mind. Due to Jonathas was stuck on his busy working schedule, it hard for him to drag out some time to purchase for me. Finallt he did at Body Shop (one of my favourite brand)

Merry Cranberry Body Butter & Merry Cranberry Shower Gel

Opss...was used at the first day. The cranberry butter contain with full cranberry sweet fragrant. Spread in on ur body, the fragrant will long lasting till the next day. Even my bedsheet fully spread with it smell. Texute is not sticky, kind of cream type.

While i was rushing for my assignment. Suddenly my chef throw out an Isetan envelope in front of my desk. Dala...."here for your Christmas, Merry Christmas~". Such a sweet Chef, RM300 cash vouchers at Isetan. Yeah, i've free shopping at Isetan.

Angel Crystal Light from Ah Po

Dont judge wrongly. It wasn't normal display stuff. See below

It's comes with romatic colorful light. Suit for me, cos i used to shut down my light when i was alone at my room and light up with some soft light

Caff Italian Fusion Restaurant - Bandar Putri Puchong

I believe most of the youngest will never miss out to celebrate for this special and happening day "Christmas Day". In this Christmas eve night was our Westgroup gathering again. Thanks for everyone initiative attending for this dinner. Felt grateful to meet all again. Since, we could have a crazy, nonsence, fool talk again.

Has been researching for few of the cafe, most of them were serving for Christmas set menu. Due to the high price, we opted this with RM 42.00++ course. Consider the cheapest that i found.

 Let's me introduce my west member to you. Said " Hi~~"

Moment for laughing. Sharing highschool's photo. Shocked for the silly time. Non stop big laughing

My gang shown their satisfied face for the christmas meal

Left   : present was prepared by the owner

Right : present was received

Alfred received from Angel

Jasmine got mine

Xiang is the most lucky one, from Alfred (hehehe)

From BB (heard :the most expensive present??)

From Ah Xiang

From Ah Po

From Dephin

I always do like group's photo. Please shoot more in future for memory purpose

Was a pleasant night i had. After our dinner, we went for Old Town for discussion on our coming trip. If not mistaken, this will be our 2nd time outing with westroup - the big gang. A gang joint together was not easy, to joint for 10 years long, it even hard. Thanks guys for sharing your precious time with me.

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Caff Italian Fusion Restaurant

No 44, Jalan Putri 2/2,

Bandar Putri Puchong

03-80615606

Nigella's Mirin Glazed Salmon

We got home from vacation yesterday with a few extra holiday lbs. Unsure of what the culprit could have been; guacamole every day? margaritas during the day? vino and dessert every night? Or maybe the pain au chocolat I had with my breakfast in Mexico everyday...Was I not in Paris?

Anyway, after visiting the newest and cutest addition to the Colla family, I scooted over to the new Gourmet Garage for some ingredients for a home cooked meal. Got in a cab home 40 blocks= $27.00 and 30 minutes...go home tourists.

Good news is this healthy recipe took 8 minutes all in. The salmon was perfectly pink in the middle and the heat formed a gorgeous, sweet outer crust. I bought Nigella Express @ the 2008 NYC Food and Wine Festival "Nigella Talks". She was the buxom babe you see on TV...

I admit I have way too many unused cookbooks. My resolution for 2010 is to use them more to find quick & light creations like this one!

Mirin Glazed Salmon

Nigella Express, serves 4

"This must be the fastest possible way to create a culinary sensation. You do scarcely a thing — just dip some salmon filets in a dark glossy potion, most of which you get out of jars — and what you make tastes as if you had been dedicating half your life to achieving the perfect combination of sweet, savory, tender, and crisp." Mirin and Rice vinegar are in the Asian aisle of all grocery stores.

1/4 cup mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine)

1/4 cup light brown sugar

1/4 cup soy sauce

4 4-oz pieces of salmon, cut from the thick part of the fillet so that they are narrow but tall rather than wide and flat

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

1–2 scallions, halved and shredded into fine strips

1. Mix the mirin, sugar, and soy in a shallow dish that will hold all 4 pieces of salmon, and marinate the salmon in it for 3 minutes on the first side and 2 minutes on the second. Meanwhile, heat a large skillet on the stove.

2. Cook the salmon in the hot, dry pan for 2 minutes and then turn it over, add the marinade, and cook for another 2 minutes.

3. Remove the salmon to whatever plate you're serving it on, and add the rice vinegar to the hot pan.

4. Pour the dark, sweet, salty glaze over the salmon and top with the scallion strips. Serve with rice or noodles as you wish, and consider putting some sushi ginger on the table, too.

Celebration Dinner Agnolotti

This year, I made some angolotti for our celebration dinner. For variety, I did two kinds: a mixed mushroom version and winter squash version. The advantage of angolotti over ravioli in my mind is that 1) They are easier to make, and 2) They can hold more filling w/o the risk of falling apart.

For the dough,  Vegan Dad's recipe is my newly found go-to fresh pasta recipe. (thanks, Vegan  Dad!).

When the dough comes together, remove from blender, knead  into a ball, wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it rest for at least 1/2 hour. The dough should not be at all sticky at this point.

After the dough has rested, cut the dough in half (less dough is easier to roll out) and, preferably using a pastry board, roll the dough out to about 1/16 of an inch thick. Use semolina flour to coat the pastry board and prevent sticking. When the dough is rolled out to desired thickness, use biscuit cutters to cut out rounds...mine were about 4 inches in diameter.

Now, all that is left is to fill them. Place the filling in the center of the dough and fold the dough to make a half moon. Use a mixture of flour and water as the 'glue', brushing it around the edges before folding the dough. Once the dough is folded, press the dough together firmly with your fingers.

When I had all the agnolotti filled and folded, I arranged them on a tray and froze them. This made them easier to work with the next day.  Alternately, you could cook them right after making them, or let them air dry a little.

To cook them, I just dumped the frozen agnolotti into gently boiling salted water. When they rise to the top they should be done, ~ 5- 6 minutes.

 

Squash Filling (enough for 24-36 agnolotti, depending on size)

I didn't write down the exact measurements, but here's my approximation of what I put into the squash filling:

2 cups roasted squash mash (I used a combo of Butternut and Delicata)
1/4 cup pine nuts
1/8 cup nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon melted Earth Balance ( or more for richer flavor)
1/2 cup ground hazelnuts (lightly toasted before grinding)
1 cup fresh sprouted grain bread crumbs
1 teaspoon garlic powder (or to taste)
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons fresh, chopped  marjoram (or to taste)

Blend all ingredients together well and use for filling.

Mushroom Filling (enough for 24 - 36 agnolotti)
Again, this is an approximation:
1 pound mixed mushrooms, chopped fine ( I used crimini, shitake, and king oyster)
1 cup fresh sprouted grain bread crumbs
1/2 cup ground walnuts ( lightly toasted before grinding)
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium - large shallot, very finely diced
1/2 tablespoon walnut oil
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
good handful of fresh chopped parsely
white wine
salt and pepper to taste
fresh tarragon (optional)

Saute the garlic and shallot in the walnut and olive oil until tender, toss in the chopped mushrooms and saute for 1 more minute, deglaze with about 1/4  cup white wine. Toss in a good handful of chopped parsley, and some chopped fresh tarragon (optional, omit if you're not fond of tarragon). Combine the mushroom/garlic mixture with the bread crumbs/chopped nut mixture. Salt and pepper to taste.

We ate the angolotti with mom's homemade red sauce...any sauce that suits your fancy would be good.

Bon Appétit!

La Yosh - Plaza Damas

Another boring sunday. As usual, woke up and sit infront of my laptop and start to search for nothing.

A ring called, "girl, interested for lunch?" Without any consideration : "y not!"

La Yosh, was listed down under my restaurant reference. Here we come.

La Yosh  is a fusion restaurant (Italy + Japanese). Cool, i love funk of mix. It shown how creative of the Chef's production.

Antique display at the corner side

Can you feel the restaurant cozy and warm? I thought i was out of Malaysia

Open kitchen to break the wall between customers and chef

Assorted Green Salad (set meal)

Clam Chowder (set meal)

Cream Sauce Omu Rice, RM 15.80

A Japanese fried rice wrapped by scramble egg and served with thick cream sauce

Salmon Teriyaki Don, RM 15.50

Traditional rice dish with Norwegian salmon fillet. Salmon fillet glazed with sake, mirin and crusted black pepper corn

Wafu Spaghetti, RM 16.80

Stir-fried spaghetti with mirin sauce. The spaghetti totally absorb by the mirin sauce. Taste good for half portion. Once finished, you felt it beyond the taste of salt

Unique table number tag

My gang : Alfred and Ah Po

Mcfadden is enjoying the lazy afternoon

Us. Pretty enjoy this restaurant and admire their design with comfortable although it's a small restaurnat. For sure will revisited again.

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La Yosh

F-0-2, Plaza Damas

60 Jalan Sri Hartamas

Kuala Lumpur

03-62018648

Brussel Beer - Menara Hap Seng

Thought i'll be alone for this saturday night. While i was still hiding inside my sweet dream, suddenly i woke up by his kiss. Yeah, Jonathan was force to take half day from his work, so he bring me to this restaurant which been open October 2009.

Brussel Beer Cafe, is divide to bar,restaurant and outdoor terrance section. They're serving for Belgian food and soul of their beer. Few variety of draught beers available at this cafe.  Since yesterday was our Christmas party, my alcohol spirit still never end, felt like want to drink beer.

Fresh Draught Leffe Brune 1/2 pint, RM 18

Never thought i've a chance to try it here! Signature Belgian Beer should try. Fresh bubble with strong smell of the roasted malt and just like the smell of beer. Getting fall in love for this beer.

Tip: Right way to drink a beer is allow ur lip totally connect with the beer's bubble. That how you respect the beer

Fresh draught Hoegaarden 1/2 pint, Rm 18.00

Roasted Pork, RM 18.00

Crispy pork skin and tender, succelent meat. Skin was slightly salty. Actually this is a snack food for beer. That the reason they need to make it more salty

Stir-fried Pork Belly

Home dishes. Dark soya sauce sauted pork belly. Sweeteness and fragrant of the pork with some juice. The juice good for rice

Pork Spare Ribs and Stoemp, RM 34.80

My favourtie spare ribs. I steal 2 ribs from Jonathan

Brussel Style Pork Bacon Cheese Burger, RM 18.80

Huge portion for this burger. The patties was o thick, almost 2 inch hight

I was not even finish it

Good beer to sip for the night

Chill the glasses. A machine will spin the chill water inside the glass

Draught Beer Machine. I love this machine. Not easy to found this machine in town. It shown how sincerely of this cafe to implement the draught beef to public. Good Job! The beer was chill till the stainless stell was chill with the ice

Comparison of the glass.

from left : 1 pint, 5 pint

Inside of the bar

My big sister

Lovely couple

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Brussel Beer - Menara Hap Seng

G12, 12A, Menara Hap Seng

Jalan P. Ramlee, 50250 Kuala Lumpur

Tel : 03-20342800