donnowhere2eat

Ola MEXICO!!!!! Here's...WAHACA!!!

2012-02-02T04:22:00.000-08:00

After a year and a half of mulling around and a ton of recommendations from friends, I finally made my way along with another friend to taste London's best Mexican (which is also one of the cheapest eats around) food, WAHACA.

Owned by Masterchef winner Tomasina Miles, the restaurant has been around for the last few years, and has outlets in Bluewater, Canary Wharf, Covent Garden, Soho, Stratford, White City and Mexican Street Kitchen located in Canary Wharf as well. The appointment to partake of Mexican Street Food took longer than expected as my friend had to disappear into the furthest end of the stratosphere before turning up again to share the delightful food with me.

(My excitement or rather my hunger led me to forget to take photos of the ambience but the food speaks for itself).

The menu wasn't entirely too overcrowded with choices that it allowed you to be adventurous...

Our waitress was extremely helpful and explained how the menu works as well as recommended some popular dishes that we could try seeing that we were first timers at the restaurant. This was how the menu looked like after scribbling and recommending:

So at the end, we decided to get the Guacamole with tortilla chips at £3.75 a portion and the Wahaca Selection (£19.95) which consists of 3 pork pibil tacos, 3 winter vegetable tacos, 1 large huitlacoche quesadilla, 2 black bean tostadas, 2 chicken taquitos with green rice and black beans. For drinks we had the Horchata and Citrus Fizz.

Horchata Citrus Fizz

The Horchata at £1.50 is a mexican drink consisting of dairy-free almond and rice milk with a touch of cinnamon. Am not much of a fan of almond in a drink format, so found the taste a bit odd. I naturally always have something citrusy, so my drink, the Citrus Fizz at £1.75 was yummy. Not sweet which is good, a touch of fizz and everything else about it was fresh!

The guacamole portion came shortly after and you could see chunks of avocado, onions and parsley in it. Now that is what I call a guacamole. It did not seem to resemble a paste, and when eaten with the tortilla chips, you could taste each individual ingredient. It wasn't too overly seasoned with salt so that also gave it its natural taste. However, I would have prefered a tad more lime juice in it but that would just be my preference.

The Wahaca Selection came quite quickly after after the guacamole appeared. The service I might add is super fast and super friendly too!

The Black Bean Tostadas

The Chicken Taquitos

The pork pibil tacos

The huitlacoche quesadilla with black beans and green rice

The winter vegetable tacos

This selection is indeed very filling. Us two girls certainly couldn't finish the whole selection but we were indeed amazed by the taste and the amount of ingredients used. The Black Bean Tostadas was quite interesting. Asian diets don't include a lot of black beans but it is very common in Latin American dishes. So having black beans in not one but two dishes was quite the feat for us already! However, the tostadas were yummy. Full of vegetables, freshly prepared and I must say a very generous portion of it too. The seasoning was just right. I'm no expert on Mexican food but nonetheless, this was a good introduction to the ever expanding cuisine choices London has to offer.

The chicken taquitos was excellent as well! The crispy pastry exterior was not oily and filled with a ton of superbly marinated chicken and served with sour cream on a bed of tossed salad and more cheese. Notice every single dish does have a dollop of cream and cheese on it? My favourite was the pork pibil tacos. They are actually slow cooked pork and is spicy. Not overtly spicy to the extent of I can't feel my tongue kind of spicy. The tacos were served with freshly sliced red onions to give it a bit of a kick when munching on it and boy does it compliment each other. The quesadilla was also great tasting. The least favourite of the dish was the black beans and green rice.

This is perhaps due to the fact that I have had enough black beans to last me a life time and the amount of cream and cheese already encroaching my usual limit for the week. The rice however was very fluffy and the whole combination does compliment each other.

Finally the winter vegetable tacos was in fact stir-fried mushrooms and onions served with fresh parsley and cheese. Another winner actually as this one proved to be quite delightful to the mouth. It isn't entirely heavy as the vegetables were seasoned well and had the ever so slight Mexican spice thrown in.

The menu of course is much more extensive then what we ordered with salads served in tortilla bowls (which I think is really quite innovative), a varied selection of burritos which is actually the favourite of many customers alongside dishes that come from the grill. So while the menu is quite heavy in terms of bread servings, there is always something for the ones who do not want bread, tortilla or anything carbo-related. The menu is also quite extensive in terms of vegetarian choices. Just from our Wahaca Selection itself, there were 3 dishes which were vegetarian and the other 3 more carnivorous. A good balance I should say for the 5-a-day portion. Price wise, it certainly is affordable especially in London with the most expensive dish for a single person just under £10. Even the Wahaca Selection at £19.95 was certainly a bargain because it still only divides to a tenner each.

We were of course not to leave without desert in the bag. So we both ordered... Churros y chocolate (£3.95).

It kind of reminded me of the chinese fried dough, but a lighter version of it. Fried to a light golden brown, the dough was crispy on the outside and not too gooey in the inside. Tossed with cinnamon sugar, it went perfectly well with the chocolate sauce served on the side. It was not just any chocolate sauce but dark chocolate to compliment the already sweetened churros. When you hold it, you know it isn't oily to the touch and you don't have greasy hands after. The perfect way to end the night.

The total bill came up to about £40 odd. For the portions we got and the ingredients used, I thought it was well worth the money. Wahaca certainly lived up to its aim when it came to its value and portions. No wonder it has grown to be a popular dining venue for many Londoners and visitors alike.

So what is my verdict?

Ambience 4/5 (noisy atmosphere but it is also because it is more informal)

Food 4/5 (can't say an all round 5 because I have yet to try the burritos)

Drinks 4/5 (a selection of Mexican beers does give it variety)

Price 4/5 (certainly a place for people on a budget)

Average meal per person : £10 not inclusive of VAT yet

Where can you find Wahaca? Here's a link to all their restaurant locations.

We went to the one in Covent Garden and is easily reachable via Charing Cross station Covent Garden station or even Leicester Square. Buses that stop on the Strand will also get you there quite quickly.

So for a touch of Mexico, why not head down to Wahaca? I was certainly impressed. And Tomasina Miles definitely does Britain proud!

Another restaurant review underway,

The Innovative Baker

Ning away?

2012-01-08T10:34:00.000-08:00

A recent visit to Manchester, saw some friends and I paying a visit to Ning Restaurant, an acclaimed restaurant for Malaysian food. Following many recommendations, we decided why not since it isn't easy to find Malaysian food aside from London. We however did keep an open mind since it was the UK after all. We Malaysians can be very fussy.

As we entered the restaurant, we were amazed at the ambience.

The interior decoration was very tastefully done and you cannot really ask for more really. The restaurant maximised its space with a practical table layout. The curtains are drapes of black, white and purple and lanterns strategically placed. Thankfully we reserved a table, so we were quickly ushered to our table when we arrived.

We scanned the menu and found a number of dishes that were popular Malaysian favourites and rarely seen on most Malaysian menus here in the UK. So right off, we were impressed by the selection (though for a vegetarian, you might be hard pressed to find a lot of variety for it). That night, the restaurant was offering currypuffs as a special starter, so we all decided that that would be ordered alongside cucur udang (prawn and vegetable fritters).

Currypuffs - GBP3.95 Cucur Udang - GBP 7.50

The Cucur Udang has also got a vegetable option priced at GBP6.50. Presentation wise, we were pleased. However, for us, currypuffs with sweet chili sauce was quite an odd combination whilst Cucur Udang has a side of satay sauce which we thought would have been better off with the sweet chili sauce. Nonetheless, we tucked in. The currypuffs were nicely prepared and quite filling. The pastry was not oily which was good but it stopped there. The potato curry filling was slightly lack luster and for me, I couldn't entirely taste the curry either. We tried it with the sweet chili sauce and still, we felt, the combination was still really odd. My friends were a lot less critical with this dish and compared to the offering of a stall at a local station in Malaysia. So in true Malaysian spirit, we said...OKLAH... The sweet chili sauce does come out of a bottle as we noticed that there was a little section in the restaurant that sells ingredients and saw the bottle of sweet chili sauce being sold.

The Cucur Udang was not a major let down either though for the price we paid, it was too expensive. We only detected 2 prawns in the whole serving. The price of GBP7.50 was totally unrealistic. Figuring that I can only purchase two packs of prawns from Marks & Spencer for GBP5, how this got charged that much money is beyond me. But we still thrudged on. The fritters were indeed crispy but we prefered it with the sweet chili sauce instead of the satay sauce. It was not oily either so for those who normally pad their french fries dry before eating wouldn't have to with the fritters. It was a tad salty but that could be due to the batter mix. The saving grace despite the odd combination was the satay sauce. I was actually quite impressed with it and could safely say that it was one of the better satay sauce available out there.

For drinks we ordered Roasted Coconut Juice and a Ginger and Lemon Twist Tea

Roast Coconut Juice - GBP1.95

Ginger and Lemongrass Twist Tea - GBP2.50

The two boys had water. The roasted coconut juice was flavoursome. You can taste that the coconut was indeed roasted with the smokey taste and it was not too sweet. Bits of coconut were also served so that made the drink worth drinking. The tea however was so so. The ginger was missing and the lemongrass seemed to have overpowered the tea. Looking into it, it was definitely a pre-mix so can't really comment much.

For the mains, we decided to order dishes instead of fried noodles or rice dishes (oddly enough there wasn't any fried rice on offer). We ordered:

Beef Gulai - GBP11.95

Ayam Percik - GBP10.75

Spinach, Mushroom & Tofu Stir-fry - GBP8.75

We ordered four servings of rice that cost GBP2.20 each. It was served in a miso soup bowl, creative, but for the price, definitely not worth it. We also ordered a side of chili sambal that cost us GBP1.25 and was served in a small dish which we also thought lacked a little something. It was stated that it was the restaurant special. Not entirely sure whether it was because it was sweet or just tasted mediocre.

The mains were left to be desired. Of the three, we found the vegetable stir-fry to be the only one that was quite tasty. It was fried properly and you could taste each individual vegetable. It wasn't salty which was good. But everything else went down from there. The Beef Gulai, which is a traditional Malay yellow curry is usually served with cubed beef cooked in a curry broth that isn't as thick as a traditional curry that should be accompanied with potatoes. The curry sauce was supposed to have curry oil floating on the top which you can see did not come with it. The beef was sliced and not cubed, plus there was probably only 5 to 6 sliced beef in the portion. For GBP11.95, it was not worth the money at all. Taste wise, it was lacking a lot. The curry was powdery as if too much curry powder was used or not cooked long enough for it to bring out the curry oil (that could explain the lack of curry oil). The ayam percik was also a huge disappointment. I doubt grilling was going to be difficult as proven by many other restaurants (non-Malaysian and Malaysian restaurants) but the dish was entirely different. Perhaps the chef was taking a modern take on it but deep frying the chicken breast was not exactly a healthy option. Aside from that, the chicken breast was not basted in the sauce that the dish is supposedly famous for before being fried but instead was drenched in it after being fried. The sauce was totally off the mark and to save it, we added the satay sauce from the cucur udang to the sauce and it sort of made it taste better. For GBP10.75, again not something I'd pay for.

Already disappointed from a mediocre main meal, we decided to order desert to give the restaurant another chance. This again proved futile with the only exception of the vanilla ice cream. We ordered:

Sago Gula Melaka - GBP4.95

Rose Syrup Ice Cream - GBP4.25

Seri Kaya - GBP5.50

First off, we would attribute the fact that the chef was quite inventive with the ice cream flavours as rose syrup as a flavour stood out. The taste however wasn't exactly entirely our favourite bit. The first spoonful, it tasted not bad...after that it leaves a funny end taste that somehow resembled medicine. We wondered whether the ice cream was made from scratch or was vanilla ice cream dipped in rose syrup.

The sago gula melaka was a let down. When it came, we could not locate the palm sugar syrup that is usually served. The syrup is also normally quite thick like caramel but ended up being quite watery which we had to send back for a second helping of it because we just couldn't taste it. Nevermind the syrup, the sago was a blob of starch rather than individual balls moulded into a semi-circle. The coconut milk was also diluted which made it worse for taste as well. Dishes like this should also be a tad salty that should come from the coconut milk but that lacked as well.

Now, the biggest argument that the four of us had was with the Seri Kaya. We were thinking Seri Kaya should be steamed glutinous rice with flecks of blue colouring (from a particular flower) and served with a dollop of coconut jam (Kaya). But when the dish came out, it was Seri Muka instead. We read the description again and agreed that it describes what a Seri Muka is but the name for us was quite deceiving. We even had a continued debate after the meal with other people and even researched online for the proper dish. There were different versions of it so perhaps the description can be tweaked to provide diners a blast of Malaysia. But, the saving grace for the dish was not the cake itself but the vanilla ice cream that was served with it. There was no coconut jam served and the slightly brownish syrup on the plate was actually caramel. We're still wondering where the coconut jam went. The glutinous rice section was clumpy and too dry whilst the green pudding we felt had way too much green food colouring. (I think my version tasted better and I don't even run a traditional Malaysian restaurant). The pudding was also hard and lacked the coconut milk taste. For GBP5.50, it was entirely disappointing.

Overall, our experience was very disappointing. We paid GBP73.10 in total and did not bother paying any tip. We left our comments on the comment card and did not spare the restaurant with our criticisms. After we left, one of my friends wrote a review on a well known website giving tips to visitors on where to eat in Manchester.

The next day, we received a phone call from our friend who made the reservations at the restaurant. Apparently the chef called to ask why we wrote such a damning review on his restaurant. We were quite amazed at his reaction and was readily open to discuss our views. However, instead of discussing, he shot us down with defending himself about how he needs to survive in a very competitive arena of good dining. Of course we understand that one needs to tone down the authenticity of the food so to as to make sure the general public can accept what is served but taste needs to be there and that was what was lacking. He went on to say Malaysians should be supporting each other and not criticising. My response was reviews will be written regardless of whether we are Malaysian or not. It is a democratic world and reviews are personal opinions of individual people. My personal opinion would be he took it harder as the review was written by a fellow Malaysian. Here I would like to say: for some of the more famous chefs out there who has also undergone far more drastic reviews than ours like losing a Michelin star rating and suffering from the current economic climate, they picked themselves up, reviewed what went wrong and made it better and improved the overall dining experience. While the chef here isn't as famous as Gordon Ramsay or Jamie Oliver, his refusal to entertain the fact that sometimes you will get the odd customer who just didn't like his dishes is beyond me.

I wouldn't say I am not open to trying out the restaurant again providing the chef remains open to criticism. The website where the review was written did have more than 40 over fantastic reviews in favour of the restaurant and for any discerning customer, they would able to deduce whether the food is good or not.

So what is my verdict?

Ambience 4/5

Food 2/5

Drinks 3/5 (I'm not an alcohol drinker so hence the rating)

Price 1/5

Where is Ning?

The Burton Building

92-94 Oldham Street

Northern Quarter

Manchester M4 1LJ

Map to Restaurant

Tel: 0844 414 5484

Searching for the next Asian restaurant,

The Innovative Baker

Phat Phuc - Chelsea's answer to good Vietnamese

2011-05-07T09:55:00.000-07:00

I can't remember was the last time I posted a review. Forgive me for such utter laziness. I think i experiment more cooking than I do eat outside. (Guilty...I do eat quite a bit on the go) But this place is somewhat my ultimate Vietnamese haven aside from Kingsland Road in East London. Phat Phuc, or Happy Buddda in Vietnamese is a household institution in Chelsea. Found just off King's Road in a nice open air garden next to a beautiful flower stall and a stone's throw away from the Chelsea Market, Phat Phuc has been around for quite many years.

I was first introduced to it by a good friend and now have been a regular hang out for us as and when we meet up on King's Road. Even a meal on your own is good as the portions are large and the value is irresistible. No kidding!!!

The seating area

where you need to order

On a nice windy but sunny day, Phat Phuc has always proven to be a great place to hang out and is frequented by many locals. I don't live near there but it is well worth the travel. However, when it rains, it isn't as conducive as the umbrellas protecting your head don't protect your feet. So make sure to know how the weather is like when you depart for Phat Phuc.

I always order the Pho Bo as it is traditionally what Vietnamese noodle houses are famous for. And to top it off i get a Green Tea. Unfortunately they don't have the Vietnamese Coffee, otherwise that would have been the ultimate drink!

Anyway, here's how the Pho Bo looks like

Unlike most traditional Pho Bo where thinly sliced beef is served, here they serve chunks. Nonetheless it is still fragrant and beautifully made. The broth is clear but deeply infused with beef stock that you know they've put a good amount of ingredients to make it taste exquisite. And naturally you have the condiments that you can add on to make it spicier or not!

At £6.50, that bowl of noodles was so hearty, I couldn't finish it. Prices since I've last been there hasn't gone up but you never know since VAT rates have increased and inflation rate has gone up too!!!

I've had the prawn laksa not too long ago and it is also a firm favourite amongst the clientèle. There's more to what they are than a simple noodle bar but I simply love the easiness of the staff (who are all Vietnamese I think). Phat Phuc's website is also very simple and straight forward. Businesses in the local area can also get delivery over £15.

So what is my verdict?

Ambience 4/5

Food 4/5

Drink 3/5 (for lack of choice)

Price 5/5

Where is it?

151 Sydney Street
London
SW3 6NT

map to restaurant

Malaysia Kitchen's Big Pasar Malam at Trafalgar Square

2010-10-08T04:23:00.000-07:00

Okay, I am a victim of non-photography for this particular blog post. I was busy working on the night of the event so don't blame me.

Getting on with it... the Malaysia Kitchen's attempt or rather effort for putting up an event at Trafalgar Square on the 24th of September 2010 dubbed Malaysia Night was quite an eye opener. I learnt that due to council limitations on certain aspects, the organisers had to downplay the decorations and sound. Though that is quite an interesting observation as many other events at Trafalgar Square did make quite a ruckus.

I reserved my comments until now after having read many different kinds of reviews on the world wide web with many coming from Malaysians themselves either living abroad or invited journalists who had every comment to make.

Not to say that it was the best event, though it did successfully attract about 10,000 people or so I've heard from the organisers. The point at hand for such an event was to expose people to what Malaysia has to offer in terms of food. Yes, we Malaysians have expectations in terms of what a night market was to offer, the fishballs, the assam laksa, the fried bread with chicken floss, the many varying drink stalls, the vegetable sellers shouting at the top of their lungs 'Satu Longgok RM5!!!' (One bunch RM5), the many varying snack stalls that only Malaysians can actually cook and the list goes on. I agree that the food offered could have been more varied and considerably could have had more portions. Yes, the queue was terrible that many people went home hungry or stormed off to China Town for a proper meal. Yes, there was not enough seats and tables to sit down to eat properly (but which Malaysian night market had tables and chairs anyway??) The stalls were a bit scarce and small and vendors could have had the opportunity to rent from one to two stalls to create a better atmosphere. Encircling the square was not bad but seriously, there wasn't as much to offer as one could have.

I understand the frustrations of the many Malaysians as I am Malaysian myself. Yes, I agree that the food could have been more varied showcasing the different ethnic cuisines Malaysia had to offer. But look at it this way: it was the first event. The fact that it garnered attention in the news is good no? The fact that unbeknownst individuals and tourists who were oblivious to Malaysian cuisine have a slight inkling now should be suffice. Now people are looking forward to the second one, should there be a second event which I think should be done annually anyway with more festivities in place. One night is enough and that should play up already the popular demand for Malaysian food.

This event should also be viewed as a rating for Malaysian restaurants. Do you want to be known as a half pass six restaurant offering substandard fare or would you up your game and try to outrank the rest? Most of the restaurants offered almost similar food and therefore did not provide much difference in terms of food offering. Next time communicate with each other. Offer varying foods including curry chee cheong fun. So simple, yet so delicious.

I come away from the event knowing that we've made a slight impact in the UK. More people are interested in Malaysian cuisine and notably worthy as well is the effort of many Malaysians out there who blog constantly about their love for Malaysian cuisine. So why not instead of mocking the country, join hands and promote? I'd give it a go!

Being less judgemental,
The Innovative Baker

Bi Bim Bap Soho - all about the stone bowl I say!

2010-07-22T03:59:00.000-07:00

Bi Bim Bap, Korea's much sought after dish by many diners all over the world, is now probably a dish that can be found almost anywhere. A friend of mine recently recommended a place located in Soho just to enjoy the magic of the stone bowl. So hence we found ourselves at Bi Bim Bap to cater to the love of the dish in itself. But!!! Bi Bim Bap also serves other dishes aside from their famous signature dish including an array of starters and side dishes.

Amongst the variety available, they have an interesting combination of starters with Prawn Katsu (Japanese) and Chilli Squid (Chinese) along with their Kimchi Pancake and Jap Chae. We decided to order the seafood pancake that was priced at GBP5.25.

Seafood Pancake

The pancake was crispy, filled with a good amount of seafood and vegetables and served with a side of what I think is Korean soy sauce with a dash of sliced spring onions. Indeed quite the bite, it was a good starter. Not too heavy and just enough (3 pieces per person) to start the meal.

Our main dishes comprised of three different Bi Bim Baps!

Spicy Pork Bi Bim Bap

Beef Bool-gogi Bi Bim Bap

Dol Sot Bi Bim Bap (signature dish)

The Bi Bim Baps don't come with the sauces already poured in but in individual sauce bottles so you can add how much sauce you want. Me being the spice queen, decided the more chilli the better. So despite having ordered Spicy Pork Bi Bim Bap, I added more chilli sauce and a round of the sweet sauce (kind of like hoi sin sauce). My other two friends, Gjin and David were a lot less fiery with their sauces. After adding the sauces and stirring them to kingdom come, we finally dug in and boy were they good!

The Dol Sot if you're wondering what it is, is actually a vegetarian Bi Bim Bap with cucumber, mushrooms, beansprouts, spinach, carrots, mooli (as described in their menu) and a fried egg. For vegetarians who do not eat eggs can opt out off the fried egg as the sauces and vegetables will complement each other. As to my knowledge, Korean food is relatively meaty, so it was quite nourishing to know that this particular place does serve vegetarian food with the first five Bi Bim Bap offerings being totally vegetarian. This breathes a welcome sign to many vegetarians who tend to stay away from Korean food (well to the vegetarians that I know at least). The Dol Sot was quite yummy even when there was no sauce in it. Koreans are particular about their sesame oil and a can of it can retail at a hefty price, so having a dash of it within the dish was actually quite a delight. Priced at GBP 5.95 with a portion to reflect the price.

The Beef Bool-gogi and Spicy Pork Bi Bim Bap are typical traditions of the Korean Stone Bowl dish. Both the beef and pork were marinated and fried quite nicely. Of course being priced at GBP 6.45 respectively, the portions do justice to the price. I liked my dish as of course with the spiciness, I do love the kick of sweating while eating. Not the most pleasant of sights, but heck...why else do we eat spicy food anyway (contrary to what my mom says). The combination of vegetables with the meat served along with the rice and sauce did go well.

Note to first time Bi Bim Bap eaters, each Korean restaurant serves a different version of it with different condiments so it does not necessarily mean that the vegetables served at this particular restaurant will reflect what other Korean restaurants would serve. So don't judge when your Bi Bim Bap looks different!

Our drinks were of course typical - green tea and water. Not much variation there!

The atmosphere at Bi Bim Bap was quite uplifting. Giving a different vibe to typical Korean restaurants that are usually decked in traditional ware and decorations (right down to the furniture), Bi Bim Bap was contemporary and even had a wall full of photos of customers who patronise the restaurant. It was bright with reds, greens, yellows and white walls, the restaurant was not too big but with enough space to accommodate the large crowd of diners who flock to Soho for an alternative dining experience.

What is my take on it?

Food 4/5

Drinks 4/5 (quite welcoming to see a large offering of traditional Korean alcohol and non-alcohol)

Price 4/5 (reflecting portion)

Ambience 4/5

Average price per person: GBP 9.00 (Main Dish + non-alcoholic drink)

Where is Bi Bim Bap?

11 Greek Street

Soho

London W1D 4DJ

Tel: 0207 287 3434

Map to Bi Bim Bap

Definitely a cheaper alternative to the many varying Korean restaurants that I have patronised, give Bi Bim Bap a go!

Bi Bim Bap away!

The Innovative Baker

Rasa Sayang (Feel [The] Love)

2010-07-17T06:02:00.000-07:00

Not too long ago, I was invited along with some fellow colleagues to partake at a restaurant centrally located in China Town but with no offering of Chinese Food. This place is called Rasa Sayang. Loosely translated at Feel [The ] Love, it is actually the title of a children's rhyme back in Malaysia that is also used during cultural performances. A very lively tune it is, it has been translated quite fluently into the menu of the restaurant. With six of us in tow, we set out to taste the difference that Rasa Sayang had to offer.

After having mulled over for a bit we decided on a couple of starters, mains and deserts with a bit of take aways too. Warning: the review will be a tad long due to the monstrous number of dishes we ordered. So to kick things off we ordered our drinks:

(L - R - Hot Lemon Tea, Grass Jelly Drink, Michael Jackson [Soy Milk with Grass Jelly])

The two most common drinks offered were of the grass jelly drink and hot lemon tea. However the soy milk and grass jelly is a tad different where the combination is ultimately unique. One may only think about the soy milk drank alone. But in Malaysia, we combine them and have a large following. Mike, the guy in the picture, is Canadian, and having tried this the first time, he says, not bad a combination. The prices for drinks were quite affordable having only to pay between GBP 1.50 to GBP 3.00 for non alcoholic drinks.

Then came the starters:

(L - R - Fried Wantons, Crispy Chicken Wings, Oh Chien[Fried Oyster with Eggs])

The portions were small as is always with starters. The fried Wantons were crispy but with not much filling, the chicken wings were surprisingly tasty and not very oily. I detected a hint of fermented tofu as part of the marinade, and that perhaps gave it is quite noticeable taste. The Oh Chien or Fried Oyster with Eggs, is a delicacy only known in South East Asia with perhaps the best coming from Thailand. Malaysia has its own take on it and replicating it in a foreign country is not easy. The cooking process involves fresh oysters, loads of eggs and a special ingredients, loads of corn starch to give the gooeyness in the dish. This was unfortunately not my favourite although I am a big fan of this dish back home. I was told that the difficulty was in obtaining the size of oysters we Malaysians were accustomed to. I say, size doesn't matter, the preparation counts! The prices for the appetizers ranged between GBP 3.00 to GBP 5.00. Not bad when portions were small but quaint.

For the mains, I think we definitely pigged out.

(L-R - Curry Laksa, Nasi Lemak with Chicken Curry)

(L - R- Tangy Assam Fish, Sautéed Sambal Prawns)

(L - R - Kangkung Belacan [Stir Fried Morning Glory with Prawn Paste Sambal], Char Kueh Teow)

(Fried Hokkien Mee Malaysian Style)

The Curry Laksa, the first to be served was not bad. It is in fact not easy to prepare a curry laksa as there are many versions to it. This one was probably the normal version of a curry laksa that is commonly found in most hawker stalls in Malaysia. However, the one thing it lacked was the chilli kick it normally provides. The soup was slightly grainy as if there was too much curry powder used to cook the soup. Makes me wonder whether the soup went through a strainer before being served. But, one thing I give credit, the serving size was huge. For GBP 6.60, this is something for the people who have huge eating portions.

The Anchovies Nasi Lemak, as it is aptly called in the menu, is actually just the normal Nasi Lemak we get back home with a serving of Chicken Curry. I suspect the chicken was deep fried first before being placed in the curry sauce. The rice was a little sticky but not overpowered by the coconut milk that is used to cook it. The anchovies were indeed a pleasure to eat as it was the crispy kind that we love. The Acar or pickled vegetables was sweet and did not contain much peanuts. The sambal was sweet, reflecting a more Malay take on a sambal rather than Indian. Normal for my standards as you can't really go wrong with this dish. Priced at GBP 6.90, it gives you a hearty meal as it also provided sliced cucumber as well.

My two favourite dishes were the Tangy Assam Fish and Sautéed Sambal Prawns. This was ordered by my colleagues because of their preference for dishes to share. I must say the fish was a good sized portion with different vegetables used - eggplant (aubergines), fresh mint and okra. The fish was fresh and did not taste frozen. For an establishment like Rasa Sayang, this was probably its best offering to date. I sizzled with its sauce as it gave me the sour taste I seek when eating Assam fish, and it is not all the time Assam Fish is available. A delicacy often offered in Nyonya restaurants, this was definitely a triumph for the restaurant. This dish is priced at GBP 7.50. The Sautéed Sambal Prawns were also seriously delicious. The prawns were crunchy and did not reflect any notion that it was frozen before hand. The okra used was also fresh and did not emit its famous slime. The Sambal used was quite authentic as well giving out the tinge of oilyness the dish so needs. It is not too spicy either with a touch of sugar sweet that blends the tastes at its right proportions. This dish is GBP 6.90.

Then came the Kangkung Belacan (price not taken down), was mediocre. The vegetable was still crunchy but I found the sambal used lacked substance. Slightly watery unlike other places, the dish was simple naturally. I could not detect the dried prawns that are normally used in cooking this dish hence it was a little bit of a let down.

The two last mains were the Char Kueh Teow and Fried Hokkien Mee. Out of the two, I preferred the Char Kueh Teow simply because it gave me the the taste of the wok or in Chinese 'Wok Hei'. The Hokkien Mee lacked it despite its dependence on it. The Char Kueh Teow was not dark enough but then again, every type of Char Kueh Teow differs in colour as well. It did come with prawns, chives and beansprouts. The restaurant recently turned halal, so the one essential ingredient that unfortunately cannot be included is the Chinese sausage. This ingredient normally adds to the flavour of the dish but nevertheless the dish was quite delectable. By this time, my tummy was 3/4 full and I had to leave space for desert. The Hokkien Mee was not pleasing. It did taste of it but I found the noodles too hard. The noodles looked more like udon noodles than it did thick egg noodles and I asked the owner why. He says that it is difficult to obtain the original noodles and therefore a substitute was used. Still, my take on the dish was not a disappointment. I am huge fan of this dish as well and having been let down was not a pleasant sight. Even for a first timer, Mike preferred the Char Kueh Teow over the Hokkien Mee because it seemed to be a tad salty for him. Both dishes are priced at GBP 6.60 each.

Finally we come to desert. We ordered additional drinks along with it.

(Top to Bottom - Bubur Cha Cha, Sago Gula Melaka, Roti Bakar, Milo Dinosaur, Teh Tarik)

The Sago Gula Melaka was in fact quite a delicious dish. Despite not having a tinge of pandan (Screwpine Leaf) colouring, the sago held its shape and looked like a perfectly shaped half sphere. Served a generous serving of coconut cream, this dish was indeed a yummy one. It was decorated with a sliver of pandan, but it was a simple dish to begin with. Priced at GBP 3.00, it is not at all pricey.

The Bubur Cha Cha came with its required ingredients, large sago pearls, beans, yam and sweet potato. Served in hot coconut milk boiled with syrup, this desert held its own. Also priced around the same with the previous desert, it is quite affordable seeing how much ingredients it came with. This is a particular Nyonya Desert that has crossed over the rest of the cultures in Malaysia and is now often found in most restaurants regardless of cuisine.

The Roti Bakar is not an easy dish to emulate. From the bread to the coconut jam (Kaya), the roti bakar depends on many factors. The bread in particular is actually called the Hainanese Bread, because of the origin of the dish in itself. It is normally found in old coffee houses called Kopitiams (Coffeehouse), and it is baked in house. Even the coconut jam, a long and difficult jam to make consisting off loads of egg yolks and coconut milk, has to be made to perfection. Good coconut jam is brown and the one here is green. Perhaps green colouring was used but the natural colour of coconut jam is in fact brown. I suspect the coconut jam is from a can as it would save time and money for the restaurant. The bread is again by tradition, toasted over charcoal fire but again, this was probably done with a toaster and not dark enough. The price wasn't taken down but seriously, only try this when you need to.

The two drinks, Milo Dinosaur and Teh Tarik are typical offerings of the Indian Muslim fare. Teh Tarik being more common, the Milo Dinosaur is normally a concoction invented to attract the many late nighters that Malaysia is famous for. Now with it being offered in London, it is an instant hit with many Malaysians who patronise Rasa Sayang. The same with Teh Tarik. Both weren't overtly sweet and they were quite the perfect ending. Priced at GBP 1.60 for the Teh Tarik and GBP 2.50 for the Milo Dinosaur, it is quite the good bargain.

Overall the dining experience was quite enjoyable. A good use of space as they have also basement seating like most of the Chinese restaurants in China town, the location is top notch, opposite a Danish Bar and on the high street of China Town. Easy to find and easy to get to with busses and the tube plus probably the most prominent location aside from Malaysia Kopitiam that is situated on Charing Cross Road. You could see that it is a well patronised restaurant amongst Malaysians and locals despite its hits and misses. As one very wise man said, to survive in the restaurant business, you need to have a loyal following of your own kind.

What was my verdict?

Food 3/5

Drinks 4/5 (because of an offering of wine and beer)

Price 4/5

Ambience 3/5

Average price per person GBP 10.00 (Main Dish plus non alcoholic drink)

Where is Rasa Sayang?

5 Macclesfield Street

London W1D 6AY

Map to Rasa Sayang

Unfortunately the restaurant does not have a website.

For simple fare but a wide offering, Rasa Sayang is quite the restaurant. Like all restaurants, it has its share of hits and misses. But whose to say that what they offer is not fitting?

Still looking for the perfect Malaysian fare,

The Innovative Baker

Ed's - An American Dinner amidst the hustle and bustle of London

2010-06-23T14:01:00.000-07:00

The first time I went to Ed's was a few years ago with a good friend and her brother. She raved about the Peanut Butter Milkshake which I was tempted to try once more but seeing that my craving was entirely different that day, I passed on the milkshake. This time I decided to go for the old traditional burger, onion rings and a coke!

The Big Bubba (GBP6.35) and Onion Rings (GBP2.95)

The combination was indeed large reflecting the sizeable portions of American food portions. I couldn't finish the rings and left part of the bread behind. But you had the choice of adding a ton of sauces. The Big Bubba is the "Original" with bacon and American cheese.

The beef patty was grilled to perfection with enough moisture and texture left for me to savour the rich beef flavour. The cheese wasn't the stretchy kind which makes it easy to eat without having the strings stretching out of the burger itself. The rings however were the frozen kind instead of freshly cut onions. So that was a bit of a let down. My one peeve however is the prices charged. Despite the portion, I doubt I'd pay GBP6.35 for a burger in the near future unless I start going to a slightly upper class restaurant, even then a burger would be the last thing I'd order.

Ed's does however give you the feeling of a typical diner complete with a jukebox that still works.

The songs available were most definitely from the 50s and 60s with Elvis Presley headlining song choices. The customers were of diverse backgrounds as the outlet I patronised was in the heart of Leicester Square and Piccaddily Circus. No surprises there. The waitresses however were extremely friendly, dispelling my previous notion that diner waitresses were rough and tough like the movies. Everyone was clearly having fun which added to mood of the place.

Needless to say, despite the prices, the place was overall welcoming, clean and typical American.

So what is my verdict?

Ambience 4/5

Food 4/5

Drinks 4/5 (they do serve beer here and a load of other drinks especially the milkshake)

Price 3/5

Average price per person: GBP 12.00 (Burger, Side + Drink)

Where is Ed's?

Unit 34b London Trocadero

19 Rupert Street

London W1D 7PA

Tel: 020 7287 1951

Map to Ed's

Website: www.edseasydiner.co.uk

Ed's is also in 2 other locations. So look up the website to know where the nearest Ed's is. If you are missing a piece of American history in the shape of a diner, then Ed's is your place.

Buuuurrrrppppp,

The Innovative Baker

Melati 1 - at Peter Street

2010-06-23T09:27:00.000-07:00

After having visited London for a great many times, one of those cravings you get was to fulfill your local food tastebuds. For me it was always Malaysian food. Don't get me wrong, I love tasting the world's cuisine for sure, but there's always one thing that draws me back - Malaysian food. Melati Peter Street in Soho was the first Malaysian restaurant that I stepped foot in and still go back off and on for a good sit down dinner.

One thing that Malaysian restaurants are famous for is the offering of hawker food. But, Malaysia is also known for its other dishes, the ones, like most Asian families cook, to share during family dinners or lunches. My normal meal at Melati was always that. But, this time I decided to go against the grain and order hawker food.

I had along two other friends, one German, who doesn't like seafood or eggs, the other was half Indonesian Chinese and probably English. Never asked but it doesn't matter. Both were relatively new to the world of Malaysian food, so I suggested to go with something more neutral otherwise they'd be having too much of a surprise!

We all ordered the infamous Grass Jelly Drink which I think I have covered in most my Malaysian Restaurant reviews.

For food, we settled for Prawn Crackers and Chicken Satay as German friend wasn't too keen on beef either.

Chicken Satay, complete with Steamed sticky rice, fresh red onions and cucumber (GBP5.95)

Prawn Crackers served with sweet chilli sauce (GBP3.00)

The chicken satay did not resemble the typical Malaysian style skewers. On taste, it was more 'qwailo style' then it was Malaysian. Perhaps, with the fact that skewering the Malaysian way and barbequeing the Malaysian way will stink the whole kitchen. But nonetheless, for the price we paid, we got 6 skewers and enough side condiments. The peanut sauce was a bit more puréed than usual but the spicyness was there. Overall, not bad.

The prawn crackers was normal. The sweet chilli sauce is probably Lingam's Chilli Sauce. For GBP3.00, I could buy a whole packet of dried crackers and fry it up at home! Ah, but that is the way it is with restaurants.

For the mains, we all somehow ended up calling stuff that looked the same. The only thing different was the type of carbo it came in. Two noodles, one rice.

Nasi Istimewa (Special Fried Rice with Acar, satay skewers, Fried Egg and Beef Rendang) ( GBP8.50)

Mee Goreng Istimewa (Fried Noodles with prawns, chicken & fishcake, satay skewers, beef rendang, fried egg and acar) (GBP8.50)

Mee Goreng (Fried Noodles with Fishcake, Chicken and fresh lettuce) (GBP7.00)

All came on a similar presentation and all were brown in colour. Hahahaha... perhaps we weren't in the mood for other colours that day.

So what is my overall rating for Melati on Peter Street?

Ambience 4/5 (clearly a popular restaurant with both ends of the spectrum)

Food 3/5

Drinks 3/5

Price 3/5

Average price per person: GBP10.00 (One main meal + Drink)

Where is Melati?

30 - 31 Peter Street

London W1F 0AR

Tel: 020 7437 2011

Website: www.melati-restaurant.co.uk

If you are in Soho, then this is a better choice of the two Melati Restaurants around. But you'll have so many different choice now anyway :)

Map to Restaurant

Let's be Caribbean for a day - Bamboula is your place :)

2010-05-06T04:48:00.000-07:00

I stay in a part of London that is predominantly Afro-Caribbean and I am proud to be part of that community. Brixton is known for its colourful and loud natured environment and boasts a bevy of restaurants that run from European to Asian. However, my one favourite haunt in Brixton is Bamboula. Possibly the best Afro-Caribbean food one can get, the restaurant is located off Brixton's high street, so it's not too noisy. My dad and I went to Bamboula for lunch after tossing around a few options and since he's never been there before, why not try it out right?

The restaurant was decorated with plenty of bamboo, painted with loads of tropical flowers and plants and brightly coloured walls, the place can sit 20 at any one time. But the restaurant is so popular that the line for take out is immensely popular. Lunch time tends to be quieter which is a good thing as you are guaranteed a place to sit. Dinner comes and there will be a line. Either you call ahead to reserve a table or stand about 30 minutes at any one time for a table. Yes, it is that good.

We ordered two lunch menus. One was the Bamboula Jerk Lamb. A signature dish comprising of rice and peas, plantains, salad and a whopping portion of jerk lamb. The price has gone up since but at GBP7.50, it is well worth your visit at the portions are spilling out of the plate!

Bamboula Jerk Lamb

The lamb was fantastic. Falling off the bone, not rubbery and tastes like a piece of Caribbean all rolled into one. Seriously, it was fantastically delicious. The accompaniments were a good blend for the already powerful meat and trust me, you'd never want to trade your plate for anything else. It has a slight spicyness to the taste which is probably reflective of the Jamaican taste buds but one can only imagine the taste. I have never personally been to Jamaica so this is just assuming that they eat spicy.

The second lunch menu we had was the Satisfaction, a serving of 1/4 jerk chicken served with rice and peas, plantains and salad. At a mere GBP 5.50, seriously, this plate can feed two meals. I for one don't eat as much, and we were left with a heaping portion of left overs.

Satisfaction

Strange how I like Jerk Chicken here but never the ones by Nando's. Needless to say, the portion and the price is definitely a bonus point and kudos to Bamboula for the standard it has kept for the many years it has opened. The chicken, despite being served the breast, was succulent. Falling off the bone once more, it proved to be every bit as tasty as the Lamb. One could only imagine, if we weren't full from the first dish, we'd have devoured this to the bone, leaving nothing behind. Alas, our tummies were already packed and thus had to give up half way.

The service albeit a little slow during the day was really friendly. One reason why I keep coming back for more food :) My last visit was with my sister and we cracked the house! The waiters would definitely remember us for life as we sat there, talking to the waiters and poking fun at each other at the same time.

Prices however defer for dinner but still well worth your time and money to go.

So what is my verdict?

Ambience 4/5
Food 5/5
Drinks 4/5 (they actually serve Guava Juice)
Price 4/5 (based on lunch set menus)

Average price per person: GBP7.50 (lunch set menu includes drink)

Where is Bamboula?

12 Acre Lane
Brixton
London SW2 5SG
Map to Restaurant

I yam a Jamaican for a day!
The Innovative Baker

New Belachan Restaurant: How new is new?

2010-04-06T14:31:00.000-07:00

Diverging from all the Vietnamese food that I've had in New York, my friends and I decided to try our hands at Malaysian Cuisine. So whilst at 8 Avenue, after taking a little dash to the local hair salon, we came across New Belachan Restaurant. Apparently, it was a Malaysian Restaurant before but changed ownership. A little poster was pasted up indicating a grand opening. So we jointly decided that this would be the place to be. Upon entering it was filled to the brim. Notably not everyone was Malaysian as you could note the language spoken in the restaurant by the patrons. You could tell that the opening was a rushed one as the menu was not vetted through properly leaving typo errors in the most hilarious manner.

(I have a feeling they're trying to say Salted Egg with Green Vegetables Soup - keyword missing: Vegetable)

Anyway, my friend and I having spent a good deal of time laughing at the menu, we finally decided on our orders.

For drinks we had:

(L-R: Thai Iced Tea and Soy Bean Cincau)

I actually wanted:

Malaysian Ice Tea (note another typo error)

But, they actually ran out of it. So, settled for the Thai version. It actually does taste like how I remembered it to be so kudos to the drinks maker. No doubt when it came, it looked a tad more brown then I was used to. My friends gave me disturbing looks and actually asked whether that was how the tea should look like. Trust me, it looked and tasted like how it should be: a slight sourness due to the dried sourplum, accentuated by the thick tea that they pour in and an embarrassingly huge dollop of condense milk.

My friends had the soy bean and cincau concoction. In Malaysia it is referred to as Michael Jackson - with the connotation leading towards his song, Black and White. I am not a huge fan of soy bean milk, but I was quite surprised at how milky the milk was. The Cincau (Grass Jelly) was of course not too sweet making it taste even better in combination with the soy bean milk.

Then came our mains:

(Top to Bottom: Cantonese Fried Noodles, Hakka Flour Noodles and Loh Mein)

The Cantonese Fried Noodles was actually fantastically prepared. How so? There is something we Malaysians refer to as 'Wok Hei' or the seasoning of the wok. The longer you use a wok, and the hotter the fire (which in actual fact is essential in the preparation of such dishes including the Loh Mein), it usually results in the fire (not spicy but heat) tasting noodle dish. It is actually quite difficult to describe what the taste resembles, but the minute we taste it, we go...yum!!!!! That's when we know that there is enough 'Wok Hei'. My friend couldn't help but devour the dish to its remnants leaving loose noodles behind. The one thing missing in this dish was the Pork Crispies or rather referred to as deep fried pork fat. This dish cost US$ 6.50

The Hakka Flour Noodles looked and tasted almost similar to what I would have back in Kuala Lumpur. Naturally portion size is over sized but for the price you pay (US$6.50), it is of course well worth it. The noodles were however too thick for my liking. It is prepared similarly to pasta but without the yellow tinge. The broth is usually from dried anchovies cooked with minced meat, diced chinese mushrooms, sliced morsels, sliced pork and vegetables (usually a type of vegetable not available overseas). I must say that with the adaptation of it to suit the type of ingredients one could get in the US, this was as close as you could get.

My dish which was the Loh Mein is the soupy version of the Hokkien Fried Noodles. The same thick egg noodles, but cooked in an extremely starchy eggy broth served up with sliced pork, seafood and vegetables and a serving of Pork Crispies. I must say that this was bliss! Despite the soup being a little more watery, it was a reminder of home. I have not found this dish in any other Malaysian restaurant so this was like a little girl finding a stash of chocolate treats hidden. This dish is supposed to have a dash of Chinese vinegar as well but it was not something I was actively looking for. Despite this missing ingredient, it tasted fantastic.

We of course had to order an accompaniment. The ever staple vegetable dish, Stir Fried Morning Glory with Malaysian Chilli Paste (Kangkung Belacan)

This was on the border for all three of us. Perhaps this was a serving mainly catered for the locals there and therefore taste was compromised. But, seeing that most of the dishes were cooked to almost perfection, we wondered why this particular dish was compromised. Needless to say, it was a heaping portion, but taste wise, it just lacked a little something.

And apparently, all Asian restaurants serve sushi despite it not being a Japanese restaurant. Apparently everyone in America who goes into an Asian restaurant always requests for sushi. And it is evident when you do walk to every Asian restaurant including, Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese restaurants. It is an odd combination as you do not find it here in the UK.

(note picture of Sushi along the left side of the menu)

The restaurant also serves a number of dishes that can be ordered to share ranging from fish, chicken, pork and of course other meats and vegetable dishes. Soups in abundance, deserts as well. But Malaysians being Malaysians, we go for the hawker food (dishes served by little stalls in coffee shops).

The ambience that was trying to be recreated was that of a rustic looking village house made out of palm leaves. Unfortunately I did not take photos of the interior, but in any case, it does look like it with a lot of bamboo around. But the seating was pretty messy, with many tables too small for the abundance of dishes that people would order. Cramped would probably describe it best but that did not deter the crowd from coming to the restaurant. Before we left, there was a line of customers waiting to be seated. That would already explain the popularity of the restaurant.

So what is my verdict?

Ambience 3/5 (judged on seating arrangements and cramped space)

Food 4/5

Drinks 4/5

Price 4/5

Average price per Person: US$10.00 (A Main dish like noodles or rice + a drink)

Where is New Belachan Restaurant?

5918 8th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11220

Map to Restaurant

So, for an alternative cuisine is crazy New York, try out New Belachan Restaurant. Besides, you know you are in a part of New York that is totally ASIAN!

Still looking for the best Malaysian Cuisine outside of Malaysia,

The Innovative Baker

Vietnamese Fusion - Republic!

2010-03-26T08:51:00.000-07:00

America is no short of fusion restaurants and Republic is one of it. Whilst in Union Square, friends decided to take me to this restaurant. From the outside it didn't seem that inviting but when you enter the restaurant, you are invited into a tastefully done restaurant complete with a bar, individual tables lining the walls and super friendly staff.

View from the inside leading to exit

After being led to our seats, we pondered over what to eat.

Here's the link to the full menu

Many people were ordering the unique bento box, that was served unlike typical bento boxes. This one came with a large claypot and two side bowls of appetizers depending on the order. I All bento boxes cost only US$12.00. So I chose Bento Box option 1 which was the Beef Vegetable Soup, Seafood Dumplings and Chicken & Rice.

I wouldn't say it was the best of dishes that I've had. The dumplings were normal, the soup reminded me of salty vegetables cooked with tomatoes in a beef broth, very typically chinese and the chicken and rice portion was actually in fact Chicken stir fried in Blackbean sauce and morsels served over broken rice. Everything aside from the dumplings that were more Japanese, was Chinese...so I have eaten Chinese in a Vientnamese Fusion Restaurant.

A friend ordered the fourth bento option which was Seeweed Corn Soup, Crispy Tofu and Asian Chopped Salad.

I was also not convinced about this one. The seeweed soup looked like miso soup but didn't taste like one. I was wondering where the corn went. The Crispy Tofu was served with a sauce which I couldn't really make out what it was and the Asian Chopped Salad, is an Asian Chopped Salad.

Another friend ordered Salmon Sashimi Salad. I forgot to snap a picture but it looked appetizing enough. However, the slices were thinner than a normal Sashimi portion. And it costs US$7.00 per plate. So go figure.

For my drink, I decided to order a hot lemongrass ginger tea.

The packaging it came in was indeed unique. Though, I could taste more of the flavour from screwpine leaves (pandan) rather than the two main ingredients, lemongrass and ginger. Paying US$4.00 for this is not cutting it.

In any case, their menu is quite innovative with Vietnamese Sandwiches for the sandwich person and of course the usual noodle soups. But for what its worth, I'd rather go to the Vietnamese Restaurant in China Town to have a 'Pho' anytime.

So what's my verdict?

Ambience 4/5

Food 2/5

Drinks 2/5

Price 3/5

Average price per person: US$16.00 (one main dish + one drink)

Where is Republic?

37 Union Square West NYC

Tel: 212 627 7172

Map to Restaurant

Not overly impressed,
The Innovative Baker

Pho Viet Huong - Vietnamese in the making?

2010-03-25T19:51:00.000-07:00

After a few weeks hiatus, I have finally set down to write my reviews. I am currently in Chicago, US and travelling has so far been amazing.

My first meal outside in New York was at a Vietnamese Restaurant called Pho Viet Huong. From the number of reviews it has online, mine would probably be no different. Then again, each has their own views and here are mine.

The menu was extensive.

Just the 'Pho' selection was diverse enough with 16 dishes to choose from. My friends and I decided to go with ordering something from the pictures that was displayed on the table.

(L - R: BBQ Beef and Springrolls on Vermicelli and Yellow Curry Shrimp with Coconut Milk over Vermicelli)

The first dish, where two of us ordered was from the 'Bun' Section which is a serving of Rice Vermicelli with barbequed Beef and Springrolls and fresh salad with a small serving of the usual Vietnamese salad dressing on the side. Another friend ordered Yellow Curry Shrimp with Coconut Milk Over Vermicelli. It didn't look like yellow curry when it came but it definitely tasted like one.

My dish tasted quite authentic. I am a big fan of the 'Pho' (soup noodles) but I decided to go for something a little more fresh in terms of ingredients and it proved to be quite a surprise. The Vermicelli was cooked to perfection, fluffy yet light, the beef was barbequed but till it was rubbery and of course the Spring rolls were how I'd remember them to be but without the many other ingredients you'd see it being stuffed in KL. However, portions are extremely large so for the small eater, you'd have to make sure you share the dish with a friend. I couldn't finish the vermicelli but all of the flavours you expect to savour is there. Sweet, sour, salty and everything else under the sun. The Yellow Curry plus point was the soup. Spicy and tangy, though not very yellow in colour, it delivered its kick though lacking in punch.

For drinks, we had Fizzy Lemonade, 7 Jewels and Iced Black Espresso with condensed milk.

I found the fizzy lemonade combination quite interesting. It was actually a fresh squeeze of lemon pulp into glass, and then a can of club soda brought over. Pour it in and let it fizz together, stir with spoon, voilà you have fizzy lemonade. If you're not one for sour drinks, this is not what you'd order but the 7 jewels was as always, sweet! For someone with a sweet tooth, this would be your drink. Typical of Vietnamese cuisine, you'd be hard pressed not to find such a drink not served in a typical Vietnamese restaurant. The most common of Vietnamese drinks is the coffee. Served with its unusual coffee perculator over a glass cup filled with probably 2 tablespoons of condensed milk, the coffee is allowed to drip into the glass before it is eventually mixed together with the condensed milk and ice. Not for the faint hearted as the coffee is unusually strong.

The prices weren't all that bad with an average of US$ 6.50 per bowl of noodles and about US$2.50 per drink. The atmosphere was pleasant enough. But one would wonder whether you are in a Vietnamese Restaurant especially when everyone in the restaurant speaks a Chinese Dialect, Cantonese. I for one was thinking to myself whether the place was actually run by Vietnamese or Chinese.

So if you fancy a bit of Vietnamese in downtown New York, then try your luck at this place. After all, you're not losing out in value nor taste.

What is my take on the place?

Ambience 3/5

Food 3/5

Drinks 3/5

Price 4/5

Average price per person: US$9.00 (One main dish + one drink)

Where is the place?

Pho Viet Huong

73 Mulberry Street

Map to Restaurant

Still looking for the perfect Vietnamese,

The Innovative Baker

Uncle Lim's Kitchen - not too sure whether it was international?

2010-02-28T03:52:00.000-08:00

Uncle Lim's Kitchen tagline says International Gourmet Food. However, it is set in a very typical Asian setting. What do I mean Asian since it is located in Croydon, London? Take away decor, take away expensive furniture and take away place setting and replace all of that with canteen style looking cafe, then that's what Uncle Lim's Kitchen is.

I knew of its existence through conversations with colleagues who live in Croydon and thought it apt to visit the place to see what was on offer. I must say, it did bring back a flash of Malaysia by the way the food was presented - economy rice style. That means, many dishes on display, opt for rice, noodles or perhaps porridge (rice congee) and choose a type of meat and vegetable dish to accompany it for a flat price of between GBP5.00 to GBP6.50. Not bad in actual fact that the flat price comes with a drink as well.

Our choices were Char Kueh Teow (Stir Fried Flat Rice Noodles) with some chilli, Cantonese Fried Noodles, a side order of stir fried assorted vegetables and a portion of Sambal Prawns. The noodles were standard prices at GBP6.50 per plate. The portions were heaping!!!

(L to R: Char Kueh Teow and Cantonese Fried Noodles)

The side orders were sizeable enough.

(L to R: Stir Fried Assorted Vegetables and Sambal Prawns)

First the noodles, the Char Kueh Teow was not bad. Although the portion was huge and value for money, the taste was in the middle. Not exactly the world's best but given the situation and surroundings, you'd appreciate it a little more. The Cantonese Fried Noodles was also enormous but not my favourite. Perhaps because I cook my own, but there was one missing ingredient, the deep fried pork fat or 'Kacang' as we tend to refer to it back in Malaysia. I prefered the Char Kueh Teow much better over the Cantonese Fried Noodles. The Stir Fried Assorted Vegetables was normal and nothing to shout about. The Sambal Prawns however was the cafe's saving grace. Quite authentic, I believe that the dish did justice to the meal we had.

Other dishes on offer was Singapore Fried Beehoon, Curry Noodles, Hainanese Chicken Rice and the like. This restaurant also offers Barbequed Pork, Roast Pork and even duck. Needless to say, it does tug at the strings of international cuisine. But probably a better tagline would south east asian cuisine. It definitely was not gourmet.

The drinks were not typical of an Asian restaurant. You can't get 'Teh Tarik', though you have a choice of Ipoh White Coffee (mediocre). You'd be better of with normal soft drinks.

The location of the cafe was at a very odd corner of the Whitgift Centre in Croydon and perhaps would take a few more minutes to locate for newcomers who are not accustomed to the location. But, the cafe does enjoy a steady patronage of customers perhaps because not all Asian restaurants down in South London actually serve good Asian food.

Price wise, it was good. Definitely for those on a budget and wanting to pay only a certain price for a meal, this place does justice for you.

So what is my take on it?

Ambience 3/5

Food 3/5

Drinks 2/5 (simply because choice was not varied)

Price 4/5

Average price per person: GBP 5.50 (main meal of rice + one meat dish and one vege dish plus a drink)

Where is Uncle Lim's Kitchen?

Upper North Arcade

Whitgift Centre

Croydon

London CR0 1UZ

Map to Uncle Li's Kitchen

Still looking,

The Innovative Baker

Awana - a meal in the clouds perhaps?

2010-02-05T10:03:00.000-08:00

Awana, Malaysia’s finest fine dining restaurant located in swanky Chelsea, is a jewel, providing the ultimate experience in savouring delectable Malaysian dishes in an upscale setting. Conveniently located between the South Kensington and Sloane Square Underground Stations, you'd be there in no time! The name refers to the clouds.

Tastefully decorated; Awana is a world away from the typical open air restaurant Malaysia is known for. The food is also exquisitely presented, inviting diners to partake of the deliciousness it would provide.

The successful pairing of carefully chosen wines with its wide range of dishes, displays the ability to accentuate the ingredients used in cooking Malaysian food. We were served, with much to my surprise, an Argentinean House Red Wine, Don David dated 2007 to accompany our dinner. The taste was subtle, not too dry and ultimately a good choice for the evening’s meal.

The wine list, when you actually really explore it, was indeed one for the affluent. There were bottles that were priced as high as GBP250 per bottle so do not be surprised when you want to indulge. There was also a choice of cocktails, that has elements of Asia with lychee syrup and various other syrups. So for me, I'd be stinging on the alcohol to get to the food. After all, my alcohol skills are basically novice at best, so dabbling with alcohol would only mean disabling my ability to taste the food.

The menu was indeed wide and innovative showcasing the chefs' cooking abilities. We had for starters, the Ketam Lembut Lada Hitam (Black Pepper Soft Shell Crab), Rusuk Kambing Panggang (Barbequed Lamb Ribs Char Siew Style) and a portion of Roti Canai (Indian Flat Bread) with fresh herbs. A complimentary bowl of black pepper prawn crackers with sweet chilli sauce was served as well. The lamb ribs were indeed a superb choice for a starter. Carefully barbequed, the meat was tender and tore away from the bone quite easily. Not too overpowered by its marinade, you can taste the quality of the meat what more finish every single bit of it. On another note, it is not a common thing to have lamb ribs.

They insist on quality ingredients, and therefore have their seafood freshly delivered four to times a week. So for our mains, we had the Udang Harimau (Butter Fried King Prawns Tails with Coconut and Curry Leaves, Rich Cream and Peppered Cress) The Udang Galah Cha Kuew Teow (Lobster Tail Fried Flat Noodles), a side order of Stir-fried Morning Glory with Sambal and a bowl of basmati wild rice. The dishes did not disappoint. The portions were also sizable ones, providing value for money especially their seafood dishes. Each dish had its distinct taste, carefully dictating the diner to savour each bite slowly. Just a heads up though, Cha Kueh Teow is normally only with normal sized prawns. This is a jazzed up version for the upscale location in which Awana is located at. Truth be told, I would like to see this served up more often in Malaysia. The King Prawns is a traditionally Malaysian Chinese dish. The size of the prawns were humongous, tastefully presented but taste wise was a tad sweeter than what I would remember it to be. Nonetheless, we devoured everything in sight!

The Stir Fried Morning Glory with Sambal was like how we would remember it to be. Yet, what we would cook it with contained roasted shrimp paste as well, so I am assuming that it was easier to sum it up with 'sambal' or chilli paste rather than a lengthy description of what the paste would be.

For desert, we had a trio of sorbets and ice cream. The sorbets consisted of Kalamansi (Asian Limes) and Lemongrass and Chilli whilst the ice cream was Durian flavoured. The second desert was Bakar Krim Durian or loosely translated Durian Crème Brûlée. The chefs are indeed innovative as they adapt the Crème Brûlée to include the king of fruits. I would say my favourite was the Crème Brûlée. You could literally taste the Durian Pulp and see the fibres. I am not joking. The sorbet flavours however gave both of us a kick. The Kalamansi was refreshing, similar to lemon sorbet but the Lemongrass and Chilli Sorbet took the cake! It leaves you with a tingle at the end of your tongue especially after you swallow. This is not for those who look for subtlety but a definite try.

All the dishes were truly scrumptious. The portions were amazing and for what its’ worth, the prices do justice to what you are served with. Plus, a divine atmosphere for the ultimate dining experience, Awana, true to its core, does serve heavenly food from a heavenly location.

The waiter who served us was more than knowledgeable as he played an integral part in recommending what to eat. My next trip would definitely encompass the more spicier versions. This time round, we went with the milder dishes.

We were there on a Tuesday night and even then it was busy. The restaurant manager even discouraged us to come on the weekend. Best to patronise during the week. So if you ever want to go, then best to make a reservation or turn up late. Even then, you're testing the waters.

The food is halal so for the many who shy away from eating at such establishments, Awana makes it a point to provide halal food suitable for everyone.

So what is my take on it?

Ambience 5/5
Food 4/5
Drinks 4/5 (for the sheer number of different drinks offered)
Price 3/5

Average price per person: GBP 20.00 (main meal + non-alcoholic drink)

Where is Awana?

85 Sloane Avenue
Chelsea
London SW3 3DX
Tel: 020 7584 8880
Map to Awana

This is one of those locations that you'd only go if you want to indulge yourself. So be prepared to burn a whole in the pocket. Nevertheless, the experience is truly one of a kind so going there at least once would hopefully buy you over.

Being posh for a night,
The Innovative Baker

Sausage & Mash, simple food but simply devine :)

2010-02-05T03:13:00.000-08:00

S & M Cafe was introduced by a friend not too long ago. At one glance, you’d think the name would actually mean something else, but tongue-in-cheek as it is, it actually simply means Sausage & Mash.

The English are huge fans of sausages, and there are different variations of it in each restaurant and you can purchase them in every major supermarket including off licenses. S&M proves to provide that extra something to fulfil your cravings.

I went back once more with fellow foodie, Kitchen Virgin, of www.kvt27.blogspot.com before her holidays in Malaysia. This time we met for breakfast and boy did we have a fantastic time!

She ordered the Great British All Day Breakfast that comes with London Traditional Sausage, bacon, free range egg, Heinz baked beans, roasted mushrooms, bubble & squeak, grilled tomatoes, with toast. I ordered the S&M Big Breakfast, that has 2 London Traditional Sauges, double bacon, 2 free range eggs, bubble & squeak and toast. And in true traditional British style, we had tea with milk to accompany our breakfast!

The dishes weren’t all that expensive with a rough estimate between GBP 6.00 to GBP 6.50 per dish. The tea cost GBP 1.40 and comes with unlimited refills! Can you beat that in price?

Both portions were truly scrumptious. We both were somewhat stuffed. But we still had space for desert…yes yes, we only had breakfast what desert? S&M Cafe is actually famous for their deserts too so we couldn’t leave without having the Apple Crumble with Custard Sauce.

Served warm, the apples and cinnamon shone through accentuated with the warm custard sauce. I must admit that while I normally bake most of the time and give it away, this was one desert that I’d gladly have on my own. But we were stuffed, so we shared the desert. Kitchen Virgin also shared her latest addiction to custard and have ventured on to explore how to make various custards as well.

Oh in case you’re wondering what bubble & squeak was, it is actually mashed potatoes with stir fried english vegetables mashed together. I initially wondered what in the world it was. Now that I know what the combination of ingredients was, I have now become a big fan of it, not only for its name but for its ingenious combinations!

So, if you’re looking to dine at a place with a ton of sausage and mash, then this is your place! For the vegetarians, don’t worry. They also have vegetarian sausages on offer so you’ll be delighted by their choices. Same goes for seafood lovers as they smoked haddock fishcakes!

So what is the verdict?

Ambience 4/5
Food 4/5
Drink 4/5
Price 5/5

Average price per person: GBP 8.00 (one dish + drink)

Where is it?

48 Brushfield Street
London E1 6AG
Map to S & M Cafe in Spitalfields

Looking to go for dinner this time round,
The Innovative Baker

Kiasu: Afraid to lose??? Definitely not in the case of this Restaurant

2010-01-26T03:51:00.000-08:00

Continuing on my quest for the best Malaysian food in London, I was cordially invited by Kiasu Restaurant's owner to taste his Asian delicacies. Where and what in the world is Kiasu? Kiasu according to Wikipedia, means fear of losing. It originates from the hokkien dialect and is widely used in Hokkien speaking communities. Kiasu recently underwent a make over and now has deco with words using 'Kiasu' accompanied by other Hokkien words to show different meaning associated to it.

My colleagues and I were prepared to pay for this meal but before I get on to the cheque, let me just go through the night's event. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by ever friendly waiters. The atmosphere was indeed emulating a slightly more upmarket 'kopitiam' (coffee house) something similar to that of Uncle Lim's or Papa Roti back in Malaysia. But, the range of dishes offered at Kiasu is one that amazes me. Over 80 dishes are on offer and not only from Malaysia but from Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia as well. It's slogan, Food from the Straits, is very fitting as you can find the most popular dishes from this part of the world. One might wonder whether the food quality would be compromised but we were extremely surprised at the level of authenticity the restaurant was able to produce.

Our host decided to arrange our starters whilst we decided what we would have for our main course. In traditional style, we'd order 'Cincau' or Grass Jelly Drink. It is in actual fact, a block of jelly made out of a natural ingredients grated into fine pieces or cubed and then served with a dose of sugar syrup, water and ice.

Cincau

We didn't know what was coming for the starters, but when it came, it poured.

Kueh Pie Tee

Indonesian Gado Gado, Murtabak

Beef and Chicken Satay (complete with spicy satay sauce, Steamed Ketupat, Red Onions and Cucumber)

Chai Tow Kueh (Fried Radish Cake), Assorted Roasted Meats

Aside from the assorted roasted meats, the first six dishes are traditionally South East Asian. Each dish was presented beautifully. No compromise on quality of ingredients either. My craving for Chai Tow Kueh was definitely conquered as I savoured every bit of the dish right till the very last morsel. This dish is served in two versions, the Singaporean Way without the beansprouts, and the Penang Way which is with beansprouts. Either or, it was definitely a dish to be reckoned with. The Kueh Pie Tee, a more innovative version of the Spring Roll, was excellent as well. A touch of bamboo shoots, though never an ingredient I would use in my kitchen, was what made the Pie Tee what is was...simple and delicious. It normally uses the same set of ingredients as that of the fresh spring roll, but served in fried pastry cups and chilli on the side. This Pie Tee emulated that which could be served for the upper class as slices of prawns were decked on top of it. Yum was all I could say.

The Gado Gado was also extremely delicious. We were told by the restaurant manager, who is also a foodie herself, that the peanut sauce is made in house. The fact of the matter is, the peanut sauce defers from region to region. In Malaysia, the sauce looks and tastes exactly as that of the Malaysian Satay sauce. In Singapore it is slightly darker. In Indonesia it is sweeter and gooey, almost like peanut butter sort of like consistency. Here, it was not pale but looked almost like the satay sauce, has a bit of a chilli kick and accompanied the vegetables perfectly!

Next came the Murtabak. Small in size, but big in taste, the Murtabak was packed with a meaty filling that you would not imagine having. It looked and smelled like how you would get from a Malaysian Indian Muslim Restaurant back home plus it was accompanied with an almost perfect curry sauce. Yummy to the core, the Murtabak was devoured within seconds. The satay was also fantastic. All if not most Malaysians prefer their satay to have a slightly burnt taste at the end of their bite and the servings we got were by no means short of that burnt taste. Just having the meat alone was enough to savour the marinade that it is known for. Even the satay sauce was like how we would get back home.

By then we were already half full, if not, 3/4 full. Then came a healthy serving of roasted meats from their sister restaurants. Apparently, you can get an order of such a dish and get it delivered over to Kiasu. The roast pork (of which I forgot to take a picture of) was the yummiest of the lot. I know my dad would fall in love with it.

After a bit more of chit chat with the owner and the restaurant manager, the main dishes came out. Oh yes, we decided to let the owner decide what we would be having for our main course. I must give it to him though. He actually remember my craving for Hokkien Noodles.

Hainanese Chicken Rice, Nasi Lemak with Padang Chicken Curry

Nyonya Laksa with Fresh Daun Kesum, Hokkien Mee

Starting off with the Hainanese Chicken Rice, it was indeed a delight to have it as the chicken was succulent and juicy to the bite. The chicken skin was yellow and so it should be as it would be back home. The restaurant manager stressed that the chicken used was corn fed chicken. She's even tested different kinds of chicken and finally decided on corn fed chicken because of how close it would emulate that chicken back in Malaysia. The chilli sauce, ginger and soy sauce combination was also truly delectable. The rice of course needless to say was cooked to perfection.

The Nasi Lemak combo with the Padang Chicken Curry was also a dish prepared with much precision. The rice was not too overwhelmingly cooked with coconut milk which meant that we could at least taste the rice as well but it was fragrant enough to give out what most Malaysians know Nasi Lemak to be. For those who are wondering what it is, Nasi Lemak loosely translated means Fatty Rice. But it is in actually fact referring to the type of milk used to cook the rice with - coconut milk. A traditional Malay dish, it is served usually with 34side orders of a hard boiled egg, anchovy sambal, fried peanuts and anchovies and of course not forgetting freshly sliced cucumber. This dish has since gone through a transformation and is now served with additional servings of Acar (vegetables soaked in turmeric powder and vinegar and then later tossed with some crushed peanuts) and a serving of meat curry of your choice or fried meat. Here we had the opportunity of savouring their Padang Chicken Curry which I think was simply delicious. Needless to say, by then we were already full... but we simply had to eat as everything tasted fantastic!

Then the noodle dishes came. The Nyonya Laksa served with fresh daun kesum was truly heaven. In actual fact, the Nyonya Laksa is probably one of the most difficult dishes to prepare. The number of ingredients needed plus the freshness of these ingredients is key to preparing it. And I must say that despite us being full, we ate and savoured this noodle dish like it was the last thing we would have. Finally, it was the serving of the Hokkien Mee. I am quite critical when it comes to this dish as my father practically fed us this dish since I was 5 years old or rather for as long as I remember. The fat egg noodles is what makes the dish. The egg noodles used here was a tad fatter than I would remember it to be and had an al dente feel to it. The sauce was how I would remember it to be plus it was served with 'Chi Yau Char' (fried pig fat). The sambal belacan accompaniment was actually THE best accompaniment ever served along with it and that my dear readers, was the way to eat it. I had two servings of it despite already feeling like I couldn't get off my seat. It was just that good!

We continued our conversations with the restaurant manager and was pleasantly surprised to know that they are much sought after for catering during events at the Sri Lankan Embassy, Indonesian Embassy and the Singaporean Embassy. The big question was, umm...where is the Malaysian Embassy is all of this? We also had the joy of meeting the head chef of Kiasu. Very shy, you could see that he was not the kind of person who'd feel comfortable in giving interviews but nonetheless obliged in allowing me to take a photo of him.

Not long after, we started having deserts. Not having the space to stomach more than 4 deserts, we ordered three:

Pulut Hitam, Sago Gula Melaka, Ice Kacang with Durian Ice Cream

Three very traditional deserts from Malaysia, each dish had its own distinctive taste and presentation. The Pulut Hitam (Black Sticky Rice) was served with a healthy serving of coconut milk. The Sago Gula Melaka (Sago Balls with a touch of coconut milk and Palm Sugar) was not as thick as we would have it but the creme de la creme was the Ice Kacang with the Durian Ice Cream. Unfortunately the ice was not as snowy like due to the fact that the ice machine was deemed a health hazard by Health and Safety Authorities. The restaurant manager ended up using a Japanese made ice machine that unfortunately left the Ice Kacang more crunchy than usual. However, the Durian Ice Cream was simply orgasmic. Durian, the king of fruits, is not something that would be devoured by most Europeans. However, it is an extreme favourite for people coming from South East Asia especially Thailand and Malaysia. A foul smelling fruit, it sort of emulates the blue cheese or the stinking bishop. But this was what we ate and finished first!!!!!

Stuffed like a stuffed pepper, we were extremely amazed by the food at Kiasu. All of us went back with a pot belly and could still feel the remainder of the food next morning. That just goes to show how much we ate.

To sum it up, it was indeed a dining experience. The prices too were very competitive. Ranging from GBP 3.50 to about GBP 10.00 at the most, Kiasu does have affordable dishes. Even during lunch they have a lunch set menu that starts at GBP 5.50. The owner is a chef in his own right and has clearly stated that even if they make less in profit, they make up for it in taste.

What's my take on it?

Ambience 4/5

Food 5/5

Drinks 5/5

Price 4/5

Average price per person: GBP 10.00 (main meal + drink)

So where is Kiasu?

48 Queensway

Bayswater

London W2 3RY

Map to Kiasu

The best time according to them is go during Lunch time. Less people because the area that they are situated is not an office area. However, if you are looking to have a more crowded atmosphere, then dinner time is best. Don't forget to call to book a table. You might have to wait a bit if you don't reserve one.

So if you are looking for a Malaysian dining experience, complete with authentic Malaysian food, Kiasu is the way to go.

Having her Malaysian taste buds fulfilled,

The Innovative Baker

Bonda Cafe - A small dose of Malaysian Food in flavoured abundance

2010-01-20T06:45:00.000-08:00

London, UK has always been the melting pot for international cuisine. More so for Asian cuisine. Over the number of years, Malaysian cuisine has spread across the UK and now numbers around 62 restaurants to meet the rising taste buds of budding food connoisseurs in and around Europe. Within London, you can find about 30 odd number of restaurants catering to a combination of Malaysian street food to proper shared dishes. Following the lead of the Malaysia Kitchen Program launched by MATRADE, the growing popularity of Malaysian cuisines within the UK and the US will see a staggering increase in the number of people looking to explore Malaysian cuisine.

Being a Malaysian, and like all Malaysians, we live to eat :) So my fellow Malaysian friends and I decided to savour our taste buds at one of the Malaysian Restaurants located at Sussex Gardens.

Bonda Cafe, has been around for quite a number of years and serves up quite a good range of Malaysian food. From the traditional economy rice (choosing from a range of malaysian dishes onto a plate of rice), to the snacks like spring rolls and satay, Bonda Cafe enjoys a large patronage from Malaysians to foreign visitors. I am actually quite picky when it comes to Malaysian food and when the food doesn't pass my standards, you will find it hard pressed for me to go back there to eat. Bonda Cafe successfully convinced me that they can still cater to my fussy needs.

When I was there, I ordered Tom Yam Beehoon, Seafood Spring Rolls, and a Teh Tarik (Pulled / Stretched Tea).

(L - R: Tom Yam Beehoon, Seafood Spring Rolls, Teh Tarik)

In a normal restaurant, three items on the menu would normally amount to about GBP18.00. Drinks alone would cost about GBP3.00 especially when it is a special drink. I paid GBP11.00 for all three items. And I was full!

Now one would wonder why I ordered Tom Yam Beehoon despite being in a Malaysian Restaurant. Believe it or not, Tom Yam, although being Thailand's super signature dish, has found ground in many Malaysian cafes, side road stalls and even Chinese Hawker Stalls. So, even if you're thinking that Tom Yam may not taste like Tom Yam, think again. It is of course somewhat different from the typical Tom Yam Soup from Thailand as it has been localised to meet the Malaysian taste buds. However, it still takes after its original taste by about 95%. A large portion of vegetables, seafood and noodles is served and by no means are they stingy with their soup either. Just the way I would imagine Tom Yam Beehoon the Malaysian way to be.

The seafood spring rolls is actually not a typical Malaysian dish as spring rolls in Malaysia encompasses cooked shredded yam bean, fried tofu, beansprouts, a number of other crunchy ingredients wrapped in fresh spring roll pastry dough. Here, the spring rolls sees a revolution and takes on seafood. It was indeed a delight. Fried to perfection, not too burnt that still allowed the freshness of the seafood to come through with a tinge of sesame oil at the end of it. The chilli sauce is most likely Lingam's Chilli Sauce, a staple chilli sauce served on Malaysian dining tables. A good combo I must say.

Teh Tarik or loosely translated as pulled / stretched tea is a very traditional mamak style drink served up at road side stalls. Mamak, a short form normally referred to the Indian Muslims in Malaysia, is a cultural past time for Malaysians of all ages, as it is actually road side stalls along closed shop lots that normally starts from dinner time till wee hours of the morning. This culture has now stretched into actual cafes and restaurants that now open 24 hours a day. Teh Tarik in actual fact is just a process in which they pour the tea mixture (tea made from tea dust, condense milk and evaporated milk and hot water strained through a sock sieve) from mug to mug until the heat from the water cools somewhat slightly. Then it is poured into a coffee mug or a tall glass served with a plastic spoon. Teh Tarik is actually diabetes in the making as the content of sugar could send shocking shivers through your spine. But you always have that option to lessen your sugar. So in true Malaysian style, I would say, 'Teh Tarik satu! Kurang, kurang, kurang manis!' (One pulled tea! Reduce the sugar please!). Tea Dust is a type of tea not commonly used here in the UK. As alternatives, we used prepacked Boh Tea or Lipton Tea satchets to make the base of the tea. But if you are looking for authenticity, try finding the actual tea dust from Sri Lanka or local branded tea dust in Malaysia. It tastes way different.

My friends ordered Mee Soup (Soup Noodles), Nasi Campur (rice with various dishes), Bandung Cincau (can't find an actual translation for this) and Soy Bean Milk.

Now, Bandung Cincau is very much a favourite amongst Malaysians and is not everyone's cup of tea. The ingredients include, rose syrup, milk and grass jelly. In Malaysia it would be rose syrup, condense milk, water and grass jelly. It has since seen an evolution in which the drink now comes with a fizzy tinge to it. Definitely not for the faint hearted. The taste is also an acquired one so if you're not the adventurous kind, I'd suggest to go for a juice or better yet, ice lemon tea.

Bonda Cafe also served a variety of deserts, some traditional, some not. The next round, I'd give those a go.

So what exactly was my take on it?

Ambience 4/5
Food 4/5
Drinks 4/5
Price 5/5

Average price per person: GBP 8.00 (Main Meal + Drink)

Where is Bonda Cafe?

190 Sussex Gardens
London W2 1TU
Map to Bonda Cafe

Catch my next visit to another Malaysian Restaurant, Kiasu at Bayswater on the next blog entry.

Having enjoyed a dose of Malaysian food,
The Innovative Baker

Dim Sum in Duesseldorf??

2010-01-06T04:35:00.000-08:00

Duesseldorf is probably one of the cities in Germany that houses a great many variety of international cuisine. It has a Japanese Street, due to the large Japanese community it has. So it is without a doubt that Korean and Chinese would also follow suit. There are of course a great number of Chinese Restaurants around. One of which used to be a favourite haunt of mine. Rosengarten, translated as Rose Garden.

Rosengarten is famous for its Dim Sum. You cannot find a great deal of Chinese Restaurants that do serve Dim Sum in Germany, so we would count ourselves lucky that Rosengarten serves up Dim Sum. Amongst the Dim Sum dishes we ordered:

(1st row L to R: Prawn Cheong Fun, Squid in Chilli, Prawn Dumplings)

(2nd Row L to R: Steamed Tripe with Spring Onions, Braised Chicken Feet, Fried Vietnamese Prawn Rolls)

(3rd Row L to R: Sesame Balls with Lotus Paste Filling, Fried Prawn Sushi Rolls)

(4th Row: Deep Fried Prawn Wantons)

As we were a table of 14, we promptly ordered other dishes as well.

(1st Row L to R: Stir Fried Kai Lan in Oyster Sauce, Unknown Vege Dish (i didn't do the ordering), Stir fried Vegetarian Noodles)

(2nd Row L to R: Claypot Vegetables, Crispy Duck)

Overall? I would say, it is not for the Asian taste. Most of what we ate was edible. But service was terrible. The dishes didn't come out accordingly, one of the Dim Sum dishes we ordered was replaced with something else without us being told, plus it was mediocre in taste. I probably think the only dish that was best eaten was the chicken feet. It tasted the same as before, so there must be something about the recipe that did not run. The vegetables were overcooked, leaving me and most of my friends thinking we were eating pulp rather than crunch.

However, it is not without its merits, the location is superb. A street away from the main train station, next to a hotel and it is at the beginning of the Japanese Street. So if you can't a better located Chinese Restaurant this would be your bet.

What was my rating?

Ambience 3/5

Food 3/5

Drinks 3/5

Price 2/5

Average price per person: Euro 15 (can't really divide per dish + drink)

Where is Rosengarten:

Karlstrasse 76

40210 Duesseldorf

Map to Rosengarten

If you're dying for Chinese Food in Duesseldorf, then go, otherwise, skip it. I wouldn't be going anytime soon.

Her chinese taste buds weren't satisfied enough,

The Innovative Baker

Flingern - your new hangout spot!

2010-01-04T03:48:00.000-08:00

When staying in Germany, I was constantly reminded to go to Flingern, a lessser known part of Duesseldorf for a walk around. Apparently it has changed since the days of gangsterism and danger to an upscale shopping haven catering to offbeat products and one of a kind designers. True enough, I was pleasantly surprised when I went there. Though the street where most of the shops are located looks like a mini scene out of the yesteryears of communism (the buildings looked like they never got upgraded), it added to novelty of it all. It kind of reminded me of Bangsar in Malaysia only less shops and more intricately designed. Anyway, whilst walking, I came across a cafe, called Cafe Hueftgold, that was laying probably at the beginning of the shopping street. The number of people in the cafe proved to be a success as I finally ended up going in to enjoy a cup of tea and cake. (After having spoken to many other friends, after my visit, did they tell me that this cafe is famous for their cakes, and rightly so!)

I browsed through their menu after having ordered an apricot vanilla crumble and fresh mint tea.

The menu is not that extensive, but serves what us, as we would call ourselves, yuppies, the right portion for a meal.

The first picture shows a typical type of pancake that literally translated into flamed cake. Flammkuchen is normally found during the Christmas season, so having the pleasure to savour a flammkuchen all year round is fantastic. It has a crispy base and is served with different ingredients, here you'd have a choice of bacon and onion, leek and ham, salami and chilli and of course your vegetarian choice that would have goats cheese and paprikas. Judging from the price, the size must be quite large. Schnittchen, or little slices actually means little slices. A choice of cheese, ham, meat sausages, salmon and probably a ton more other choices would allow your tastebuds to be met. They also serve up toasties with many variations as well.

But as I was there at the peak of tea time, cake was the right way to go. I must say, it was simply the best crumble I've had. They naturally had a ton of other cake choices too with chocolate brownies and cheesecakes to mention a few.

Strangely enough, when I spoke to them about frozen cheesecakes, they blinked and stared back with a very dumb founded look. Apparently frozen cheesecakes, like the ones from Secret Recipe do not ring a bell whatsoever. So whoever wants to create a new wave of deserts, this is probably the way to go. Getting back on track, I think I finished off the cake in 2 minutes, literally. Not because I was hungry but because it was that good.

There you go, no cake left...left only the crumbs... The tea was immensely refreshing of course. I have developed a love for fresh peppermint tea and that I must say was a heaping portion of it. I only paid Euro 3.80 in total. That was probably the most fulfilling tea break I had. The cake cost Euro 2.20 whilst the tea, fresh as it may be, only cost Euro 1.60. So who says that having a meal out in Germany is expensive??

So what is my take on Cafe Hueftgold?

Ambience 5/5 (they have two sections to the cafe, one specifically for take out and the other for

diners)

Food 5/5 (I'm only judging the cakes)

Drinks 5/5 (you'd be surprised that a cafe also served up alcohol - an extensive menu I might add)

Price 5/5

Average price per person: Euro 4.00 (for tea time - cake + hot drink)

Where is Cafe Hueftgold?

Ackerstrasse 112

40233 Duesseldorf

Map to Cafe Hueftgold

So if you're ever in Flingern, and would like to have a great tea time, this is where you should go. I know I enjoyed my visit.

Conquering Duesseldorf bit by bit,

The Innovative Baker

Brauhaus Sion - one of Cologne's best breweries!

2009-12-29T03:18:00.000-08:00

It is strange how I ended up having a great GERMAN meal in Cologne. Duesseldorf has its fair share of it of course but I do not patronise German breweries until I have at least an accomplice in tow or a gang of 4 to 10. The portions are that big. German breweries or brauhaus is not exactly a brewery in its sense. It does brew its own beer but it also serves food. Thus I introduce Brauhaus Sion.

Tucked not so far away from the Cologne Dom, about 10 minutes walk in exact, Brauhaus Sion has the reputation for serving up 1/2 meter sausages or according to our waiter Mr. Hanske,

you can even ask for 1 meter sausages to be served. That takes up the whole table. This time round, we ordered the traditional German Pork Knuckle served with German green cabbage and roasted potatoes, a 1/4 meter sausage with the same sides and an apple pancake (which I did not take a picture of). Trust me, three dishes is enough for four Asians. Our waiter was also very helpful in terms of the portions.

Trust me you would have devoured every single piece of meat, morsel you could get your hands on. German pork knuckles are normally the size of a turkey leg, if not bigger. Not easily prepared, though many have asked whether I could prepare it for them, the skin has to be roasted properly to have its crunchiness just right so you could devour it as well. In tradition, most German dishes are eaten with mustard. In between the tanginess of the French mustard and the pungent-ness of the Japanese Wasabe, I find German mustard to be my taste.

So after dolloping a good portion of mustard on my plate, we began eating. Rani, my colleague from home had the time of her life eating her first traditional German meal. This was how the plate looked like after we finished eating.

The interior (should have taken more photos) was quite innovative. The ceiling was made out of recycled beer kegs.

Imagine the time they took to put that together? In any case the meal was utterly satisfying on a not so cold autumn day in November. It was a fitting departing meal for Rani as well since she was flying off the same day too. The food was entirely expensive either as many Germans patronise German breweries for their beers. Oh yes, it is interesting how my table did not order the Cologne beer called Koelsh. We are not big beer drinkers and therefore, we skipped having it this time round. In any case, German food without German beer is still a treat!

So what was my take on it?

Ambience 5/5
Food 5/5
Drinks 4/5 (I don't drink beer that much remember?)
Price 4/5

Average price per person Euro 12.00 (main meal + 1 drink)

Go easy on the beer, you don't want to be carried away when you end up leaving the brewery. So having blogged about Japanese, Italian and the like, I figured German food was in line to be featured. Where can you find the brewery?

Unter Taschenmacher 5-7
50667 Cologne
Tel: +49 (0) 221 2 57 85 40
Map to Brauhaus Sion

More German food to come,
The Innovative Baker

A bakery with a difference

2009-12-18T08:05:00.000-08:00

Bastian's is a bakery with a difference. According to people, Bastian's is related to bakery chain, Kamps. But, it serves two purposes: the bakery and the cafe!

Bastian's opened about 4 years since if I am not mistaken and has been enjoying continuous patronage from Duesseldorf locals and tourists who come across it whilst walking pass it when visiting the open air market at Marktplatz in the middle of the Old Town.

The interior is very homely with tables that cater to coziness and at the same time for larger groups too. It opens for breakfast all the way to dinner and bakes bread, cakes and cookies fresh daily.

You can view the baking process going on as the cafe / bakery adopts a very open concept. Amongst the cakes that were already available by 9am that morning were:

Not joking...there were already at least 20 different kinds of cakes that morning. Fitting for the sweet tooth who loves a bite of cake before the start of the day. We were there for breakfast and lunch on the same day for lack of breakfast places and a pre-booked table for lunch.

For breakfast we ordered a breakfast set that normally feeds two but being Malaysian, four of us chowed down on the breakfast.

The Bastian's Special features smoked salmon, a bread basket of German breads, a cheese spread, cold cuts, butter, cream cheese, confiture and scrambled eggs. That is big!!! Each of us also ordered the usual coffee, latte, hot chocolate and the likes.

The breakfast was hearty for sure as you had the opportunity to devour different kinds of German breads whilst enjoying fine cold cuts and smoked salmon. For a price of Euro 14.50, eaten by four people, what a catch eh?

Lunch was even more hearty.

L to R: Tomato and Orange Soup, Ravioli in Cheese Filling in Cream Sauce, Peas and Bacon and Ratatouille cooked with German Noodles.

Other dishes without pictures were the Wiener Schnitzel and Grilled Salmon served on a bed of salad. Hearty, delicious, a tad salty but it actually does keep you warm after you leave a restaurant.

The menu is the same as lunch so you do not have much choices. But the specials change daily so at least every day is a new day.

What do I think of Bastian's?

Ambience 4/5

Food 4/5

Drinks 4/5 (it serves non-alcoholic to alcoholic drinks)

Price 4/5

Average price per person: Euro 12.00 (main meal + drink)

Where is Bastian's?

Bastian's Duesseldorf

Carlsplatz 24

40213 Duesseldorf

Tel: +49 211 863 9264

Map to Bastian's Duesseldorf

Bastian's is also in Cologne:

Auf dem Berlich 3 - 5

50667 Cologne

Tel: +49 221 2508 3412

Map to Bastian's Cologne

So to enjoy the aroma of fresh bread and an extended menu of German food, go to Bastian's.

Addicted to German Bread,

The Innovative Baker

The Wolseley - THE place to be for breakfast in London.

2009-12-17T02:27:00.000-08:00

Since I actually do stay in London, a review of London restaurants should be in place. A friend recommended having breakfast at The Wolseley because of the portion you get and the service you receive. The place was definitely something to remember by. The service was also very very very commendable too :)

I went to the Wolseley as a treat with my mom who was leaving the next day. So I called up the reservation services to reserve a table. Yes, it is that popular even in the mornings. The creme de la creme of English Society in London patronises the Wolseley, including the likes of Hollywood superstars like Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor and Russell Crowe.

That aside, the service actually speaks for itself. The staff are dressed in decadent uniforms that remind me of the old days. They look ever so spiffy and always ready to serve you. The service is also as quick as one can get! Within 2 minutes of seating down, we were asked for our drinks. Naturally, we ordered tea and coffee.

Cappucino made with love Tea served with not only the teapot but a ton of

other utensils

Once our drinks were served, we were asked what we would like to have for breakfast. So we ordered:

Pancakes with Roasted Bananas and Icing Sugar

The Wolseley English Breakfast

(Sausages, Portobello Mushrooms, Bacon, Eggs, Baked Beans, Tomato and Black Pudding)

Other items offered for breakfast if the traditional options are too big

The dining experience was simply fantastic. Feeling like you were part of the English high society was indeed an experience to share. My mother of course enjoyed herself. The English Breakfast cost GBP13.50 whilst the Pancakes if I remember correctly was about GBP8.50. In total the bill came up to about GBP35.00 plus VAT as we also ordered toast to go along with the English Breakfast.

On another visit with a good friend, the service was even better. As he was leaving the country, he got a cookbook from the Wolseley (even I didn't get a copy) as a goodbye gift. Thank you Fergal for your ever superb service :) Now this is what I call service.

I would need to go back during lunch and dinner time to assess the food then but my bet would be that it tastes even better.

so what is my take on it?

Ambience 5/5

Food 5/5

Drinks 5/5

Price 4/5 (for a student the prices are high!!!! But heck once in a while is okay)

Average price per person: GBP15.00 (normal breakfast + drink)

So if you are in for a treat and want to be treated first class, go to the Wolseley. Where is it though?

The Wolseley

160 Piccadilly

London W1J 9EB

Map to the Wolseley

nearest tube is Green Park station, turn right upon exit, walk past the Ritz and Wolseley is next to it.

Would love to be part of the English Society again,

The Innovative Baker

Casa Gustosa

2009-12-11T08:25:00.000-08:00

Casa Gustosa is a favourite of my family whenever we come to Duesseldorf. We even celebrated my parents' 30th wedding anniversary 2 years ago. Now the owner is a good friend of ours. Nice to have a friend in the restaurant business. This time around we went with a family friend who came to visit an exhibition. So we decided to visit Casa Gustosa as they have great dishes at good prices. Now, be well aware that during exhibition time, the restaurant is fully booked so be sure to book ahead of time.

3 out of the four of us had the sea bass whilst me being the meat lover decided to order the lamb rack...

Grilled Sea bass

Grilled Rack of Lamb served with red cabbage and dumplings.

A closer look at the red cabbage and dumplings

The hospitality of the head waiter was fantastic. Probably because we were friends of the restaurant owner who coincidently is the head chef as well. So everything was served to the T! The restaurant also serves a serving of bread and in house spreadable cheese.

Bread served with in house spreadable cheese

Always a delight I must say. The food was delectable. I finished off my plate aside from the dumplings. That I must say takes a while to get used to. But Germans love it. The fish was also grilled perfectly and was so fresh that you could still taste the sea. The head waiter even took the time to remove the fish bones before serving us. My mom was so addicted to the red cabbage that she even ordered another portion of it. The sea bass also came with a serving of a side salad. Yummy dressing too!

How much was it? On average we paid about Euro 20 per head as house specialities do cost quite a bit. But nonetheless the food was authentically Mediterranean and accentuates what it means to be part of that world. So what is my take on it?

Ambience 5/5

Food 5/5

Drinks 4/5 (we did not order any wine nor alcohol so I can't really judge)

Price 4/5 (not for the budget friendly person)

Where is Casa Gustosa?

Nordstrasse 28

40477 Duesseldorf

Tel: 0211 954 2397

Map to Casa Gustosa

This I promise you will make you smile after you eat.

Wanting to be Mediterranean for more than a day,

The Innovative Baker

Be A Don for a day...

2009-11-29T11:58:00.000-08:00

On a Friday night after work, I was tired of cooking and decided to explore a little restaurant in Duesseldorf that has been around for two years.

Don, a restaurant owned by Maruyasu, the sushi specialists in Duesseldorf and Frankfurt is a restaurant waiting to be discovered. Having Japanese, like Na Ni Wa, in Duesseldorf may sound odd but in actual fact, Duesseldorf is the centre for most Japanese to gather. There is even an international Japanese school in the Oberkassel district. Anyway, going back to the point of this blog, I decided to enjoy a night on my own with a nice dinner...and Don did not fail me.

As a starter I ordered the Gyoza. It costed Euro 4.20.

Gyoza

For my mains, I ordered:

Butakumchie Don - Stir fried Pork with Kim Chie on Rice (Euro 7.50)

For drinks, as usual, the traditional Green Tea:

Whilst waiting for my meal, they served a starter...I think it was a combination of seaweed, carrots and tofu. Truly authentically Japanese.

The meal was indeed a fulfilling one. The gyoza was indeed superb! It has some kind of sauce that I had no idea what it contained, but it made the gyoza even more delicious. Even the Butakimchie Don was delicious. Only thing was after the starter, the gyoza and some green tea in me, downing a bowl of rice was a bit too much. But I finished off the meat and kimchi!!!

The aftermath!

All in all, I was overall impressed. There were enough Japanese patrons in there to vote for the taste as well. The price was also quite affordable making it an easy night for many who would rather only have a Don. The restaurant also served sushi sets, Udon and various ala carte dishes. Only towards the end did I realise they also served Ramen Noodles through the little advert they had at the cashier counter. Another down side would be their opening hours. They close early, at 8pm. So it is definitely not a dinner place. I was lucky to get in around 6.30pm. Germans love eating early...and so do the Japanese. In any case, if you are looking for an early meal with a sizable portion, this would be the place to come. So what is my take on it?

Ambience 3/5

Food 5/5

Drinks 4/5

Price 4/5

Average price per person: Euro 10.00 (main meal + drink)

Where are they located?

Immermannstrasse 23

40210 Duesseldorf

Germany

Tel: +49 211 3677 612

Map to Don

Had the joy being a Don for a night,

The Innovative Baker

Werner's on Changkat

2009-11-27T07:48:00.000-08:00

While this might seem to be an odd review, seeing that I am in Germany and not in KL, Werner's in actual fact has its roots stemming from Germany. The owner, is also the nephew to very well known El Cerdo on the same road, Changkat Bukit Bintang.

My first trip to Werner's was with Olivia, Nicholas and Byron back in 2008 I think. Since then the menu has changed and my most recent trip was to celebrate Marie's hen night.

We started with a jug of sangria. Am not a big alcohol fan, but for the sake of Marie, I had a glass. By general concensus, it tasted something similar to medicine. I hardly have sangria so couldn't really say whether it did taste like medicine or not. Perhaps sticking to a good Riesling (citing that Werner's does do German quite well) would have been much better. Whilst deciding what to have for dinner, the owner came and made us feel at home. Not bad since I only met him once and I now forgot his name, again. Sorry!!!! He suggested that we have a combination of starters that was a combination of carpaccio, bruchetta, fresh tomatoes with buffalo mozarella and beef prosciutto.

It was indeed a good enough combination as we need not eat too much and still had room for our mains. Even for our mains we had three mains to share:

Salmon Sashimi Pizza

Pasta with vegetables wrapped in paper

Braised Veal Steak in Red Wine

(note to self: always always always write down what in the world you order). All three dishes were indeed delicious. The pizza was definitely different as you don't normally serve sashimi on a pizza. The combination was indeed a hit! The pasta was also unique and the portion was not too big that we would end up stuffing ourselves. The best for me was the Braised Veal Steak. The recommendation was indeed a blessing as the meat was tender and easy to eat. The wine was infused with the meat that you could savour wine without the alcohol.

For desert, we each ordered our own. I had Kaiserschmarrn. It is a rum and raisin pancake and is a specialty of Austria.

Johanna ordered the Andreas' Special: everything to do with chocolate

There was also an order for Tiramisu

I enjoyed my desert. But Johanna's order won hands down. No one can beat a chocolate desert!!! Oh, we also got free Limoncello. Not bad right!

The bill at the end of the day was HIGH!!!! In terms of the Malaysian Ringgit standards. I don't even remember how much we paid per person. But in any case, the ambience, the service and the music sort of makes up for the rather expensive price list.

So my take on the place:

Ambience 4/5
Food 4/5
Drinks 3/5
Price 3/5

Average price per person: RM60 (main dish + drink)

Where is Werner's on Changkat located?

50 Changkat Bukit Bintang
50200 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Map to Werner's on Changkat

Having a taste of the European World in KL,
The Innovative Baker

The Innovative Baker going MIA

2009-11-26T02:48:00.000-08:00

Hello hello,

Yes yes...I know I owe you guys some restaurant reviews. It has been a hectic week, a day off because I was sick and many other stuff that is piling up on my desk. But never fear...there will be a post or two soon...

Utterly apologetic,
The Innovative Baker

Foodspotting: A Local, Visual Food Guide

2009-11-24T00:32:00.000-08:00

A new way of looking for food you want to have for breakfast, lunch or dinner, Food spotting is the way to go. Check out the link below!

Foodspotting: A Local, Visual Food Guide

Seafood in Germany?

2009-11-20T12:42:00.000-08:00

One may think that it is normal for Germans to have fish. Well, in this case, yes! In the heart of Duesseldorf old town, lays a very well lit restaurant in blue that stretches 3 floors and 3 shop lots put together. This restaurant is Fischhaus Duesseldorf. Amongst cobbled stones, beer houses and lebanese food, the Fischhaus sure does stand out. Why? It has probably the most number of people waiting for a place to sit even when the restaurant has 3 floors. Not joking.

This picture was taken from another weblink and therefore does not entirely represent the full presence of what the Fischhaus actually accomodates.

We used to go in throngs of people numbering up to the double digits. This time, we had 4 of us and knowing it would be trade fair season, we decided to patronise the restaurant before the place becomes too packed with people. Reservations are taken but for trade fair season, reservations were made 2 weeks in advance. Walk-ins like us take a chance. The Fischhaus does not sit incomplete parties, so be sure to turn up on time!

My mom is a fan of muscles, and since it was muscles season (apparently, months ending with -er is when muscles are in full season), we ordered our usual Muscles steamed in White Wine sauce

It is served in a huge pot with a cover that acts as a bowl for the empty shells and with the ingredients used to steam it in was simply divine.

We called three main dishes - Scallops with tomato and basil sauce served with rice, Grilled Monk Fish with potatoes and prawns and finally grilled Sole with boiled potatoes.

Each meal was simple and straight to the point, with no fuss about it. Definitely a plus point for people who love food that is not complicated. Even the names are easy to digest. I'd tag the menu online but it's all in German. So unless someone really wants the English Menu, I'd have to translate it.

In any case, the meal did cost more than the others than I've been to. After all, seafood in Germany is considered somewhat of a rich man's food. Fresh at that. With a total of Euro 82 ringing at the cashier, one must consider parting with a substantial amount of cash or credit card. But, good food does come with a price.

So what's my take on it?

Ambience 3/5
Food 4/5
Drinks 5/5
Price 3/5

Average price per meal: Euro 25 (main meal and drink)

Where is The Fischhaus?

Bergerstrasse 3 - 7
40213 Düsseldorf
Germany
For reservations call: +49 211 854 964
Map to Fischhaus

Wanting to be a fish for a day,
The Innovative Baker

Trattoria Mercatino - a little piece of Italy in Duesseldorf

2009-11-19T13:38:00.000-08:00

Trattoria Mercatino is a quaint little Italian Restaurant situated on the same road as the trade fair grounds of Messe Duesseldorf GmbH. Not that out of the way, one can get to the restaurant by taking the Underground U78 or U79 and stopping at Messe Osst / Stockumer-Kirchstrasse or bus 722 stopping just outside the Restaurant with the same stop name.

This particular Mercatino has been part of my cult eating habits whenever I visit Duesseldorf, and I have had many fun times here with friends and family. It's friendly atmosphere and somewhat quick service is accompanied by its extremely scrumptious food.

This time I went with my parents and a colleague to savour the tastes of Mercatino. We ordered the following: Antipasti Mista (plate of mixed antipasti vegetables), Spaghetti alla Marinara (Seafood Spaghetti), Linguini mit Pfifferlingen (Linguini with Chanterelles) and Pizza Masti (Pizza with Prosciutto and Vegetables).

Antipasti Mista

Linguini alla Marinara

Pizza Masti

Spaghetti with Chanterelle

The added bonus when coming to Tratorria Mercatino is that they serve piping hot buns from the oven. Baked in house, they serve this little buns with two kinds of spreads, a cheese spread with herbs and butter with herbs.

Breakly baked mini buns with two spreads.

The texture of the pasta dishes was al dente with just the right amount of spice and ingredients. The Linguini alla Marinara was not overpowering with cream making it an absolute delight to eat. The pizza was slightly soft in terms of the centre of the crust but still it did not lack in the taste department. The winner of the day was still the Spaghetti with Chanterelles. Fresh chanterelles are hard to find what more having the opportunity to eat it. The antipasti was also prepared exquisitely. So many dishes plus 2 bottles of water only cost us Euro 50. With 4 of us eating, that is a steal!

So what are my rankings?

Ambience 4/5

Food 5/5

Drinks 4/5

Price 5/5

Average meal per person: Euro 8 (daily special plus drink)

Where is it located?

Trattoria Mercatino

Stockumer-Kirchstrasse 5

40474 Duesseldorf, Germany

Map to Mercatino

So, for someone who's looking to have a good meal and a reasonable price, this is the place to be. Plus, friendly service from the owners would definitely rule!

Essere totalmente Italiano,
The Innovative Baker

Na Ni Wa - Germany's best Ramen Noodle House

2009-11-15T13:06:00.000-08:00

Having spent a year plus in Düsseldorf, Germany 5 years ago, my stay here brought me to many different restaurants, be it cafes, breweries, stalls, kiosks and fine dining. 5 years on, I still patronise a few restaurants that has become a cult feature in my itinerary whenever I am in Düsseldorf.

One such restaurant is Na Ni Wa. It is in my opinion, the best Ramen Noodle House in this side of town. Even London has not provided me what Na Ni Wa provides. A good bowl of soup noodles filled with flavour, authenticity and cost worthy.

I now have photos!!!!

Amongst the noodles that are my favourite are Stamina, Tokusei Miso and Chan Pon. Stamina is a soup based upon the traditional Korean Kim Chi that has found its place in Japan, or maybe in this particular Japanese restaurant. With a combination of Chashu (broiled pork slices) and Kim Chi on top of the Ramen Noodles, Stamina is a hearty soup noodle that would provide the spice addict a kick. Tokusei Miso is another version of soup noodles offered by Na Ni Wa with a less spicy edge. With Miso as its soup based, it is served with minced pork and Cashu along with a heaping portion of vegetables. Chan Pon on the other hand is a very similar take to the Chinese Cantonese Fried Noodles but served in a bowl and has more soup.
Each bowl of noodle costs between Euro 8.00 to 9.00 with an additional Euro 1 to 1.50 for an additional portion of Chashu on the bowl of noodles.

(Top to Bottom: Chashu Stamina, Chashu Tokusei Miso, Gyoza)

For rice, I normally order the Mapo Don. It is like how Mapo Tofu is fried except it is served on a bed of rice. Simple delectable. For starters I always order the Gyoza. It's grilled Japanese wantons stuffed with minced meat and chives.

Mapo Donburi

All photos are available on the official website of Na Ni Wa.

Na Ni Wa at any one time sits 25 people maximum. One must stand in line on weekends for a table or if you are dining alone, then a seat at the bar. The chefs are hard at work, dressed impeccably in white with black head scarfs. The staff are also impeccably dressed and always with a friendly smile. These people work fast and dishes arrive normally within 5 minutes once orders have been taken. Yes, service is that quick! Drinks that are available range from the usual German selection of beers to its traditional Asahi and for the non-alcoholic, the green tea is available alongside the usual suspects.

Whilst many might think 5 years is a long time and the food quality would have fallen, Na Ni Wa has kept its standards and tastes just like it did 5 years ago today.

So what is my take on the place?

Ambience 4/5
Food 5/5
Drinks 4/5
Price 4/5

Average price per meal: Euro 12.00 (soup noodles + drink)

Where are they located:

Oststrasse 55
40211 Düsseldorf
Germany
Map to Na Ni Wa

Take it from me, this is a place you would not want to miss when in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Being Japanese for a night,
The Innovative Baker