CW's Food & Travel

Kuala Lumpur 2012 - Ramen at Santouka Hokkaido Ramen

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:12:00 +0000

I have never heard of Santouka Ramen, but apparently they are quite a famous chain of ramen shops in Japan, started in Hokkaido in 1988. They now have an outlet in Kuala Lumpur at Tokyo Street in The Pavilion.

A large light fixture in the middle look a bit out of place for a Japanese joint, but otherwise the decor is simple and cozy. What strikes your attention is the large cloth banner at the entancewith the name of the shop written in very nice caligraphy. Like many Japanese restaurants, they have a display case at the entrance with really life-like plastic replicas of the dishes served.

I settled for the Ramen Set which was supposed to come with a Salad, A Chawan Mushi, a Rice topped with Char Siu, and a bowl of Ramen. They were out of Chawan Mushi that night, so substituted it with a hard boiled egg (Tomi Tamago) - a bit of a disappointment for me as I love Chawan Mushi !

For the ramen, you have a choice of 3 soups - Shio (salt flavour), Shoyu (soy sauce flavour), or Miso (miso flavour - a bit spicy). You can also up the size of the noodle serving as the set normally comes with a small serving. An additional RM 2 get you the normal size, and an additional RM 6 get you the large size. I opted for the Shoyu Ramen - large size.

Now for the verdict - the ramen is good ! The soup base has very rich and complex flavours. You can see that they must have boiled the ingredients for a very long time to extract all the flavours out. In fact it tasted a little bit “funky” - the natural gamey taste of pork that is missing from a lot of modern pigs. The Cha Siu made from belly pork was also great - so tender with all the fatty layers that it melts in your mouth.

As for the side dishes - the boiled egg was surprisingly good. It was almost done to perfection - the yolk has just reached its jelly stage and tasted really good.

The salad was nothing to shout about.

The rice topped with Cha Siu Cubes was a nice accompaniment to the ramen - giving you a different starch to carry the flavours of the broth.

A meal at Santouka would set you back around RM 40 per person. Not really cheap, but you are getting good quality food that has been prepared with a lot of heart and soul. Recommended.

Chinese New Year 2012 - Day 1 Dinner

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:52:00 +0000

My brother had brought back a special dish from Singapore for our Day 1 Dinner. It was a "Poon Choi" - a one bowl dish from a popular Cantonese restaurant. "Poon Choi" originated from China, and you can read about its history in Wikipedia here. It is basically a dish where all the ingredients are placed into a single large bowl and cooked together. Traditionally a simple peasant dish - nowadays it has been elevated to culinary heaven and can be quite pricey. It is meant to be eaten layer by layer, but since my brother had to bring the dish back from Singapore, they mixed all the ingredients together and the sauce was packed separately.

The dish cost quite a bit when converted into Malaysian Ringgit - about RM 1,000 - because it contains mostly premium ingredients like abalone, dried scallops, dried mussels, sea cucumber, fish maw, etc. There was also Chinese sausages, Chinese cabbage, mushrooms, pork belly, a whole duck, lotus root and fatt choy. And the taste - fantastic ! The soup - more like a sauce, was like liquid gold.

We also had mum's braised Teo Chiew Duck. The duck is stewed in a sweet-savoury sauce until tender - left to rest and served cold.

Homemade "Ngo Hiang" - meat roll coated in batter and deepfried.

"Ka Chang Ma" - a local chicken dish cooked with herbs, ginger and a copious amout of rice wine. This is a must on mum's dining table during festive occasions. The herbs give the dish a slightly bitter and smokey taste that is quite addictive.

There wasn't any veggie on the table, but no one was complaining.

Chinese New Year Eve Dinner 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:48:00 +0000

This year we had our CNY Eve Dinner very early - at 5.30 p.m. My brother and his family were flying in from Singapore to join us, but their flight got delayed so we had to finish our dinner early then fetch them from the airport. As expected, we were the first guests to arrive at the restaurant.

My dad had ordered quite a sumptious banquet, and as usual it started with Yee Sang. This was no ordinary Yee Sang though - it was spiked with baby abalone, more abalone slices, and salmon.

The Cold Platter was quite impressive. It had Roast Suckling Pig, Prawn Salad, Jellyfish Salad, Baby Octopus and Mussels in Spicy Sauce.

The Shark's Fin Soup is essential for CNY Eve Dinner - but as is common nowadays you can hardly detect any shark's fin inside. Which is just as well - less shark's fin, better for the sharks.

The next dish was the best of the night. It was a Seafood Stew full of premium ingredients - abalone, scallops, large prawns, fish maw (Fish bladder), sea cucumber, etc cooked with Chinese cabbage. This was delicious.

The Steamed White Pomfret was quite unusual - it had been butterflied and spread out before steaming - easier to serve as you don't need to turn the fish over. Turning over a fish is usually considered not so good in Chinese custom, especially for those with careers connected to the sea at it is though to portend misfortune at sea.

Buttered Prawns and Sauteed Scallops with French Beans. The Prawns were just OK, the scallops were too small, but the frech beans were really sweet and crunchy.

Meatballs Stuffed with Dried Oysters with Fatt Choy (black moss) and Brocoli. An auspicious dish - as "Fat Choy" sounds like "to prosper" and dried oysters in Cantonese "hoe see" sound like "good things". Put the two together and you have "hoe see fatt choy" - lots of good things and prosperity for the New Year. This was quite a good dish.

Finally - noodles. Frankly we were too stuffed by then to touch the noodles.

Our dinner was at Yamisu Restaurant at Premier 101 Commercial Centre. It is known more for dim sum, but they have done a creditable job with the New Year Eve dinner.

Happy Chinese New Year !

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Wishing all my Friends and Blog Readers

A Very Wonderful and Prosperous

Year of The Dragon !

Kuala Lumpur 2012 - Tokyo Street at The Pavilion

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

There is always something new at The Pavilion and the latest addition is Tokyo Street - a themed shopping concept centred around Japanese food and products. The anchor shop is a Daiso right at the end of the "street", and there are a number of new Japanese F&B outlets making their first appearance in KL.

Tokyo Street is located at the top floor Eastern wing of The Pavilion. Though there are other shops, the main focus is on food and drink and most of the bases are covered - ramen, shabu-shabu, sushi, teppanyaki, Japanese desserts and ice cream.

They have tried to create an authentic Japanese feel to the street.

Daiso is the anchor shop at the end of the street.

Two Japanese dessert shops that are getting KL foodies all excited - Karafuru which sells colourful fruit tarts made by a Japanese pastry chef, and Arthur's Hokkaido Mille Crepe Cakes - which sells cakes made with many delicate layers of paper thin crepes.

The colourful and tempting fruit tarts of Karafuru.

The delicate layered crepe cakes of Arhur's. They look very much like Malaysian Lapis cakes - I have yet to try them.

The famous Hokkaido Ramen Shop Santouka also opened their first Malaysian outlet here. Look out for my next post on this outlet.

Kuala Lumpur 2012 - Chinese New Year Decor at The Pavilion KL

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

I always look forward to the festive decoration at The Pavilion KL. They do make an effort to impress, and this year they have outdone themselves with the CNY decor.

At the main entrance.

Royal Selangor has an interesting dragon decor on their facade.

The highlight is the huge dragon in the atrium. This is the biggest dragon I have ever seen, and I am not surprised if it breaks the World Record ! The dragon was made by a Malaysian lion dance sifu and his workshop - well done ! The whole thing was artfully suspended in the atrium making graceful loops in the huge space. It is certainly impressive.

The CNY Bazaar was unfortunately not as impressive as the decor. There were only a few stalls - and really not much to look at.

I also popped in to Suria KLCC and Sungei Wang Plaza to look at their efforts. Both paled in comparison to the Pavilion.

Happy Chinese New Year to all my friends and Blog Readers ! Wishing you a wonderful and prosperous Dragon Year !

Pattaya 2011 - Dinner at Pattaya Hilton

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

As usual I have saved the best for last. My last post on Pattaya is on the dinner I had at Pattaya Hilton - at the Edge Restaurant. This is the all-day dining venue at the hotel. The design is simply stunning. It would be disappointing if the food doesn't live up to the design - but I am happy to report that the food here is great ! I had the dinner buffet, and it was one of the best I've had at a five star hotel. Everything was beautifully cooked and presented, and the desserts were also top notch.

The passage way leading to the restaurant.

The beautiful restaurant interiors.

There is an outdoor deck that overlooks Pattaya Beach.

The food.

Pattaya 2011 - Central Festival Pattaya Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

The Pattaya Hilton development includes a podium which houses the Central Festival Pattaya Beach. It is the largest shopping mall in Pattaya - and in fact the developer claims that it is the biggest beachfront shopping complex in South-East Asia - with over 300 shops and F&B outlets. I wouldn't dispute the claim - as the size of the development is certainly impressive. But you could be in any modern shopping centre in Singapore, Hong Kong or Bangkok - the shops are all the same, and even the people start to look the same after a while.

Inside the shopping mall. It looks the same as most other upscale shopping malls around Asia.

It does have its redeeming qualities though. The architecture is very innovative, and most of the F&B outlets have terraces and balconies with an ocean view.

Pattaya 2011 - Pattaya Hilton

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

The brand new Pattaya Hilton just opened its doors end of 2010. If you are a hotel buff like me, you should put this on your must-visit list. This property is truly outstanding and unlike any other Hilton properties I have visited.

Designed by Department of Architecture - an established Thai architectural practice, the architectural and interior style is very imaginative and unique. The moment you enter the lobby your eyes are drawn to the soft fabric sheets lining the entire ceiling. They look like rippling ocean waves, and are accentuated further by concealed lighting and soft movements imparted by the air-conditioning. This clever design theme draw your eyes towards the ocean view at the end of the lobby.

The beautiful reception lobby.

The lobby lounge has some very nice whimsical design touches. Can you spot the big sea creature with its mouth wide open ?

Outside the lounge is a roof deck which offers truly spectacular views of Pattaya Beach. Sitting here with a cool drink enjoying the million dollar view is one of those things which you travel thousands of miles for.

If you are going to Pattaya and don't mind splashing out on accommodation - make this your first choice. You won't regret it.

Pattaya 2011 - Hotel TSIX5

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

TSIX5 is another interesting boutique hotel I visited in Pattaya. The name is certainly clever. From the outside it didn't look like much, and the location is not exactly the most attractive as it is surrounding by some nondescript shops and houses.

Once you enter the lobby though, you would be pleasantly surprised. Like many of the new boutique hotels in Thailand, the interior design is a bit quirky and unexpected. A long and deep reception lobby draws you in, and some clever design touches keep you interested.

The hotel café off to the other side of the lobby also features very nice interior décor.

This is a hotel that I would not mind checking into, except for the location which is at the northern end of Pattaya Beach – a bit far from the happening places closer to the town centre.

Pattaya 2011 - The Sanctuary of Truth

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

The Sanctuary of Truth is quite a strange tourist attraction. It is neither a palace, nor a temple. It was initiated by a Thai business tycoon in 1981, and scheduled to be completed only by 2025. You need to pay an entrance fee of 500 Baht to visit the attraction. After paying at the entrance gate, you will be taken on horse-drawn carts to the Sanctuary.

Constructed entirely out of teak wood, this is one of the largest timber structures in the world. It is created to represent a fusion of art, philosophy, religion and culture - based on Buddhist and Hindu religious traditions. If you visit the Web Site, you will get some interesting backgounds on the noble purpose of the monument.

The entire structure is constructed out of teak wood - some are amazingly huge slabs of wood which are very hard to come across these days. You can see the craftsman at work on some parts of the building.

Don't just marvel at the exterior - the interior is also quite impressive.

The scale of the project is no doubt awe-inspiring, and from a distance the ornate sculptures can't fail to impress. On closer inspection though, you can see that the craftsmanship is no where near the refinement of their ancient counterparts in Ayutthaya or Angkor Wat. Still, it is amazing that they were able to put together such a big group of wood carvers from around the region to work on the project. It is definitely worth a visit.

Pattaya 2011 - Centara Grand Resort

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Centara Grand Resort is one of those resorts that thinks of itself as a theme park. The Sun City in South Africa was one of the earliest models which has been copied all over - including countless casino hotels in Las Vegas and Macau. Our own Sunway Lagoon Hotel in Kuala Lumpur is cast from the same mould. A whole fantasy environment is created around an invented back-story or legend, providing the fictional background for the design. Here at Centara Grand, the theme seems to be centred around elephants.

The resort is basically 2 hotel blocks connected by a common lobby. The pool facing the ocean is the main attraction, and no expenses have been spared to create an impressive spectacle for the guests.

The entrance lobby uses a lot of bamboo and recycled timber.

The large and impressive pool area.

The Centara Grand Resort is not really my cup of tea, but if you are on a holiday with kids I am sure they will be thrilled staying at a place like this - and you wouldn't even need to leave the resort !

Happy New Year 2012 !

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 23:34:00 +0000

Happy New Year !

To all my friends and Blog Readers.
Hope the start of the new year brings you new adventures, new discoveries,
new hopes, new dreams,
and most of all - lots of love.

Pattaya 2011 - Dusit D2 Baraquda

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 22:00:00 +0000

Dusit D2 is the more hip and trendy cousin of the Dusit International group of hotels and resorts which include Dusit Thani, Dusit Princess, Dusit Residences and Dusit Devarana Resorts. There are 2 D2s so far - one in Chiang Mai and the other in Pattaya. It is located on Sai 2, the main street in Pattaya.

From the outside you can already see that this is a very different type of hotel. The emphasis is on trendy architecture, design and furnishing. There is also a hip and cool attitude that you can immediately feel the minute you enter the lobby. Maybe it is the music they play ?

The very chic lobby.

The accommodation block overlooks a large swimming pool.

D2 Baraquda a very modern and chic resort. It will be on the top of my list during the next visit to Pattaya.

Pattaya 2011 - Lunch at Sheraton Pattaya

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 22:00:00 +0000

There are 3 main dining options at the Sheraton Pattaya - Latitude Lounge - a beach side bar lounge serving a gourmet tapas menu, Infiniti - a casual cafe serving mainly Mediterranean cuisine, and Elements - the main restaurant serving Western, Asian and Thai cuisine. I settled on Elements which has a beautiful interior decor and views of the sea from its elevated vantage point in the resort.

I was a bit early for lunch, but still quite surprised there were so few people in the restaurant for such a large resort. Maybe everyone was still in their beds after partying at Walking Street.

I ordered a Pad Thai. It was very good, and came with 3 large river prawns.

The Chicken Tom Yam was quite mild but very delicious. You can taste the freshness of all the herbs and spices.

Prices at Elements are as you would expect - International. Definitely not cheap by Thai standards. But you do get very fresh ingredients and very good food. And the ambiance is the major part of the deal.

Pattaya 2011 - Sheraton Pattaya

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 22:00:00 +0000

Sheraton Pattaya is one of the iconic resorts in Pattaya that has remained on top of their game since it opened in 2005. It is still considered one of the best stays in Pattaya and consistently winning awards in travel magazines. The design is a fusion of Oriental and Classical styles - which the designers have blended seamlessly into a pleasing pallete of unique details and architectural expressions.

The resort sits in a large lushly landscaped compound. The rooms are mostly in 2 or 3-storey blocks with open balconies looking onto the Gulf of Siam. Like most Asian resorts, landscape is a large part of the experience and here the gardens are meticulously kept.

The beautiful lagoon pool.

The private white sand beach.

Rates are the Sheraton Pattaya are quite high, however if you travel during the low season you may be able to get some bargains.

Pattaya 2011 - Culture on the Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 22:00:00 +0000

As part of the Beach Festival, there was a cultural bazaar at the beachfront. Lots of stalls were set up to display local arts & crafts. There were also cultural displays and live cooking demonstrations. As far as festival bazaars go - this wasn't one of the best I've visited. It was a bit haphazard, and you don't really know what you are looking at as there was little information or signage. Still it didn't seem to dampen the spirit of the crowd one bit, as they were out for a great time.

At several locations, stages were set up for live performances and just as places for the crowd to party. And they did !

A young Madonna in the making.

What is a festival without food ! There were lots of stalls selling all kinds of local delicacies.As I just had a big dinner earlier - I was too full to try anything unfortunately.

Pattaya 2011 - Beach Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:00:00 +0000

While I was walking down the Pattaya Beach Road - I suddenly heard the sound of marching band music from a distance. What luck ! It was a beach festival, and the parade had just started and heading my way !

Though called a festival, it was more of a cultural parade featuring the various ethnic groups in Thailand. The colourful costumes were really amazing, and the sheer joy and pride of the participants was very infectious. This was easily the highlight of my trip.

Even the hairdressers had their day !

If you are heading down to Pattaya - be sure to check their events calendar. Try to coincide your trip with one of their festivals and you are guaranteed lots of fun.

Pattaya 2011 - Walking Street

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 22:00:00 +0000

Walking Street is so famous that it gets a mention in most write-ups about Pattaya. It is located at the Southern end of Pattaya Beach. There is a large archway right at the entrance to the street, and though it is right beside the sea once you enter the street you are completely surrounding by shops on both sides and you could be anywhere in Thailand.

The main reason for visiting Walking Street is for the nightlife. If you come during the day, it is quite dead and you might be wondering what the fuss is all about. Besides all the pubs and entertainment outlets, there are also quite a number of seafood restaurants along the street. Some are quite are quite good, and you can dine on the deck right next to the sea. As these places are targeted mainly at tourists, be prepared to pay tourist pricing.

The view from the seafood restaurants.

For me Walking Street is overhyped and unless you are going there for the nighlife you can give it a miss.

Pattaya 2011 - Dinner at Ruen Thai Restaurant

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:00:00 +0000

There are plenty of restaurants in Pattaya, but surprisingly for such an established resort destination - very few that can be considered destination restaurants. A search on the internet will return mostly seafood places and some nondescript Western eateries.

Having given up on searching for a memorable food experience in Pattaya, I decided to just go with the flow. While walking down Sai 2, I came across this charming looking Thai restaurant. It is housed in several Thai-style teak buildings, and there is a central courtyard where traditional performances are presented nightly. Quite happy with the find, I settled down to enjoy the food.

Since they had a Northern Thai Appetizer Platter - I had to oder it. It came with 3 types of Chiang Mai sausages and some deep fried pork strips. Very good!

The Thai seafood salad was a bit disappointing. More like fish ball salad.

Some stirfried veggies to round out the meal.

The food at Ruen Thai is nothing to shout about, but the ambiance and live cultural performance was quite nice. I would go back.

Pattaya 2011 - Pattaya View Point

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:00:00 +0000

One of the must-do things in Pattaya is to visit the View Point at the Southern end of Pattaya Beach. A short drive on a Songthaew will take you up to the hill top where there is a small temple. From there you take a walk to the View Point for a panoramic view of Pattaya Beach. You can also catch a glimpse of Jomtien Beach toward the South, but it is mostly obscured by the foliage.

View towards Jomtien Beach.

At the View Point there is a memorial to Prince Apakorn - considered the father of the Thai Royal Navy. Quite a lot of people come here to pay their respects.

The small temple at the hill top.

Pattaya 2011 - Page 10 Boutique Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 22:00:00 +0000

Before my trip to Pattaya I did a lot of research and found this interesting hotel right in the centre of Pattaya town. It was billed as a “lifestyle boutique hotel”, and the pictures looked really nice. Coupled with the great location and reasonable price, this was the best I could find.

When I arrived at the hotel, I was not disappointed. The lobby was as it was featured in the photos. The lounge and bar next to the lobby looked really nice and cool. However it was the room that really bowled me over. The size was very generous, there was a large flat-screen TV, and the bath room was very spacious - with a bath tub, large shower area, separate WC compartment and generous vanity counter.

The spacious and stylish room.

The swimming pool at the roof top is small but very stylish, and there is a cozy poolside bar for a bit of relaxation.

Overall Page 10 is a great hotel at a great price. I paid RM 250.00 per night - a steal compared to what you get in Bangkok or Singapore.

Pattaya 2011 - Pattaya Town

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:00:00 +0000

For a matured tourist destination, it is great to see that Pattaya has managed to retain its small town character. Buildings here are mostly low rise. Though there are now quite a number of taller buildings in the town centre - they are rarely over 15 storeys tall.

Pattaya Town is also quite a pedestrian friendly town. The roads are mostly 2 lane, and there are usually sidewalks for pedestrians. Unlike Bangkok where the sidewalks are often occupied by countless roadside vendors, here they are relatively uncluttered. Traffic is also not as heavy as in the big city. Somehow there is a seaside vibe that you can feel the minute you arrive.

Like most places in Thailand, the Songthaew is the cheapest and most convenient way to get around.

The streets are full of shops selling everything under the sky. Here they are not as obtrusive as in some parts of Bangkok.

View of Pattaya Town from the Pattaya View Point on Buddha Hill. It is quite spread out. The population here range from 200,000 to 500,000 - depending on where you get the figures.

Pattaya 2011 - Pattaya Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 22:00:00 +0000

Pattaya was one of the earliest tourist developments in Thailand, and to this date has remained as one of the most popular destinations in Asia. Located around 165 km from Bangkok, it is around 1 ½ hour drive from the city.

The main attraction in Pattaya is of course the beach. This 4km beach curves its way from Naklua Road in the North to Buddha Hill in the South. This is also where the famous Pattaya Walking Street is located.

Lots of deck chairs and umbrellas dot the beach. You can just sit around and enjoy the scenery, or get a massage right on the beach.

This is at the Southern end of the beach. Lots of water sports on offer here, and you can also hire a boat to visit the nearby islands.

As Pattaya is very densely developed, this is not the most beautiful stretch of beach in the World. But it is a very interesting location to explore on foot - due to the many hotels, B&Bs, pubs, restaurants, shops and stalls that line the road next to the beach. The numerous sidelanes that lead to Pattaya Sai Song (Pattaya 2nd Road) running parallel to Beach Road are also great places to explore for the countless number of interesting boutique hotels and lodgings.

Kuching 2011 - Christmas Decor at The Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Borneoboy) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 22:00:00 +0000

In the old days you would be hard pressed to find a shop in Kuching that takes the effort to put up Christmas decorations - except perhaps the hotels. Now with the boom in shopping centres, Christmas is suddenly everywhere. As the biggest shopping centre in town, The Spring of course tries to put up a good show.

This year they have constructed a Winter Wonderland at the main entrance to the shopping centre. It is a bit small, but still a good effort.

Going inside, it gets a bit lacklustre. Seems like they spent all the budget outside, and had to skimp on the inside. What a pity !