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Samsung Galaxy S3 Review - Unboxing

noreply@blogger.com (Isaac Tan) — Wed, 30 May 2012 07:42:00 +0000

Samsung Galaxy S3, the latest and greatest mobile smartphone from Samsung is here. I had the opportunity to catch it's media launch last week (Samsung Galaxy SIII Media Launch) which left me in awe of the various new functions of this nifty gadget. Thanks to Nuffnang, I was given a set to review and play with to experience the Samsung Galaxy S3 first hand.

The all new Samsung Galaxy S3

Today's review shall focus on the unboxing of the Samsung Galaxy S3, with an attached video below, so be sure to watch it. The specification and full review will be up in my subsequent posts. Suffice to say, the gadget itself is really thin at only 8.6mm thick, with a choice of Marble White or Pebble Blue. I was given the Marble White 16GB Samsung Galaxy S3 to review.

The view from the back, with a rather thin white back plate

That's how thin the Samsung Galaxy S3 is, only 8.6mm thick

The box that came with the set was really compact, as it is with most devices nowadays. It came in a white box, with the simple words Samsung Galaxy SIII printed on the top, and some specifications on the back showcasing it's network connectivity (HSPA and Edge/GPRS Quad Band) as well as its Quad core 1.4GHz processor powering the 4.8" HD Super AMOLED screen.

Simple box design, housing the Samsung Galaxy S3 inside

Do catch my short unboxing video below, as I go through the contents of the box. There weren't much to go through anyway, as it was pretty standard stuff. We had the USB cable for charging and data transfer, the headset, and the user manual. Oh, and of course the Samsung Galaxy S3 itself was sitting comfortably inside.

I do not have the exact pricing of the Samsung Galaxy S3 yet, but fret not as I will be heading to the Celcom Samsung Galaxy S3 launch soon, and the pricing as well as the plans will be revealed there. Be sure to look out for my review after I try out this awesome gadget!

Snow White And The Huntsman (2012) Movie Review

noreply@blogger.com (Isaac Tan) — Tue, 29 May 2012 17:24:00 +0000

Snow White and the Huntsman is the 2012 re-iteration of the classic movie, this time with a slight twist and lots of beautiful people. I had the opportunity to catch the premiere screening of this movie tonight along with other friends courtesy of ChurpChurp and Nuffnang.

Snow White and The Huntsman (2012)

Before I actually caught this movie on the big screen, I had already watched the trailer and frankly speaking, it didn't really catch my attention except for the beautiful evil Queen Ravenna. In fact I had to admit she was the attraction rather than the main character Snow White herself. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the good and vote for Snow White, but the sultry queen does leave an impression.

Queen Ravenna from Snow White and The Huntsman

Look at her above, and tell me I'm wrong. Anyway, I reached the cinema way earlier than expected which as a good thing as I could grab a bite before the show started. It was always a good thing to attend screenings such as this as I could catch up with some of the bloggers which I've not seen for a while.

The premiere screening tickets

The beautiful people from ChurpChurp (Mikaela and Hwang Hsien)

Lovely Nuffies manning the ticket counter (Anne, Amelia and Rachel)

Coming back to the movie, it actually ran close to two hours which could have been fun if it wasn't a tad too draggy. Anyway the plot was pretty simple, we have Snow White (Kristen Stewart) who like in the fairytale was locked up for years after her step-mother the queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron) killed her father and took over the throne putting the whole nation into an age of darkness.

Here's Snow White communicating to nature's beautiful creatures

Queen Ravenna, who had this really sexy sultry look had been draining the essence of young women in order to maintain her youthfulness through the years. There was even the classic magic mirror which she consults to see who's the "fairest of them all". Unfortunately, the fact hit her sooner than later that her beauty was to be surpassed by Snow White and all hell breaks loose.

One of our heroes the huntsman Eric (Chris Hemsworth) with Snow White

One thing led to another, our Snow White escapes the castle, teams up with various heroes namely the huntsman Eric (Chris Hemsworth), her childhood buddy Prince William (Sam Claflin) and the seven dwarves, just like the fairy tale. I won't be disclosing the ending here, but place no expectations, and the movie may be okay for you.

Hey, here's our hero with the dwarves!

Overall, the story started off well, with anticipation on what's going to happen next. Then suddenly everything fell into place easily, too easily actually. Everything moves along so perfectly, that was when it starts getting very predictable. We had scenes of castles, and medieval times which was good and all, until suddenly a huge giant troll was added in making it look like middle age from Lord of The Rings. Personally, I will only give this movie a 4/10, not from the mediocre acting, but more of the storyline and plot. I still love Queen Ravenna though.

Recent Movie Reviews:

My Favourite Animal Pal in Madagascar3: Europe’s Most Wanted

noreply@blogger.com (Isaac Tan) — Tue, 29 May 2012 08:30:00 +0000

Coming soon to a cinema near you would be the latest installment of Madagascar. I for one absolutely loved the first and second movie of this franchise and just can't wait to catch the latest one. Titled Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, the movie will see our lovely animal friends enter Europe and bringing a whole lot of chaos and laughter with them.

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

Sypnosis:

Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, and Gloria the Hippopotamus set out to return to New York after escaping to Africa. Dependent on the mechanical know-how of the notorious chimpanzees and penguins, their plan inevitably goes awry and they find themselves stranded in Monte Carlo, where they try to escape Europe from animal control led by Captain Chantel DuBois by joining up with a traveling circus by chance.

Led by the venerable Siberian tiger Vitaly, the animal-centered circus has seen better days. During the course of a tour through a series of European cities that ends in a fabulous big top in the heart of London, Alex, Marty, Melman, and Gloria help Vitaly the tiger, Gia the jaguar, and Stefano the sea lion, rediscover their passion for show business and reinvent circus performance.

Source: Wikipedia

Our lost friends from Madagascar, trying to find their way home

This post shall serve as a contest writeup from my side for an opportunity to clinch some premiere movie tickets for this really cool movie by Nuffnang. It's pretty simple actually, all one had to do was to blog about their favourite Animal Pal in Madagascar 3.

Madagascar 3 is coming to town!

Who is my favourite animal pal in Madagascar 3 and why?

It's a no brainer for me actually if you asked me who I pick. Marty the Zebra would be my choice of the favourite animal pal in Madagascar 3. Of course King Julien comes a close second, but Marty still takes the cake for being the most hilarious 'over the top' witty character ever. Come on, just looking at him brings a smile to my face, especially the colourful wig and all. Have a look below.

Marty the Zebra doing what he does best, make you laugh 'til your stomach hurts

From the picture above, I can just imagine Marty the Zebra doing his act, just to save his friends. Have you ever seen a polka dot Zebra before? I have not, but here he is being polka dot and all. He's such a lovable goofy friend, one which I would not mind having in real life. He may be irritating at times, but hey, a smile goes a long way in my books!

I just can't wait to catch this movie on the big screen, so if you're game for it, do join the contest by Nuffnang linked here, for an opportunity to catch the premiere screening next week. For now, I'll just have to console myself by watching the trailer first as below.

Sakae Sushi Berjaya Times Square

noreply@blogger.com (Isaac Tan) — Tue, 29 May 2012 03:14:00 +0000

Sakae Sushi has been around for quite some time now, but they have always been coming up with new additions to their menu. As such, I had the chance to savor some of their new menu items with a couple of other bloggers the other day at Sakae Sushi Berjaya Times Square.

Sakae Sushi Berjaya Time Square with its Froggie mascot

Sakae Sushi

Berjaya Times Square Mall

03-106, 3rd Floor

03-21431163

Website: http://www.sakaesushi.com.my

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sakaesushi

The interior with the kaiten belt and their unique iPad ordering system

I've been to the Sakae Sushi Sunway Pyramid branch before and there wasn't any complains from my side. Food was good, and I was particularly intrigued by the ease of ordering via their iPad ordering system. Just swipe the page to choose, and touch your selection and your orders are sent directly to the kitchen. Do check out below on what we had to eat that day.

#1 Kaisen Salad - RM16.90

We kicked off with an appetizer, the Kaizen Salad. It was part of Sakae Sushi's new menu addition, not so new now though as this event actually happened a couple of weeks back. Comprising of fresh prawns, tuna flakes, snow crab legs, and fish roe, this was truly a very 'seafoody' type of dish.

#2 Hotate Mentaiyaki - RM20.90

For seafood and scallop lovers, the dish Hotate Mentaiyaki would fit right up your alley. The half scallops itself were sweet, but I did not fancy the excessive use of mayonnaise type of dressing on top of it. It was really rich in flavour though.

#3 Kaisen Pirikara Nabe - RM24.90

#4 Curry Udon - RM12.90

Before being served with various sushis, we were treated to some udon dishes in the form of the Kaisen Pirikara Nabe which was essentially a kimchi soup based dish and the Curry Udon. With a mixture of cuttle fish, prawns, salmon and mushroom, the Kaisen Pirikara Nabe hit the spot for kimchi and spicy dish lovers. The Curry Udon came with lots of potatoes and meat, which does give out a nice overall taste. Japanese curry is slightly milder version of our Malaysian curries.

#5 Hana Maki - RM9.99

#6 Sakae Blossom - RM9.99

#7 Soft Shell Crab Maki - RM5.99

It was sushi galore after that with loads of these cute sushi makis being served out. I was intrigued with the pricing though as instead of RM10, if was priced at RM9.99. The Hana Makis were made from fresh salmon petals wrapped around the rice topped with mayonnaise and shrimp roe. Similarly, the Sakae Blossom too had salmon paired with lots of shrimp roes. I for one liked the Soft Shell Crab Maki, in fact any japanese dishes which had soft shell crabs inside are bound to be good.

#8 Ebi Crepe - RM5.99

#9 Inari Avocado Ebi - RM7.99

The final two sushis were prawn based with the prawn head being displayed prominently on the Inari Avocado Ebi as well as the Ebi Crepe. The Ebi Crepe had these light crepe wrapped around a whole cooked prawn, similarly with the Inari Avocado Ebi which had a whole prawn included inside with vegetables and salad dressing.

#10 Ice Creams - RM6.90

Any meal wouldn't be complete without dessert, and this round we were served with some multi flavoured Ice Creams ranging from Passion Fruit, Dragon Fruit, Matcha and Goma flavours. It was good though, but I would have liked my ice creams being sweeter. A good end to a great meal, thanks to Sakae Sushi.

Promotion:

"As a means of further rewarding it’s loyal customers, Sakae Sushi has also launched several promotions for the customers. Newspaper readers can enjoy a special RM10 cash voucher valid with a minimum spend of RM25, with an additional free pink plate worth RM3.99 for Citibank cardholders. Facebook users will also be entitled to their share of freebies by joining the Sakae Sushi Facebook fan page and taking part in various fun contests."

Samsung Galaxy S3 Media Launch

noreply@blogger.com (Isaac Tan) — Sun, 27 May 2012 12:45:00 +0000

So there I was at the media launch of Samsung Galaxy S3, the latest and greatest smartphone from Samsung with a tagline that reads "Designed for Humans". Why the tagline, well for starters, the new features that comes with this phone is really geared towards ease of use for the user.

The all-new Samsung Galaxy SIII

The Samsung Galaxy S3 Media Launch

24th May 2012 (Thursday)
Time: 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Venue: Imperial Ballroom, One World Hotel,
First Avenue, Bandar Utama City Centre,
47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

The launching of Samsung Galaxy SIII by Samsung's top guns.

Reaching the venue just in time to catch the launch, it was good to be able to catch up with so many friends who were there as well. Everybody was really hyped up to see what features were going to be featured in the new Samsung Galaxy SIII. The presentation itself was really good, as the key features were spelt out by the product manager with a really large digital screen behind.

The features presentation by Samsung's Product Marketing Manager

So what is new with the Samsung Galaxy SIII? What makes it so alluring to the tech savvy generation of today? Well check out some of the good stuffs I managed to note down during the launch.

"Best-in-class Smartphone"
Quad Core, double up from SII which was dual core
"8 Mega Pixel Camera with Burst shot, Best photo, Buddy Share"
"2100 mAh Battery"
"8.6 mm, 133g"
"Effortlessly smart, instuitively simple"
"Inspired by nature"
"Sees you, listens to you, understands you"

The Samsung Galaxy SIII in white, the lighting made it rather yellow here though.

Everybody had a chance to test out the Samsung Galaxy SIII on the spot

I just had to slot in this delicious lamb that was laid up on the buffet spread for us that evening

A couple more features which I managed to note down as below.

Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich gives you superb power and performance
See it all in the wide 4.8” HD Super AMOLED display
Store all your pictures, music and videos with up to 64GB via microSD.

The best part which I'm about to spell out would be that Celcom will be bringing the phone to the public really soon. How soon? Scroll down a bit and more will be shared. In the meantime, do check out my fellow blogger friend Junfook's writeup on the event here.

Here I am promoting to you the Samsung Galaxy SIII, get it from Celcom soon!

From the news I've gathered, Celcom's Samsung Galaxy SIII launch will be happening soon, so pre-register for the Samsung GALAXY S III with Celcom from 25 – 30 May 2012 for a chance to attend the launch to get the smart phone.

Pre-register online to enjoy priority lane at our launch event
Fill in the online form with your details.
By pre-registering online, you also have the option to share it with 5 of your friends on Facebook, which entitles you to enter the lucky draw at the launch to be in the running to win a Samsung GALAXY S III!
Submit it and you’ll receive an e-invite to the event.

Pre-register online now at www.celcom.com.my/smartphones/galaxys3.php

Happening peeps at the Samsung Galaxy SIII Media Launch (Pic courtesy of Jaz)

Food Bites Jaya One PJ

noreply@blogger.com (Isaac Tan) — Sat, 26 May 2012 08:34:00 +0000

Jaya One held it's first Food Bites event today, together with a total of eight eateries coming out with food ranging from hot dogs, to pastries, cakes and ice creams. Thanks to Sue Lynn, I was given some food vouchers to try out all these goodies. Held at the same time as the flea market, the whole area was crowded with shoppers.

Food Bites @ Jaya One

Food Bites "Cook Up A Storm"

26 May 2012

11am - 6pm

Jaya One

72 Jalan Universiti Seksyen 11,

46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/foodbitesPJ

Some of the many bloggers I managed to catch up with today. (Sue Lynn, Evelyn, Ah Bok and I)

Give me cash vouchers and you know I'm going to go wild with the food, which I did, making sure I tried most of the food that was up that afternoon. Arriving just before lunch time, the timing could not have been better. Check out some of the stalls and food that were on sale at Food Bites below.

Transparent Apron Stall

#1 Pork-Dog from Transparent Apron - RM10

#2 Deep-fried breaded balls of bacon bits (BRB) from Transparent Apron - RM5

One glance at Transparent Apron with its huge non halal signage, and I directly went ahead to order their pork-dog. The waiting time of 30 minutes was a tad too long though, but I guess good things have to wait. Arriving in my hands piping hot, the sausages itself was okay, but the same could not be said of the deep-fried breaded balls of bacon bits. Lots of cheese, but not enough bacon bits to give a better taste or flavour.

Ultra Fudge Brownies Stall

#3 Alcohol infused brownies - RM9

Fancy having some alcohol infused brownies? Well, gorge on these sinfully sweet brownies then, which was exactly what I did. Infused with various alcohol, rums and wine these brownies were really good. A nut lover, I took the ones with walnuts. Now if only they were served hot, with ice creams.

#4 Classical Gourmet Quiches from the Quiche Stall

Would you believe these quiches were sold out even before I got to have some. Their business was that good, and I kind of regretted not buying it then when I was snapping the photographs. Anyway I was told their smoked salmon quiche in crispy potato crust was a hit.

#5 Duck Mango Salsa and Yucatan Prawn tacos from the Frontera Sol of Mexico stall

Now I've tried the tacos at Frontera Sol of Mexico previously during their Tacos Tuesdays promotions, and I liked it. Served in these crispy hard tacos shells, it was the perfect afternoon snack, or if you are a small eater, it could even double up as your healthy meal of the day.

Espressolab Coffee Stall

Exotic experimental cupcakes from The Fat Blossom stall

Get a shot of espressos, lattes, or cappucinos from the Espressolab. I did not get it even though I was recommended to try, but it was just so hot that afternoon to grab another hot drink. We had these rather cute cupcakes for sale as well from the uniquely named stall "The Fat Blossom".

Alcoholic "Potong" Ice-creams from the Potong Stall

Sandwiches from Crumbs Cafe

Fancy some alcohol in your ice-creams? Make that a beer "potong" ice cream. Personally I preferred my ice-creams to be an average one, but it was really a different taste all together. The sandwiches from Crumbs Cafe (their cafe is located in Lucky Gardens, Bangsar) were freshly prepared, again the perfect afternoon snack.

Haute Dogs Stall

#6 Teriyaki Chicken Hotdog

Janice had the hot-dog from the Haute Dog stall, which was again okay, but if only the bread had been steamed first then it would have been perfect. With loads of mustard, this snack had a tinge of spiciness. Checking out the stall, the hot dogs there were really special, imagine honey-glazed chicken sausage with kim chi and miso mayonnaise and you pretty much get an idea of what Haute Dog is all about.

Tartart Tart Stall

It was a fruitful afternoon for me, as I did not just get to munch down on the food, Janice and I actually took the chance to shop at the flea market in Jaya One as well. Food Bites advertises itself as a creative space for food lovers to create their very own unique dishes.

From my brief lunch there, I found out most of the vendors there weren't full-time food vendors but were actually food lovers looking to share out their creations. Maybe I should showcase my Maggi Mee Homemade Special in the next edition of Food Bites? Jokes aside, it was truly a nice showcase of various unique creations, one which you must try to find out.

Farewell Lunch @ Hillside Corner Bukit Antarabangsa

noreply@blogger.com (Isaac Tan) — Fri, 25 May 2012 03:50:00 +0000

There comes a point of time when a person found greener pastures, and a better opportunity, and so the chance presented itself to me recently. After four years working for the company, I had to say my goodbyes, and it was pretty cool that my fellow colleagues actually planned out this simple lunch inviting nearly 30 other fellow colleagues to join in the festivities.

Hillside Corner Restaurant Bukit Antarabangsa

12, Jalan Wangsa 2, Taman Wangsa Ukay,
Bukit Antarabangsa,
68000 Selangor
Tel: 03-41088301

The rather simple interior

So there I was at lunchtime, with this huge bunch of colleagues who took the effort and time off to celebrate my farewell. I have to mention Anuar and how touched I am that he went out of the way to plan this out, as well as making sure the dishes were pre-ordered so that we didn't waste time waiting for the food when we arrived. Do check out his well-planned out list below.

Engineers, you got to love them

Anyway, this wasn't my first time dining over at Hillside Corner in Bukit Antarabangsa, as it seemed to be our favourite haunt each time a colleague leaves the company. The food there was pretty decent, nothing much to shout about though but the prices were really affordable. The ambiance was comfortable though, with enough seating for all 30 of us there that afternoon. Check out some of the dishes we had that afternoon.

#1 Grilled Steak - RM27

#2 Spaghetti Carbonara

I had the Grilled Steak which actually tasted way better than it looks. The presentation itself was pretty messy with the black pepper sauce all over the place. As usual I had mine medium, and it came just the way I wanted it to be. The Spaghetti Carbonara looks good too, but I didn't really get a chance to taste it, as this was a farewell lunch, and you do not really expect me to go around picking on my colleague's food do you? Check out below for more dishes which were ordered that afternoon.

#3 Tom Yam Soup

#4 Grilled Chicken Chop

#5 Claypot Yee Mee

I did not hear much complains from my colleague, so I assumed the rest of the dishes were pretty okay. Presentation wise, it seemed rushed though but I guess that can be expected from an order of 30 people. Now comes the part where I went around the table saying my "hi's and goodbyes". Being with some of these friends for like ages, it was actually quite sad to leave actually.

Group Pic #1: Chengda, Jasmine, Isaac, Kok Beng, CK, and Soo Hong

Group Pic #2: Vashini, Gopi, Raj, Isaac and Chengda

We did take a lot of photos that afternoon, so bear with me as I really want to put it all up making sure I do not miss any of the great folks who were there. It was a warm happy occasion as can be seen from all the smiles captured. I cannot remember the last time we had such a nice gathering as this.

Group Pic #3: Aik, Cheah, Siew Wei, Isaac, Leslie, and Yee

Group Pic #4: Boon Hong, Isaac, Siew Yong and Chan

Group Pic #5: Crystle, Mohan, Siti, Haza, Isaac, Yong and Dina

Group Pic #6: With the organizer Anuar, Isaac, Shakira and Soleha

Group Pic #7: With the couple Evon and Tan YS

Group Pic #8: Wee, Isaac and Low WL

Well, what can I say, while walking around it was pretty hilarious as I looked like the host of Hillside Corner Restaurant asking how's everything going. Deep inside, I'm touched that these cool people actually took the effort to celebrate with me.

One for the album, I love you guys!

It was a good lunch, with food, laughter and happiness all around. Thanks guys for the well wishes, and good luck to all of you too! This is a good end to my journey with the company, and here's looking forward to future success.

Super GT 2012 Series Coming Soon

noreply@blogger.com (Isaac Tan) — Thu, 24 May 2012 01:42:00 +0000

Last year, I had the opportunity to attend the Super GT International Series in Sepang, and it was a wonderful experience. Read all about it here (Super GT International Series 2011 At Sepang). Guess what, it's back again this year, double the excitement, double the eye candy. This post will serve as a pre-writeup to this upcoming event next month.

A shot I managed to capture from Super GT International Series 2011 last year

The unique thing about this motor race is that Malaysia is THE only external country to host one of the rounds outside of Japan in the Super GT, so be prepared catch glimpse of the Japanese GT Queens who is going to be there.

It was pretty tough trying to capture these from the grandstand using my compact

Coming this 9th and 10th June 2012, Round 3 will zoom in at Sepang, so mark those dates down. This year, Super GT Round 3 promises even greater cars, and activities. Motorsports enthusiast can feast their eyes on the GT300 and GT500 cars at their finest accompanied by the gorgeous race queens. Now who would say no to these pretty ladies below.

Pic courtesy of 3bittersweetlemon

"There will be also be an exhibition of rides including Ferrari, Maserati, Porsche, Alfa Romeo, BMW, Ford and even Land Rover to provide alternatives for 4x4 lovers. Not only that, private owners will be bringing some of the rarest cars as well including the Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4, Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4, Morgan Aero Super Sport, Ford GT40 replica and many more. To top it off, Ducati and Harley Davidson will be bringing their best motorbikes to the show."

Source: 3bittersweetlemon

The overall Schedule for Super GT, Malaysia will host the 3rd Round of the series

Winners for one of the categories from last year's Super GT

Grandstand tickets are priced at RM100 each which comes with a Touch N Go card, and can be bought online at www.ticketcharge.com.my, www.supergt.com.my or at Roadshows. Children under the age of 12 can enter for free. For added convenience, Skybus will be providing shuttle services from KL Sentral – the details can be found at www.supergt.com.my.

Get the pit walk passes and have the chance to watch how the racers prepare for action (Pic from Evelyn)

If you love photography and want to experience the pit action, then pit walk passes are available at RM100 each. Photobugs who want to experience photography smack beside the race track can opt to purchase the Photographers Pass at RM500 each.

Daily Share & Win Contest! Win some free tickets to catch Super GT this year.

Of course, one of the reasons this blog post is up is to share out how to win some free tickets to the Super GT this year. The folks at JPM Motorsports are feeling generous and are giving out a paid of Super GT tickets daily with Super GT merchandises.

Contest Mechanics

Step 1: Like Super GT Facebook Page

Step 2: Share the updated "Daily Share & Win" photo on your Facebook Wall with the following sentence "I want to win a pair of Super GT tickets thanks to @Super GT!" (MUST tag us to enter the contest)

Step 3: Contest closes everyday at 8pm and the winner will be announced at 12am. Winners must message Super GT Facebook administrators with their Name, IC number, mobile number and e-mail.

*The Contest Closes 25th May 2012

Hurry, get your Super GT tickets now and be in the running for the lucky draw promising loads of really good prizes as below.

Naza NZ125R motorbike
Avira anti virus
Samsung 32″ LCD TV
Samsung 43″ Plasma TV
Panasonic 50″ Plasma TV
Panasonic 32″ LCD TV
Fujifilm Compact Camera
Canon Compact Cameras
Olympus Cameras
Samsung Mobile Phones
Nikon D5100

An Overview Map of Sepang for this event

For more information and updates, do check out the links below.

Chef Lim Organic Kitchen Scott Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Isaac Tan) — Tue, 22 May 2012 09:06:00 +0000

Organic food, what comes to mind when you hear of this? Well, for me the first thought that came to mind was that it had to be some really healthy vegetarian-like food, and I was not too far off from the fact. Chef Lim Organic Kitchen is located inside Scott Garden in Old Klang Road serving organic food to those who wished to have something healthier without additives, and excessive flavouring.

Chef Lim Organic Kitchen Scott Garden

Lot 2-47, 2-48 & 2-49
The Scott Garden, 4 1/2 Mile
Jalan Klang Lama
58100 Kuala Lumpur
(T) 603 – 7982 3395
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/cheflimorganic

The interior and environment

Upon reaching Chef Lim Organic Kitchen, I was pretty impressed with the interior as everything was white from the chairs and tables to the counters and walls. White tones certainly brought a certain classiness to the whole restaurant. Scott Garden is well known for its bars, so having this on the second floor of the building was a breath of fresh air.

#1 Cukawanee (Seaweed) - RM6.90

The first green dish of the evening was the Cukawanee, or as the chef described is essentially a seaweed appetizer. I could not get used to the overly green taste though. The subsequent vegetarian dishes were pretty good. Check them out below.

#2 Lo Han Chai - RM15.90 (S) RM19.90 (L)

#3 Basil Leaf Mushrooms - RM13.90 (S) RM17.90 (L)

It was mushrooms galore as we were served back to back with two mushroom dishes namely the Lo Han Chai which consisted of mixed mushroom, broccoli and cauliflower stir-fried, and the Basil Leaf Mushroom which consisted of Fresh Shimeji Mushroom and Fresh Whole Button Mushroom. The taste itself was pretty mild if compared to other dishes outside, as we were told by the chef he tried to tone down on the flavour to cater for everyone who loves healthy food.

#4 Golden Beancurd - RM13.90 (S) RM17.90 (L)

#5 Yam Basket - RM18.90

I think the vegetarian dishes served at Chef Lim Organic Kitchen were really very colourful, so fitting with the all-white interior. Healthy Golden Beancurds were served which were these pumpkin beancurd served in yet another low flavoured sauce. Personally I liked the Yam Basket, probably because it has these cashew nuts which were my favorite type of nut. Served with mixed vegetables (baby corns, snow peas, black fungus) inside, it was pretty good.

#6 Coconut Tom Yam - RM17.90

#7 Kapitan Fish - RM14.90 (S) RM18.90 (L)

Finally after a series of really healthy vegetarian dishes, we were then served with more vegetarian organic food which thankfully had more flavour in it namely the Coconut Tom Yam as well as the Kapitan Fish dish. I found it interesting to note that slices of white coconut flesh was being used in the Tom Yam. The Kapitan Fish itself was made from beancurds, with lots of coconut oil and curry thrown in.

#8 Classic Cabonara - RM14.90

#9 Grilled Beef Steak - RM22.90

Pasta lovers, you won't feel left out here, as Chef Lim Organic Kitchen serves this really tasty Classic Cabonara dish. The white cream used here did not differ much from our usual fare outside. We even had the Grilled Beef Steak which tasted similar to ham. Made from different types of mushrooms, it was truly a unique dining experience.

#10 Home Made Pudding - RM5.90

We ended the session with some Home Made Pudding with apple and mango cubes. The mango contributed to the really sweet taste of this dessert. Overall, it was a different type of dining experience for me, as I wasn't really fond of the less salt, less flavour idea of all the dishes served here. Try it, if you're in for some healthy organic vegetarian food.

Hennessy VSOP New Bottle Launch 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Isaac Tan) — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:45:00 +0000

"Building The Future With Hennessy VSOP", that's the tagline for the latest new bottle and packaging designed for Hennessy by Chris Bangle, one of the great designers for BMW. I had the opportunity to attend the launch the other day, together with some really good food pairing with cognac tasting after that.

Hennessy V.S.O.P latest and greatest bottle

"Legends are shaped over time. The legend of Hennessy VSOP began on 7 October 1817, when the future King George IV of England asked the French cognac House to supply him with a special cognac described in the records with the words "Very Superior Old Pale"

Beautiful ladies unveiling the latest Hennessy VSOP bottles

We were given a very detailed explanation by the master designer himself, as Chris Bangle picked up his electronic pencil and showed us why and what was changed in the designs. A couple of changes were made, being inspired by the Hennessy VSOP bottle created in 1954. A few points were explained out especially on the curves and design of this new bottle.

Chris Bangle himself drawing on the electronic tablet while explaining to us the new design

Chris Bangle accentuated the curves on the sides of the bottle, reinforcing its silhouette's dynamics, then he lengthened its neck and straightened its shoulders, stretching it vertically. The new bottle had an upward movement with an enriched base resembling a pedestal to distinguish itself uniquely while maintaining its stability.

"Designing for Hennessy gave me the same sensations as working on designs for fast BMWs or a great Rolls Royce. It is the experience of a unique emotion,"

- Quoted from Chris Bangle

Chris Bangle introducing Hennessy VSOP's latest bottle design

With a carefully designed optical effect, the front of the bottle is akin to a pyramid, suggesting an upward vanishing point to draw the eye toward the top of the bottle, where Chris Bangle chose to engrave the legendary arm and axe of the Hennessy family into the glass itself. The symbolic Hennessy VSOP opal label is in dark grey ennobled with golden embossing. Personally I felt the box that came with the bottle was an art in itself, with hints of "black tie" and dragon-like symbolism.

Hennessy ladies showcasing the Hennessy VSOP's new box that came with the bottle

The box that the bottle comes in has also benefited from this renewal, giving its edges over to a more modern vision. Anti counterfeiting techniques for the Hennessy VSOP bottle were also developed which came in forms of laser stamp for the 35-cl, 70-cl and 3-litre bottles, and a rather complex hologram seal the cap ensuring product integrity.

Hennessy VSOP tasting session with food pairing

What came next was rather nice, as we were all ushered to another sophisticated room for the Hennessy VSOP tasting session with food pairing. We were introduced to the food pairing experience by Olivier Paultes, a member of the Hennessy House's Tasting Committee. It was truly an informative session for me as I got to try out the different taste of Hennessy after being paired with 3 very different tasting fine food.

Food pairing menu

The really professional Olivier Paultes from the Hennessy House Tasting Committee

I really liked the way the dishes were prepared, from the Scallop Trilogy, to the Wagyu Beef and the roasted Poultry with vegetables doused in VSOP cognac. Check out the below on what we had. There were various tastes involved, which was explained in depth by Olivier Paultes.

Experience #1: Scallop Trinity: Scallop carpaccio, Scallop topped with toasted almonds and rice, Plain pan-seared scallop

Experience #2: Wagyu Beef tournedoes with candied ginger and sauteed shiitake mushrooms

Experience #3: Poultry, roasted with Casserole vegetables, ivory sauce with VSOP Cognac

Overall, it was a good launch, with the new bottle being introduced, one which I'm pretty sure will attract a bigger audience among the cognac loving community. Naturally, such an iconic cognac should be presented in a bottle whose curves signify the elegance of its content. After the initial modernization of the bottle in 1989, VSOP is moving resolutely into the 21st century, as can be seen in the work of designer Chris Bangle, a legendary figure in the automobile world.

Mezza9 @ Glomac Galleria Desa Sri Hartamas

noreply@blogger.com (Isaac Tan) — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:56:00 +0000

It's rare that I get to try out a new food spot in town, but there I was last week at this really new place serving good food at Mezza9 in Glomac Galleria over in Desa Sri Hartamas. One of the first occupants of the building, it wasn't tough to get a parking spot just in front of the restaurant.

Mezza9 @ Glomac Galleria Desa Sri Hartamas

Mezza9 @ Glomac Galleria Desa Sri Hartamas
B-G-03A,
Glomac Galleria, Desa Sri Hartamas,
50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

GPS : N03 09.638′ E101 39.044′
Business Hour : 6pm – 2am
Closed on Tuesday

Tel : +6017-338 2828 (Keith) / +6012-289 0594 (Kenneth)

Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/mezza9restaurantbar

The interior which was beautiful to say the least

With really nice dim lighting from the unique lamps inside Mezza9, it was truly a fine place to dine in with friends and family. Upon reaching the restaurant at around 8pm with a bunch of other foodies, we were really taken in by the atmosphere. One whole table was reserved for us, with the bar located on the 2nd floor. It wasn't long before good Mediterranean Food were served.

#1 French Onion Soup - RM12

#2 Wild Mushroom Soup - RM18

The starters that were served were the French Onion Soup and the Wild Mushroom Soup. With lots of onions, the French Onion Soup was pretty unique to me, with a slighly salty tinge, it was uniquely nice. I much preferred the Wild Mushroom Soup though as it came with generous amounts of mushrooms, in a really creamy package.

#3 Caesar Salad - RM18

#4 Garden Salad with Balsamic Dressing - RM18

Up next were the salads which really helped to whet our appetites for more good food to come. The Garden Salad with Balsamic Dressing would be a hit for those who love some healthy veggies in their life. As usual, I went straight for the Caesar's Salad as I always love those slices of meat in between those leaves.

#5 Calamari with Homemade Tartar Sauce - RM12

#6 Salmon Bruschetta (2pcs) - RM12

#7 Mushroom Bruschetta (2pcs) - RM8

We were still in the starters portion of the meal, when the finger food came out. Perfect to go during those drinking night with pals, or just to munch on while waiting for the mains, the Calamari and Bruschettas were really good on their own. The Calamari needed no introduction, but I was rather intrigued by the way Mezza9 prepared their Salmon and Mushroom Brushettas. With the creamy sauce flowing down, it is wise to enjoy the bruschettas in one swallow, munching required of course.

#8 Black Angus Rib Eye Served with Mediterranean Vegetables, Roasted Potato & Corn on Cob - RM80

#9 Mint Marinated Rack of Lamb with Fondant Potato and Roasted Cherry Tomato - RM45

After all the vegetables, finger food and soup, it was then time to chow down on the mains. Red meat lovers would love the next couple of dishes that were served namely the Black Angus Rib Eye and the Mint Marinated Rack of Lamb. I love my steaks medium done, and here it was perfectly done just the way I like it. Juicy and tender meats were the order of the evening.

#10 Honey & Grain Mustard Glazed Salmon - RM48

Don't let the slightly burnt looks of the Honey & Grain Mustard Glazed Salmon fool you as only the top was slighly seared due to the honey. Upon cutting this salmon dish, we were pleased to find really soft and fresh salmon meat for the fish lovers.

#11 Meatball in Tomato Sauce (4pcs) - RM12

#12 Braised Oxtail (4pcs) - RM16

I just could not get enough of the Meatballs as it was really tasty. Doused in tomato sauce, pop one in your mouth, and I dare say you won't stop until at least 3 more are taken. It was that good. Another dish that tasted way better than it looked was the Braised Oxtail, cooked to perfection making the meat really soft, tender and melts in your mouth.

#13 Spaghetti Bolognaise with Beef Bacon (spicy) - RM25

#14 Spaghetti Aglio Olio with King Prawns - RM38

Spaghetti and pasta lovers rejoice, because the Spaghetti Bolognaise with beef bacon was made just for you. With generous servings of beef bacons in this slighly spicy sauce, the taste hits you at just the right spot. That's before we saw the Spaghetti Aglio Olio with King Prawns, now the prawns really brought out the flavours to this classic dish.

#15 Chocolate Lava cake with Orange Cream Anglaise - RM15

We ended that wonderful evening of food galore with the lovely Chocolate Lava cake with Orange Cream Anglaise. This so happens to be one of my favourite desserts anywhere, which I love to watch the chocolate lava flow out upon cutting the cake. Mezza9 do serve some really good food, so don't hesitate to drop by their restaurant should you be in the vicinity of Desa Sri Hartamas.

Utara Coffee House Armada Hotel PJ

noreply@blogger.com (Isaac Tan) — Tue, 15 May 2012 07:53:00 +0000

Just last week I was over at Utara Coffee House in Armada Hotel PJ for a sampling of their Mother's Day "Loveably Mama"'s promotion. The theme was on Peranakan food, specially coined up for the special occasion. Well, a special occasion calls for a truly special menu, and this was it.

Utara Coffee House Armada Hotel PJ

Utara Coffee House
Hotel Armada Petaling Jaya
Lot 6, Lorong Utara C,
Section 52, 46200 PJ, Selangor
GPS: 3.104199, 101.640964
Tel: 03-7954 6888 (ext 4557)

Interior, decor, and food

Located inside Armada Hotel, Utara Coffee House comes off as a really nice comfy hotel restaurant serving good dishes. This round it was all about Peranakan food, or as they call it, Nyonya cuisine. It was my first time over at this restaurant and hotel, but the sight of the comfortable environment set me at ease almost immediately.

Eve of Mother’s Day (12/5/2012) – 7 pm to 10:30 pm

RM 70++ adult, RM 35++ child/domestic helper

Peranakan “Ho Chiak” Buffet Hi-Tea (13/5/2012) – 12 pm to 4 pm

RM 75++ adult, RM 37.50++ child/domestic helper

Hotel Armada Petaling Jaya

We were served with a sampling of Peranakan dishes, the Duck Herbal Soup, and Nyonya Laksa to name a few. Do check out below on what we had that evening. The buffet itself will consist of many more varieties of dishes.

#1 Roasted Duck with the Ginger Herbal Soup

The Roasted Duck with the Ginger Herbal Soup tasted exactly as it should be, with ginger and herbs mixing well with the soft meat. There was a tinge of spiciness from the chilli inside, which went well with the slightly salty taste of the duck.

#2 Nasi Kunyit with Nyonya Ayam Rendang

#3 Assam Hu (Fish)

Never one to say no to a good plate of Nasi Kunyit with Ayam Rendang, this dish was one of my favourite that evening. The rice may just be your average Kunyit rice, but the ayam rendang was great. With loads of herbs and spices thrown in, one serving of the rendang may not be sufficient for many. The Assam Hu (Assam Fish) was pretty good too, done the Nyonya way.

#4 Nyonya Pot Laksa

The Nyonya Pot Laksa however needed some getting used to from my side, as I'm so used to the Penang Laksa. The taste for this dish was akin to curry laksa, with lots of santan and curry leaves. It tasted uniquely good though.

#5 Seafood Pie

Another one of the dishes being served was the Seafood Pie, not my favourite though as I'm not a big fan of having a mixture of seafood mixed into a pie. There was multiple flavours of prawns, tuna, fish and many other ingredients which gave out a unique flavour.

#6 Desserts (Mango and Strawberry)

Beside the main courses, Utara Cafe also serve desserts which was a perfect end to an evening of food. Utara Coffee House also serve nyonya kuihs to our delight such as the pulut tai tai, nine layer kuih, kuih talam and many more. Overall a good meal, with a good mix of dishes.

GoMobile 2012 I Love Tablet Fair KLCC

noreply@blogger.com (Isaac Tan) — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:38:00 +0000

Go Mobile 2012, with a tagline that reads "Malaysia's Largest Mobile Lifestyle Event" is happening now at KLCC Convention Centre from 11th - 13th May 2012. This post shall serve as a writeup for Celcom's on-going "I Love Tablet Fair 2012" campaign at their booth with really good deals on tablets as well as various smartphones.

GoMobile 2012 Expo AppCity KLCC Convention Centre

Celcom I Love Tablet Fair 2012

Venue : GoMobile2012 @ KL Convention Centre, Hall 1 & 2 (Booth 91)
Date : 11 - 13 May 2012
Time : 11.00am - 9.00pm

http://www.celcom.com.my/smartphones

Celcom's I Love Tablet Fair 2012

With it's success in the recent I LOVE TABLET FAIR 2012 in April, Celcom is back again at GoMobile 2012 with even more to offer.

"Get ready for attractive offers on the latest tablets, special rebates and a lucky draw! Customers can enjoy rebates of up to RM120 on smartphones and tablets, plus get 5% OFF their monthly bill when they sign up with auto-billing."

Celcom's Booth at GoMobile 2012 KLCC

I took some time to visit GoMobile 2012 this afternoon to check out the place. If you are into mobile technology, this would be the perfect spot for you, with numerous offers on tablets, mobiles, and gadgets there is bound to be a promotion worth taking up. Celcom's "I Love Tablet Fair 2012" booth was in the middle, with lots of promotions being dished out.

Some of the booths at GoMobile 2012 KLCC

Check out below for some of the interesting promotions going on at Celcom's I Love Tablet Fair 2012 booth ranging from tablets to smartphones. We have the latest Samsung Galaxy Tabs, as well promotions on the Samsung Galaxy SII, HTC One X, iPhone 4S and many more.

Latest Tablets On Sale

Get your smartphones with Celcom

What's more, if you sign up for Celcom Broadband at the fair, you'll get:

Up to RM120 rebate (10 x 12 months) on Celcom Broadband plans.
FREE volume quota for 6 months

Plus if you download & activate FREE Musicube App on any Android or iPhone for unlimited music downloads at GoMobile 2012, you can enjoy:

The chance to win a shopping spree of up to RM1,500 and shop along with Pixie Lott at Ted Baker (KL) on 27 May 2012!
You could also win 40 pairs of passes to the Pixie Lott showcase in KL (26 May)
And even get the chance to win awesome Beats audio headphones!

Well, I only had limited time to do a quick walk around GoMobile 2012 expo. Personally, it looks and feels like PC Fair, minus the PC stuffs and loads of mobile technology. Celcom's I Love Tablet Fair 2012 will be held in various other locations nationwide, so don't miss out.

Gurney Plaza, Penang             Thu, 17th – Sun, 20th May 12
One Borneo, Kota Kinabalu    Fri, 8th – Sun, 10th Jun 12
Spring Mall, Kuching       Fri, 22nd – Sun, 24th Jun 12
KSL City Mall, Johor Bahru    Fri, 29th Jun – Sun, 1st Jul 12

Burp! Asian Food Gallery Bangsar Shopping Centre

noreply@blogger.com (Isaac Tan) — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:28:00 +0000

Bangsar Shopping Centre, did you know they now have a really huge eatery on the fourth floor which brings together a big variety of food ranging from Asian and Japanese to Western cuisine. Located in the rather up-market shopping centre, Burp! Asian Food Gallery brings a touch of class to the usual food galleries.

Burp! The Asian Food Gallery Bangsar Shopping Centre

Burp! The Asian Food Gallery

4th Floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre
285 Jalan Maarof
5900 Bukit Bandaraya
Kuala Lumpur

"Burp! The Asian Food Gallery at the Bangsar Shopping Centre is a contemporary food court which is being furnished with modern interior that gives the customer a cosy and a warm ambience"

The huge space of Burp! with nine food stalls serving various food

Just by hearing the name of this food gallery itself, Burp! conjures up images of a person having an extremely satisfying meal. Upon reaching the food gallery, I was pretty impressed with the array of food stalls, as well as the cleanliness of the whole area. There were a couple of extras which made this place rather unique. For starters, the moment you enter Burp! you will be given a "postpaid" card to scan whenever you order any dishes.

A special spot to glance through all the food menus

Your passport to good fulfilling food

Pay for the food only when you're done eating and on the way out. The "passport" gives you access to all nine stalls which you may order from just by swiping the card. Another unique and very useful thing I saw at Burp! was this mobile phone recharge station. Place your mobile in the see-through locker, lock it, take the key and eat while your phone gets recharged.

Burp! Mobile Recharge Station

Give Isaac an "all-you-can-eat" card, and the next thing you know, I'm all over the place swiping away. It was good to see a wide variety of food available to cater for all taste buds. Check out some of the food below that I had together with the group of food bloggers who were there with me.

#1 Chicken Satay - RM13.50 / 10sticks

I'm pretty much a satay lover, where each time I'm at an eatery or buffet, if they serve satays I would be first in line to get it. The Chicken Satays served in Burp! Asian Food Gallery were pretty good and filling. 10 sticks just wasn't enough for me, but I knew I had to leave some space for more food to come.

#2 Assam Laksa - RM7.90

#3 Tom Yam Soup - RM10.50

The next two dishes that arrived at our table were the soupy dishes namely the Assam Laksa which came with huge chunks of fish and a lot of taste and the equally tasty Tom Yam Soup. Served inside a coconut, I guess that makes it more unique.

#4 Hotplate Mushroom Chicken Yee Mee - RM7.90

#5 Mee Goreng Mamak - RM6.50

Janice's favourite dish each time she enters any food gallery would be the Hotplate mushroom chicken yee mee. The one in Burp! Asian Food Gallery came with huge chunks of mushroom and chicken. Be wary though as more often than not, this dish will leave you feeling rather thirsty after the meal. The Mee Goreng Mamak wasn't as good as it looks though, but that may be because we were already getting fed with lots of other good stuff.

#6 Nasi Lemak - RM6.80

#7 Sambal Udang Buah Petai - RM12.90

#8 Chicken Rice - RM9.80

Next up were the local Malaysian fare. We had the usual Nasi Lemak and Chicken Rice, but I have to mention the chicken was pretty good. The Chicken Rice stall actually heated up each piece of chicken meat by dipping it into boiling water to make sure each piece of meat we get was warm. The Sambal Udang Buah Petai was pretty good too, with lots of petais to bring out its taste.

#9 Chicken Katsu Don - RM10

For those who yearns for Japanese cuisine, Burp! do have a Japanese cuisine stall, which I got to try their Chicken Katsu Don. The breaded chicken was pretty good, although not as great as the ones we get at standalone Japanese restaurants. For RM10 per dish, it won't break the bank.

#10 Prawns from the Mamak Stall - RM15

Burp! Asian Food Gallery has a Mamak stall as well, where one could get their favourite dishes with rice. We ordered their huge prawns just because it looked really tempting. Deep fried to a golden crisp, nothing could go wrong with these.

Overall Burp! Asian Food Gallery is a really great place to have a nice meal with the kids and family should you find yourself in need of food while shopping at Bangsar Shopping Centre. It's the new generation food gallery, classier, bigger and more comfortable.

Sushi Tei @ Tropicana City Mall

noreply@blogger.com (Isaac Tan) — Wed, 09 May 2012 05:31:00 +0000

Sushi lovers and their sushis, it remains a mystery to me the allure of raw salmons and sushis to these wonderful people. I'm not generalizing, lots of people love sushis and with the recent bloom in sushi restaurants everywhere, we are all spoilt for choice. Recently I had the chance to go for a round of good sushi at Sushi Tei in Tropicana City Mall. With a concept similar to Sushi King, but with a better presentation and atmosphere, I couldn't wait to dig in.

Sushi Tei Tropicana City Mall

Sushi Tei @ Tropicana City Mall
Lot G-16 Ground Floor,
Tropicana City Mall
Tel: 03-7728 9299
Business hours : 11:00am - 10:00pm ( Last Call 9.30pm)
Website : www.sushitei.com
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/sushiteimalaysia

The interior of Sushi Tei Tropicana City Mall

Sushi Tei is currently having their Spring Promotion, with dishes which we had the chance to sample. Service was quick, and the dishes came out pretty quick from the waitress there. Sushi Tei originated from Singapore with various other outlets nationwide employing an open concept kitchen where patrons could see their meals being prepared. Check out below on what we had that wonderful afternoon.

#1 Kamaage Shirasu, Chutoro & Negitoro Don - RM28.80

All the dishes had these Japanese words attached to it, and even though I used to study Basic Japanese back in my university days, it was all still alien to me. The Kamaage Shirasu, Chutoro & Negitoro Don consists of steamed baby sardin, tuna belly & minced tuna belly on sushi rice. How's that for a nice tuna combination? I liked the fact the baby sardin was soft and mixed well with the rice.

#2 Sakura Okonomiyaki - RM16.80

#3 Eringi Batayaki - RM9.80

Up next was the Sakura Okonomiyaki which was basically egg omelette with colourful and tasty toppings. The Eringi Batayaki however was rather unique, eringi mushroom with Japanese leek, it's not often I've tasted this type of dish. It was a tad too oily though, but had lots of mushroom flavour to it.

#4 Sashimi Moriawase "Wakana" 5 kinds - RM56.80

#5 Chu Toro Sashimi - RM29.80

It was sashimi galore next as we were served with 2 sashimi dishes back to back, namely the Sashimi Moriawase "Wakana" and the Chu Toro Sashimi. Perfect for the sashimi and raw fish lovers, but not so perfect for me as I am not really into sashimi and all. Any fresh sashimi is good sashimi to me.

#6 Soft Shell Crab Tortilla Pizza - RM13.80

#7 Soft Shell Crab - RM15.80

My favourite dishes at any Japanese themed restaurants would definately be their soft shell crabs. I just can't get enough of these savory tasty crabs. Sushi Tei brought out 2 soft shell crab dishes, the standalone Soft Shell Crabs and the Soft Shell Crab Tortilla Pizza. I was pretty intrigued with the way they managed to fuse Tortilla bread with Soft Shell Crab. I like it crispy, and these were done just to my liking.

#8 Aka Ebi Sushi - RM13.80

#9 Maguro Yukke Pasta Salad - RM16.80

Before we proceeded to get some items from Sushi Tei's kanban belt, we were served with further good food as above. Aka Ebi Sushi, red prawn sushi had the really sweet taste to the prawn meat. The Maguro Yukke Pasta Salad was prepared specially for pasta lovers as it comes with spicy minced tuna pasta with french dressing. I was more interested in the next dish below.

#10 Gyu Misoyaki - RM15

We got the pleasure of cooking it ourselves

Give me any beef or lamb, and I will gladly accept it. The Gyu Misoyaki dish is essentially a DIY teppanyaki set with sliced beef and miso based sauce. Cooking it over the pan, the sliced beef smelt as good as it tasted. If not for the huge amount of other good food earlier, I would have gone for second helpings of these.

#11 Kamaage Shirasu Sushi - RM6.80 per pair

#12 Maguro Heart Roll RM16.80

#13 Various Sushis - Inri Kani Mentai Mayo - RM5.40, Tamago Mentai Mayo - RM5.40

#14 Volcano Roll - RM6.80 (Unagi & cucumber with cream cheese)

Needless to say, it was a really good meal being stuffed to the brim with good tasty japanese food. The food actually tasted better than other competing franchise out there. The spring promotion menu definately had some really quality sushis and japanese cuisine, so do catch their promotion this whole month of May. Do take note Sushi Tei has branches all over at The Garden, Mid Valley, Gurney Plaza, Pavilion KL, Suria Sabah Shopping Mall and coming soon at Setia City Mall, Setia Alam.

Zhang Hui Mei AMeiZING World Tour Concert Live In Malaysia

noreply@blogger.com (Isaac Tan) — Mon, 07 May 2012 08:53:00 +0000

If you haven't heard yet, the latest buzz in town would be this upcoming concert by Zhang Hui Mei, "AMeiZING World Tour Concert Live In Malaysia". The concert is actually happening tonight itself, so I guess this post may be a tad too late. Anyway, this will serve as a pre-writeup post for this upcoming event.

AmeiZING World Tour Live in Malaysia

Zhang Hui Mei 张惠妹 AMeiZING World Tour Concert LIVE in Malaysia

世界巡回演唱会大马站
Date : 5 May 2012 ( Saturday )
Venue : Stadium Merdeka
Time : 8PM

"A-Mei, also known by her birth name Zhang Hui-mei, is an aboriginal Taiwanese pop singer and occasional songwriter. She is also known by her aboriginal name Gulilai Amit . She was born in the rugged mountains of eastern Taiwan and is the third youngest of nine siblings"

"A-mei made her debut in the world of music in 1996, achieving rapid commercial success. She has been called a diva of the Mandarin pop music scene and the "Pride of Taiwan". She has won numerous music awards and is extremely popular within Mandarin-speaking world."

Source: Wikipedia

Zhang Hui Mei in action

The superstar will be in Kuala Lumpur this 5th May for her AMeiZING World Tour Live in Malaysia concert. It'll definately be one concert to look out for.

Catch her concert and be blown away by stage theatrics, crazy performances and enjoy some of A-Mei’s biggest hits! For Celcom customers, you can enjoy 20% OFF on A-Mei concert tickets with your choice of any seating tier.

Catch her live tonight!

Here comes the part where I'm suppose to share with you guys some really cool deals by Celcom and The Cube. Check it out below.

When you get on The Cube, you stand a chance to walk away with tickets worth RM298 to the concert! Have we got your attention yet? If you want those tickets, here’s how you can get them!

First, get on The Cube by logging on to www.thecube.my. Then check out all the cool content that you can subscribe to.

You can send personalized Voice Messages and dedicate A-Mei’s song to your friends. You just need to dial *005<recipient’s mobile number><song code> and press call.

You can also subscribe to The Cube’s MMS Puzzle. Type ON AMEI and send it to 22229 and you’ll get an MMS Greeting Card plus a contest puzzle for FREE. You would have to then rearrange the jumbled A-Mei picture by sending in the correct picture sequence.

On top of that, you can connect with all your social network friends via Facebook SMS and Twitter SMS. For Facebook SMS, just type ON F and send it to 32665 while for Twitter SMS, you just need to send ON T to 29800. By subscribing or downloading any of these contents, you stand to get 2 tickets to the A-Mei concert worth RM298 each!

Check out the seating arrangements

That’s not all, folks! You have the chance to win the BIG one too! You can be flown all the way to HONG KONG, on an all-expense paid trip to watch A-Mei live in concert there. And you can bring along a friend!

This EPIC trip can be yours with a simple download of A-Mei Call Me Tones from 20th March – 15th May. SO, it’s really a WIN-WIN situation for you. You get fantastic A-Mei Call Me Tones and you also get the chance to see the diva in Hong Kong.

How to download the Call Me Tones?

All you need to do is dial *888*<Call Me Tones Song Code># and press “Call”. Here are the songs you can subscribe to:

SONG TITLE	ARTIST	TO DOWNLOAD, DIAL:
Bu Xiang Ge Da Ren	A-Mei	888151921#
Bu Yao Luan Shuo	A-Mei	888151925#
Chinese Girl	A-Mei	888151924#
Dan Chun	A-Mei	888151926#
Hai Huo Tian Kong	A-Mei	888151928#
Ping Chang Xin	A-Mei	888151919#
Ren Zhi	A-Mei	888151920#
Suo Yi Wo Yuan Yi	A-Mei	888151927#
Wo Yao Kuai Le	A-Mei	888151923#
Yin Wei Ni Zai	A-Mei	888151922#

RM1. 50/week for each song

So take this AMEIZING chance and get on The Cube right now! A-Mei is waiting for YOU!

Burger Bakar Kaw Kaw Wangsa Maju

noreply@blogger.com (Isaac Tan) — Sun, 06 May 2012 16:04:00 +0000

After all the buzz about this Burger Bakar Kaw Kaw (Grilled Street Burger) in Wangsa Maju, I've always wanted to join in the queue and find out what is it that attracts the crowd. However, each time I pass their stall in Wangsa Maju, the long queue dampened my spirit. This time however, I was adamant on waiting until I get my hands on these burgers.

Burger Bakar Kaw Kaw Wangsa Maju

Burger Bakar Kaw Kaw Wangsa Maju
Wangsa Maju Section 2
Nearby Putra Wangsa Maju and located in front of TBUN Cyber Cafe
GPS: 3.206478, 101.73523
Phone: 0102400477 & 0126276547
Email: burgerbakar@gmail.com
Website: http://www.burgerbakar.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Burger-Bakar/270683372957310

The long queue I had to endure for 2 hours plus

The good thing was my house in Wangsa Maju was just a stone's throw away, hence this evening I just walked over to join the queue around 6.30pm. The sun was still up, but I knew by the time I got my hands on these burgers, it would have already turned dark. Everyone around me was in a good mood though, as most of them were first timers like me.

Taking orders for the various burgers

The process was pretty simple, but I'll take the effort to state out the steps that one had to undertake before actually getting the burger.

Queue up with the rest, don't let the long queue dampen your spirit.
Someone will come up to you passing you your queue number, mine was #47 at 6.30pm.
The menu and price list will be passed to you, take your time analyzing what you wish to order.
Continue queuing, approach the orders table in front only when your number is called up.
After placing your order, and paying up, stand aside and wait for your burger to be prepared.

Kaw Kaw Burger Bakar Price List (as of 6 May 2012)

Check the above for the complete price list. With prices ranging from RM7.50 for a single patty burger to RM63.50 for 10 patties and everything on top, there's a price for everyone's budget and stomach. As for the burger types, it was really simple, you have the chicken burger (deep fried) and the beef burger (flame grilled).

The raw beef patties used

The workers preparing the burger bakar kaw kaw

While waiting for my burger to get prepared, I had ample time to walk around the stall checking out what was cooking. The beef patties were really thick, while their chicken were a whole piece of thigh. I made a mistake of ordering 2 double patty burgers, as it was a bit too much. Anyway check out some more photos I managed to capture with my less than optimum mobile phone camera below.

Beautifully flame grilled beef patties

That's how you flame up a burger!

After queuing up for such a long time, when my turn came up to order, I got greedy and went for the Cheezy double layer beef burger and Cheezy double layer chicken burger. These burgers came with 2 huge patties of beef and chicken with 2 slices of cheese with cheesy sauce. I realize my mistake when I reached home as 2 huge patties of meat was way more than what my stomach could eat. Check out my orders below.

#1 Cheezy Double Layered Beef Burger - RM16

A closeup of the beef patty

What can I say about these burgers, well for starters they're both really thick. The Cheezy Double Layered Beef Burger had lots of meat in it. One was more than enough for the average person, but I went and ordered double layered. The patty itself was filling, and tasted okay. It was not as tasty as the smell suggested though.

#2 Cheezy Double Layered Chicken Burger - RM14

As for the Double Layered Chicken Burger, it had a strong smell of oil, I guess that's because it was deep fried. Janice liked it though, as she went for one piece. Yours truly had to finish up 1 and a half burgers, and I'm feeling really too full now.

Will I queue up again for these burgers? Well, I spent 2 hours and 15 minutes at Burger Bakar Kaw Kaw Wangsa Maju to finally get my burgers. It was an experience, but one which I may not want to go through anytime soon again. Personally, I don't really get why there's so much hype about this place, but that's just me. Check it out if you're in the vicinity of Wangsa Maju.

A Touch Of Nyonya Influence @ Chatz Brasserie Parkroyal Kuala Lumpur

noreply@blogger.com (Isaac Tan) — Sat, 05 May 2012 16:45:00 +0000

Fancy having a buffet lunch or dinner of some really good Nyonya food? Well, look no further as Parkroyal Kuala Lumpur will kick off their Nyonya cuisine buffet from 11th May to 10th June over at Chatz Brasserie. Chef Debbie Teoh, a true-bred Nyonya hailing from Malacca with 15 years of experience in the food industry will be cooking up these wonderful Nyonya offerings.

Chatz Brasserie Parkroyal Kuala Lumpur

Parkroyal Kuala Lumpur

Jalan Sultan Ismail,

50250 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-21470088

Fax: 03-21470099

Website: http://parkroyalhotels.com/kualalumpur

The interior of Chatz Brasserie

"Not only is she a culinary expert, Chef Debbie Teoh is also a foodie, author, food stylist, ambassador for the Nyonya cuisine and culture, and once again, at Chatz Brasserie as its guest chef. Among the numerous cookbooks she has authored are "Underwraps" and "Asian Titbits", "Penang Food" guide and cookbook, "Nyonya Flavours" as well as "Authentic Nyonya Tastes". On a monthly basis, Debbie also contributes to magazines like "Oriental Cuisine" by Nanyang Press and "Flavours" by Star Publications. She is also a Nyonya Food Consultant for Tourism Malaysia."

Braving the after-work jam that evening, I reached Chatz Brasserie Parkroyal Kuala Lumpur just in time to dig into some of the delicious Nyonya dishes that Chef Debbie Teoh had whipped up for us. The Nyonya cuisine we had that evening were just a portion of the array of dishes to be served when the actual buffet starts this 11th May 2012. Aptly named "A Touch of Nyonya Influence", check out some of the food we had that wonderful evening.

#1 Itek Tim

A hot bowl of soup is always good to begin a meal with, and the savoury Itek Tim consisting of duck meat with salted mustard vegetables hit just the right chord. I loved how the duck essense gave out a rich flavour to the soup. In fact it reminded me so much of my mother's home made soup.

#2 Terung with Sambal Udang Kering

#3 Nasi Ulam

I wasn't a huge fan of terungs, but from the little that I tasted, it was rather good. The Nasi Ulam that came next was really aromatic with its mixture of sliced turmeric root, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaf, turmeric leaf, cekur leaf and torch ginger flower. Throw in a few finely sliced chilli and we had a taste that would certainly spice up the taste buds.

#4 Gulai Tumis Ikan Pari

#5 Ayam Buah Keluak

The next two dishes were curry dishes, namely the Gulai Tumis Ikan Pari and the Ayam Buah Keluak. We had generous amounts of stingray fishes prepared in thick curry gravy which went really well with the rice. The Ayam Buah Keluak however was indeed a unique dish, as we were educated on the process of preparing these Buah Keluak which were actually Indonesian black nuts. These nuts had to undergo a 2 day process of getting it ready, and tasted similar to the black beans we usually have with daced canned fish.

#6 Lemak Nenas Ikan Sepat

Another savoury curry dish, the Lemak Nenas Ikan Sepat had this really creamy santan taste to it. The salted fish gave this dish the extra flavour. We were then treated to a basket of the Nyonya Ulam Platter, as well as some sweet Nyonya Kueh. We were really privilaged to have the chance to dine together with the pretty Chef Debbie Teoh herself throughout the night.

#7 Ulam Platter - Kacang Botol, Daun Pudina with Sambal

#8 Nyonya Kueh

Chef Debbie Teoh will present her authentic Nyonya cuisine to guests in buffets. On weekdays, indulge in Nyonya cuisine in Buffet Lunch priced at RM62++ per person and Buffet Dinner at RM82++ per person.

Weekends are also not forgotten as you can bring your family and friends to the delicious prepared Nyonya Weekend Hi-Tea priced at RM59++ per person. Some of Chef Debbie's dishes that are not to be missed during this promotion are "Ayam Buah Keluak", "Hu Pio Soup" and "Lemak Udang Nenas". Her "Roti Ayam" is also a must try!

A group shot with the bloggers and Chef Debbie Teoh in pink that evening -pic courtesy of Jenn

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Additional Info

For Mother's day on 13 May, bring your family to dine to a delicious spread of Nyonya cuisine. Mother's Day Brunch is priced at RM68++ per adult and RM34++ per child. With an additional RM10, fathers and kids can cook for mothers in a cooking session assisted by Chef Debbie. This will be an experience to take home.

Guests staying at PARKROYAL K.L and PARKROYAL Serviced Suites K.L are entitled 20% discount off the Nyonya cuisine promotion while senior citizens above the age of 55 enjoy 50% discount off. UOB and CIMB cardmembers enjoy special discounts as well.

Heineken A Legendary Night - Tickets Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Isaac Tan) — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:24:00 +0000

I did a short writeup on this upcoming event recently (UEFA Champion League Finals With Heineken) which gives fans of UEFA Champion League a chance to watch the finals "Live" on the big screen.This post will serve as a giveaway post for you to get 1 pair of tickets watch it. Bear in mind I have 2 pairs to giveaway.

Watch It Live!

Watch the UEFA Champions League final between Chelsea vs. Bayern Munich live on cinema in High Definition on:

Date: Saturday,19 May
Time: 11:30pm
Venue: GSC Signatures, The Gardens

The physical invites

"Bringing to life the ‘Legendary Football’ campaign, Heineken will be hosting a one of a kind football viewing event for its biggest fans. Presenting the masterpiece moments up close, football fans will be able to enjoy the live grand finale match at GSC Signature, The Gardens."

"This unique experience on big screen aims to highlight the legendary moments that UCL creates, allowing fans to feel as though they are watching it live in a football stadium."

Don't miss the chance to get it

Now, this would be a simple giveaway, as I'm never really good in giving things out nor choosing who to give to but here it goes. If you are really interested to catch the final match between Chelsea and Bayern Munich live in GSC Signatures The Gardens, just leave a comment below on "Why I want to watch Heineken's Legendary Night?" with your details (be it FB, Email, or Twitter) so I can contact you. The most creative comment get 1 pair of these exclusive invites.

About Heineken- UEFA Champion League (UCL)

"The core focus of Heineken’s activation of the sponsorship is to bring fans in Europe and abroad high quality UEFA Champions League experiences. The UEFA Champions League is the most prestigious club platform for international football stars and their clubs."

"With over 150 million TV viewers watching live coverage of the UEFA Champions League in 220 countries and territories every match week, this premier-sporting event has become global and fits perfectly with the Heineken brand, which is enjoyed in almost every country in the world."

The Salad Bar Damansara Utama

noreply@blogger.com (Isaac Tan) — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:55:00 +0000

Imagine an eatery dedicated to serving you healthy salads, loads of it. Imagine no more, as there's this spot in Damansara Utama conveniently named The Salad Bar serving all types of salads, some pastas, sandwiches and yoghurt for the health conscious people.

The Salad Bar

The Salad Bar
No.41G, Jalan SS 21/60,
Damansara Utama,
47400 Damansara,
Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Contact: 603-7731 2228 / 603-7722 1742
Facebook: fb.com/thesaladbar
Operating Hours: 9am to 9pm daily (Except Sunday: 9am to 6pm)

The brightly lit and colourful interior of The Salad Bar

Arriving at The Salad Bar with fellow foodies, we were all set to dig into some of their salad offerings. Frankly speaking, I wasn't really into the idea of having salads for dinner, but with the array of choices that The Salad Bar had to offer, I couldn't help but appreciate these leafy vegetables a bit more. Check out below on some of the salads you're able to "create".

Create your own Salad at The Salad Bar

#1 Soup of the day - Broccoli Broth - RM3.90

Hey it's baby food! That was the first thought that entered my mind when we were served with this bowl of Broccoli Broth. Consisting mainly broccoli, the soup surprisingly tasted okay, way better than how it looked. Anyway up next were waves after waves of greenery.

#2 Old Granny's Caesar Salad (Full Size) - RM11.90

#3 Tropical Fruit Salad (Full Size) - RM11.90

Shown above were the healthier salads, namely the Caesar's Salad and the Tropical Fruit Salad. Healthier here to me would mean there weren't any meat to be found inside.

"For a supersalad munching time, customers get to choose 2 types of greens from iceberg, romaine, butterhead, red coral to red oak. A choice of 3 toppings are made available ranging from a selection of fresh vegetables, fruits, dried fruits, nuts and seeds, grains to cheese and meat. Salad dressings that are ordered can be a concoction of spicy, tangy, minty to sweet sensations." -source: Fish's Blog

#4 R.E.D. Salad (Full Size) - RM11.90

#5 High Energy Superman Salad (Full Size) - RM11.90

The following R.E.D Salad came with accompanying sliced chicken sausages doused in sweet and sour sauce. All the bowls of salad here were served with toasted garlic bread by the side. I preferred the High Energy Superman Salad though, as it came with these energy flakes and enough meat to keep my stomach satisfied.

#6 Tomato Pasta - RM7.90

#7 Chilli Mushroom Pasta - RM7.90

#8 Spicy Chicken Pasta - RM7.90

On top of the salads, we had these delicious pastas being served. I didn't enjoy the Tomato Pasta though as it was a tad too sour for my taste buds. The Chilli Mushroom Pasta was okay but what I did enjoy was the Spicy Chicken Pasta. No prizes for guessing why I liked this Pasta, I think it was because it's less healthy with the spiciness and chicken.

#9 Turkey Club Sandwich - RM8.90

#10 Tortilla Wraps with Roasted Chicken - RM9.90

After having so much greenery, it was good to munch on the Turkey Club Sandwich. The turkey slices does go very well with the butter and the bread. The same cannot be said for the Tortilla Wraps with Roasted Chicken as it tasted kind of weird. Probably it was the sauce combination. We could choose our own bread (Clabatta, wholemeal sandwich bread, brown bread or tortilla wrap) and then select the fillings (Roast beef, roast chicken, turkey ham or smoked chicken slice) to be shoved in.

#11 Homemade Yogurt with Honey + 1 Topping - RM4.50

If you like the really healthy sour type of yoghurts, then by all means these yoghurts will be just right for you. I had trouble getting used to the taste though. There were over 10 types of toppings to choose from, including choices of fresh fruits, dried fruits and healthy nuts.

The varieties of toppings to go with our yoghurt

The Salad Bar has its fair share of customers, those wanting a healthy delicious meal. Overall, I felt it was a pretty good place to be if you're craving for some salads. Since I'm kicking off my diet soon, I might just come back for more greenery soon.

Glenmorangie's SOUNDFORM Fluid Bar Showcase

noreply@blogger.com (Isaac Tan) — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:10:00 +0000

So I had the opportunity to attend the Glenmorangie's Orange Retro Funk Night and I even held a short Glenmorangie Astar Free Giveaway Contest which led to the Glenmorangie's Soundform Fluid Bar Showcase and after party over at The Gardens, Midvalley last week.

Glenmorangie's Soundform Fluid Bar Showcase

The Soundform Fluid Bar By Glenmorangie

20 April 2012 - 8.30pm

Ground Floor, North Atrium

The Gardens

Followed by : Glenmorangie's After Party featuring Manufactured Superstars (USA)

20 April 2012 - 10pm

Vertigo Club

Centre stage at the North Atrium of The Gardens Mall

It all happened last 20th April, where the SOUNDFORM Fluid – a stunning, sculptural bar that brings to life the ‘Unnecessarily Well Made’ philosophy advocated by Glenmorangie was unveiled at The Gardens in Mid Valley.

"Statuesquely taking the centre stage at the North Atrium of The Gardens Mall, the SOUNDFORM Fluid is an evocative sight. Its bold jagged edges are covered in a black aluminium finish on the exterior, while the golden orange interior, which mimics the colour of Glenmorangie, is lit up to create an aesthetic, visual counter balance."

Bloggers and guests had the opportunity to taste Glenmorangie's best

"Glenmorangie single malt whisky obtains its multi-layered aromas and kaleidoscopic flavours through maturation in fine oak casks, obtained from the Ozark Mountains. While there are many perfectly good single malt whiskies matured in casks that are re-used up to eight times, Glenmorangie goes the extra mile for that added elegance in its whisky by only ever using their casks twice."

"At its Tain distillery in the Scottish Highlands, Glenmorangie employs the tallest whisky stills in Scotland, ensuring only the purest vapours are used in the spirit."

One of the Glenmorangie ladies with the bottle showcase

Glenmorangie's Soundform Fluid Bar Showcase saw a huge turnout with celebrities and single malt aficionados enjoy a night of appreciation as they savored the ‘Unnecessarily Well Made’ whisky. After which, the crowd adjourned to Vertigo for the after-party featuring US DJ duo Manufactured Superstars, who supplied a steady flow of house, dance and electro pop into the night.

Glenmorangie After Party - Orange Reviving Electro

Entertained throughout the night by the US DJ duo Manufactured Superstars

It was all good as an after party with free flow of Glenmorangie was just what the doctor ordered. Okay, maybe not exactly what the doctor prescribed, but it was good. Bloggers and friends alike had their fair share of fun, over some good "Unnecessarily Well Made’ whisky. Check out some of the photos taken that night in Vertigo Club below.

Glenmorangie and the party people

More happy people that night

The Glenmorangie's Soundform Fluid bar remain on display at the North Atrium in The Gardens, Mid Valley until 1 May 2012. I don't know about you, but I can sense Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch Whisky becoming the must-have drink. Have you tried one yet?

Marvel's The Avengers (2012) Movie Review

noreply@blogger.com (Isaac Tan) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 07:46:00 +0000

It has arrived, the highly anticipated blockbuster Marvel movie is now showing in cinemas nationwide. Courtesy of Nuffnang, I had the opportunity to catch the premiere screening of Marvel's The Avengers last week over at One Utama, and I must say it was a good movie.

Marvel's The Avengers (2012)

Marvel's The Avengers (2012) Film

Rated: PG-13

Genre: Superhero, action, adventure

Running Time: 2 Hours 23 Minutes

Director: Joss Whedon

Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson

Marvel's The Avengers Screening Tickets

There was so much hype about The Avengers as the movie the superheroes of recent Marvel's movies namely Thor, Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Captain America: The First Avenger, Hulk. With high hopes and spirits I reached the cinema early to catch this. It was a good feeling being able to catch up with fellow bloggers before any movie screening.

The Nuffies, together with the new dude Darren

"Continuing the epic big-screen adventures started in 'Iron Man', 'The Incredible Hulk', 'Iron Man 2', 'Thor' and 'Captain America: The First Avenger', 'Marvel's The Avengers' is the superhero team up of a lifetime. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as SHIELD, finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster."

We have our superheroes in action

The movie picked up the pace almost immediately with Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson), director of the espionage agency S.H.I.E.L.D facing the imminent threat of war towards Earth headed by the exiled Norse god Loki (Tom Hiddleston). Everyone is after this really powerful energy source in a cube called the Tesseract.

Dear Loki up to no good

One thing led to another, and we then see our whole team of superheroes get assembled into one huge flying S.H.I.E.L.D aircraft. Talking about being claustrophobic, having that many heavyweights on a flying plane is obviously going to create some issues. The good guys were all men, save for an Agent Natasha Romanoff aka The Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) who plays this sexy heroine in tight leather costume.

How can we say no to Agent Natasha Romanoff

Together with Iron Man Tony Starks (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), awesome Thor (Chris Hemsworth), and The Hulk Dr. Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), we have a team to take down the evil folks. Of course there were a whole lot of misunderstanding and really funny one-liners especially from Tony Starks which kept the audience chuckling.

Thor doing his thing

Overall, The Avengers is basically a Good versus Evil movie on a really high budget. With action scenes throughout most of the movie, it proves to be a real eye candy. Also for those who loves superheroes movie, you'll love The Avengers as well.

Personally, I like this movie, even though there were some parts where the plot gets really simple, but there were so many other times where I appreciate how the superheroes were being played out. We get to see how a three-way battle between Ironman, Thor and Captain America plays out which was pretty cool. Do make it a point to catch Marvel's The Avengers if you have not watched it yet.

________________________________________________________________________________

Short Mention

Currently there's an ongoing promotion by Harley Davidson too at their Facebook page (http://www.Facebook.com/HarleyDavidsonKualaLumpur) for a chance to win exclusive passes to an exclusive upcoming private screening - The Avengers in Imax 3D at Sunway Pyramid.

Join the contest

Recent Movie Reviews

Battleship (2012)

Street Dance 2 (2012)

Wrath Of The Titans (2012)

John Carter (2012)

The Apartment @ The Curve

noreply@blogger.com (Isaac Tan) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 03:35:00 +0000

Fancy having some good food over a cozy homely restaurant at The Curve? Well, drop by The Apartment then, specially designed to cater to diners who are looking for a casual dining experience. A couple of weeks back, I had the opportunity to dine here sampling their "Unlimited Flavours of The Ocean" menu.

The Apartment @ The Curve

The Apartment @ The Curve
Ground Floor, Western Courtyard,
The Curve Shopping Centre,
Mutiara Damansara.
Tel: 03-77278330
Website: www.atheapartment.com

* Pork Free

The rather cozy ambiance of The Apartment

It was my first time dining at The Apartment, a place which I noticed a couple of times when I was at The Curve. The first thing I noticed of the restaurant was the name, The Apartment had a unique name if you ask me. Upon entering the restaurant, we were ushered to our tables to begin a seafood feast of sorts.

#1 Oyster Shots - RM11.90

Currently The Apartment are having their Chef Series featuring special serving of deep sea delicacies themed menu Unlimited Flavours Of The Ocean. The menu will come in 2 parts, Part 1 in April and Part 2 in May. Our dinner that night began with the Oyster Shots, which came in these rather cute small cups. The mango gave out a sweet and sour flavor with the Oyster being taken in one shot.

#2 Jamie’s Duck Pasta - RM27.90

#3 Prawn Capellini - RM33.90

The pasta dish that arrived next was named Jamie's Duck Pasta, which tasted good for a meat lover like me. It was Fettuccine with shredded slow-roasted duck and tomato red wine ragout, topped with toasted pine nuts, and I must say the duck went well with the pasta. The Prawn Capellini came with these huge tiger prawns, lemon zest, olive oil and marjoram. After the oyster shot and thess pasta dish, we were in for more seafood dishes. Continue below for more of what we had that night.

#4 Surf 'n' Turf - RM43.90

Surf 'n' Turf, a combination of steak and prawns was up next. I'm new to this term Surf 'n' Turf thing but I did enjoy the steak, just that being served with prawns, it did interfere slightly with the flavor of the steak. Sirloin steak cuts served with au jus, garlic, chilis, honey glazed tiger prawns on a bed of mashed potatoes, now that's a really beautiful dish isn't it?

#5 Pan Fried Snapper - RM39.90

#6 Almond Crusted Cod - RM64.90

#7 Stuffed Squid - RM25.90

Fish lovers would love the next two dishes that arrived, namely the Pan Fried Snapper and the Almond Crusted Cod. The Pan fried red snapper came with couscous and lemon butter reduction served with rice tasted good, but nothing beats a plate of really fresh cod.

I can safely say this dish would be my favourite for that night as the cod was served with these crispy almond on top and clams by the side. Someone once told me, fresh cods are the ones where the meat would just fall off when you attempt to cut it with the fork, and here I can say the Almond Crusted Cod was really well prepared. Stuffed with herbed rice, the Stuffed squid was a crowd favourite as well. It looked as good as it tasted.

#8 (Banana Layered Cake - RM13.90, Chocolate Cake - RM16.90, Signature Red Velvet Cake - RM16.90)

#9 Buah Melaka Dessert - RM12.90

#10 Creme Brule - RM13.90

#11 Baked Chocolate Pudding - RM16.90

We ended the night of good food with some sweet and really tempting desserts ranging from the savory Creme Brule, the hot Baked Chocolate Pudding, to the local Malaysian Buah Melaka and various cakes. Indulging in these delights, it's no wonder my waistline keeps growing. Do drop by The Apartment the next time you're at The Curve this 2 months for some delicious seafood dishes.

UEFA Champion League Finals With Heineken

noreply@blogger.com (Isaac Tan) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:21:00 +0000

If you're a fan of the UEFA Champion League, then don't miss this chance to watch the finals "Live" on the big screen. Heineken today announced the launch of its ‘Legendary Football’ campaign for the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League (UCL). Working together, Heineken and UCL combine to create spectacular artistry that fans around the world can enjoy.

Watch It Live At GSC Signature, The Gardens

"This unique experience on big screen aims to highlight the legendary moments that UCL creates, allowing fans to feel as though they are watching it live in a football stadium."

Get a chance to experience all this and more!

To participate and be part of Heineken ‘Legendary Football’ campaign, just log on to https://apps.facebook.com/heineken_ucl_my/ or www.heineken.com/MY and answer a couple of football questions and you just might win yourself some invites to catch the UCL finals over at GSC Signature, The Gardens this 19th May 2012.

Answer some simple questions at the Facebook app (https://apps.facebook.com/heineken_ucl_my/)

Personally, I'm looking forward to experiencing the UEFA Champion League Finals on this really huge screen in GSC Signature The Gardens. Watching football on the projector at our neighborhood mamak place is one thing, but watching football in a huge cinema with its huge screen is a different experience all together. Come, join me this 19th May, just log on to the Facebook link and join the contest.

P.S: I have one pair of passes to this cool event to giveaway, do be on the look out for another post coming up soon on how to get it.

About Heineken- UEFA Champion League (UCL)

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Short Mention

So have you submitted your video for the Samsung Global Bloggers Competition yet? Submit now, and win an all expense paid trip to experience London 2012 Olympic Games as a blogger! A few more days left, don't miss this chance people!

So what are you waiting for guys? Get those creative juices flowing, make an awesome video, and just hit the submit button over at the Samsung Global Bloggers website at www.samsungglobalblogger.com. Of course, you will have to fill in some details in between.

Sanook Bistro And Sports Bar Kelana Jaya

noreply@blogger.com (Isaac Tan) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 03:49:00 +0000

Recently, working life has taken it's toll on me sapping up most of my energy every day. I was pretty glad then when I was given the opportunity to dine over with a group of bloggers and friends at Sanook Bistro and Sports Bar in Plaza Kelana Jaya a couple of days back. The last time I was in the vicinity of Plaza Kelana Jaya was back in July last year where ChurpChurp had their ChurpOut session over at Mark's Place. (First Ever ChurpOut Session At Mark's Place)

Sanook Bistro and Sports Bar Kelana Jaya

Sanook Bistro and Sports Bar Kelana Jaya
Block C-06-G / 1 / 2

Plaza Kelana Jaya, SS7 / 13A,
47301 Kelana Jaya,
Petaling Jaya.
Tel: +603-7877 3636

Opens on Monday to Saturday (Saturdays dinner and drinks only)
For Reservation, please call 03-7877 3636 or reservations@sanooking.com

Website: www.sanooking.com
GPS Coordinates: 3° 5’ 40.66” N 101° 35’ 52.61” E

The comfy spot in Sanook by the lake

"Sanook, meaning "fun" in Thai, is a guiding principle of Thai social life. And indeed, it’s a principle that transcends all borders and cultures and is applied by all and to all who wants to enjoy life."

Situated just by the lake, patrons dining at Sanook got to enjoy a pretty good ambiance with a really nice view of the lake. Having good food while lazing back in the chair enjoying the night air was pretty cool. Sanook Bistro and Sports Bar had a full fledge bar counter complete with pool table and alcohol of all types on their first floor. That was where the crowd was at, which I found out when I went up to explore the place.

#1 Marco's Spaghetti Alio e Olio Seafood Special - RM26

We were treated to a variety of really god food from their menu "Chef’s Selections: Simply The Best". True to it's tagline "Simply The Best", Sanook brought out most of their signature dishes for us to sample that night beginning with the Italian fusion dishes. The Marco's Spaghetti Alio e Olio Seafood Special was one of the better dish of the night, which came with fresh tiger prawns, mussel, clams, & squids, flavored with coriander, crispy garlic and chilly flakes. Now I've always loved a good Alio Olio, and these came perfectly done.

#2 Excuse Me One Lagsana Please - RM22

The Excuse Me One Lagsana Please had a rather unique name, and when the dish came, I couldn't help but enjoy the luscious cheesy toppings with a choice of either beef or chicken tucked inside. "Garfield" came to mind, and I began to imagine myself growing to be a really fat cat.

#3 Teriyaki Char Siew Chicken Chop - RM24

#4 Ayam Percik Vietcong - RM18

#5 Alfresco BBQ Wings - RM21+

Next up on the "Chef’s Selections: Simply The Best" menu were the poultry dishes. We had chicken in all type of flavours from the Alfresco BBQ Wings (hot & spicy smokey chicken wings served with roasted herb garlic and sour corn mojo), to the uniquely fused Ayam Percik Vietcong (malaysian style BBQ chicken served with Vietnamese peanut sauce and pilaf rice and garnished with spicy acar rampai and fish crackers). Personally I liked the Teriyaki Char Siew Chicken Chop as it had this distinct pseudo Japanese flavour fused with our local Char Siew Chicken.

#6 Kim Yang Lamb Cutlets - RM54+

Before diving into my favourite steaks, we were served with this rather cute Kim Yang Lamb Cutlets. Don't be fooled by it's simple presentation as the lamb itself was coated in korean spices, charbroiled to perfection and accompanied with the Korean kimchi. How's that for a mish mash of taste?

#7 Tangier Moroccan Steak (250g) - RM42+

Being a steak lover, any good meat that was served hot be it on a skewer or a platter, I just had to have some whenever I'm given a chance. The New York Strip Steak (best cuts of beef strip steak roasted tenderly in special roasted garlic marinade and served with pomelo and sweet onion salsa and creamy garlic sauce) and Tangier Morrocan Steak (sirloin steak in tangy apricot glaze, grilled to perfection) came in generous servings which I found to be really juicy and tasty.

#8 Sotong Otak Otak - RM31+

Sanook's Sotong Otak Otak was another dish that looked really good even before digging into it. Doused in this really spicy sambal tumis, the grilled whole squids (250 gm) was stuffed with prawn otak otak. Needless to say, we braved though the spiciness to enjoy that giant of a squid.

#9 Tiramisu - RM16

#10 Chocolate Mud Cake - RM16

The desserts came out last, in the form of the Tiramisu (Old time Italian favorites of sponge cookie soaked in strong coffee with mascarpone cream) and the Chocolate Mud Cake (Savory mud cake with haagen Dazs vanilla pecan ice cream on vanilla sauce). Truly an enjoyable night out with good food, comfortable "by the lake" environment, and great friends, we just chilled on chatting away even after the meal. Do drop by Sanook Bistro and Sports Bar should you happen to be around the vicinity of Plaza Kelana Jaya.