3 Meals Of Goodness

Gosh I wish I knew more about the internet !!!!

First I migrated from Blogger to Wordpress … that went smooth. Then I figure, there’s quite some limitation using free stuffs, so I registered webhosting, getting my Wordpress to be hosted on GoDaddy. Feeling a little uncomfortable with GoDaddy, I decided to move to HostGator.

You should see the interface of HostGator … way cool ! Anyway, due to my impatience, I screwed up a little and ended up losing my last 2 months data … i.e. those were my postings too … $#%E^&$%&.

Anyway, here I am again .. back to square one … with a brand new template and starting again.

Readers out there, my deepest apologies for the inconvenience while I work on fixing this issue.

Sometimes, being a foodie can be such a pressure ! Friends and family expects you to come up with location to dine immediately ! And what do you do if you’re in such a spot? Start flipping through your blogsite … and if nothing found, check your blogroll…..

I was in such a predicament recently … and fortunately I was in front of my laptop (with internet access too). I typed …w..w..w..3..-…meals…com … and fired up my site. The search criteria … Petaling Jaya, chinese food … medium budget. Nothing from my end .. (my database isn’t exactly ready) … so I clicked over to Boolicious’s and WMW’s site. And ‘bingo!’ … I found something. New Formosa Restaurant .. in SS2 … and I was like, where the heck is it ??? I’ve been in and out of SS2 for ages and I never really noticed this place. Fortunately, Boolicious provided the telephone number as well so I called them and finally located the place. It’s on the other side of SS2, the way to SEA Park. Btw, PreciousPea also did a writeup on this place.

And I really must thank Boolicious for this lead … for I really enjoyed my dinner that night. Good thing I had my camera with me, else I’d be knocking my head … regretting at missing the chance to review this place.

Externally, New Formosa (hmm .. I wonder if there’s an old Formosa) looks like any other chinese restaurant. The signage is a little run-downed … but of course. After all, this place has been around since the 70’s ! Chef Lee Weng Eng and his wife Jeanie Lee run the restaurant, which has carved its mark on the local dining scene. Although the restaurant is always full, the Lees have resolutely not gone down the path of other successful restaurants and opened up branches. They have steadfastly maintained their 12-table establishment and the quality of their offerings. This is the only restaurant in the PJ area that serves a wide range of genuine Taiwanese food, many dishes of which are of Hokkien and Teochew origin.

Although cosy, the setup of the restaurant depicts elegance. And the food … let me tell you about the food. Warning! I am totally bias as I write this …. I can still clearly recall how friendly the food is … to my taste bud.

The first item in the list is the Yam Rice in Hollow Bamboo. To tell you the truth, yam isn’t exactly one of my favorite flavors, what more … yam rice. But in this case, I am willing to make exceptions. As you can see here, the dish is served in a long bamboo case with a lid. The moment the lid was uncovered, the strong fragrance is undeniably delicious ! The yam and pumpkin … added with a little Laap Cheong (??) which is smoked, sweetened, and seasoned hard sausage, really completes the dish. Just too bad the portion is just nice i.e. one small bowl each, leaving you wanting more …

Taiwanese Crunchy Popped Rice is truly something I haven’t tried before. The “popped rice” mentioned here refers to this square bits of light, crispy rice which is usually available during Chinese New Year celebrations. When served… hot, sweet broths with cuttlefish are poured over the crispy rice and the taste … is simple delicious. A little note though, not everyone will like it … unless you have a sweet tooth, like me.

Another dish worth mentioning here is the Steam Prawns with Herbs (in Hollow Bamboo). As the title of the dish already mentioned, prawns … steamed with herbal soup in a hollow bamboo container. The result ? A mild herbal taste in the prawns as well as soup … with a slight touch of ginger.

My favorite dish is the Formosan Stir-Fry Butter Eel (Unagi to the sushi fans) which I think, is also a favorite in this restaurant. Eels, if not cooked correctly … will have that fishy taste, especially those which is not fresh. But in New Formosa, you can get any fishy smell in the eels. And the experience in eating this dish … is heavenly. The eels are covered in a thin layer of crunchy butter (coated, not battered) with curry leaves (should I also mention there’s chili padi in it?). As you take a bite into the eels, you’ll first taste the crunchy butter coats … and then into the soft, soft eel (just the mere thought of the taste makes me want to go back there for more!). This dish is simply irresistible … I recommend it !

And finally last but not least, the dessert. By dessert time, we’re stuffed … hence leaving only enough space for one dessert. We chose the Mua Chee .. and there is 5 flavors to choose from. I can’t exactly remember the flavor we ordered, but it’s green .. and I am assuming it’s pandan (haha).

REVIEW & INFORMATION

Contact Details
New Formosa Restaurant
46, Jalan SS2/24, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel: 03-7875 1894
Fax/Tel: 03-7729 0000
Mobile: 019-335 3274
E-mail: formosa@streamyx.com

Ratings
OVERALL RATINGs : * * * * (Epicurian Delight !)
Environment Ratings : * * * * (Classy but cosy)
Food Ratings : * * * * * (Of the 5 dishes ordered, I like ‘em all … I’m giving a 5 !)
Service Ratings : * * * (Not as friendly, but still bearable … for the food worth !)
Value Ratings : * * * * (Reasonable pricing, no overkills)

Operation Details
Average Price : RM20++ per person
Business Hrs : Daily from noon to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm
Accepted Cards: Visa, Mastercard and Amex

Miscellaneous Details
Halal : No
Dining Method : Dine in, take-away
Food/Cuisine : Taiwanese

Specialities :
* Hot and spicy steamboat (Bonito Mala steambot) with two menus
* Stone firepot
* Three cups chicken (braised with wine, soya sauce, sesame oil and basil leaves)
* Eel in different styles (including grilled and sizzling)
* Tiger prawns in different Taiwanese style (including with herbs in hollow bamboo)
* Sizzling dishes (spare ribs, venison, diced chicken, Japanese beancurd, fish slices and oysters)
* Taiwanese drunken chicken
* Deep-fried sesame chicken Taiwanese style
* Crispy yam duck Hunanese style
* Taiwanese fried oysters with fermented black beans
* Dry cooked string beans Szechuan style
* Special Taiwanese-style seafood porridge

Ambiance/Features : Airconditioned, classic chinese restaurant setup
Reservations : Yes

Another Korean restaurant in the book !

I love rice and yes, I am a fan thong (rice …err.. bucket?) ! MeiYen and fatboybakes … this is FYI, hahaha. Anyway, being a fan thung … I can easily be satisfied (of course, this .. I meant food!). Gimme rice and dish anytime, sir …

Did you know that PJ State area is my haunting ground, especially on Fridays? Some of you may know why. And since Haeun Khon is located in Amcorp Mall AND Starbucks (my fav wifi and coffee place) is also conveniently located here … I feel at home when I’m here.

Alrighty, ’nuff said about my preferences which probably won’t interest you anyway. Just to get back into my main topic, Haeun Khon is located on the 3rd floor of Amcorp Mall, just next to McDonalds. And right opposite Haeun Khon, is an optical shop… and this is where I get my supply of contact lenses (my friend’s parents own this place). So you shouldn’t be at all surprised when I tell you that I’ve eaten in Haeun Khon for like … a million times already? But yet, this is my first time writing about them. Well, this is easily referred to as, “taking things for granted” …

Haeun Khon has relocated a few times, but they remain on the 3rd floor in Amcorp Mall. I was told the move was due to rental issues, but I suspect .. probably due to “Feng Sui” … you think so? Anyway, they can move all they want .. as long as they remain in Amcorp Mall … I am good.

The setup in Haeun Khon is decently nice, with yellow lightnings to build the romantic ambiance. Soothing music … quiet …. and then ‘bang!’ … the dinner crowd arrives. From then on, it’s a typical pack, and tight restaurant. The place is so small that when you lean over to your back, you can actually introduce yourself to the person in the table behind you. I am hoping they increase their space someday … after all, their business is considerably good.

Alrighty, so what’s good in Haeun Khon ? Why, Korean food of course ! This place serves 3 different kind of cuisines, namely Korean, Japanese and Chinese. But I personally prefer their Korean food … wonder why (duh … maybe because it’s a Korean restaurant???).

There’s one item in the menu which I never fail to order every single time I visit this place. And that is the Kimchi Jjikeh (some spelled it Jjigae). Right about now, I am trying to visualize the taste of my favorite soup, the Kimchi Jjikeh. After placing your order, it takes a little while for the kitchen to prepare this dish. It’s served piping hot in a small pot, which keeps the soup warm … like, forever … ! (for goodness sake, don’t be a hero and go touch the pot … ). The set comes with banchan, a pot of soup with meat (optionally, chicken or beef), vermicelli and kimchi. Now, take a spoonful of soup … slowly sip on it. The feeling is … first …hot soup might burn your tongue, then it gets a little sweet … sour .. and finally spicy.

Quickly … reach for your glass of icy cold Japanese Green Tea. (What?? You didn’t order one? Oh.. so sorry….).

Next in the lists are the Beef Bulgogi set and the Chicken Nambang set. This is my first time ordering these dishes (told you my favorite is the Jjikeh soup) and me like it very much ! Beef Bulgogi set has been mentioned many, many times by previous bloggers who reviewed this place before. But my opinion, the beef is soft and tender … and taste really sweet. Have it with rice … and you’re a complete circle ! There’s more that we ordered .. but since I did not taste them, I call tell. Yeah, I know it’s silly .. but I can only say one thing. I’ll be going there again .. and again … and …..

My Bill For The Day :

1) KimChi Jjikeh RM15.90
2) Chicken Nambang RM13.90
3) Beef Bulgogi RM15.90

Here are articles from other bloggers.
Boolicious
Wantan Productions
KY Eats

And here’s my 2 cents worth on this restaurant.

REVIEWS & INFORMATION

Contact Details
Restoran Haeun Khon (???)
Lot 336, Third Floor
Amcorp Mall,
No. 18, Persiaran Barat,
Off Jalan Timur
46050 Petaling Jaya
Tel :03-79572181

Ratings
OVERALL RATINGs : * * * * (Everything nice except restaurant too small!)
Environment Ratings : * * * (Nice and cosy but noisy during peak hours)
Food Ratings : * * * * (Someone said the food has been “Malaysianised”, so taste good to us)
Service Ratings : * * * * (Very attentive waiters, especially the Chinese national which I cannot remember his name)
Value Ratings : * * * * (Rather average. Good value for money)

Operation Details
Average Price : RM15++ per person
Business Hrs :
Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Mondays)
Lunch : 12:00 noon till 3:00 pm
Dinner : 6:00pm till 10:00pm
Accepted Cards: Not sure.

Miscellaneous Details
Halal : Yes
Dining Method : Dine in, take-away
Food/Cuisine : Korean, Japanese, Chinese
Specialities : Kimchi Jjikeh, Beef Bulgogi
Ambiance/Features : Simple Korean, cozy.
Reservations : Yes

I visited Aunty Nat recently with a friend for lunch, and I am happy to say … it was a good lunch. Hmm… how’s that, to start off my article. And should I also say that it’s alright to think that this is going to be a good review, since I started it by mentioning “I had a good lunch?”. Of course not ! One should also take into consideration your lunch company, the traffic in the restaurant and also … the logistic of the place.

Aunty Nat is located in MidValley Megamall (someone told me it’s now known as Mid Valley City) … and it’s at the Boulevard. Alright, for the uninitiated … The Boulevard is not IN MidValley but opposite it. That’s right …. away from the mall. So don’t come complaining if you go hunting for Aunty Nat in the mall and can’t find it !

Having said that, I’d like to add that Aunty Nat some decent Nyonya food. Not only that, having a nice setup in the restaurant helps as well.

As quoted by Star Kuali “It’s rustic charm and quaintness, coupled with a touch of the contemporary, certainly appeals to many Malaysians, especially those with a penchant for Nyonya food”.

As for the food, we had 3 dishes … namely Brinjal with Dried Prawns, Assam Sotong and a Nyonya signature dish, Chicken PongTeh. Very often, this dish is the benchmark of a good Nyonya restaurant. I have tasted some of the ‘best’ homecooked Ayam (chicken) PongTeh and Ayam (chicken) buah keluak hence meeting my expectations on the quality of these Nyonya dishes will not be easy.

In Aunty Nat, the Brinjal with Dried Prawns were served with largely cut brinjal slices and sprinkles of dried prawns to add to the tasted. It’s a little spicy (most Nyonya dishes are either spicy or sour) but unfortunately the brinjals slices were a little to thick. At times, you may taste a little rawness in the brinjals.

As for the Assam Sotong (squid), I absolutely love the assam gravy. Spicy and sour, mix it with rice and you will have tingling ears as you swallow your next piece of squid down your throat. My thumbs up for this dish.

As for the Ayam (Chicken) PongTeh, the chicken is tender and just right … but as I took the first mouthful, I was expecting the aroma of the sweet bean paste but it was bland. Nothing close to my expectation. Just too bad I did not try the Perut Ikan dish … that’s another classic Nyonya dish that one should try in a Nyonya restaurant.

Have you ever wondered how did Nyonya food came about ? More often than not, we only say “Nyonya food” or “Peranakan food”, but we do not say “Baba food”. This is due to the fact the women do most of the cooking. Nyonya food was invented by the Peranakan people of Malaysia and Singapore. It uses mainly Chinese ingredients but blends them with South-East Asian spices such as coconut milk, lemon grass, turmeric, screwpine leaves, chillies and sambal. It can be considered as a blend of Chinese and Malay cooking.

Examples of Nyonya dishes include:

Laksa lemak is a type of laksa served in a rich coconut gravy.
Otak-otak is a fish cake grilled in a banana leaf wrapping. The town of Muar is famous for it.
Ayam pongteh, a chicken stew cooked with tauchu and gula melaka that is sweetish
Ayam buah keluak, a chicken dish cooked using the nuts from Pangium edule or the “Kepayang” tree, a mangrove tree that grows in Malaysia and Indonesia
Cincalok, a distinctly Peranakan condiment made of fermented shrimp
Se Bak, pork loin, marinated overnight with herbs and spices, cooked over a slow fire and simmered to perfection.

REVIEWS & INFORMATION

Contact Details

Aunty Nat
5G, Signature Office
The Boulevard Mid Valley
Lingkaran Syed Putra
59200 Kuala Lumpur
Wilayah Persekutuan

Outlets:
• No. 26, Jalan SS21/39 (next to Standard Chartered bank) in Damansara Utama, Damansara
Phone: 03-7725 3011
• 4, Lorong Yap Kwan Seng, Kuala Lumpur
Phone: 03-2168 8126

Ratings
OVERALL RATINGs : * * * (Nice setup but foodwise, there’s room for improvement)
Environment Ratings : * * * * (Authentic, nice & quiet)
Food Ratings : * * * (2 out of 3, come on … you can do it !)
Service Ratings : * * * * (Very attentive waiters)
Value Ratings : * * * (Quite EX. I rather wait my annual chance to eat my homecook ones)

Operation Details
Average Price : RM20++ per person
Business Hrs : Monday to Sunday 12:00 noon till 10:00 pm
Accepted Cards: AMEX, VISA, MASTERCARD

Miscellaneous Details
Halal : Yes
Dining Method : Dine in, take-away
Food/Cuisine : Nyonya
Specialities :
Tumeric Fried Chicken, Kiam Hu Curry, Lemon Grass Steamed Fish, Nyonya Assan Fish, Pan Fried Soya Sauce Prawn, Homemade Otak-Otak, Sambal Angle Beans, Ju Hu Char, Perut Ikan, Caramel Custard, Sago in Gula Melaka, Kan Sui Choong with Kaya.
Ambiance/Features : Authentic traditional settings
Reservations : Yes

- Set Menus and a la Carte Available

I figure I should write something about the recent ‘floggers’ gathering.

So here’s a little something that I compiled. I did not take much shots, all facial shots were virtually unrecognizable except one hence I decided to post only food shots.

Just to recap, meeting you fellow food bloggers at Sandias is rather exciting ! Just like what some of you mentioned, it’s like a blind date. You don’t know who you are meeting until the other person mention his/her “callsign”.

It’s rather like superheroes, you know … you never know their true identity. But of course, in our case .. all you have to do is ask.

Anyway … here’s are some food shots … and 1 single shot of Nigel stuffing up. Enjoy !

I

This is gonna be an odd posting, since there won’t be much reviews involve … particularly since most of the food found here are really, really good !

I was at Plaza Damas last Sunday (6th May 2007) with my family and discovered that the Siam Fair was ongoing there. I’ve never really been to one, despite passing by a lot …. all the time. I remember seeing it in Amcorp Mall a couple of months back, but did not stop to look at it. I guess I took it for granted that these events are here all the time.

But this time round, I actually visited the booths individually and found that they sell very interesting stuffs. There were clothings .. those that is only available in Thailand, is now suddenly available here in Malaysia. They also sell crockeries, decorative stuffs … exotic costume jeweleries and many many other stuffs. Stuffs you only find in streets of Phuket or Bangkok. You’ll also find those folks serving you are all authentic Thai nationals …either that or they speak really lousy english with really good Thai accent. You know … the one that goes … veli chhhipp.. veli chhhipp.. you wann masshaage… oni thhenn linggitttt…. (english : very cheap, very cheap, you want massage? Only ten ringgit)

But I think the motherload of it was the food. I see tomyam … of course ! There’s tomyam noodles, curry laksas … local Thai desserts such as Mango in Sticky Rice (I learned abt this dessert from Basil, my recent review). So how exactly is the food here, you might ask….

Like I said earlier, generally the food found here are exceptionally delicious .. to my standard, that is …. ! The tomyam …. yum, yum … spicy …delicious, appetizing … the curry … thick and milky … the mangoes are … mouth-watering … the sticky rice with coconut milk is just so ever soft … it slides down your throat, just like that. And that ever so crunchy fried prawns … oooooh … wish I had a beer to down it with those prawns … dipped in that special chili sauce. Words can’t decribe much more of what I have experienced … other than to show it to you.

But let it be my word of advice to you … the travelling Thai fellows will be around until 22/5/2007 only. And they open daily from 10:30am to 9:30pm …. so

khhamm fhhasst fhhasst, veli fhhasst no mor …
(come fast fast, very fast no more)

The word basil comes from the Greek ???????? (basileus), meaning “king”, as it is believed to have grown above the spot where St. Constantine and Helen discovered the Holy Cross.

But for Basil Thai Nudle Bar, it takes its name from the renowned Thai Basil or bai horapa, a lusciously fragrant herb which generously enhances Thai fare, seafood dishes in particular. Thai basil has lush, deep green leaves, purplish flower buds and stems and carries anise overtones to its sweet basil scent.

Basil Thai Nudle Bar is located in Bangsar… to be precise, in Bangsar Village. It’s been a long while since I’ve been to Bangsar Village … and I’ve totally not been to the new wing of Bangsar Village called the Bangsar Village 2. The opportunity came when I happen to have a lunch appointment with fellow foodie blogger Lyrical Lemongrass (LL) the other day. It was a Friday … and not knowing where exactly is her office, we decided to meet in Bangsar Village. Good thing Bangsar Village is not difficult to find … but unfortunately I was late for my appointment as I was held up in the office. As I approach Bangsar … I was caught in a slight traffic … just in time to recall Bangsar Village is located next to a mosque. AND IT’S FRIDAY !!! Aaarrrggghh ….

Anyway, patience prevailed (I remember someone once told me, don’t get frustrated when things so bad. Just keep your calm, things will get better)… so I waited patiently for the queue on the road to clear and drove slowly towards Bangsar Village … took a wrong turn and ended up back to the Bangsar main road. I remained calm and slowly find my way back into the slip road … and eventually found my way into Bangsar Village 2 parking entrance. Just before entering the parking lot, I visualized a parking spot … waiting there just for me. With full confidence, I drove into the parking lot and I really did find a parking spot, just sitting there waiting for me to drive in. Not too bad, huh …

Anyway, I found my way into the mall and started looking for Basil Thai Nudle Bar. I remembered LL telling me that Basil is in the old wing of Bangsar Village so that’s where I headed. I crossed a pedestrian bridge and met LL at the lobby and proceeded to Basil.

The setup in Basil Thai Nudle Bar is conceptually similar to most of S.E.A Cuisine Sdn Bhd’s outlets in Malaysia. S.E.A Cuisine group of restaurant have become a staple in Thai Cuisine dining scene with over 12 restaurants in Kuala Lumpur. The other outlets under S.E.A Cuisine group of restaurants are :

Amarin Heavenly Thai
Bangkok Jam
The Old Siam
Siam Square
Just Thai
Good Evening Bangkok
Basil
Bangkok Jazz
To Dine For
Actually Thai
Absolute Thai
Bangkok Expresso
Thai Accent

From the list, I have tried some of the restaurants but never had the opportunity to write any article on it. So this is my first attempt at it, thanking LL for creating this chance for me. Basil, like all of the ‘other’ outlets .. are well decorated. Interior decorations are classy yet close to the authenticity of Thai ambiance.

Menu varieties are proper, ranging from starters through to main dishes and ending with desserts. Our lunch orders were simple … ala carte and a dessert. I ordered the Hot & Spicy Minced Chicken Noodle … (I’m always a sucker for spicy food) while LL ordered Black Olive Fried Rice with Chicken. And since LL was rushing for time (time check while ordering food … 1:30pm, she has to leave by 2:00pm) we settled only for those and a dessert which is Mango with Sticky Rice.

The service was so-so, probably because it’s a Friday and the restaurant was packed. But I did notice … every other restaurant that I walked pass was also equally packed. Anyway, I am not about to complain about the service .. like I said, it was ok. Foodwise … my Hot & Spicy Mince Chicken Noodle was quite dry, otherwise smelled good. I did not notice any minced chicken but rather, I got a few balls to work with. The balls were surprisingly good …. let’s just say … it’s chewelicious. (I just kinda made that word up).

As for LL’s Black Olive Fried Rice with Chicken, I can’t really remember now (case of writer’s block) but I vaguely remember her mentioning … it could be better.

Now as for the dessert, the Mango with Sticky Rice looks good and taste … equally good ! It came with some slices of nice, sweet mango … accompanied by a lump of sticky rice, and a cup of whitish looking sweet liquid (I googled for it and found it’s actually coconut milk with sugar and salt). Whatever it is .. it tasted really good … especially when you mix the mango the rice, dipped in the sauce.

As for the degree of burns on my wallet, we spent about RM57 for 2 person. Reasonable, I would say … to dine in such ambiance.

Contact Details

Basil Thai Nudle Bar
G10, Ground Floor, Bangsar Village,
No.1, Jalan Telawi 1, Bangsar Baru,
59100 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel : 603 2287 8708
Fax : 603 2287 8710
Contact : Jennifer
Website : www.seacuisine.com.my

Ratings
OVERALL RATINGs : * * * (Average loh, nothing to shout about !)
Environment Ratings : * * * * (Authentic yet modern)
Food Ratings : * * (Only 1 out of 3 is good so far, what do you think?)
Service Ratings : * * * (Quality drops during peak)
Value Ratings : * * * (Quality comes with a price tag)

Operation Details
Average Price :
Lunch : RM 15 per person and above
Dinner : RM 30 per person and above
Business Hrs : Monday to Sunday 12:00 noon till 10:00 pm
Accepted Cards: AMEX, VISA, MASTERCARD

Miscellaneous Details
Halal : Yes
Dining Method : Dine in, take-away
Food/Cuisine : Authentic Thai
Ambiance/Features : Authentic yet modern
Reservations : Yes

Extra Information
Seating Capacity
Seating : 110 pax
Standing : 160 pax

- Set Menus and a la Carte Available

Did you hear of an Arab Street along Jalan Bukit Bintang ? Right on the crossroad in Jalan Bukit Bintang where Lot 10 and BB Plaza meets, there is a McDonalds and Arab Street is located behind McDonalds.

Take a walk along Arab Street and you will notice a number of Arabic and Middle Eastern gastronomy delights … blotted around that area. And if you notice carefully, you will or might have came across this little signboard that says “Restoran Jangan Ketawa” .. simply translates to plain english as “Don’t Laugh Restaurant”. Now, I wonder if it’s a little difficult to eat and keep a straight face at the same time ….

Anyway, that is actually the old outlet for the restaurant I am about to introduce to you. Along the same road .. in fact, just opposite “Don’t Laugh Restaurant” is Tim Gei (??) .. popular for it’s pan mee.

‘Pan Mee’ is not something new. When mentioned, most of you know of at least some place which serves really good ones. But for the uninitiated, here are some excerpts from another foodie …

“Board noodles” is the literal translation of pan mee (ban mian in Mandarin), and I can only guess that the name derives from the fact that the dough for the thick wheat noodles that comprise the main ingredient of this dish is rolled out – flat as a board. – EatingAsia.

Now that we’ve established what Pan Mee is, let’s get back to the main topic about Tim Gei. As usual, the joint is a common coffee shop … with seats so cramp you actually can hear the next guys slurping his noodle … and the other lady chewing her crunchy fried anchovies …

I am not saying that’s bad or anything … I mean, good for meeting new friends I guess. Don’t believe me ? Well, the next time you go there, try starting a conversation to the person next to you by saying … “ordered long already ah?” which translates to “How long have you placed your order?” and see what they say. And of course, the rest depends on your social skills ….

But if the person next to you is already stuffing his/herself …. by all means, shut up ! You don’t want to interrupt a person’s quality time with their bowl of pan mee … it could be fatal !

And that concludes our session on “How to meet people in a Pan Mee joint”. Until our next episode, please keep tuning to your favourite channel.

Ok, I agree I went way off ! But then again, that’s me … where’s the joy in eating if you’re not having fun …? Alright, alright … back to the Tim Gei coffee shop. As I mentioned earlier … this place is packed to the rim during lunch .. especially on working days. If you want to try out this place, I advice you to check in early, very early ! Usually I am there by 12 … and of course, being the first to arrive … I’ll the the “orderer” of the day … taking my lunch gang’s orders via SMS or phone. Sometimes, another friend of mine … Cheesie Amir swaps role with me and places the order as he tends to arrive early too.

Quick ! Ask me why is his name Cheesie Amir …

Ok, ok … I tell you …. it’s because he makes heavenly cheese cakes (somehow, I’ve been meeting quite a few male bakers recently). I promise I’ll do a write up on his cheese cakes someday …. yeap… someday.

So what’s the difference between Tim Gei’s Pan Mee versus the others. Before we go there, let me introduce the variety of pan mee style in Tim Gei. Firstly, there’s the dry ones and the ‘wet’ ones. Well … I don’t really mean the let the noodles ‘dry’ in the sun before serving it to you … and wet does not mean they soak it in water beforehand. Dry simple means noodle in soy sauce and other secret recipe that they rather kill than to reveal to me. And wet simply means it comes in soup. And then there’s the noodle choice … you can opt for the thin or the fat .. sorry, I meant thick one.

Pan Mee … to rate it, goes according to this sequence … first, look at the soup or broth … to some. A good soup … will taste really good and tasty (of course) … since the soup is boiled with anchovies … yet does not leave you thirsty afterwards. Next … is the noodle. Personally, I like the noodle to be hand rolled … but nobody does that anymore. Mostly done with machines …. so the texture is a little different. I personally like my pan mee to be thin .. as thin as possible.. then again… it’s just me. Once you’re done with the noodle, we move on to the condiments. Anchovies … vege … meat and mushroom … these are primary items. And of course, finally … the core of the meal …. yup, you guessed right. The chili … or sambal …. or whatsoever you like to refer to it as. I just call it … ‘The Taste Of Life’.

A good sambal will make your ears twitch … the better ones makes you jump with joy … with dangling tongue too. But the best ones … will resurrect the dead ! So … never leave home without it …. not having sambal with Pan Mee is like Adam without Eve … or peanut without butter … err… no. That’s a lousy example.

ANYWAY … if you want to check out this place … here’s the map. Ciao !