Ipoh Street heaven of snack

Well Ipoh which is EPOH (eat problem on holiday )which i am so call ipohrian is on holiday for now .Cool right ,there nothing better than ipoh for me .It a food paradise.While we’re still on the subject of snacking around in good old Ipoh, kindly allow me to introduce my personal favourite stall that sells amazingly sumptuous, yet greasily-intimidating Chinese style of fried dough, made up of an amazing array of snacks such as fried bread sticks or youtiao/yau char kwai, batter-fried sweet potatoes, yams, and the perpetual favourite of ours – The Fried Nin Gou, or New Year Cakes.This stall was previously situated at Hong Kong Restaurant at the other end of this row of shop in Canning Garden, for a good many years. Recently moved to this new spot at New Hollywood Restaurant, a coffee shop that caters to all races (pork-free) and opens for breakfast-late lunch.All of her ‘creations’ (she refused to supply me with her name, though grinning all the way, proclaiming “Call me HAPPY lah!!”) are priced at RM0.60 (it so cheap)each. Her charming demeanour plus the freshly fried dough is clearly a winning combination, for the snacks at her stall (aptly named Happy) sell off on most days.

The Nin Gou is a sticky and sweet rice cakes made from glutinous rice, and commonly eaten during the Chinese New Year, for its symbolic blessing for a “Higher Year Ahead”. Sandwiching the sticky block of sweet delight with a piece of sweet potato, and a slice of yam each, then dipped into the batter and deep-fried to crispy perfection, these snacks make GREAT tea-time accompaniments.

well frankly speaking ,Missed Ms Happy ,I wanted to pay her a visit after a lapse of nearly six month which used to be her regulars customer .Loved her yau char kwai with curry chicken which cooked just the way I loved it AND she was closed today…!Loved her variety of tong sui too. Where? At moon river, kinta river front. Open at night. but not tonight…sigh!

Chulia Street Penang

Well taking about the street of malaysia there Chulia Street.Chulia Street in Penang is no doubt a backpacker, flashpacker or the general travelers favourite must-visit place while holidaying in the Pearl Of The Orient called Penang. Chulia Street has for many years been a truly nostalgic place with lots of memories and one of the important stopovers for many travelers heading up to Thailand via Penang.Chulia Street is also located within the core zone of the recently awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site of Penang. The street was apparently named during the rule of Sir Francis Light in the 1800s when Penang was known as the Prince of Wales Island. There were four original four streets of George Town and they were Beach Street, Light Street, Pitt Street (now Masjid Kapitan Keling Street) and Chulia Street.Chulia Street still maintains the old charm with many pre-war buildings dominating both sides of the street while a number of guest houses and hotels stand out with bright signages hoping to attract the backpackers and travelers. Various shops cater to the tourist by offering everything travel related from buying second hand books to renting out motorbikes, internet cafes to instant laundries.Chulia Street also offers a number of money changers or foreign currency exchange services while visa arrangements to Thailand are a popular sight along the entire street. If you are looking for a good deal, it would be best to take your time and check with the various services offered here as one can easily walk the entire street in under an hour. Visa Runners, see end of posting.My memories of this old street go back about 10-15 years when I remember the street being popular with Antique Shops selling all sorts of curios and collectibles while the old style hotels looked pretty much grand during their heyday. These days, backpacker guest houses are the popular choice of lodging as you see a number of them throughout the street offering you amazing lodging deals.Gone are many of the original coffee shops and restaurants that once served a packed floor. These days, younger generation cafes, bars and bistros are mushrooming along Chulia Street or Lebuh Chulia in Malay. Even Bob Marley is not spared as a Reggae Club is located along this street catering to the backpackers who frequent places like these nowadays.Tourist guesthouses who double as Internet cafes and everything else are the norm here as competition is pretty much stiff. Prices are reasonable while lodging is very basic but guaranteeing you a place in the heart of town withing walking distances to most attractions in and around Georgetown.As I walk pass one of the old hotels called Nam Wah Hotel and Bar, it is now sealed shut. Probably due to the lack of business, the place once looked like a mini mansion with grand doorways in a stand alone building surrounded by intricate carved walls. I wonder why no one wanted to take over this beautiful nostalgic place. Well, before you know it, it could happen on my next visit there.

Maria’s Cafe (My friends Nigel cafe)

Western food in Ipoh has grown leaps and bounds since the days when it was either Rendezvous, First Coffee House, Scotch Pub, Miner’s Arms or to some lesser extent (catering to simpler, fuss-free palates of the younger ones), Crazy Ice Cream House,which is my favorite one . Back when we were still watching Ultraman, Voltron and still idolized turtles with weapons and talking trash (somewhat), dining out at any of the above was a cause for rejoice.

Okay, drop the last one, since Crazy Ice Cream existed back in the 90′s if I’m not mistaken (and still operating the last I heard). But only Scotch Pub managed to last well over its prime. And surprisingly, still attracting a loyal legion of fans come lunch hour. 

Fresh Oxtail Soup - Thick, creamy and robust taste of freshly stewed oxtail in a tangy tomato base cream soup, served with garlic bread. This could be a main dish, for all I know.

Anyway, fast forward a decade or so later, Maria’s Cafe came to the scene. Indefinitely, this was a cafe in a class of its own (back then), we shuddered to think of having dinners there since being students and all … the price was not so agreeable. Especially when this was THE place for good steaks and cakes, and a full-blown 3 course meal at Maria’s could have rendered us incapacitated for days without lunch money.

But that was then, and let’s fast forward again to present day. When the sight of Western food outlets (Cafes, Bistros, Steakhouse, Restaurants, etc) at every corner of the eye in densely-populated by commercialization area becomes the norm. And Maria’s Cafe still holds strong amidst the strong competition

Cream Of Mushroom Soup  - Creamy, smooth and hearty, this went well with the Grandma’s.

Minestrone Soup – Mum was elated by her choice of this inviting appetizer; tangy to a tolerable extent, and laden with an array of vegetables.

Nicoise Salad - An awkward ‘ulam’ like addition of lightly-blanched French beans aside, the hard-boiled egg with briny tuna flakes salad was a light starter, drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette.

The starters were good, especially the soups. The oxtail soup to be exact. Rarely found in most cafes nowadays (still remember how Miner’s Arms used to serve a delicious rendition of the same hearty soup), Maria’s Cafe managed to balance the distinctively robust flavour of the oxtail with delicate flavours from the savoury broth.

Chicken Supreme – Butter shallow-fried chicken roulade served in a rich supreme sauce on a bed of mashed potatoes and blanched greens. This will go down well with the kids, since the chicken came boneless and stuffed before served in a pool of decadent creamy sauce.

Fish Provencal  – Freshly grilled fish in a pesto-base sauce served with vegetables and baked potatoes. Looks scarily healthy, but the fillets of cod were of succulent texture and the flesh was sweet.

Roast Chicken – Drumsticks stuffed with water chestnut stuffing in a brown gravy.

Chef Nigel Lee is the new addition to the lineup, a local Ipoh boy with culinary experiences in various eateries and stints as apprentice chef in both Shook! and Equatorial Hotel in KL. This guy looks much younger than this artifact from Jurassic age named Motormouth, and he already is a HEAD chef?! Come on !!! I can’t even poach a proper egg for goodness sake …..

Most of the dishes were his creations, and was glad that most succeeded in bringing oohs and aahs around the table. Of course, our table consisted of discerning diners from 3 generations (the family, to be exact … we are a tight-knitted group with a serious penchant for eating!), and pleasing each and everyone of us might be difficult since the elderly might not take to too funky/fusion stuff with no substance (overly creamy/cheesy/spicy), and the younger (okay, somewhat) ones like yours truly eat anything and everything as long as the food satisfies this sharp tongue.

Australian Wagyu, charbroiled and served with sauteed vegetables, and baked potatoes served with English mustard.

But indeed, for the best steaks in Ipoh, Maria’s Cafe is definitely somewhere up there in the top 3. Maybe the BEST in most books, since Ipoh’s suffering from a serious lack of good steakhouses. Though San Francisco Steakhouse came to the picture sometime in 2010, the restaurant did not live up to the hype. Maybe a chain restaurant can never succeed in exceeding expectations?

We were rendered speechless by this beauty of a 280g slab of meat. Cooked to a medium texture (some in the family do not take medium rare or rare), the Grade 5 marbling score was a perfect balance of fat and meat; fatty enough for that melt-in-mouth wonder but not without a substantial bite from the tender meat. A prized cut of course, but still one of the more reasonably-priced Wagyu that I have come across.

Share this, and order a salad or soup instead as the other main. Or you can unleash that greedy self and hoard a piece for yourself. I wished I did.

Blueberry Cheese Cake - One of their highlighted desserts, Maria bakes the cakes herself and ensures that quality is not compromised. Hence you don’t see mass-produced cakes in 20 or 30 varieties, but a small display with a few choices.

Prune Cake- Warmed before served, this was a MUST-try. Coming from myself and the generations wearing dentures. 

Maria’s cakes were priced almost similarly a decade ago. And back then, the cakes were premiums, compared to Secret Recipe’s which were priced at about RM4.90 or so per slice. But since then, the latter’s cakes have gone down the wrong route; being of smaller cuts, lower quality and priced almost the same as Maria’s now.

So for RM7.50 per slice, you get GOOD, homemade cakes that are Maria’s forte.

Illy Coffee is served at Maria’s Cafe, so you can end your feast in style and with a caffeine high.

I admit I had my reservations (as in qualms, not bookings) initially when I received this invitation from Chef Nigel(My friend =) nice one nigel ) for this blogging =)

Maria’s Cafe – Serving possibly the best steaks in Ipoh? You be the judge.

Foh San Dim Sum~I LOVING IT ~

Phew …. After the initial shock that we got on a Sunday morning, with roads all jammed up, all of the dim sum outlets in the vicinity crowded to the max (even coffee shops also jumped in the fray and business was booming!) and us running away with tails between our legs, FINALLY redemption came on a weekday’s morning.

Don’t get overwhelmed. Keyword is : DON’T EVER GIVE UP. Practise your steely glance (or puppy-eyed blinks) and stay adamant at one spot. (Or more, if you’re in a gang of ‘vultures’)

Weekends are definite no-no’s, unless you come REALLY early, or VERY late. They serve dim sum from about 6.30am onwards, until the day’s supplies finish up, or until about 2pm. No dim sum for dinner, sadly. Which is kind of a bummer, really. I wouldn’t mind digging into my Char Siew Pau and Siew Mai for dinner, or better yet, supper!

Remember – Don’t push your luck, and come prancing and whistling on a Tuesday morning. And sharing a table is a norm at Foh San. Especially if you’re in a small group.

Though we arrived rather ‘early’ (ahem, about 9am+ …. hey, we WERE working after all), the place was already akin to a can of sardines. Yup, you guess it. Everybody’s looming over the other customers’ heads, projecting their respective aura, in hopes of quickening the pace of the ones chowing on their dim sum. You gotta have patience at Foh San, since no queue system’s in check, your eyes must be very,VERY alert and dart back and forth. Trying to determine which table’s going to be evacuated first, from the hints given.

How? Erm, here are some tips. If the table’s emptying, and you see empty plates, or half-polished off ones dominating, then you’re in luck! Better yet, if you see the patrons’ eating pace has severely halted, or slowed down to a snail pace, A HA! Sooner or later, they’ll give in and submit to your pleading stares.

But if they just couldn’t care less, keep on refilling their tea and yakked away like nobody’s business (saliva a-dripping back into their porcelain cups and all), then they’re the species who won’t give a damn even if your butt’s perched on their shoulders. Or thighs.

The Fried Items – Fried Prawn Rolls, Chinese Chives (Kuchai) Dumplings, and my favourite; Stuffed Brinjals

Deep-fried Prawn Rolls came in a sparingly stingy portion, served with salad sauce. Forgettable. The Kuchai dumplings were good, albeit slightly cold when served. Best of all, the stuffed brinjals with fish paste, drizzled with the accompanying sweet and savoury sauce. They have stuffed red chillies, and stuffed fried tofu as well.

A new item on the menu – Claypot Chee Cheong Fun with Duck meat (other options include Pork ribs, or Beef)

At RM6.50 per pot, a new item Foh San offers is their Claypot Chee Cheong Fun (steamed rice noodles), served either with duck, pork ribs, or beef. A novelty, nonetheless. Still prefer my CCF steamed and served the HK style, with Char Siew/Prawns (Beef version was practically unheard of in M’sia, unlike in Hong Kong). The rolled up CCF was cooked with our choice of duck meat, in a thick gravy, with heavy hints of ginger and black bean. The duck meat was good, tender and not repulsively gamey, but the CCF got a bit sticky in the end, and we did not finish everything. A pot serves 2-3 person.

Har Gau – Prawn Dumplings

And how does 3 prawns wrapped in a transluscent dumpling skin, with added crunch from the other ingredients, sound to you? Luscious, right? Never failed to deliver, the Har Gau were freshly steamed (it does tend to run out pretty fast, so do check with the trolley staff periodically), and tasted lovely.

Ma Lai Kou – Steamed sponge cake

To cap off the heavier than usual breakfast (normally consist of white coffee and toast only … I’m working in Old Town, after all), we had a serving of Ma Lai Kou, or ‘Malay Cake’. Soft, spongey texture, with lotus seeds as garnishing, and added crunch.

Payment @ the Counter. One on the ground floor, another on the first. DON’T wave helplessly for the staff for billing! Bring your order chit/card over at the end of the meal.

We did not manage to cover other varieties of dim sum, including the newly added Fish or Chicken Porridge in Claypots. Reason being? We went in a very small group of TWO. Yup, FCOE must be still feeling the binge, AND the pinch. LOL. Total for the meal, including 5% government tax came to RM36.75. Rather reasonable, as I expected a price hike after the relocation.

The specially-designed Take Away Counter – So you don’t have to wait relentlessly anymore!

Throughout our meal, we shared with TWO different groups of people. Yup, turnover of customers pretty fast and furious here, with people waltzing in and out at an alarming rate. NOT the ideal place for a chat over a cup of tea, as you’ll feel ‘daggers’ from all directions. But nevertheless, where’s the fun without the wait? 

Only at Foh San, folks. Believe the Hype.

OK, I’m done folks!

Let talk about animal right =)

Hey guys u might ever wonder what the hell i talking to you this such muffled topic .Yayax , I know Jun Qi is out of humor already .But wait a minuts ,have u guys just forgotten the thing i said is my previous blog .Think again ,we care for our pets and animal =)

Oookay let share some of my thinking with you guys =)

here a video about how cruel human treat animal ...i feel shame for those ppl who did this to the animal .Human beings are complex evolved creatures who are accorded rights on the basis that they are able to think and to feel pain of those torture animals. Many other animals are also able to think  and are certainly able to feel pain as we do . Therefore non-human animals should also be accorded rights to save thm from being torture anymore by human being 

look at thm soooo cute<3

As long as we think the issue is the treatment of animals, we will seek to make that treatment more “humane.” But because animals are property, that goal is unreachable as a practical matter. The treatment of animals will always constitute torture under the most “humane” circumstances. And the “treatment” approach ignores that it is morally wrong to kill animals even if we treat them “humanely,” which we cannot do anyway. The “reforms” not only fail to provide any significant protection for animals; such reforms actually make matters worse because they encourage the public to feel more comfortable about animal exploitation and to continue to consume animals and animal products. The problem is use, not treatment. The goal is toabolish animal use, not to regulate treatment. The means to the goal? Go vegan and educate others about veganism.veganism does help ><Opppssss

People like to kill elephants why ? This is why because Elephants: They May Weigh More Than Chickens But Their Tusk Weigh More Than Gold 

Killing elephants is so damnn cruel to thm .Just becase human want to take their so called "teeth "(tusks).Even so ,human also do this to human by just killing thm just because their teeth are "gold plated "==

WE CARE FOR OUR PLANET 

this theme really suit our situation now ,human are killing animal without second thought just because of the power of money ,they are willing to kill as many hunt as they could .Over killing will lead to extinction of species of animal .I still want my grandson to see those animal still living in this planet 

An elephant may weigh more than a chicken but not as a matter of morality.

If you are not vegan, go vegan. It’s easy; it’s better for your health and for the planet. But, most important, it’s the morally right thing to do now .

SAVE THE ANIMALS BEFORE IT TOO LATE 

Do Protect Animals

We hear peoples always said: 

"Dogs are man's best friend."

"YEAP!!!"

I'm agreed with it so much, haha

I do have a pet dog called Jason, a 9 years old Pomeranian

handsome him =)

He was so cuteeee!! I loves every time he jumps and run around me when I'm back to home in Ipoh.

Jason loves outdoor activities too, just like me (like owner like its pet dog, LOLX)

So I do bring him out have a jog on the playground next to my home.What to do he need to be healthy also what ?><

It bring lots of happiness to my family and I don't feel lonely when my parents are not in home.

Yeah I am cherish the existence of Jason in my life =)

this is me wif angel my ggf dog 

Every pets to have their rights to be loved, 

not just dogs only.

The happiness relationship between pets and pets owner are depends to how much effort the pets owner did to their pets by their own.

This because pets just like human,

knows who cares them and who doesn't like them too.

So let's show our LOVE to animals!

Other than love animals,

we also need to ensure they being deserved to stay healthy and away from sickness.

We need bring them to veterinary once we found they are sick and any diseases infected on them.

 If we found sickens stray dogs, or dogs belong to owners that doesn't take their responsibility to being them to vets.

We do have the rights to let them cured by veterinary through SPCA which also known as Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

For those who doesn't know what's SPCA, it's an organisation that founded on year 1958. The aim of this organisation is educate people understand the responsibility as pet owner, protects animals, fight for privilege that belongs to animals, provide shelter and food for those animals had lost home or abandoned by their owners. Pet lovers are welcomed to their adoption centre to adopt those animals to give them a new life.

eating my camera bag ouchhh!!!

LET TREAT OUR PETS THE WAY THY SHOULD BE  ,
i normally see people throwing stone on their animal just because they are not happy what should human treat their animal like that , they were once ur best friends whn u are lonely , the only one u can shout out without any comment only u , even human will be evil whn u told secret to thm .So guys u should think about to start caring ur animal or pets now because thy need to be care as we do .Human are cruel animal whn thy come torture animal .Let our animal have the way to life like we do .Why because we care =)


Phew! I think I need a rest first after done my blog post.
Stay tune for Part Two after my coffee break ;)

Cheers!

IPOH FOODS PARADISE

So what next for the best places ?TaDaaaa that is 
Big Tree Foot -Plateful of deliciously succulent and bouncy deep fried fish paste stuffed in various manners.

The Famous BIG TREE FOOT …. years of cultivation led to a most fruitful shade?

A popular spot for quick, cheap and satisfying lunch among the locals, tourists and even the blue collars, this stall coined as “Dai Shu Geok” literally translated as Big Tree Foot, is located behind Tuck Kee Restaurant in Pasir Pinji of Ipoh.

Not to be confused with THE other stall (now a shop) on Jalan Prince , this stall has a great following of its own, normally crowded during lunch hour, although the hygiene factor of dining under this shack is slightly compromised. But for a taste of good food, you can throw caution to the wind for once ….

That my friend wai hao craving for it yong tao fu  

hey,yi shuang look at the camera =)

Recently, a coffee shop has opened next to this shack, with a stall selling the same stuff. Actually, they’re one of the same outlet. So feel free to eat at the original shack under the shady trees, or choose to feast in comfort over at the new ‘extension‘ next door.

The Ipoh famous Sar Kok Liew, or deep-fried stuffed 

The ‘Chap Guo Ping‘ (Mixed Fruit Ice) came in a HUGE jug, enough for sharing. With lots of fruit bits added, and lychee syrup poured liberately over the shaved ice, this is heaven-sent on a hot, sunny day. The other options include blended mix fruit (as below ) and even red dragonfruit !!!

cap gou peng drink =)

You can order laksa, or other types of noodles to go with their stuffed fish paste (yong tau foo, or yong liew), OR you can just pick your pieces and eat them fresh on the spot, jumping the queue. But of course, PAY FIRST before being seated at any of the tables laid around the place.

All the thing here are delicious indeed .But really, go for anything … they’re all good.This is really a nice places to be when u are in ipoh .

Watch out for the lunch crowd, as you may have to queue up and brace the wait. Parking may be a hindrance, as the allocated parking spots are rather limited, forcing most to double park by the roadside. Me ,yi shuang and wai hao did enjoy eating the Ipoh wonder that cant be find in kl .OPPssss!Okay what next let head on it desert time =)

A most saliva-inducing, gastronomic trail awaits you …. DON’T say I did not warn you …….

Tau Fu Fa=)

So whatelse is better to have a nice smooth Tau Fu Fah after an oily meal.So me joana and my sis decided to go for some Tau Fu Fah which is the most famous in Ipoh .Tau Fu Fah, also known as Soybean Curd, or Soy Custard, and almost instantaneously the image of white-as-snow, silky smooth curds made from soybean emerge in one’s mind. And if you’re wondering where to get the BEST Tau Fu Fah in Ipoh, Funny Mountain‘s the place to go, hands down.

joana lee which enjoying her TOU FU FA

WHAT Mountain you ask?! FUNNY Mountain. That famous soybean stall, almost renowned throughout the land of Malaysia, which may be the first Tau Fu Fah and Soybean stall that provides excellent Drive-Thru service. Yeah, you can literally enjoy your bowl of Tau Fu Fah in the comfort of your roaring engine, and risk perforating that ozone layer with another hole or two.

cik ciak ...joana wif my sis 

All in the name of wacky, good fun. Nah …. but really, the thought of slurping (yes, no chewing required!) on those smooth, almost melt-in-mouth Tau Fu Fah, served commonly with a drizzle of sugar syrup with a faint hint of ginger, all the while in the comfort of your air-conditioned vehicle – Priceless. Plus, you do not have to search for an empty parking lot in the rather congested area, or risk getting a ticket for parking haphazardly or for not scratching a parking coupon.

it always crouded wif ppl =$

The stall opens daily from 10.30am onwards, until whatever supplies they have on that day is finished. Yes, it’s a rather arbitrary signage on the wall, but truth be told, it holds true on most occasions. 

me and my sis

On peak periods, such as weekends and public holidays, you can expect to be sorely disappointed if you arrive after 2-3pm, for the Tau Fu Fah may probably be finished by then. So it’s best to come as early as possible, and relish in a bowl or two of the Tau Fu Fah (you can have them as it is, or with soybean milk, or even with cincau/grass jelly). And if you feel like it, help yourself to the take-away  containers of those sweet, slithering down one’s throat wonder. Or a bottle or two of their equally satisfying soybean drink, which is creamy, milky and wholesome in itself.Ipoh is fully of many delicious food .

There are many more food yet to be discover ,this is the few i would introduce u to go .Bcoz ipoh is just simply a food paradise =)