Adventure #160: Cafe 69 (Koh Samui)

After a 2-hour flight on Firefly's propeller plane we arrived in Koh Samui and checked into our hotel, Anantara at Bohput.  We rarely eat in hotels because that's usually not where the good food is.  G already picked out a list of restaurants for us to try and 2 of them are within walking distance from our hotel.

Cafe 69 which we tried tonight is on the main road right outside the hotel and it serves fusion Thai.

Decor is funky. Kids said it looked like a bedroom!

We also liked the colour changing logo on the ceiling.

For drinks I ordered a passion fruit based cocktail.  Gigantic! Delicious!

Kids had something they cannot get at home - Green Fanta!

Thai chicken curry dumpling.  Delicious and great as a starter.  Very interesting presentation too!

Pad Thai for the older one.  Interesting with its signature tamarind sauce.

Kao Pad Tom Yum - Tom yum flavoured fried rice! The fried rice was not wet and full of flavour. The prawns were fresh. Very interesting and the best dish of this evening.

Gai Tod Arirang - Korean fried chicken (without chili). Ordered this for the little one. As it was without chili, it was good but without the kick. 

The food was good and I really enjoyed it as well as the funky decor and food presentation. 

Cafe 69
157/52 Bophut Avenue Apartment
Bophut
Koh Samui
Thailand
Tel: +66-81-978-1945

Adventure #159: Village Park Restaurant (Petaling Jaya)

I have heard a lot about the Nasi Lemak at Village Park but never made it there because it is always crowded.  Crowded during meal times and crowded during weekends.  So, today before we leave to take our flight to Koh Samui for some R&R, we decided to give it a try.  We arrived mid morning on a Monday (cannot get more of- peak than this) for brunch.  Lots of seats and we were able to eat leisurely.

This is how busy it can get!

All the food Village Park had to offer.

And its famous crispy fried chicken.

I had to try its most famous dish - Nasi Lemak with Goreng Ayam (crispy fried chicken).  The fried chicken was delicious.  Sambal was also good. No sure I would come in peak time for this though.

G preferred to have his standard Malaysian breakfast - 2 half boiled eggs with coffee (at the back) and......

.......his kaya toast.

The older one has been dreaming of Ipoh Ho fan ever since our Malaysian road trip last year. So, this is what she had.  For a restaurant specializing in Malay food, its Ipoh Ho Fan was surprisingly good. 

And the older one also had a Milo Dinosaur! What a fun drink. Only in Malaysia!

Village Park Restaurant
5, Jalan SS21/37 Damansara Utama,
47400 Petaling Jaya
Malaysia
Tel: +603-7710-7860

Business hours:
0700 – 1930 (Monday – Saturday)
0700 – 1830 (Sunday and Public Holiday)

Adventure #158: Cendol at Damansara Uptown (Petaling Jaya)

There is a cendol stall just outside the mosque at a roundabout in Damansara Uptown.  G said he has been going there since he was a boy.  And whenever we are in the neighbourhood, we would buy a pack or two home.

When we got there today, only the old man was there on his own.  His son had gone to get more ice.  I gave my orders and he worked slowly but steadily assembling them.

Still using the old manual crush ice maker.

Cendol with pulut (sticky rice) and only crush ice.

This is by far the best cendol in this part of town. In KL, it has to be the one at the small parking lot beside lake Titiwangsa. 

Adventure #157: Durians at SS2

I am a HUGE durian fan.  I can eat durian everyday.  So, every time I come back to KL, whether durian is in season or not, I seek it out.  Lucky for me, the durian stalls at SS2 are always open. 

There are 2 stalls at SS2, Uncle Donald and Durianss2.  Both are equally good.  Prices relatively similar, service too.

As this was not durian season (season in July and August), the stands were not fully populated, same for the tables.  

The type we were familiar with such as D24 were not on offer, although Mao Sang Wong was on offer - I passed coz of the high insecticide content associated with it.

Red Prawn was in season and so was only RM18 per kilo.  The flesh was attractively reddish and very sweet. 

We also tried Jantung (the Heart) - which was appropriately shaped. This was more creamy, not as sweet as Red Prawn with a hint of bitterness.

Can't wait to come back again!

Adventure #156: Raju (Petaling Jaya)

Sunday morning, the family went out for lunch at Raju in Section 5, Petaling Jaya.  The restaurant is at a corner lot so diners can choose to eat inside the restuarnant or al fresco in the area to the side of the restaurant.  The al fresco area is open and under some huge tress, so although it was a hot day, the open area was rather cooling. 

Fresh meat and seafood - fried to order.

Staff at the front of the restaurant busy frying away.

Staff making fresh roti at the open area.

This is the bit everyone loves - eating on banana leaf.

The sauces to go with the fresh roti.



I really enjoyed my fresh roti with dal.



G had rice which came with some veggies (as much as you want) and 3 different type of curry sauces (free refills).

Some fried pigeons and fish to go with our meals.

Our favourite - fried squid!

I enjoyed the meal but G said the food is good here though he prefers the curry at Kanna Curry House in SS2.

Raju
27 Jln Chantek 5/13
off Jalan Gasing
46000 Petaling Jaya
Malaysia

Adventure #155: Madras Lane Yong Tau Foo (Petaling Street)

Within the Petaling Street wet market is a yong tau foo stall.  As with many stalls in Petaling Street, this one has also been around for more than 50 years.  We used to go to Ampang for our yong tau foo but since we were told this is one of the best in town, we shall take some home for dinner.  Stall just opened, hence a rather long queue. But for good food, we wait.

The many different variety of yong tau foo to choose from.

The fish stuffing in the yong tau foo was smooth and bouncy. Delicious.

Adventure #154: 四眼仔 (Petaling Street)

No more room in our stomach but still so much more good food around.  So, we decided to take away for dinner.  One of G's favourite food in Petaling Street is Roast Duck from 四眼仔 (literally four-eyed guy or the one with spectacles).  Choong Peng Phooi started this stall (take away only) some 40 years ago.  He has since retired and the stall is now run by his 2 daughters.

Roast duck at RM46 for 1. They also sell a Duck Foot Parcel - duck liver wrapped in duck web for RM1.50 each.

The sisters working together to a perpetual queue.  One sister chops tirelessly.

The other wraps up the ducks.

Mum the banker collects money and sometimes help out.

The duck was moist and tender. The meat salty and also had a slightly smoky flavour to it. As good as we remembered.

Adventure #153: Air Mata Kucing (Petaling Street)

After the wanton noodle, we went to get a drink at the Air Mata Kuching stall at the junction of Petaling Street and Jalan Hang Lekir.  Air Mata Kuching means 龍眼水 but is actually made from boiling 龍眼, 羅漢果 and 冬瓜 together.

 

The drink used to be served by the proprietor and in a metal bowl with a metal spoon (kept the drink cold). But now the drink is served by Indonesian maids in a paper/plastic cup.  Still taste good but no more feel.