Monday 25 February 2013

Weekday lunch spot @ Albion, Changkat Bukit Bintang

One of the few things that we look forward to on a mundane weekday is a nice and decent lunch to kick start the day! Heard about this British Bar in Changkat, which also serves reasonaly priced set lunches, got us excited and so we checked it out.
 
"Albion serves imaginative food that reflects current trends in British kitchens and innovative cocktails inspired by London Style bars in its elegant, enticing spaces". Not too bad eh!
 




Set lunches are availble Tuesday to Friday, RM22++ for a 3 course meal! (no drinks). Food is good, service is fast. Definitely a great lunch spot around Changkat! Apparently they have two sets of menu per week (Mon to Wed) and (Thursday and Friday), and changes every week! View full menu here!
 
First row: Entree
Second row: Main Course
Third Row: Desserts
Albion KL
Address: 31 Jalan Berangan, Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur Wilayah Persekutuan
Phone:03-2141 9282
Closed on Monday.

xoxo,
Jayn & Lea


Thursday 21 February 2013

Must-try Wantan Mee @ Bangkok

We were in BKK for the weekend before CNY to shop for our new year clothes and shoes...And for the first time after x times, we finally ventured out of the Platinum Mall food court for our first lunch!

A friend recommended this must-try wan tan mee place right opposite Platinum (did you really think we'd stray too far away from the mall??) and we LOVED it! The little shop is packed with locals and they serve dry & soup wan tan mee as well as rice + pork dishes. 

If you happen to be in BKK, you really should give it a try! Think it was about RM4-6 per plate (can't remember exactly).



Sadly we can't read Thai, so look out for the #2!

Noodles were tossed in "ju yao cha". OMG YUMMY. A generous amount of wan tans and cha siu too!

Directions:
Just cross the overhead bridge from Platinum Mall, come down the stairs, turn right at the first lane, keep walking until you see this signboard that has a number #2 on it. EASY!

We are definitely returning for you!  

Xoxo,
Jayn & Lea

Saturday 9 February 2013

We 'GO GREEN' for CNY!

HAPPY CNY EVERYONE! We are all prepped up to welcome the year of the snake with our lucky colour this year......GREEN!

Here's a peek of our green-ish new stuff....... Gong Xi Fatt Chai :D


Left: J's T&Co nails. Right: L's Two-toned green nails.

L's new Iphone 4S Cover

J's cutie slippers

L's cupcake baby-t

J's pretty ribbon-ring and earrings


Guess we aren't going Red this year..... ;)

Xoxo,
Jayn & Lea

Friday 8 February 2013

Roadtrip Day 3: Danok-Penang

Before heading to Penang from Hatyai, we stopped by at Waterview Restaurant at Danok for lunch...

Water View Restaurant @ Danok
This is definitely a must-stop place if you are into the whole 'dine-with-nature' thing. Great water view, lots of greeneries :) AND most importantly your food is served on a motorboat! How cool is that right..

As always, lunch ended up a 2 hour sinful seafood feast. Guess everyone got too relaxed enjoying the scenery! Sorry we do not have the address from this place but it is quite popular if you are heading on the road towards / out of Hatyai!



All food are served to your table on a motorboat!



And finally, we are in Penang by evening!


Dinner at Sg Pinang Food Court, Penang
We did promise to put up pictures of our fav hawker food :) So....Here's our massive MEAL ATTACK at the food court - satay, dry bak kut teh, ho chien, fried sotong, hokkien mee, chicken wings!


 BUT!! Our top favourite goes to....ta da! Everyone was walloping these dishes! BBQ scallops, BBQ sotong, lobak and ikan bakar!

LUNCH THE NEXT DAY @ AH LENG CHAR KUEY TEOW
A Penang trip isn't complete without a visit to Ah Leng for the yummy CKT! Our family are huge lovers of CKT and you have our word that Ah Leng is by far the best we've had (can't exactly compare to those in the food courts!). We sure hope you think so too :)

Look at those prawns!
 
Fully awake after a taste of authentic Penang coffee!


That's it folks! We hope you didn't get a food OD! Needless to say, a detox was very much needed after this road trip......*wink*

Xoxo,
Jayn & Lea  


Friday 1 February 2013

Roatrip Day 2: More of Hatyai!

After a night of cholesterol-bursting Thai food, we went for a pedicure the next morning! Unlike Bangkok, there really is nothing much to do in Hatyai but to eat and pamper yourself all day long. Unless you're like our mothers and are into buying pots and pans and steam cookers :p (FYI, Zebra kitchenware is much cheaper in Thailand).


Purple pedicure @ Pairin Salon
If you don't already know, Thai-pedicures are PLC (peng-leng-jeng). Cheap nice awesome really! We got ours done for ONLY 100 Baht (RM10) but please don't expect OPI quality! Purple is our lucky colour this year :) 
Happy feet!

  

Shopping @ ASEAN Trade Market
If you love Catuchak in Bangkok, this is the mini version of it. Opens on Wed-Sun from 5 pm, this market's got clothes, shoes, ladies accessories and lots of food! Oh we loved the shoes. RM35 and you get a pair of killer stilletos. Though we feel that the stuff here are sorta one season behind Bangkok, but well *WE STILL LOVE THAILAND, whichever state!*


RM12.90 for shoes!

Street food @ Hatyai hawkers
Yummylicious food that can be found just 2-3 minutes from our hotel. Seriously, you will never go hungry! 

L-R: Gingko dessert, Birds nest, Seafood Kuey Teow, Durian sticky rice
 
Uphill Thai Food @ Bon Khao Restaurant
This restaurant is located up the hill with a nice outdoor area that has a view! But you'd need to go through a super dark and slopey road, most Tuk Tuk drivers will know the way. (kinda like Lookout Point). Imagine the exciting Tuk Tuk ride up hill!

Total bill: 600 Baht (RM600) for 19 people. 
 

Address: 1/9 Karnjanavanich Road, Hatyai Songkhla

Next up Day 3 and more, more, more food! 

Xoxo,
Jayn & Lea

Roadtrip Day 1: Ipoh-Hatyai

Some families may bond by going camping or having movie nights but OURS bond by EATING our hearts out.

Most of you would have probably known about our big family road trip to Ipoh-Hatyai-Danok-Penang last week, so here's our day by day journal of our foodie getaway..enjoy :)
 
Beef noodles @ Sun Up Restaurant, Ipoh
A quiet little coffee shop for our first breakfast stop. Ipoh beef noodle is a little different from the usual places in KL as the beef slices are more chewy and less tenderised! 

Address: 5, Lorong Cecil Rae, Taman Canning, Ipoh Garden, Ipoh Town, 31400

Check in @ Mayflower Hotel, Hatyai
After a tiring 7 hour drive, we arrive in Hatyai. The Gungho Sisters had a room to ourselves! Loved the location of the hotel. Right opposite 7-11, massage salons at every corner and 3 minutes walk to the street hawkers, night market, Lee Garden Shopping Centre, Central Departmental Store and McD!

Nothing fancy but good enough for ZzZz's

The "kids"

Thai seafood dinner @ Samila Restaurant
Our uncle, a Hatyai-regular brought us to this seafood place just walking distance from Mayflower Hotel. You can already spot a spread of live seafood the moment you walk in!
Total bill: 8,000 Baht (RM800) for 19 people. 
 
Address: Suphasanrangsan Road

Watch out for Day 2 and more yum yum food!

Xoxo,
Jayn & Lea

Tuesday 22 January 2013

Whats your fashion colour for the water snake year?

The belief in Feng Shui runs in the blood of many, especially among the Chinese. It is a Chinese art or practice based on a belief in patterns of Yin and Yang and the flow of Chi that have positive and negative effects. Hence it's no surprise that Feng Shui believers position objects in their homes and offices, or abide to certain lucky numbers, symbols and colours (explains why our Fathers buy the SAME 4D number for years?).

Well we, the generation-Y that is, may be less prudent about all these, but nevertheless, we always say, "NO HARM TAKING IT AS A GUIDELINE". After all, LUCK is very important! (Bacarrat and Roulette came into the mind). OK sorry...

No, we are not planning to move houses or use the bagua 八卦 (energy map). We are relating Feng Shui with our 2013 fashion direction! Look good and gain luck? We like. 
  
Easiest guideline would be to identify the lucky color of the year.


BTW, this is the bagua 八卦 (energy map)! Learn more, click HERE!
OK so its the year of the Water element - the Water Snake! Colors of the Water feng shui element are all shades of blue and black. BLACK dresses?! Oh is that even a problem, we can fish a black dress from our closet blindfolded. The Star also suggests lucky colours for the upcoming Year of the Snake to be blue, green and purple. So yea, BLUE BLACK GREEN PURPLE it is!

The plus point: It doesn't only have to be clothing, but accessories in these colour scheme, such as jewelry, scarfs, belts, shoes will do the trick too! *wink wink*. To make it even more POWDERFUL, we read that "you can choose jewellery with natural crystals and stones with the presence of water energy, such as turquoise, aquamarine, pearls, kyanite, lapis lazuli and moonstone. Or, go for black colour ones, such as black obsidian, black tourmaline or black onyx". Extracted from HERE.  More reasons to SHOP on our coming Bangkok trip!

As for the more pantang believers, least favourable colours in 2013 are the colours of Earth and Fire feng shui elements, respectively all earthy/light browns and strong yellow, orange and red colours. 


The Gungho Sisters (true to our name) are ALL out for a bigger and better year ahead.. so here are some ideas of some fancy Blue, Green, Black, Purple goodies that can kickstart your year of the water snake! Well if you are a Tiff & Co. fan like us, it's time to get those tiff-green leather goods!

Tiffany Iphone cover USD125 (approx RM480!). We want we want!
Heart Pocket Mirror $95 (approx RM300). Check out their other small leather goods too at Tiff&Co.! You will love them.
 

Nine West Pammie



Prada in cobalt blue - perfect bag for work!

Victoria Secret Cotton Lingerie - available online

Victoria Secret Cotton Lingerie - available online

Sexy lil black dress from H&M - RM59.90


Killer Louboutin! Dream shoes! Check out ALDO for something similar :)



Oh yea go for this instead of the 'classic' yellow one! hehe



ZARA fitted dress - RM159.90

H&M ballet pumps - RM79.90
Gungho sisters welcoming the water snake!!

Hope we have been of some help in not just making you LUCKY, but also looking AWESOME and FABULOUS!! Till then, 再见 zài jiàn!

xoxo,
Jayn & Lea 


Sunday 20 January 2013

Cold noodle, anyone?

Among Asian cuisines, Korean food has always been my choice whenever we eat out. Other than the normal BBQ meat/seafood served along with a variety of small dishes called Banchan, I am also a huge fan of cold buckwheat noodles aka naengmyeon. It’s a very popular dish in Korea all year round especially in summertime. I love the texture of the chewy noodles and the icy cold broth is very refreshing.

Being Chinese, sadly the only home-cooked meal closest to Korean that I have is Ramyeon, which is the Korean instant noodles!

I am sure most of you who are instant noodles (better known as "MAGGIE MEE" in Malaysia) lovers would have tried these before.
Yea, my Ramen with prawns mussels and fishcakes. Kimchi by the side.

OK, enough of the oh-so-ordinary Instant ramen. Back to my NaengMyeon!

Last week after a Korean dinner at a regular joint with my family, we spotted a korean supermarket along the street and wondered around the mart. Everything in there was imported from Korea, from their canned and packet food, to even their fruits and vegetables! heng-bok-hae ^^

It was then, I realized, I can cook my favorite COLD NOODLE at home! I assumed it has been around all along?! but I have not really seen it in any Korean mart before. So yeap got a few packets and prepared one today!


Noodles and soup packed separately. RM10


No idea, but 'maggie mee' expert only need to see drawings and numbers. OKEH SET! I am ignoring the instructions and I will do it my way!


6 easy steps to a delicious NaengMyeon: 

STEP ONE: Placed the packet of soup in the freezer until you see some tangy iced broth formulated (around 30 mins)

STEP TWO: Slice some carrots into thin strips. Add a pinch of salt, 1 ts of sugar, and 1 ts of vinegar. Mix it up and and set it aside. (you can also add cucumbers or korean pears)

STEP THREE: Hard-boil an egg (I prefer runny yolk so I soak them in iced cold water when it's almost hard). Set it aside.

STEP FOUR: Boil the noodles in a pot with water (I did cut some beef cubes and throw em in together with the noodles). I tried the texture every 30 seconds because the noodles looked half cooked to me from the packet. I drained the noodles after 1 minute.

STEP FIVE: Soaked them in a bowl of iced cold water, and drained it again! It was all good! Beef cubes are cooked. Placed them in a serving bowl. (preferably aluminum bowl to preserve the cold temperature)


STEP SIX: Cut the packet of soup and pour it into the bowl of noodles. Add the carrots and egg on top!! Tah dah!! :) Ready to serve!! 


Served cold, texture of the noodle is chewy! May add some mustard and vinegar..It will taste even better!


My runny egg!! YUMMY!!!



And finally, an INSTANT hot Korean coffee to complete the meal! Happy lunch!

Shin Sun Mi Korean Mart
Jalan Ampang Putra 6,
Taman Putra Sulaiman,
68000 Ampang
Tel: 03-4256 8989 

xoxo,

Saturday 19 January 2013

Hidden Jap restaurant @ Daimon Yokochu Cheras

This place is one good news for Jap-food lovers in Cheras. (Me! Me!).  Especially when you're feeling blue and refuse to go further than your own comfortable Taman. This isn't new but not many are aware that it exist. Unlike the regular Sushi chains, this one

#1 looks classy! like a proper quality Japanese restaurant.
#2 Serves  unique dishes & various Ramen soup bases [beef satay / tonkatsu / pork bone]. To my surprise, has no sushi on the menu at all. 


(L-R) Salmon Salad, Wasabi Gyoza, BBQ Mentaiko

I liked all 3 of these! The Wasabi Gyoza is deadly, but really tasty. Be prepared with tissues for your nose :) First time trying BBQ Mentaiko (RM22) - something different. 

Premier Beef Ramen - RM19.90

I'm a massive Ramen lover and I have to say, l will return for their Ramens.

Green Tea Ice Cream + Waffle - RM10+

There is also a cozy outdoor area, probably for the smoking crowd


Not bad at all right? Will definitely return to try the popular Beef Satay Ramen and perhaps the Waygu slices (RM60 for 3).

Total bill plus green tea was about RM100. 


Location: It is located on a quiet row of shops on your left if you are heading towards BRJ which is on your right. I took the Connaught route to get into Alam Damai. 

Daimon Yokochu
32 A, Jalan Alam Damai 1
Damai 23
Cheras 56000 KL

Tel: 03-91055063


Xoxo.