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

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 

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,

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.

Brunch @ The Loaf, Pavilion

Pavilion is one of our hang out comfort-zones, a spot that both of us can agree on without any arguments! Needless to say we have had countless breakfast, lunch, brunch and dinner in almost every possible restaurant available. Today we were both craving for a decent American Breakfast and since we just had it at La Bodega last week (their bfast sets are pretty okay), we thought we'd go somewhere different. Ended up at The Loaf Bakery & Bistro! I'm sure this logo is a no-brainer to all bread and pastries' lovers.

FYI, the premium breads and pastries at The Loaf are made daily using traditional Japanese techniques, and they actually offer a full range of à la carte breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus too! (Breakfast serves till 6pm). Click here to view full menu and prices.

We like it even more now...and we were stuffed :) 

Photo from http://www.theloaf.com.my/

Their "Hearty 'N Healthy" set comes with thick toasts, croissant, hash browns, sunny side ups, sausages, salad, juice & coffee or tea! Generous portion for RM29++

Point to note: Their thick toast is really THICK, so make sure to save space for that!

Crayfish Bisque RM19++

Do check out their "Uhuhu Cheesecake" too the next time you visit! It's our all-time fave!

Photo from, http://www.theloaf.com.my/

The Loaf Bakery & Bistro

Address: Lot 3.13.00 & 4.12.02

Pavilion KL, 168 Jalan Bukit Bintang,

55100 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: +603- 2145 3036

xoxo,
Jayn & Lea