Kiki :: Taiwanese, anyone?

Me and Kak Shan

Numerous people have been telling me that I need to do more reviews of KL restaurants. So I am obliging as I wait for the Faculty CNY celebration pending at 4:30 pm (that's in 15 minutes). Lets see if I can get a post out in 15 minutes. Dress code today: RED! Red psychology is very interesting, so to speak:

1. Extroverted, optimistic, courageous and confident.
2. action oriented and physically active
3. center of attention
4. radiate a great deal of energy
5. ambitious and competitive
6. explorers and pioneers
7. passion and enthusiasm for life
8. always in a hurry, wanting to do everything right now, patience is not your best virtue. (my husband was right)
9. does not procrastinate (this is a LIE)
10. hard worker (this too)
11. flare up quickly, calm down quickly 
12. strong need for control associated with basic survival instincts
13. somewhat of a know-it-all, not wanting to appear ignorant
14. determined when you want something, but have a short attention span (in my mom's favourite words: HHTA hangat hangat tahi ayam, as if all other animals have cold t***).

Makkah Al Mukarramah: Top 7 eateries for you to try out~~

We went to see some camels for their milk.

I had written this entry last year September 2013 when I was in Mekah on pilgrimage with hubs, and I had wanted to stick it in our Haji Travelog, but editing 40++ entries (for the 47 days we were there) takes a while, and being the perfectionist that I am--along with my teaching job, not to mention wife and motherly duties---means that its going to be a while for that blog to come out. So for now, I will stick this entry in here, as a favour to friends and readers who are there or will be going soon. Mekah really is a wonderful and special place. Be assured in your heart and soul of the Greatness of the One Creator.

Please let me know when you are going~

Breaking News: Sham Visa to Open Top Notch Restaurant!!

From left: Chef Hanapi, En Zaini, Sham Visa, and En Norhazemi.
En Norhazemi is the owner of the well-known Nasi Ayam Gemas :)

This is an special entry because I am promoting a friend's soon-to-open restaurant :) Sham Visa, who probably rocked you to sleep on your walkman back in sekolah menengah (read: Untukmu Selamanya and Gerimis Semalam), is opening a restaurant soon and me and hubs were called in for the food tasting. We were thrilled and honoured, and had literally starved ourselves the whole day for the occasion. Sham and his wife Ila, practically served us the food themselves in a 5-star hotel setting in their family dining room. Good thing I didn't sign my name on the fan-mail I sent back in 1991 or I would be blushing bright red and choking on my food at the arrangement.

Gobo Chit Chat: Delightfully Special..

Gabo Chit Chat's favourite customers :)

This is blogged on location as I wait for hubs to come back to the table with his 5th plate of food. Gobo Chit Chat is one of those places that calls for a write-up immediately. Let me just say that it's just us two this time-- and we are out on a date to rejunvenate our love (ha ha ha). We had just spent the entire afternoon at AEON Seri Kembangan trying out the massive body-crushing massage chairs at what felt like a free day at the spa and then we headed straight for Gobo Chit Chat at Traders Hotel.

Kayu Nasi Kandar: A very popular mamak restaurant.

Out with the GBS girls, for lunch at work. It's reading week and exam starts next week, and supposedly we have all the time in the world, except for the occasional FYP presentation.

So here is the scenario: 4 young healthy professionals (alhamdulillah) with grade A personalities and much ambition, who are very hungry and ready to rate the place. The restaurant was extremely crowded when we arrived, and almost all the tables were full. We headed straight for the nasi station and pointed our fingers at the lauk. "That one, yep, no, no, yes, bit more, please, stop!! that's too much".

Here is the verdict on each of our respective dishes. We use the old-time 1 to 5 rating scale, 1 being extremely bad and 5 being very good; scores given on each picture:

Shima's. Nasi kandar lauk sotong. I give 3 points.

Sharifah: Western dishes priced like kangkung

Abang and Wak. Seen here with ancient soft drinks. Nope, didn't try them.

This was a teh tarik session with Wak on a Monday night, which turned into a full-blown dinner session. Wak is this really cool pakcik we met in Mekah during Haji--- his room was just across mine and he and Mazlan were tight smoking buddies. He's also available and waiting for Miss Right and Undemanding. Good luck Wak. 

Citrus BV2: Wicked Food!

With one of my wicked sister.  Does she look familiar? 

This was a weekend brunch with my Wicked Sisters, kak Shan and Kak Sarr. So called because we went to see Wicked together a lifetime ago in Singapore. That, and because we really are wicked. Sometimes.

Penang House @ Street Mall Cyberjaya: good good cheap cheap

Curry Mee and Beef Noodle Soup. A!

As I sit in my office waiting for my academic advisees to show up, I sit staring at these pictures -- trying to remember how good it tasted. These were from the last 3 weeks, when I went out with Ningy for lunch at the Street Mall, and I was about 10 lbs lighter. Since then I have put on more muscle from various activities. Weddings mostly.

Umai Cafe: my Putrajaya's favourite hangout

Qayyum under water umbrella 

I can't count the number of times we have eaten here, and I have taken so many pictures of perhaps nearly all the food (though goodness knows where I've put them), but these are the only ones that made it into this entry.

Umai Cafe is situated by a lake, between Masjid Besi and Masjid Putrajaya, right on my cycling route (nearer to masjid Besi). On this particular day, I had wanted to take the kids to the pool, which is right round the corner, and we stopped by Umai's for lunch, because I couldn't be bothered to cook. We had a big wedding to attend to that night (Uncle Amar's) and I still had chores to do: Armand's glasses, Q's shoes, my shoes etc etc etc.

Top 5 reasons why Umai rocks:

Red Wok :: One of Bangi's best family restaurants

The guests of honor

It takes me on average 4 hours to write a post. Today, I am going to write one in a half hour because I need to get ready for work at 8:30 am. This was my brother's birthday celebration in Red Wok on the 17th of May 2013. Yep; approx 5 months ago. Today, he has another addition to his family: the cutest baby boy coming in at 3.8 kilos. Yesterday he announced the baby's name: Zafran. So this post is dedicated for Zafran from his awesomest Auntie Cho.