by The Charlie, on Thu, February 02, 2012
Chinese
"Eyes and cheeks are the best bit..."
Artfully tucked into an alley, Big Tree Lin Kee is not the easiest place to find. Right after you drive past the turn-off into Jalan Waras 3, you’ll see a big yellow sign written in Chinese with a big arrow pointing right into the alley. Follow it up the road and pray hard for an empty parking spot. Then grab a seat and get ready for one of the best steamed fish you’ll ever have in the Klang Valley. Big Tree Lin Kee have been around for about 7 years. Named after the matriarch of the family, Lin, their steamed haruan fish heads are the major star attraction here. Haruan has wonderfully smooth and soft flesh characteristic of river fish. It’s also relatively cheap and good for you, as it’s a popular pantang and post-op meal option.
The most popular ways to have it here are either with the brown fermented bean sauce (cheong cheng) or with minced ginger. We ordered both, along with a whole host of other dishes.
The soup arrived first, a deliciously herby watercress soup. Red dates or jujube fruit gave it textural interest, while the chunks of pork give the soup its body. The stir-fried kangkung belacan here is one of the best we’ve had – fresh, crunchy, with just the right amount of kick from the belacan and the chillies. The stir-fried sweet potato leaves were also fresh, if not a touch bland. The tofu was a quick favourite as its crunchy-on-the-outside-smooth-on-the-inside texture won us over with subtle hints of seafood and vegetables studded into the tofu.
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So, romantic restaurants in Subang Jaya? Is it a myth or can you really find some cosy up, dim lighted, slow music, great service, fantastic parking, late closing and no kids restaurant to work that mojo of yours? Here are 5 places that will save your life when you come back home suddenly remembering that its your anniversary today or her birthday and… More »
Valentine's Day is around the corner and you're stump. Finding the place for your celebratory dinner can be quite a task especially when you and your better half spend most nights in and rarely venture out for dinner. Don't fret, we got your back. Check out our list of cosy and romantic restaurants scattered around PJ. Take your pick and make… More »
Sometimes a no fuss one-dish pasta is just the ticket for a romantic dinner for two.
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We are avid believers that the stomach is a sensuous organ. Fill it right and the rest will follow. Cooking for someone you love is a wonderful thing. In one grand gesture, you can lay your cards down, find out where you stand and have an excuse to gaze into your paramour’s eyes.
For Valentine’s people most often associate romantic… More »
For a romantic dinner sizzle up chicken thighs dressed up in bacon for extra succulence.
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Sex up a fish filet with the scent of the Mediterranean with fresh lemons and olives for a romantic afternoon lunch.
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by Farah, on Sun, January 29, 2012
Malay
"Banana leaf wrapped goodies..."
Nasi Lemak Marvellous in Bukit Indah is known for their teensy packages of this Malaysian favourite. Tiny in stature but huge in popularity this family-run business is helmed by Pakcik Abu and his wife Makcik Yasimah. His wife does most of the cooking while Pak Abu and his son manage the restaurant. They started with a small stall in 1997 and relocated to their current location in 2003. Most people opt to tapau their Nasi Lemak for small gatherings or to eat at home. One guy even ordered 200 packs for an event. I prefer to dine in. Their packs are so cute that I finish my first one in a couple of minutes. Rule of thumb is 2 packs per person and you eat them on their own or with the lauk. I definitely recommend the latter. In my opinion, it’s the lauk at Marvellous that sets them apart from other nasi lemak joints that I frequent.
The taste of the nasi lemak here is similar to what you probably ate in your school canteen. Sambal is mild and rice is infused with a hint of coconut. This is fine by me because the accompanying dishes are the ones that seal the deal. The best lauks here are the Ayam Masak Merah and an unnamed beef dish which is like a hybrid of dendeng and rendang. (When I asked Makcik Yasimah for the name of the beef dish, she just said,”Takde nama. Ni resipi bantai jer.”- “I don’t have a name for this dish, it’s a recipe I got when I just mixed random stuff together.”) So the beef dish for the purpose of this review should be dubbed Daging Bantai Jer. Other lauks sold here are paru, sambal sotong and fried chicken.
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This is so sinfully good. Once the chicken is fried to perfection, the golden skin breaks away like crispy biscuits while the flesh stays moist and juicy.
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Scallops in their half shell are an impressive sight. These are simple to bake but your guests will be asking for more. They are sweet and salty, perfect with the crisp broccoli.
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Don’t be fooled by some of the ingredients. This is meant to be a dessert, a tong sui of sorts. The flavour is interesting and it can be eaten either warm or cold.
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These resemble garlic prawns but the grill gives it a beautiful charred flavour. The prawns maintain their juiciness and the Szechwan pepper, seasoning salt, and orange zest give them the kick they need.
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Have a hankering for sweet and sour fish? This is a great version and much fancier when you serve a whole fried fish instead of the fillets. We used pomfret because it crisps up beautifully...
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Aunty Gemuk, Kelana Jaya
Aunty Gemuk is the reigning queen of Char Kway Teow. This is a lady that knows her way around the wok. Her sihams (cockles) are LEGEND-wait-for-it-DARY! They're succulent and springy. Added into the kway teow at the last minute so it still retains the slightly raw texture. Don't fret if you have a sensitive… More »
The year of the Dragon is upon us and this deserves a welcome with style. These dishes are perfect for a CNY reunion dinner and they’re simple to put together so you won’t have to slave away all day to impress. They also keep to the tradition of having ingredients that represent prosperity and happiness for the new year. Gather all your family and… More »
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