Cari Makan: Breakfast stall @ Pasar Pagi Taman Megah

The food scene in Malaysia is immense. While there is no Michelin ranted hype nor the fancy pansy hatted awards in Australia, the yummiest bites in Malaysia can come from the simplest and most unglamorous places.  This simplest place is no further than the local morning market (pasar pagi).  Cleanliness might be a concern for most.  But for me, I’m a true local.  I could not care less. 

However, a few steps have been taken by the local authority to improve the cleanliness of these places and one such step is by setting up proper complexes to house the vendors.  A bit saddening because the “pasar” feel is now a distant memory.  But that is ok, the old Chinese couple operating the brekkie stall in the market is still there :).  My mom and dad gets food from them for me on the weekends ho!ho!  So, what are my breakfast picks from this stall?

The economy fried noodles.

There is practically nothing on there besides heaped carbs. But that is all I really need for a good start to my day.  The taste is unbeatable.  It might not be the typical Malay sambal but it looks down on every sambal/chilli paste in Australia.  And do not be fooled by the word economy.  The old couple charge a premium for it but that is probably the privilege they earn from the ever growing crowd!

My next pick is the Nasi Lemak Biasa.  Yes, the serve is small in Malaysia and 2 is just about nice for me!

Small little nibble sized crispy anchovies are the secret addition to this packed little goodness.  And I always complain about how cafes serve half an egg.  Look at this.  Probably one tenth of an egg. WTF. =.=!  Nonetheless, it was every bit as enjoyable as the fried noodles. 

On a separate note, this rice dish and I go a long time back to primary school where my usual routine is guy punching and girl fighting.  Waking up at 6.45am to eggs and milk did not fill me up.  So my dad used to bring my lunch box to this couple to be filled with the exact same dish with added curry chicken :)!  And how long ago was that?  I’d say 15 years.  Yes folks!  15 years and they are still serving.  They’d probably be driving Mercs and Beemers by now.

That is all I shall talk about today.  Lovely morning breakfast packed by mom and dad.  Awesome possum thanks parents!

WenY

Cari Makan: Shihlin Taiwanese Delights @ 1Utama

I have been to 1Utama quite a fair bit since I was a kid.  But never once was I tempted to try the little snack places scattered all over the complex.  It was normally O’Brien Sandwiches, Sushi, Pasta, Chinese Hawker or American.   That was until my housemates back in Perth started talking about all the delicious food offered by small Taiwanese snack stalls.  I was dubious about the yumminess of these snacks because if it was yummy, I would have known.  Apparently not ahah.  I only noticed this place a few days ago.  The fact that two of this similar snack stalls are located in this complex only throws me into deeper embarrassment when I consider myself a local. 

But let bygones be bygones.  I finally made up for it by doing a double dose in my recent visit to 1Utama.  I decided to try two things.  One was the XXL Chicken which was super damn big and only cost 6 bucks.  The other was the sweet potato fries which was delicious!  I enjoyed both :)!

The chicken was super big.  Could have fed two people and I enjoyed the garlicky powder they used to season the chicken after it has been fried.  My sister said the one in Taiwan was tastier, and it was done differently.  Not sure how different it is, but this one was already pretty damn good!  But there was just one problem, and it was the sogginess of the skin when you try to walk around enjoying each bite slowly!! BOOOOo!! Lastly, the fries were yummy and the pepper-salty powder in which the snacks were tossed in was good!   However, not all the potatoes were ripe so some were a bit harder than others heeh!

So if anyone visits 1Utama, I would recommend  you to have this snack.  Definitely a preferred option over those fancy cafes that are nothing more than wannabes.  Do not be deceived by the pretentious decor of the fancy cafes.  You would be better off with these snacks rather than those offered by the fancy restaurants :P!

WenY

Bites: Levain Boulangerie Patisserie @ Kuala Lumpur

It has been a splendid holiday so far.  Mom and dad spent a few days last week to bring my sis and I around town.  One of the places we ate at, was Levain Boulangerie Patisserie.  It is the talk of the town  and is still pretty hot from what I observed.  The place is packed even before lunch time and I believe, even crazier during lunch time itself.  We went there at 11 for brunch as advised by the baker.  This was because most of the stuff comes out fresh from the oven at that time.  Mom, dad and sis went there once for evening tea, and there was hardly anything left :’-(. 

One of the photos with the effect from Instagram.  I love that logo of theirs next to the name.  The girl with a bike which has a trolley attached to it, filled with French loaves.  It adds class to an already fancy name.  Or maybe it only applies to me who is illiterate in French. xD!   “Boulangerie” Okkkkkkkkkkk!  As if I know what that means, but it does not matter.  In the end, it is the money and taste that tells me whether I should be back here for a second time.

 

On the food, I do not have individual pictures, but I do have a bunch of stacked up pastries :)!

On the top right is a pastry with macadamia and pistachios.  It has a sweetish crust with nuts and seed sin it.  Really delicious and simple.  But, nothing gets simpler than the donut twist in the middle, my sister loves it.  But truth be said, she would fall for any similar doughnut sold at any other bakeries!  The Mango cheese tart is the first one I’m having in my trip back to Malaysia, and I love it.  I love pretty much everything which cheese.  Not sure what a picky eater would say.  And on the bottom left, we have the curry chicken doughnut.  It was yummy as well.  And not on picture was the turkey pizza.  I kinda liked it.  Very cheesy and generous on ingredients!  Verdict?  OMG.

Is this all so truthfully delicious or am I just psyched up from my holiday mood.  My mom frequents this place when she was placed in KL; bringing her friends and clients for business talk and sort, and she says its a nice place.  But I cannot really tell. Moreover,  I have never been a big fan of pastries.  I just love eating. Oh, and something happened here.  My mom’s coffee had lipstick stain. so she demanded a change and we got something for free, a Durian Cheesecake!! Uh-oh!!

The complementary Durian Cheesecake, or more like a compensation from going into a lawsuit.  What can I say about it? Cheesy, yummy, and oh, free!

 

The environment here is nice and pleasant.  Pretty quiet too!  Also, the prices for the pastries are decent.  About 3-5 ringgit each depending on what you pick.  But the killer for me were the drinks. Coffee starts at 8 a cup.  Iced Chocolate goes for 12 bucks.  That was all a bit crazy!  Nonetheless, what you pay, you get.  Its quality stuff here!!!Rwarrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!! More updates soon!!

 

WenY