T forty two: Divine or Dreadful?

Pic Source: T forty two - facebook wall

Last month, while browsing around BVII, we stumbled upon this cozy looking cafe. We decided to try the tea, a friend did recommend quite sometime back but at another location, so I thought since the name sounded familiar, it must be another of it's branch.

  

Pic Source: T forty two - facebook wall

Pic Source: T forty two - facebook wall

Pic Source: T forty two - facebook wall

Here's our tea set for two, but of course shared amongst the 4 of us (Zaim is "safely" asleep throughout tea time). The two kids of course dived for the sweet tiers. We skipped the foie gras coz even the smell of it, turned me off! I'm sorry, but as much as I love scones and cakes, give me banana fritters (goreng pisang, the ones sold by the road side or home made kind) and keropok lekor anytime for tea. These would only cost us a tiny fraction of what cost us here. However, for the experience, for the ambience, for the lovely China cups, for a cozy tea time or meal with your loved ones, why not... it is I have to say still a Simply Divine place to go.

The china used is so delicate. Not sure if it is really "the" Bone China, but whatever it is I'm glad we left that place without any broken China, faux or not! Phew!

We will come back here, but perhaps to try other main dishes.

Prices seemed reasonable, and the selection is quite good.

Verdict : Divine!

Pomelo Salad for a Pot-Luck Party!

I was invited to a pot-luck party yesterday and I truly had no idea what to bring.

I wanted something easy, something light, something interesting and something different.

Then I remembered this wonderful Pomelo Salad that was taught by a Vietnamese friend, Tra.

It was a hit, I'm glad my friends loved them. Here's the recipe, hope you'd try it the next time 

you get hold of some of these wonderful fruit!

The Ingredients for Pomelo Salad: 

Pomelo... eemm but of course!

Vietnamese mint, Vietnamese cilantro, Cambodian mint and hot mint. The Vietnamese name is rau răm, while in Malaysia and Singapore it is called daun kesom or daun laksa (laksa leaf). In Thailand, it is called pak pai .

Bunga Kantan (Ginger Flower/Torch Ginger Bud) - this was not in the original recipe from Tra, though I added them as suggested by my mom. 

Fresh red chillies for some heat and colour.

Lime, Garlic, Vinegar, Salt (or Fish Sauce), sugar and I also added some red bombay onions.

Some prawns too!

Method:

Step 1: Saute the prawns, I used a dash of cooking oil and a slice or two of garlic.

Step 2 : The sauce.

To prepare the sauce, in a bowl squeeze the lime, add vinegar, salt (or fish sauce), grated garlic, some water (I used some boiled prawn stock) and sugar.

Step 3 : The Salad Mix

Add to the peeled Pomelo, the Vietnamese Mint, Ginger Flower, Fresh Chillies, Onion and Cooled Stir-Fried Prawns. Pour in the sauce and mix well. It's best to prepare the salad and hour or two before serving. This is to ensure that the ingredients that made up the sauce have mixed well together and have blended well with the salad. Serve it chilled with prawns crackers.

Step 4 : Eating the salad

Eat the Pomelo Salad by scooping a teaspoon at a time on the prawn cracker. 

Enjoy the wonderful variety of texture and taste that you'd get at each bite. 

Have fun trying and impressing you family and friends!!!

My kids discovered something new, I learnt something new too!

Last Hari Raya Haji, we celebrated at my father in-law's. That morning we all went to the nearby mosque to perform our prayers, then it was just spent hanging about and eating again and again.

In the evening, what started off as a game of kick-ball ended up as this "upih pinang" game. I accidentally  found a palm leaf lying on the ground so I showed them how's it's done, hubby picked it up from me and the result... they had a blast.

The thing about eating at my father in law's house is that whenever we or rather I come (as if), my mother in-law would always get her maid to prepare this awesome dish. I have asked before how it's prepared and they have explained, though I never tried it before because, just hearing how it's prepared just doesn't do it for me. So that evening when the maid was preparing dinner, and I kinda asked what she's preparing with all the "korban" meat that we got that morning. I jumped at the chance at watching her cook when she mentioned that she was gonna be preparing my favourite beef dish. It doesn't have a name, but I have always called it Ibu's Beef Dish. I was ready with camera and all. So here's the dish, do give it a try, it's just a simple dish yet... yup, it's DIVINE!

Onions, dried chillies & fresh green chillies sliced like so.

Tomato sauce, Soy sauce and Oyster Sauce.

Sliced beef preferably the sirloin cut, sliced thinly. Seasoned with pepper (generously) and salt.

The key ingredient apparently is tumeric powder, plenty of these too.

To begin, saute half of the onions.

Add the seasoned beef strips, do not fry it too long or else it will hardened and make the beef too cheewy.

Stir and add the sauces, just a bit of everything.

Then add the chillies and finally the rest of the onions.

Walaah, Ibu's Beef Dish... yumm!!! 

Bamboo Castle

If you take the MRR2 route from Ulu Klang to KL often enough, you would have noticed that what used to be a junk yard before has been cleared and a mega construction made of bamboo and grass rooftop has been going on during the early part of the year. Hubby and I have been wondering what this place was going to turn out to be. We got our answers the Mother's Day weekend last month. The place was officially opened and it turned out to be a castle! A Bamboo Castle at that!!!

No, no royalty moved from anywhere to be by the MRR2.

Yup, sorry no change of guards will take place daily for any tourist.

Bamboo Castle is actually the direct translation for Istana Bambu which turned out to be a restaurant serving Seafood and other Asian Dishes!

We as in, the whole department minus one or two who were not in last Thursday, went to try it out as a sorta farewell lunch to boss who is leaving for a special assignment today. They are still having the special opening promotion of 30% off I think. So, go try it out now!! :-)

As one enters the fence... you'd see this arch.

(Just wanted to show how it looks like from my friend's Mini C). :-)

A little closer... thx Jamil for the picture.

The bunting of their product and services, apparently it isn't only F&B.

The walkway towards the eatery.

The Prayer Rooms.

Paddy field in Ulu Klang my friends!!!

View of the dining area from the prayer room. 

Bamboo products everywhere.

Even over your head.

Angklong.

The dining area.

The three "nature" pictures above courtesy of Jamil who brought his zoom lens. Beautiful.

Yes, this was taken here, there is also a pond.

Us, waiting to be fed!

The drinks came first, Azlan pouring out the "Kedondong Assam Boi drink",

 sounds nasty yet divine!

The must have ulam and sambal belacan.

Buttered Prawns.

Daging Salai Masak Lemak (Smoked Beef in Coconut and Chili Gravy).

My plate.

Yes, that... ladies and gents is the only amout of rice I took, minus one small spoonful before I remembered to snap this picture. I am still on my minimal rice intake diet since Mar 14th! Not bad eh? I think I will just stick to it now.

Assam Pedas (Fish in Spicy and Sour Gravy).

Kailan with Salted Fish

Another picture that was not taken was the Spring Chicken (Ayam Kampung).

So, my verdict for this place is, ok, not bad. Go try if you are into rice and local dishes, and if your kids would like to see a paddy field up close and lots & lotsa bamboo!

For more information: google Istana Bambu, though not immediately as their page is still under construction as of today.