Cakes online...

A week before last I belatedly decided to go online when searching for a birthday cake for Zaim's birthday party last Friday. I thought, that's it, I have had enough of SR's cakes, it gets to be too boring and predictable after a while. Zaim's 1st birthday cake was this lovely Pavlova from Alexis, which was chosen purely for the pleasure of the other guests and not the birthday boy. A year old was a wee bit too young to have any preferences on the cake choice, I thought :-). This year, I was ready to indulge the birthday boy. The cake would be something that Zaim would recognise and love. It was a week before the planned birthday party on 28th May. I went online and whoaaa!!! OMG, was I surprised!

- The number of online cake shops online!!! OMG!
- The choices!!! Double OMG!

So how to choose which blog and which design?


The criterias that I had were:
- not too big, and not too small
- either cupcake or ordinary cake (still undecided then)
- 3D or plain square (depends on the choice above)
- what design
- flavour - easy... chocolate never fails to please everyone
- it had to be around my house so that I could pick up easily since the party was planned to be a breakfast picnic!!! I cannot be travelling 30 minutes in the wee hours of the morning to pick-up the cake, nor would the cake maker, I'm sure.

So in the end I contacted 2 blog owners.

The first one was chosen based on the design that she had, and I thought since the party would be half way from her place, she might be able to deliver the cake in the morning.

Thomas the Tank Engine. Now wouldn't this be nice for Zaim?

He loves trains and he knows this Thomas character, so perfect!

The correspondence started with blog owner Zarina of http://mysunshine-cupcakes.blogspot.com/. After a couple of emails, it was deduced that delivery cannot happen on the party morning itself. Aww, hmmm I was quite dissapointed because, I knew Zaim would have loved the design.

Thus, I continued searching for a blog owner whose logistics matches my need. So, to any future bakers out there... FYI, there are really limited online bakers around the area of Ulu Klang, Wangsa Maju, Melawati, Ampang and Gombak, so those leaving around here you know what business to get into or at least should seriously think about getting into the online cake business because it was difficult to find one until I landed on Cupcake Confetti! Yeay! So what cake did I choose for Zaim?... Do check out the party update next yah! :-)

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.