Poison Ivy Bistro @ Kranji, Singapore

Poison Ivy Bistro, part of Bollywood Veggies that is located in the farming area of Kranji in Singapore. Many birdwatchers, people who likes fishing or even people who just want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city will come to Kranji. The vegetables served here are from the farm and if not mistaken, it is actually organic.

The Curry Chicken tasted really good. Went really well with the prata but I would definitely prefer white rice. Gravy is thick and flavourful.

Curry Chicken

Mixed Vegetable Stir Fry is a simple vegetable dish that tasted good. The vegetables were really fresh and there were assortment of vegetables that I could not tell. Overall, it tasted good.

Mixed Vegetable Stir Fry

Didn't really fancy the Banana Curry because I find it a bit plain. Or maybe fruit curry is not my cup of tea.

Banana Curry

The Moringa Leaves Tempura was nice and crunchy. It didn't have much taste but nice texture wise plus it comes with a salty dip and some crushed garlic to lend it some flavour. It is supposed to be a healthy as it contains four times the amount of calcium and seven times the amount of vitamin C in carrots!

Moringa Leaves Tempura

The Fig Tea is something nice and refreshing. A lot of times, when a drink is served, it tends to be overly sweet. The Fig Tea was just nice!

Fig Tea

A free entrance to the farm will be given to diners who dine in Poison Ivy. Instead of just going to the farm, enjoy the meal and a walk after that :)

Braised Pork Pau @ Westlake, Singapore

Westlake Takeaway Kiosk

Chanced upon this Braised Pork Pau aka "Kong Bak Pau" in Hokkien while walking in Jurong Point Shopping Center. Couldn't stop peeling my eyes off from the delicious looking braised pork even after a heavy brunch previously at Ding Tai Fung. Thus, bought it and snacked on it even with a full tummy.

A Close Up

A sliced of half fat half lean, soft and well marinated meat in between a flat piece of fluffy pau and a crunchy lettuce! So tasty!

Takeaway Kiosk

Jurong Point Shopping Center

#03-85

Ayam Bakar Wong Solo @ Kampung Baru

Having tried Ayam Penyet (The Curve) and Ayam Penyet Api (Sunway), this time is Ayam Penyet Wong Solo. This shop originated from Solo, Indonesia.

The signature Ayam Bakar (RM6.90) was fresh and pretty tasty. The chili is spicy but good. The chicken was a little too dry though. It is topped with very tasty fried crunchy bits.

Ayam Bakar

Balado Terung (RM7.50) goes well with rice but be careful as this is really spicy.

Balado Terung

Ordered the Bawal Bakar (RM19.90) that is truly delicious! The grilled black pomfret is well marinated and it topped with some fried crunchy bits.

Bawal Bakar

The Tafu dan Tempe Goreng (RM5) was just normal fried stuff.

Tafu dan Tempe Goreng

They do serve Avocado Juice with Chocolate Syrup at RM6 which is delicious! A plate of white rice to go with the dishes cost RM2.50. Overall, this is better than the two Ayam Penyet places that I have tried. Variety and taste wise but I had a bad diarrhea after consuming the food :(

Address:

Restoran Ayam Bakar Wong Solo.

No 57, Jalan Raja Alang Kampung Baru

50300 Kuala Lumpur

Tel/ Fax: +603 2691 1680

El Cerdo @ Changkat Bukit Bintang

The Spanish Countryside Ambiance

Read and saw pictures of this nice porky place very often in facebook or mentioned in blogs. So one fine day, we decided to celebrate a good friend's birthday here in El Cerdo. Known as "The Pig", well of course their signatures would be pork ;) Located at the happening spot of Kuala Lumpur, you can choose to park in front of the restaurant where you will be charged RM5 or park behind the row for free and just walk there - a little exercise is always healthy :)

Drawn Pattern on the Table

Once we sat down, they offered us a low bench to actually place our handbags. Nice touch of service. After we ordered everything, we were served a complimentary small cup of vegetable soup which tasted pretty good :)

Complimentary Vegetable Soup

We ordered the Slow Cooked Tender Ribs RM65 which was good. The ribs were long and juicy and enough to feed two small eaters. Meat was well marinated. It comes with three different sauces, BBQ sauce, Jalapeno Chilli Mayonnaise and Mexican Salsa. Very tasty albeit on the pricy side.

Slow Cooked Tender Ribs

Mash Potatoes as a Side

The Baked Macaroni (RM28) was just ok.Was a little on the sour side in my opinion but my friend really liked it :)

Baked Macaroni

We also ordered some fancy name dr(inks like Love at First Try (RM18) and Romance d'étranger (RM18). The Rose Berry Sangria RM25 is really good. The infusion of citrus fruit with good quality rose wine is good.

Rose Berry Sangria

Refreshing Sherbet from Wild Raspberry with Grappa (RM22.50) was good albeit on the sour side.

Refreshing Sherbet from Wild Raspberry with Grappa

They don't serve sky juice and the mineral water is a total rip off! RM5.50 for a 500ml common bottle of mineral water available in supermarkets for maybe at the most RM2! If you have like about 4-6 people, order the roasted suckling pig. It is special because you will need to cut the pig with a plate and then break the plate in the bucket. Supposed to signify love and luck ;)

There is a government tax of 5% and service charge of 10%.

Address:

43 & 45 Changkat Bukit Bintang

50200 KL

Tel: +603 2145 0511

Spaghetti ala Vongole

I have been doing a lot of spaghetti experiments recently. Normally I cook it as a lunch bag as the place I am working in have very limited choices. Moreover, the can of canned clams I bought years ago is expired about one day. Just took the risk and cook it because I can't find any more canned clams in brine in supermarket shelves! Overall was ok but was a bit salty because i added too much brine and the clams were fishy.

The can of canned clams

Ingredients:

5-6 pips of chopped garlic

4-5 pieces of pitted black olives

1 slice of Pork Ham

1 can of clams in brine

dried parsley

a handful of spaghetti noodles

Clockwise from top: sliced ham, sliced black olives, drained clams, garlic

Method:

1. Cook the spaghetti noodles in hot water and salt til al dente. Remove and drain.
2. Saute garlic til fragrant. Push aside.
3. Saute the ham. Add in parsley and combine the garlic that was put aside.
4. Pour in some of the brine from the clams. About a quarter of the brine into the pan. Simmer a while.
5. When the broth dries up, put pour in the cooked spaghetti and stir fry for a short whole. Add in the olives.
6. Dish and serve.

Il Padrino @ Wisma UOA Damansara Heights

Il Padrino means Godfather in Italian which is exactly the theme for the restaurant which is based on the movie. Even the napkins have Don Vito Corleone (played by Marlon Brando) printed on it. Love restaurants with their own special themes as they exude their own special characteristic.

The place is more of a fine dining concept. It is pretty cosy and they even use wine bottles as wall decorations.

Set lunch is available here at RM28. There is another set lunch that consist of sandwiches and a drink for RM19.

We were served with complimentary bread and bread sticks with olive oil with balsamic vinegar. However, the dish that they serve the olive oil and balsamic vinegar a little on the deep side and we had trouble trying to get some of the vinegar on the bread without soaking the whole bread in oil.

The pumpking soup was a little on the sweet side and not creamy enough. Tasted much better pumpkin soup elsewhere.

Pumpkin Soup

The ceasar salad was just normal.

Ceasar Salad

Liked the pan fried sliced beef as the beef was really good albeit the small portion. The spinach was really good too. Nice and soft!

Pan Fried Thin Sliced Beef with Herbs, Garlic and Lemon served with spinach and roasted potatoes

The seafood spaghetti was a too sour for my liking. They did not skimp on the seafood though. Plenty of squid, prawns and mussels.

Mixed Seafood and Tomato Sauce

The pan seared sea bass fillet was just ok. The sauce was a bit sourish and I don't find that it goes too well with the fish.

Sea Bass Fillet served with Sauted vegetables and Pizzaiola Sauce

Tiramisu is little too soggy on the bottom layer. A little too wet for my liking. Not sure if this is how tiramisu should be.

Tiramisu

The service was really slow. Took us about 30-45 minutes waiting for the mains to arrive and they should consider about people working nearby who are taking one hour lunch and buck up on their speed.

Address

50-G-1, Ground Floor,

Wisma UOA Damansara,

No: 50 Jalan Dungun,

Damansara Heights 50490,

Kuala Lumpur

Tel: +603-2093 8596

Fax: +603-2093 8546

Prasad's Chetti Naadu Mess @ Leboh Ampang

Read about Prasad's Chettinad in Food Trail published on The Star long time ago and have been wanting to try this. Finally I did on a fine Saturday weeks ago.

Prasad's Jewellery Shop

Located Next to City Restaurant

This little unassuming place is located on the first floor of Kedai Emas Prasad (Prasad Jewellery) and does not have any sign board. Just go in Kedai Emas Prasad and take the staircase leading up to the first floor. Nearby the staircase will be a signboard showing Prasad's Today's Special so that you are sure that you are at the right place ;)

Specials of the Day

Once you sit down, a banana leaf will be placed right in front of you. Rice and two types of vegetables (spinach and carrots) will be placed on the side and a type of coconut chutney (not too sure ya :p) which was really tasty. For drinks, a stainless steel cup will be placed together with the banana leaf and water will be poured into it.

Delicious Basic Banana Leaf Rice

The Chili chicken was just ok. A bit on the salty side in my opinion.

Chili Chicken

The Kudal mutton is good and portion is generous. It is delicious albeit a little on the spicy side.

Kudal Mutton

The rasam here is good! Really authentic stuff as you can see a lot of spices being used.

Rasam

Most of the people here eat using their hands. Forks and spoons are also provided especially when they see yellow skins like us but would be interesting to give yourself a try to eat with your hands :)

The total price for this is RM14 with banana leaf for two. Definitely well worth the trip and price. To get there, you can always take the LRT and stop at the Masjid Jamek LRT station and walk to Lebuh Ampang. It is an interesting walk as you can bask in the colours and culture of KL's "Little India"!