Mars: Gold Chilli

I know I KNOW, Jade! I know! I'm sorry. I promise you I will start posting more! (^_^)v

Firstly, there's this little awesome place in SS 15 Subang Jaya where the butter chicken and kangkung belacan is just AWESOME!

This friend of mine, a Melawati native, decided to venture into the unknown parts of Subang to look for this shop called PopMyBerry (as eheh as it sounds.. its a shop selling BB accessories! really cool!) The Melawati native mistakenly said that the address is at SS15/1 - which resulted in the 2 of us driving around the place for half an hour looking for 15/1 AND which made me wonder whether I REALLY knew Subang like the back of my hand.

Annnyyywayy... we found the place and to change her housing would take about half and hour. We had time to spare, and I was starving after the gym... we walked a few doors down to Gold Chilli. (don't judge me. hmph!)

The kangkung belacan was a perfect balance of spiciness and sourness that just explodes in your mouth. I know that kangkung belacan is a normally a safe choice when going to these sorts of restaurants... but why leave out the favourites kan? ;)

And the butter chicken! SO creamy and buttery but you don't get tired of it if you pair it up with the kangkung belacan! You can distinctly taste a bit of curry and will get hit by the bits of cili api they sprinkle on the dish!

If you're looking for a place to go hang out whilst waiting for a new housing for your phone, and do not want to go to the usual mamaks littered around SS 15... Gold Chilli is awesome!

Gold Chilli - SS15/8B, Subang Jaya.

Mars: Tea @ Yauatcha

Sush has awesomely posted a little something about this fusion dim sum place - which is really good. I'm not a fan of fusion, but Yauatcha does good stuff!

Jade and I recently went there again for tea - because I was really craving the Kumquat Jasmine tea. I freaked out when I didn't see it on the menu! Tip of the day: Always worth it to ask the waitress about whatever you're used to having at a restaurant. They lady said that they can make it for me! (^o^)v




Passion fruit & lime tea
Papaya smoothie
Kumquat Jasmine tea

We also had this lemon & cola tart - which was kinda nice.
I'm not as good as the other 2 describing the taste but I'll try. When you first bite into this thing, you're immediately hit with a strong tart lemony taste, but as you get used to it, the creamy-ness of the center of the tart come out and you'll fine yourself wanting more! The cola marshmallows at the top was cute. Not a fan of marshmallows, so I left most of it to Jade. She thot they were cute - and that's why she liked them.

The macaroons were (I think and expect) not as great as the ones Sush had in Paris. But these ones had unusual flavours to them. The green was pandan, the pink in the back was hibuscus, the blue was most probably blueberry, the brown was coffee, the yellowish one was apricot and ginger and the purple was some other kind of flower.

Worth a shot if you're up for it! But Yauatcha... still go for the dim sum! Really! (^_^)v

Mars: Rossopomodoro

The 3 of us wanted something fast and close by to go eat, and since we were all extremely lazy to cook that night, being it our first night back from Iceland, we opted for Rossopomodoro on Monmouth Street.

We pass it everyday to and from College and I wonder why we've never thought of going in.

It's your standard Italian place to go to I suppose. Nice atmosphere, people bustling here and there and laughter from every table - which is exactly what I expect from an awesome Italian restaurant. Both my housemates were vegetarian that day, so I was happily picking (stealing) from their plates.

We had the spaghetti with cherry tomatoes and basil - a classic and something one can never go wrong with. And a different sort of pasta that looks like thick but very short linguinis.

The dolces were nice. At least I knew mine was. Had the Nero Magna - which is prolly exactly like Nigella's Chocolate Molten Babycakes. This was awesome - warm and soft on the outside, gooey and oh-so-chocolately on the inside. The ice cream was a bit too sweet tho, but I was happy enjoying the chocolate bliss on my own~


The housemates' verdict on the tiramisu was - nice but a little bit too much coffee. Coffee is good tho. The housemates normally enquire whether there is alcohol in the stuff that they eat so that in the case that there is they can stop me from picking off their desserts.

My housemates rwk. (^_^)v

50 - 52 Monmouth Street, WC2H9EP
Tel. 0207 240 9095, covent@rossopomodoro.it
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 12.00-24.00

Sush: Brunch in Londontown

I'd like to share my favourite haunts for brunch when I'm in Londontown. I do adore having 'brunch' really, even saying it puts a silly grin on my face! I guess cuz it makes me feel like I'm one of the girls in SATC, or living a more dreamy, easy going life. Definitely a lifestyle I've picked up ever since being in the UK.

Anyway, here a few of the places which I return to frequently when it calls for the said meal. :) Some discovered by myself with friends, and others introduced by my good friend Vin who has been in London for the last 10 years.

1. Le Providores :
This place has very imaginative breakfast and lunch style dishes. Not cheap, but definitely well worth a visit if you're looking to treat yourself.
Favourite dishes include the smoked salmon with eggs benedict and hollandaise sauce, french toast (pecans & caramelised bananas) with crispy bacon, turkish eggs, chorizo with eggs benedict. Their coffee here is also exceptionally smooth and rich. The place also does lighter style breakfasts such as muffins, toast, and croissants. Note though, that queues on the weekends can be quite long so try to go early! I've waited in line for 30-40 mins before.

Chorizo with eggs benedict and rocket

Turkish eggs

French toast with pecans and bananas with crispy bacon

109 Marylebone High Street, London, England W1U 4RX tel (+44) 020 7935 6175

2. Joe Allen

A basement restaurant/bistro/bar, this is located at the edge of Covent Garden. Its quite hidden, so you just have to look out for the green sign.
I've been to this place a couple of times and they do an amazing Sunday brunch. :) Always having the option to either have your food with champagne or without, the food here doesn't disappoint either. Menu choices are the typical British bistro food and they're famous for their Sunday lunch actually. Here's a quick glance at their breakfast menu. Pricier than most brunch places, the Sunday lunch menu will set you back at least £20 I've only visited this place when I was feeling a tad richer, or showing people around. Service and food are lovely though. I've never had better sausages and mash, ever. I kid you not. ;)

The interior decor of the restaurant has an American vibe, seeing as it has branches in the US as well.

13 Exeter Street London WC2E 7DT Tel:020 7836 0651

3. Raoul's

Recently discovered, this will be my alternative to Le Providores. Its slightly cheaper, and I have nothing bad to say at all about their eggs benedict with smoked salmon and toasted bagel muffins. :) The coffee brewed here is enough to make me smile too.
I have only tried their one dish, and my companion that morning had their full English breakfast. Didn't really look anything out of the ordinary, but he swears that it was yummy.
I will definitely venture back here and give their other dishes a try.
The restaurant has two branches; Nottinghill and Maida Vale. Again, as all good food eats go, there was a queue to get a table. The plus side to this place, its definitely more spacious than Le Providores and its brighter as well. The walls are brightly coloured, giving you that cheery feel on a weekend morning.

Raoul's Cafe & Bar Notting Hill 105 - 107 Talbot Road Between Westbourne Grove & Ledbury Road London W11 2AT United Kingdom Phone +44 (0) 207 229 2400 Opening hours: Monday - Sunday 8.30am - 11:00pm

4. Tom's Kitchen

Only been to this famous eatery once and tried their French toast. Tom's Kitchen do theirs differently from others that I've tried. The bread is almost like Hainanese bread that you get with your butter and kaya (if you know what I'm talking about). Its very light and fluffy, but thats deceiving as the dish gets a tad bit sweet after a while. Served with cream and caramelized apples, its delicious for the first few bites, but I found it overwhelming to finish. I've been told, however, that their blueberry pancakes are really lovely. :)
Most of the patrons that morning were only eating toast with the spreads, muffins, and simpler dishes.
You definitely have to call and get a table booked if you're eating on a weekend. The place is very popular and gets packed early. Located in South Kensington, its very popular with the local crowd and residents around the area. And call not just a day in advance, but as early as possible...

French Toast with cinnamon cream and caramelized apples

27 Cale Street, Chelsea, London, SW3 3QP
Tel #: 0207 349 0202

OPENING HOURS
Breakfast: Mon - Fri 7am -10am
Lunch: Mon - Fri, 12pm - 3pm
Dinner: Mon - Sun 6pm - 11pm
Brunch Sat and Sun 10am - 3pm

Ok, hope these are worth a visit again once you have chosen to give them a try. :) There are so many places in London, definitely will be adding more to my brunch list.

Mars: BELGO, Seven Dials

I LOVED the feel of the place!

I kinda just realized that I'm writing about places that I've always taken for granted because it's always there! I mean yeah, everyone would write up about the amazing places they've been to, but these chains are really not all that bad! And good value for those living on a stuednt budget! (^_^)v So, yesh! (^_^)v

One of the things that impressed me about BELGO is the sheer friendliness of the waiters working! I mean, come on! It does make the whole dining experience even better when you're greeted with a smile! (^_^)v Not like some places I know of~ (=_=)"

Jade and I decided to split a pot of mussles and a starter.

And that was enough to fill our bellies to the brim. Mind you, I have a huge belly to begin with! (^_^)"v

Since I cannot have the ones with wine in them, we opted for the Green Thai mussel pot! I'm a sucker for things that have coriander in them. And this was awesome! (^_^)v We (by that I think I'm supposed to me 'I') almost tipped the pot over to get more of the juices out!


The starter was a salad with goats cheese on huge ass croutons! With a thick balsamic dressing! I LOVEd it! It's an incredible winning combination! And I was able to recreate it in mai kitchen! (^_^)v

Happy Jade with her power ring!

Belgo Centraal
50 Earlham St, London, WC2H
Open 7 days a week - Mon - Sat 12 noon - 11pm; Sun 12 noon - 10.30pm
Interesting Offers: Express Lunch £7.50; Beat the Clock! (5.oo - 6.30pm weekdays!)

Mars: Noodle Oodle, Bayswater

I was really happy when this place opened in Bayswater. After years of wondering why no one has tried opening a halal duck restaurant in London, Noodle Oodle finally did it! (^_^)v


Personally, I am quite happy with the quality of the duck. Tho at times, I do get really fatty ones. (T_T)v Then again, taste-wise, I'm prolly not the best person to ask about especially since there's a lot of Four Seasons-lovers around and I've never had duck in London before Noodle Oodle opened. (^_^)"v


I'm just happy there is a halal option now for duck in the UK. (^_^)v And I don't have to sit out when other people eat duck around me~ Wheeeeeee~


The lunch offers are not at all bad. A 3 course meal consisting of a starter of 3 dumplings, the main course and a dessert and all for about 9 quid is kinda okay! The dessert is a mango grapefruit 'pudding' that clears the palate after the meal! ;) And is prolly the best part of the offer!

If you're a student, you do get a 20% discount - but I think you need to ask for it. :D

Yeay for halal duck in London! (^o^)v

And now, I wish for a halal bulgogi place in London!!!!

Noodle Oodle, Bayswater

106 Queensway, Paddington, London, W2 3RR

Mars: Princi, Soho, London

Sush first brought me here earlier in the year and I TOTALLY fell in love with the place! You don't feel like you're in London or like you're even in the UK! The atmosphere is always warm and bustling with people. The employees/bakers there are always all smiles and give off a feeling like they're constantly on a caffiene high! (^_^)v My kind of place!

If you're living in London, or even if you're here for a visit~ GO! And order at least ONE cannoccino (as per Michele's brief by effective lesson on basic Italian grammar) and it'll bring you back craving for MORE cannoccini! (^_^)v

Btw, the the 2 rolly things on the front plate~ ;)

Princi, 135 Wardour Street, London, W1F 0UT
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 7.00-00.00, Sun 9.00-22.00

Mars: Breakfast @ PAUL's

Jade: Mars! I'm going to boycott posting recipes if you don't post anything on the blog! Why you so useless one!?

Mars: *how am I supposed to eat if I don't have new ideas about WHAT to eat! (T_T)*

Thus, after numerous threats and blackmail by Jade, I am going to suggest (as if you people in London/UK don't know it already) to go to PAUL for breakfast!

They even open at 9am on a Sunday! So the last time Jade came down to London, I dragged her to have their incredible scrambled eggs! It's soft and fluffy and has the right amount of water to it! And it tasted amazing on their fresh out of the oven bread!

Jade, on the other hand, opted for the equally delicious poached eggs with salmon under a whole lot of hollindaise sauce~ See the happy Jade? Jade is picky about her food and this face is already at Level 4 (out of a possible 5). ;)

But the main reason I dragged her there for breakfast is this! The Fraisier~ It's incredible. I'm not a huge fan of marzipan, but it worked on this one. The cake was soft an light and not very sweet. Just nice to take the edge of the tangy-ness of the strawberries!

And it looks pwetty! (^_^)v

Sush: Yauatcha in Soho, London

My exams have been over for about a month now, and I'm still basking in the reality that I don't have to rush home and study after work in the evenings. We'll see how I feel in 3 weeks time though..

The weekend after my exams ended, I made my way to London immediately. ;) Enjoying the freedom and releasing after being away from the city for a good month.

I met up with a couple of my Warwick girlfriends and their other halves. Yes, I played 5th wheel. We made reservations at Yauatcha in Soho for lunch on Saturday. I've always wanted to try this place since most people having attended and eaten there rave about the food.
Yauatcha is a Chinese fusion restaurant, previously owned by Alan Yau, a Hong Kong-er who owns quite a lot of the big named restaurants in London. It earned its 1 Michelin star from serving its star-quality dim sum.

Most people who enjoy the authentic Chinese dim sum would argue that the dim sum served at Yauatcha is made for the 'ang mohs'. To me, made for the 'ang mohs' or not, each bite of each dish was simply savoury heaven and left me begging for more. I'll point out my favourites as I go along. ;)

Scallop Siu Mai with roe.
This was very juicy and delicate-melt-in-your-mouth.

Chive dumplings

Your usual pork and prawn siu mai.
The prawns in it were hugeee, which is the way it should be.

Spinach Cube.
This was marinated pork cooked in a broth and wrapped in spinach. Heavenly.

Sea bass dumplings.
I kinda expected more from this dish, although the sea bass was indeed very fresh.

One of my favourites ever in dim sum history. :)
Beancurd cheung fun.
Its beancurd with prawn filling inside it, and wrapped in the most delicate layer of cheung fun skin. What I really liked about this place was the way they got the cheung fun skin right. Most of the dim sum places in London just make them too thick and floury. Urgh.

This was equally good and after a bite, it just made you crave for more.
Mushroom cheung fun.
The issue with dim sum is that you have a lil' bit of everything, and we were all fighting for this dish!

Prawn toast
King prawn covered with batter and sesame seeds, deep fried. The sesame seeds give it that slight extra crunch texture.

Pandan chicken
Although the chicken portions are small, you can really taste the pandan in the chicken.

Venison puff.
My ultimate favourite of the entire meal. I think we ordered another portion just because it was SO DAMN GOOD. The pastry is light, yet rich and coupled with the venison meat, orgasmic in your mouth. Some might feel it a tad bit salty, but I am one who prefers more salt to less hence this was nyummers. :)

The damage done to our wallets.

The place isn't cheap at all, but definitely a dining experience if you have the dough to spend. :)

Yauatcha

15-17 Broadwick Street

Soho, London

W1F 0DL

Tel: 020 7494 8888

Vic: BiteKai

Q: What takes away stress?
A: Good Food

Life is as simple as that.

So...

KAI Mayfair (to the rescue!)
The Michelin Star
Michelin Guide Great Britain 2009

Best Chinese Restaurant in London
-Harden's Restaurant Guide 2009
-The Zagat Survey

Critics' Choice
-Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide

Sounds impressive? (It was!)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Starter:
A little something from the chef













Main Course:
South China Sea Tiger prawns, milk & butter crumble, Kai-Lan leaves
(the milk & butter crumble - fattening but BRILLIANT)


















Wok Grilled pork fillet, oriental barbeque sauce, choi sum & soya sauce
(yum yum~)



















Ostrich fillet, 3 chilli styles, spinach in garlic
(wahaha joycry eyeing)



















Szechuan miso broth


















Dessert:
Assorted Fruits with sorbet
















8D