Nancy's Kitchen @ Jalan Hang Lekir, Melaka

We could not decide which famous Nyonya restaurant to patron but our native Malaccan friend mentioned that all the yummy Nyonya restaurants are located further away from the town; the ones in the city centre are too commercialised. But as we did not wish to drive out of town, we just went to the first Nyonya restaurant that caught our eye which was Nancy's Kitchen at Jonker Walk.
      

Signboard

     

Shop front

   
From the exterior, you can probably expect what the interior will look like. The shop was quite small and a little cramped. We were seated on the upper floor and the floorboards were extremely creaky. There was this kid at the next table who kept running around the small seating room. The floorboards were shuddering with his thundering stomps but his parents didn't say anything - I kept thinking the floorboards might give way anytime, sending us all tumbling down >.< The stair steps were also narrow and steep - if you have large bones, I suggest it's best to sit on the lower floor =.=
      

Fromt of menu

 
The front cover of their menu looks really nice with a demure nyonya browsing through a book. I'm sure the proprietress herself was trying to replicate that image but...I. would. have. to. say. she. failed. =.=

      

Chicken Candlenut (RM 10)

 
The chicken and thick curry gravy was really good and went very well with rice. The chicken was moist and tender and had absorbed all the wonderful flavours and spices of the curry.
 
We asked for 1 candlenut to try as we did not know how it tasted like and it's lucky we did as it was one big nut. The candlenut was quite salty and tasted something like the canned fried dace in black bean sauce. It took some getting used to but the flavour isn't too bad. Just take a little at a time - the black nut you see near the top of the picture could feed 5 of us.
   

Fried Egg Cincalok (RM 6)

   
The fried egg with shrimp paste was quite salty and flavourful which can only mean one thing - it goes extremely well with rice! =D After a few mouthfuls, the saltiness got quite addictive and I just kept going back to the dish for more. Poor friend who wanted this as I think I ended up eating most of his share...sorry >.<
   

Brinjal with Chilli (RM 8)

   
The brinjals were grilled very well and it totally absorbed the flavours of the chilli paste and bits of chicken...my favourite dish of the lot =D
 

Nyonya Laksa (RM 6)

   
The Nyonya Laksa was filled to the brim with goodies. Its thick coconut-infused curry gravy was very fragrant but its taste was a little subdued (but then again I'm no nyonya laksa expert <shrug>). Still, our friends polished off the bowl so it must be good.
   

Pork Fried with Beancurd Skin (RM 6)

 
This dish was very crispy and its well marinated meat went very well with the chilli sauce dip which is not pictured.
   

Steamed Spicy Fish Paste (RM 10)

 
The otak-otak was extremely smooth with a strong coconut milk taste - very good.
 
Nancy's Kitchen also serves popiah with lard which is prepared outside the shop near the entrance. I was tempted to order it but decided not to after I saw the numerous flies buzzing around the staff and popiah she was making =.= That's a warning there.
 
But in conclusion, Nancy's Kitchen serves awesome (someone's) mum's cooking! Do make a trip there when you're in town even though it may be too commercialised =)
 

 
PawPoints: 4 Paws
Pawket: Onion
    

Nancy's Kitchen
7 Jalan Hang Lekir
Off Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock
Melaka
Tel: 06 283 6099

Popiah with Lard @ Jalan Laksamana 1, Melaka

I just found out that one of the famous Malaccan delicacies is popiah sprinkled with lard so naturally as with anything consisting of lard, I had to try it. We were supposed to go to the famous one at the night market at Jonker Walk but we spotted this mobile stall near Casa del Rio where we parked our car and Pariahcetamol wanted to get an early breakfast. It was a good thing we did as we were too stuffed at night to try the one at Jonker =(

     

Friendly couple

 
When asked, they claimed to be a relative of the famous popiah seller at Jonker but who knows eh?

     

Popiah with lard (RM 2.20)

 
Basically, it's just normal popiah with a generous sprinkling of lard which in the opinion of a fried-lard enthusiast, totally enhanced the taste of the otherwise normal popiah. The ingredients were fresh and the deep-fried lard cubes were crunchy. We eventually bought another roll to share as it was quite addictive.

   

 
PawPoints: 3 Paws
Pawket: Dough
    
Popiah with lard mobile stall

Intersection of Jln Laksamana 1 and Jln Laksamana 5 (opposite Casa Del Rio Hotel)
Melaka

Ko-Ryo-Won Korean Restaurant @ KLCC, KL

Ko-Ryo-Won at KLCC is actually the sister restaurant of Go-Gung at The Gardens, hence the menus are totally identical.

   

Typical Korean motive

      

Ko-Ryo-Won

   

Complimentary side dishes

   
As usual, there were complimentary side dishes for the sets. This time there were, clockwise from top, dried beancurd skin, seasoned boiled potatoes, stir-fried spinach in sesame oil, kimchi and beansprouts. My favourites were the potatoes and spinach; I found the kimchi too pungent for my liking but my brother enjoyed it very much. Neither of us touched the dried beancurd skin save for the first slice.

  

Kimchi Jjigae (RM 25)

   
The Kimchi Jjigae was tasty as usual. I doubt any Korean restaurant would get it wrong...that's like an indicator of bad-tasting dishes to follow if the cook can even get the national dish wrong. Anyway this one was full of chicken pieces, tofu and tons of slurpilicious glass noodles.

 

Seollengtang (RM 30)

   
Feeling adventurous, we decided to try something new - soup made by simmering beef bones and beef slices overnight. The end result is a milky broth, probably the essence of the huge beef bones. It is certainly a nutritious soup with thin slices of garlic, sliced dates and glass noodles. It was also totally tasteless although there was a very slight hint of milky soup. To be fair, the menu did state that salt can be added once served but none of the waitress came over to ask if we wanted it seasoned so we resorted to dipping the beef slices with lots of soy sauce. It definitely feels very wholesome and nutritious but I doubt we would ever order it again =P
   
   
PawPoints: 3 Paws
Pawket: Tomato
    Ko-Ryo-Won

418-419, Level 4
Suria KLCC

Tel: 03 2166 6189
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Pork Satay @ Kedai Satay Xiang Ji, Melaka

Pork satay was top on my list of food to try in Melaka and we headed to Xiang Ji without looking at the map. As it turned out, the shop was quite far from Jonker Walk and we did quite a bit of walking to reach there. Plus point was that it opened up our appetite for more yummy food =D

      

Shop front

 
There were a few recommendations for pork satay on the internet and I thought we should try out Xiang Ji. However, the shop did not look like the famous one I saw on TV.

     

Non-stop grilling

     

Condiments

      

Pork satay (RM 0.70 per stick)

   
The pork satay was quite good with lean meat and nicely seared bits where the fats were. We initially ordered 3 sticks per person as we were feeling quite stuffed but in the end, we couldn't resist topping up.
   
The peanut dip for pork satay is slightly different from the usual ones and here, it is mixed with a dash of chilli oil and pineapple shreds to lend it a sweet flavour. It went very well with the satay but it was quite tough to scoop up the sauce in the little bowl.
   
Not too sure if it's really the case but our friend thought the bamboo sticks looked recycled. Oh well, if you look past the hygiene factor which is usually a little dubious in coffee shops, the pork satay was quite good I must say. Next time though, I'll probably try out the other pork satay shops to see if their offerings are any different.
 
 
PawPoints: 4 Paws
Pawket: Dough
     
Kedai Satay Xiang Ji
50 Jalan Portugis
Melaka
Tel: 019 667 8868

Chicken Rice Balls @ Hoe Kee Chicken Rice, Melaka

What's the first thing you should do once you touch down at Melaka? Eat chicken rice balls, of course! Truthfully, chicken rice balls are just a novelty as you'll likely smash the rice ball and eat it like normal chicken rice...I've not seen anyone pop the entire rice ball into his/her mouth...yet.
   
Anyway it was a battle between Hoe Kee and Chung Wah, two of the chicken rice ball powerhouse in Melaka. I decided to go with Hoe Kee as blog reviews revealed that they were very efficient with consistent quality whereas Chung Wah's service was a little slower, hence the never-ending long queue at its door. True enough, when we reached Melaka one rainy morning, there was already a long line of hungry people outside Chung Wah.

    

Try not to miss the shop!

      

Hoe Kee's offerings

      

Family members hard at work

      

Set menu

      

Menu

      

Love the chilli-ginger dip

       

Cabbage for 3 person (RM 3)

   
We decided to order lightly sauteed cabbage to counter the abundance of chicken and fats that we were going to take in. Taste-wise, it was good enough but I thought the portion a little too small.

      

Chicken rice balls

     
The chicken rice balls were the size of a small orange and very compact. The rice had a lot more moisture compared to the usual plate of rice to ensure that the ball did not crumble. I think I prefer the fluffier rice that is not moulded into a ball but the chicken rice balls are so good with the chilli and ginger dip.

     

RM 2 rice portion

      

Steamed chicken (RM 22)

     
The plate of steamed chicken came with chicken liver and gizzards as well as cucumbers. The accompanying sesame oil and light soy sauce base enhanced the taste of the silky smooth chicken pieces. Not a fan of chicken innards so no comment. The julienned cucumbers were fresh and crunchy and I wish there were more.
     
Service was very fast, efficient and systematic and even when there was a queue, the line moved relatively quickly. I really wanted to try their black bean or lotus root soup but unfortunately, they do not serve soup on Sundays and public holidays which I think is not very reasonable...after all, what's chicken rice without the accompanying soup? They also have assam fish but as we've got a long day of eating ahead of us, I had to forgo that. Will definitely try it the next time I'm in Melaka.
   
   
PawPoints: 4 Paws
Pawket: Dough
   
Hoe Kee Chicken Rice

4-8, Jalan Hang Jebat
Melaka
Tel: 06 283 4751
Daily

Garibaldi Italian Restaurant and Bar @ Bangsar Village, KL

We were supposed to go to Garibaldi in Bangsar Village but had a hard time finding the place. For one, the restaurant was listed on the directory board in Bangsar Village II and not Bangsar Village I. When we finally reached the correct location, there was no signboard with the name Garibaldi but one with the name Garibar @.@ Anyway in we went and it's actually one and the same.

     

Bar of Garibaldi

        

Pumpkin Croquette

 
The Pumpkin Croquettes were hot and crispy with a oozing mashed potato and pumpkin cream - really good.

     

Potato Wedges

   
The potato wedges were tossed in paprika and were very addictive as they were crispy yet fluffy. 

     

Chicken Parmigiana

   
The Chicken Parmigiana was slathered with tomato sauce and melted cheese and served with the same potato wedges. The meat was not dry and the breaded parts were crunchy. As you can see, the slab of meat is really quite large and quite worth the money.

      

Lamb Shank

   
The Lamb Shank is HUGE and really tender. Served atop a bed of mashed potato and carrots in a red wine reduction, the lamb shank was really good. It got quite cloying after a while as there's just too much meat.

      

Chocolate Pavet

 
The flourless chocolate cake was yummy but the almond-vanilla sauce had a really overpowering almond scent which I did not like at all >.< The raspberry, blackberry and blueberry were all preserved and had the notorious cherry cough syrup and sourish-bitter fever medicine taste >.< They tasted nothing like the fresh berries I had in Scotland >.<

    

Signature Apple Cake

   
The apple cake was served with homemade vanilla gelato and chocolate sauce. The raspberry, blueberry and blackberry made their appearance again and I left them well alone >.< The apple cake was a little bland but went well with the gelato. Not sure if it was from sampling different cakes alternately but I also detected some marzipan flavour in the gelato >.<
   
All in all, great appetizers, yummy dinner and disappointing dessert. Prices are quite steep here so don't think I'll be returning anytime soon.
   
   
PawPoints: 4 Paws
Pawket: Salami
     
Garibaldi Italian Restaurant & Bar

LG10 & G22, Bangsar Village I
Tel: 03 2282 3456
Daily: 12pm - 2.30pm, 6pm - 10.30pm

Grumps Cafe @ SS2 Mall, PJ

A cafe specialising in pork dishes Western style? Naturally, we couldn't resist the temptation and off we went, our stubby noses sniffing the air. Grumps Cafe is located at the newly-opened SStwo Mall which I find quite hard to locate due to the design of the mall itself.

Grumpy not allowed

Garlic bread

The garlic bread was excellent according to JS. It was soft and warm with a crispy exterior. The smell of garlic butter was also heavenly and you can see bits of garlic and parsley dotting the bread. Perfect for garlic lovers.

Mushroom Soup

The mushroom soup here is garnished with toasted almonds - a nice touch. The soup was thick and creamy - no fault there.

Pork Cordon Bleu (RM 24)

The Pork Cordon Bleu is easily my favourite dish out of the lot. The hidden ham is revealed once you cut the crumbed cutlet in half. I love deep-fried breaded cutlets but this was quite dry. The salad was refreshing and the thick-cut fries were pretty good too.

Cheesy Crumbed Pork Loin (RM 24)

The deep-fried pork loin was quite good on its own albeit a bit dry; however I didn't quite like the mushroom sauce as the more pungent-tasting shiitake mushrooms were used instead of the usual button mushrooms. I felt like the Oriental taste of the gravy did not go well with the Western pork cutlet at all.

Roast Pork Roll and Jumbo Sausage (RM 36)

The jumbo sausage was really juicy and the roast pork roll quite succulent. The roast pork roll was also quite fatty and it took me much longer to finish my portion towards the end. I have never been a fan of sauerkraut and this is no different but if you like it, do go ahead and try it as I have no idea what constitutes good sauerkraut. The mashed potatoes were quite good in my opinion.

Grilled Butterfly Steak (RM 24)

The Grilled Butterfly Steak was the driest of the lot. The creamy sauce did little to help ease the meat down my throat > . < The portion of steamed vegetables was definitely not sufficient to counter the fries and meat.

Ice-Cream Delight (RM 10)

Chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice-cream sundae - what's not to like? Pretty average stuff though.

Chocolate Brownie (RM 10)

Surprisingly, the Chocolate Brownie with vanilla ice-cream was good. Hot, chocolatey and gooey, I wouldn't mind coming back just for this.

Grumps Cafe is a great place to meet up and catch up over porky dishes but it definitely needs to improve on its dishes taste-wise. Unless I'm really, really, really craving deep-fried breaded pork that absolutely can't be found anywhere else, I doubt I'll return to Grumps Cafe.

PawPoints: 2 Paws
Pawket: Tomato

Grumps Cafe

LG-57, Lower Ground Floor
SStwo Mall
Tel: 03 7931 8898

Daily: 10am - 10pm

Nahm-Jim & The L'Orient Lounge @ St Andrews, Scotland

As St Andrews in Scotland is a relatively small town, there are not many Asian restaurants available and Nahm-Jim is one of the few. It serves both Thai and Japanese cuisine but we only sampled the Thai dishes. It is located at the city centre and is fairly easy to spot.

       

        

Table setting

     

Tom Yum (GBP 6.50)

     
There is a choice of king prawns, chicken or mushrooms with the traditional Tom Yum so naturally I chose king prawn =D My brother and I had one bowl each because we expected the portion to be the size of a Chinese rice bowl. You would never believe the size of a portion for one - the bowl pictured above is a medium sized soup bowl!! As you can see, the bowl is chockful of button mushrooms and prawns. The chefs certainly did not tone down the fieryness of the soup for the Scots as even I felt that it was spicy. The Tom Yum is definitely a surprise winner with its spicy and sourish flavour.

     

Chilli and Thai Basil Duck (GBP 14.50)

   
This Chilli and Thai Basil Duck is also our favourite dish. It has lots of wok hei and the tender duck slices are fully infused with the flavours of chilli and basil. The onions and peppers added a nice crunch to the dish. The spicy gravy, though oily, goes so well with rice.

     

Aubergine Green Curry (GBP 12.50)

   
This dish came laden with lots of greens such as the titular baby aubergines, broccoli and peppers. The gravy is thick with the aroma of coconut cream and fragrant due to the addition of herbs. I'm not a fan of green curry as there is a distinct flavour that I can't quite describe but if you love typical green curries, this will most likely win you over too like it did my brother who kept ladling gravy over his rice.

     

If ever you're craving Asian food in St Andrews, Nahm-Jim is a good choice =D

   

    

PawPoints: 4 Paws

    

http://www.nahm-jim.co.uk/index.html

    

Nahm-Jim @ The L'Orient Lounge

60-62 Market Street

St Andrews

Scotland

Tel: +44 01334 470 000

Sun - Thur: 12pm - 4.45pm, 6pm - 12am

Fri - Sat: 12pm - 4.45pm, 6pm - 1am