Bandar Djakarta, Jakarta…perfect setting by night, sauna by day

There are few more satisfying experiences than eating good food by the sea. Sitting on the water’s edge overlooking a jetty, this informal place has amazingly fresh fish and macho barbecuing.

Kerang kampak steam bawang putih (steamed scallop with garlic) was a simple, delicious and low fat dish. The udang bakar madu pedas (spicy honey grilled prawn) were succulent, tender, mouthwatering. The glaze perfectly complements the natural sweetness in the shrimp. Cumi saus telur asin (squid with salted egg sauce) was simple yet flavoursome although a tad dry.

The atmosphere is truly perfect at night. At lunch, it can be stark contrast. You can dine indoors in the airconditioned room, but why woud you come to a place like this to do that? This is the true truth as I say it as it is…

 

Bangkok Village Thai Restaurant, Johor Bahru…love the vibe and look

There are many things I am not good at; secrets is one of them. I do what I do out of a compulsion to find out stuff and then bellow annoyingly about it. So if I do find one I’m hardly likely to keep quiet about it.

Bangkok Village Thai Restaurant is a startlingly good Thai eatery in JB. The menu is extensive, reasonably priced and packed with flavour. The Thai Lemon Steamed Siakap arrives in a savoury sauce that makes you open your eyes wider. Although not every dish live up to my wildest expectations – let’s be honest – I’m paying for the atmosphere.

The place has a glorious garden setting, so spacious and beautiful. Absolutely love the vibe and look of this restaurant.

Bangkok Village Thai Restaurant is hidden 30 minutes away from the JB CIQ, but it well repays the effort and taxi fare to get there.This is the true truth as I say it as it is…

Jim Thompson Restaurant, Singapore…:(

If you love Thai food, it’s hard to suppress a chronic rumble of disappointment at finding that an iconic name like Jim Thompson can fare so poorly.

I was really looking forward to my lunch – expectations were high but realistic. Without trying to sound arrogant, I am familar with top end restaurants and not unfairly measuring my experience against unequally rated restaurants. What a disappointment. The food lacks balance and is poorly seasoned.

This place is pleasant enough as a family-friendly restaurant but I would expect better quality food for somewhere with Jim Thompson’s name attached to it. This is the true truth as I say it as it is…

Wangbijib, Seoul…Oh sweet, heavenly MEAT!

There’s a restaurant with tabletop grills in every plaza, mall and food court in Seoul, cannibalizing another one’s business two doors down or across the street. Still, I love Korean BBQ and can’t complain about having so many restaurants to choose from.

Let’s talk food.

Now, let’s just pause for a moment to talk about this meat. Meat, though some may tell you otherwise, is not created equally. There are good cuts, bad cuts, good flavor, and bad flavor. Wangbijib invests in good quality meat and seasons them spectacularly. They’ve also got the meat selection, chargrill king short beef rib, thinly sliced marble beef kalbi and pork rib.  The thin cuts of beef were amazing. The hanwoo weren’t marinated and I relied heavily on the sauce to add flavour.

Warning: Make sure you bring a change of clothes to wear if you plan to go other places after eating here or at least some back-up perfume/cologne because you will smell like what you eat afterwards!!

The portion sizes here are generous, so come hungry. This is the true truth as I say it as it is…

9Goubuli, Singapore…come only for the novelty of eating in a Goubuli

Goubuli is famous for its steamed stuffed buns filled with minced meat and a bit of soup called goubuli baozi. Goubuli which means even the dog ignores, does give you the notion that the food is so bad that even when you throw it to the dog, they won’t touch it

The goubuli buns – though famous for their texture and fillings – were good but not as delicious as Din Tai Fung’s xiao long bao. The goubuli buns with wagyu and vegetables fillings are best.

Prices are on the high side nor food to die for, so I recommend you come only for the novelty of eating in a Goubuli.This is the true truth as I say it as it is…

Mitsui Outlet Park, Kuala Lumpur…you will be sorely disappointed

As the economy and inflation continue to pinch consumers’ wallets, outlets are a great way to save money on your favorite brands. Who doesn’t love a deal?

There are 13 Mitsui Outlet Parks across Japan but this is the first one outside of the country. Located 60km from KL and 6km from KLIA, the outlet offers 127 stores with brands such as Nike, Levi’s, Versace, Polo Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss, Samsonite and Swarovski.

Plenty of stores here really aren’t discount stores, they’re just there to confuse consumers into thinking they are. Here are some hot tips : be familiar with current merchandise to be able to identify clothing that may be a few seasons old. Knowing retail prices before entering a store can help you make better decisions.

If you’re looking for a good buy at great discount, you will be sorely disappointed. This is the true truth as I say it as it is…

Hanwoori, Seoul…as good as a K-pop hit

What you see is what you get with Korean food. It’s more flavourful than Japanese cuisine and it’s punchy, lively, honest cooking — a bit like the people.

The Hanwoori Korean restaurant in Seoul is known specifically for its variety of specialty meat dishes. The beef comes from respectable cows, the marinade sweet. Wrapped in a cool lettuce leaf, garlanded with spring onion and slathered in gochujang (fermented chilli and bean paste), it’s a mouthful that has it all – cool, hot, crisp, crunch, chew. Bliss.

It’s a dinner as good as a K-pop hit. This is the true truth as I say it as it is…

Bah Kut Teh Teck Lee, Kuala Lumpur…a melt-in-the-mouth delight

Bak Kut Teh – essentially pork ribs simmered in a rich, savoury and fragrant herbal broth – is another perennial favourite of mine (yes, I have heaps of favourites).

Although the bak kut teh here is credible – the meat is tender, though not falling off the bone – it is only the sidekick to the main act – the Sang Pow. Sang Pow is also a slow-cooked claypot soupy meat dish but it takes 45 mins longer to prepare compared to Bak Kut Teh so that they become a melt-in-the-mouth delight. The ingredients are totally different from bak kut teh and Sang Pow is only prepared upon request.

Teck Lee’s bak kut teh and sang pow are the perfect comfort food. This is the true truth as I say it as it is…