2009 January | Motormouth From Ipoh - A Malaysian Food Blog

Sawasdee-Krub on the 6th Day of CNY? (Koh Samui Restaurant @ Ipoh)

January 31, 2009 | 99 views | 17 Comments »

It’s been more than a week since I last worked (rotted) in my office. =) Hmm …. holidays are soooooo rejuvenating, not to mention deteriorating to the human mind ….. LOL.

Koh Samui Restaurant @ Jln Raja Ekram, Ipoh

Continuation from my Capati and Mee Rebus post, here’s some Thai food for a change, if you’re wondering what else to eat in Ipoh, aside from the street food and Chinese ‘dai chow’ restaurants.

Very clean, well-maintained, and spacious ambience … though this outlet has been around for more than 10 yrs, if I recall correctly!

Koh Samui restaurant has 2 outlets in Ipoh. One near Greentown (Jln Raja Ekram) and another right behind Jusco, Kinta City. And its history runs deep, well more than a decade of serving Thai dishes, as authentic as one can get in Ipoh.

Khao Op Sapparod aka Pineapple Fried Rice (Small : RM7.80)

For your information, Koh Samui is a HALAL outlet, with the JAKIM certification. Another option in case you’re dining with Malay colleagues.

The menu’s rather extensive, covering almost every Thai dishes imaginable, from chicken to beef to seafood cooked in a variety of ways. For singleton, or small eaters, they have fried rice and noodles as well, but bear in mind the ’small’ serving’s anything but small.

We had a small serving of pineapple fried rice, and was astounded by the sheer volume served, albeit NOT in a hollowed pineapple. That’s for the LARGE serving. Those crispy flakes atop the yellow-hued rice were fried cuttlefish pieces, rendering the fluffy rice an alternative bite. But I’m not accustomed to pineapple fried rice this way, the spices tasted suspiciously like BBQ powder, and lacking the sweetness of the pineapple. But still, a good company to the other dishes served.

Kai Gaeng Panaeng aka Dry Curry Chicken (RM9.80)

They serve curry in 3 ways; the Thai green curry, red curry and dry curry. With malicious intention to burn my tongue, I chose the dry curry chicken. The thick, rich, & luscious gravy is perfect with white rice (we didnt order that though), but far from spicy though. Would appreciate it more if they kick it up a notch.

Neur Phat Kee Mao aka Stir-fried Beef with Long Beans, Chilli and Basil leaves (RM9.80)

The stir-fried beef was delicious as well. Simple dish, akin to Chinese-style of cooking, with lots of basil-infused aroma, exactly like how the Thais like their stir-fried dishes. But may be off-putting for those not in favour of basil leaves in their dishes. Not spicy as well. Hmm.

Thab Thim Krob aka THE Thai dessert. LOL. (RM4)

Crunchy chestnuts with jackfruit strips, in coconut milk with ice. Not shaved ice though, BIG chunks of ice cubes were served. Initially ordered to douse the fire …. but instead, the fireman sirens weren’t blaring. Hmmm.

All in all, a rather nice place for family dinner, or a simple lunch with colleagues on working days.

Location : KOH SAMUI RESTAURANT @ 83 & 85, Jalan Raja Ekram, 30450 Ipoh, Perak. Tel No : 605-255 6608. Opens daily from 11.30am-3.00pm, and 6.30pm-10.30pm. Got MAP !!!

Comments: 17 Comments »
Categories: Ipoh Food
Tags: Ipoh, Ipoh Food, Koh Samui, Thai Food
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A Mid-CNY Post – How ’bout some Capati & Mee Rebus Ramli instead?

January 27, 2009 | 194 views | 12 Comments »

This year’s CNY celebration may be slightly on the sombre mood, what’s more with blatant intrusion of human rights (aka killing without mercy) over at the Mid-East & the economic turmoil that’s looming over our helpless heads. But still, there’s always a silver lining somewhere on the horizon, I believe ….

Birch Memorial Clock Tower @ Old Town, Ipoh

For those celebrating the festive season, I highly doubt any has yet to ‘Lou Sang’, or stuffed their faces full with either extravagant (read : exorbitant) Chinese dishes at the restaurants, homecooked fare, or even hawker food (prices a tad inflated, no less).

Fluffy capati and milky teh tarik @ Medan Selera Dato Sagor

What if you’re ‘trapped’ in Ipoh, for a week or more this CNY holidays, and slowly (but surely) starting to get sick of Chinese food? No brickbats, please!!

Still reeling from all the indulging, here’s a short post on simple Indian and Malay food in Ipoh. Which, by the way, was what I ate on the same day, last week.

Medan Selera Dato Sagor is a very famous place for halal food under one roof, housing more than 15 stalls (at least) selling a variety of nasi campur, nasi lemak, every type of mee imaginable, roti and kuih, as well as Indian food. Located in Old Town area of Ipoh, right behind the Ipoh town hall, the food court like diner occupies a rather spacious lot, next to the Birch Memorial Clock Tower. Come join the crowd for breakfast, and treat yourself to a cup of teh tarik, or kopi-o kau, accompanied by either a capati, roti bakar with half-boiled eggs, or nasi lemak.

Location : Medan Selera Dato Sagor @ Jalan Dato Sagor, 30000 Ipoh, Perak. Got MAP!!! (From Ipoh Utara PLUS highway exit, using Jln Kuala Kangsar).

Mee Rebus Ramli @ Jln Kuala Kangsar, Tmn Tasek Jaya, Ipoh

As for lunch, since we were on a roll, we opted for Malay food instead for lunch. The hype surrounding Mee Rebus Ramli was evident, ever since they started business some years ago, now they have 3 branches all over Ipoh (do correct me if I’m wrong, ok?).

With a name like that, surely you don’t need hint as to what’s their signature item is. The safest choice? Mee Rebus.

A satisfying bowl of Mee Rebus at RM3.50.

With those luscious thick gravy that’s slightly spicy, and sweet, accentuated by the tangy lime squeezed DIY, and brimming full with ingredients such as the compulsory potatoes, chopped green chillies, spring onions, yummy fritters, and of course, ONE whole egg sliced into pieces.

All for a mere RM3.50. If you’re thinking … nah, just another Mee Rebus/Mee Jawa clone, you’re half right, half wrong. Yup, it looks like another run-of-the-mill Mee Rebus, albeit served in a bowl, but tastewise, it’s gotta be one of the better ones around. Even the yellow noodles did not contain the annoying/repulsive alkaline taste.

Do ask for the fritters to be served separately, as they tend to get soggy very fast. Or better yet, ask for EXTRAS. They’re good when crunchy and dunked into the gravy. Slurp them up!!!

Btw, their Nasi Ayam is delicious as well, though white rice is served. At RM4.20 per plate, you get a generous chunk of chicken, with their killer chilli sauce and gravy combination. Plus a bowl of soup. Other items include chicken/lamb chops, laksa, etc.

Location : Mee Rebus Ramli @ 767, Taman Tasek Jaya, Jalan Kuala Kangsar, 31400 Ipoh, Perak. Tel No : 605-547 2026. Opens daily from morning til night. Got MAP !!!

Now, let me retract back to my nest and hibernate for the remaining week …… Holidays are no doubt, god-sent. Happy Chinese New Year !!!

Comments: 12 Comments »
Categories: Ipoh Food
Tags: Indian Food, Ipoh Food, Malay Food, Mee Rebus, Old Town
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A Pre-CNY Post : (Not The) Teluk Intan’s Famous Chee Cheong Fun & Lana Tea House

January 24, 2009 | 111 views | 14 Comments »

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR !!!! Ushering in the Year of The Ox, let’s hope all things auspicious come our way, and may there be an endless slew of fantastic restaurants opening soon in good ol’ Ipoh ……

Or I can be delusional. But still, one can be hopeful, ya? ……

The Leaning Tower of Pisa. Not!!!

Still embracing the holidays in all its glory, I’m suffering from writer’s block. Thus, might as well write bout something recent, to minimize diminishing of my already declining grey matters.

Suddenly … we felt so out of place…. =P

The other day our excursion (1st REAL travelling for 2009!) took us to Teluk Intan, and Hutan Melintang. Never heard of them? The former may ring a bell with most, as Teluk Intan is one of Perak’s larger town, aside from Ipoh, Taiping, Seri Manjung and Sitiawan. And foodies will relate the town with its famous Chee Cheong Fun (stuffed with dried shrimps, and liberately drizzled/doused with oil), Hiong Peng (courtesy of Sin Joo Heong, with a branch in Ipoh even), Ah Chai rojak (famous for its sweet sauce, yet nothing spectacular), Gulam Rasul and Mastan Ghani (both being Malay-Mamak outlets), etc etc …..

Chee Cheong Fun – NOT the famous Teluk Intan one from the factory, but different from Ipoh’s nevertheless

Bear in mind Hutan Melintang is NOT a forest, nor it’s beyond civilization. It’s a small town, right after Teluk Intan, on the way to Sabak Bernam, Sekinchan, and Kuala Selangor. Any idea? But foodwise, I faltered, hence the breakfast and lunch in Teluk Intan instead.

Initially planned for breakfast at Teck Kee Foodstuff (on Jalan Raja) that supposedly serves the REAL deal, CCF from the famous factory, which btw, opens ONLY from evening onwards. But due to the CNY season, Teck Kee chose to display ornaments and festivities galore, than seating area for food. No CCF. =(

But all’s not lost, as opposite the road at a corner houses a classic coffee shop named Keng Heng, with patronage from mostly the elder ones. OK, so maybe it’s a working day, and who else got time for a cuppa other than the retired ones, and (loyal) civil servants like us. =)

The broth’s so clear, you’d be thinking this bowl of noodles would be perfect for one feeling under the weather

The shop houses 3 stalls; One selling Wantan Noodles, another selling erm, Noodles in Soup with Condiments (refer pic above) and a third one dealing with … what else? CCF!

I was initially stumped as the auntie was packing up and preparing to close. FINISHED?!!! Shucks …. But auntie was kind enough to let me have a packet of CCF, that she’s packed for someone, I guess. Hahaha …

It’s different from the usual CCF. And yet, different from even the Teluk Intan’s famous one. Instead of rolling the rice noodles up to be served, the noodles are served just like how Ipohans have them; merely chopped up, and with green chillies, fried shallots, and lots (I mean, LOTS!) of dried shrimps. That’s it. No sauce at all, aside from soy sauce. A bit dry to be taken, hence I requested for chilli sauce. Not bad, but the noodles is not as smooth as I like them though.

TallGal’s bowl of noodles in soup, with Char Siew, Siew Yoke and Chicken looked …. a little too healthy. But I didn’t hear her complaining, so should be good as a tummy-filler, before lunch.

Location : Keng Heng Coffee Shop @ 42, Jalan Raja, 36000 Teluk Intan.

And talkin bout lunch ……

Lana Tea House @ Taman Indah Jaya

Rather secluded, behind a row of shops off Jalan Sultan Abdullah, is this quaint tea house-cum-cafe-cum-restaurant. It’s pitch black inside. OK, maybe not as dark, but the dim lighting was a huge contrast to the sunny weather. You can’t even determine whether this place is open or closed, judging from the non-existent of signs on the outside. Just push your luck, and push the doors open.

Spaghetti with Chicken Meat (RM6.50)

Seafood Fried Rice (RM6)

Sambal Squid Rice (RM5)

Prices are dirt cheap. For less than RM10 per pax, one can get a satisfying meal plus drinks. The choices varied from the usual fried rice and noodles, to spaghetti and salads, as well as chops and desserts. All reasonably-priced, and the quality ain’t too shabby either.

The fried rice was surprisingly good, each grain fried with sufficient ‘wok hei’, maintaining the fluffiness of the grains. With ingredients such as squids, prawns, etc, the portion’s not stingy either. The sambal squid was spicy, unexpectedly. The squids were good, fresh, bouncy and served generously. The spaghetti was …. well, like the norm. Don’t expect the sky when you’re paying rockbottom prices.

*Pardon the pics as the interior was way too dark for my phonecam.

Location : Lana Tea House @ No 1, Jalan Teratai J4/8, Taman Indah Jaya, 36000 Teluk Intan, Perak. Tel No : 605- 621 8996.

Motormouth wishes those who celebrate, and those who ‘tumpang’ holidays, a very, very Happy Chinese New Year !!!

Eat more, Snap more, Blog more !!!

Comments: 14 Comments »
Categories: Motormouthing, Teluk Intan Food
Tags: Cafe, Chee Cheong Fun, Teluk Intan
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Toddy & Seafood, Anyone? (Coconut Flower Seafood Restaurant @ Teluk Gong, Klang)

January 22, 2009 | 198 views | 18 Comments »

Oohhh …. CNY’s breathing down my neck !!! =P A week’s off from work is like a dream come true eh? Let’s hope this coming new year, everything will run smoothly, and inflation rate will drop to an all-time low. Yeah, right ….

Nothing beats sitting underneath those huts, in cooling weather, sipping (or binging) on a cold glass of toddy (fermented coconut drink) ….

Here’s something from Klang, for a change. Most who have visited Klang would have acknowledged the popularity and abundance of Bak Kut Teh restaurants, sometimes proudly proclaimed as THE Klang Bak Kut Teh, almost synonymous with the town itself.

But one may wonder, since Bak Kut Teh in Klang is served mostly for breakfast-brunch, (yup, hardly able to find a good one for dinner …) what can one eat for lunch or dinner?! No worries, as Teluk Gong in Klang is famous for seafood, paired with the perfect beverage, toddy (palm wine, or coconut flower wine?)

Starter …. Snacks that uncannily resembled Mamee snacks.

Fried Vermicelli with Clams … really, really miniature baby clams (la-la)

Tom Yam Prawns in Coconut

Deep-fried Soft Shell Crabs

Or Chien (Oyster Omelette) with Mini Oysters

Locating this place is surprisingly, a walk in the park. Coming from Klang town, we managed to reach this place within 20 minutes. Least I remembered the trip was not too taxing, as we were in a holiday and cheery mood (it was after all, the beginning of the year!)

The place is spacious, with huts everywhere. One can choose to dine outside underneath the huts (with fans, no worries), or indoors. Ordering was a breeze, as I’ve already had the dishes listed on my mind, thanks to the various blog posts on this place.

The Fried Bihun (Vermicelli Noodles) with La-La (clams) is another one of Klang’s signature of sorts, rarely heard of in this part of Malaysia (Ipoh, where I’m staying). The baby clams (really tiny ones) rendered a sweet-ish flavour to the fried bihun, which thankfully was fried exactly the way noodles should, not too dry, yet not too wet. But lacking in ‘wok hei’ (breath of the wok?).

The prawns (medium-sized ones) cooked in tom yum soup, then served in a hollowed coconut with flesh intact, were fresh, succulent, and not spicy at all. The coconut imparted the curry-like gravy (nothing like authentic tomyam though) a fresh and sweet taste, complete with sweet coconut flesh. If you think eating coconut with curry sounds funny, believe me, it isn’t.

Yaaaaaaammmmmm …………… Seng!!!!

Both the Or Chien (Oyster Omelette) and Soft-Shelled Crabs were nothing to shout about though. And the medium serving of soft shelled crabs (TWO of them) costed RM40! Should’ve ordered salt-baked crabs instead, or steamed fish. And the soft-shelled crabs were soggy, salty, and not up to standard. Refrain from ordering these, my advice.

Notice the MODELS in the pic? =)

On the whole, the meal costed us about RM90+ for four, including the perennial favourite of the Indians (now I’m a fan as well!), TODDY! Sweet, sour, and served chilled, the drink is believed to cool the body, especially after a heaty/spicy meal. At RM2.50 per small bottle, and about RM8 per large bottle, it’s WAY cheaper than the beer. Mix them with Guiness Stout, and you’ll brew yourself a cocktail perfect with a seafood meal!

Location : Coconut Flower Seafood Restaurant @ 702, Jalan Udang Galah, Kampong Teluk Gong, 42000 Port Klang, Selangor. Opens for lunch and dinner everyday.

Comments: 18 Comments »
Categories: Klang Food
Tags: Klang, Seafood, Travel
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Josephine Cafe & Bistro @ Ipoh Garden South

January 20, 2009 | 438 views | 40 Comments »

Ipoh and fine dining rarely come together in the sam sentence. Bar some restaurants eg. Indulgence, Citrus, Brewster, Italia Mia, and cafes in hotels, Ipoh’s more synonymous with hawker fare and cheap food. And take note that I’m using the term ‘fine dining’ loosely here, as past experiences in some of the more opulent restaurants revealed the darker side of F&B management, quality and service; Mediocre food, paired with bad service, anyone?

The classy interior of the bistro, surrounded with translucent glass walls, an alluring diversion to the pedestrians walking by

So imagine the surprise on my face, as we stepped into Josephine Cafe & Bistro one fine evening for a supposedly ‘simple‘ dinner (I’ve had heavy lunch and tea break beforehand), in my shorts and slippers, only to be thankful not to be reprimanded for dressing indecently. I meant, inappropriately. =P

Dad was the one suggesting this new outlet, saying something along the line of coffee bistro or something. And painted in my mind was another run-of-the-mill kopitiam of sorts. Whoopsie.

They take pride in their brand of imported Illy coffee. Other than SSTC (Spaghetti Sweet Tea Cafe), I’ve yet to come across another restaurant in Ipoh serving this brand of Italian coffee. Anyone?

The ambience exudes a warm, comfortable setting for a perfect dinner, with enough lighting for one to differentiate the olive from the black bean. They even have an upper seating area, which overlooks the whole dining area beneath. Cool, but refrain from wearing mini skirts, if you get my drift.

Fish & Chips (RM26)

Given the setting, and the service delivered (service was prompt, without any mistakes or blatant inexperiences albeit the confusion of orders hence the misplacement of cutleries), you can expect to pay through your nose for a decent meal here. Food ranges from RM20+, with burgers and salads slightly below that price. Beverages consist of coffee (obviously) in various forms, but mostly RM10 and above. For desserts they Illy Affogato (coffee+vanilla ice cream), tiramisu (yeah, ‘creativity’), and pancakes.

Grandma’s order of fish and chips came with sides of crinkle-cut fries (yup, those ready to be fried type from supermarkets), greens (lettuce and purple cabbage drizzled with some vinaigrette), hard/frozen baby carrots, and minimal serving of mayonaise. The pan-fried dory fish fillet was good, not too much batter, and the flesh was tender and sweet, but still reeking from faint muddy taste. They could’ve been more generous with the mayo though.

Fueslli Carbonara (RM25)

No, it’s not a typo. It’s really spelt fueslli, though I think fusilli’s the real spelling for the pasta. Enlighten me, anyone?

Carbonara remains a safe choice of sorts for me, as nothing beats the creamy, sinful sauce with bacons and eggs. But the Fusilli Carbonara at Josephine’s was too rich, the sauce a tad too thick & clinging onto the pasta, with too much eggs being used. Some may prefer their carbonara sauce thick, but I prefer mine to be slightly watery, for that creamy texture.

Pollo Golden Bleu (RM32)

Dad’s order of Pollo Golden Bleu (Chicken Cordon Bleu) was delicious. The creamy mozzarella and ricotta cheese combination, and ham stuffed into the batter-fried chicken breast meat was sinfully good, every mouthful a bliss. Though I only got to taste ONE solitary mouthful. =(

Thankfully, the chicken meat was tender and juicy, and the sides of boiled potatoes was miles better than the crinkle-cut fries. But minor gripe here; The portion was way too small, not doing the price any justice.

Josephine Burger (RM18)

With a name like Josephine Burger, it doesn’t take a genius to realise it’s one of their signature item on the menu. But of course, this doesn’t hold true at times. When Friday’s Burger is merely beef and cheese burger, and Old Town Special Coffee is merely double shot of coffee, or rather, single shot in smaller cup.

Half expected the burger to be something like David’s Diner’s Miniature ones, we were pleasantly surprised to see the burger arriving in its full glory, sandwiched between 3 thick slices (or slabs, more like it) of soft, wheat bread was a slice of supposedly prime beef cut, a fried egg that’s more solid than runny, lettuce, and two olives perched atop the grand structure.

Sadly, the beef was overdone, requiring more chewing and far from tender. The egg yolk was hardened, though the whites was ok. The bread was clearly the star of the dish, though that’s not really saying much.

Crinkle-cut Fries … Soggy and oily ….

Paying RM18 for a burger may sound absurd for Ipoh’s standards, but you’ll expect at least thick cut fries from good quality potatoes, or fresh homemade mashed potatoes. But nope, you’ll be served with soggy and oily fries, and a dollop of mayonaise on the side in a small bowl. Hmm, I’d rather have them serving the burger with salad instead.

Thai Green Curry (RM15)

Thankfully, Mum’s order of Thai Green Curry with rice was passable. Far from the real authentic stuff, and a bit spicier than the mild green curry we’re accustomed to. But the roasted cherry tomatoes were juicy, fresh and rendered the dish a tangy flavour. The accompanying rice was fluffy, reminded me of a certain Malay dish, with finely-chopped bits of dried shrimps for some crunch.

A whole chicken thigh cooked in spicy (yes, spicy) green curry with roasted cherry tomatoes

The chickent thigh came in whole, with the upper part, and cooked til tender, infused with the spices and luscious green curry. I’m probably singing praises for the chicken as the other dishes we had that evening were nothing short of disastrous, aside from the Cordon Bleu.

Kick off your Shoes. let down your Hair and unwind in a cuppa Illy coffee ….

Al fresco dining’s another option, if the formal setting indoor is unsettling

On the whole, the meal was rather unimpressive, but given the quality of the service, the charming ambience, and several interesting items on the menu, I may return again. Least, we Ipohans have another place for a proper evening outing. Or, we can always fall back on the famous hawker fare …. Oh Glorious Street Food !!!

Location : Josephine Cafe & Bistro @ …. oops. The address is not printed on the receipt. But this bistro is situated at Ipoh Garden Plaza in Ipoh Garden South, facing the main road of Jalan Tasek. Here’s a MAP, in case you need assistance.