Motormouth From Ipoh – Asian Food & Travel Blog

I have been reprimanded time and again for the ultra-lengthy posts, mindless/endless ramblings (nonsense, if you will) and senseless rants on this blog.

For more than 4 years now, Motormouth From Ipoh has charted several milestones; from appearing on TV for the first (and possibly the last, since rumor has it that thousands, if not millions actually suffered from nightmares from watching this ogre on telly thereafter!) to running its first ever contest online (congrats to the 10 lucky winners!)

But that recent contest really opened up my eyes to an element that although I half-expected (but constantly in denial mode) but have never thought that it would be so central to the enjoyment of my posts … the length of my writings.

Barely an attraction nowadays; the Mushroom Farm (Taman Cendawan) in Genting Highlands houses more than just a farm. There are two restaurants within, and a retail store selling local produce.

Remember this post, two years ago? Whereby I was quick to reiterate that the best place to eat in Genting Highlands would be a distance away at Gohtong Jaya.

Until this short excursion up the highlands changed my mind slightly.

For today, let’s enjoy the travel photos taken during the 2D/1N stay in Genting Highlands two weeks ago.

Fresh fruits, the famous Bukit Tinggi ginger & farmer attending to the farm @ Mushroom Farm

Cultivation of various species of mushrooms at the farm, and entrance is FREE. There will be no tour guide to bring you around, but you should be good on your own since the place ain’t too large to start with.

Mushroom Farm Restaurant (clockwise from top left) – Yam Ring (fatt putt) with Salted Egg Mantis Prawns (RM25/USD8), Mixed Mushrooms (RM12/USD4) and the delicious Stir Fried Pork Belly with Bird’s Eye Chillies (Cili Pad) and Garlic (RM20/USD7).

The signature dish at Mushroom Farm Restaurant is actually their German Pork Knuckle; but definitely for the hungry carnivores/meat lovers who are in a chow down mood after sweeping the casinos dry. Or vice versa.

Adjacent to Mushroom Farm Restaurant is Miegrand Seafood Restaurant that serves similar Chinese fares; yet less of a crowd. And you know lah … us being Malaysians; we love to join the pack rather than being adventurous one ma …..

Can’t remember what we usually did before First World Plaza was up. Charmed by the outdoor theme park I guess. But life was so much simpler back then, that we as kids endured the 3 hours or so ride from Ipoh without an iPad/iPhone in hand to keep us occupied; and yet gleefully anticipating to arrive at the destination.

Mid Autumn Festival in Genting Highlands? Or the post-mortem?

The perpetual night sceneries within the interior of First World Plaza reflect the overall sombre mood of the casinos (unless you’re on a roll, of course); merely highlighted by colourful intermission of lights and giggles/cheers.

Feeling sadistic? Go chill your bones further by entering SnowWorld; RM25 for adults and RM23 for children. Level T2A, First World Plaza. (-6°C)

Back then, McDonald’s was the preferred hangout joint, serving the most accessible/affordable meals up in the highlands. Nowadays, with more cafes, food courts and restaurants established there, the choices of F&B outlets are pretty impressive.

The Outdoor Theme Park @ Genting Highlands (One day unlimited rides @ RM50 for adults, RM35 for children) What used to be a staple whenever a visit beckoned, is now relegated to merely a sight that brings back good old memories. Still, I won’t deny that there is still that adrenaline junkie living within these old bones …. 🙂

The Bakery @ Highlands Hotel – Easily one of the better cafes within the vicinity; that serves reasonably-priced cakes, pastries and desserts. The Turkey Ham Quiche (RM6.80/USD2.30) and Strawberry Cake (about RM12/USD4) were gratifying to say the least; especially when you’re seated on the balcony and sipping on hot tea while being caressed by chilly breeze.

Familiar Sights; some new, some old. But all the more memorable to kids growing up in the past decades.

And who can neglect the fact that Malaysia has the fourth largest hotel in the world (source : Wikipedia); with more than 6000 rooms @ First World Hotel.

Bubbles & Bites is one of the newest addition to the stellar cast of eateries in Genting Highlands; an all-day cafe at Highlands Hotel occupying the previous Pizza Factory (can you say YEAH?!)

Pop-rock tunes blaring from the speakers playing Bubbles & Bites FM, purple psychedelic hues from the funky lights, well-mannered staff attending to our whims and fancies, and an almost B.I.G’s like glass display counter for a more casual setting.

Slow-Braised Lamb Shank served on a bed of cous cous

From Salads to Pies and Meatballs to Lasagne, Bubbles & Bites concentrates on casual dining concept with an interesting blend of dishes. Best of all; they maintain the prices just like how you would pay for a similar meal in KL.

Sticky Date Pudding and Lemon Curd Tart (both for RM6/USD2 each) ended the meal on a sweeter note. The fluffy purple-tinged cotton candy aside, dining at Bubbles & Bites did reinvigorate my palate somehow, after the tragic food run two years ago.

Although the Slow-Braised Lamb Shank (about RM30/USD10 per serving, sorry as I must have misplaced the receipt) did not live up to its hype, the sheer pleasure of voraciously digging into a chunk of red meat warmed before served actually made some of my reservations vanished. Yes, the chunks of meat did not fall off the bones, or even fork-tender to begin with, but the gravy and bed of cous cous did little to magnify the shortcomings.

The Roast Butternut Pumpkin Salad (RM15/USD5) featured freshly-picked baby spinach from the garden, roasted pumpkin cubes, toasted pine nuts and creamy Spanish goat cheese tossed in extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar; the dressing selections placed on your table; hence it’s D-I-Y. The leafy greens left a slight bitter tinge in the mouth, but the sharp taste disappeared after a few mouthful of the salad.

I won’t go into details of what we did after dinner (self-explanatory?). But needless to say, I think we supported Genting’s World of Entertainment dreams quite a bit. 🙂

Nyonya Colors opened up an outlet at First World Plaza, offering breakfast sets from around RM6/USD2 onwards. A steal, and what a clever marketing ploy. Damn good ‘teh tarik’ to boot, no joke this one.

And hence, we bade the wondrous world of Genting Highlands goodbye. More of a short escapade from the crazy life in the city than anything, I just felt relieved that I was able to clear my mind off work for two days.

Mushroom Farm Restaurant (non-Halal)
Descending Genting Highlands Resort
Business Hours : 9am – 12am
Tel No : +603-6101 2864
Directions : As you start descending Genting Highlands; passing by First World Hotel, you will see the signboard leading to Kuala Lumpur and also Taman Cendawan (Mushroom Farm). Take the road leading to Mushroom Farm and you will reach the place.

The Bakery @ Highlands Hotel (pork free)
Breakfast Menu daily : 7am – 10.30am
Day Menu : 12pm – 12am
Saturdays and PH : 12pm – 2am

Bubbles & Bites (pork free)
Monday to Thurs : 11am – 12midnight
Fri to Sun : 11am – 2am

**For more dining information, as well as room reservation etc, hop over to Genting Malaysia‘s website.