Motormouth From Ipoh – Asian Food & Travel Blog

Salad Millionaire A La Limestone  – Market Price
(Mix of the finest selection of fresh lettuce, perfumed with italian dressing, topped with 1/2 lobster mayonnaise, dressed with bruchetta and german caviar)

Almost a year has passed since the first review of The Limestone last January; sometime around the Chinese New Year season when we ushered in the Year of the Dragon. Now, with less than a month to go before the Snake comes a knocking (or hissing or slithering), this restaurant situated at the ground floor of Regal Lodge has completely revamped their menu for 2013.

Almost completely, I might add. They did not reinvent the wheel for this one, yet I could not helped but marveled at the sheer creativity and brilliance of Sous Chef Mahani’s creations; going beyond the realms of conventional European classics.

Seeking for a place for reunion dinner, yet not keen on clamoring for a table at the typical Chinese diner? Or weary of getting overcharged and under-delivered as “everything” costs more during CNY? Here’s an option to splurge. Read the rest of this entry »

If you think that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, think again.

For 15 years, Regalodge Hotel has been enduring the many stalwarts of hoteliers with impressive tenacity; albeit the emergence of one VERY strong contender by the name of Tower Regency situated at … erm, almost next door.

Then, sometime last year, the 3-star hotel underwent a major refurbishment ordeal; painted with a fresh coat of beige and purple paint and the addition of a foot reflexology centre. But what’s most enticing is this 4 months-old fine dining restaurant named The Limestone’s.

Seafood Paella (RM68.50 for a portion to be shared; Dinner Menu, or RM28.50 for an individual portion; Lunch Menu)

I admit that I was well surprised by the choice of location; a fine dining restaurant not within its own compound or in a refurbished mansion, or even nestled within some glittering high class resorts by the hills or in the midst of any of the business centres.

Here’s a story on the latest fine dining establishment in town; helmed by Chef Erwin from Europe with an interesting penchant for firing up a culinary storm not only in Malaysia; but in Ipoh of all the other towns …..  Read the rest of this entry »

What does Christmas mean to you? Is this a season for gift-exchange? A time to shop and let there be forgiveness if you overspent, for the desire to shop-til-you-drop is ingrained into the X’mas spirit of celebrations anyway?

Or are you already salivating at the thought of fresh roasted meats from the spit; a gigantic fowl in the form of a turkey stuffed with a plethora of ingredients served with a side of tarty cranberry sauce, or even fruit cakes with chunks of fruits and nuts soaked in an intoxicating brew of brandy (which I just had yesterday)?

Whatever the reason is, you might be looking for a reason to splurge come this jolly season. And the year end bonus, school holidays, extended weekends, year-end sales and Christmas buffets make things seem so much more lavish yet affordable to the mind.

Here’s …. a reason to Indulge in Ipoh. Read the rest of this entry »

#1 – Dim lighting from the ‘adaptive, reworked chandeliers’ hanging precariously over the tables, the simplicity of the overall design lending a soothing mood to the ambience, and a contemporary finish that won’t make you feel out of place, even if you’re in jeans and sneakers.

Bistro à Table (pronounced “ah-tah-bl”, which means “To The Table” in French) brought an entire new game to the serene neighbourhood of Section 17 in Petaling Jaya. Mention Section 17 and my mind was automatically diverted to Happy Mansion (My Elephant, Food Foundry, MM Cafe, nameless chicken rice stall) and the various street fares (Hong Seng’s roasted meats and Robert’s Char Kuey Teow are good examples).

But never would I have imagined a French diner in the midst of the residential area. Maybe it was what Isadora desired in the first place. To inject some flair with her baby; this supposedly “hole-in-the-wall” humble outlet.

Read the rest of this entry »

Hanare Authentic Japanese Cuisine – Relatively new, when we talk about eateries located in The Intermark itself. Where is this Intermark? That’s where Doubletree by Hilton Hotel is.

And you were wondering where The Intermark is? Don’t worry. I was too; when this invitation for a resplendent ‘omakase‘ session at Hanare came knocking on my door. A fan of Japanese cuisine since the (ahem) Sushi King days, I have not heard or read about Hanare before at that moment of time.

Can’t blame me, since I was only down in KL for short of 3 months, and Hanare’s relatively new in the neighbourhood. But if you’re thinking that “Blah, just another bloke from down the streets …” then think again!

#1 – Ankimo Sunomono (Angle Fish Liver in Vinegar) – A palate teaser of a starter; the vinegared fish liver had this creamy, velvety texture not unlike foie gras, but with a subtle briny tang to it. The succulent shrimp was there; to complement the cube of liver.

And why oh why was Hanare different from others? Firstly, their fresh supplies are being flown in THREE times a week – Mon, Wed and Fri. And they have someone at the famous Tsukiji fish market to hand pick the best tuna (especially) and various delightful seafood to be shipped on the spot. Talk about QC.

Secondly, Executive Chef Sudo was from the famous Tykoh Inagiku. If you’re a fan of real, authentic Japanese cuisine, you must have heard of the name Tykoh Inagiku before. I have not been there, but according to my aunt who works as a tour guide with a Japanese travel agency; the aforementioned restaurant used to be one of the BEST in the city. (Picture of the chef at the end of the post)

Read the rest of this entry »

Shanghai @ JW Marriott – Opulent dining environment, a touch of class and elegance reminiscent of scenes from movies filmed with influences from Shanghai during the pre-war days.

Thus, folks … tis the season to be eat, drink and be merry again. The Lunar New Year is dawning upon us; approximately half month to go before the firecrackers got unleashed from all illegal sources, the Shandy’s and the beers got guzzled like as if that’s the right thing parents should do to educate the next generations to drink responsibly (hehe) and open palms all around coupled with an indestructible ego asking for red packets to minimize the inflation blues ……

Standard Chartered is offering their credit card holders an irresistible deal to divert them from their strict diet regimes, and instead go all out by choosing from not one, not two, not even five, but EIGHT renowned dining establishments all around Kuala Lumpur to sample the limited time only, customized Extravagant 8 Menus for RM888+ per table for 8 pax.

If y our mouth’s agape and you wonder why the premium price for the special deals, bear in mind that these restaurants are in a class of their own; Li Yen @ Ritz Carlton, Shanghai @ JW Marriott,  Elegant Inn @ Menara Hap Seng, Tai Zi Heen @ Prince Hotel & Residence, Zing @ Grand Millennium, Gu Yu Tien @ Chulan Square, Chynna @ Hilton KL and Celestial Court @ Sheraton Imperial.

Felt like you’re being ‘stork-ed’? 🙂

My first official ‘Lou Sang/Yee Sang‘ experience this year was at Shanghai @ JW Marriott Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. A total of 8 mouthwatering creations; some ONLY available during this festive season, were presented to us.

Read on to see just what authentic Shanghainese cuisine epitomes, and how extravagant exactly was this Extravagant 8 fiesta …..

Read the rest of this entry »

Continued from Part 1 of The Indulgence Experience – Indulgence Living; More Than A Boutique Hotel

At Indulgence, you’d feel as though you’re being transported to another dimension, away from the hustle and bustle of city life, albeit being smack in the heart of the city. Minutes turn to hours without you even realizing it. Just Good food, Good company, and a jolly Good time.

Indulgence Restaurant is an award winning dining establishment, having won several Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards for Excellence. To imagine that this stellar restaurant’s roots stemmed from the charming, inconspicuous and quaint half-shoplot cafe in Canning Garden way back in 1996.

Julie Song; the brains behind the concept, injects so much passion, energy and time into the setting up, running and maintenance of Indulgence. This is reflected by the sheer number of loyal customers (come on a weekend, and you’d better reserve your table!) perpetually on the lookout for her Specials written with chalk on the blackboards, and drooling over her dynamically-evolving menu. She assured me that nothing on the menu is permanent, and she changes the ingredients (mostly imported) from time to time based on the freshest produce of the season.

The Specials Menu with special creations written on the blackboard. You will see the waiting staff carrying the board to your table while taking your order, so you don’t have to squint at the board on the wall.

Wanna know what we were served that evening? Keep reading for a gastronomic journey in a most Indulgent manner  ….. Read the rest of this entry »