Motormouth From Ipoh – Asian Food & Travel Blog

Braised Lamb Shank (MYR 36 / USD 12) @ Scenic Cafe Garden served on a bed of mashed potatoes, sides of grilled vegetables and brown sauce

Before we decided to give another new cafe in Ipoh a try, we actually hesitated for a while. I guess this was understandable, given the sudden surge of cafe culture in Ipoh and the generally lacklustre experience with some of them. If you are one jolly cafe-hopper, then you should be able to relate to my claims.

Here’s the bucket list: Overpriced ‘gourmet’ coffee and tea (bags), generic outsourced desserts (cheesecakes priced at close to MYR20 per slice anyone?), lazy pastas, salads and sandwiches selection, and to no one’s surprise …. exceptional attention/investment focused on creating an ‘idyllic, artsy’ ambience targeted at the new generation of foodies – feed the camera/smartphone before the stomach.

So when Dad suddenly hatched this idea of a dinner outing at Scenic Cafe Garden at the junction of Tambun Road and Tiger Lane (interesting names, huh?), supposedly another boutique cafe housed in a refurbished bungalow (which we found out later that it was more than a generic bungalow!), I scrambled for alternatives in my to-eat list.

To cut a long story short, the chilly weather, dark skies and post-Cameron Highlands blues (more on that later) placed me in a half-hibernation mode, thus I went with the flow. At least, I could be rewarded with a potential gem for photography, should the food failed me. But read on to find out the full story on Scenic Cafe Garden; cheesy name yes, yet a spectacular place to entertain guests.  Read the rest of this entry »

Pie Tee (MYR1.50/USD0.50 each) – These are Nyonya-inspired flower-shaped crispy pastry filled with juicy mengkuang (jicama/yam bean), finely-chopped omelette, red chillies and scallions; meant to be eaten with their own concoction of piquant & tangy chilli sauce.

Continuing the Melaka 2014 series; let me share with you this brilliant discovery of one excellent Nyonya cuisine restaurant in Melaka named Amy Heritage Nyonya Cuisine at Taman Melaka Raya.

Despite the many visits to the heritage town over the years (looking back over the recent times; this has been an annual ‘makan’ pilgrimage!), I have yet to find one Nyonya restaurant worthy of two thumbs up or tagged with a ‘die-die-must-try’ label.

Okay, I’ve done Baba Low recently for breakfast but they are not full-fledged Nyonya restaurant per se. Those in the league of Ole Sayang, Nyonya Makko, Cottage Spices or Big Nyonya (formerly Kenny’s Delight).

So what makes Amy’s restaurant so special?  Read the rest of this entry »

Uncle Albert’s Battered Halibut (RM39/USD13) on a bed of rocket leaves served with Homemade Chips, Mushy Peas and Homemade Tartar Sauce

How’s the weekend been to you, dear fellow foodies? Have you made that once-a-year commitment/formality of a saunter towards the nearest Ramadan bazaar; packing an insane amount of food to be savoured and felt the guilt thereafter?

I have not, actually. As much as I had wanted to, the mere thought of jostling with the crowd eager to ‘buka puasa’ with families on time, and driving/jamming my way to some of the most popular Ramadan bazaars in the Klang Valley just did not take off as desired.

To which I kept my cravings suppressed and reminders to self to at least hop over to one as soon as I can. And gosh …. it’s amazing how time flies. ‘Hari Raya’ is coming in 3 days!

So let’s respect the festival and focus on something pork-free this Monday evening. A one-month old traditional fish & chips shop originating from Ireland; from the same owner of Healy Mac’s …  Read the rest of this entry »

The famous Nong & Jimmy’s grilled crabs (RM60/kg; the two crabs weighed 1.2kg = RM72)

Okay, now don’t dismiss the thought that Motormouth ain’t coming back with a slurry of posts, leading to the festive month of Chinese New Year. A scary notion knowing that it’s less than a month away and I have yet to plan for my homecoming this year. Imagine the horror when I can’t make it back in time for the Reunion dinner!

But I shall refrain from babbling about CNY this early in the morning. The past week has been nothing but chaotic (in a somewhat positive way; peppered with slight melodramatic moments here and there) and I’m glad that Monday will be a brand new start! Fingers crossed, fingers crossed …

No more craps? Fine. Here’s a crabby story for you to munch on; the place almost everyone (KL-ites at least) has been to …..Nong & Jimmy Thai Seafood BBQ. Read the rest of this entry »

Tandoor Grill @ Greentown, Ipoh – A mega structure of a restaurant redefining North Indian cuisine in Ipoh

Almost two months in business now, Tandoor Grill has trail-blazed the Ipoh F&B scene & setting wagging tongues on fire; appeasing the ever-demanding appetites for a taste of real North Indian cuisine. The restaurant occupies the spacious lot in Greentown, Ipoh; directly opposite of MP Steamboat.

The Nine Elephants from Thailand welcoming you as you walk into the elegantly-designed restaurant

One thing I can attest to, aside from the delicious spread of North Indian cuisine is that the ambience at Tandoor Grill was a startling contrast to what I imagined it would be from the external facade. In a very positive way, I might add. Especially the design of the private dining rooms, and the overall elegance of the dining environment.

Read on to discover more about Tandoor Grill …. Read the rest of this entry »

Steaming hot pau’s, freshly-baked egg tarts, crispy yam puffs and thick coffee brewed at Kedai Kopi Shin Lok, Jeram, Kuala Selangor

Short of generalizing Kuala Selangor as a town famous only for the seafood, we stumbled upon Shin Lok Coffee Shop tucked hidden (or maybe not so) in the town of Jeram; about 20km away from the main town of Kuala Selangor.

Their specialties? Freshly steamed, fluffy buns (also known as “pau”) filled with a variety of ingredients and the crispy yam puffs (known as “woo kok”).

Read the rest of this entry »

Bread Espresso Dessert (B.E.D.) specializes in freshly-brewed coffee; decorated with coffee art by a self-taught barista to lift that aesthetic element beyond the usual cup of coffee served in conventional cafes.

And as Lady Luck would have it, good news come in droves. The emergence of Burps & Giggles; an all-day chillax hangout in old town of Ipoh has set the cafe scene in Ipoh on fire once more.

Or at least, we now have another cafe that opens throughout the day and does not close on weekends.

Of floral motives, flavoured latte and quiches.

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to recommend this new place named … Bread Espresso Dessert (nicked B.E.D); a two months old cafe situated in Bandar Ipoh Raya; the business centre near to Bangunan Perak, YMCA and Taman Dr Seenivasagam (locals call this D.R. Park) ….

Read the rest of this entry »