Motormouth From Ipoh – Asian Food & Travel Blog

The very basic/standard/generic/traditional Yee Sang – But we were not complaining though. After all, this Chinese version of a prosperity-laden salad is supposed to be tossed for the notion of it, rather than for its gastronomic value. Unless of course, you’re taking into consideration the many varieties of modern Yee Sang with abalone and such.

After two gastronomic feasts at Shanghai @ JW Marriott and Zing @ Grand Millennium, it’s probably time to set the mood back into place; and toss some Yee Sang the traditional way. This Chinese restaurant situated in Paramount Garden holds probably decades of legacy, judging from the outlook and the fact that the moment we entered and were seated at our reserved table; a warm, deja vu sensation washed over me. A kick back to the old school type of eateries; laid back, no fuss, no frills Chinese diner which was possibly once THE place to organize a banquet dinner, but has since relented to the fad (or maybe not?) of lavish celebrations at 5 star hotels instead.

Comparing Gold Dragon City to Mun Choong, Oversea or even Tuck Kee (yeah, a post to come after our Reunion dinner next week!) would be more fitting, and definitely in the same league since those Ipoh restaurants mentioned above are nothing but serial old players STILL attracting a constant stream of customers.

Initially, this lunch with colleagues was planned for dinner; but given the time constraints and logistic matters, we rescheduled to lunch hour instead. Saves time actually, since our office is located merely minutes away from this restaurant at Paramount Garden; opposite of Giant hypermarket. Read the rest of this entry »

A Meticulously-Sloppy Massacre – Can’t blame Chef Tim for the vengeful act of dissection. After all, one of the owners (Ernest) is supposed to be a very, very discerning diner (read : picky eater) and Tim has to replicate that particular taste Ernest desires …. 🙂

And we got Hoofed. There were five of us, on an utter devastation of the porcine family. Thankfully, the meal was balanced with meagre doses of fish and fowls, yet nothing came close to rivalling the porky affairs that evening.

Don’t count the bricks, you’ll go dizzy before the first sip of your Sangria. And Colin (the other co-owner of Hoofed) modestly (hehe) staked his claims on the marvelous architecture works and design. And yeah, he was up there (on the ceilings lah …) doing all the renovation works too.

Hoofed is your neighbourhood watering hole-cum-dining extravaganza. Since Tom, Dick & Harry’s Pub & Grub downstairs is also owned by the same bunch of people, it’s a slightly different venture altogether when it comes to Hoofed; being a proper dining establishment complete with fine wines, cocktails (an inhouse mixologist by the Shawn), elaborate menu peppered with porky delights, and even lighter bites for the later (dire?) hours.

Do read on to find out why I was still on a porky high the morning after …… Read the rest of this entry »

I have to admit I was never a fan of dining in Chinese restaurants. Wait, let me rephrase that. I was never a fan of the higher-end restaurants usually utilized for wedding banquets and celebrations.

So far, I have written only about Mun Choong Restaurant when we had a gathering there last year, and a simple lunch at Tung Hoi (East Ocean) Restaurant in Chemor. Of course, there was the recent wedding dinner at Hee Lai Ton, but that’s a different story altogether. The other BIG names like Kok Thai, Sun Lee How Fook and Tai Thong (now changed to Royal China) were not reviewed because either the meal was not satisfactory or the occasion was another banquet whereby I felt funny snapping the food while everyone’s salivating uncontrollably (you know Chinese wedding dinners and punctuality NEVER go together!).

Fantastic, melt-in-mouth Char Siew (caramelized, barbecued pork) with crispy roasted suckling pig (RM30/USD9)

That is, until I read about Oversea Restaurant‘s (www) fantastic Char Siew and “Ham Yue Fah Lam Pou” (Claypot Braised Pork Belly with Salted Fish); a to-die-for dish if you’re a lover of anything pungent and savoury, and goes perfectly with copious portion of white rice to lap up the juices. No thanks to the many hungry foodies over at the Facebook page ….. 🙂

Oversea Restaurant (also known as Haewaytian) has TWO outlets in Ipoh now, the spanking new branch over at Jalan Datoh near to Srimaju bus station in town, a short distance away from the famous See See Heng Hor Hee stall. Read on to find out what other dishes we ordered at the original Oversea Restaurant facing Excelsior Hotel …. Read the rest of this entry »