Motormouth From Ipoh – Malaysian Food & Travel

Irresistible Pork Burger from Brewster’s @ Greentown (RM21/USD6.80)

After two lacklustre meals at the old Brewster’s in old town of Ipoh, I was not expecting much from this renewed interest in Brewster’s since they newly moved to this new premise in Greentown of Ipoh.  They had a soft launch sometime in the beginning of this month.

* In case you’re wondering what was this place before Brewster’s relocated, this lot was occupied by a restaurant named Krom Luang, serving Thai cuisine albeit without fanfare or publicity.

The NEW Brewster’s incorporates a rustic ambience with a modern touch; with a designated bar area, a proper dining segment with long wooden tables and chairs, as well as a casual al fresco dining area at the porch fronting the eatery.

Wanna know more about our short lunch session at the new Brewster’s, and wondering what new dishes they offer in their revamped menu? Read on to find out.

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There is this bistro-cafe-pub-lounge like place in Greentown Business Centre that has been earning stripes in both positive and negative aspects. Cocooon Cafe (no spelling error, it’s spelled with that many O’s) started business sometime in the beginning of this year (can’t be sure, for I seldom venture out to that jammed area for lunch anymore these days).

Set Lunch – Dory Fish Fillets cooked in a light garlic and butter sauce, served with a side of herbs rice and potato wedges. RM14.90/USD4.60 for a set with a soup, a dessert and a drink.

Okay, I do admit that the ambience plays a pertinent role in ensuring a most pleasurable dining experience. To which I have to give credits to the management of Cocooon Cafe, for the interior of the premise looks resplendent yet comfortable with soft hues of natural light streaming from the sidewalks.

Cocooon Cafe - A relatively new dining sensation in the heart of the city; Greentown Business Centre of Ipoh.

Painted with an eye-catching purple shade on the outside, the cafe appears more like a pub or bistro than a fine dining settlement. Which, in this case works wonders as the casual environment befits a simple and quick lunch for the blue-collar workers around the vicinity. And Cocooon serves various affordable sets for lunch and dinner, but here comes the major lament ….

Read on to find out what they offer in the sets, and the daunting wait for our food …… Read the rest of this entry »

Secret Garden Bistro – The open air dining concept (al fresco) taken to different heights; Sipping on your wine while being caressed by the soothing splatters of water from the fountain, and hopefully …. some lush greenery in the near future.

I would be lying if I say I am not intrigued by the sheer pleasure of introducing yet another new eatery in Ipoh, although this one being relatively new. The official launch of Secret Garden was sometime during the first week of August 2010. The bistro started operating way back in June or July, but the boutique hotel on the first floor (only three premium rooms, as far as I know) designed to exude a certain heritage aura will only be opened for reservations in the near future.

The rustic charm in the carefully executed planning and designing of the facade and interior of Secret Garden deserves a mention; especially those supposedly-REAL barrels used to prop up a glass table top at the bar area.

Many are still kept in the dark about the exact location of Secret Garden, or what type of cuisine one can expect to indulge themselves in. Heck, even if you zoom by this lane leading to Secret Garden, all lined with a tall foliage of trees, you might just miss the place as there is NO huge signboard lighted up with neon spotlights, nor engraved walls/tiles with the company’s name emblazoned on them.

To clear the air of mystique surrounding Secret Garden, read on to discover what could have been Ipoh’s best kept secret …… until NOW.

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Panfried Cod Fillet Mango (RM24/USD7.30) – A slab of thick, succulent and sweet cod fillet served atop the bed of irresistibly yummy mashed potatoes, garden vegetables and a refreshingly fruity coulis of mango.

The premise previously occupied by Rendezvous Cafe at the corner of Brewster Road (Jalan Sultan Idris Shah) and Cockman Street (Jalan Dato Onn Jaafar) has been given a new shot of life recently. Eastern’s Brasserie is owned by the same management team of Eastern Hotel (soon to be opened in November 2010 tentatively; a projected spanking new boutique hotel as opposed to the previously disdain, dilapidated outlook).

A relaxed, spacious and classy ambience defines Eastern’s Brasserie; with a surprisingly satisfactory level of customer service.

I came to know about Eastern’s Brasserie from the All About Ipoh Facebook page, whereby one of the admin posted the pictures of aesthetically pleasant dishes resembling European cuisine, and subsequently generated a positive vibe circulating around this new addition to the upmarket dining scene in Ipoh. Read on for the insights into the dishes, prices and location …. Read the rest of this entry »

Beef Stroganoff (RM17/USD5.20) – A sumptuous dish of Russian origin, barely available anymore in the menus nowadays.

For all it’s worth, I could not help but write another silly post today. Blame it on the unwelcoming thoughts of starting a full 5 days working week. Or the shot of caffeine earlier this morning (Thank you old town for the perpetually interesting selections of coffee. You’re intoxicating me). But since the previous post was on coffee and toast from a random back alley stall in Penang, let’s move slightly southward to a classic coffee house/steak house in Taiping.

Backed by an astonishing experience of 20 years in business, Nagaria Steak House on Jalan Pasar serves Western cuisine like how the past generations loved them. Of course, Nagaria also serves the occasional Asian fares like fried rice, noodles, and such, much like how Scotch Pub includes their legendary fried beehoon, fried gizzards and inchi kabin chicken into their dominatingly Western menu. Read on to find out just how ‘cheap’ the food at Nagaria is …. Read the rest of this entry »

A Slab of Pork Chop @ Scotch Restaurant & Pub – A tender cut commonly used in Chinese cooking, marinated then pan-fried in a simple manner.

Words can’t express how much I would love to divulge the history/legacy behind Scotch Pub, a classic Western diner that has been around for ages in Ipoh Garden South. 20 years? Or maybe more? I can’t be sure, but this perennial classic had been battling out with the newer, funkier generations and yet still standing strong.

The legendary FMS in Ipoh’s old town was closed back in late 2007, for renovations that lasted to this very day. Miner’s Arms (also in old town) on the other hand, was shut down for business sometime last year, though the charming, once the MOST prestigious Western diner in town was not doing so well in the past few years. First Coffee House on Cockman Street (Jalan Dato Onn Jaafar) recently underwent a major facelift, sporting a lime green exterior but I have not visited the cafe since my secondary school days. Rendezvous Cafe at the corner of Cockman Street and Brewster Road (Jalan Sultan Idris Shah) ceased operations few years ago, giving way to some dodgy cafe … followed suit by Blue Window Cafe located further down the road.

Do you think that Scotch Pub is in serious threat of losing out to the freshly-conceptualized fusion cafes, fine diners, and bistros? Or can they beat the odds; maybe creating history as THE longest running coffee house in Ipoh? Read on to find out ….. Read the rest of this entry »

Hot Jack Cafe – A hard to missed corner lot with a catchy signboard facing Jalan Pasir Puteh, before one reaches Shatin Court on the right.

Finally … Thanks to recommendations from a few readers, I came to know about Hot Jack Cafe; a barely half a year old cafe situated on Jalan Pasir Puteh of Ipoh. Though it took me a considerably long, loooonnnggg period of procrastination before making my way over for lunch on a Sunday afternoon.

The cafe serves an array of Western and Asian delights; and thankfully far from the generic, washed-up choices like Chicken Chop, Lamb (or Lamp … ) Chop, and Fish & Chips.

Instead you get ambitious fusions such as Mediterranean Pizza Chicken Chop, Cajun Spice Chicken/Fish, Turf & Surf (funny it’s not listed as Surf & Turf …. but, oh well), and even Almond Crumbed Fish with Butter and Raspberry Sauce.

Everything on the menu appeared to be reasonably-priced, with nothing beyond RM20/USD6 each. With 12 varieties of chicken chops, 8 methods to serve their fish, and 3 types each of steak and lamb, you know you’re in a fix if you’re one of those indecisive species ……. Read the rest of this entry »