Chapter 149 – Anne Elizabeth, Taman Segar, Cheras

Tick, tock, tick, tock..

I stared at Mr Chee, hoping to get his attention while his eyes were glued on his mobile phone, browsing Facebook. I made quite a big gesture using my hands, making some noise using kitchen utensils and deep in heart, hoping that he would notice. However, all this was useless.

It was just one of the days where Mr Chee was so focused on his mobile phone. I walked up to him, nudging “Hello, I am looking for you right now, right here.” He then realized my existence. #adui

Turned out, he was actually looking for some restaurants to celebrate my sweet  #ermhumph 18^th birthday. Eventually, I smiled and cuddled him, trying to go through a long list of food that I wanted to have from Japanese, Korean, Chinese and even Indian cuisine. Seeing my clueless expression, he suggested Anne Elizabeth which is located in Cheras. #solvehisproblems

Parking could be an issue in this area as there was so many vehicles on the road. We didn’t make any reservation hence, we had to wait for our tables. We could not have the tables indoor since it was fully booked so we had to settle down at the outdoor area.

It was very easy to order your food here. You just pick and they cook for you! There’s a pork counter in the restaurant itself, displaying an array of pork. Yes, it is a heaven for pork-lovers. So, so many kind(s) of pork that I had difficulty in choosing it. We ended up got the lady to recommend to us.

Creamy Mushroom and Bacon Soup (RM10.90)

Mushroom soup was delicious! Topped with bacon bits and chunky mushroom, the soup was so rich in texture and taste. We ordered one bowl at first and then, we realized it was not enough. So, we had another bowl after that.

Iberico Abanico Spain (RM39.80 per pc)

Bacon Bratwurst (RM10.90 per pc)

One of the signature dishes is the Iberico Abanico Spanish Pork – the lady recommended us this! Only for this pork, you can either opt to have it cooked at 75% well done or 100% done. Being the first time there, we went for 100% grilled in perfection. And certainly, this dish did not disappoint us! Juicy yet chewy; at the same time, it was satisfying. On another hand, the sausage was so juicy! I’m speechless in fact and couldn’t find the way to describe it so, I call you to try it on your own. 

Olive Pork Belly (RM29.20 per pc)

Iberico Abanico (RM39.80 per pc)
Their pork dishes had never failed us! We enjoyed every single bite of it even though our tummies were hinting us that we were pretty full at that time.

Black Pig Meatball in Blanket (RM9.60 per pc)

Somewhat, I find this dish so-so only. The taste was pretty mild actually.

Portobello Mushroom (RM24.90)

Since we had a number of pork dishes, we wanted to drain off some fats by having a large portobello mushroom. It was quite pricey but hey, it came with generous amount of cheese and bacon bits in between. I love it but not Mr Chee.

Spaghetti Carbonara (RM22.90)

While many would have opted grilled pork, we too ordered a plate of spaghetti carbonara. Cooked with mushrooms and bacon bits, this dish is suitable for people of all ages – a common dish in fact but it’s worth to try.

Overall, it was a porky-licious lunch for us! Delicious yet sinning enough; it’s a lunch celebration after all so, just be happy and indulge in all the food. You will never regret it. #mydietplanalwaysfail

Tips: Do make a reservation first before visiting there in order to secure a nice, comfortable seating area.

Ambient: 3/5
Price: Pretty high but you are paying for the quality
Food: Non-halal
Service: 3.5/5

Anne Elizabeth The Deli Restaurant,
No.1, Jalan Manis 4, Taman Segar, 
56100 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03 - 9130 0319           

Regards,
Foodiestravel

Chapter 125 - MUST-EAT food in Ishigaki, Japan

Sun rose and we reached somewhere in the middle of the sea! Such a smooth sailing that we did not realize we have been voyaging from a place to another. Don't ask us where were we at that time and we would just give you a clueless face!😖

Happy-go-lucky..

After having our breakfast and getting ourselves prepared, we began to disembark. When we looked out, we were right in the middle of the sea amidst the blue water plus roaring waves. We just followed the majority and there, we were greeted with another boat that took us to Ishigaki. 

This time around, we had a very limited time on this small island. So, we spent our time wisely by walking along the streets first. The weather was so hot that we hardly noticed any locals there; only us being the weird tourists who roamed around as if we wanted to have our own version of suntanning. 

At some point, our legs started to give in and all we could do was to visit a random restaurant. While giving our legs some rest, we entertained our tummy. Doubtless to say, NO REGRET at all!

When you have no idea what the menu say, just look at the photo and pick the ones that fancy you the most. 

I don't take beef but when you come to Ishigaki, you must definitely try one. Otherwise, you can't say that you have visited Ishigaki because the beef itself must be credited! Soft and tender, the beef automatically melts in your mouth. No seasoning nor flavoring required but just the beef itself.

I did order a plate of pork too and alas... I don't mind staying in Ishigaki now..Why only good food can be found here in Ishigaki and not in Malaysia? With these two kind(s) of meat that made our day despite the scorching sun, we had a bottle of  local beer that made our tummies more excited.

After the first restaurant, we went on to our next so-called expedition by hunting another good restaurant. We saw a queue from far and we quicken our pace and joined them in a minute, without knowing what the restaurant has to offer. Waited for about half an hour and finally, there was a table for us.

Immediately, we flipped the menu and ordered a plate of beef and pork (called Agoo). Again, this did not disappoint us. I guess that whichever restaurants that you go in Ishigaki, the beef and pork will never fail you. We enjoyed the meal much but we were kind of tired at that time already.

After having a hearty meal, we were left with few Japanese notes. And there you go, we spent it on Blue Seal Okinawan Ice Cream before bidding farewell to Ishigaki.

Overall, one word, ENJOYMENT!

In life, we are easily blinded by what we have. Money, status, craving for power tend to make a person "blinded" that it seems happiness is derived from all these factors. Neither did many realize that simple things can easily make one contented. Just like in Ishigaki, I never felt that I would be so, so grateful for having such a delicious meal under a roof, protecting me from rain and sun plus a travel companion whom I love to annoy the most; and that's what happiness is derived.

#sincewhenibecomesophilosophy

Regards,

Foodiestravel

Chapter 124 - Top 8 MUST- EAT local food in Okinawa, Japan

Deng! The draft of this post got deleted out of nowhere and now, I have to pen it down again. Aiks! Lesson learnt is to draft the post on Microsoft Word instead of writing it online to ensure that the post is there.. Speaking about it now makes me feel like tearing...Why la....

Let me chill my inner soul first with ice cream..But again, I have been typing it for an hour ago and now it's gone..

The delicious yet tempting local dishes in Okinawa really keep me going. At this point, I want to just take a break from writing and call it off a night but these food are stopping me from doing so. Guess that I really need to share the goodness of local food of Okinawa before heading off to my bed.

Anyway, Okinawa is one of the must-visit places to go especially for the reason to indulge the authentic dishes which is enough to win your heart after the visit to Shurijo Castle Park, Okinawa.

Japan, you have really won our heart and soul!

1. Blue Seal Okinawan Ice Cream

Riding on its tagline "Born in America, Raised in Okinawa", this ice cream has won the heart of many. You can't say that you have visited Okinawa if you do not try this. Truth to be told, I literally had 6 cups in merely 7 hours, trying different flavors from Okinawan Salt Cookies to Beni-Imo, Vanilla, Blue Wave and etc. Among all, I prefer Okinawan Salt Cookies. 

2. Fresh seafood at Makishi Public Market, Okinawa

The aunty-ness in me spelt it out! Who would visit a wet market when they go to Japan?! Well, I was one of them. Indeed, the visit to Makishi Public Market was an eye-opening experience. The market was so clean and everything was arranged in an orderly manner. You could leisurely stroll along while having your eyes to hunt for unique yet rare seafood amidst people mumbling to you using Japanese language, probably wanting you to buy from them.

Look at them! They are so-so fresh! At one point, I was hoping that there would many people who joined me in this trip so that we could sample more Okinawan local dishes. Unfortunately, there were only two of us so we had to be selective on what need to be ordered.

3. Goya Champuru

In Japan, "champuru" means mixing everything together. Being one of the most iconic champuru dishes in Okinawa, one must not miss the Goya Champuru. Regardless if you favor bittergourd or not, I reckon you to try this when you are there. The bittergourd were freshly sliced in an evenly size, then being stir-fried with eggs plus slices of pork, allowing you to reminisce the days when your grandma fired up the wok to cook this comforting dish to the family.

4. Pufferfish

Did you know what pufferfish is?

Well, it is one of a poisonous fish species and one need to have the skills and tactics to cook it right. The chefs must know how to remove the toxins therefore, chefs with usually 3 years experience and above are only allowed to handle pufferfish. Since it is so rare to get in Malaysia, of course I give it a try, knowing that the chefs would use his master skills to fire up some good pufferfish dishes.

The first dish (above) was a soup-based and second dish (below) was a stir-fried based. Regardless the method of cooking, the texture of the pufferfish was slightly hard. I found it hard to even bite and chew it. However, I guess that one must give it as an exception to try it at least once in a lifetime especially when you are in Okinawa.

5. Sea urchin

                               

Initially, I was kind of hesitated to try this - it did not appeal to me but thanks to my adventurous partner, we decided to just order one. I took a few small bites and all I could relate to was that I consumed much proteins that day. It's all about proteins.

6. Umi Budo (Sea Grapes)

In Japan, this is known as Umi-Budo but for easy understanding, it is known as sea grapes. From its appearance, it may not look spectacular with mini balls hanging on it. However, when you dip them into a bowl of vinegar, you would certainly like it . A minute when you chew the sea grapes, the freshness of these sea grapes would burst and that is when the sweetness lingers in your mouth.

7. Sazae (known as Turban Shell)

This looks interesting to me! They were huge in size and most of the stalls had these as the display at their area. Sazae or known as Turban Shell caught my attention and immediately, I wanted to order it. Giving my 100% trust to the owner, she had the liberty to fire up the dishes as how she wanted to.  She made a good choice after all!

The first dish (above) was purely sashimi style and this gave you the chance to taste the freshness of sazae while second dish (below) was stir-fried sazae. Texture for these two methods of cooking was different and I had a hard time to choose which is my favorite one. So, I recommend both.

8. Peanut-flavored tofu

In Japan, you may see "Jimami-Tofu" in the menu which means Peanut-Flavored Tofu. Don't be surprised when the tofu served to you is in white color because they are meant to be in this way. However, the texture of Peanut-Flavored Tofu is denser compared to the usual tofu that we have in Malaysia. Somewhat, I believe this tofu is mixed with potato starch. Peanut-flavored tofu can be eaten on its own or you can top it off with brown sugar syrup, just like what I did.

Overall, there are many other dishes that I would love to post here such as Andagi, Rafute, Okinawan Soba Noodles and etc. However, these dishes are not up to my expectation hence, I do not even bother penning it down.

Giving me another chance, I would definitely want to go to Okinawa again. This time, I will make sure that I spend more days instead of just 7 hours. Perhaps, I can consider this place as my honeymoon? *nudge boyfie*

Regards,

Foodiestravel

Chapter 113 - Daorae Korean BBQ Restaurant at Kota Damansara

It's time to start penning down my journey after being silence for the past 3 months. Many things were taking place for the last few months and it drained not only my brain juice but also, physically. But oh well, I couldn't be bothered anyway because life still move on.

So, recently, I am back to my food trail; I came across this Korean place called Daorae Korean BBQ Restaurant a few times but I did not manage to blog it. Yesterday, it was a brilliant time to pen it down since I was craving badly for their kimchi and it was raining at that hour.

I have the special liking in this Daorae branch compared to other places. Somehow, the service here is really good. The staff are so bubbly and they welcome each and every of the customers with open hand even though they have to entertain customers' ridiculous requests some time. 

Lady luck was slightly at my side when I visited Daorae, Kota Damansara. I managed to get the last table for 3 pax and the person who came after me had to wait for empty table. Flipped through the menu and suddenly, I became acquainted with familiar names like bibimbap, bulgogi, jabchae and many others #thankstorunningman.

Certainly, Korean BBQ is not something to be missed. To enjoy this Korean BBQ, at least two types of meat must be ordered from the menu whether pork, beef, lamb or chicken.

Once you confirm the order, the servers will serve a bowl of soup to each diner and the side dishes will reach to your table immediately. The soup that I had at that time was indeed delicious with clams and seaweed in it.  

There were a number of side dishes to snack first while waiting for the meat to be cooked. Side dishes vary every day and even different across the branches nevertheless, I'm glad that whatever served on our table that day was something which I favored like kimchi, salad, kimchi pancake, sausages, seaweed, bean sprouts and etc.

Mok-Sal (RM 33.00)

Mok-Sal is a fresh neck shoulder pork that is served with seasoned sesame oil sauce

Go-Cho-Hang Sam-Kyub-Sal (RM 35.00)

Go-Cho-Jang Sam-Kyub-Sal is slices of pork belly that are marinated in Korean traditional chili sauce

After putting some thoughts, we opted for Mok-Sal and Go-Cho-Hang Sam-Kyub-Sal. I was not sure which meat brings the best texture so, I just picked based on the photos in the menu as well as choosing the ones where the name was not alien to me. But among this two, I definitely go with Go-Cho-Jang Sam-Kyub-Sal because the taste and aroma is much savored compared to Mok Sal where the taste is rather blend.

Normally, the meat is eaten together with the sauce provided as well as the lettuce.

Thankfully, we did not need to grill the meat on our own but leave it to the expert to do it for us. What we need to do was just munching the side dishes while waiting for the meat to be cooked. Oh ya, we also ordered Dolsot Bibimbap and Jab- Chae in the meantime.

Jab-Chae (RM 38.00)

Jab-Chae on the other hand is heavenly in taste. Even, my parents agreed to it. It is the Korean glass noodle pan-fried with thin slices of marinated pork and assorted seasoned vegetables in a sesame oil sauce. It taste so good even though the dish had turned cold after that.

Dolsot Bibim-bap (RM 24.00)

Nevertheless, Dolsot Bibim-Bap is the champion! Rich with fresh and seasoned vegetables and served in a steaming hot stone bowl over a bed of steamed rice topped with an egg yolk and served with Korean chilli paste, this bowl of bibim-bap is definitely a calling to anyone from all ages. 

Overall, it was a satisfying dinner; its been so long that I crave for Korean food and finally, they were all in my beloved tummy. Haha! We were only charged with the food that we ordered and the rest were complimentary like watermelon and steamed Korean egg.

Ambient : 4/5

Price : Reasonable

Food : Korean food

Service : 4.5/5

Daorae Korean BBQ Restaurant,

No.2-3A, Jalan PJU 5/9,

Dataran Sunway, Kota Damansara, 

47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Contact: 603 - 6140 7114

Opens from: Lunch (1100am - 200pm) and Dinner (530pm - 1100pm)

Regards,

Foodiestravel