Sae Ma Eul Korean BBQ | Jaya One

We went for food hunting one day and my brother recommended me this Korean BBQ place at Jaya One. There are two branches at Solaris Mont Kiara and Jaya One, but we decided to try the one that is nearer to our house.

It's located opposite of Tappers in Jaya One and it's really easy to spot the place. It's just slightly weird that the ground floor is a mini market, and you have to go to the second floor where the restaurant is.

They give you three sauces: pickled cabbage (slightly sour), salt & pepper, and korean bbq chilli. Each of them have their own distinct tastes and when combined with different meats. Personally, I like to combine the salt & pepper with the korean chilli together.

Their side dishes is what that's really lacking in this restaurant. Normally, other korean restaurants gives at least 5 side dishes, but here they only give three. I'm not hoping for the steamed egg but at least, maybe some anchovies or eggplants to go with the meat when I wrap them? I was rather disappointed with their side dishes.

We ordered the BBQ set menu which cost RM 58 that able to cater for 2-3 pax. The BBQ set menu comes with sliced pork belly, pork shoulder and grilled baby octopus. We also ordered an addition spicy rice ball that is recommended.

Sliced Pork Belly and Pork Shoulder

I'd say the pork belly and shoulder's portion is somewhat small. Just barely enough for 3 persons. I'd highly recommend you order one other BBQ item if you have 3 persons and above. Taste wise, it's not bad actually, I just wish they had cut the slices slightly thicker so that I could taste the meat when I wrap it with the lettuce.

Grilled Baby Octopus

It's a bit too chewy, but it's pretty much what an octopus should be. I wouldn't say it is great, but it's a worthy alternative to chicken meat.

One thing I'd like to say about their service is that, they're very short handed. The staff isn't enough to accommodate so many customers that were present that day, so we had to flip the meat ourselves sometime to avoid them being burnt. Also, as we were eating the rice balls for the first time we didn't know what to do with the rice. So we had to ask the staff to prepare them for us.

Spicy Rice Ball- RM 22

These spicy rice balls are really spicy, not for those who can't stand spicy food. But despite that, it's quite tasty though when the outer layer is slightly crunchy and the inside is soft. I would like to try the rice balls again but maybe not so spicy the next time.

Sae Ma Eul Korean BBQ

77-1, Block E, The Square, Jaya One, 

Jalan University, 46200 Petaling Jaya,Selangor

Business Hours: Mon-Sun 11:30 am-11:30 pm

Tel. no: 012-349 9196

https://www.facebook.com/smejayaone

EnviroHome: Eco-Friendly Products for Your Family

Have you ever read the product labels before you purchase a product? My teacher once old me, if you are unable to read or understand the ingredients that written on the product label, never buy it as it may contain harmful chemicals to us. These words still carry with me until now.

Today, I'm going to introduce you a cleaning product that is safe, non-toxic and friendly to our environment. EnviroHome uses gentle and natural enzyme cleaning ingredients, mixed with plant extracts and natural essential oil, it offers a more environmental friendly option to your home. EnviroHome also stress on using recyclable material that can be recycled entirely. 

EnviroHome Facial Cleanser-RM69

This facial cleanser is able to wash away all face and eye makeup, dirt, oil and impurities in one simple step. With the contains of  botanical essential oil helps to intense hydration and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

Ingredients: 

Aqua, Mineral Salts, Sea Water Extract, Coconut Oil, Aloe Vera Extract, Lemon Extract, Jasmine Oil, Rose Oil, Geranium Rose Oil, Almond Oil

Usage Phenomenon:

After use, initially metabolism of cuticle may increase, but healthy skin will appear with continued use. With regular use, you can expect a glow and clear skin complexion in 3-6 months. After the bottle is opened for use, due to physical restoration of natural mineral crystals after evaporation, it is normal for white crystals to appear on the nozzle.

The facial cleaner is foam/bubble free where it is a transparent oil-based texture. After washing my face, I didn't feel any pulling or dryness or redness on face. I can assure it is alcohol free because I'm allergic to it and I have sensitive skin. This product is safe to use for sensitive and dry skin.

EnviroHome Body Wash-RM56

The body wash is formulated with natural ingredients that help to clean all of the dirt and bacteria, removing sweat and smells on your body without damaging your natural skin texture, giving you a relaxing sensation. It is said that the rosemary essence oil that contains inside the body wash is able to sooth and heal wounds, eczema, atopic dermatitis and fungal infections. Just apply a small amount of body wash onto your scrapes or cuts after shower. 

Ingredients: 

Aqua, Mineral Salts, Sea Water Extract, Coconut Oil, Aloe Vera Extract, Lemon Extract, Lavender Oil, Rosemary Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Evening Primrose Oil

Usage Phenomenon

During washing, it’s normal to feel some tingling sensation at skin’s infected spots, and your own body dirt and odor caused by the disintegration of sweat will occur temporarily, but your natural body scent will be stored after rinsing. For the first bath, due to the fact the dirt deposited in the pores is disintegrated, its normal for a layer of grease to emerge on the surface of water. After the bottle is opened for use, due to physical restoration of natural mineral crystals after evaporation, it is normal for white crystals to appear on the nozzle.

The texture of the body wash is similar to the facial cleanser, foam/bubble free. If you are a person who is used to foam based body wash, you will find it a little discomforting at first when using it. You might tend to use more than your normal body wash as it is a watery oil based texture.

EnviroHome Hair Shampoo-RM56

EnviroHome's botanical derived formula is specially designed to restore hair’s natural moisture, balance and hydration. At the same time, it strengthens the scalp to maintain healthy hair, suitable for those with hair loss, greasy hair and clogged follicles. EnviroHome shampoo combines the essential oils of tea tree oil and rosemary oil to relieve itchy scalp and prevents many hair problems like dandruff, cradle cap, head lice and etc.

Ingredients: 

Aqua, Mineral Salts, Sea Water Extract, Coconut Oil, Aloe Vera Extract, Lemon Extract, Tea Tree Leaf Oil, Rosemary Oil, Clary Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Jojoba Oil

Usage Phenomenon: 

During first wash, there will be less foam and stronger odor because of the breaking down of dirt; after rinsing, natural fragrance will be restored. At initial use, people may have increased dandruff or the hair may feel more stiff due to the metabolism. Normal and healthy hair will be restored after sometime. 

The Shampoo's texture is simliar to the facial cleanser and body wash. Sometimes, it actually confuses me especially when I place both body wash and shampoo side by side. However, it can be differentiated by the fragrance of both products. All three products do not carry strong fragrance, however it depends on individual's preferences whether you'd like the smell or not. 

Besides, other than the three cleaning products mentioned above, EnviroHome do provide other ranges of household cleaning products like food wash, laundry detergent, multi-purpose cleaner and many more. EnviroHome's products are made from Taiwan using Germany technology. To purchase, visit their website to make an online purchase.

For more information, check out:

www.envirohome.com.my

www.facebook.com/ENVIROHOME.MALAYSIA

Matsuki Japanese Restaurant | Penang

In the recent years, we've seen so many Japanese restaurants pop up everywhere. In a single shopping mall alone, you could usually find two or three Japanese restaurants. But do you ever wonder which are the early Japanese restaurants that first opened up in Malaysia? I happen to come across Matsuki in Penang which seems like it have been in business for a long time. But don't get me wrong, I love the old but well kept place which is full of character and style, it's just a rarity to see these types of places nowadays.

There's ample space for parking, which is a big relief considering that it's located right in the city centre of Georgetown.

Basically it's a house converted to be used as a restaurant. It's very clean and feels very cosy inside.

We were hungry and we went all out this dinner. We ordered whichever we saw attractive from the menu photos. Their menu comes in all ranges of Japanese food you can find which makes us more hard to choose. Their food turns out to be quite nice actually, it suits our tastes just fine.

Unagi Maki (12pcs) - RM 16

Their Unagi Maki is full of flavour, I just somehow wished that the Unagi itself is bigger... (don't we always wish that all the time??)

Agedashi Tofu (Forgotten about the price)

Agedashi Tofu is fresh and crispy, always a good side dish to order in Japanese restaurants. But I think that they could add more of the sauce (or soup) as its a bit too dry.

Shake Shioyaki -RM 15

Grilled salmon with salt is good and cheap, there's really nothing for me to complain about this dish, but I just wished that they made it somehow a bit more special (I'm just nit picking). 

Special Sushi Kaiseki - RM 58

This is the most expensive set available to order, which I think is quite a good deal considering the amount of sushi and sashimi plus tempura that they give. Taste wise, the sashimi is fresh and the quantity is certainly very satisfying. For this price, I don't think I can find the same type and quantity of food in KL.

Unagi Set- RM 30

Well initially I thought it was a good deal, but it turns out that the cute little 3 pieces of Unagi wasn't what I expected. The taste is good, but I don't think the Unagi could satisfy my cravings. In this case I'd rather pay more and have more Unagi to get a more complete meal.

In conclusion, I think Matsuki's dishes are a hit and miss, but I definitely like the place for its ambience and convenience. Definitely worth trying it out if you're in Georgetown, but just, stay clear of Unagi maybe.

Matsuki Japanese Restaurant

62 , Jalan Pemenang ( Cantoment Road ), 

10250 Penang, Malaysia

Tel. No.: 04-2295504

Business Hours: Daily 12pm-230pm, 6pm-1030pm 

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OpenSnap: An App to Record Your Food Trail

If you love food like me and search non-stop for new food or new outlets everyday, here is an app that can help you look for food outlets nearby from your location. It is always updated with new opening outlets around, and you can build your own food album. OpenSnap is the app that allow you to record your food journey, find food in multiple countries, and follow your friends' food trail and many more. 

Let me bring you through some of the functions in OpenSnap. You can download the app from google or apple store, and look for OpenSnap:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.openrice.snap

https://itunes.apple.com/my/app/id806095727?mt=8

Once you have downloaded the OpenSnap app, you will see the platform below where you can select you own location at the top. At the browsing area, there are banners flashing where OpenSnap will bring you the latest news and updates there. There's also a bookmarks section for you to bookmark your favourite food outlets or outlets that you are interested in. You can even search the nearby for new food outlets or other locations.

Other than just Malaysia, OpenSnap is also available on a few countries like China, Hong Kong, Macau and many more. It is so convenient for you to find food when you travel to South East Asian countries too.

Thinking of following other's food trails, you can click on Everyone where you can see people who use the app share their recent meals on this platform. You will always be filled with lots of food photos that makes you go hungry easily.

Tracking some of the food outlets that I like using "My bookmarks". It is easy and fast where you can read on the reviews and rating.

From the bookmarks area, there is also a map view where you can easily track the location of the food outlets you have bookmarked. Now, you won't be lost in some jungle area while looking for the outlet.

You can also bookmarks your favourite location so that it is easy when comes to searching food outlets at these area.

I love to see and follow my friends' food photos. You can link the app to your facebook where your facebook friends will instantly appear in the app. You can now follow or check out your friends' bookmark and food photos.

Once you have login to OpenSnap, you will have a page of yourself where you can upload photos and start your album. The good news is OpenSnap is not only restricted to restaurant food, you can also upload and share your own homecooked food with the world. The talent of the hidden chef inside you can now be shared to the world.

This is how you can upload the photo, just click on the camera icon to upload your food photo, then it will bring you to the page below to type in the details of the dish, decor or selfie photo. 

Publish it and everyone can now view and follow your food album. No matter where you go, you can now upload and update your album to everyone.

For me, I would think OpenSnap is like a food diary, it helps me to record all the outlets I have been to and helps me easily locate the outlets that I would like to visit next time. It also lets me connect with my friends, sharing the food outlets that I have visited to my friends.

Sharing is caring, I hope you like my introduction on this new app!

*Check out more food article at OpenRice.

Nara Thai Cuisine| Central World, Bangkok

Nara is one of the famous Thai restaurants in Bangkok, or so it seems. At least, that's what we have read from many blogs, so we decided to try it out on our second trip to Bangkok. This time, we went on an early weekday evening. Although there wasn't much of a wait, the restaurant was surprisingly full, nevertheless we were very excited as we were escorted to our table.

As you can see, "Best of 2014"award.

First impressions are, Nara is a fine dining Thai restaurant. The ambience feels "expensive" and there are nice little touches here and there in their decor. However, we were unfortunately seated right in between some tables, and there's really very little privacy for everyone. We were all seated so close that we can practically hear what everyone says. That's quite the opposite of what a fine-dining environment should be. Nevertheless, I guess it depends on individuals'preferences, so we just overlooked this part of the experience.

Coconut

Just a few shops away from Nara, we had the best coconut drink we ever had before, you can read about that review here. Here in Nara however, it's a bit bland and not as cool as we wanted.

Thai Jasmine Tea

It tastes just like Chinese Ice Tea, which is a good thing because I prefer to drink it without sugar and it's a great thirst quencher. 

Chicken Pandan- 180 baht

The pandan chicken was the star of the night. It was grilled and fried to perfection and the sauce... the sauce really just take things up to the next level. I couldn't tell what kind of sauce it was, it has a hint of smoked barbecue flavour, yet it doesn't overpower the taste of the chicken. Definitely a must try!

Soft Shell Crab (Can't remember the price)

We were craving for soft shell crab, so we ordered the Thai Soft Shell Crab. It turns out to be quite similar to the ordinary Japanese soft shell crab, as it didn't have any special sauce to go with it. It wasn't extraordinary, but it's worth the try.

Tom Yum Kung -370 baht

River Prawns in Spicy Lemongrass and Lime Soup

Their Tom Yum looks super spicy, but surprisingly it wasn't. It tastes rather good and the prawns are fresh and cooked to be just right. We just wished that it is slightly more spicier, and more sour, that'll certainly add to the punch of the soup. Nevertheless, we love this Tom Yum and finished every last drop of it.

Stir fried Kang Kung

It is just like any ordinary stir fried vegetable. It's not outstanding but well, we needed some vege to go along with our dishes. 

In conclusion, I'd say that Nara is a rather nice Thai restaurant. However, I'm not so sure whether they're worth the award as they described. For me, the title of "Best" isn't only limited to the taste, the decor and the service, because the "price" plays a very important role as well. I would say the price here for the food and the portions I got was rather expensive; although they were delicious, it certainly makes me think twice about whether I want to revisit this place the next time I'm back here. I will continue to search for the Thai restaurant, which I think is the "best" in the next time I'm here in Bangkok.

Nara Thai Cuisine
4, 4 / 1-2, Central World, 7th Floor,
Rajdamri Road, Pathumwan, Khet Pathumwan,
Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
Tel. no.: +66 2 613 1658
http://www.naracuisine.com/

Suit Making with Tailors in Bangkok

Photo credit: himanitailor.com

Today I'm going to share with you about our experience on making suits in Bangkok. So far, he had tailor made two suits from Bangkok since last year. Tailor made suits in Bangkok isn't a new thing to many who have been to Bangkok and in fact there are thousands of tailors out there, everywhere on the Bangkok's street.  But which shops are the ones you should choose and not get cheated?

I will introduce three shops that I will personally recommend to my family and friends. We tried two out of the three shops, unfortunately the last shop we didn't manage to try it out due to too many orders on that week, they were unable to take in any orders at that time.

1. Paul's Fashion

Photo credit: Paul's Fashion

We found this place based on recommendations from Singaporean blogs. It is just located on the 2nd floor of Amari Watergate Hotel, you can easily take a taxi there. There are a few tailors in Amari Watergate Hotel, Paul's Fashion is the shop on the left corner. My man tailor made a 2 piece Chinese suit which costed around 8,500 baht using the highest quality cloth available at that time. The price of a 2 piece suit ranges around 7,000 baht -8,500 baht without the white shirt. Shirts are priced around 900 baht-1200 baht based on the quality of cloth. What I like about Paul's Fashion is that they are very serious and strict on the days it takes to produce each suit and they do assure the quality. They will need at least 3 full days to produce a suit and you can't request them to fasten the process.

Here is the process: 1st day is measurement, 2nd day is fitting and 3rd day is second fitting and collection.

However, if you have limited days in Bangkok, they do offer courier service to your home country. We actually requested them to courier his suit back to Malaysia as they need to make some adjustments after the third day's fitting. It cost us around 800 baht for courier service to Malaysia and it took 1 week to reach our house.

The staffs are very tentative and fast, however you may need to wait for a while as they have lots of customers and their shop is quite small to fit more than 5 customers in a go. The price was on the higher side compare to some of the street's tailors could offer, however we will still go for Paul's Fashion due to quality assurance.

Address: Amari Watergate Hotel (just opposite Platinum Mall), Shop#1 847 Petchburi Rd, Pratunam
Rajthevi, Bangkok, 10400 THAILAND
Business Hour: Mon-Sat: 9am-9pm, Sun: 9am-5pm
Website: http://www.thepaulfashion.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulsFashionAmariWatergateHotel

2. Alex's Fashion

Photo credit: mydailymoo.wordpress.com

Alex's Fashion is also located in Amari Watergate Hotel, in fact it is just opposite Paul's Fashion. On our second trip to Bangkok for suit making, we tried out Alex's Fashion since we found some high recommendations from tripadvisor's comments and other blogs. This time, he tailor made a 4 piece pure black Tuxedo which costs around 12,000 baht. The price is quite similar to Paul's Fashion, however we found they are more friendly in recommending the suitable cloths based on his concerns when wearing a Tuxedo. They introduced us a few types of cloths that are more airy and comfortable.

The time needed to make a suit in Alex's Fashion is longer. However, due to the limited days we have in Bangkok, they were willing to accommodate and we decided to skip the second fitting in order to hasten the process. I really like their service. They even have prices in SGD as they frequently travel to Singapore to get bookings. You can either pay in Thai baht or SGD.

Address: Amari Watergate Hotel, 847 Petchburi Road, Pratunam, Rajthevi, Bangkok 10400 Thailand
Business Hour: Mon-Sat: 10am-7.45pm, Sun: 11am-3pm
Website: http://www.alex-fashions.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlexsFashion

3. Impression Tailor
I found this place on our recent trip, located near to the place we stayed. It is around 2 minutes walking distance from Pratunam Sky Train station (Airport Link) and 30 meters from Indra Square Shopping Mall & Indra Regent Hotel. The owner was very friendly and honest. He rejected our order as he know he is unable to deliver the suit on time to us. Although we have not tried out their suit but with his attitude, I believe he will deliver quality suits to his customers. The price for a 5 pieces Tuxedo is around  9,000 baht to 10,000 baht which is slightly lower than Paul's Fashion and Alex's Fashion.

Address: 36/5 Ratchaprarop Soi 8 (Soi Watthana Wong),
Makkasan, Rajthevi, Bangkok 10400 , Thailand.
Business Hour: Monday to Saturday from 9.00 am to 8.00 pm
Website: http://www.impressionstailor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/impressions.tailor

Here are the three tailor shops we have visited so far on our trip to Bangkok. The city has many tailors to choose from, two others I've heard do great work but haven't checked out personally yet are Narry Tailors and Universal Tailors. I hope the information above helps you if you are thinking to tailor make a suit in Bangkok. I still prefer tailor made suits in Bangkok as the price is still far more lower than Malaysia. Malaysia is charging around RM 2500-RM 3000 for a Tuxedo, which I personally think is quite high even though our labour costs are low.



Love,
sufen

Hungry Mario Supper Club | Bandar Menjalara

Today, I am going to review on an underground supper club that I was recently invited to. Thank you Hungry Mario for the invitation and i'm so glad to have the chance to be indulged with delicious gourmet food. Hungry Mario is located inside the house of Hon Sing and Magarita, which requires a reservation in advance.

Here is the Chef behind the scene, preparing our food.

There are two Menus to choose from:
1. Signature Menu:

• Appetiser : Umami chicken wings trio - sweet peach purée, chilli chutney, and roasted tomato
• Main : Sakura pork loin with infused coffee butter & roasted seasonal vegetables
• Dessert : Deconstructed Tiramisu + Coffee or tea

2. Seasonal Menu:

• Appetiser : Mersing lobster with garlic aioli & crispy mash potato
• Main : Sabah soft shell crab risotto
• Dessert : Deconstructed Tiramisu + Coffee or tea

If you're unsure which menu to choose from, the Signature menu is basically for those who like meat and strong flavours, while the Seasonal menu is for those who prefer seafood and more subtle flavours.

First, let's look at the Signature Menu:

Umami Chicken Wings Trio

The appetiser is boxing chicken with three dressing sauces, each with their own unique taste. They are the tomato sauce (sourish), pumpkin sauce (sweet) and radish chilli sauce (slightly hot). All sauces are freshly made by Chef Hon Sing. It's actually quite fun to eat this dish not only because of the different flavours, but also because you can casually use your hands to pick up the wings and munch away the meat in one go. I know some people may think that eating with my hands in a fine dining setting isn't quite appropriate, but well, its fun! So why not?

Sakura Pork Loin with Infused Coffee Butter & Roasted Seasonal Veg

We absolutely love this dish. Don't let the plain look fool you, the pork loin sure does pack a punch of multiple different flavours, and the salt + coffee + meat actually does work wonders together. It's also cooked at the perfect temperature to be juicy and tender, just the right balance.

Now, let's look at the Seasonal Menu:

Mersing Lobster with Garlic Aioli & Crispy Mash Potato

I admit, I don't know what an "Aioli" is until I met this dish.It's actually the sauce decorated as a ring as you see in the picture. I highly recommend this to those who love seafood; juicy, crunchy, and tangy is what I'd describe this dish. The sauce definitely compliments the lobster and brings out the freshness, to the extent that my husband was constantly struggling to resist the urge to lick the plate clean... =.="

Sabah Soft Shell Crab Risotto

This is the only dish which I have mixed feelings about. Taste wise, it's on the mild side of what I'd prefer, and some people may actually prefer that. But I still think that the crab could be crunchier, and the risotto could be "softer" if that's the correct way of describing it. I felt that if the difference in texture between the two was more pronounced, it could have a bigger impact. Again, that's my personal taste.

Deconstructed Tiramisu

My mistake was to look at this dessert as "ice-cream with coco bread sticks". No, it isn't that. It is as the name describes, a deconstructed Tiramisu which you can choose to taste each unique flavour one at a time. The bread sticks (if that's the correct way to call them) are soft, and the ice cream is absolutely great. It's the chef's special home made ice cream and we just couldn't get enough of it. All in all, this dessert is quite fun if you see it as challenging your usual perceptions. It doesn't look like Tiramisu, but it does somewhat taste like one.

Chef Hon Sing and Magarita

I think the price is quite reasonable, given the food that you get and the effort that is put into making them. I applaud the chef and his wife for their great work, it's definitely worth to come back many times. 

Dining at Hungry Mario is by reservation only. You may email to simhonsing@gmail.com for reservation.

Price: RM68.00 per person - You may choose our 3 course Signature Menu or Seasonal Menu. 

Corkage: RM20 for each bottle of wine, RM50 for each bottle of liquor.

Business hours: Saturday - Sunday 

Lunch 12:00pm - 3:00pm 

Dinner 7:00pm - 10:00pm