Roti tissue anyone?

We went to Restoran Subaidah in Seksyen 6 Kota Damansara for supper cum sahur this weekend. It was one of those regular neighbourhood Indian muslim fares so we can't escape from stuff like fried rice, roti chanai and the likes. Nothing extraordinary.

Then the roti tissue for my younger son arrived...

Close to 2' high, you should start from the top or risk a collapse (Apple iPhone 4s)

Is a House cozier than a Corner?

Growing up in Johor Bahru for the most part of my younger life, travelling to Kuala Lumpur was a privilege. Those days when there was no North-South Expressway, the journey from JB to KL would easily take six hours because you simply couldn’t speed on the trunk road. Besides, to pass the slower vehicles required good road handling skills and judgment. 

Overtaking maneuvers were not for the faint-hearted especially when you found the driver zipping back into his lane just in the nick of time as the approaching vehicle from the opposite frantically beamed his headlights. And with roads that were not always straight, you could expect a young passenger to get sick in the car. It’s no wonder that only special events such as weddings or funerals had the power to summon us up.

During those outings in KL (we only referred to it as KL even though it could be Petaling Jaya, Klang or Shah Alam), my older cousins would sometimes take us to the now-demolished Jaya Supermarket in Section 17 PJ to hangout. If we wanted to have the best biryani we would head down to Shiraz on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. Sadly, this restaurant is no longer around.

Just a couple of weeks before Ramadhan, me and my other half had something to take care of that brought us to Ampang Park. The Ampang Park that I remember used to be buzzing with people but not any longer. Visitors that made up the traffic comprised office workers from nearby buildings, casual passersby and people who were there on specific business. Like us.

Nonetheless, few of the retailers have been there for some time and seem to have weathered the fluctuating clientele quite well. Like Cozy Corner.

Cozy Corner was another eatery that we used to frequent back in the days when steaks could only be had at a hotel coffee house, Coliseum Cafe or The Ship in KL. And because the restaurant served up halal Chinese food on its menu, it was understandably a household name because you couldn’t find that branch of cuisine easily then. I remember the place very well because that’s where I had my first ever banana split. We didn’t take long to decide on where to have dinner.

Sorry, blame it on my unsteady hand (Apple iPhone 4s)

Orchid, quite old school (Apple iPhone 4s)

As though time had stood still, the place still sported the interior decoration reminiscent of a Tudor style. The crew was all smartly garbed in black lounge suit, if I could be honest actually looking quite a bit out of place. But that’s Cozy Corner for you. There is no pressure to change the way they look or keep up with times because it’s embedded in their DNA. Besides, the regulars like it just the way they are because the place does bring back memories of old when it was a favourite family diner. Even the furnitures, cutleries, chinaware and linens feel old. And to the newbies, well, soak up the atmosphere.

When we sat down, the distinctive but familiar aroma of the kuey tiow kungfu was lingering in the dining room and stayed there pretty much throughout our stopover. This is prove that the dish that has long been the staple item on the menu is popular with the guests.

Don't look that enticing... (Apple iPhone 4s)

I ordered the chicken curry kuey tiow which could also be specified with either chicken, beef or prawn. Fancying myself as the dish's connoisseur, I found the gravy too thick for my liking but it somehow complemented the noodle (traditionally, it’s either the yellow noodle or vermicelli) of my choice because the volume meant it drenched the kuey tiow well. There was a tiny film of oil on the surface but not so alarming. Chicken was not deboned but I enjoyed the bite into its real meat. I would have preferred to see a lot more of long beans but garnishing was very poor. Overall, it was a very rich bowl of dinner and I found it hard to finish it in good time.

My other half had the lobster and prawn bisque which I thought was just okay. Saltines were missing but in its place was a roll and local butter. The soup was runny not like how a bisque should be and off-colour with a strong fishy smell to boot so it didn’t appeal to me that much.

To wrap up the ordinary dinner, she asked for crème caramel. Note the stark absence of caramelized top but the mysterious presence of the huge lump of whipped cream and a cherry. Enough said...

It could pass as mango-flavoured ice cream (Apple iPhone 4s)

Not giving up on the restaurant yet, we ordered some fried kuey tiow and curry noodle to go, this time with chicken and beef. Can I just say that there were leftovers? 

Be careful with what you are ordering. Save to stick to the tried and tested items like any of the Oriental food items or the steak and lamb chop. Ask the waiter what’s their favourite. That ought to shed some light. Be mindful of their prices too because they are 4-star hotel level.

Also, make sure that you are stepping into the right restaurant. There's a Cozy House, employing the exact smiley boy icon on the same floor just down the hallway. Actually, I won't know if that's a better idea.

You can bake it, steam it, broil it, grill it, sauté it...

If you love shrimps, do give Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurant a try but I wouldn’t say the same if it was two years ago.

Last week’s visit to the restaurant would be my fourth. The first three were all done in 2010 at the Curve outlet and after that, I made a vow never to step inside the eatery ever again. Our visits then were marred by slow service, uncooked crustaceans, not so tasty food and the worst of all, unwanted consistency in all of these.

The interior decor had a wharf or a seafood market theme (Apple iPhone 4s)

American collectible car plates graced some areas... (Apple iPhone 4s) 

The football jersey that Forrest wore (Apple iPhone 4s)

I had been wanting to take my other half’s visiting nephew out for a treat before he leaves at the start of Ramadan and for some strange reasons I thought of nothing but the said brand. He mentioned to me of his unconditional love for shrimps and with an extensive menu on how shrimps could be prepared, the restaurant should appeal to him. No harm in giving the brand another shot. After all, it was a vow that I made in jest.

This time round, we opted for the newly opened one at Citta Mall in Ara Damansara. I prefer this location as finding parking would be a breeze. Besides, it is not as crowded.

Smack at the entrance was a ping-pong table with two kids testing their skills. My first impression was “did they have to do this?” If you must keep the children occupied, wouldn’t board games do the job? And it didn’t help that it was placed so close to the maître d’ station.

They played ping pong... (Apple iPhone 4s)

Once seated, Joel the affable waiter attended to our needs. His easy-going but caring nature made our stay so much more pleasant and memorable. He made sure that the mascot entertained my younger son. 

My younger son's newfound friend (Apple iPhone 4s)

There was a promotion (not store-wide, only for a certain cardmember) of either a free dessert or a kid’s meal where we had ordered both but he checked in the more expensive price tag of the two as the free item. Emptied dishes would go unnoticed for long on the table as he would quickly clear them up. It’s no wonder he was sent there from the Sunway Pyramid branch to help open the outlet and train the newbies. And he’s heading back to his base next week...

The one thing that I like about eating out in a big party is the opportunity to sample food from around the table. The one thing that I don’t is the bill at the end but that’s relative. Sometimes, my other half picks up the tab.

The Cajun shrimp came with garlic bread and a lemon slice (Apple iPhone 4s)

It was the Cajun shrimp that got to our table first, much to my other half’s nephew’s delight. I thought it was quite fiery though just at the right level of spiciness. Next came the Old Fashioned New England clam chowder. I had a problem with it being runny and with too much fillings in the small bowl: both in quantity and ingredient type. The colour was pale yellow rather than cream. It wasn’t particularly bad but that’s not how a chowder should be.

The chowder wasn't bad but there should be more liquid per serving (Apple iPhone 4s)

The Sweet home BBQ burger looked very juicy and tempting with a thick beef patty to make anyone drool. I don't know how the onion rings fared as a topping but I have a feeling it complemented the sandwich well. 

The eater had a tough time finishing this piece (Apple iPhone 4s)

My Yin Yang Shrimp salad was definitely worth the gamble. The accompanying grilled shrimps provided the much needed rugged texture to the garden fresh taste. The wasabi dressing however didn’t come out too strongly, if not evident at all. I loved the generous sprinkling of mango slices which blended in well with the other condiments.

Topped with shredded wonton skins, the portion was huge (Apple iPhone 4s)

My son’s order of Shrimper’s Heaven seemed enormous at first but being a growing child, he cleaned it up without much help from the other diners. Consisting of garlic shrimp, coconut shrimp, chilly shrimp and tempura shrimp, the towering ensemble was only made possible by the dish rack and not so much the actual quantity of the food. I was shock that within few minutes of nicking a piece of the coconut shrimp, he had finished the entire dish. I knew he didn’t gobble down as he’s a polite eater and found out that there were only few pieces in each cone.

The quadruplet tower of BGS (Apple iPhone 4s)

The Buffalo Wings were comparable to the ones in Chili’s as far as colour and taste went. There was a nice balance between hot and sour but they shouldn't call the menu item wings when they were just poppers or drummets. But being a true lover of the Buffalo-originated recipe, I don't really take issue which part of the bird a restaurant is using! The carrot and celery sticks that went with it were sweet and crunchy but I'm still searching for the chunkiest bleu cheese dressing in town.

Maybe they should throw in more pieces (Apple iPhone 4s)

For dessert, we ordered the Alabama Mud Pie to share. No problem there because the ice-cream based final number was huge in size. No one complained of not having enough. Good thing we didn't go crazy while perusing the menu for desserts.

We asked for a lot of spoons and Joel kindly obliged (Apple iPhone 4s)

I was told the corn was not that good. This was Mama's Southern Fried Chicken (Apple iPhone 4s)

Throughout our time there, the eatery played back the movie Forrest Gump on its multiple flat screen TVs. I caught glimpses of it in between the chomps and got it now why the ping-pong table out front. Somehow, it did not click earlier on.


The BGSC restaurant is not all about shrimps. It has poultry, beef, lamb and other seafoods too. The range of beverage and cocktail is wide with select items bottomless. Price is not that cheap for few items but you will find something that can fit your budget. I'm happy I've made peace with it.


On the way back, we popped in our local DVD store and grabbed a copy of the movie which arguably was the best performance by Tom Hanks (some say he's better in Philadelphia). It was the first viewing for my son and his cousins but I was just glad that many of their questions about the restaurant were clarified through it. 

A rare discovery in leafy Seksyen 7 Kota Damansara

On a grassy knoll was an oversized gazebo packed with neighbours of various age groups chatting about their daily grind and presumably politics too. Except that they were really patrons of Ayob’s Café, a well-run family-owned eatery situated on a converted corner lot double storey terraced house, just adjacent. A rugged Defender was seen parked nearby.

View from the side. You will not realize that
it's a restaurant (Apple iPhone 4s)

The facade is that of a kampung house (Apple iPhone 4s)

Stepping inside the café was like a step back in time. The owner has amassed a pretty vast collection of paraphernalia from generations ago and brilliantly displayed them in the room. Not all the items were in mint condition but that was precisely the appeal. It was as though they have been lying there from day one and left to deteriorate naturally. The feeling was so surreal that it's not far-fetched at all to suggest that the space has been preserved in a time capsule. 

The last time I saw a classic Olivetti add-listing machine was in the mid 80s at my mother’s workplace. Placed atop a period wooden cabinet, it instantly brought back fond memories because I used to punch the number keys on it with gusto. Sporting the same turquoise colour, unfortunately rusts have formed on some parts of the device.

This was the unit at the café (Apple iPhone 4s)

Everywhere you look, there would be pieces that remind you of the past. Right next to another wooden cabinet was a jumbo glass jar filled with bottle caps. While on their own the bottle caps have no real value, it’s what you do with them that could intrique iPad-totting kids. And so I taught my son how to play chepe, a simple game akin to carom but minus the board. When did you last play the game that made that distinctive ‘ching’ sound?

Matchboxes were arranged neatly in yet another antique wooden cabinet. My son barely glanced at the toy cars that were once upon a time my only hobby. Apart from the English-made Matchboxes, I also collected other brands such as Majorettes (fabrique en France) and occasionally Tomica from Japan. The last make had the smallest scale so their cars appeared 'slimmer' and did not feel 'proper.' Besides, they replicated mostly Japanese brands of which I wasn't a big fan of. I digress.

There were fizzes in the PEPSI crate when they still known as Fraser & Neave (Apple iPhone 4s)

An ubiquitous brown shopping paper bag with bold red Chinese letterings was hung on a gong holder, gently swayed from side to side by the gentle draft. My son's vocabulary was enhanced somewhat by the introduction of bubu (rattan fish trap), beduk (a solid wooden stump used to signal time for prayers or break fast), batu giling (grinding stone) and a few other items that were definitely not featured in his day-to-day conversation. If your young ones have not seen these specimens but have heard of them somewhere, it's not a bad idea to drop by the café.

Pak Ayob has purposely limited the items on the menu to not more than 12, with all of them served on sizzling hot plate. Of course, I only found this out when my fish and chips arrived in it, drenched with a kind of piquant sweet and sour sauce. It’s not how I would like the dish to be prepared but it was surprisingly pretty good. The fish was breaded, rather than dipped in batter and deep fried. The accompanying fries were crispy and chunky.

Fish and chips in gravy... Why not? (Apple iPhone 4s)

My other half ordered the black pepper steak, the meat tender and juicy. Her cousin left the fat that he had skillfully separated from his sirloin steak untouched on the plate, I had to refrain myself from nicking it. Everyone in the party felt that the portion of their meals was just nice for late dinner and I couldn’t agree more.

A manual lawn mower (Apple iPhone 4s)

The drinks were a tad disappointing. I would have preferred for them to be served in large, tall glasses to wash down the greasy, grilled meats. Those who asked for iced lemon tea or variations of it were definitely not getting the ideal temperature as the beverage was way too hot and melted the ice cubes in no time. 

Note the diamond brand wall clock at the back... (Apple iPhone 4s)

Seating arrangement in the café catered to both preferences of sitting on a chair and on the floor. Pak Ayob has built a split level ambin (wooden platform) for those who wish to go cross-legged while enjoying their meals. There is adequate seating area but do ring ahead if you are coming by the busload. Ambiance in the eatery was that of kampung (village) house, replete with furnitures and knick-knacks of old. If I could be completely honest, I couldn't tell who were the customers. The waitstaff and kitchen helpers intermingled so seamlessly. A TV (not of recent model) took centrestage and some eyes were glued to what's on. It really did feel and look like a living room. It felt familial. 

On the way out I managed to steal a look on the kopitiam-origin mirror. Yes, the one with embossed good luck wishes.

The late dinner is thanks to my other half's cousin but we can't express our gratitude enough to him and his wife for filling us in with this little known gem of a restaurant. 

Address: 52 Jalan Nuri 7/22, Sekysen 7 Kota Damansara 

Tel: 019-391 0024 

The apartment

Just in case you hadn’t noticed, the traffic volume around the KLCC area this weekend was heavier than usual. I'm referring to the two-legged traffic and that’s no thanks to the World Gas Conference 2012 that saw delegates from around the globe. The conference which commenced on 4 June culminated on 8 June with a special music and light extravaganza in the park dubbed as the KL International Music and Light Festival.

Not wanting to miss the action, my other half suggested that we take the boys to watch Madagascar 3 (as promised to them that we would) at TGV Suria and time the show to coincide with the show later in the evening.

As we are not what you would call the seasoned revellers, we considered Dome, Chili’s and Ben’s to have our dinner at and enjoy the show without having to compete with the mass for legroom and air to breath. Chinoz did not feature in the mix as it was temporarily shut down for renovation. 


Dome was swiftly omitted because of the ground level disadvantage it possessed. When you are seating down eating you will basically see the bums of the spectators which is not what you are there for. 


I wasn't sure about Chili's or Ben's either because apart from the commanding view overlooking the man-made lake where the stage was located, I didn't think the thick glass panels would provide for a good audio experience.


The decision hung mid-air but not for long before my other half said she's decided on The Apartment.

The vista was great from where we were seated (Apple iPhone 4s)

"But the place is for grown-ups," I retorted even though I have not set my foot there. For some unknown reasons, I had this impression that The Apartment was a favourite watering hole for the white collars on this side of town and therefore didn't think that it would be a family-friendly joint. 


Boy was I in for a pleasant surprise. There was plenty of drinking action alright on the ground floor but the floor above was a decent dining area decorated to look like... emm, an apartment. A bookshelf adorned one side of the wall while miniature chandeliers provided the soft lighting throughout the room. 

The interior felt cosy and homely (Apple iPhone 4s)

Due to the size of our party, we were able to sample the menu on a broader scale and more importantly, I managed to steal a bite from almost everyone around the table so here goes a quick sum-up. Do try the duck confit. The meat was so tender and void of the smell normally associated with the bird. The mashed potatoes were creamy and yummy. My little one enjoyed his spaghetti marinara even though they were all mussels and not prawns as what we had requested for. The dish looked a little on the dry side and you know looks can be deceiving. The meat came off the shells easily, a sign that they were properly cooked. My only problem with it was the tiny morsels stuck between my teeth.

The strawberry peach pavlova is a must-try for those who love meringue with whipped cream and fruits. Go for the cheese platter but bring grapes and extra saltines, if yours was a big group that is, from home. The grapes were frozen to the core so they weren't kind to the teeth while the biscuits were just enough for toddlers.

The pavlova was pretty good looking as well (Apple iPhone 4s)

My elder son asked for the peking duck crepe roll which came in a generous portion. One just need to be content with the sugary crepe. The baked tilapia was filleted much to my other half's chagrin but it did not disappoint her entirely as the fish was extremely delicious. The leafs and the bitter fruit that were part of the chicken and grapefruit salad were at room temperature so they must have been lying on the kitchen preparation table for some time. The chicken bits were shredded too thinly and the chef could have been more charitable with the bloody red pulps on the plate.

The chicken and grapefruit salad was alright (Apple iPhone 4s)

Just as the show was starting to pick up steam, the restaurant's crew opened the door that led to the balcony to allow eager patrons to watch the music and light show a little closer.  Save for the imposing laser works flashing the sponsor logos and country flags of the delegates, I don't know which part of the night constitute the light half of the festival. After a few numbers and tired looking faces from around the table, we decided to call it a day. No one was desperate to wait for the purported fireworks to come on.

Ben's there, done that

The portion in the centre could have been bigger (Apple iPhone 4s)

“How I wished there were rocket leaves in my salad,” my friend’s wife lamented about her crispy soft shell crab salad. From her facial expression, my friend could tell that she was not relishing her meal too much. Not only that the basil and coriander leaves overbearing, the crispy soft shell crab did not live up to its name too.


My friend who has started dieting at the beginning of the month is now slowly getting the habit of eating light and healthy food. So it’s no surprise that he asked for grilled calamari on Asian greens (that’s two salads in a row for lunch) at Ben's KLCC. 

The calamari salad was very spicy. Don't know whether it's the sliced chili or the dressing... (Apple iPhone 4s)

Ben's took over the retail lot from the always crowded California Pizza Kitchen about a year ago. In a direct contrast to CPK where its dining area was bright, airy and spacious, he could not help to notice that the interior of the replacement restaurant was dark and claustrophobic. 

Potted plants and bicycle to complete the look... (Apple iPhone 4s)

Modelled after a kampung house, the furnitures, fitments and finishings were exactly meant to reflect that no-frills and utilitarian style. But the excessive use of things black and minimal lighting transformed the dining area dungeon-like, save for the tiny illumination diffused by the equally small pendant lamp atop each table, whose design was reminiscent of the old kitchen light. 


While researching for this post, I was shocked to read that Suria KLCC described the restaurant as being modelled after a Manhattan townhouse. Surely they can't be referring to the exterior because there wasn't much to begin with. It is after all a retail lot within a mall. So I guess it should be about the interior. If that's the case, what's the retro bicycle doing there?

The green papaya was appetizing (Apple iPhone 4s)

Snubbing his all-time favourite Pad Thai was no mean feat and I’d take off my hat to him for that. Not just that, he told me that he's also forgone another favorite in chicken caesar salad. I asked him what's going on. 

"I was smitten by the Vietnamese salad at The Yogi Tree," was his short answer. 

And with that I take it that he's referring to how good Asian salad could actually be. (read post here)

The calamari salad was very, very spicy but he could not tell where the taste emanated from. Yes, there were sliced chillies mingling with the greens but not that significant for it to seize control of the palate. Garlic and coriander, which were the main ingredients of the dressing should not be that hot either. That was something to think about for the man wearing the tall white hat...

Grilled calamari as the title of the dish was a bit deceptive. My friend was half expecting tentacles covered in burnt batter but they were really just barbecued squids. Hey, let's rename it to grilled squid on Asian greens then! The array of veggies on the plate was simply staggering. Amongst those that he could list out were red cabbage, onions, carrots, cucumber, green beans, basil leaves, coriander and oh yeah, chopped peanuts. 


The presence of the green papaya (in other words, the picked kind or young fruit) added the much needed breadth and balance, complementing an otherwise bland salad. Also, the chef had experimented successfully by throwing in measured chunks of lychees, allowing the occasional sweetness to seep through.

"They were conversation ideas," his wife was referring to the stack of cards on the table. Neatly indexed, the other pile were recipes of select item from the menu. The talking points ranged from the geeky 'what's your favorite food with eggs?' to the philosophical 'is it better to be really good at only one thing, or be mediocre at a few?' It's a noble way of trying to people to talk again, instead of finger-surfing on their mobile devices.


He said he would probably make a comeback.

Who says organic food is plain and boring?

1 June 2012 marked the day when a good friend commenced on his diet regime, something that he had been putting off for far too long. Without any creator's name preceding the diet, the regime is more relaxed and should be less strenuous in that he doesn't have to follow a certain prescription to produce the desired result.     

It was his wife's cousin who inspired him to start watching his waistline. One day while window shopping at Ikano or IPC if I was to refer to its new name they bumped into the cousin and his wife who looked like they've been hitting the gym everyday for the last three months. (that was the last time they socialized)

Later, the couple revealed that they have been watching what they eat. For example, each meal should not exceed 500 grams. When asked how much food would that value equal to, they said it's one piece of chicken or fish no bigger than the palm and some veggies on the side. Yes, you heard me right. Rice does not feature at all on the plate. 

"It's okay to have extra greens on the dish as they are good for you but try cut down or lose the meat completely if you can afford it," exclaimed the slimmed one.

The total daily calorie intake should not be more than 2000 calories. Lay off the bad carbos such as rice, bread, pasta, noodles but stock up on fruits and water. Speaking of fruits, not all are good for your health because of the high sugar content on some, banana is an example. 

Seeing the fine and real-life examples in the form of his wife's cousin and the wife, my friend decided that it's now or never. For the umpteenth time.

Yesterday, he and the wife had gone to The Gardens Mall to window shop for some furnitures when it was time for the obligatory mid-day meal. Being suddenly health-conscious now, they decided to forgo Italiannies to look for something less sinful like a takeout sarnies or something like that. 

As though it was meant to be, The Yogi Tree appeared in front of them just a few steps away with an A-board advertising its soup of the day's broccoli. They decided that's where they should have lunch and stepped gingerly into the eatery. After perusing its menu, they realized that TYT sold mostly organic food. Not that this was such a big problem but I think he was still getting the knack of adapting to his newfound eating habit. Either that or he just doesn't think that organic food would be you know, sufficient to last him till dinner. I'll reconfirm this for you.

Part of the cafe's interior (Apple iPhone 4s)

According to him, the interior of the shop was clinical and "light" on the eyes. I think he meant that it reflected on the cafe's main food theme. With the blinds rolled down over the ceiling height glass panel, the downcast glow gave the overall effect of a home-like tranquility. One floor down within the same radius was a famous kopitiam (not the one with the old world charm type, you know what I mean...) chain which had patrons bursting at its seams but at TYT, there were only a few customers quietly enjoying their meal. 


Not a surprise that because not everyone has the stomach for organic food or for its perceived high price tag. 

It was 3+ on a Saturday afternoon but they didn't have to queue (Apple iPhone 4s)

He was very excited to see caesar chicken salad on the menu but felt jilted when the waitstaff unapologetically said that it was not available.


"It's available but just finished and we are still preparing it, not ready yet (sic)," the waitstaff correcting my unhappy friend who was quick to suggest the omission of the said item from the menu if it was just a gimmick. 


So he reluctantly ordered, at the recommendation of the same waitstaff, the Vietnamese chicken salad. His wife was dead set on the broccoli soup from the get-go as she always has fascination for anything soupy.

Organic pasta, eggs and such are available to take home (Apple iPhone 4s)

It was the soup that arrived first, looking a tad cumbersome in the cookie jar, while the wife muttered something under her breath. The chic black rectangle platter ensemble looked out-of-place with the garlic bread cutting a forlorn figure, being placed miles away from its partner. I'm just judging by the photo he sent me. 

The presentation was okay... (Apple iPhone 4s)

"There should be broccolis swimming in the soup," he told me what his wife had said. Lifting her spoon upward so that the fluid would trickle back into the jar, she said it was runny too. 

I haven't seen this for myself but I have a feeling it was just green-coloured soup and no chunks of the vegetable it claimed to have been derived from. 

My friend then added that his wife alleged she's tasted much better broccoli soup before. Ironically though after ten minutes or so the jar looked like it had been licked clean. But still, it could mean that she was just famished.

But the Vietnamese chicken salad was an entirely different story. Remember that the salad was not his first choice and it was a reluctant make-up order minutes ago? Well now he would not stop raving about it! Apparently, the condiments were crunchy and the taste very refreshing. It did feel like the ingredients had just arrived from a nearby farm. The piquant sauce was simply extraordinary and its sprinkling easy which meant that the greens stayed crispy and not spongy.

It tasted as good as it looked! (Apple iPhone 4s)

"You too can make it at home," the amiable outlet manager referring to how easy it was to make the dressing. Consisting of peanut butter mainly, I'm sure there's lime juice, sugar, a bit of chili and pepper as well as it was sweet and tangy at the same time, judging from my friend's description of the taste.

To add volume to the salad, TYT tossed in glorious red cabbage, finely chopped long beans, peanuts, green lettuce, fried garlic and sautéed chicken pieces. You could tell from the colours that all the veggies were garden-fresh. A dish never looked so gorgeous.  

What was left of the salad (Apple iPhone 4s)

Some of us need encouragement... (Apple iPhone 4s)

Look it up next time you are at The Gardens Mall (Apple iPhone 4s)

All in all, it was a satisfying outing, more for him I suspect. And yes, perception of most that organic food is still costly I'm afraid remains: the cashier's till took away RM39 from my friend's thinning wallet. Or was it her wife's purse? And that's with two glasses of warm water. But if a dieter's food can be this good, the target to achieve the desired BMI might be a reality after all, for my friend that is. I wish him the best of luck.