Sunday Lunch at Mitsu By Two Chefs

Two Sundays ago, we indulged in a truly sumptuous and luxurious lunch at Mitsu By Two Chefs Japanese restaurant. This outing was a much-anticipated treat, especially because it's one of the few times hubby gets to unwind and enjoy a meal with us during the weekends. His busy schedule means he doesn't always have time to dine with us, so he makes sure our weekend meals are enjoyable.

Hubby is always generous when it comes to treating us to good food. After a week of hard work, he loves to reward himself with his favorite dishes, and trying out new places and cuisines is one of his passions. This Sunday was no exception.

Here's a glimpse of the delectable feast we enjoyed:

Unagi Don Set - The Unagi Don Set is our family’s favorite as all of us love grilled eel. It came with perfectly grilled eel glazed in a rich, sweet sauce served over a bed of fluffy rice and accompanied with an onsen egg and pickled radish. 

Saba Set - The Saba Set featured succulent grilled mackerel that was both savory and satisfying. The fish was cooked to perfection, with a crispy skin and moist, flavorful flesh.

Bara Chirashi Set - The Bara Chirashi Set offered a vibrant and colorful presentation of assorted marinated sashimi pieces over sushi rice. Each bite was a burst of fresh, delicate flavors. Alycia chose this set. She mixed too much wasabi into her rice and each spoonful made her eyes and nose watery 😂

Mitsu Chirashi Don - The Mitsu Chirashi Don was another delightful bowl of assorted sashimi, but with a unique twist that only Mitsu By Two Chefs could offer. The quality and freshness of the fish were outstanding.

Tsukune and Charcoal Grilled Chicken Thigh - The Tsukune, or chicken meatballs, and the charcoal grilled chicken thigh were both deliciously smoky and savory. The Tsukune was juicy and perfectly seasoned, while the chicken thigh had a wonderfully charred exterior and tender inside.

Grilled Tebasaki Wings - The grilled Tebasaki wings were another hit. These chicken wings were crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, with a subtle seasoning that left us wanting more.

Grilled Sweet Corns - The grilled sweet corn provided a nice balance to the savory meats, offering a slightly sweet and smoky flavor that complemented the other dishes beautifully. We liked it so much that hubby ordered another portion.

Hamburg Don - The Hamburg Don featured a hearty hamburger patty served over rice, topped with a rich sauce. It was a comforting and satisfying dish, perfect for a hearty appetite.

Ikura Salmon Don Set - The Ikura Salmon Don Set was a feast for the eyes and the palate, with vibrant salmon roe and fresh salmon slices arranged beautifully over sushi rice. The burst of flavors from the ikura was particularly delightful.

Sushi Platter - Finally, the sushi platter was a true masterpiece, showcasing a variety of expertly crafted fresh sushi pieces.

We thoroughly enjoyed this luxurious meal, savoring each dish's unique flavors and textures. The only downside was that Sherilyn couldn't join us again, as she was busy rushing to complete yet another assignment. 

Dining at Mitsu By Two Chefs was a wonderful way to spend our Sunday afternoon, and we left the restaurant feeling satisfied. If you're looking for a place to enjoy authentic and luxurious Japanese cuisine, Mitsu By Two Chefs is definitely worth a visit.

Mitsu By Two Chefs

Address: Tower D, 01-10, Millerz Square, Megan Legasi, 357, Jln Klang Lama, 58200 Kuala Lumpur, 

Phone: 011-1633 2534

Mitsu Chirashi Don

Charcoal-grilled skewered meat and sweet corn.

Unagi don set - all the set meals came with appetizers of a bowl of super crispy deep fried fish, refreshing salad, and purple dragon fruit.

Hamburg don.

Bara Chirashi Set

Saba set

Ikura Salmon Don Set 

Aesthetically pleasing sushi platter.

Add on RM8 for a cup of coffee.

Tofu cheese cake - light and not too cloy or too sweet.

Our Sunday Dim Sum Brunch at Elegant Inn Hong Kong Cuisine

This Sunday, we had dim sum brunch at Elegant Inn Hong Kong Cuisine, located at Menara Hap Seng. For once, we managed to have brunch before 12 noon as Cass didn't go to the skating rink for practice. Instead, she went on Monday morning, as the next day was a public holiday. What made this brunch even more special was that our three daughters were able to join us, making it a rare family gathering on a Sunday.

It was only when we reached the restaurant that I found out that Elegant Inn Hong Kong Cuisine was included in the Michelin Guide's Point of View list for the years 2023 and 2024. This recognition added an extra layer of excitement and anticipation to our meal. Knowing that we were about to dine at a Michelin-recommended restaurant heightened our expectations.

Hubby took the lead in ordering and went for the usual suspects that we all love: char siu pau, char siu so, egg tarts, siew mai, har gau, fish paste, stir-fried radish cake, Zha Leong (Hong Kong-style fried Chee Cheong Fun), Hong Kong-style shrimp toast, Malaigou, custard buns, steamed pork ribs, pork and century egg porridge, and lotus leaves rice. One dish that stood out was the deep-fried unagi spring rolls. Each dish was a delight, showcasing the delicate flavors and expert craftsmanship that Elegant Inn is known for.

While the dim sum spread at Elegant Inn was impressive and the quality of the food was undeniably high, I have to admit that I still prefer the dim sum at Xin Cuisine at Concorde Hotel. We found that several of the dim sum dishes tasted rather bland. 

Nonetheless, our Sunday brunch at Elegant Inn Hong Kong Cuisine was a wonderful experience, enhanced by the company of our three daughters and the relaxed atmosphere. It was a treat to dine at a Michelin-recommended restaurant and enjoy such a delicious spread of dim sum. 

Elegant Inn

02-01, 2F, Podium Block, Menara Hap Seng, Jalan P. Ramlee, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, 50250, Malaysia

Saturday Dinner at Restoran Makanan Laut Sun Kam Kee

Last Saturday, we had dinner at Restoran Makanan Laut Sun Kam Kee. Known for its tai-chow style cooking, the restaurant consistently delivers delicious dishes at reasonable prices, making it a favorite for our family outings.

Hubby is particularly fond of their steamed village chicken with ginger sauce, a dish we've enjoyed many times during our lunch visits. This time, however, it was my first dinner at Sun Kam Kee with the girls, although, unfortunately, Sherilyn couldn't join us. She's been incredibly busy with her college assignments, dance classes, rehearsals, and active participation in her college clubs.

Hubby, familiar with the menu, ordered a variety of dishes that pleased everyone's palates:

• Steamed Village Chicken with Ginger Sauce: Tender and flavorful, this dish is a family favorite.

• Deep Fried Squids with Salted Egg Yolk: Crispy and rich, this is another favorite dish of ours, especially the girls.

• Stir-fried four-angle beans with onions, lotus root, dried shrimp, and garlic: A healthy and very flavorful vegetable dish that was a hit.

• Stir-Fried Baby French Beans: Simple yet delicious, showcasing the fresh ingredients.

• Stir-Fried Signature Meehoon: A must-try dish that never disappoints.

• Signature Steamed Fish: Fresh and perfectly cooked with preserved radish, chilies and tofu in a lovely sauce.

After our hearty dinner, we headed out for some grocery shopping. As a special treat, hubby bought the girls two tubs of Haagen Dazs ice cream and their favorite cheeses. It was a lovely way to end the evening, bringing home some sweet and sinful indulgence to enjoy later.

Dinner for the four of us.

Steamed village chicken with ginger sauce.

Deep-fried salted egg yolk squids, stir-fried four-angle beans with lotus root, stir-fried mee hoon and stir-fried baby French beans.

Steamed fish 

Harbour ED's Steamboat

Harbour ED's Steamboat in Sri Petaling is one of the best steamboat and pork noodle restaurants that we've been to. In fact, I prefer their handmade pork balls and fish balls over H*idil*o's.  Of course, at H*idil*o, the ambiance and service are impeccable and you'll feel really pampered by their staff. 

We tried Harbour's pork noodles and it was superb - one of the best that we've tried in the Klang Valley. The minced pork patties were very nicely marinated and had no porky odor.  The soup was very flavorful and the bowl of noodles had a generous amount of choy sum and pork lard. Though pricier than regular pork noodles from hawker stalls, we don't mind spending a little more to enjoy a bowl of really tasty pork noodles with fresh ingredients.

Pork noodles

Handmade squid balls, pork balls, wanton, sui kow, and stuffed puffed tofu with fish paste.  Every bite of the squid ball had real squid meat in it.

Blanched squids seasoned with aromatic fried garlic oil, soy sauce, and spring onions. The texture of the squids was perfect - it was cooked to a tee and not rubbery at all. Very delish.

Spam meat fried rice with lettuce. Very flavorful too.

This is one restaurant that we will definitely be going again on a Sunday, after Cass' figure skating class. 

Address: 19, Jalan 13/149l, Bandar Baru Sri Petaling, 57000 Kuala Lumpur

Phone: 016-620 2672

Uncle Botak Flying Noodles at Yong Hua Restaurant, Jalan Sepadu (Taman United), KL

Early this week hubby and I were at Jalan Sepadu in the morning as hubby had to send his car for a car seat wash. We intended to eat porridge at Zhu Ji Spicy Soup, one of our favorite restaurants for congee, pig's stomach and intestines soup, rice wine chicken and fried fish. But this restaurant was still not opened yet. So we walked around the vicinity and found this unassuming coffee shop and went in to check out what they had.

We noticed that almost every table had a plate or two of fried prawn noodles (Sang Har Mein) and that was exactly what I wanted to eat. We ordered a plate to try and when the plate of noodles was brought to our table, I gasped.  

I didn't expect the Cantonese-style fried prawn noodles coming from this unassuming coffee shop to look so 'atas', and Instagrammable!

And it tasted just as good as how it looked, considering that it only cost RM35 for a huge plate with one medium-sized prawn sliced into half.

I quickly fished out my phone camera and started work 😁

I wondered how the heck the cook made the chopsticks hang in the air with the noodles. 

An elderly man who sat next to us was commenting to his friend that the noodles were priced very reasonably compared with similar noodles from other restaurants. 

Both hubby and I polished off the entire plate of noodles. The crispy noodles and the egg sauce were such a great combination. Besides the prawn, there were pork slices, fish cake slices, spring onions, and ginger slices. 

You can watch how Uncle Botak the botak cook fries the noodles here:

https://www.instagram.com/bestfoodmalaysia/reel/C0q-hL0oHIz/?hl=en

Yong Hua Restaurant

Address: 97A, Jalan Sepadu

Taman United 

Old Klang Road

58200 Kuala Lumpur

Phone: 016-910 1200

Kwan Kee Store - Hong Kong's Michelin Pastry Shop in PJ

Kwan Kee, a popular street cafe recognized by the “Michelin Guide Hong Kong” opened its first store in Malaysia in Petaling Jaya in November 2023. 

Kwan Kee was awarded Hong Kong Michelin Guide-Recommended Street Food for 6 consecutive years from 2016 to 2021. They use the traditional stone grinding method to make the flour instead of using store-bought ones.

Hubby came home with two boxes of Kwan Kee desserts last night. I didn't eat them until the next morning, right out of the fridge.

One of the boxes consists of rolled glutinous rice flour dough wrapped with assorted fillings such as red bean, crushed peanuts and durian paste.  This dessert reminds me of the traditional soft and chewy Chinese Banana Rolls or Banana Mochi Rolls typically sold cheaply in wet markets and night markets. This used to be my favorite childhood Chinese cake. Though no bananas were used, I liked the faux banana flavor.

Rolled glutinous rice flour dough wrapped with assorted fillings such as red bean, crushed peanuts and durian paste

Steamed red bean cake, black sesame cake, and almond cake.  I like the almond cake the most.

Our verdict:

Nothing exceptional. I very much prefer our Nyonya kuihs better as Nyonya kuihs are made with coconut milk, thus impart a more aromatic flavor and texture. And Nyonya kuihs are way cheaper ;)

These steamed cakes from Kwan Kee are a tad steep, priced at RM6.90 per piece but the size of the cake is pretty big, bigger than the standard kuih size. Flavors are mild (some reviewers on Google commented that the cakes taste bland) and not overly sweet.

Kwan Kee's menu is rather extensive and if you're a dessert and kuih lover, you can give this Michelin Guide Recommended Street Food a try. But be prepared for the long queue.  

Kwan Kee Store

Address: 14, Jalan SS 2/67, SS 2, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Phone: 016-211 3353

CNY 2024 - Chor 4 and 5

Tuesday, 13 February 2024 (Chor 4)

Hubby made an impromptu whim to go to Ikea at My Town early today - to get a new shelf for Cass and a workstation for me.  We had our brunch at the Ikea cafeteria as it was my choice.  I've not eaten at the Ikea cafeteria for ages (easily more than 7 years) and I missed the Swedish meatballs and grilled salmon. 

The quality of the meatballs has somewhat degraded. In fact, everything that we ordered tasted meh. I knew that hubby would surely be having a second round of lunch after shopping at Ikea.

Long queues at the cafeteria

The most expensive dish was the roast beef ribs at RM46.90.

After we left My Town, hubby took us to a famous seafood noodle shop in Cheras for a late lunch. While we waited for the noodles to arrive, he walked across to another coffee shop to get takeaway roast duck. 

The seafood noodles tasted way better than the Ikea food 😆

Wednesday, 14 February 2024 (Chor 5)

The Ikea workstation that hubby bought for me was delivered to our condo at 8.30 a.m. the next day.  The logistics guys were supposed to deliver between 12.30 to 4 p.m., but they called early in the morning to ask if they could deliver it to us at 8.30 a.m. 

From 8.30 a.m. till evening, hubby, Sherilyn, and I worked non-stop disassembling my old workstation, assembling the new workstation, vacuuming,  moving all the things from the old workstation to the new workstation, and cleaning up.   I also threw a LOT of stuff that I'd been keeping for years as my new workstation has no cabinets and I had to discard most of the stuff from my old cabinets.

We assigned Sherilyn (the future architect) to assemble the workstation, which was no mean feat, and she successfully set up the workstation on her own. I don't think I will ever be able to do that as the workstation is a huge 52.1kg three-tiered desk. Assembling furniture has never been my jam. I'm lucky that my three girls are pretty good at it, just like their dad.

My new Fredde workstation from Ikea. I wanted white color but it was sold out, thus had to settle with black.

2 January 2024 - Bak Kut Teh Brunch

My impromptu brunch on the second day of 2024 was Bak Kut Teh - with only hubby and Alycia. 

Hubby had a sudden craving for Bak Kut Teh, so we went to this unassuming shop located next to our neighborhood, just 5 minutes drive away.  

Hubby likes the Bak Kut Teh. The broth is the thick kind with a mild Chinese herb aroma and not the usual thin and soupy kind with strong flavors of Chinese herbs. As for me, I like both types of soups - thick and thin, mild and strong herby taste. However, I can't overdo on BKT because of the herbs used to boil the soup. I've been advised by my gynae not to eat too much Chinese herbs because of my fibroid.

Chicken feet - Alycia's order. I'm surprised that this girl who goes "ewwwwww" whenever there are innards on the dining table loves chicken feet.  

Tua Bak Kia Bak Kut Teh

BLOCK D, 3, Lorong Jugra

Jln Klang Lama 

58100 Kuala Lumpur

Telefon: 03-7988 0251

Sourdough Brunch at Tommy Le Baker

Friday, 27 October 2023

Our Friday began with Sherilyn's dental appointment at 9:30 a.m., where she had her teeth and braces checked. Originally, I was meant to send her to the dentist, but hubby had to make a trip to Lee’s Frozen at Jalan Kg Attap to stock up for his catering events next week. He volunteered to take her to the dentist, leaving us with an unexpected opportunity for a family brunch at Tommy Le Baker.  The bakery is located opposite Lee's Frozen.

Lately, I had been yearning for a taste of crispy sourdough bread loaded with savoury fillings. Tommy Le Baker had been on my list for a while, and the stars aligned for our visit today.

Our order was an ensemble of mouthwatering sourdough sandwiches. I opted for a combination of salmon and egg mayo, while Sherilyn went for the savory beef filling. My husband, always the generous orderer, selected crispy toasted sourdough slices accompanied by generous rolls of butter and marmalade, a melted cheese sourdough sandwich, alongside a delightful quiche.  We were in sourdough heaven!

My yummy salmon and egg mayo sourdough sandwich.

Crispy sourdough slices with thick, sinful rolls of salted butter and marmalade jam. 

Quiche

Melted cheese sourdough sandwich. 

Despite our hearty appetites, we found ourselves with leftovers, so I packed them up for Cass, who’s also a sourdough fan. I added a wholesome rye, banana, and coconut muffin to sweeten her day.

Sometimes, the best moments are the ones that unfold spontaneously.

De.Wan 1958 by Chef Wan @ The Linc KL

Last Sunday, my family and I went to De.Wan Restaurant for lunch, a dining establishment I had long yearned to visit. Renowned for its exquisite Malay cuisine, this restaurant is owned by Malaysia's beloved celebrity chef, Datuk Dr. Chef Wan. As a fan of his cook shows since I was young and his infectious sense of humor, I was thrilled to finally dine at his restaurant.

My intrigue for De.Wan was fueled by the rave reviews I'd heard from my sisters-in-law and hubby’s relatives, who would sing praises of the delectable dishes whenever they visited Kuala Lumpur from overseas. In August of this year, when my eldest SIL from England came to town, we had initially planned to visit Chef Wan's restaurant. Unfortunately, we had to cancel our plans when her son fell ill with a stomach flu.

So when my husband suggested dining at De Wan Restaurant, I wholeheartedly agreed, excited to indulge in an authentic Malay culinary experience.

Our order included a delectable lamb Kuzi, a mixed satay platter featuring succulent beef and chicken, the savory Rendang Tok (beef rendang), Chicken Kapitan, sambal eggplant, Nasi Telur Terengganu (rice), Nasi Pandan Delima (rice), and a delightful bowl of Cendol.

Crispy and yummy fried peanut crackers as appetizer, on the house.

Our delectable spread.

Satay with chunky, lean, and tender meat. 

Chicken Kapitan

Sambal egg plant.

Two varieties of aromatic steamed rice 

My favorite Cendol with a scoop of ice-cream, thick coconut milk, gula Melaka syrup, kidney beans and cendol jelly. At RM20 a bowl, it is more than enough for the four of us.

Every dish was executed to perfection, boasting the use of premium ingredients and a generous infusion of herbs and spices. The standout for me was the Cendol, which was thick, creamy, and easily one of the best I've ever tasted. I savored every dish hubby ordered, except for the Lamb Kuzi, as I'm not particularly fond of lamb. While the prices may be on the higher side, the generous portions and the quality of the ingredients justified the cost.

The menu

The menu

Our delightful meal left us yearning for more, and we've already planned to return to explore the other treasures on De Wan's menu. The restaurant offers an enticing array of Malay dishes that I can't wait to sample.  The service rendered by the waiting staff was excellent and they were very friendly and helpful.

There was a 25% discount for Public Bank card holders. So if you're a Public Bank debit card or credit card holder, do quickly visit De.Wan before the promotion ends.

We couldn't finish the lamb kuzi and beef rendang and had them doggy bagged home for dinner the next day.

After lunch at De Wan, we made a pit stop at Bean Brothers, a café chosen at random by hubby. Sherilyn, who always seems to have assignments in progress, continued her work at the café while we enjoyed coffee and cakes. The café, with its chilly air conditioning indoors, prompted us to opt for outdoor seating, where we observed pet parents enjoying the ambiance with their fur babies.

After coffee and cakes, we did grocery shopping at Ben's Independent Grocer (B.I.G.). I love the variety of fruits, vegetables, meats, and groceries available at B.I.G. 

A wide variety of minced aromatics is available, such as shallots, garlic, turmeric, galangal and much more. They are sold by their weight. This is the first time I have seen readily minced aromatics sold fresh in a supermarket. This is really convenient for time-pressed working parents who cook regularly. Now I know where to get them when hubby's kitchen staff are too busy to prepare them for me.

De.Wan 1958 by Chef Wan @ The Linc KL

360, Jln Tun Razak, Taman U Thant, 50400 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

Tel no: 03-7890 6016