Breakfast Hopping in Kuala Lumpur

KL is a food haven. When it comes to breakfast selections, we are spoilt for choice.

Pork noodle soup at Sun Yin Loong coffee shop in Kota Damansara. Only RM$4. You get minced pork, slices of lean pork and liver in a porky broth. Real comfort food.


If you are craving for Western fare, you could also get eggs, bacon and spagghetti at the same coffee shop. RM5.50 only.


Dim sum is widely available too. Dim sum at a newly opened shop at Damansara Uptown.

Another western set available at Prince Cafe at Midvalley. RM7.90 with coffee or tea.

Claypot Chicken Rice @ Kee Kim Huat, Johor

We found the most excellent claypot chicken rice at Kee Kim Huat coffee shop accidentally. The claypot chicken rice has been lovingly and patiently cooked using charcoal with a worker painstakingly fanning and overlooking the fire from time to time. If I recall correctly, the pricing of the claypot chicken rice is priced at either RM$8 or RM$10. This portion is sufficient for 1.

The claypot chicken rice is served with salted fish and chopped spring onions which adds an additional fragrance to the overall one-pot rice dish.


Mix up everything with a pair of chopsticks and spoon and voila, you will be presented with evenly coated grains of rice with soya sauce, oil with chicken meat, chinese sausages, salted fish and spring onions. Delicious.


This coffee shop also serves coffee by the brand name Mister Coffee. I have no idea how popular the coffee is in Malaysia but it certainly is a good cup of coffee.

By the way, this place has a very popular kway chap stall. It was good too. But I love the claypot chicken rice more!

Trung Nguyen Cafe @ Liang Court

I was visiting Liang Court for some Japanese food when I chanced upon Trung Nguyen Cafe. I was a little surprised considering that I have seen Trung Nguyen coffee on sale in the Internet. These people are quite entreprising, if I say so myself.

The sight of people drinking from coffee drips were a temptation and I ordered a entry-level coffee, "Thoughts" for myself.

The coffee was strong, full-bodied and aromatic. Service is good and friendly.

The only grouse I have is the lack of readily available hot water. Whilst I was in the States, Vietnamese coffee orders are provided with hot water tumblers which is a delight when you brew your coffee.

Ocean Terrace @ Carmel, US

Back in September, I was on a business trip to California, US. Over the weekend, we needed to entertain our customer and what better place to go other than the beautiful Carmel!

Located along Highway 1, one of the must-see places in the US, it is the most excellent restaurant and bar with a breathtaking view of the sea I have ever came across. Just take a seat and you are facing the picturesque sea!

Look further away!

Here is the deep fried calamari we have ordered. These are really large pieces of calamari, why, they were big pieces of steak (albeit calamari). Meaty and delicious.

I ordered the Bixby crab sandwich. The red cabbage coleslaw was to-die-for. Without any mayonaise, it was dressed with a slightly tangy, honey flavoured dressing with dried cranberries. Best coleslaw I have eaten in ages.

We have also visited the Carmel town. An affluent, quaint and chic town with many art galleries. Here's a picture to remember. Pets are well treated here. This was taken outside one of the many shops there.

Ocean Terrace is located at :

10 Miles South of Carmel

On Highway 1

Overlooking the Pacific

Japanese Buffet @ Ikoi, Miramar Hotel

I had a craving for Japanese food, but unable to decide between sashimi, ramen, tonkatsu or tempura. I did a search on several food blogs and came up with Ikoi at Miramar Hotel. A quick dial to the restaurant to make reservations and we were there by 12:30pm on a Saturday.

Ambience is definitely not one of the strong points of the restaurant. Complimentary dishes such as marinated salmon, cucumber and celery sticks, salmon soup and dobin mushi were served. Dobin mushi is a clear soup in a teapot, with minimal ingredients such as mushrooms and in this case, a prawn head was seen in the soup. It seems that presentation is not one of the key strenhgth of this Japanese restaurant.

Buffet here is served ala-carte. Their menu is widely categorized under sashimi, sushi, fried dishes such as tempura, broiled dishes such as yakitori, side dishes such as salad, tofu and niku juga, noodles and curry based dishes.

Personally, I love the tempura here. Remember to order the mixed tempura platter. The sashimi is not too bad either. For those who love grilled stuff, the bacon wrapped sausage was great.

I also liked how we can choose to customize the portions of the servings here. For i.e., the servings for tonkatsu can be specified. And those with little stomachs can get to sample as much as possible.

Well, the bad is that they don't serve beef and pork here. So, it is a little disheartening to have the niku juga and realized that chicken was the substitution.

Nevertheless, this place can be considered for a second visit again. After all, there is no limitation in the servings and at a price of SGD33++, it is quite a value for money buffet lunch.

I will definitely come back again for their value-for-money buffet spread.

Address:
Ikoi Japanese Restaurant,
401 Havelock Road,
#01-01 Hotel Miramar, Singapore
Tel : 68873788 Fax : 68870079

Enoshima Island, Japan

I have visited Enoshima Island during my last trip to Japan. It was during a very hot summer sometime in October.

Upon arrival at the train station.

Crossing the bridge by foot to the island.

Along the coastal line.

Along the streets of Enoshima Island leading to the center of the island.

To be blessed by the pure water? I really have no idea!

Really attractive looking temple.

Cute little wishes written on pink paper.

Take a closer look.

Japanese sweets on sale.

More sweets. And more sweets!

Natural Facial Toner

I have quite dry and sensitive skin. Therefore, I am always on the lookout for good quality mild facial products that suits my skin.

I have tried various toners from different established brands as well as more affordable brands. Some brands do not refer toners as toners but as softening lotions. Whilst some of them are good for use, pricing just cannot beat the toner that I am using now.

Whilst there has been time now and then that I have neglected to use a facial toner after facial cleansing, I have rediscovered the advantage of using toners.

Toners are used after facial cleansing to remove any remaining impurities on the skin. And most importantly, the toner is to help to tighten pores. Another important point to note is that the toner preps up our skin for the next phase of application. Since my skin is quite dry at my cheek area, the anti-ageing serums and rich moisturizer that I am using now just do not seem to be able to be absorbed fully if I do not use any toner. After the application of the toner, and before it dries out, I will apply the anti-ageing serum, rich moisturizier or firming lotion.

The only toner that I use now is rose water. Such a simple and natural ingredient but it really works as a toner. The faint rose fragrance is lovely and the feeling is refreshing upon application. The rose water does not leave the skin dry. For those with oilier skin, witch hazel is a good choice. I have tried witch hazel out of curiousity and indeed it is too harsh for my skin.

Pricing for rose water is wonderful too. It only costs a few bucks and I normally buy a few everytime I visit. In Singapore, the only place that I am aware of that sells rose water suitable for facial skin is at Guardian.