Kal El

This was actually our first time trying out this famous kopitiam. We were at Jusco Wangsa Maju recently to get something for a friend's new born and ended up here by accident. We wanted to break fast at Secret Recipe but most of the restaurants were full house that day, including Old Town White Coffee, but lucky us (and pity this guy on wheelchair hehehe) a Chinese elderly couple who had just finished their meal hurriedly gave us their seats. Thank you folks for your kindess. May God bless you.

We were at Puti Bungsu Batam once again for buka puasa this year - it was on a rainy day and the road was heavily jammed so we decided to stop at this fabulous nasi padang eatery for buka puasa. Unlike last year, this years buka puasa at this restaurant witnessed dozn more people - it was fullhouse. Perhaps last year they had just opened their doors and not many people know the place tapi tahun ni siap ada satu bas lagi datang, I suppose it was an office buka puasa get together. a long table was occupied by children which I suppose was an orphanage buka puasa treat - well not bad a crowd - syabas Puti Bungsu!

Again, before I fell sick hari tu sempat la KN and I pi this place we've never tried before. It was indeed the last buka puasa we had at a restaurant before I had to have my food served in the room. It was actually a surprise from KN (for no apparent occassion, just for the sake of surprising me - remember when I had that sudden crave for Bubba Gump's Mama's Southern Fried Chicken? It was that same day and as we were heading to the Ikea/Curve/Cineleisure area KN told me we were trying Tony Roma's) As a matter of factly a reservation was made earlier for the two of us. We had our buka puasa outdoors, in the cold showers of the dusk.

Before falling sick hari tu, on the 3rd day of Ramadhan, we managed to visit our favourite dining place - Chili's! Actually masa kat Jeddah lagi on the way back to KL dah teringat Chili's just because we saw an outlet there. So, dengan nafsu bulan posa ni, we went to Chili's untuk memuaskannya... (huhuhu).

First of all please accept my apologies for suddenly disappearing for over 2 weeks. Like Kembara Musafir said in his earlier comment - penat celebrity Chef Zaidah senyum kat last entry tu, nasib baik senyumnya manis, maka manis la wajah blog ni hehehehe (mengampu tu sebenarnya Chef!)

KN and I were invited to the opening of Celebrity Chef Zaidah's (the chef with the sweetest looking mole on her face) new eatery at Oakleaf Club Bukit Antarabangsa on the 4th day of Ramadhan. The restaurant called Djeumpa has just opened its doors after the lot was vacant for quite sometime. InsyaAllah staying just opposite the club, we'll be going there again - fabulous food (of course lah what do you expect when it's chef owned?) plus the usual airy Bukit Antarabangsa surrounding greets you while you dine in at this nice place.

Among others served for bebuka (which will usually cost patrons RM38++ per head during Ramadhan - free last night heheheh) were Nasi Minyak and Nasi Putih with lauk pauk like Paceri Nenas, Dalcha Sayur, Daging, Ayam Kerutub, Ikan Bakar as well as other dishes like Mee Rebus, Sup Tulang, delicious line up of sweet desserts, fruits and choices of cold and hot drinks. The menu would change daily and we were told they're serving seafood on Friday 5th Ramadhan.

It was a short and sweet event with celebrities like Jaafar Onn and a couple others present. Jaafar Onn presented guests with three traditional songs and there were also traditional music being played live as guests enjoyed their meal.

Kal El would like to congratulate Chef Zaidah and her family on the opening of Djeumpa Restaurant and wishing the business a success. Thank you for having us on your memorable day. Pepatah Melayu berkata 'Orang Berbudi, Kita Berbahasa, Orang Memberi, Kita Merasa" - chewah, 'Terima Kasih Daun Keladi, ahahaha Future Event Nanti Jemputlah Lagi" - tu pepatah Kal El punya ek.

Here's a the map and contact number to DJEUMPA RESTAURANT. Djeumpa Di sana!

Di bulan Ramadhan yang mulia ini, I am suddenly craving for Bubba Gump's Mama's Southern Fried Chicken from browsing my old photos and entry on the same and the Peach, Love and Rock n 'Roll drink I saw on Lucy Diamond's blog.

Assalamu'alaikum.

Today the office organised a buka puasa treat for all her staff. It was held on the rooftop@balcony of the office with breathtaking view of Kuala Lumpur skyline. My office occupies 3 out of 4 blocks in this vicinity. This also means that my other half will have to breakfast alone on this second last day of Ramadhan - sorry dear (but I heard you makan McD - tak achi betul since the food served at the buka puas sucks)

Yes, the food sucks real big time. There was rice with 3 lauk, 2 savory items and rojak buah plus cold and hot drinks also some kueh. All these for RM30 per head I heard, luckily we didn't have to pay. Whatever it is, thank you to the Blood Sucking Sicko Company for the breaking of fast treat, the baju raya as well as the duit raya, even though it was n0t as much as the last two years. At least it is an effort to make the employees feel appreciated.

For nasi padang lovers, search no more - this place beats Sari Ratu, Sari Bonda and many other Saris nasi padang places in terms of taste and pricing. Of course the best in taste and price would still be in Indoensia!) This is actually our second time breaking fast here apart from many other dinner visits before. Since this restaurant is nearby my workplace, it has always been an option whenever traffic was bad and whenever I need a dose of my daging rendang, bergedel and sambal hijo.

My craze for nasi padang started after my family's vacation to Jakarta and Bandung way back in 1983. Our week's stay there was torturous as we had to eat nasi padang and indomie every single day but when coming back my mother and I began to crave for what at that time was scarce in Kuala Lumpur. I am sure if my mother was still around she would frequent this place as well.

Nasi Padang Puti Bungsu Batam is a family owned restaurant from Batam, Indonesia. We had a chance to meet the very friendly owner, a young chap who was here to help his brother set up their Kuala Lumpur branch. Eating here (our usual meal, rendang, berdegel, sambal hijo and avocado chocolate for myself and chicken, berdegel and sour sop) would costs us around RM35 per visit while at Sari Bunda in Cheras, for the same meal would usually costs us more than RM50.

Suring Ramadahan they offer a range of buffet variety for RM30 per pax but we chose to eat ala carte - that's the magic of eating nasi padang - a la carte. So, this place is definitely a would come back for us as the food is delicious and the ambiance is definitely great.

We went to Hard Rock Cafe to celebrate our 5th Anniversary. The last time we were here was to celebrate our 1st Anniversary in 2003. With intentions to order a la carte menu we were attracted to try the Ramadhan Buffet instead. Fairly priced at 45++ per person, the buffet line was modest with a choice of buttered rice, chicken satay, kong po chicken, potato wedges, calamari rings plus some other yummy entrees and delicious desserts. For the main course, we were given an all you can eat choices of 5 dishes (that we'd have to place an order every time) from a choice a beef, lamb, fish and prawn - interesting! We're also given 2 rounds of either mata kuching or sirap bandung - the mata kuching was surprisingly yummy!


Well, compared to the buffet we had at Rahsia Bistro - this was 100% better. The only thing I despise was the loud music - and my darling told me - that is why this place is called Hard Rock Cafe honey - they play hard rock music - well, oklah perhaps I'm just getting old.


p/s
What I got for my anniversary gift this year?
A bouquet of a dozen white and red roses with 2 cute bears and an I LOVE YOU Balloon, a Superman toy, Smallville Season 5 Box Set and a Superman Documentary DVD... heheheh am I not loved? Thanks sayang.

What I gave my sayang for our anniversary this year?
A 4GB Memory Stick for some gadget my love has, a HRC KL T-shirt and The Dinner. Muahs!

Crappy! I don't know why the place was fully booked last week - I don't know why people even bother to go there. Ambiance wise, I could give a 6 - ok la dining in the outdoors (because I asked for a smoking seating) with crickets and frogs croaking, it makes the place rather fun and I was looking forward to the food - yes we arrived early, just hoping for something special for a pre anniversary dinner (yes it's our 5th anniversary today) but indeed we felt cheated, i'll tell you why.


For us, that was the first and the last we're there. Tonight it's Anniversary dinner at HRC.

Getting a decent place to break fast recently isn't easy. Although buffet prices rocketed 100% compared to last year, still getting a non-fully booked hotel or restaurant wasn't easy for me yesterday. Perhaps because everyone had had their salary these couple of days and their pockets are still full that everyone wants a share of luxury eating.

I was trying to get a place for 2 at Rahsia Bistro yesterday - fully booked, then at Santini KLCC, also fully booked. Tried Corus Hotel and Felda D'Saji, also fully booked. Getting tired of eating at Cozy House Ampang Park and other fast food outlets, we wanted to try something new. Finally we got a place at Grand Seasons Hotel for 58++ per person.

The buffet was held at the Ballroom during the month of Ramadhan. 58++ can be considered one of the cheapest this year with other hotels selling at nothing below 69++ - can you imagine Nikko's buffet is 95++ per person. Wah Lau Wei!

So we arrived at the hotel at 6:30, was shown our seats and we managed to walk around the buffet line planning what to take first and next and the next and the next heheheh. What made us laugh was some people started taking food as early as 6:30! And continued to do so until the call for Azan. By the time it is to buka puasa, can you imagine the number of plates that are on their tables? I was wowed at how some people could just be so tamak (greedy) - are they that hungry? I just asked myself, could they really finish the food they took?


finish - they will definitely be topped up or perhaps they are just too lazy to get up and walk once they've started eating - to me that's what bIt's a buffet, food will never run away, nor will ituffet is all about - you take what you want in small portions and return to the buffet line many times to try out other things - it is better than taking all at once as though you're really that hungry. I rather reserve my comments.

Buffet at Grand Seasons is not at all that bad. They had over 70 types of local and international dishes. I didn't manage to try all as my storage compartment was full that I felt like a pregnant lady by the time we left the hotel. But indeed it was fun - after all what matters most is being able to spend time and moments like this with a love one.

Last night was a special treat from someone who just got Raya bonus, hehehe I'm jealous dear! So I was given three choices; Victoria Station, Roadhouse Grill or Chilli's - I would prefer Chilli's for their generous portions and refillable drinks but knowing it was Sunday and Chilli's doesn't take reservations, I chose Victoria Station - I can say we're regulars here; we've had Valentine's Dinner here and a couple more visits where one of them was during Ramadhan last year.

Well, since I wasn't the one paying, I would usually wait for the paymaster to order, I wouldn't want to order something more expensive than the paymaster's. Ended up ordering one of the RM48+ steak heheheh. As usual, the food was superb, steak was tender and juicy and like last year we were served with a glass of bandung cincau, a plate of kurma and buah melaka as well as a place of lengkong (jelly). And whenever there, I wouldn't miss their Indonesian Oxtail soup. Yummy!

Thank you sayang - ahahah free food...