tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190549942012-01-14T13:26:34.480+08:00Dedicated to You.Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2111100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-62457742491776419382011-04-22T13:46:00.007+08:002011-04-22T14:54:55.343+08:00

Ingredients500gms large prawns (freshest you can find - if you can get live ones esp. tiger prawns, it's the best)3cm length ginger ) cut into fine strips2 tbsp goji berries2 dried mushroom ) soaked till soft and sliced thinly2 pieces wood ear ) soaked till soft and cut into fine strips2 slices dong quai (angelica sinensis) - reduce or omit if you do not want a herbal soup1 clove garlic (smashed)

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-77173807440788077152011-04-21T22:08:00.005+08:002011-04-21T23:28:27.492+08:00

This tart came up because I had leftover pastry, feta, cheddar and egg mixture from making spinach & feta quiche for a bake sale :) Had this tart in mind already when I was out at the bake sale and bought some white button mushrooms.So, the measurement of ingredients is approximate but I feel cooking should be fun and flexible to a certain extent. As some of you know, I improvise as I go along ~

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-12311763206429164432011-04-04T22:33:00.004+08:002011-04-04T23:01:51.388+08:00

On days I feel "lazy" to wait around the oven to check the correct doneness of chicken (totally cooked cos the sight of chicken blood makes our stomachs turn - yet still soft and juicy as opposed to all dried out), I CHEAT! The recent sweltering weather is the main reason why I don't really want to mess around the oven too much. Ingredients 4 chicken thighs - washed, dried with paper towels and

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-26837851677569210092011-04-01T00:16:00.004+08:002011-04-01T00:34:25.178+08:00

In my post on Braised Soya Sauce Chicken , I mentioned that the extra braising liquid can be kept to braise parts of the chicken. Here is a picture of the wings which I had braised in the leftover liquid yesterday. Today, I cooked some angel hair pasta to go with Tau Yew Bak. Surprisingly, the East meets West combo went really well. I have also added chilli flakes to the tau yew bak for an extra

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-15061930989763030142011-03-29T21:25:00.004+08:002011-03-29T21:54:50.378+08:00

2 minute steaks (about 160gms each) 2 cloves garlic - mincedblack pepper salt 2 shallots - sliced 2 tbsp dried cranberries 2 tbsp frozen and thawed cranberries 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1/2 cup chicken stock 1/2 cup red wine 1 tbsp butter 1. Season steaks with garlic, black pepper & salt. Sear the steaks on both sides till brown. Transfer to plate and keep warm covered with tin foil. 2. Turn off heat

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-44561267355895886952011-03-29T20:48:00.011+08:002011-03-29T21:18:21.766+08:00

Grilled Black Pepper Lamb with Leeks 2 lamb shoulder steaks 1 stalk leek (prefer Australian - remove the fibrous part, cut into 4 cm lengths and then cut half, lengthwise) 4 cloves garlic (minced) 2 tsp butterblack pepper sea salt 1. Season the lamb generously with freshly ground black pepper and garlic for 1/2 hour. Season with salt just before grilling. 2. Grill on pan till desired doneness

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-51306395986290209902011-03-07T23:01:00.010+08:002011-03-08T12:20:31.959+08:00

I have been craving soya sauce dishes these few days... what better way to satiate the craving than cooking them myself?Ingredients :1 whole chicken of about 1.2 kg approx. (halved if plan to chop into pieces or quartered if would like to serve as-is after cooking)4 tbsp thick soya sauce (I use Elephant Brand)4 tbsp light soya sauce (I use TST Brand/ or Pearl River Bridge)2 inches old ginger (

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-59022946441573882802011-03-04T16:10:00.008+08:002011-03-07T23:27:22.083+08:00

Below is "recipe" with 100% pork belly.In fact, I use "gut feel" when I cook and this dish is great as one does not have to be precise with the ingredients. Add more salt or soya sauce if want it to be saltier, use a wee bit rock sugar if want a sweetish taste, add more or less dark soya sauce depending on the shade you want.... :)Ingredients :600gms pork belly (with skin on) - I bought the ones

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-55043628535898478392009-02-03T22:40:00.005+08:002011-03-08T01:32:07.211+08:00

Ingredients :1 whole chicken about 1.5kg - cleaned and gutted (pat dry)1 whole lemon (poked throughout)Spice rub :1 tbspful salt1 tsp Italian seasoning1 tsp oregano1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper1 tsp paprika4 cloves garlic (finely chopped)Heat oven to 180 deg C.Mix spice rub ingredients together well. Rub all over chicken and remember to season the cavity as well. This can be done a few hours

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-74332713313174714012009-02-03T22:19:00.002+08:002009-02-03T22:32:32.690+08:00

Ingredients : 1 nectarine (remove stone and sliced as thin as possible)a handful of rocket leavesa handful of mixed salad leaves8 cherry tomatoes (sliced thinly)1 small red onion (peeled and quartered) Dressing (mied in a screwtop jar) :1 clove garlic (chopped finely)2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil1 tbsp balsamic vinegar1/2 tsp Dijon mustard1/2 tsp sugar or Maple syrupa pinch of saltdash of freshly

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-71689522956910363952008-11-08T19:06:00.004+08:002008-11-08T19:11:06.345+08:00

Saintly Carrot Walnut Cake... made Sinful with Cream Cheese Frosting Perfumed with Pure Vanilla... Chocolate Moist Cake... Slathered with Rich Chocolate Ganache... Death by Chocolate...

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-91779482379595668532008-10-04T22:24:00.003+08:002008-10-04T23:05:57.263+08:00

Please do not let these poor quality pictures fool you (it's from my phone camera which I hardly use ever, so settings a bit kaput). I left my camera at home. Bummer! This restaurant is simply amazing. SIMPLY AMAZING! No frills yet superbly done! Highly recommended!Checout this quaint and chic hotel and also its bar (try it if you are looking for something new than the usual Raffles Long Bar).

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-53491535115655195322008-10-04T21:21:00.004+08:002008-10-04T21:57:13.745+08:00

My brother bought us lunch over the Eid holiday - his birthday was the occasion. All 22 of us family members were treated to a huge spread at Bei Ping Restaurant! He picked the RM388/table set menu with an addition of Beijing roast duck (which was later changed to roast duck/yam dish at my suggestion - I regretted a bit as I went late and did not find out that there were already yam dishes in the

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-80799867931250567432008-10-04T20:44:00.003+08:002008-10-04T21:15:13.124+08:00

My boss who knows I like to buy macarons (what he doesn't know is that my hubby loves them!) egged me to visit Canele at Shaw Centre which is just a minute's walk from our regional office in Singapore. So, I did go after a scrumptious lunch at New Majestc hotel! (more of that later!) The 6-piece macaron box (SGD2.30 a piece of macaron - comparable price to that of La Duree - so, macarons are an

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-54317026392896603642008-09-21T19:47:00.010+08:002008-09-25T14:05:45.003+08:00

Just came back from a weekend stay downtown (my birthday!) - away from home, away from 3rd wheel, our pup (missed her a lot though). We had been so busy from before the wedding and wanted a bit of quiet time.Had Italian dinner last night - freshly shucked oysters with Veuve Clicquot, my fave creamy mushroom soup with a dash of truffle-infused oil, freshly-made tagliatelle with spicy huge shrimp

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-22072569465942094872008-09-19T22:40:00.003+08:002008-09-19T22:43:10.820+08:00

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-75580229136514916312008-09-04T23:19:00.009+08:002008-09-04T23:38:53.550+08:00

Two months after Barry appeared in Tatler (Malaysia) - July, here we are in the news thanks to Alexandra Wong, a writer friend who hooked us up with one of her friends Chow Ee-Tan :http://www.clovetwo.com/articles/story.asp?file=/2008/9/3/reallives/1891201&sec=reallivesI thought it was to be out in The Star (Clove) on 4th Sept but actually it was the 3rd. So, as I was driving to work on Wednesday

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-58680337831613172602008-08-22T23:37:00.006+08:002008-08-23T00:23:35.351+08:00

Barely a month after our wedding, I had to go back to work traveling....First stop Kaohsiung followed by Taipei before continuing my journey to Nara, Japan.I was craving dishes from this lil place in Laohsiung which serves everything cow - head to tail. Too bad, I was ill the moment I arrived Taiwan until I left Japan (so, many restos' name elduded me). Imagine fever, gastroenteritis and colitis

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-82121521539802689782008-08-09T19:13:00.003+08:002008-08-10T00:36:31.846+08:00

Along with the opening ceremony of Olympic Games in Beijing, news abuzz that many got married on this date : either the number combo looks great, or 8 being a lucky number esp. to Chinese or it's just to have an anniversary date which is easy (or easier) to remember.I am not superstitious but I do not pooh-pooh at the belief of some people AND I really have to share a part of an awesome

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-45096501455823394942008-08-02T01:43:00.001+08:002008-08-02T01:45:53.875+08:00

Our wedding ceremony : http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=137135&l=af8bb&id=780090246Our wedding portraits : http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=137259&l=22de4&id=780090246

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-85329676478114150312008-07-23T13:13:00.007+08:002008-08-04T17:44:54.636+08:00

Fiona Lim of Fifoto posted 28 of our pics from our wedding at Westin Resorts and Spa, Langkawi on her website. Do take a peek (the first 28 pictures are from our wedding) :http://www.fifoto.com/weddings/portfolio/beach/Over 110 friends and family celebrated our special day in Langkawi - we were very touched that we have so many people from all over the world so supportive of us to travel the

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-12749414755941800352008-07-19T15:25:00.018+08:002008-12-11T10:55:01.964+08:00

Barry and I have been married for a week today!Everything went smoothly; from pre-wedding photo shoot in Malacca on 08/06/08 to our civil ceremony on 08/07/08 and our destination wedding in Langkawi 12/07/08.Here are our pre-wedding photos. We had a lot of fun that day with lil Claudia, our poodle and the photographers. Many thanks to Caleb for helping us with Claudia.We had long decided on

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-54828598824816185112008-06-04T02:37:00.007+08:002008-12-11T10:55:02.585+08:00

I had a quiet dinner yesterday at Third Floor. Our table was the only one occupied when we arrived at 7pm. We were joined by a table of 8 person at Third Floor just as we were finishing dinner. Amuse bouche - savoury tart My pan seared foie gras with poached peach and balsamic (RM88) Lobster with spicy tagliatelle (RM168)I know this does not look too great here.. but it really is divine!! My

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-70513522531232895032008-06-04T02:07:00.006+08:002008-12-11T10:55:04.729+08:00

Elsa and Beth hosted "French Night" just last Sunday. Before, there had been a tapas night, Italian night and so on at their place.This time, I chose the starter and soup, Elsa made the main course and Beth went for the dessert.At Elsa's suggestion, I took up the challenge to make pissaladiere. After checking the recipes available, I decided to make 2 versions : one with thin crust pizza dough

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-78911684777500050912008-06-04T01:38:00.004+08:002008-12-11T10:55:07.470+08:00

In another part of the city, Supergroom was busy saving the day... Chilling the beer (thanks Mike Owen for the pic) Lighting up a cig (Pic from Mike Owen) Nuking dinners..... (Pic from mike Owen) Sidekicks.... The boys meet the girls at the end of the night...... Me with the boys (Pic from Stacy Koh) Group pic with almost everyone (Pic from Stacy Koh) Girls just wanna have fun (Pic from Stacy

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-674428089332620122008-06-04T01:07:00.007+08:002008-12-11T10:55:10.807+08:00

We went out for tapas at La Bodega to continue our girls' night out. I have always loved tapas esp. at La Bodega. this night was even more special for the time and efforts that everyone has put in.The Grub for hungry girls : Eggplant in a mild spicy sauce Button mushroom in a creamy garlic sauce Grilled salmon Sausages and potatoes in a sweet onion sauce Bruschetta and omelette (I think) Dian's

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-67411554563288186852008-05-28T11:47:00.010+08:002008-12-11T10:55:14.945+08:00

"Les Girls" threw a bachelorette for me the weekend we got back from Canada. Check out the crown jewel on my tiara and my name tag.... The spread by Elsa - blue cheese dip, baked brie wrapped in filo with dried cranberries, lotsa vegs and cheeses. Which game are we gonna play? They promised something clean, of course! See the excited girls before the game. Close your eyes and don't peek.... says

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-28373089756015158522008-04-16T05:57:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:55:16.964+08:00

The CARD!We have sent out a number of batches of invitation cards for our big, special day this week by post - I am so relieved! Just left a few to be handed out.Barry did a lot to come up with the design working with Adobe Illustrator- All I did was to say "Yes, Yes, No, No, Yes, No, Yes" at the appropriate moment while he was at the PC plus making the mock-up out of an old brown paper shopping

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-12664325517014252552008-03-26T19:53:00.000+08:002008-03-26T11:06:51.290+08:00

We have developed a habit of grocery shopping at night since Jusco opened up at Sunway Pyramid - takes just a few minutes to get there from home and best of all, less crowded.Last night, I went alone after dinner (it's a very therapeutic process for me walking up and down the aisle poking at stuffs, reading labels and expiry dates - can get a little bit of exercise while doing it). For me,

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-71342784884017236382008-03-24T22:08:00.005+08:002008-03-24T22:45:46.227+08:00

My plate is so full! Yup, that applies to life as well....Juggling an upcoming wedding, work (incl. work travels), purchase of new home, mom and family, my dog, friends etc. etc.I still eat... a lot... still take pictures of food... it's just that transferring the pictures from camera to pc is also too much work at the moment, let alone uploading them. Hee... lazy me...Some updates :1. I have

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-13057508266737106782008-02-25T22:13:00.005+08:002008-12-11T10:55:17.107+08:00

Sorry for the blurry pic - my hands were shaking.... it was an emotional moment ;opClaudia looking clean and poofy after her bath - daddy bathed and groomed her for the first time....One more thing to love about Barry.

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-26878958624589895972008-02-17T14:14:00.005+08:002008-12-11T10:55:17.389+08:00

We had lots of leftovers of wings from Valentine's Day. To make it less unhealthy, I piled some drummets onto a bed of baby romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber and peppers salad (drizzled with a mix of white wine vinegar, olive oil and Dijon mustard). Wings are easy to make : See recipe of my chicken wings here. This time, however, I added chopped cilipadi from my colleagues and

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-51219110059034355712008-02-16T16:49:00.007+08:002008-12-11T10:55:21.240+08:00

Les AmisIn January, I wrote about my experience at Les Amis for lunch. This time around, I had the opportunity to dine at Les Amis for dinner. (We were supposed to go to St. Pierre but it was closed for CNY - I nearly kicked myself for not thinking of Les Amis at Botanic Garden).Oh yeah, so much about being "proper" and not taking pictures - I did take this time, discreetly and without flash when

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-17329237771725390722008-02-14T23:14:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:55:21.931+08:00

It has been nearly 5 months since Barry and I got engaged! 5 months! And we managed to finalise the date and venue of our wedding.Now, we have just realised our post-engagement honeymoon is over and I am actually feeling a little bit frantic about the things to do! Invitations, dress for me and bridesmaid, decor, bouquets, PHOTOGRAPHERS, make-up, hair, food, drinks, tea set, accommodation for

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-43003482375371758702008-02-10T23:53:00.002+08:002008-12-11T10:55:24.264+08:00

We stayed at Grand Prince Akasaka this time while in Tokyo since it was recommended by our new Japanese colleague (mainly due to its close proximity to the office).I loved the traditional Japanese breakfast of rice gruel with pickles, teriyaki fish, umeboshi, salted fish roe, miso soup etc... I had this every morning alone at the Kioi restaurant (tucked in the basement) while my two Caucasian

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-4127376626854244942008-02-10T19:02:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:55:24.989+08:00

I made a cheesecake at the request of Sunny for our post-CNY BBQ dinner - instead of those plain or lemon cheesecakes I used to make, I made an Oreo one for a change this time. Recipe :3 packs of 150gms of Oreo chocolate and cookies (1 1/2 packs finely crushed in food processor; which is about 20 cookies)1/4 cup melted butter2/3 can of sweetened condensed milk (of 505 gms can) - already very much

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-47862645179083617012008-02-06T22:00:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:55:27.767+08:00

This year, we had our first ever reunion dinner at a restaurant. For the past years, we have had it at home - mom single-handedly cooked for about 25 people year in, year out.After our customary yee sang/yu sheng, this is what we had for appetiser. I went around taking pics of the kids in the family; hence, only 1 food pic. We had sharksfin soup, sang har meen (fresh prawn noodles), chicken

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-80473248696680201132008-02-03T15:52:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:55:31.962+08:00

Kuala Lumpur - Narita, JapanTwo Thumbs Up for food onboard JAL! Great presentation and taste. Japanese rice crackers and fermentd soya bean at take off at both flights - served with drinks of your choice - I had a champagne. Starter - did I say I loveeee conger eels? My Japanese breakfast.... loved the porridge and salted grilled cod roe and the umeboshi (sour plum)... I can be very Asian most

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-14590366417773035882008-02-03T15:21:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:55:32.271+08:00

I remember in those days of yore when we visited relatives and friends during Chinese New Year, my mom would pack some goodies like love letters, peanut cookies, pineapple tarts, candies, dried persimmons, melon seeds etc AND a few mandarin oranges (means "gold" in Chinese) as gifts.Packaging was nothing fancy, things were all stuffed in a plastic bag. Today, packaging has become as important as

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-64423599938677160722008-01-27T02:29:00.000+08:002008-01-27T02:32:04.057+08:00

I am so glad to finally complete my outstanding posts - yay!Will head for Japan tomorrow night for a week.... back for Chinese New Year (more food!) and then, it's Valentine's Day! and then..... stay tuned!

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-87678246023578901872008-01-27T01:43:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:55:33.077+08:00

Elsa, Beth and myself haven't hung out for awhile - the last we did was just before Christmas when they hosted a surprise engagement dinner for Barry and me.It was a fantastic Italian-themed dinner : boncoccini, tomatoes, basil appetiser, bread and dip, roasted vegetables, seafood risotto (yum!), Italian wedding soup (yum yum!). It was such a delicious dinner and out tummies were very happy. We

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-64183385823619550402008-01-27T01:16:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:55:34.297+08:00

The whole office went out for pre-CNY dinner last Friday - Lo hei is a must for us! Salmon yee sang Shrimps in some kind of gravy - fresh, plump big prawns. If you are a gravy over, you will likely like this. Some kind of veggies stirfried with garlic - with new cross-bred, modified vegs in the market, I find it harder and harder to recognise vegs especially leafy ones. This was delicious.Claypot

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-18837893540487438002008-01-26T16:43:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:55:37.437+08:00

We have just returned from a weekend getaway from Langkawi 2 weeks' ago. Apart from spending time with 11 friends, we managed to squeeze in some time to look at venues for our wedding (more about that once things are more firmed). I know, I know... was supposed to set up a website just for wedding preparation but I simply have not much time to document every detail.Me - Back to Tg. Rhu beach

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-33856447319672850252008-01-26T16:09:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:55:38.913+08:00

Regional meetings are always intense - preparation for possible questions, lots of numbers to churn out before the meeting, presentations to be made on market situation, performance, action plans, strategies, objectives, goals etc etc... But, time is also set aside for everyone to mingle and have some tete-a-tete.This time, we had our 2.5-day meeting at Hyatt Erawan Bangkok and as usual, lunch is

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-5334095993362849002008-01-26T11:29:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:55:40.882+08:00

My appetiser : 3 Sea Sampler $16- Tiger Prawn wrapped Parma Ham- Salmon Tataki- Crispy Tuna Avocado Paste Pumpkin Soup (soup of the day) - I wanted lobster bisque (Chef's special) but they ran out of it.... My 2nd appetiser : Pan-seared foie grasClassic Caesar Salad, Quail Egg, Garlic $8Crouton, Crispy Bacon & Parmesan CheeseAlaskan Crab Leg & Sea Scallop with Citrus $38Butter Sauce Sashimi

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-3363337833042068582008-01-26T11:04:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:55:41.672+08:00

Another restaurant which I was supposed to write last year....This place is for days when I do not have much appetite - they serve a lot of my comfort foods.There were 3 of us and we all started with and individual bowl of steamed cheicken soup (I think my love affair with soup started when I was still in liquid).Samsui chicken - Smooth and tender steamed chicken served with garlic/ginger dip

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-83701870442261410272008-01-26T10:45:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:55:43.680+08:00

I have dined at Banquet so many times but have not the time to blog about it until now. I guess there is no rush as many food bloggers have been writing about Banquet at BV2.Now, I have a problem - poor memory - For those times that I didn't take pics, I can't really recall what I have had before - I know there was a nasi lemak and some kind of a noodle soup and some salads and ALWAYS with

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-18668456365782029192008-01-26T09:59:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:55:44.808+08:00

Pineapples cookies and tarts are my favourite new year goodies among a few others.Barry and I were just walking around Sunway Pyramid mall after dinner last night when we scouted these lovelies - the tin packaging with illustration of girls in kebayas and a cute red paperbag makes it perfect as a gift for the festive season.No worries about freshness as these little jewels are nestled comfortably

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-38668450229711239642008-01-12T20:20:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:55:45.339+08:00

If you like potatoes and cheese, you would like this!4 to 6 Russet potatoes (about 1 kg) - boil in salt water with skin - remove skin after150 gms sharp Cheddar Cheese (I use Bega or Coon) - coarsely chopped10 chives - chopped finely1 yellow onion - chopped finely2 to 3 cloves garlic - chopped finely1 stalk parsley - chopped finely1 to 2 eggsa wee bit of salt (cos Cheddar is already salted)lots

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-38309012342566843112008-01-10T12:40:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:55:45.693+08:00

The last 2 days in Singapore seems to be more of a gastronomical journey than a work one - From lunch at Les Amis to dinner at Min Jiang at Goodwood Park Hotel to lunch the following day at Mezza9 at Grand Hyatt.... too bad no picturesAt Min Jiang, we had drunken chicken and fried whitebait for appetiser, sharksfin soup, fried cod with spicy soya sauce, stirfried asparagus with lobster, salted

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-5438873058492662452008-01-10T12:11:00.000+08:002008-01-10T13:53:57.896+08:00

I was totally surprised when my boss proposed lunch meeting just this last trip to Singapore - I thought it would be at the bistro at our office building but I was wrong! We went to the famed Les Amis situated at Shaw Centre (of which I had been salivating and drooling over for months.)Sorry, no pictures though as it would not be so proper to take snaphots at this establishment. We went for 3-

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-29955889588898188802008-01-05T02:06:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:55:46.112+08:00

One of our favourite salads - easy to prepare yet delicious. Inspired by a salad of roasted eggplant and rocket leaves I once had in a quaint restaurant in Fremantle.Ingredients :200gms pumpkin - 2 cm cubes200 gms aubergine (long) - sliced 1/2 cm thick50gms baby spinach1 red onion - quartered1 tomato - quartered5 large cloves garlic5 to 10 pcs of sundried tomatoes (cut to 1/2 cm strips)50 to

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-91608337620028396722008-01-03T22:59:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:55:50.247+08:00

We were invited to a new year's eve BBQ in Bangsar and Barry got his birthday cake at midnight. Barry surprised to see a cake for him. Barry's first birthday cake for 2008. It says "Happy Birthday Punk and Happy New Year" The bottle in his hand looks deceiving as he hardly drinks. Aaron popping the bottle of bubbly to herald in the new year and pouring it for everybody...HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BARRY!!On

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-11197636613650487402008-01-03T22:11:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:55:51.417+08:00

My pressies from B : Kitchen Aid mixer (I am so in love with this baby!). I also got a cocktail dress, a chocolate/cream sweater and pair of Roxy jeans. Basket on left from Shio (filled with beautifully-packed delicious roast almonds topped oat cookies which she baked). Basket on right was originally filled with a bottle of red wine and 2 boxes of cookies from Shio. I filled it with packages of

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-28994631625642000912008-01-02T23:22:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:55:56.650+08:00

We had our gala dinner at Clos de Vougeot in Beaune, FRANCE. In the bus to Chateau de Clos de Vougeot for the big dinner.... One of our meal courses being prepped... Entertainment for the night... all in French, of course!Traditional Burgundy entertainment.... Table setting pre-dinner... Wine, glorious wine of Clos de Vougeot... Me being served... Burgundy dishes' definitely very rich...

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-27183371801231472662008-01-02T21:00:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:01.622+08:00

Happy New Year! I know I have not been updating my blog.... my mom is undergoing radiotherapy (finish by end-Jan 2008) and chemotherapy (complete by June 2008). She is taking her condition pretty well and going to the hospital daily for her treatment without any fuss. It takes a strong person to want to be well.Will talk about Christmas and New Year later; below are some pics from my trip to

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-69691833532465554892007-12-03T20:27:00.000+08:002007-12-03T21:05:32.209+08:00

I haven't been blogging for a while..... a lot happened and a lot is still happening.... The Friday before I left for Paris/Beaune on 12th Nov, my mom had her biopsy. She had found a lump the size of a tiny red bean in her right breast just the weekend before and we immediately sent her in to be checked on the following Monday followed by the biopsy on Friday.Though worried, I tried to remain

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-14887480066504647312007-11-03T00:53:00.000+08:002007-11-03T01:34:22.569+08:00

Barry spotted a gorgeous sundress from Roxy while we were at the mall last weekend - I tried it on and it just fits so well. They didn't have it in my size for the colour I want but could transfer a piece from another outlet and I was to pick it up a couple of days later.Monday came. Tuesday flew by. Wednesday, Barry and I were to meet up some friends at night. I came home from work, made fresh

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-61385435056572859172007-10-28T12:40:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:02.616+08:00

Sunny and Irene suggested Prego at Westin Kuala Lumpur for dinner last night followed by a round or 2 of drinks at Club 21. My choice of appetiser - fresh scallops in their shells with rock salt - succulent and juicy! (RM39) One of their recommended hot appetiser for Barry - fried calamari rings with special tartare sauce - soft calamari covered with a light batter - not greasy at all. And the

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-62736542525354684732007-10-27T02:36:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:06.501+08:00

We just came back from a spooktacular fun Halloween party organised by Marc-Andre, Chris and Michelle. Barry and I went as Plug and Socket - Barry's trying to connect... Hey, it fits both ways! The hosts : Michelle (Gypsy) and Chris (Pharaoh - King Tutankuarrie) - Thanks for the great partayyy - I loved the hot wings served! Tim and Marc-Andre (also the host) as 70s's ping-pong players. Check

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-68325225678864644722007-10-25T19:43:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:07.049+08:00

We had a lovely dinner of potato gnocchi with hearty beef ragout with sliced button mushrooms and fresh spinach.When the beef ragout has reached a simmering point, stir in sliced button musnrooms. Turn off heat.Place spinach on top of the warm gnocchi and spoon the ragout over. Enjoy!

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-20631386579880130172007-10-23T21:48:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:07.394+08:00

I made a beefy ragout in advance last night knowing that I had to rush out earlier today to view an apartment.My nephew (previously a non-beef-eater-now-a-convert) rated it a 9 while Barry gave it 9 1/2...10; 0 being inedible and 10 being PERFECT!Here is my recipe (I eyeballed the quantity actually) :HEARTY BEEF RAGOUT300gms beef chuck cubes1 yellow onion (peeled and diced)1 tsp sugar100gms

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-27078149901612729772007-10-21T00:29:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:09.302+08:00

May told me about the October lobster set meal promo at Miyako Japanese Restaurant at RM88++ per person (2nd person eats for free with Starwood card). May is so good with info of all that is happening in the F & B arena. I called up Sunny and Irene to arrange for dinner because they too have the Starwood card.We went on Thursday because the lobster set dinner promo is only available from Monday

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-6439791534404311852007-10-21T00:07:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:10.073+08:00

As mentioned in last post on Din Tai Fung that I would get there asap, I did! Went alone to check out the "quality" before inviting others. So far, I have only been to the one in Taipei.Though I was early (about 12.15pm, I had to wait still, for about 20 mins). Thankfully, they have chairs and tables outside for people to sit and peruse their menu while waiting.The main problem about trying

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-27571333201226773432007-10-20T23:01:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:11.434+08:00

Arrived Suvarnabhumi Airport on 9th Oct just in time for dinner. Since I was to leave by 8.30am the next day to Rayong, I stayed at Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel. It is definitely one of the better Novotel hotels I've stayed in - it's also very new. Free 24-hour shuttle bus every 10minutes from the terminal's Gate 4 Arrival Level (Level 2).I had dinner with my colleague at one of their

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-86515585304698719162007-10-07T22:49:00.000+08:002007-10-07T22:54:55.283+08:00

Tummy is so full from the excellent Thanksgiving dinner at Janice and Aaron's place - BBQ chicken, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes (with cream cheese! yum!), pumpkin soup, corn kernels, beans, salads, chocolate cake, chocolate chip cookies.... we over-ate..... pigs r us!I give thanks to God for great families, Barry, my dog Claudia, friends, good health, amazing job and a whole lot of

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-27124322742281658612007-10-06T12:10:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:11.588+08:00

Din Tai Fung from Taiwan is here, finally! If you love xiau loong baos and soups, this is the place to be. No need to go down to Singapore and queue for a morsel of dumpling.Will surely get there asap!

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-47547146480664754992007-10-06T11:28:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:14.366+08:00

Hairy crab season is here!!! Scored huge while I was in Singapore earlier this week for meetings - the boss took us out for hairy crab lunch (would have a fne meal at the newly-renovated Les Amis@Shaw Centre if client hadn't cancelled dinner appointment!). Bird's nest and sharksfin soup Hairy crab spring rolls See the crab roe? Hairy crab dumpling (xiao loong bao) Chicken thigh meat with black

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-75055306706478290332007-10-06T10:29:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:15.104+08:00

Upon my return from holiday, 6 of us in the company who weren't traveling went for lunch at Reunion at Bangsar Village II for my recent engagement.I would put quite high marks for ambience - decor is very simple (simplicity is an art) yet classy chic and cosy. Lighting is excellent - one ceiling light for each table which shines exactly at the middle where the dishes are placed - so, no hot light

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-32209769156105893672007-09-29T23:46:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:16.133+08:00

We were hungry at about 5pm and since Laduree was just ahead of us, we stopped by to have afternoon tea. The queue to purchase their famous confectionery for take-away went all the way to the street and people kept coming and coming and coming.... Many took pics at the front of shop too!If you are going to dine-in, make sure you push your way through the queuing crowd at the entrance and into the

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-23265159716957782622007-09-29T23:00:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:16.942+08:00

Cheesy picture just for the Parisien feel..... been there many times.We spent quite a bit of time at Opera and Madeleine area because I had a couple of stuffs to get.For lunch, Irene wanted Chinese, I said no and we had Lebanese instead at Noura.29, Boulevard des Italiens75002 ParisTel : +33 1 53 43 00 53 - Fax : +33 1 53 43 83 53 My choice of mixed grill Tabbouleh - so refreshing after the near

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-50041895898741969512007-09-29T21:22:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:19.697+08:00

Le Creusot is also another work, work, work place. Lunch was at :CAFE RESTAURANT LA GRIMPETTE38 RUE JULES GUESDE71200 LE CREUSOTTel: +33 3 85 80 42 00No pictures as we had some important customers from Korea seated at the next table with the Commercial Director while I was seated just next to the COO.Anyway, during dinner in Beaune, I was still seated at the same table as the COO but he loosened

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-43456025784397776762007-09-29T17:06:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:20.709+08:00

Charleroi means work and meetings but food is great here though and most of my Belgian colleagues are a delightful lot.Lunch at Le Trois Petits Bouchons, a small but charming little place. Since there were about 8 of us, arrangements were made in advance for set meals which were excellent!Cured Mackerel and Couscous Tower - surprisingly I liked this dish - extremely flavourful without the

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-85509455371087905862007-09-29T16:17:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:21.748+08:00

The post on my trip to Europe is long due.....I didn't take pictures of food onboard as it was midnight flight and I fell asleep as soon as the plane took off - didn't even eat a stick of my favourite satay! I smiled sheepishly at the air stewardess when she said "Ms Lim, you slept like a baby." on waking up. I do wonder sometimes if I snore... I will start with Brussels. We left for Brussels as

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-48119340485690658702007-09-24T22:53:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:22.153+08:00

Barry proposed on 20th Sept 2007 (my birthday), I said YES and we are now engaged. I am still very much above cloud 9..... it was a great surprise and it was perfect!More details later!!P/S : So many events to blog about and so little time!!!

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-31606200465256540252007-09-10T23:33:00.000+08:002007-09-10T23:35:57.032+08:00

In Paris/Bruxelles/Beaune - back 17 Sept 2007.

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-23919420091212950202007-08-31T11:55:00.000+08:002007-08-31T12:15:45.836+08:00

Mike, who lives in the same complex as us organised a little get-together at his place to celebrate Malaysia's 50th Merdeka Day (Independence Day). Like last year at Elsa's, we also watched Sunway Lagoon fireworks from his place.I made cold tomato dip for veggie sticks and also fish keropok, homemade burger patties with fried onions. Not exactly Malaysian dishes but then again, we have people

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-71379931369854600432007-08-26T23:11:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:24.903+08:00

I dragged Barry up by 7.45am today for dim sum breakfast - we actually declined an invite to see midnight show Rogue Assassin (Chris Rollo, one of Barry's buds in Vancouver is in it - I have been joking with Barry to have Chris get Jason Statham to sign my autograph) last night to wake up early for this after reading the King Crab Restaurant dim sum review of Masak-masak . Her pictures of avocado

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-87612371185562983542007-08-26T01:12:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:26.361+08:00

OK, I have to admit that my sense of direction is not that sharp - it always takes me 2 to 3 (sometimes more) times longer to get to a place because I get lost ever so often.Hence, it is always a welcome when friends offer to give a ride to food places which are new to me.We just came back from quite a reasonably-priced seafood restaurant - Sin Kee in Batu Caves. I have been to Batu Caves area

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-50478092889310465282007-08-26T00:42:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:26.573+08:00

I always marvel at how selective my brain can be in making my wishes come true.... for instance, food that I crave always seem to appear but not other stuffs....Ha. Am not complaining either.I was rushing for work last Friday morning, so no brekkie. As I was driving, my imagination did get wild - of a different sort though. I was thinking of a bowl of steaming hot porridge with my favourites like

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-58675353835403220492007-08-25T18:01:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:30.545+08:00

After the fun and enjoyment of last cooking class at EEST, Westin KL, May and I went for an Italian kitchen experience at Prego.We really had a great time with Chef Rajesh Kanna - again, it was very hands on and he gave lots of tips. Best of all, class is small so it was very personal and we get to know people who also love food! They were generous enough to offer us a cuppa of our choice and

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-28441502180711747002007-08-20T23:47:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:30.951+08:00

Yesterday, the great party guru, Elsa and her roomie Beth (who is also my swimming instructress) along with Tim and Sai hosted chilli night.Tim made a huge cauldron of meaty beef chilli while Elsa made a refined vegetarian version with bulgur wheat.Both version were great - the long hours of simmering brought out the natural sweetness of beans and vegs. Barry had four servings while I had two! We

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-68428607010727606122007-08-11T17:32:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:31.637+08:00

Lotsa BBQ-ed stuffs since the gas BBQ came... wings, ribs, potatoes, burgers, sausages... so much for telling Barry that I won't really use it... Ha! Ratatouille...just because of the movie... There is a step to it.. I followed this recipe : onions go into the pot first followed by garlic, bell pepper strips, tomatoes, Provencal herbs, pepper, aubergine and lastly zucchini. Et voila! Ratatouille

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-78953023818405675602007-08-11T16:19:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:32.008+08:00

I made these for the guys' poker night last week - I always put myself in the guests' shoes in the sense that I would love to have a wide selection of drinks and also little nibbles. Yeah, eat, drink and merry!I have already made chocolate chip cookies and wanted something savoury and cheese-y that would go well with beer. I came across this recipe from BellaOnline.My modified version below :

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-40639383168076033362007-07-30T21:14:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:33.335+08:00

Did quite a bit past weeks but haven't loaded up the pics yet.. Here's a glimpse of some stuffs I did... Isthmus re-visited. My favourite Penang"Or nee" (yam paste) pastry - from Kim New Harvest Restaurant re-visited - 2nd sis bought me lunch! My holiday in Langkawi - sunburnt (ouch!) and now peeling (eeew!)Thanks to mom who bought me 7 pieces of pork ribs the length of 1/2 my arm each, I made

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-7077679839668949092007-07-14T17:34:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:36.046+08:00

I went for a cooking lesson at EEST, Westin KL today with May. May texted me excitedly about this event yesterday and when I found out about the price and less 50% some more, I said yes straight-away (finally, courtesy of May, I didn't have to pay a single cent - very paiseh lor...)We were given the recipes of the 3 dishes we learnt, an apron and a certificate as part of the course package.There

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-73033295993947138722007-06-23T17:01:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:36.870+08:00

Phew! Weekend at last!I have been busy (what's new?)... from preparing my presentation for pre-budget meeting in Bintan, traveling to Singapore and Bintan, meeting up friends from uni who were back from Beijing for a short bit, spending time with mom, bros, sistas, nieces and nephews, spending time with Barry and Claudia (will update some stuffs on our plans later), catching up with girlfriend

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-6338768191179627802007-06-16T00:02:00.000+08:002007-06-16T00:16:11.423+08:00

Too much eating out makes me crave Asian-style home-cooked meals...Some of the comfort stuffs I made this week are :1. Hairy Gourd with Yong Tow Foo soup2. Okra Stirfried with Bird's Eye Chilli and Dried Anchovies3. Stirfried Broccoli with Pork SlicesWill try to post some pics the next time I cook any of these.

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-11967424229275433322007-06-15T21:26:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:39.054+08:00

Today was the last day of Oil and Gas Asia 2007 (OGA 2007) Exhibition at KL Convention Centre and I managed to squeeze in some time to visit. I also made plans to meet up with 3 major clients for lunch. We went to Pacifica Grill, Mandarin Oriental Hotel which was just next door to KL Convention Centre.We were given complimentary signature bread - warm and crisp-on-the-outside multi-grain bread.

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-60492197689473470032007-06-14T20:26:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:41.109+08:00

California Roll (RM14.00) - avocado was creamy as it should be and the rolls were fine. Dynamite Roll (RM22.00) - slightly spicy with fresh tuna and some crispy fried tempura batter chips to add some crunch to the rolls.Salmon Zukushi (RM38.00) - salmon sashimi, salmon belly sashimi and salmon roe (ikura) - kinda difficult to eat the roe on its own without rice as salmon roe are salty. The

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-17493948723120061492007-06-14T14:25:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:41.443+08:00

Koo Kuih are turtle/tortoise shaped Chinese/Nyonya confectionary. They come in green, red, yellow, pink or even black colour skins. Those in red are usually given out to friends and relatives during a baby's full moon (1 month old) along with hard boiled eggs which are dyed red.There are a few recipes online but I am putting a link to this recipe. See some pictures here.The filling can be of

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-68051212475752598632007-06-10T15:11:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:42.449+08:00

The last time we went out with beautiful and very nice couple, Sunny & Irene was in February this year. Man, that was long!So, we finally went out for makan last night at Max! Kitchen and Wines - it was a nightmare going through the traffic in KL esp. on Saturday night - it took us over an hour from Bangsar to Tengkat Tong Shin!THANKFULLY, we had their complimentary warm bread (with olive oil

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-31936714270554017952007-06-08T23:49:00.001+08:002008-12-11T10:56:43.404+08:00

I have been craving durian products. I just had Durian Bavarois from Isthmus last Wednesday and earlier this week, I placed an order for a Durian Chocolate Cake from Just Heavenly. A whole 9 inch cake! Sigh, food cravings make me do weird things.My first experience with cakes from Just Heavenly was last year at Barry's clinic's first birthday bash. It was so delicious and as far as I know,

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-69135114035263904332007-06-06T22:00:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:45.137+08:00

A few months back, I made my first attempt to dine at Isthmus, Kuala Lumpur. But as luck would have it, we couldn't make it. Since then, lots of things happened and the idea of having a meal at Isthmus was shelved until today.Anyway, to cut the long story short, I made reservation for dinner today and was I glad I finally did! The ambience was great, tasteful decor and excellent service. We were

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-49703811751129904222007-06-03T22:16:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:46.972+08:00

I popped into Christy's office last Friday at lunch time and we hopped over, across the street, to Xin Cuisine Restaurant at Concorde Hotel for dim sum. I haven't had dim sum in ages!Normally, I would have them at Eden Restaurant, KL International Airport just before my flights but recently I had been taking early morning flights and there simply wasn't enough time to even swallow some slippery

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-17941085135119696272007-06-03T20:22:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:51.113+08:00

Barry loves bagels and they are hard to come by here - we usually get frozen ones from Village Grocer at the non-halal section or fresh ones from Hiestand (usually with sesame and poppy seeds which fall all over the place when we take a bite out of it).Now, never have I dreamed of baking breads - the thought of yeast and careful kneading scares me. But, after reading this well-written post with

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-20596850920107335672007-06-03T20:21:00.001+08:002008-12-11T10:56:53.532+08:00

Since I saw a temple the day before, I thought visitng a castle would be nice - initially, it was a very hard decision between Sanjusangendo and Nijo Castle.I took the subway from Kyoto Station to Nijo Station and walked about 20 minutes (it was terribly hot and humid!)It was nice to see gingko trees lining some parts of the street towards Nijo Castle.People, people, people everywhere - taking

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-44897277401651182802007-06-02T19:08:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:56:57.106+08:00

After Kiyomizu-dera, I took like a 20 minutes stroll to Gion, Kyoto's traditional entertainment district - it's in Central Kyoto and this is where one can see the old and new knitted very intricately together.I managed to catch a glimpse of maiko (young geisha) and geishas going to work in the evening while in Gion - mind you, it was hard to get a proper pic of them as they scurried off like

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-28292621171464737212007-06-02T18:36:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:57:02.546+08:00

I arrived Kyoto late in the afternoon of Wednesday from Tokyo by Shinkansen Tokaido Line and had to leave by noon the very next day by Kintetsu train to Nara. After the meeting at Nara, I returned to Kyoto Station where Hotel Granvia is to collect my luggage.From there on, I took the Shinkansen Sanyo Line to Shin Osaka where I stayed till Saturday. So, there wasn't really enough time at all to

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19054994.post-61909394379078280092007-06-02T16:15:00.000+08:002008-12-11T10:57:09.904+08:00

I know I can be picky.... especially when it comes to salt in my cooking...Salt is such an amazing thing! Though I use it sparingly, I can't imagine life without it. It intensifies natural flavours even in sweets like cakes and cookies. In addition, what would I do without those salt preserved goodies like salted fish, vegetables and eggs?It has a host of other functions in food industry as

Diary of Kay Elnoreply@blogger.com0