Monday, June 9, 2008

Who's the Chef?

After having a sumptous meal at a restaurant, have you ever wondered about the chef who prepared the dishes with such exquisite touches that you just cannot resist ?

This site gives you a sneak peak of the chefs behind the kitchen of some fine dining restaurants -- http://www.visionkl.com/2007-11/today3.asp

Among the restaurants in hotels that are featured on this site are:

Avanti Italian-American Ristorante @ Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa
Bossa Nova @ Parkroyal KL
Chalet @ Hotel Equatorial KL
Chynna@ Hilton KL
The Emperor @ Sheraton Subang Hotel and Towers
Genji Japanese Restaurant @ Hilton PJ Hotel
GOBO Upstairs Lounge and Grill @ Traders Hotel
Iketeru @ Hilton KL
ISHQ @ Crowne Plaza Mutiara KL
KURA @ One World Hotel
Lafite @ Shangri-La Hotel KL
Lai Po Heen @ Mandarin Oriental KL
MED. @Marchehé @ Renaissance KL Hotel
Ming Ren @ Highlands Hotel, Pahang
The Olive @ Genting Hotel, Pahang
Pacifica Grill & Bar @ Mandarin Oriental KL
QBA Lating Grill @ Westin KL
Qing Zhen @ Novotel Hydro Majestic KL
Sagar @ Hotel Istana KL
Senses @ Hilton KL
Tai Zi Heen @ Prince Hotel & Residence KL
Tuscany Italian Restaurant @ Putrajaya Marriott Hotel, Putrajaya
West Lake Garden @ Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa, Sunway
Zuan Yuan @ One World Hotel, PJ

Other mentioned independent restaurants are:

China Treasures @ Sime Darby Convention Centre, KL
The Dining Room @ La Bodega, Bangsar
Enak KL @ Starhill Gallery, KL
IL TEMPIO @ Taman Tun Abdul Razak, Ampang
Le Français @ One Bangsar
Tamarind Spings, Taman Tun Abdul Razak, Ampang

Monday, June 2, 2008

Cool Retreat to the Highlands (3) - Where To Eat

We always want a good meal during our vacation don't we, but you just never get lucky at times.

Hope the following reviews on restaurants around Cameron help you decide where you should have your next meal:

Food @ Brinchang

1. Golden Wing Restaurant (corner shop of the row behind the main road, from Tanah Rata direction, turn left at the end of the row of shops along the main road)
==> Steamboat, Chinese food

An elderly Singaporean who frequents this place every time he's in Cameron highly recommends this restaurant for its steamboat. Apparently, it has the best soup and steamboat.

Assam fish is a MUST try**!

We were really eager to try this restaurant, but unfortunately we missed it because its usually closed 2-3 days right after the holiday season.

Tip: 20% discount for phone reservations.
Contact: 012-5176223, 019-5556223


2. You Hoo Restaurant (next to Chop Joo Seng Mini Market)
==> Steamboat, Chinese dishes

This restaurant was packed on the last day we were there. Worth trying.


3. Restaurant Highland (behind Yoo Hoo)
- Steamboat, Chinese dishes

The history of this restaurant was rather vague but it seems the restaurant closed down for some time and is now re-opened in Brinchang. Apparently, it used to be the best steamboat restaurant in Cameron Highland and its the only shop that uses charcoal for the steamboat.

Rather quiet place, probably because of its location. Tourists would not even realize there's a restaurant behind the row of shops.

Fried rice is MUST try though**


4. Restaurant Cameron Highland (next to Yoo Hoo)
==> Steamboat, chinese dishes

We tried the steamboat here and the soup was tasteless. Besides the food portion was too little so a definite no-go for steamboat.

The chinese dishes looks promising though. But unless I'm staying in Cameron for weeks, I probably will not visit it again very soon.

Not recommended.


5. Jew May Yen
==> Steamboat, chinese dishes
One review recommends the Taufoo, Hong Mei Pork Ribs, Curry Fish Head

Contact: 05-4914020


6. Silver Star
==> Steamboat, others, there might be some western dishes too

A tourist trap warned by many for its expensive dishes.

However during our stay there, this restaurant appear to be only one that's mostly packed.

Will you take your chance on this? :-)


7. Hong Kong
==> Organic steamboat
Slightly more expensive than the other steamboats at ~USD6(MYR18)/person

No recommendations available.


8. Restaurant Kwan Kee
==> Steamboat, chinese dishes, seafood

No recommendations available.


9. O.K. Tuck
==> Steamboat, Chinese dishes

We tried several dishes, which was really just mediocre.


10. Restaurant Fong Lum
==> Steamboat, chinese dishes, seafood

One of the most brightly lit restaurant in Brinchang.
No recommendations available.


11. Palm Leaf (opposite Public Bank)
==> Thai food, fried rice


12. Raju's Strawberry farm (opposite Equatorial)
==> Milk shake, ice-cream, waffles, scones

Contact: 05-4914649
Address: F-12 Green low, Kea Farm


13. Ferm Nyonya - No recommendations available.
14. Hotel Kowloon - No recommendations available.
15. Country Lodge - No recommendations available.
16. Restaurant Sri Sentosa - No recommendations available.



Food @ Tanah Rata

1. T-Cafe
==> Apple pie, scones, breakfast
Highly recommended by many, this is one of the best rated cafe in Cameron Highland.

Contact: 05-4914018 / 019-5722883
Address: 4, 1st Floor, Main Road


2. Mayflower (opposite Regal / Kurnia Bistari bus station)
==> Steamboat


3. Yong Teng (row of stalls opposite Maybank)
==> Pancake, chicken chop, fried mee, nasi lemak
This stall is operated by a mute couple. You make your orders writing on a piece of paper.

They have the regular Malaysian breakfast menu and the price is very economical. Its not all that great a food but decent enough to fill your tummy, though their service was rather slow.

There was no one else around when we order a nasi lemak, chee cheong fun and a pancake but it still took them quite some time to prepare.


4. Bunga Suria Restaurant
==> Indian banana leaf



Other food places @ Cameron

1. Pepper fried fish, steamed mushroom @ a restaurant in Tringkap
2. Western breakfast @ Bala Chalet (very $$$)
3. Summer Palace (very $$$)
4. Roast Chicken, schnitzel @ Lutheran Mission
5. Cameron Valley (5 minutes before Tanah Rata from Tapah)
6. Western @ Smokehouse (very $$$)


OVERALL TIPS:
a. Average cost of Steamboat in Cameron,
- Clear soup ~USD4 (MYR12-14)/person
- Combination soup (two flavours) ~USD9 (MYR28-30)/person
b. Seafood would be expensive in Cameron


Please do share your comments on the food if you've been to these restaurants. Thank you.


See also:
Cool Retreat to the Highlands (1)
Cool Retreat to the Highlands (2) - Accomodation
From Highlands to the East