WITH ANNIE & CO. @ PENANG SEAFOOD, JALAN ONG KEE HUI, KUCHING

This is my cheap, humble reciprocal meal for the one Annie and Nate gave the night before; right after dinner I quickly drove here as it was about to close, and made a reservation, which wasn't necessary, but more importantly to pre-order the dishes so that the chef could purchase the ingredients the next day as some of items are not on its regular menu.

I've written enough times on this place to exhaust all of its in-house specialties. What else can I possibly squeeze out of the rock?

LPPL MOMENT

"I'M NOT BROKE, I JUST RUN OUT OF MONEY..."
Famous Last Word Before Declared A Bankrupt

WITH ANNIE & CO. @ ROCK ROAD SEAFOOD, JALAN ROCK, KUCHING

Annie's classmate from Germany drops by for the weekend. I have the task of being the tour guide in the morning... more of a bird's nest guide to be exact, with 4 shops checked out.

Annie & Nate have made prior arrangement to have dinner at this place. This is their first visit. By the time we arrive, Nate is already busy snapping away at the live sea creatures in the aquariums. And most of the food have been ordered. Photo left is a composite of a table having too many food bloggers at one go!

We are the early birds and there are still a lot of parking spaces right up its front door. And there are only 3 to 4 reservations for the night. The first thought that comes to mind: It must be a slow night! But we are proved wrong...

LIM-TEH @ TEA ROOM, JALAN SIE POI KHENG, SIBU

All the food posted here are a combination of 2 visits; I ate on the 1st. visit, but not the second, although both times are after dinner elsewhere. Like its name says this is very much a hang-out place for a cuppa, plus something on the sly when you have a craving for something to bite into, beside the person of endearment sitting beside you.

This place is located on an old housing strip, and the block it's in is served as warehouses of sorts. It's been ages since I last passed through this road and the last time it was on a bicycle. In case one doesn't know, this is the road beside the Y.M.C.A.

Grilled Thai Chicken

From the look of the place on first impression at night, it looks inviting with its alfresco seating and all. And on the inside, with its Psychedelic lighting, rustic furniture and what-have-not, it certainly kinda puts you in the groove. And when you're on a trip, you might try on the leotards or wonder-bras (colorful hues on the left of top photo) near its entrance. ???!!! you might ask! They are for the yoga classes on the floor above. Even its floor-pebbled toilet is dressed to the nines.

Tiramisu

We're almost half-way through, and I haven't said anything about it food for a food blog. Truth be told, they are nothing to shout about. There is a long list of cakes on its menu, however, only one is available that night. That's the Tiramisu we order, and it's not like any Tiramisu I've ever tasted... a bitter after taste. Phoowei!!!

The so-called Thai chicken is no more than a thin slab of grilled chicken breast with fries and coleslaw. I'll leave it to your imagination.

The other 2 items are ordered by Jay and Wil. According to the words of Mary through Jay, it's pretty bad. And Wil? (meekly) ok lo... and added it's one of the cheapest in town. With that being the operative word, I conclude...

The only consolation is that the prices are affordable to make repeated 'come-backs'. So you'll see more of us back here again, and again. There's a hint of familiarity of someone behind the bar counter... what's the name again?

Tom-Yam Noodle

Chicken Salad

DINNER @ MING MEI SHI SEAFOOD RESTAURANT, 11 LRG. CHEW SIIK HIONG 1A, SIBU

Fried/Steamed Soon Hock: Here's Lookin' At You, Kid

I guess this is the result of the rumor that had been swirling around town about Blue Splendor closing down. One of the chefs left that restaurant and opens this one, right behind Rejang Medical Centre. It doesn't have the trappings of its former place of employment. But the food is not quite dissimilar, and what it lacks in the little details of food presentation, it more than makes up for it in its prices. With the town's mantra of: U-Pien-Nee, U-Ho-Liak (ask a Foochow for translation), this setup seems to hit all the right spot; you just can't ask for anything more!

GHIM ENG'S PANG MIEN @ KOPITIAM FANTASY, LRG. CHEW SIIK HIONG 1, SIBU

While we were at Tung Lok Corner having shrimp noodle, we bumped into Ghim Eng, the wandering Sambal Koay-Teow lady. When last reported, she was no longer at the Lady Cafe; that might have been her sixth coffee shop she worked in. She told us of her new location, and a new noodle she's doing, available on Thursday and Friday.

So the next day, I found the new place without much difficulty; the coffee shop is at the back portion of the Rejang Medical Centre, facing the end bit of Tiong Hua Road, if I'm not mistaken. The Pang Mein was what I came for, and it was the only thing I ordered beside the Kopi-'O' Peng.

I had the noodle with soup (top photo), the other 'dry' noodle is someone else's on the prep. table before it was delivered. The clear soup was rather bland although the fried anchovies in some degree did help improve its taste; but it's not the same as if the anchovies had been simmered long to add its essence to the soup. Strips of omelette, fried minced pork and Mani-Chai shreds lent color and flavor to the noodle.

Anyway the noodle was the star of the dish. This egg noodle was made from scratch: rolled out and cut before being cooked, thus retaining its moisture and tactility. It was smooth in texture and supple in its feel. It just swooshed into the mouth and down the throat with ease.

WIL'S LUNCH @ SI ZIĀ XIAO CHI, LRG. PAHLAWAN 7B1, SIBU

This is the last of the bus stop trilogy, with the last 2 entries being in the vicinity of the Pahlawan bus terminal. I've blogged on this place on the last couple of visits. This time its to meet Wil for lunch after his Saturday's half day in the office. Well, I already have had my lunch so I'm just having the drinks plus a little of tidbits.

As this place does a little bit of baking, I just pick a few samples from the display case. From the hidden Mickey, there's a Korean kinda bun, a Chinese bun and an egg tart. They are okay if you're not finicky. That's my coffee blended smoothie on the left.

The big man has the Thai Maryland with rice. From the looks of it, it's breaded and fried crisply, and then chopped into bite pieces. The whole deal came to RM13, inclusive of 3 drinks.

LIM-TEH @ TERMINAL 5, 1st. FLR., LORONG PAHLAWAN 7B1, SIBU

This non-alcoholic watering hole is within the same stretch as the shrimp noodle coffee shop. I say non-alcoholic, but I could be mistaken, 'cos the 2 old chaps at the next table have a plastic bag of cans of beer beside their jug of hot tea. I don't think they have a B.Y.O. policy, so I'm guessing they are probably the "Boss" of the boss. This place serves some kind of food as well, but we aren't having any.

Anyway, we are here on our second stop of the evening after having dinner elsewhere. We are joined by Alex and Mary, the couple who have just returned the previous night with lots of honey from the moon...

SEAFOOD NOODLE @ TUNG LOK CORNER, LORONG PAHLAWAN 7, SIBU

You may have read past review the shrimp noodle of this back kitchenette; it has its origin next to the Sibu's MAS office at Jln. Tunku Osman, and latter at MAS corner near the Paramount Hotel. Now it's at the corner unit opposite the Sibu's bus terminal. I may not recognize the chef, but the person to look out for is the lady pictured left (composite photo). She represents the face of this "famous" shrimp noodle eatery; the inverted comas has a connotation that is best reserved for someone with less notoriety... (explicit language ahead!)

SACRED HEART OLD BOYS DINNER 2010 @ REGALIA BALLROOM, KINGWOOD HOTEL, SIBU

My brother informed me that we were invited by Don Zuan to Sacred Heart Old Boys' Dinner on Sunday. Due to prior engagement, my brother had to forgo this dinner. Instead I found his impersonator in the form of Wil.; let's just say, he fitted the profile.

At the party I met Philip Hii (Rubberseeds), who is now attached to The Star newspaper (Sarawak Edition). He provided me with the above photo of Sibu and Kuching Chapters' president, the present headmaster and few Chai-Taus (Turnip heads) cutting the cake. Incidentally, the headmaster was Wil's former disciplinary teacher in Sarikei.

WANG MAY LING'S BIRTHDAY @ REJANG BALLROOM, TAHNAMAS HOTEL, SIBU

This is my teacher's, Chen Rei Lin (left) of Chung Hua Middle School, wife 70th Birthday dinner. Both of them are avid photographers, calligraphers and parents to 4 boys, and a bunch of grand children; all of whom, take to the stage to entertain the guests, comprising of colleagues and former students. The evening is most remembered for the shows and oratorical praises the children, grand children and former students present. There's even a Chinese song done in Foochow by a family friend, who has flown all the way from Australia. Mr. Chen is one of the few expart. Chinese who taught in Chung Hua School.

DESSERT @ YOUNG SU'S ICE CREAM, JALAN SONG, KUCHING

We've driven past this Korean ice cream place almost once a week, but have never gone near it. Talk about this Jalan Song's food spots, it's been ages since I last ate the vicinity. It's no longer favor of the month, due to lack of parking spaces and what not! Premier 101 has somehow superseded it as the night eateries spot of choice.

On this occasion, I've had my first dine-out with Bongkersz since his arrival in Kuching. We've a long and arduous wait at Lee's Cafe, Stutong, for the claypot rice to arrive. Then he has to dash to the airport to pick up his senorita. So on the way home, we pass by this purple sign that beckons us; it's too tempting to resist, like a bug hypnotically flying towards a U.V.-lit buzz-trap.

The Basic Bbeongtuigi Sandwich

I have no inkling as to what to expect from this place except that it sells ice cream. But t's more than the normal creamy stuff on a cone that differentiates it from others. It's ice cream sandwich on rice-like waffle. Apart from the plain vanilla, there's a yogurt ice cream and an Asian-centric red beans-filled ice cream. Despite having a paper wrapper around it, eating it can be a messy affair for clot like moi. Fortunately, there are ample tissue papers at the disposal and the wash basin is within the salon. On a non-rainy night, chilling out on its pavement seatings is a cheap way to lepak!

Yogurt Ice Cream Bbeongtuigi Plate

Red Bean Vanilla Ice Cream Bbeong

1st MEAL 2010 @ PENANG SEAFOOD, JALAN ONG KEE HUI, KUCHING

Pork Ribs Bean Soup

This is my first visit at the beginning of the year. Needless to say, there has been a few follow-ups since then. It's one of those places that you return for its 'comfort food'; some of them we once had in the household, but somehow has disappeared from the menu.


Also its locality, in full view from the main road and near the town area, one can easily scout out the variability of the dinning situation of the place with just a drive through. Most weeknights are the ideal time, except it closes on Tuesday.

DIM-SUM @ SHANGHAI JOYOUS RESTAURANT, JALAN CHAN BEE KIEW, KUCHING

This is a follow-on to my earlier reconnaissance of dim-sum eateries in town. It's been ages since I last had breakfast here. The last time was when the place was new and the food was fantastic in terms of variety. And also it's one of the few dim-sum places that serves pork.

We are there around 9 on a Sunday morning, and surprisingly this place isn't crowded; it's like a place that's just gotten out of a slumber - tranquil and in a slow-mo mode. Then comes the menu... if memory fails me, it seems to have shrunk in size in the food items ....