COLONAL'S BLOG

La Piadina Romagnola

2009-09-14T18:34:00.004+08:00

Piadina

We were doing food tasting for English Hi Tea today. You know, those tiny miny types of pastries and sandwiches that are place in a 2 tier plates and serve with tea. Who was tasting it? Our beloved Datin wanted to taste it. The feed back? There are plenty of it but I won't blog about it. There is one interesting suggestion that she gave. She ate this bread when she was in Italy. She could't remember the name but as per her, it was hollow and served it with parma ham (dry-cured ham that is usually sliced thin and serve uncooked. The most expensive and renowned piece of ham come from central and northen Italy). I'll blog it in later part.

We were scrathing heads and toes, trying to figure out what type of bread it is. There are plenty of Italian bread such as Foccasia, Panini, Ciabatta and Grisini Stick, just to name a few. But we have not come across bread that are hollow in the middle. So, we went to do some research the old fashion way, Googling, and we came across this bread and its the one and only type of bread that are hollow in the middle. I supposed it was rolled with all the fillings, that make it look hollow in the middle. Its a flat type of bread (similar to our local chappathi, roti canai or tortilla flour) cooked on a testo, or griddle, and unleavened, originated from Romagna, along the Adriatic Coast. Made from flour, salt and lard.

This was the tenant farmer's food, and many families survived on little else. Little wonder; it's tasty to bite into, wonderful when spread with cheese, an excellent foil for cold cuts, and (when folded) perfect for containing all sorts of things, for example grilled sausages and onions.

Understanding Poultry & Bird Game

2009-09-11T17:01:00.006+08:00

The versatility, the popularity and the relatively low cost of poultry items make them ideal for all kinds of food service operations, from elegant restaurants to cafeterias and fast-food restaurants. Also chicken and turkey are popular among diet concious people because they are lower in fat and cholesterol than other meat.

Game bird such as pheasant, are also increasing in popularity and availability because they are now raised domestically by many producers. Farm-raised game birds are similar, in many ways, to chicken, so learning techniques for cooking and handling chicken teaches you a great deal about handling these other birds as well.

Learning about poultry is, in some ways, easier than learning about meats like beef and lamb. Because chicken, turkey and other poultry are much smaller, they are not cut up in such details.

However, poultry has its own cooking problems, so it is important to observe both the similarities and the differences between meat and poultry.

Back To KL Episode 2: The Return Of The Chef

2009-08-30T12:08:00.003+08:00

It has been 3 years since I left KL to work in Penang. When I know that I got the job back in KL, I was a bit worried. Can I survive? Can I cope up with the market in KL compared to Penang? Can I keep up with the life style? There are so many questions mingling on my mind.

But when I put it into a positive direction, I told myself, "what the heck, I worked in big city before. Then, why should I be afraid of it?" So, here I am, back to the big city. It was fun though to see the changes of it.

First day in office, most of the staff I have already known. I was here before for the function, working as a part time (I think my future-to-be-boss wants to see my performance). It was fun working in this kitchen. The staff, the superior and the boss. They are all very nice people (I hope this will continue until opening of the hotel). But one thing that I dislike is, there is another kitchen together with dry store (place where you keep all the dry items). Its located at basement 2 (and my kitchen is on Level 2). That is still ok, but one have to walk for 300 meter to arrive the other kitchen.

Back To Kl Episode 1

2009-08-28T17:56:00.005+08:00

Well, it's the time again. Coming back to KL for my next big step. My career. I've been working in this industry for almost 15 years now. I love Penang, but the market was really slow if were to compare to KL's market. If I plan to retire, I'll spend my retirement days in Penang.

Back to my career, I found this exciting job in one of the job agency. So, I think its time to move on and decided to give it a try. I sent my resume to the company in Singapore and after a week, they reply me via phone. It was called Gallup (interview through phone). At first I didn't know that this restaurant was belong to Raffles Singapore. But I did heard that there will be one in KL soon. Continue with the Gallup, this was the first time I experienced it. It was weird at first but managed to passed through with 50 questions.

After I passed the interview, I received a second call. This time it was from the chef itself, for a second interview. I took time off to travel down to KL for the interview. The interview went smoothly and guess what. I got the job. Clap... clap... clap...

I was a mixed feeling. Happy because I got the job and sad because me and my girlfriend have to live separately. But it was for my career and I grab the opportunity. When everything is steady, we'll look back at it and laugh at it, right?

Steak

2009-05-24T19:58:00.004+08:00

A steak (from Old Norse steik, "roast") is a cut of meat. Most steaks are cut perpendicular to the muscle fibres, improving the perceived tenderness of the meat. In North America, steaks are typically served grilled, though they are also often pan-fried. The more tender cuts from the loin and rib are cooked quickly, using dry heat, and served whole. Less tender cuts from the chuck or round are cooked with moist heat or are mechanically tenderized. The more tender steaks have a premium price and perception; the idea of eating steak signifies relative wealth.

The amount of time a steak is cooked is a personal preference; shorter steak cooking times retain more juice, whereas longer steak cooking times result in drier, tougher meat but reduce concerns about disease. A vocabulary has evolved to describe the degree to which a steak is cooked. The following terms are in order from least cooked to most cooked:

Raw - Uncooked. Used in dishes like steak tartare, Carpaccio, Gored gored, tiger meat and Kitfo.

Blue rare or very rare - (37.8°C/100°F core temp) Cooked very quickly; the outside is seared, but the inside is usually cool and barely cooked. The steak will be red on the inside and barely warmed. Sometimes asked for as 'blood rare'. In the United States this is also sometimes referred to as 'Black and Blue' or 'Pittsburgh Rare'.

Rare - (48.9°C/120°F core temp) The outside is gray-brown, and the middle of the steak is red and slightly warm.

Medium rare - (52.2°C/126°F degrees core temp) The steak will have a fully red, warm center. Unless specified otherwise, upscale steakhouses will generally cook to at least this level.

Medium - (57.2°C/135°F degrees core temp) The middle of the steak is hot and red with pink surrounding the center. The outside is gray-brown.

Medium well done - (62.8°C/145°F degrees core temp) The meat is light pink surrounding the center.

Well done - (73.9°C/165°F degrees core temp) The meat is gray-brown throughout and slightly charred.

A style exists in some parts of North America called "Chicago". A Chicago-style steak is cooked to the desired level and then quickly charred. The diner orders it by asking for the style followed by the doneness (e.g. "Chicago-style rare"). A steak ordered "Pittsburgh rare" is rare or very rare on the inside and charred on the outside. In Pittsburgh, this style is referred to as "black and blue" (black, i.e. sooty on the outside, Blue rare on the inside).

In Taiwan, a numeric system is used: 0 means raw and 10 means well done.

2009-05-17T17:26:00.000+08:00

I was up early on Tuesday morning. Have the fresh air being sucked into my lungs, for I'm staying just next to a mountain. So, I decided to freshen up myself with brushing my teeth and washed my face.

Because the apartment that I'm staying was a corner lot, there are extra windows just near to where we freshen up every morning and where I hung out my laundries to dry. It was so coincidencely I was looking out the window to see my car (where I parked, I can see through that window), to my horrified, I saw a lady just landed on the ground and bounced out to the road side. Either she commited suicide or accidently fell, only god knows. I was stunned for 5 minutes before I started looking for my phone to call 999.

Dailing.....

Operator : 999, talian kecemasan, boleh saya membantu?

Me : Ya, saya nak buat laporan tentang ada orang jatuh dari blok bangunan saya

Operator : Encik tinggal dekat mana? Klang Valley atau Selangor?

Me : Penang

Operator : Georgetown ke?

Me : Ya

Operator : Apa alamat encik?

Me : Blok xx-xx-x, xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxx, ayer itam.

Operator : Encik tinggal ayer itam ke georgetown?

Me : ??? ayer itam (what the f@#k)

Operator : Jadi, sekarang encik nak panggil polis atau ambulan?

Me : oO.... ??????? bukan ker kedua-dua patut datang? (what type of stupid question is he

asking). Hantar jelah kedua-dua.

Operator : Tunggu sebentar, saya sambungkan ke talian polis.

Me : Terima kasih (dan jangan tanya soalan bodoh lagi)

I doubted the lady that just landed on the ground survived. I think that she died instantly because something (some sort of fluid) flew out from her head and after a few minutes, blood oozing out from her mouth.

It was a very sad day although she does not related to me. Why does human being wanted to end their life just like that? You are not achieving anything by committing suicide. Say that you will be on the front page of the newspaper for one day and next day the whole world forgets about you except your family members and friends. Why do you commit suicide for this world that cares least about you? Instead live for the people who love you. You owe your life to your family, friends and well wishers.

BAN ON RIHANNA CONCERT???

2009-01-21T14:26:00.000+08:00

Wow... Rihanna will be holding a concert in Malaysia on Feb 13. Although I'm not a big fan of hers, but this will be the first time everyone will have the chance to see her live, up close and personal.

But one thing that saddend me was some party wants her concert to be banned. The party said that inviting the Barbados-born siging sensation to Malaysia was akin to insulting eastern culture, belittling to local artises, intentionally causing loses to the country's economy and supporting Israel's war policy, which is supported by America.

To my opinion, our own artises does hold their own concert. Most of us do support our very own artises. Some even go hysteria over it.

How will it cause loses to our country's economy? Whoever artist performed in our country, you can see that most of our neighbouring country will fly over for the concert. And that means their currency will inflow to our country.

Regardless the taxes that she has paid, contributed to the war in Gaza, that one we wouldn't know.

The Grammy award winner has agreed to follow our regulations that won't offended our multi culture, what more can we ask for??

Yes, I agreed that we should show our displeasure against US in supporting Israel on the continues bombardment on Palestin. But, banning on her concert won't solve any problems. The Israeli will still continue attacking on Palestinian. If we really insist on banning America's product, so why are we still supporting all the fast food outlet and products that has been established in Malaysia for so many years? Does this make sense?

CHINESE NEW YEAR PROMOTION

2009-01-20T23:19:00.001+08:00

Chinese New Year is just around the corner. Every F&B outlets in Malaysia will be doing Chinese New Year promotion. Swensen's Cafe & Restaurant are not losing out either. They are doing a 5 course dinner at RM168.00 ++ for 4 pax, from 19/01 till 10/02.

The first course is SEASONS TREASURE. It's like Chinese 4 hot & cold combination but this one is 1 cold and 3 hot. It consists of Stuffed Squid with Minced Chicken, Deep Fried Breaded Mussel, Pan Fried Chicken Frank Sausages and Kerabu Chicken.

The second course is GONG XI FATT CHAI. It's mushroom soup with oyster, fatt choi, crabmeat stick, soft beancurd and off course black mushroom. This soup is something like shark fin's soup, only without the shark fin. Hehehehe.....

The third and fourth course is TWIN HAPPINESS & PROSPERITY NOODLE. Twin Happiness is breaded chicken and bbq chicken combo and it comes with pineapple kerabu on top of breaded chicken. While the prosperity noodle, off course, a noodle. It's stir fried seafood udon with black pepper oyster sauce.

Last but not least, RICH & SWEET. Swensen's famouse ice cream. A single scoop of ice cream of the day with toppings and mandarin orange.

SEASONS TREASURE

GONG XI FATT CHAI

PROSPERITY NOODLES

TWIN HAPPINESS

RICH & SWEET

Lastly, I would like to wish everyone A PROSPEROUS & HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR in this year of Ox. GONG XI FATT CHAI

2009-01-17T23:38:00.000+08:00

Its been a while since I updated my blog. Now, I've been working at a new place. Its a francise restaurant actually. Located at Gurney Plaza and its a new outlet that opened by this franchisee.

I know, I know (don't remind me). In my previous blog, I've written something bad about this restaurant. But hey, I got bills to pay leh. Beggars can't be chooses.

Lets cut the crap. I've been working at this outlet for more than a month now. I have nothing to complaint about but only the kitchen are tremendous small. My staffs, outlet manager, supervisor and all the service crews are fun to work with but off course there is always a spoilt apple in the group. A lady supervisor (duhhhhhh).

The business? The first two weeks was like extremely busy. Customers are so aggresive, coming in and out non stop. It was like everyone working their butts out. After two weeks, business was like share market. Sometime goes up but most of the time goes down. Maybe because its like a new toilet bowl (san see hang) and everyone wants to try it (hahaha....)

Let me introduce the staff:

Ezzudin (Outlet Manager)

Daniel (my assistant)

Dexter (my reliable guy)

Wen Jun (the joker)

Ooi (the shopper)

Reuben (the kiddy)

Errr.. I think this one must be sesat

To those I never mentioned, guys and gals, you are the best. Thanks for giving me the co-operation although sometimes I'm a bit harsh on you guys. Uhuk... uhuk... uhuk....

Feng Wei Chinese Restaurant

2008-11-18T22:21:00.000+08:00

Steamed White Promphet Teow Chew Style

Stir Fried Asparagus with Prawns

Yuk Lan Fei Kai

Thai Pork Trotter with Man Tau

My girlfriend made a reservation for 7 people at Feng Wei Restaurant, located at Hutton Lane, opposite of The Ship Restaurant, to celebrate my birthday. Please don't remind me of my age ok. It was on Saturday and let me tell you this. The restaurant was a full house. Imagine if you don't make any reservation especially on weekends, you don't have the chance to savour the taste of food from this restaurant.

We ordered 5 dishes. The first was "Steamed White Promphet Teow Chew Style". The fish was fresh and tasty with black chinese mushroom, salted vegetable, red chilies, ginger and coriander leaves.

The second dish was "Stir Fried Asparagus with Prawns". Obviously, I'm not a prawn fan myself but i can tell you that this is a very fresh prawn. The asparagus was nothing to shout about because it is Thai, a very common type of asparagus.

The third one was "Yuk Lan Fei Kai". Its steamed chicken with kai lan on the side. This is special because it was poured with superior gravy. I ordered this dish because its been a while I have not eat this dish.

The forth one was "Thai Pork Trotter with Man Tau". The pork trotter was roasted to perfection (like how the roasted pork was done, I guessed). It was tender and served alongside with mini man tau and Thai chilli sauce.

Last but not least was "Clay Pot Tauhu with Minced Meat" (photo was unavailable because was hungry and can't wait).

We did really enjoy our meal that day and the amount was around RM 200 plus (I guessed). It was afforadable.

Thank you love for the nice dinner.

MotherFucking House

2008-10-20T13:53:00.000+08:00

Today is already 20/10/2008, where the fuck is my incentive payment? There is nobody informing me when is my incentive coming out. I need to fucking asked? Where is the fucking communication within you guys. Are you scared of telling me, huh? I'm just keeping quite and doen't mean i have no feeling. Please don't let me start asking because once I start, I'll make sure that the house will go upside down.
What the fuck is wrong with you guys? Grow up please. If can't pay, at least let me know. Don't fucking let me hanging and fucking guessing.
And that fucking old bitch, do not let me put my fucking boot on your face. If you are so fucking clever, come and take over me. Go fuck yourself

Interview

2008-10-16T16:05:00.000+08:00

I know it's been 3 months I said that I will post up a blog on my new house. I will definately do it in my next blog (if I'm not lazy).
This is a story I wanted to share. On Monday, 13 October 2008, I went for an interview at one of the chain restaurant in Queensbay Mall for the position of Outlet Chef. They are expanding their outlets in Times Square and Gurney Plaza. Currently they had another one in Auto City.
So, when I arrived at the outlet, the operation manager gave me a job application form to fill up. I went to one corner and sat there quitely filling up the form with all my particulars. After 10 minutes later, the operation manager came over and started interviewing me. Asking me all sort of quaestions like I'm applying for a position of general manager. For goodness sake, it's just an outlet chef lah. Carry on, after all the questioning, he was happy with my answer and I'm satisfied with the answer that i gave him.
So, the operation manager started telling me the history of the restaurant and that I can't do much with the menu because it's all been standardize from another country. I understand that because it's a chain restaurant mah. And he continued saying that I still can come out with a lot of special menus for valentine's day, x'mas day and so on. I'm happy to hear that. I have the confident that I'm getting the job. On the spot, the operation manager told me that I'm shortlisted.
Here comes the best part. Now, we are negotiating about the salary. He look at my application form, the salary corner and got a shock when I asked for that much of money. He told me that he can't pay me that much. I asked him how much can he pay me? RM2000 he said. Hahahaha.... WTF... For that salary, how am I going to survive? I told him no, it's too low. He looked at me for a second and said, ok RM2100. That RM100 i can finish it off in 1 bloody week. What's good with the additional of RM100. Then he asked me am I married. What is the pay got to do with married or not? I told him yes sarcasticly, I'm married to my car for almost 3 years now. Does that count? He started to tell me his granfather story, "young man, don't look at the money. Look at your future. Do you know that when I'm in the states I'm getting USD5000 and when i come back to Malaysia and getting only RM5000?" Is it my F@#*ING problem you are getting that much. Why come back to Malaysia than? Who don't look at money? So, i told him that, if you can't pay, then forget about it.
The next day, the operation manager rang me up asking me if I'm still interested in the job. I told him no unless you pay what I'm asking for. So, he started to make the last negotiation saying that he fought for me to the management. I was happy to hear that and i thought that I can get what I'm asking for. When he said that he can pay me RM2400, I put down the phone without saying anything.
Moral of the story. Stand firm on what you do and what you wanting to do. If you think that you are worth that much, don't be afraid to demand. If they can't give, forget about it.

My New Home Night View

2008-07-28T20:12:00.000+08:00

Arrggghhh... Still can remember the tiredness of shifting to a new house. Hopefully there will be no more of house shifting. Do you guys know that because of shifting house, I quarrel a lot with my girlfriend. So sorry my love, i did not mean to quarrel with you or to hurt you. So sorry... and sorry... and sorry... and sorry. Anyway, this is the view from my new home sweet home. Nice isn't it but only blur because i'm only using camera from my handphone. Want to know how does my house look like? I'll post it in my next blog.

The Stupid Looking Statue

2008-07-28T19:53:00.000+08:00

Do you guys know how much is this statue? It cost RM 799. The actual price is RM 999. Got a 20% discount if not for me , cause i knew the thau keh soh. Hehehe.. Hau lian. Anyway, to me personally, its such a waste of money. I don't mean it does not look good in the restaurant, but, it just really a waste of money. It's not my decision to buy or not to buy. Boss said its ok, that means ok lor. Not from my pocket money. Who cares. But one thing that i agreed is this statue do look cute. The original is there is a board on the side where you can write what is today's special in the menu. So, that everyone can read. But now, the statue chef look so damn bloody sissy with the card board that it's holding like a woman's handbag. The picture with a torch was paste onto the original board written "Olympic Fever Lucky Draw". But, what is the lucky draw? Dunno. Oh my gosh, the more i look at it, the more it look sissy. Damn bloody sissy chef statue. Hahaha..... Hehehe..... Huhuhu... Ahak... Ahak... Ahak... Oink... Oink... Oink...

The Marketing Philosophy

2008-07-24T19:12:00.000+08:00

What is Marketing?
You see a gorgeous girl at a party.
You go up to her and say, 'I am very rich. Marry me!'
That's Direct Marketing

You're at a party with a bunch of friends and see a gorgeous girl.
One of your friends goes up to her and pointing at you says,
'He's very rich. Marry him.'
That's Advertising.

You see a gorgeous girl at a party.
You go up to her and get her telephone number.
The next day you call and say, 'Hi, I'm very rich. Marry me.'
That's Telemarketing.

You're at a party and see a gorgeous girl.
You get up and straighten your tie; you walk up to her and pour her a
drink.
You open the door for her, pick up her bag after she drops it,
offer her a ride, and then say, 'By the way, I'm very rich
'Will you marry me?'
That's Public Relations.

You're at a party and see a gorgeous girl. She walks
up to you and says, 'You are very rich, I want to marry you.'
That's Brand Recognition.

You see a gorgeous girl at a party.
You go up to her and say, 'I'm rich. Marry me'
She gives you a nice hard slap on your face.
That's Customer Feedback

My Favourite Song

2008-05-23T19:08:00.001+08:00

"Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)"
(feat. Akon, Lil Wayne, Niia)

[Intro:]
[Niia]
ah ah ah ah

[Wyclef Jean (Lil Wayne)]
Some live for the bill
Some kill for the bill
She whine for the bill
Grind for the bill
(and she used to be the sweetest girl)
Some steal for the bill, if they got to pay they bill
(and she used to be the sweetest girl)
Tonight Wyclef, Akon, Weezy on the bill

[Verse 1: (Wyclef Jean)]
High school she was that girl that make me do the hula hoop around the gym
(Just to get a peek again, she's a 10)
High school she was
That girl that make me do the hula hoop around the gym
(Just to get a peek again, she's a 10)
Never thought that she would come and work for the president
Mr. George Washington (where my money at?)
She thought he'd call (where my money at?)
She had a good day, bad day, sunny day, rainy day
All he wanna know is is (where my money at?)
Closed legs don't get fed, go out there and make my bread
All he wanna know is (where my money at?)
She ended up in a road car, bruised up, scarred hard
All he wanna know is (where my money at?)
She thought he'd call (where my money at?)

[Chorus: Akon (x2)]
See I'mma tell you like Wu told me
Cash rules everything around me
Singin' dollar dollar bill y'all (dollar, dollar bill y'all)
Singin' dollar dollar bill y'all (dollar, dollar bill y'all)

[Verse 2: (Akon)]
Pimpin' got harder cos, hoes got smarter
On the strip is something they don't wanna be a part of
Rather be up in the club shakin' for some dub
Then triple times the money and spending it like they wanna
They got they mind on they money, money on they mind
They got they finger on the trigger, hand on the nines
See everyday they feel the struggle, but staying on they grind
And ain't nobody takin' from us, and that's the bottom line

But I know there's a drop in the block
You move slow
You getting' pressure from cops
you don't know not to lay low
Because 25 to life is no joke
To all my real gorillas thuggin'
On top of corners every day strugglin'
All the beautiful women getting' money
Washin' them dollar bills like laundry

[Chorus: Akon (x2)]
Cos' I'ma tell you like Wu told me
Cash rules everything around me
Singin' dollar dollar bill y'all (dollar, dollar bill y'all)
Singin' dollar dollar bill y'all (dollar, dollar bill y'all)

[Bridge: (Wyclef Jean)]
Money, money-money-money
Money, money-money-money
It drives the world crazy

[Verse 3: (Lil Wayne)]
[Niia] She used to be
[Weezy] She used to be the sweetest girl

She used to be the sweetest girl ever
Now she like sour ameretta
She wears a dress to the T like the letter
And if you make it rain she will be under the weather
She used to run track back in high school
Now she tricks off the track right by school
She takes a loss cos she don't wanna see her child lose
So respect her, I'll pay up for the time used
And then she runs to the pastor
And he tells her there will be a new chapter
But she feels no different after
And then she asks him... where my money at?

[Chorus: Akon (x2)]
Cos' I'ma tell you like Wu told me
Cash rules everything around me
Singin' dollar dollar bill y'all (dollar, dollar bill y'all)
Singin' dollar dollar bill y'all (dollar, dollar bill y'all)

[Outro: (Wyclef Jean)]
Some live for the bill
Some kill for the bill (oh where my money at?)
She whine for the bill
Grind for the bill (oh where my money at?)
Some steal for the bill, if they got to pay the bill (oh where my money at?)
Tonight Wyclef, Akon, Weezy on the bill
(oh) were my money at?

A Day In Ipoh

2008-05-21T21:02:00.000+08:00

Its been awhile since I step my foot in Ipoh's soil. I still can remember it was 14 years ago when I attended college there. Furthermore, my dad was from Batu Gajah. So, when me and my siblings are still little children, we went there almost every year for Deepavali celebration. Now, we are all grown up and everyone have their own life and we seldom go back for Deepavali celebration.

So, it was 18/05/08, Sunday, me and my girlfriend, Tammy, decided to take a 1 day tour to Ipoh town. We are suppose to start the journey at 7am but ended up I over slept, hahaha. So, at 8am we start the journey. We arrived at Ipoh town at 10.30am because we took a slow drive. The first place that we went was Jaya Jusco in Kinta City. We went to jalan-jalan there. When come to brunch time, we don't know what to eat. Then, Tammy decided to eat something that are not available in Penang. So, we went into this cafe called Black Canyon Coffee. I don't know where was it originated from because the menu consist of Thai and Western food. Well, we went in for a try. Surprisingly, the food was not bad and affordable.

Phuket Paradise (White) & Mocha Glassier (Brown)

Tom Yam, Thai Green Curry & Stuffed Chicken Omelette
Mission Accomplished

The beverages that we had are Phuket Paradise consist of coconut, yogurt & pineapple juice while the Mocha Glassier consist of mocha & coffee ice cream. The tom yam and Thai chicken green curry was not bad. But the stuffed chicken omelette has nothing to shout about. I still prefer Tammy's mom Thai chicken green curry. After the brunch, we continue jalan-jalan in Jaya Jusco. The next place we went was Ling Sen Tong. It's a temple at Sam Poh Tong in Jalan Gopeng.

A View From Ling Sen Tong

Main Entrance To Ling Sen Tong

Our next destination is to Ipoh Parade. Nothing much over there but bought a few books of Archie Comic. Tammy was looking for handy craft book, but could not find. Later, the both of us was tired and we lepak at Starbucks Coffee. Before we head back to Penang, we went to Ipoh town to have the famous "nga choi kai" or chicken with bean sprout. It was only 5.30pm and it was crowded with human being. Luckily there are seats for us. But before that, Tammy wanted to buy "yim kok kai" or baked salted chicken. After having our early dinner, we had back to Penang with exhausted and fun.

Lou Wong Nga Choi Kai

Lou Wong Nga Choi Kai

Our First Buffet Function

2008-05-03T17:08:00.000+08:00

I was excited to have a buffet function. Our very first buffet function. It was on Friday, 02/05/08. Although it is just a small one, but at least this is our first one. All the time we are doing western set for function, it really "sien" me already. The price is only RM50.00 nett included loaning of chaffing dishes, plates (because we don't have enough), salad bowl, and even alladin bowl (for sauces or dressing). That means the price for this buffet is only RM30.00 nett per person and the rest goes to the thing that we loaned. On the left is our array of salads & desserts. The spreads are coleslaw, samosa, apple & celery salad, cucumbers, tomato, onion ring, mixed lettuce with two types of dressing, freshly cut fruits and creme caramel. Above are two types of main courses (actually there are four types of main courses and i managed to took two picture only because not enough of memory in my card, hahahaha). They are roasted sirloin of beef with mushroom sauce & pan fried boneless chicken with piquant sauce (bbq sauce actually). The other two mains are pan fried fish fillet with spicy tomato sauce & lasagna primavera.

A Fine Dining Setting (In The Back Of The House) 1

2008-04-15T22:50:00.001+08:00

This is a very special fine dining setting that you can't get it elsewhere. Not even in a 5 star hotel or even a highest ranking of Michelin star restaurant. There is a reason why this table is being set up. If you notice what is beside the soup. Very funny looking object, right? Want to know why and what? Keep reading on my next blog.

A Fine Dining Setting (In The Back Of The House) 2

2008-04-15T22:33:00.001+08:00

Ladies and gentlemen, i give you Dino, our very own bartender. That was his dinner. He could not have his staff meal because it was busy with the happy hours that we just introduce to the public. Our colleague was joking with him with all the fantastic setting. The object beside him was a dough sheeter. Yes, the setting was in our bakery area (no prizes for those who know the answer). That is why you can't find this setting else where. Pity him. Enjoy your dinner Dino.

Out Of Hotel Industry

2008-04-15T14:26:00.000+08:00

Well, it's been a while since I left the hotel industry. This is my second attempt joining the restaurant industry. I'm not really sure about the market in restaurant because sometimes business will go sky high and other time we will be looking at each other thinking of what to do next. The best part working in restaurant is there is too much freedom, whilst in hotel, too many rules & regulation. This you can't do, that you can't do. The funny part in hotel industry, all departmental head will throw arrow at each other. I have no reason why they will do this although the mistake is in their own department. I mean, this is a hotel industry. We should work as a team no matter in your own department or others to make the hotel run even smoothly. Not killing each other. Thats reality in the real world. Arghhhhhh..... The best part in hotel is, once a year the management will organize a family day and staff party. They will even organize staff birthday gathering every month. I missed the days when management organize staff party. There's food, booze and the most important is party all night long. I still remember when I was in KL, working in a 4 star hotel at Jalan Sultan Ismail. The staff party was fantastic. There's performance by department head, every department have their own performance, food, booze and more booze. After the event ended, we continued our own event at a club near by. That was the most happening time in my life. Sighhhhh.... I really missed those days. Well, I'm not sure yet if I'm going back to hotel. Definitely, hotel will be much more secure.

RM 100++ Special Menu

2008-04-14T22:05:00.000+08:00

Phew... What a slow day. Lunch & dinner was very slow. Well, there's only 18 pax for lunch & 20 pax for dinner. Before that, there's a couple who did a reservation yesterday requested a special menu for RM 100++, due to I was off on sunday, my another colleague whipped up a special menu for this couple.

Guess what? When the couple first make the reservation, they wanted to have an 8 course dinner. But when they have their dinner, they could not even finish the 6 course dinner. They even asked to "ta pau" their dessert. Hahaha... pity them. Eventually, both of them left the place happy with stomach filled up.