Site news… You can probably tell that Cindy, Cheryl and I are on midsemester break right now, for about two weeks. I may find something to write about during the Port Dickson trip next week, though I hope to be unconscious most of the time.

I just noticed kveats broke 400 hits. Thanks to everyone for their support… Much <3 to you all! See you after the break =O)

I think it was only a matter of time before I did a Starbucks post. Yes, I’m one of THOSE.

Anyhow, this particular event was part of a series of workshops SB is holding to raise general coffee savvyness in the population. This one was at Borders at the Gardens. It was actually pretty interesting, if you’re into that sort of thing… I can now tell the difference between a couple different roasts, and have learned how to cover and slurp. Many thanks to Pao for inviting us, and many apologies for showing up a couple hours late -_-;;.

I think I suck at food close-ups because I tend to eat everything before taking pictures of the dishes. Anyhow, last night’s venue was Hooi Loong Restaurant, which should ring a bell if you’ve ever been to BlastZone in Damansara Jaya, as it’s on the same row. Here, have some photos…

Better group pics on the way from Rick’s mighty fine Canon 40d, which finally made its way back from the service center. An actual review will be posted once I’ve slept off the food!

As you can tell, it’s been slow, food-wise. A couple things are happening this week, so I should have another review up soon. Also, people have been complaining about eyestrain, so I’ve adjusted the font size on posts.

Photos are gogo. Sorry ’bout the picture quality, I’ll be using a crappy phonecam till I get the digital, which is languishing somewhere in Kedah. I’m still getting the hang of food close-ups, so it might be a while before I post any of those.

Oh, and just in case you were wondering who this Al bugger was…

Can you guess where we had dinner tonight?

The best thing about Seoul Garden is its accessibility, both in its price and location. Set just next to the Federal, it’s easily reachable by car and LRT - commuters can take RapidKL to Kerinchi This sadly means the restaurant’s view is limited to watching traffic on the highway.

The decor of the place is similarly unimpressive - the charitable will call it simple. That doesn’t matter, though, because the food makes up for it. Seoul Garden offers an all-you-can-eat steamboat/bbq buffet priced at RM33.88 for dinner and RM23.88 for lunch. Beef, chicken, lamb, seafood and so on are provided raw in a variety of sauces, which diners bring back to their tables then either boil or roast personally. My personal favorite was the spicy chicken, which was fairly easy to cook and well worth the effort. Leftovers are charged by weight, so try not to take more than you can chew!

Syrup and tea are available, as well as a perfunctory fruit and salads bar. In terms of dessert, I skipped the air batu kacang in favor of the suprisingly good vanilla ice cream. Your mileage may vary!

Seoul Garden is one of the few places I’ve eaten in Malaysia that actually offers senior citizen discounts. Hopefully I won’t need one anytime soon.

Pictures can be seen here.

I’m somewhat amazed - but gratified - at the number of hits the site’s getting. I didn’t think it’d break the double-digit mark. To save users time (in case you don’t have any more room on your toolbar for the rss feed) I should note that updates will be about twice weekly, depending on my budget.

On an unrelated note, is it me, or is food poisoning around here on the rise?

Needless to say, this site is still under construction. Visual elements in particular are pending. Photographs for restaurant reviews will be added retroactively once I get hold of a digicam. Sorry for the wall of text!

Not technically roadside fare, but a stall at the ever-popular college student hangout, Asia Cafe. Sushi Heng is owned and operated by Nicholas Heng, whose years of experience in hotel cuisine shows in his creations. Heng also runs the teppanyaki stall nearby, though it is closed for the moment.

The stall features bar-style seating, so diners can watch their food being prepared. While they’re waiting, they can swap stories with the chef, whose personality is as much of a draw as his food. Be forewarned - conversation will tend towards the raucous and colorful.

The menu features an amazing amount of variety, considering it is a one-man operation. There are some pleasant surprises, such as the Japanese-style yee sang - which is available all year round, not just during Chinese New Year. Adventurous diners can elect to sample individually prepared rolls to get the most out of the large menu. These are generally priced at RM4 per dish. Those who want to fill up are advised to try the chiraishi don, an RM20 rice bowl that comes with just about everything.

Heng has been known to add personal touches to his dishes for favored customers; on one occasion, our sushi came with an unexpected cili padi center. The lucky will receive cuts of premium salmon belly, which - cliche as it sounds - can only be described by “melts-in-your-mouth”.

Sushi Heng is open from 6pm to 2am nightly.

This recently-opened gem caters to both the lunch break warrior and the curiousity-seeker. Tucked away in a corner of Megamall City, it serves Japanese food with a twist - or rather, with ninjas. Waiters wear the black, full-body garment made infamous by a thousand late-night martial arts movies, down to the tight wrap-top that leaves only the eyes exposed. And you thought the dresscode at your office was harsh!

Ninja Jones offers the usual range of sushis, sashimis and bentos, typical of Japanese cuisine, though there are elements of fusion in their presentation. The California Maki, for example, comes on a flatbed of leaves, drizzled with a variety of mild mustard. The effect is an experience that appeals to one’s sense of aesthetics as well as the palette.

In terms of liquid refreshment, the plum wine, served simply in its original Japanese packaging, is recommended. Its slightly sweet, very fruity aftertaste complements the majority of Jones’ varied menu, without undue intoxication.

Price ranges are higher than the fare found at Genki Sushi, but thankfully they do not ascend to Zen-like levels, making the Nipponese eatery a viable option for the budget-conscious. It remains to be seen, however, whether Jones’ ninjas will be able to fight off the competition of the dozens of similar, though less flashy efforts in the niche.

Many thanks to Douglas for pointing me towards NJ.