Saturday round-up

We have been busy on Saturday. It was a nice morning with beautiful, sunny weather.

Kids had their 4th replacement class on Saturday in school but it was the anti-dadah campaign day so all the students have interactive games, runs and activities that day.

The youngest was in need of a good hair cut so I took him to his favourite saloon in the morning after our breakfast.

In the afternoon after picked up the schoolers, we went to check out the new Stapok-Matang bridge. Now going to Matang is so convenient and near.

As for lunch, we wanted to try out the new Nasi Lemak burger from McD's but the queue at the drive-thru was so long  that we gave up and had nasi campur instead.

In the evening, we had dinner with my parents and my side of family. It has been since CNY that we got together so it was an overdue affair. At the same time, a little birthday celebration for my girl. My firstborn turned 12 last Saturday.

We had a Chinese-styled dinner in this Joy-I Palace in Jalan Petanak.  My first time dining here. More of our dinner in my next post.

His favourite for brunch

A couple of days ago, I went for brunch with my dad. We drove to Jalan Rambutan to this old coffee shop, Mui Chin Cafe. It is the next block to Thompson Corner, opposite the police station. The coffee shop is next to Nasi Kandar Rasool, where you could order its food over.

My dad likes to come here, especially for its chicken rice. That morning, true enough, he ordered his favourite for brunch. It was good, I have to admit. I tasted the chicken and the chilli dipping. Both were so good. 

My dad has this habit of adding some soy sauce (thick or light) into chilli dipping. Kind of reducing the spiciness or added some saltiness and taste to it. So after I took this photo, he immediately pour some soy sauce to the chilli sauce. His version of chicken rice' s chilli dipping.

The chicken was succulent and moist. Nice to be eaten just like that. I love my chicken like this. Not like most shops where they slice and bang the meat with cleaver. 

That same stall also selling Sarawak laksa so I ordered a bowl to try. It is one of the best laksa in Kuching apparently but I have never go there for breakfast. It closes on Sunday so it explains why I've never been there. And I seldom venture to this part of the city too.

The laksa was alright to me but slightly oily. I couldn't take much of the gravy as it was spicy and oily. However they were generous with the ingredients which was worthy of RM6.

Overall our brunch costs RM12. Thanks dad for the brunch treat. ;)

Another day

It was another day in life, busy with the usual daily grind.

It was one of the days where I went to find my mum for our weekly market and breakfast date. 

RM6 Sarawak laksa

After done with our market buy, we went to have breakfast in one of the coffee shops in Kenyalang Park. A small bowl of Sarawak laksa.

I dropped mum at her house but before I left, I went to check on her grapevine. Few weeks ago, they were small bunches like little green seeds.

Growing bunch

Now, there are few bunches and everyone couldn't wait for them to turn ripe, provided the critters or birds don't get to them first.

In the afternoon, I felt like having something spicy and different. Somehow that day, I felt like having nasi campur so I headed to Curry House in MJC for its delicious and sinful spread of dishes. Lunch by myself. I don't mind some day. ;)

RM9.50 nasi campur

I ended up with 4 dishes on my plate. I opted for normal white rice instead of Briyani rice. Curry squid, deep fried spiced bitter gourd, stir fried lady fingers and fried drumstick. 

And talking about deep fried spiced bitter gourd, my man surprised me in the evening with this pack of snack.

Locally made in Kuching

Surprise! Surprise! Made in Kuching, this bitter gourd snack was good. Slightly bitter and salty with less oil, it was a healthier snack as it claimed. I couldn't stop snacking on it.

Nice snack

Meat indulgence

Not so long ago, we had lunch in Tony Roma's, Vivacity mall. It was a Saturday, no rice day. 

Of course, we must have its famous rib when dining in TR, otherwise it wouldn't be TR.

When there was meat, we must balanced our diet with some greens. Strawberry walnut salad for RM23.90. Drizzled in vinaigrette dressing ; it was super appetizing and tart but I liked it. 

For no calories drink, we tried the new Pepsi black. Less sweet, less gassy.

Our meat indulgence started off with bountiful beef ribs (RM74.90). Ribs in sweet BBQ sauce with corn cobs and baked potato as side dishes.

We also ordered this half saucy grilled chicken (RM45.50) for the children. I liked the chicken better. Maybe because I am not a beef person, so I opt for chicken anytime.

Ok, that was our meaty meal on one Saturday. Don't think we would be going back anytime soon considering the price. A little indulgence once a while is fine, I say.

From the camp

Hubby went back to check out on his roadshow booth in the Army Camp on Sunday.

Few booths opened that day and one of them was this vegetable booth. Oh no, he didn't buy of those.

Instead he bought these packets home for lunch. Nasi Kerabu!  It has been a while since I had any and this RM9 packet was nice. They had salted egg (which was extremely salty to my standard), chopped herbs, a piece of fried chicken, crispy  fish crackers with the blue-coloured rice. 

I enjoyed it very much, even without the sauce. They had sauce but I didn't taste any of it.

On our own

It was the weekend after Easter and a rare weekend where not everyone was around.

Jan had her youth camp and sleepover in school sponsored by emart supermarket. 3 days 2 nights of activities in her school compound for all Primary 6 students.

Hubby had a booth in Army Camp in Penrissen that weekend as well.

So on Saturday, I was left with the boys to our own devices. Luckily there was a charity bazaar to attend to that morning otherwise we would be staying indoor that day. We bought RM100 vouchers from our church few weeks ago. 

We went there very early before its intended time ie 8am. And oh my, everyone had the same thought as mine. The Christian Ecumenical Worship Centre in Stampin was packed before 8am. Luckily I managed to find a good parking without driving around. 

Without much delay, we walked to the hall and spent up all our RM100 before more people coming in. 

Our breakfast and lunch were all settled that morning. ;)

As for dinner, I made a simple pasta. Just me and my boys, so not going to cook much since we couldn't finish it all by ourselves. Didn't feel like having rice for dinner so Angel hair with sausages that evening.

As on Sunday, we didn't go to church as we needed to pick Jan at 12 from her school.  Instead, I went for the morning walk with my boys (and man).

Weather was nice for laundry so we spent our Sunday at home. 

Weekend Menu #89 : roasted nam yue chicken

We were having a roast menu over the weekend.  I actually cooked this 2 days in a row, since everyone liked it.



Here is my current oven-roasted recipe. Super love this recipe. I used to deep-fry nam yue chicken but I decided to use different method the other day. After all, my oven was under-utilised.

It turned out good; the meat was tender and tasty. The skin?  Not crispy as I didn't glaze it through the roasting but it was lovely. I couldn't ask for a better roasted chicken.

So, who want to come over for dinner? ;)

Ingredients:
1 chicken thigh
1 Fu Chung beancurd (nam yue) cube
1 tbsp. nam yue sauce
1 tbsp. light soy sauce
1 tbsp. Shao Xing wine
1 tsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp white pepper
1 tsp grated garlic
1 tsp grated ginger

Methods:

1. Rub the chicken thigh evenly with all the ingredients above.  Let it marinate for few hours or better, overnight before roasting.

2. Pre-heat electric oven at 220C for 10 minutes.

3. Place the chicken on a wire rack with a baking tray lined with aluminium foil at the bottom.

4. Roast for 40 minutes or till the chicken is cooked.

5. Let it cool down before chopping and serve.

We see, we eat

There is this old coffee shop in Batu Lintang (near traffic light) that I have never been to. All my 40+ years, I have never stepped into this coffee shop, but yet heard many good reviews on its coffee and roti kahwin (buttered bread).

From Google

Joo Seng Cafe in Batu Lintang has been there for many eon years. The elders would tell you that it serves the best 'kopi o' in Kuching.

To cut my story short, one Saturday we stopped by at the traffic light and hubby asked about the shop. Amazingly, neither I nor him even go or suggested to go there.  I told him, someday we must visit and have breakfast there. And then, few days later, I saw a review on its food in newspaper. The pictures of the poached egg and roti kahwin attracted me.

My dad's clerk wanted to go there that afternoon after reading the review and since I needed to buy lunch for myself and kids, both of us went there in my car. Parking was a pain in the vicinity, so the clerk went to order while I drove in a circle for parking. After 4th round, I managed to squeeze into a parking space. So I walked over to find my friend in the coffee shop. It was not even 12 noon but the place was packed with diners and hardly any vacant tables around. And most of them sharing tables to enjoy their food as not many tables in such small space.

It took quite sometime for our order to be done but while waiting, I tasted its acclaimed roti kahwin. And wow! Really so, so good. So buttery and crispy. I loved it. All I tasted was the fragrant butter spread in my mouth!

RM1.60 per piece

And my takeaway lunch was fried mee hoon from the Malay stall at the back of the shop. 

The newspaper article had the picture of the mee hoon goreng with fried chicken so we wanted to try it out. Around RM6 I think since my friend paid for the lunch. Taste-wise it was alright. The fried chicken was tender. Nothing to shout about.

 Next time I must go there for breakfast and try its brewed drink. I bet my kids would enjoy its roti kahwin as I do.

Found!

We finally found our favourite claypot rice guy who used to operate in Rubber Road. After weeks of searching in his old place and few inquiries, we found out that he operates in Jia Jia Cafe in Trinity Hub now. The eatery shop behind "Yes" Cafe (Base Club is above the shop).

We were seated under the night sky, no shade. I love sitting in the open space; cooler and away from the rowdy crowds. However, not much light for a good photograph. I tried to snap the food but turned out dark and not great. I didn't want to fuss too much about photography as everyone was hungry. So for this post, I decided to use the recycled photos of the claypot rice and peanut soup that I took before in the previous shop.

*recycled photo*

*recycled photo*

For those who are craving for a nice, warm claypot chicken rice with comforting peanuts with chicken feet soup, do hop over to Jia Jia Cafe in the evening. Definitely a great dinner to have when the weather is cold and windy, like the other night we were there.

Claypot rice is at the corner of the shop, next to the Chinese stir fry stall.

To 7th mile

Not too long ago, we went to 7th Mile or now known as Kota Sentosa for lunch.  It was a long weekend and the town was packed with crowds and cars. Lucky star was on our side as we managed to find a decent parking but required a little walk to the coffee shop that we wanted to go to.

We drove all the way to 7th Mile for this tasty mixed pork soup in Happy Food Court in Liu Shan Bang Lorong 4A. 

The mixed pork soup stall is at the back of the shop, next to the sizzling pan stall.

I had a set of mixed pork soup and rice each. I loved the clear yet comforting soup. So many minced meat balls and chunky bean curd pieces in the soup.

We used to order the mixed pork soup in the past; never order from other stall. Noticed that they operated the sizzling pan stall as well so we ordered a pan of pork belly noodle from there.

Overall our lunch costs us RM28, which was reasonable. A sizzling noodle, 2 set of mixed pork soup with rice and an extra bowl of mixed soup. Good and filling lunch. What else could we ask for?