1.
It was the world’s cheapest sang har meen. Or at least, that’s what it appeared to me in my well-protected cocoon. At only RM8.50 a plate with some fresh juicy prawns thrown into a lovely eggy sauce, I certainly had no complaints.
I am not sure if I shall be able to find this coffee shop again on my own though. Ecstatic Eeyore had led me through a maze of shops quite like the catacombs of Rome, where amidst some beauty salons and shops selling cheap nail polish and hair products, there stood a coffee shop, rather displaced in the surroundings. It was a real coffee shop, not one of those beautified kopitiams made to resemble the real thing with muted yellow lighting for subdued ambience and without the 20 year old grime. This one had white tiled walls, bright fluorescent light and a couple of stalls selling chicken rice and chap fan (mixed rice).
Also good was the lor meen (RM8.50) with a thick gooey sauce made even more delicious with a dash of vinegar.
Paramount Coffee Shop
2nd Floor (near the arcade), Sungei Wang Plaza,
Jalan Sultan Ismail,
Kuala Lumpur.
Open for lunch only.
2.
When I visited my friend, Machiko, in Singapore last year, in addition to enjoying some glorious Japanese food with her (because eating Japanese with a Japanese epitomises the saying “You complete me.” Tom Cruise be damned), she offered me an interesting beverage.
“It’s rice vinegar,” she smiled. “It’s good for your health.” She had poured one part of vinegar and diluted it with three parts of water. I sniffed it. It definitely smelled of vinegar.
Always game to try new things, I took a sip. It tasted like vinegar, obviously. But to make it more palatable, other ingredients had been added to it. My Red Grape Vinegar drink had grape juice sourced from the Nagano prefecture in Japan, and it tasted like a sourer version of Ribena.
After a couple of sips, putting aside all thoughts of drinking vinegar and imagining that it was just another drink, I thought it was rather good. Of course, I’m addicted to all things sour. I love anything with an acidic taste, and my salivary glands immediately work at full speed at all thoughts of sour food items. Like now. My saliva’s dripping faster than the Victoria falls in Zimbabwe.
“The Japanese have been drinking vinegar for years,” Machiko explained. “It is used as a digestive, for lowering blood pressure, for reducing fatigue and for improving calcium absorption.” It was almost the Medicine Man’s panacea for all illnesses. Me? I just liked the taste. I gave it thumbs and toes up.
This year, a package arrived for me from Singapore. Machiko had sent me three bottles of the vinegar drink which I loved so much. Aside from the Red Grape, there was a bottle of Acacia Honey Vinegar drink and a bottle of Citrus Sudachi (citrus fruit with a zestier flavour and aroma compared to lemons or limes) Vinegar Drink. My personal favourite is still the Red Grape, but the others are pretty good too. The Honey tastes closest to the original flavour, while the Citrus is very refreshing. A great idea is to use this in a salad (as one would do with balsamic vinegar) to give it a light and zesty flavour.
A 300ml bottle retails at S$17. Further information can be found on their website.
Saika Products,
61 Heng Loong Building, Bukit Batok Crescent, No 08-07,
Singapore, 658078.
Tel: +65 6316 2790
was about to ask where the place was when i visited ur flickr..
wow..vinegar drink? is it acidic enuf to replace a liposuction job?? i will buy it in the dozens even with tat kinda exorbitant price
nipples, just drink vinegar la then.
oooh, the prawn noodles look nice. paramount garden got catacombs meh? which part of paramount is it? near the giant?
Joe: Ummm if it were good enough to replace a liposuction job, I’d be drinking it by the crates. 🙂 But I do believe the health benefits are real. The Japanese are quite careful about what they consume.
fatboybakes: Remind me to get you a GIANT pair of spectacles the next time we meet.
Hi there! You can check out the sparkling red wine (on my blog) on http://www.henrymartinwines.com they have an outlet in Bangsar where you can buy it…if not Cavell in Desa Sri Hartamas serves it along with 7ate9 and the Hilton 🙂
*giggling at LL’s reply to FBB*
RM8.50 a plate !!
in KL…. o_O
must not miss this ~
*Also giggling on LL’s reply to FBB*
Oooh, there’s something even better than Japanese rice vinegar for your health. It’s called “bitter gourd juice”… Tried any before? 😉
My youth was wasted here
Those dark alleys I didn’t fear
The kopitiams always bring cheer
And BBGS was so very near!
Better than ano Esprit Jyusu
Also beri good for my heafu
This raisu biniga drinku
Me totemo daisuki desu!
sang har meen looks good! but like you, i’m also hopeless in Sg Wang! 🙁
I really need to know where this cafe is now. I always go to Sg Wang whenever in KL. Do they have an index of outlets at the lobby?
Hhhmmmmm…..I wonder how does it compare to the traditional chinese ‘Black’ vinegar.
Am ordering my friend to get me a few bottles.
Wonder where is the place for the Sang Har Mien? I eagerly to try since choiceless at all around Sg Wang.
Awesome..!! thanks for sharing..! unfortunately, they only deliver within singapore.. 🙁 boohoohoo..!
ooo.. i’m more attacted to the sang har mien though.
cannot help but burst out laughing at LL’s reply to FBB lol
Interesting, I wonder where this restaurant is. Looks delicious, will look for this place when I go to Sungei Wang next time. I tried the vinegared drink long time ago, didn’t really like it. Haha!
Drool… I swear I’ve put on a pound just looking at the Sang Har Meen pictures.
looks likes I can “jilat” those pics of yours!
*lol at ur reply to FBB too~*
I don’t like Sungai Wang too,cos i’ll get myself lost in it @.@”
But the prawns look big and juicy.
Tried apple cider vinegar? U should drink it with honey. Best served chilled, super Yummy drink with lots of health benefit. But i doubt it can replace the liposuction thing *giggle*
Normally when i feel that i’m getting a sorethroat soon, i’ll get myself a cup of super concentrated apple cider vinegar with honey and it actually prevented the sorethroat!
Alexandra: Thanks for the info. Will definitely check it out!
babe_kl: hehe. He was just saying that to irritate me, though.
ling239: Yeah, it’s a steal, isn’t it?
jason: Wah, so many gigglers ar?
Kenny Mah: All the time.
the only vinegar i drank b4 was apple cider vinegar, plus some honey, early in the morning b4 breakfast. however the acidity got to me, gastric cramps ensued, and regime halted. haha …. supposed to cleanse the system and etc etc. Oh, can slim down tummy also.
Nic: Part 1 – Why am I not surprised abt the BBGS reference? Part 2 – Hai. Doitashimashte.
sc: They should sell compasses to get around Sg Wang.
Hazza: Head towards the arcades on 2nd floor and you’ll find it around the corner. 🙂
Henry: You’ll have to try it and let me know!
Pinkpainter: See comment to Hazza above. Alternatively, walk around in circles on the 2nd floor and follow your nose. Sure can find!
Mama BoK: Hopefully they’ll expand abroad. Keep your fingers crossed!
daphne: I understand…. 😛
FoodieLianne: Wah…what is this? Gigglers United Against FBB? 😛
Sugar Bean: The key is to not think that you’re drinking vinegar…. hehe.
dee: Now I know why I can’t fit into my skirt anymore.
bigboysoven: Now you’re scaring me.
JOjo: Welcome to the club! GUAFBB. Oooh excellent suggestion. Shall try consuming vinegar when I get a sorethroat. I fall ill too often (BE will attest to that!).
j2kfm: I had the vinegar on an empty stomach too, but surprisingly, I didn’t feel anything. Maybe the walls are too thick. 😛 I think I need to cleanse my system. Time to drink more vinegar!
the sang har mean is really seducing!
but i always lost in KL town cz the road is so complicated.
GOD, PLS GV ME A REALLY SIMPLE KL MAP
wow now u have my saliva dripping full speed :S
one lucky person u are…wish i have a friend who sends me makanan too… hehehe
try mixing the salad with the grape vinegar with some olive oil…shud taste same same with jam and olive oil salad dressing.
Do we mix the vinegar with water or drink it by itself? How long one bottle last?
“jilat”……. now that’s a word that LEAPT out of the screen and hit my microscopic glasses (as opposed to the giant ones that LL is gonna get me) like a cicak hits a windscreen. [imagination running wild]
OH, its in sg wang ah? that must be a first, the catacombs of rome and sg wang all in one breathe hor.
Mmm….will eat there next time I step into Sg. Wang! Looks fabulous (still thinking of the 80s!).
the sang har mee is sooo tempting. I didn’t know there’s such good looking food at Sg. wang plaza! thanx for sharing!
now i know where to eat while i’m there… ;P
Loh meen with whole prawns!? I think I never tried that before.
Wooo la la, the sang har mee really looks delish!
hi guys, i’ve just been rereading your past posts, and I love what you’re doing! i’ve just started blogging too, and would love it if you could check out my blog sometime or perhaps even add me to your blogroll. (is it okay to ask this here, or is there some blogging protocol i’m supposed to observe?) tks!
1st 3 post… ahhahahah I think Joe will get a hole in his stomach with all that acid.
I love all things that make my face pucker! I have apple cider vinegar in the morning. These ones sound nice. I wonder if we could Max! to give us some of his syrupy balsamic vinegar. Mmm bet it would be nice!!
aargh, never look at this blog when you are hungry. Remember when Sg Wang was the Only place to go…oops, just gave away my age 😉
Oooo… please pass me that sang-har meen and lam-mee. (Sorry I kept reading Eeyore as ‘eyesore’ — something wrong with me eyes, methinks.)
Must go there in August. My bro’s dental clinic is just outside on the main road (BB) on the first floor. (Can imagine getting a couple of fillings done and then chomping on lam-mee — well, it’s soft enough, right?! Can’t possibly eat the two dishes first and THEN see my bro — don’t wanna kill him with the prawny smell, ha ha.)
Vinegar drink? that’s new! I want to try some!!
your photos are absolutely poetic!!! mario testino of food photog!
Fishball: You’ll be lucky to get a simple map for KL. They keep changing the road directions all the time leh. But keep praying…you never know. 🙂
Jian: Yeah I’m actually very fortunate to have so many caring friends. I’m thankful for each and everyone of them.
Simon: Oh definitely mix with water. I suppose you can easily get 10 – 15 glasses from one bottle depending on how much you pour into one glass.
fatboybakes: If I’m ever looking to censor something for a kid, I’ll definitely look for you coz you have magnificent magnifying eyesight.
wmw: Did we ever leave the 80s? kekeke.
Christine: But but but there’s so much to eat there! 😛
tigerfish: Yeah, you got a point abt the prawns. hehe. Call it creativity?
dee: Ask away. 🙂 And you have a nice blog. 🙂
teckiee: Well, that’s one sure way of getting slim. Food will slide outta that hole right onto the floor. Perfect. Quick, tell Joe!
Paps: Sour is the way to go, baby. Yeah, sweeten the balsamic vinegar and you got a drink on your hands. Max gonna give us queer looks.
Msiagirl: That’s what BE just told me!! hehe.
argus: Too much information, girl! LOL. But yeah, that’s an idea if you wanna visit your bro. Kill 2 birds with one stone and all that.
White On Rice Couple: I don’t think it’s really that new. The Japanese have been doing this for ages!
boo: You flatter me! But thanks. 🙂
I mistakenly take ‘Paramount’ as the Taman Paramount :p. In fact, I found a Sang Har Meen with roes and it costs RM8!
http://gblog.gpros.net/?p=186
I have also tried the Japanese brand vinegar mentioned, but prefer the Taiwanese Pai Chia Chen because of the taste. It was at the Asian Food Expo in November. Vinegars are good for you, if you can drink them. But Pai Chia Chen is supper good in comparison, although different cultures too.