Author Archives: Lyrical Lemongrass

Ribs by Vintry, Damansara Heights

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Barbarian Ribs

Barbarian Ribs

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Barbarian Ribs?  BARBARIAN Ribs?

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Barbarian Ribs

Barbarian Ribs

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Yup. Barbarian Ribs.  I’m not kidding.  Eat it with your fingers (and ruin your manicure).  Tear the meat apart with your teeth (and wonder why it doesn’t take any effort when the meat literally falls off the bones).  Lick that delicious barbecue sauce that clings to the meat.

Leave some for me?

The best dressed pork at Ribs by Vintry.

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Interior at Ribs by Vintry

Interior

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The interior is rustic . But it isn’t old fashioned, and the lighting is warm but not dim.  A nice place for friends to get together.  An extensive wine collection is available, just like at Vintry’s a couple of doors away.

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Braised ribs

Braised ribs

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Some of the items on the menu are similar to Vintry’s, although it is clear that most of the customers come here for the gargantuan pork ribs.  The braised ribs paled in comparison to the barbarian ribs; there was this powdery taste that I couldn’t quite figure out.   It was more in the meat than in the sauce, which was even more perplexing.  A curious case, indeed.  The brown sauce and the accompanying roasted potatoes which soaked up all the wonderful flavour was lovely.

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Tom yam spaghetti

Tom yam spaghetti

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And then there are some who like to be different.  Perhaps a reflection of their past life in that vibrant country north of Malaysia.  And whilst it is such an unlikely combination, and perhaps one that would make purists balk, the resultant marrying of east and west is one that tastes quite…comforting.   Oh, did I mention that there are bits of crispy pork lard in the dish?  Heaven.

The service was good.  Attentive.  Water glasses were refilled quickly.  Orders were taken politely.  Recommendations?  Perhaps not quite so well done (“Please refer to the board for our recommendations, Miss!”).  Not a big problem, of course.

 

Ribs by Vintry (website HERE)

120-122, Jalan Kasah,

Damansara Heights, 50490 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-2096 1645

Opening hours: Noon till late. Kitchen closes 3.00pm to 6.00pm. Closed on Sundays and certain public holidays. Call to enquire.

(Note: We went there on a Sunday, and it was open, so I’m not sure if it was an exceptional case. Anyhow, I’d recommend calling first.)

Also check out:

Kenny’s Journey of Life

Jacko.MY

MissMynx

I can’t decide!

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claypot fish head noodles

On one hand, I’ve always maintained that Goon Wah is the fish head noodles place to visit, and then about a couple of months ago, I tried the fish head noodles at Soon Lei, just a few doors down the road from Goon Wah.  I thought it was really tasty, so I dragged HairyBerry there one weekend for a second taste.  Even before the dish was placed on our table, I could already smell the aroma of the wine simmering in the bowl of seafood broth.  Inside were thick chunks of fried fish head, preserved vegetables, tomatoes and yam.  All very good, of course.

claypot lou shue fan

Then there’s the claypot lou shu fan (rat tail noodles), dark and sticky, with minced pork and dried shrimps, also very good.

noodles with pumpkin and salted egg yolk

One of the better dishes is the stir fried noodles with pumpkin and salted egg yolk. A strange combination, no doubt, and perhaps the generous portion of pumpkin is an overkill, and perhaps less is more, but still…very…good.

goon wah

So I paid Goon Wah a visit last week.  I had to make up my mind.   Indecision wouldn’t do.  Equipped with just my trusty iPhone to take pictures, Ecstatic Eeyore and I ordered three dishes, and we tucked in.  We left an hour later, bloated with soup, and still confused.  To be honest, I prefer the claypot lou shu fun in Goon Wah, because it is a little more charred and black, the way I like it, but it doesn’t make it better than Soon Lei’s version.  I still love the fish head noodles in GW, although the aroma of wine is a little more faint in GW’s version as compared to SL’s, but that is compensated with the generous portion of fish head in GW.   The fried intestines in GW is still a must-have; it is not the crunchy deep fried type, but more chewy and its strong smell is masked quite a bit by the fried dried shrimps and other sauces.  But I do like that orange noodles in SL.   Hmmmm.

To cut a long story short, I have failed in deciding which one I prefer.

Perhaps it isn’t important to decide.  Choice is always a good thing.  And this world is certainly big enough for two good fish head noodle restaurants…or ten.

Kedai Makanan & Minuman Soon Lei
G7, Blok KPI, Jalan 3/115C
Taman Kuchai Jaya
58200 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 016-608 7282/016-273 5369
Open MONDAY TO SATURDAY 8.15am to 4.30pm.  CLOSED SUNDAY.

Om Burger and the FriedChillies Annual Foodsters’ Award 2009

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om

How did we end up beside a longkang, one fine Saturday night, relatively well dressed, and chomping on sloppy burgers?

Answer #1:

Riz's namecard

A business card.

Who in their right mind puts a picture of a delicious burger on their namecard without being answerable to repercussions? (In this case, being obliged to accompany some newbies on the search for the Holy Grail.)

Answer #2:

friedchillies AFA

An awards ceremony.

How can I not be influenced at a dinner organised by one of my favourite food sites culminating with the announcement of the top makan places (mostly street food/kopitiam style food) in the Klang Valley?  Check out the winners (lifted from the FriedChillies website…thanks, Adly!):

For Best Roti Canai :Raju Restaurant
No. 27, Jalan Cantik, Petaling Jaya
N 03.10159 E101.65385

For Best Assam Laksa : O & S Laksa
39, Jalan 20/14, Paramount Gardens Petaling Jaya
N 3.10783 E101.62499

For Best Banana Leaf Rice : Kanna Curry House
No. 29 Jalan 17/45, Petaling Jaya
N 3.11974 E101.62978

For Best Chicken Rice :Hainanese Chicken Rice
73, Jln. SS22/23, Damansara Jaya, Petaling Jaya
N 3.12595 E101.61618

For Best Crabs : Fatty Crab
No 2, Jln SS 24/13 , Taman Megah, Petaling Jaya
N 3.11482 E101.61254

For Best Char Koay Teow : Aunty Gemok
Restoran Jamal Mohamed No. 24, Jalan SS5A/9 Petaling Jaya
N 3.09526 E101.60546

For Best Satay : Satay Samuri Taman Melawati
Jalan Melati Utama 4, Melati Utama, Setapak
N 3.13505 E101.62370

For Best Nasi Lemak : Village Park
5, Jalan SS21/37, Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya
N 3.13774 E101.62318

For Best Street Burger : Burger OM
In Front of 7-11, Off Lorong Kolam Air Lama, Ampang
N 3.16063 E101.78560

For Best Kopitiam : Yut Kee Coffeeshop
35, Jalan Dang Wangi, Kuala Lumpur
N 3.15705 E101.70001

Those numbers at the bottom are not phone numbers ar.  (Note:  I’m still trying to figure out my GPS unit which didn’t come with instructions arrrghhhh.)

So there we were, enjoying our dinner at Pannaz Restaurant (Damansara Perdana), which was a pretty nice dinner too (the lamb that everyone else ordered was juicy and tender and served with a wedge of lemon and a mint salad) when the videos came on, and I was confronted face to face with a picture of a hugeass, SLOPPY burger that made me yearn for one in my hand (even though I was pretty satisfied with the meal at Pannaz (a robust mushroom soup, a grilled red snapper and a dessert combo consisting of a bread and butter stack (as opposed to a pudding), a chocolate cake and ice cream).

Thankfully, FriedChillies came with their resident Burger Dude aka Creative Director aka My HSS who, upon hearing of our proposed Burger Crawl, didn’t need much persuasion in leading the expedition.

And that’s how we ended up at midnight, at a longkang in front of a 7-11 in a location at co-ordinates N 3.16063 E101.78560 in Ampang.  Presenting, the winner for the Best Street Burger, Burger OM:

om burger

Timing is crucial.   Coordination is crucial.   The egg is broken onto the pan, and within seconds, a slice of cheese is added, the burger patty is thrown in and the entire bundle is wrapped up.  Shredded cabbage, lots of mayonnaise and chilli sauce form a bed on which the patty rests, and voila, a sloppy all-Malaysian burger is created.  Origination of meat – unknown, but I’m willing to overlook that.  So what makes this burger special?   The secret lies in the egg, the yolk still a little runny which adds to the overall slush that oozes out of the burger.   Oh, we suspect there’s ganja too.

In conclusion (coz I’ve been going off-topic quite a bit today):

1.  Congratulations to FriedChillies for a successful AFA 2009.  They’ve done a great job in promoting Malaysian food, and their enthusiasm in making Malaysian food recognisable worldwide is just so infectious.  I want to jump up and say hallelujah, come on over and try our street food.  And now, you have a list to depend on, so book that plane ticket and visit Malaysia!

2.  Burger OM is deserving of its win.  Checked, and authenticated.

3.  Why is there always a burger stall in front of a 7-11?  Or why is there always a 7-11 behind a burger stall?

4.  Why does my GPS unit not listen to my instructions?  Should I give it a few smacks?

5.  Hello, NomadGourmand and Chefspiration whom I met for the first time at the Awards.  Hello, Adly, Honey and Riz from FriedChillies whom I was meeting again after some months of absence.  Hello, Nic, Ciki, Boo_licious, Splashie Boy and Kenny Mah whom I see more often than I see my husband.

6.  Hello, Bald Eagle.  I MISS YOU.  I know you’re reading this across the miles.