The Foodie and the Garmin-Asus nüvifone M10

Posted on March 24, 2010 by Lyrical Lemongrass

I have a fear for hell and Petaling Jaya (PJ).

I’ve got the hell issue well addressed, and that leaves me with PJ. I have only just figured out certain roads in SS2 (where New Formosa and Hoi Peng and the lok lok man are), but that leaves me with a terrifying area of speckled non-sequential numbers, waiting to swallow me into the depths of an apocalyptic chasm. In New York, one knows that 5th Avenue follows 4th Avenue. In PJ, if you walk in one direction of SS2, you’ll find yourself in SS22, a misleading leap of 20 numbers which is a pretty good tool for conning the folk when you want to show off how far you’ve jogged. “I ran from SS2 to SS22, bow down and worship me now, heathen.”

Psychic Kim dropped me an email one day asking me if I would to test out the latest toy in the market, the Garmin-Asus nüvifone M10, to be launched in KL on March 25, 2010. If I could overcome my fear for PJ, I would be able to move down my list of fears and address the next one – bungee jumping. So off I went a-testing, because bungee jumping waits for no man.

Quick facts. The Garmin-Asus M10 works on GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 HSDPA 900 / 2100 network technology, weighs 138 grams, has a screen size of 3.5 inches and a touchscreen menu. Because it’s a Garmin and a phone, the Garmin software is already preloaded into the phone, and in addition to the City Navigator Singapore/Malaysia, it comes with the popular Malsingmaps Malaysia/Singapore/Brunei. It also has a 5.0 Megapixel camera.

If you’re getting this phone, chances are, it’s because of Garmin. Wait time for satellite connection is short, and then you’re ready to go. There’s a stylus to help you key in the names of locations. The screen is clear both in daytime and at night. It also has voice navigation (American or British English, Malay or Chinese). I tested it out from Bangsar KL to Bukit Tinggi Klang, and around PJ, and in both instances, it worked pretty well.

Of course, the reason you’re here is not because you trust my tech knowledge, but because I can tell you why I like it from an end-user’s point of view. Here are 10 reasons why I think the Garmin-Asus M10 is a keeper:

It’s an all-in-one device. No more large handbags to evening functions. Just pop the Garmin-Asus M10 and your wallet into your evening bag, and you’re good to go.
It gets you to places like Puchong Lim (caution: eat responsibly) without fear.
While you’re waiting at Puchong Lim for your monkey stew to arrive, you can check Facebook and Twitter on your device.
You can plot your next route (or escape from Puchong Lim) while waiting.
While you’re plotting your next route, you can look up food finds on the Navigational Panel (really cool) or you can SMS Finder 401 if you’re on Maxis.
It’s an entertainment unit. You can download songs and games onto the device, but if you’re cheap and looking for a quick thrill when no comedian is in the vicinity, you can learn how Americans pronounce the names of our local roads. No prizes for guessing what Jalan Panty in KL is.
Once the food arrives, you can quickly whip out your phone with the 5.0 Megapixel camera and snap away. I tested it alongside my iPhone 3G, and to be honest, the iPhone 3G failed miserably. The Garmin-Asus M10 worked better under low light conditions, and pictures were also sharper.
If you’re a food blogger, you can upload the pictures onto the blog immediately and geotag your location for the benefit of your readers.
For the workaholics, the phone comes with Office Mobile which includes Word, Excel and Powerpoint Mobile.
It comes in black or white, and either colour matches your nails. No need for major wardrobe change. Phew.

Picture captured with the Garmin-Asus M10 under normal light conditions. Thanks, Marcky, for the delicious floss-filled-love-letters from Penang!

I don’t love everything, of course. I own an iPhone, so the finger swiping thing across the screen is my forte. With the Garmin-Asus M10, I find it easier to swipe across with the stylus. Also, picture quality, although better than my iPhone, still isn’t perfect yet. A slight blue tinge is cast on my pictures, and on occasion, it isn’t as sharp as I’d like it to be. The Garmin function also drinks up the battery, so it’s good to keep it charged in the car or you may miss Jalan Panty altogether.

Since the phone will only be launched on March 25, 2010 (tomorrow, people!), prices have yet to be released although sources say that it will be priced between RM1,700 and RM2,000.

Thanks, Kim and Garmin-Asus for kindly sponsoring the phone for this helpless foodie. And if you’d like a chance to win a free Garmin-Asus M10 phone, hop over to FriedBeef’s Tech.

Please don’t remind me about bungee jumping if you bump into me.

Pink Martini and The Pink Sage

Posted on March 22, 2010 by Lyrical Lemongrass

No Pink Martinis at The Pink Sage – Chai latte and peach, avocado and vanilla yoghurt smoothie

My orientation with Pink Martini came several years late. While Bald Eagle loved their Sympathique album, released in 1997, I was still grappling with the idea of who Pink Martini was. Wanting to appear totally informed on the day of the concert last week, I googled Pink Martini and was led to the Wiki page. Now, I always take Wiki pages with a pinch of salt, but this time, it was sprinkled with a quirky sense of humour as well. In describing the music of Pink Martini, this is what Wiki had on them: The goal was to create the kind of records with which one would hopefully never grow tired of. Records that could be played whether you were sad or gleeful. Cleaning, vacuuming around the house or seducing somebody’s grandmother.

Groan.

After that description, I went to the concert with somewhat diminished expectations, but instead, spent two hours being mesmerized by the music. When China Forbes sang Over The Valley from the album Splendor in the Grass, her voice soared with a clarity that could cut through the stillness in the Dewan.

When my husband seduces me with Pink Martini when I am old and grey, I shall think of Pink Martini and the Wiki page, and I shall nod and smile appreciatively sans teeth.

Pink Martini at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, Kuala Lumpur

Pancakes

Pink is my favourite colour when it isn’t turquoise. Or green. Or blue. All things in moderation, I believe, and I own a pink handbag from Che Che New York to prove my earnestness towards that girly preference. Okay, you can stop pointing that gun at me, Toygirl.

The Pink Sage was Sean’s idea of curing me during my recent bout of illness. Understandably, the place had all the elements that would cheer me up. Loads of sunshine. Simple food. Pancakes. Aah, Buttermilk Pancakes. The past flashed before my eyes as I recalled an earlier visit to the outlet at Wisma RA (now closed), and how I was hooked on the buttermilk pancakes, ecstasy in three layers. This time, the pancakes were like Sean’s incessant singing to me, promising at the beginning, but flat in the end. It wasn’t as fluffy as how it used to be, but the corn syrup and warm boysenberry syrup provided good flavour and prevented it from being eliminated from Round One of the competition.

The Eggs Benedict served with smoked salmon on rye bread (instead of a muffin) was average. The poached eggs were okay, but the hollandaise sauce didn’t quite hit the mark. The Black Angus Cheeseburger fared better with its thick and moist patty, although the flavour of the reputedly superior meat was lacking. What I was totally disappointed with was Duck Pasta, which was swimming in a sea of oil and served with tough slices of meat. The texture of the pasta was also a little too al-dente for my liking. Thankfully, the Huevos Rancheros, an afterthought as we were winding down our meal, saved the day. The tortillas with sour cream, fried egg, tomatoes, beans, cheese and generous slices of creamy avocado were hearty and delicious.

The Pink Sage is now at its new address at Solaris Dutamas above PappaRich, and it is a lot more spacious compared to its previous location. Wine is BYO. Service is friendly and attentive, and it’s a great place to hang out with friends. There are various types of seating available, from booths to bar chairs.

The Pink Sage
A4-UG1-1 Solaris Dutamas
No. 1, Jalan Dutamas 1
50480 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 016-2052023

(Operational hours run from 8.00am – 11.00pm)

Also check out Sean’s blog here. The sweetie, despite being very likely to fail Simon Cowell’s stringent standards for singing, has a heart of gold. (Thanks a bunch for lunch!)

Other reviews:
Augustdiners
One2Two
Josh.my
Milo Ais, Satu!

Duck Mushroom Cipolla Olio Angel Hair Pasta

Huevos Rancheros

Black Angus Cheeseburger

Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon

Root Beer Float and Haagen Dazs shake

Sangria and Mojito Flavoured Iced Teas

Free water

Aliyaa, Damansara Heights

Posted on March 16, 2010 by Lyrical Lemongrass

Aliyaa holds many memories for me – memories of sharing a birthday celebration a couple of years ago with two special people in my life (with an FBB-created pavlova, no less), memories of being surprised with a gorgeous set of sushi cakes, and memories of meeting certain people for the first time there and enjoying friendships that have lasted thus far. There are other memories, but some are best kept within the confines of the four walls and staircase. Ah, it is a hard task to be secret-keeper and friend, especially when the white page of my blog beckons. My loyalty, however, is as steadfast as the cakes that FBB bakes for me, and for as long as he continues to feed me, I will not speak. Nay, my lips are sealed with chocolate and cream.

My first encounter with Sri Lankan food was, surprisingly enough, in a wintry kitchen in London. Bald Eagle’s uncle’s wife, a Sri Lankan lady whose training as a lawyer did not go amiss as she entertained us with witty and hilarious anecdotes of family life in perfectly punctuated English, cooked the most marvelous Sri Lankan dishes. Coming home after a long day of shopping and sightseeing to a plate of steaming rice and hot curry was the perfect antidote to combat the cold. It was in that very kitchen that I learnt how to make coconut sambol (masi) made with Maldive fish, grated coconut and lime juice, and subsequently smuggled some Maldive fish back to KL because at that young(er) age, I had no idea where to find such a versatile ingredient.

Our friend, Logan, loves spicy food, and since it was his birthday last week, Toygirl organised a surprise party at Aliyaa. Sri Lankan cuisine is known for being spicy, and in fact, it is even spicier than the South Indian food which is more commonly available in KL. Despite that knowledge, nothing prepared us for the onslaught of spice and heat as we drank copious amounts of water to sooth our burning tongues. It was a welcome problem, though, as the food was delicious, and so we carried on our masochistic behaviour of assaulting and battering our sensitive stomachs all in the name of pleasure. We were lazy to use our fingers, and skipped the house recommendation, the Sri Lankan crab curry. However, the Mutton Paal Poriyal was a worthy substitute, tender and tasty, cooked in a dry gravy with lots of cumin, chilli and curry leaves. The String Hoppers (made with rice flour) went wonderfully with the Mixed Vegetable Sothi, a fragrant coconut milk curry coloured yellow with turmeric. The Fish Curry was especially spicy, but I kept pouring it on my rice, virtually drinking it up and giving Logan a run for his money.

Aliyaa is located in a two-storey bungalow with a more formal setting downstairs, and a bar with an outdoor area upstairs. The furniture is heavy and sturdy, much like what Aliyaa means – “elephant” in Singhalese. The place seems to have survived the test of time (in restaurant years), so here’s hoping that my memories in this place will continue to live.

Aliyaa
8 Lorong Dungun
Bukit Damansara
50490 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-2092 5378

Operating Hours: 12pm to 1am (Mon to Thurs), 12pm to 3am (Fri), 6pm till late (Sat), Sun closed.

Lamb cutlets