Lemon Garden Cafe, Shangrila, for Ah Ma Yat

Somehow the name Lemon Garden always triggers of that song, Lemon Tree, in my head. I remember in 1995-96, when that hit song by Fools Garden was played everywhere, and in every conceivable dialect. On a dive trip in Redang, it was playing like a broken record in Hokkien, in the resort, shattering (like the sound of glass breaking at the beginning of the song) the peace and tranquil of that entire island.

Anyway, the quest for a suitable venue for Mother's Day started last Monday, (I like to plan in advance, and not call on the day itself or risk being turned away), and our first choice was Sudu, at KL Hilton, since my mother has never been. However Sudu doesnt offer the membership discount for mother's day, which I thought was a bit of a bummer. Talk about commercialising a random day. So I also did a back up booking for Lemon Garden, and put forth the various proposals at the next family business meeting, and it was unaimously voted that "go for the discounted place, can always go back to sudu when we CAN get discount". Made sense, actually, for the saving was about RM120.

Ya, so, all the adults, sans kids, headed for the buffet spread. I think it's a waste of money to bring kids to the buffet, UNLESS its free. Jogoya, which has fallen out of favour with us, charges the kids by HEIGHT, and my 8 year old girl has to pay full price coz she happens to be tall. How ridiculous is that. Lemon Garden is far more reasonably, they charge by age, and I think 6-12 is 50% off. But even then.....doesnt make sense to pay RM50 for the kids to eat what? pasta and ice cream?

As usual, Lemon Garden was PACKED PACKED PACKED. In STARK contrast to that unnameable shockingly bad buffet I went to last weekend. (I have to clarify, I am NOT a buffet fan at all, soooo happens..., in fact, on Saturday night I had a delightful ala carte at Zipangu, but forgot to take pics as we go there quite often, and it didnt occur to me to take pics, until the foie gras assailed my visual senses, then I kicked myself for forgetting the camera).

Being fairly kiasu, of course I made sure I did the 5km kiara hill (running part of the way) before dinner, and expelled any left lover stuff lingering in the intestines. Also, I usually avoid any carbo fillers, ie, rice, pasta, but I do have a weakness for noodles though, especially the curry mee at this particular buffet.

My homing device usually zeroes in on any of these items at buffets. Sashimi, (actually the KL Hilton one even has yellowtail, my favourite), prawns, oysters, scallops, abalone (bleh, they served this stuff supposedly canned abalone, but hallo, me thinks not...), then followed by other stuff la. Yesterday, I had the usual seafood platter to start,


followed by curry mee, (I like their chicken char siew, though it would have been much better with raw kerang), the gravy which was nice and thick. My bro in law had two bowls.


I love the fancy way with which these condiments are displayed.


The indian/ middle eastern fare seemed the least popular. Throughout the night, there was an entire curry fish that seemed untouched. YOu could tell, coz it was a whole fish. While it looked good, I had no desire to poke into this tandoori.


Ah, dried scallops in abundance. I love this food, coz ever since I was a child, my late grandmother used to give it to us sooo sparingly, like it was gold. Of course, the rarer something is, the more delicious the brain makes it out to be.

I did have some rojak, and queued like an illegal immigrant in the indonesian embassy, for the shoft sell crab (am I slurring oridi in the morning) tempura, which was really, not worth the queue. It was okay la. Oh another thing, I actually am very shy when it comes to asking food to pose for pictures. I usually surreptitiously whip out the camera, and click, hence the poor quality. (apart from no skill). But once they're on my plate, and on my own table, I guess I don't mind asking them to pose for awhile.


Now, of course, dessert is always a treat in the Shang. Even if you do not like cakes, they have an assortment of fruits, ice cream, ice kachang, all of which are rather delectable. Malaysians obviously know their prices, coz rock melons came and went like shares traded during Repco Low's day.
On my little plate were a strawberry mousse, passion fruit and longan jelly, a raspberry tartlet a the back, and a small slice of opera, which was forgettable.


Don't be shocked by 3 scoops of icecream, as they're the size of pingpong balls. Chocolate, strawberry and tiramisu. I love homemade strawberry ice cream, and movenpicks. ..and haagen daz.


Well, it was an unnecessarily filling meal, but overall, quite worth it la. With the discount card, the bill came up to RM90 per person net. Can't complain, for that kind of quality of food. (The night before, our total Zipangu bill was RM80 for the two of us though....its really worth it when you use the discount card for two people).