Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Having Dim Sum With A Bottomless Pit

Twas a rather dreary Wednesday afternoon, having just bidden farewell to a friend who had left the party too prematurely. So, I was quite happy when Crew's Brew called me for lunch. Some hearty cheer never goes amiss in situations as grim as these.

The original intention was to eat at some coffee shop in the PJ State area, coz the fler had to make a withdrawal from HSBC. But parking at the PJ State area is GHASTLY at lunchtime, you'd have a better chance of spending the night with Nigella Lawson (I said Angelina Jolie at first, then I remembered this was a food blog) than getting a parking there. So, CB suggested (hmmm, CB is such a rude initial.... stands for so many swear words) dim sum at Jaya 33. Parking then became the criteria, not food. Having been to the Oriental Pavilion before, and finding it a bit overpriced, somewhere in the recesses of my mind, I recalled someone saying that Ah Yat Abalone has 50% off their dim sum on week days. I know for a fact that Unique Seafood, next to Ah Yat, DOES have 50% off, but having just gorged on oink free dim sum last week, I felt I needed the real thang.

Rather nervously, I suggested Ah Yat to CB, knowing worst comes to worst, we could opt for the kosher version, but to my delight, we saw the 50% off posters lining the entire path from the carpark to the restaurant.

I cannot fathom, how I, who LOOK like a Bottomless Pit, have actually very limited capacity, whilst CB, who looks like Brad Pit, (actually, no he doesn't) can have that masssssive appetite that would put even hungry food bloggers to shame.

It was like Christmas morning for CB, who was excitedly perusing through the menu and ticking every item that sounded remotely edible.

These yam puffs with a sliver of scallop on the top, I have to say, were absolutely divine. Melt in the mouth, crispy on the outside, warm and luscious on the inside, absolutely floods your tongue with the type of fulfilment you get after.....whatever. Then again, it was the first dish. Oh, by the way, since CB is a part time professional photographer, the shots were taken by him.

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He also ordered this from the alacarte, Garlic with a hint of brinjal. Delicious as it was, I was glad I wasn't planning on kissing anyone shortly after lunch, or didnt have any meetings to attend. Phoooweee, the garlic, how can something that taste so right repel vampires?

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The cheong funs, both charsiu and prawn, were velvety smooth, and could easily glide down your throat without any chewing required. Oh, unless you wanted to chew on the meat and prawn. But yes, thumbs up for the cheong fun as well.

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An assortment of other generic dim sum stuff, prawn dumplings, phoenix claws, (guys, sorry to tell you this, they might be called phoenix claws, but actually, they belong to the humble chicken, who were probably running around without their Nikes prior to their slaughter), Xiu Long Bao, and some other chive-y dumpling. They were all adequate, without invoking the famous "When Harry Met Sally" scene at the restaurant. Speaking of which, I sometimes wonder how sincere those props are in cooking shows, for there are some dishes that Celebrity Chefs churn out that honestly cant possibly taste good, but yet, the "guests" go, "ooooh, this is GORGEOUS". Pah, what a load of bull.

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This deep fried glutinous rice cakes is one of those classic examples of Indah Khabar Dari Rupa. (translation please). I thought it looked kinda interesting, but bleaghhhhh....not something I'd order again. The texture was dry, hard, I can almost envisage choking over this.

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Considering there were only two of us, after polishing all the stuff, CB was STILL hungry, and ordered a plate of Ee Foo Noodles. And this is lunchtime. I swear the man has a mini crematorium inside his stomach. The noodles were actually rather good.

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Mango Pudding and Kwai Lin Kou, (turtle jelly? whatsit called again?). I reckon you can't possibly go wrong with the black jelly, afterall, its like cincau, only with a herbal flavour, and really, have you ever tasted bad cincau? But Mango Pudding, yes, it's very possible to botch, as I did recently. Does anyone have a workable Mango Pudding recipe that can yield the kinda of texture you get at a restaurant? My mango pudding could potentially have been a weapon of mass destruction. Dig it out and fling it at target, sure to be knocked out.

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This mango pudding was a bit insipid, tasted like something out of a box. A few miniscule cubes of mango for authenticity in an otherwise fake exterior.

Now, always remember to READ fine print in restaurants. The 50% discount applied only to dim sum, and alas, even desserts do not fall under that category. At RM8 a pop for them desserts, it was not worth it. So, CB ended up paying more for the ala carte items, (Garlic With Hint of Brinjal, Ee Foo Noodles and two desserts), than for all the dim sum put together.

Overall, I'd say the dim sum with the 50% off is darn good value for money. Just stick to those items, and you will certainly get a satisfying meal. Do NOT stray from the path....say after me, do NOT stray from the path.

WARNING: COMMENTS SECTION IN THIS PARTICULAR POST, W.E.F. 5th MAY 08. HAS BEEN :


59 comments:

jamesbluntknife said...

CB? awww, i don't know any swear words with this initials - you'll have to teach me some when i am in Malaysia.

by the way, i tried the cream cheese and chocolate brownie recipe, but it turned into a pudding - the valencia orange i chose was too big i guess.

Anonymous said...

Will NOT stray from the path, will NOT stray from the path...

Indeed, I shall "follow the yellow brick road, follow the yellow brick road", till I come to the Emerald City of Discounted Dim Sum... :P

"Joe" who is constantly craving said...

pity ur fren..dear me..he was only 38!..and to see..accounting firm..oh dear me..need to think twice liao..

back to food..garlic with brinjal eh? didnt know brinjal was the seasoning haha...

now u remind me why dimsum in ah yat is cheap..the 50% isit..

fatboybakes said...

nipples, yup, i guess all our days are numbered, so live life to the fullest.

yar, dim sum there is pretty good value for money.

kennymah, heed the advice and thou shalt not go wrong

james, yes, i heard from lemongrass about the cursed recipe. you mean even after refrigeration the cream cheese didnt set? hey, i'm linking you okay.

Anonymous said...

Just one more month.. just one more month...

*soaks up another teatowel with drool..*

HairyBerry said...

a quick check at wikipedia revealed that kuai lin gou is indeed made of turtle's shell (powdered, of course)! but seems like a similar herbal additive has been used as a replacement since turtles became an endangered species...ah, how educational a blog can be, eh?

on the controversial initial: i see you learn bad things from the youths of today, eh? hehe...

jamesbluntknife said...

fbb: i'm going to try again, and see if i can make it work. to be honest, i ate it as a pudding in the end - smelt and tasted so good, couldn't let it go to waste!

and of course you can link me. mine is a little bereft right now, but give it time - once work becomes manageable...

jamesbluntknife said...

meena finally told me what "cb" means :P

Dee said...

looks delish, but these days i can't bring myself to pay anything more than kopitiam prices for dim sum :(

Anonymous said...

I have no idea what jamesbluntknife means. *whistling*

jamesbluntknife said...

hahahaha "saint"

so, what would you say, if i said "did you use palm sugar again?"

Anonymous said...

James ar, I'd say: with milk or without? What did you think I'd say? :-P

FBB, chewing on the meat and prawns in CCF never even crossed my mind. As for your overall writeup, I'm following Kenny on the yellow brick road.

Argus Lou said...

Oh, you very beachy to Ms Jolie, hor?
But, ya lah, how can she have such melancollies when her arms are like 0.3mm spaghetti, I ask you?!

Oooo... I'd love those 'phoenix claws' even if they were without stop-socks before their owners were murdered.

I keep saying, "Write for WeekEnder, lah!" Very entertaining to read, what.

Henry Yeo said...

have you ever tasted raw garlic cloves whole?

actually am a fan of phoenix claws and water phoenix claws

as for chef shows, just watch the F word, featuring Gordon Ramsey. those are paying customers, mind you. so if the food is bad, they don't pay.

to Kenny and St Lemongrass/Mother teresa: when are we going to walk down the yellow brick road?

fatboybakes said...

henry, hmm, yes, i think i have ingested entire raw garlic cloves, in a feeble attempt to lower cholesterol. what are water phoenix claws? duck feet ah? that goose web thingie? ooh, i love that.

argus, where got beachy to ms jolie? i like her wat, but she not a chef wor. heh, cant get phoenix claws in the alps ah? well, i shy la, to approach the weekender.

mother theresa, i cant think of a more inappropriate moniker for you.

james, sainthood and lemongrass go together like palm sugar and arsenic.

dee, you chinak ah? since you eat kopitiam dim sum? i tot you were malay.

james, again, (i'm replying these in reverse sequence), i've linked you already. she told you the numerous permutations of CB? actually, come to think of it, C has even more bad words than F.

nic mah man, thank you for that enlightenment. i knew it couldnt have been my imagination. haha, i cant believe you actually looked it UP, good lad.

kat, do we get to see you? why dont you coincide your visit with JAMES.

Anonymous said...

Henry: What on earth are water phoenix claws? Duck feet, issit?

As for the yellow brick road, Saint Lemongrass does not deign to "walk" down any such pedestrian paths... I believe she either sashays or gets carried by four of her infamous HSS (Hot, Sweaty Studs), Maharani-like.

Me? I dah jalan dah... following FBB's advice ma.

FBB & jamesbluntknife: Sainthood and lemongrass. Palm sugar and arsenic. Now, I wonder which combination has a higher likelihood of occuring? :P

fatboybakes said...

just doing a mental checklist of mother teresa vs the impostor.

dead - alive
virgin - duhh
white - black
bony and frail - very strong
wears a uniform and habit - displays cleavage when can
feeds the poor - feeds herself
single - married
saint in the making - not recognised by the pope at all

oooh, the similarities are staggering, i'm getting a migraine. donch angry ya, st lemon.

kennymah, you've been to the place oridi? that was quick.

Anonymous said...

Harlow. I'll have you know that if the Pope saw my cleavage, he'd grant me sainthood immediately. (Btw, to become saint, must be dead awready ar? Maybe Kenny would like to join me? feeding arsenic to Kenny Mah)

jamesbluntknife said...

you mean feeding palm sugar...

by the way, i don't think it was holy water he offered to sprinkle on your (i'll leave this to the collective imagination of the people commenting).

Anonymous said...

James....I've got a packet of palm sugar waiting for you when you come down. You'll be having teh tarik with palm sugar, fish curry with palm sugar, durian cheesecake with palm sugar, toddy with palm sugar, yong tau foo with palm sugar....hope you're not diabetic. Who cares anyway. :-P

As for your second comment, I'm beginning to wonder if this is a food blog. And I'm talking about generally accepted food, OKAY.

jamesbluntknife said...

hahahaha
actually, i use palm sugar now, for vietnamese claypot fish. it's rather good ;)

on an UNRELATED note, we're taking nic to hooters when we are in singapore.

subtlety reigns supreme here.

fatboybakes said...

jamesbk, mind you the palm sugar she gives you is just that, and not mixed with anything else. when u coming down here?

lemongrass, he eats durian?

james, who sprinkled what where?

holey, i dun think you have to be dead to be a saint. i am afterall one...
and if benedict did see your cleavage, he'd say, Yea though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death, i shall fear no evil...

fatboybakes said...

oops, i hope no one from my church visits this post.

Dee said...

you can find saffron in cold storage. i also saw some at the iranian grocer down by ampang point. RM13 for 100g, i believe.

btw, india mari.

Babe_KL said...

dats a lot of food for 2! i dun think i can eat more than 4 plates of dim sum *embarrassed*

Anonymous said...

ooppss, there goes the good o' wholesome image i've been cultivating for the past 0.75 blogosyears...yes, james and the gang and i are going to hooters...hoohoo!!!

i've had a preview of the place myself. none of those valley of the shadow of death. just creeks. still, we love to fish, don't we?

*sudden craving for a steamed lotus bun*

fatboybakes said...

AOI, for some bizarre reason, i actually feel tempted to make a trip to singapore and join you guys. what is hooters? it sounds boobsy, as do steamed lotus buns.

babe_kl, i went for dim sum once with a friend, who dont eat oink, and i completely forgot, and ordered like the works, siu mai, char siu bao, bai guat, ...so i had to eat 4 siu mai, 3 CSB, and all the pai kuat... these chinaks who dont eat pork are a pain. you mean you can eat 4 LONG of dim sum yourself?

dee, ah, you found your iranian grocer eh. okay, thanks for the tip.

Anonymous said...

sure or not? i'll welcome you with red carpet, fbb!

hooters' sorta like TGIF with babes wearing imaginative uniforms, doing the hula hoop. here the website for a preview (check out the recruitment page, hehe):
http://www.hooters.com.sg/home.htm

i've not tried sending links in html format before..hope it works...

tsk, tsk, tsk..only u can make bamboo steamers sound like a measure of mandom...haha!

Anonymous said...

FBB, who cares if the fler doesn't eat durian...I'm forcing it down his throat anyway. After I pour in palm sugar first.

Valley of the shadow of death? I'm sure you meant Mount Sinai where, in Jewish literature, the peaks would sing a chorus of praise. :-P

James ar, please don't poison young Nic's mind. He's barely fishing in creeks let alone gushing rivers.

Hooters! Hmmph. The things you guys do for......fried chicken wings!!!!

Argus Lou said...

Only one time a S'porean lady made Phoenix Claws (bought in Germany) stew for us. Shyness didn't get you anywhere - remember your teen years, FBB? ;-)

Ma Teresa: dead and wore a habit. Whereas St Limaugrass makes a habit of showing off her deadly canyon.

Hooters sounds like a fun place. The girls should wear short skirts rather than shorts, lah.

Fishing in creeks = Brokeback Mountain. As in "mana ada fishing one?"

Anonymous said...

argus: Hehe, ade ler fishing... just now in creeks, but between cheeks? Lol.

Lemongrass with Holes (ain't that what 'Holey' means? and u sure have some...): No thanks to the arsenic, babe. But it seems you're doing the same to James with the palm sugar. What do they call you down south? The Gula Melaka Murderer? :P

And when you say the peaks would sing a chorus of praise, surely you are not referring to your own wonderfully creamy, butterscotch peaks? O that we could wallow in them pillowy plums o' yours...

age of innocence: Oi, Pakcik Nic, ape innocent innocent ni? Dah le pergi Hooters... Eh, tak ajak I pun? Jeles...

FBB: I really hope no one from your church sees this. It's hard to behave in the presence of Her Holey-ness.

postscript. Nigella's or Lemongrass's? Who is boobsier? We need to know, FBB...

fatboybakes said...

i think i have to reclassify this blog as PG16. all these fishing in greeks, cup sizes of various culinary luminaries, waitresses in skimpy outfits, brokeback mountain (how did that come into the picture), ...... gasppppppppppppppp. even the aussie might be shocked. and we are a conservative, 3rd world, cuntfucianism value system instilled race of people who would never dream of sunbathing in a nude beach!!!

Anonymous said...

So now Nic's fishing between cheeks with a rod? Oooooo.

Kenny, how did you know about the creamy butterscotch peaks? I don't recall giving any food tasting sessions lately.

No longer a haunted hacienda, I see. :-P

Argus Lou said...

Ayo-ooo... Mrs GasperLimong, some more added 'rod' - aiyo... I spew my milk tea over laptop then u know. (Oo-er, that also sounds bad. But I'm not a man, thank goodness.)

Kenny, you'd better watch out. Lemony Grasskirt is gonna smack all four of your skinny cheeks with pucks of gula melaka.

FBB, you might get ex-communicated or sent to purgatory for this post-plus-XXXcomments. Poor thing leh...

Anonymous said...

"fishing between cheeks with a rod"? i think there's a term for that...*flipping thru my karmasutra-jr. edition*

wonder if i ever need baits...mmm...

i think this post has just been upgraded to PG21...

fatboybakes said...

TBFKAAOI, baits? there should be worms if you hard enough between the cheeks....(GUFFFAW, that is sooo gross, even i am smiling)...oh is that how you spell karmasutra..i always thought it was cumma sutra. PG 21? huh, more like PG40!

argus, four skinny cheeks? hmmm, thinking hard, one eye brow lifted in deep thought.... oh, and since we arent Roman Catholics, we have no purgatory or excommunication... we just go straight to hell...

gasping lemongrass...food tasting? eughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Anonymous said...

FBB: Sunbathing nude? Been there, done that. How 3rd World are we these days with globalisation, satelite TV and Facebook leh?

Gasping Lemongrass (one wonders why you're gasping now pulak... what could make you so, uhm, gaspy?): Not been lovin' me lately, but I do remember some wallowing in your womanly warmth from aeons before... :P

Argus: I'll have you know at least two of them cheeks aren't that skinny. Just ask Nigel and Allan, those manhandlers and molesters of derrières firm and otherwise... :P

the boy formerly known as age of innocence: Baits? I'd say something, but FBB already managed something grosser. Lol.

Henry Yeo said...

I see that they have been a lot of limited posters since the exchange started. Even mr nipples will blush (but then again, he might have dropped off the radar)

PS: ironic moment, the word verification i am typing in reads "lardw"

Anonymous said...

TBFKAAOI...here, take my copy. It's on Page 147. Sorry it's a bit soiled.

Argus, women can spew milk tea too. Check page 176. Something to do with Mr G. (Not to be confused with Msiagirl's Mr. G)

Kenny, yes yes...I remember February 30, 2007. We can have a rerun on September 31, 2008, the Devil be damned. FBB, you may join in. Take your pick....peaks or cheeks. (For cheeks, refer Page 239)

jamesbluntknife said...

fbb: i eat anything (or will attempt to). i'm not too good on curries though, think i'm allergic to something :(

i'll be in KL from the 19th of june, then a few days in penang and leave KL for singapore on the 2nd of july.

jamesbluntknife said...

"fishing between cheeks with a rod" - it's in my pop-up kamasutra book (and yes, they do make those)

i cna keep up with the best of them fbb, but time zones mean i miss out on all the good bits lol.

you should come to hooters for sure, then can lemonysnickets, nigella and hooters girl to find a "canyon" winner. or is that "peaks" lol

jamesbluntknife said...

lemongrassutra - soiled with milk tea again? mine's not much better - pages 43-47 stuck together - that damn milk tea is so sticky!

so now you only get one option? maybe my pop-up kamasutra is more comprehensive lol


speaking of validation words, mine inlolves "ooze"

fatboybakes said...

james of ooze, do bring along your pop up kamasutra when you cum to KL. oh dear, you're allergic to curries? which kind? the codename for hickies here is "curry chicken" apparently. dont ask me why.

lemongrassutra, gufffawwww....salute. speechless.

henry yeo, yeah, where IS nipples? havent heard a peek out of him. maybe its too risque for his young innocent untainted mind.

kennymah, oooh, do pray tell more about wallowing in womanly warmth...

Anonymous said...

Lemongrassutra: Sept 31, 2008 won't do for me. Got a date with the Devil. (And isn't damning the Devil, like, superfluous?)

How about 31st Nov instead? That's more likely to happen. We can try that position we always wanted to, on page 198? The one that requires a one-legged Dodo bird? I'm sure we can substitute a chicken for it. (We can substitute a chicken for anything what.)

james of ooze: Ooh, ooh, can I borrow that pop-up kamasutra too? Some things are just that much better in 3D...

FBB: I'd tell you but I like you, and wouldn't want you to suffer the consequences of acquiring this abominable/infernal/damnable knowledge. Plus, it's kinda gross too.

Henry & FBB, on Nipples: "Young innocent untainted mind"? Have you read his latest post on his hotel shenanigans in Bangkok? I so do not think so... :P

jamesbluntknife said...

i might try to find a new one ... trust me on this ;)

Anonymous said...

james, i heard spilt milk tea attracts ants, especially in their semi-solid phase...was your pop-up book infested with ants?

kenny, i like nipples' latest exposure...we all do..hehe...

i'm sure fbb's rushing to get the next post up to end this cummasutric menace.

jamesbluntknife said...

no, i think my milk tea was too salty for the ants - maybe i should try eating pineapple when i make it? i here that helps...

jamesbluntknife said...

hear*

Anonymous said...

james: And what does the pineapple do? Make it less salty? Sweeter? Me, I've always heard it's closer to bittergourd juice...

end of innocence: Cummasutric? Lol. I think that is da word to end all innocence here, if any existed in the first place. Methinks FBB really have to update his blog rating di...

fatboybakes said...

kennymah, i take bittergourd juice in the morning...what does it do again?

james of ooze, not all pineapple are sweet. why not just drink sugar cane juice?

end of innocence..(hah, innocence probably ended like 25 years ago for you), hmmm, come to think of it, you're right about ants and milk tea. i've seen it with my own eyes.

kennymah, re nipples, what hotel shenanigans? the hasty unbuttoning of shirt?

Anonymous said...

Here's something on the health benefits of bittergourd juice, FBB, glad to know you take it every morning:
http://www.juicing-for-health.com/bitter-gourd-benefits.html

As for Nipples, ya lar just mean that ma... got more scandalous than that meh? Oh do tell, do tell...

Argus Lou said...

Wah, who would've thought 'Dim Sum with a bottomless pit' would've engendered such saucy/roddy discussion?

Mr Ooze Bluntpisau, making up for lost time, eh? So poor thing...

FBB, your 'PG' stands for Punishment Guaranteed, or? (I'm sure y'all can gum up with better words.)

Lemony Grasskirt, can you imagine a fishing implement covered in ANTS?!! *shudder*

Kenny -- in which there was no need to tell about your molestation experience *puts up hand* (though not for job, ahem) - in which there was too much info! In which case, were they priests? (Which witch were you in, lah?)

Anonymous said...

I know, Argus, I know. *nodding head sagely*

I'm going to be a nun. Better than having creepy crawlies up my...uhm...passageway.

Anonymous said...

Argus: Yalor, got molested! *sniffs sniffs*

Btw, I think your version of what PG stands for is darn good oredy. Otherwise, we can always go for "Perverts Gathering"? Lol.

"Sister" (?) Lemongrass: Nun. Sure boh? Which convent will accept leh? What with the creepy crawlies up your...uhm...passageway?

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Hey FBB
your writing style is great you should have a syndicated column in the NYT!
Let me send some makan photos and you can use them.
John

fatboybakes said...

dear john, thank you , you are too kind. i wish, NYT, wow, that would be something.

fatboybakes said...

kenny, i'm sure lots of cults and deviant sects have nuns. not necessarily the RC church where virginity is a prerequisite. my sympathies over your molestation

argus, ....i lost you there. which witch? huh?

Argus Lou said...

Dear FBB, I oso forgot wth I was writing about -- ya'll hafta ask KennyMar. His 'Three Kingdoms' post in his blog is full of "in which". And he has lotsa witches up his sleeves one, if not up his trouser legs. ;-P