Vaguely remembering...

My grandma always had her hair tied into a bun, and dentures in the place of teeth long gone.

Seated in a corner with her coke-bottle glasses on, she knits, sews, and sometimes dozes off.

Come meal time, I am always the one assigned with the task of screaming “Grandma, let’s eat!” repetitively, till eventually she walks over to the dining table, in her own pace and time.

She was 88 years old when she left us. I was in my teens.

I will always cherish the years I spent with her.

Just 2 or more weeks ago, I asked DJ Blink what he remembers most of his grandma, (who is very much alive and kicking at 70+), he told me "I'll always remember walking into her kitchen where she cooks for her restaurant then – Sakura at Jalan Imbi; and the aroma she conjures like wizards with their magic."

That's just grand.

Undoubtedly, this British Council Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 adores his grandma for sentimental reasons, and is clearly inspired by her passion in upholding exemplary work ethics and relentless quality.

As a tribute to this remarkable lady, DJ Blink will be launching a new restaurant that's appropriately named Grandmama's, located on the 6th floor of Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, with dates to be announced pretty soon.

For their signature dish, I just can't wait to tell you about the Freshwater Prawn Soup Noodles that I had the privilege of testing at their newly opened external kitchen recently.

But for now, all I can reveal to you is, it's simply amazing how prawn roe can come alive in a bowl of soup noodles.

One and a half hour downsouth of KL.

Thinking of dropping by Melaka this weekend? Here's a quick picture guide on what to eat and where to go when you do visit the 'historical state'...




* Cendol is a coconut milk-based dessert with spoonfuls of sweetened red beans, corn, worm-like green noodles, and shaved-ice topped with lipsmacking Gula Melaka (palm sugar).

More ideas to fill your Malaccan weekend - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malacca

Cowan Street Nga Choy Chicken.

Ipoh is about 2 and a half hours drive away up north from Kuala Lumpur. But the difference in the taste and quality of certain delicacies is very apparent.

For example, the perfectly steamed chicken and its exclusive blend of oil, soya sauce and spices at Cowan Street, is simply the best in the world.

Then comes the stumpy, juicy beansprout (which we call 'nga choy' in Cantonese) that's uniquely Ipoh. Most nga choy that you'll find anywhere else are undeliciously long and malnourishedly scrawny.

And to top it all, you have the clear but super tasty soup noodles that complement the nga choy and chicken. Plus a big serving of 'melts in your mouth not in your hands' Low Kai Kiok (stewed chicken feet) that's to be placed in the middle of the table and shared by all.



Last but not least, I'd have to mention that this place opens for dinner only. (That makes this the very first extended hours one2two special edition). And the boss man below, loves to go on unplanned vacations. So you'll be lucky if it's open for business when you do get there. That's how it is when you're the world's best (' ',)

Finding Joy in Happy Garden.

Sunny works in the same office as I do. He lives in Happy Garden, off Old Klang Road. Kafe Joy happens to be located near where he lives. He said we should check this place out. And so we did.

As it turns out, as told to me way after the meal, Kafe Joy is owned by an ex-schoolmate of mine, which I will try and find out just who exactly he is on my next visit.

More importantly, the Braised Lamb Brisket Noodles, which is not something you'll find in any Chang, Chung or Chong restaurant across Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya or anywhere else in Malaysia, was simply better than expected.

On the same menu, you have the choice of Braised Pork Rib Noodles, Braised Beef Brisket Noodles and more. On the drinks list, you can't help but notice the Cucumber and Sour Plum Juice, which was very refreshing.

And, Sunny also did mention that Kafe Joy serves some wicked tong shui (boiled desserts).

Last but not least, two ex-schoolmates of mine told me on Facebook, that Kafe Joy is flanked by Dr. Suresh's clinic and Cikgu Lim's tuition centre. And right across the street is where the morning market is.

Now surely, these are sufficient information right here, for you to discover Joy in Happy Garden.

Moorthy's Mathai Indian Rice.

So, who's Moorthy and who's Mathai? Let me tell you what I heard...

They're 2 clever Indian entrepreneurs who were good friends. K. O. Mathai started the business back in 1969, R. Moorthy took over the business recently, and rebranded it.

The stall was previously operated out of Restoran New Lay Sin (a.k.a. Peking Hotel, back in the days when Jalan Tun Sambathan was still Jalan Brickfields). Now, it has shifted 2 blocks down to Mayflower hawker centre near the MAB Building, 144A, Jalan Vivekananda, KL. For directions, call Moorthy at 03-2260 3698/6698.

So, who's gamed for some curry powder marinated fried tenggiri (horse mackerel) to go with all the rice, curries and vegetables that you can eat on a banana leaf, or, walk on over to the next stall for the just-as-famous Peter's Pork Noodles instead?

And who's Peter? I can tell you that he's very much alive and serves possibly one of the best Pork Noodles in the entire Klang Valley (' ',)

Uncle Cheng's Beef Noodles.

If you're in the mood for some 'dry' beef noodles, Johor Bahru style, and a chat about all things beef, then this is the place to be. Julian, the son of Uncle Cheng, is one knowledgeable chap with a slight hint of wit, especially when the topic of conversation is about what else but beef.

And timing is everything too. He'll come around for the questions after he's fed you with the good stuff, all dripped in a special brown sauce, enhanced with a pinch of sesame seeds, harm choi (salted vegetable), and fried groundnuts for extra flavour.

And don't deny yourself some awesomely fresh beef tendons apart from the usual beef mix of tripe, beef slices and beef balls. Plus bowls after bowls of deliciously potent soup upon request, valid while stocks last.

Besides the 'dry' style beef noodles that's very much similar to the one in Seremban, if not better, Uncle Cheng Jr. serves the 'soup' version too. But you know which style I'd much prefer, and strongly recommend. To get there, head towards Restoran Khasiat Cafeteria, Jalan 17/12, PJ. Or call Julian at 012-303 0626 for directions.

Wok Energy.

Not all woks are created equal. How else would you differentiate one plate of Kong Foo Chow (Cantonese Fried Noodles), or Fook Kin Chow (Hokkien Fried Noodles) from another?

Some days, or most days these days, when it gets too hot for an outdoor One2Two, you'd want to opt for an air-conditioned restaurant inside Plaza Damas called Wok Hei.

Now this is a ballsy name for a restaurant. A name that pays tribute to the 'energy' of the wok. And it normally involves a whole lot of kung fu than any Chang, Chung or Chong chef (the Malaysian version of Tom, Dick and Harry) can handle.

When the moment of truth arrived, as the plate of noodles was laid down on the table, my chopsticks raised, and my nose in position to catch the all-telling whiff - I knew there and then, like one would know a Chivas from a Jack Daniels, that this was gonna be special.

There is no mistaking the taste of 'energy' from the well-heated wok, encapsulated in the rice vermicelli and flat noodles of the Yin Yong Kong Foo Chow. Or especially in the curry-laced sauce of their Kam Heong Chicken.

For variety sake, they also have other favourite local dishes here as well, like Kangkong Belacan, Stir Fried Sotong, Sweet & Sour Chicken and more. And believe it, they're all better than those served in your average restaurants.

The steamed fish however, which do not require the use of a wok, was quite a let down.

But all in all, taking into consideration the cool surroundings of a shopping mall in Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur, minus the sweaty shirt after a meal under the hot sun outside, I'd rate this place two-thumbs up. And that's a lot higher than I would ever rate a Jackie Chan Hollywood flick.