Tag / centrepoint
The holiday season is coming, the malls are already having x’mas decorations, and we’re all looking forward to the festivities. Hohohoho
To me though, this is also a time to catch up with some old young friends over a several glasses of drinks.
I was chatting online with Pinky over some work and suddenly realized that we actually haven’t properly met again ever since she came back from Melbourne. Earlier in the conversation we were just talking about beer, and in particular, Kilkenny.
So I asked her to join us for dinner at Bernard’s where they serve Kilkenny draught.
KY at Bernard’, Centrepoint, BU
To some, Kilkenny might still be a pretty foreign brand (Haze never had it until now). I actually first learnt it from Suan and FA not very long ago. The Irish cream ale has a head that’s risen, pretty similar to Guinness draught, it is also very smooth and carries a full flavor.
Pinky, Haze, and a couple pints of Kilkenny
A small amount of roasted barley gives this beer the distinct reddish tint that also adds to the flavor. I like it, the girls do too.
If you are a beer fan and haven’t had a taste of Kilkenny, give it a try. There are now over 200 locations where it is served, a pint usually goes at around RM 20, there are places that have 3 for RM 50 too.
pesto pasta with grilled chicken, chinese style pork chop
Dinner was a Chinese style pork chop served with steamed rice (RM 23) for me, and the Pesto Pasta with grilled chicken (RM 20) for Haze.
I liked the capsicum sauce served with the pork chop but thought the meat was a little too lean though, you’ll like it more if overly fatty pork isn’t your craving.
The pesto pasta though, was excellent. I mean, just look at the piece of grilled chicken thigh there and tell me if it wasn’t beautiful? I am going to order this next time, definitely goes well with the Kilkenny!
What will be under your tree this year?
Address:
G9A-14, Centrepoint,
Jalan Leboh Bandar Utama,
47800 Petaling Jaya
Selangor
GPS: 3.137988, 101.610124
Tel: 03-7710 3188
Sometimes late last year, some dude who probably shares our collective frustrations in calculating service charge and government tax when trying to split bills came up with an idea: Why not a restaurant that doesn’t include the 5% or 10% extra charges?
While at that, why not have it decorated decently, comfortable, and yah, price the food cheaply too? And that was how Kitchen Creatures was born.
Kitchen Creatures, no frill dining
Of course I made that up completely and never really talked to the owner, but I suppose the truth shouldn’t be too far from my conjecture.
Kitchen Creatures is located at the first floor BU Centrepoint on the lot that previously occupied by Manhattan Fish Market. You could mistake the restaurant for an Ikea showroom, brightly lit, with furniture made of glass, metal, paper, and plastic. Not exactly a bad thing.
chicken wings, baked mushroom
We went there recently for early dinner and had us some different dishes. The chicken wings (RM 9) was delicious, it seems like they marinate it properly with the flavor not only skin deep.
The baked stuffed mushroom (RM 7.80) ordered by Suan must be at least decent, as the lady proclaimed “ohh it’s good!” after the first bite.
beef stroganoff, seafood cream sauce pasta, big daddy burger, aglio olio prawns
I chose one of the less common dishes from the menu – beef stroganoff (RM 14). It was a semi curry/cheesy sauce with beef, a bit of mushroom, onion, and rice. It wasn’t exactly great, I found the beef a bit too tough, but the sauce was pretty alright though.
The pastas ordered by the ladies: seafood cream sauce (RM 15) and aglio olio shrimp (RM 13) were both reported to be satisfying, and Gareth’s big daddy burger (RM 18) that came with 2 thick meat patties, egg, ham, cheese, and a side of chips was good enough to meet this mat salleh’s expectation.
Suan, Horng, Kerol, Gareth, Kim
Kitchen Creatures definitely offer great value for what you get, if you stick to seafood, chicken, or pretty much everything that doesn’t involve beef or lamb, they usually turn out pretty good. The problem with beef/lamb on a budget is that they’re usually of inferior cuts/quality, and I’d usually rather not have them.
Address:
Kitchen Creatures
Lot F110, Centre Point
3, Lebuh Bandar Utama,
47800 PJ, Selangor
GPS: 3.137988, 101.610124
Tel: 03-7729 8039
When the dragon OBC lady was still staying at BU, we used to go to Centrepoint quite often. Yes, we often caved into her insistence, arguing with suanie is often an exercise in futility.
Which led to this blog covering disproportionately high number of entries on restaurants in this little shopping mall. Bernards, Champs, Cagayan, Jade Garden, Momo (changed name/owner), and Shanghai 1930 (closed).
the Straits Cafe at BU Centrepoint
I had no idea when the Straits Cafe first appeared at Centrepoint, it has the look of one of those restaurants that I usually wouldn’t stepped in to try until being suggested, in this case, by Jaclyn, who has been quite a regular customer.
Tucked at the inside of Centrepoint, most tables are al fresco. No air conditioning, but there are quite a few big fans blowing about. The menu is filled with a mixture of local and Thai delights – char kueh teow, phat thai, various types of fried rice, mee goreng, even steamed siakap and daging masak merah. Quite a variety.
Char Kueh Teow, Prawn Mee, Crab Meat fried rice, Mee Siam
I had the prawn mee (RM 8.90) on my first visit with #porkgang, and char kueh teow (RM 8.90) on my second visit with Val (who was passing the Corica Apple Strudel from Perth). While both dishes weren’t the best that I’ve had, they did not disappoint at all, and probably one of the better halal version of these dishes I’ve had from anywhere.
Others were happy with mee siam (RM 7.90) that looked a bit uninspiring, and the crab mee fried rice (RM 8.90) Val ordered was actually quite tasty too, despite not seeing much crab meat in it. But it’s less than RM 10 per plate anyway, and crab meat’s expensive.
Lorbak, Ais Kacang, and Roselle drink
I didn’t particularly like the chicken lorbak (RM 7.90) which was a bit too dry for my taste, I still believe this is one of those items without a good substitute for good old fashion pork meat in it. Their fried chicken wings (RM 6.90) though, was very tasty!
The Straits Cafe offers quite a few choices for desserts, ais kacang (RM 5.00) wasn’t disappointing, and there were also penang rojak, cendol, logan jelly, and even Thai steamed tapioca. My personal favorite drinks at the place would be the Roselle ice, I last had it years ago during a food review at Coca restaurant and never seen it on any menu since. It’s a pretty special drink, try it when you have the chance.
Kim, Gareth, KY, Jac, Eric, Horng, Suanie, and Val (separate visit)
While not exactly the best food you can find, the Straits Cafe does offer pretty decent food at a price that is acceptable for the type of place it is. This would be one of the places I should keep in mind especially when bringing Muslim friends for food.
Address:
The Straits Cafe
Centrepoint,
Jalan Leboh Bandar Utama,
47800 Petaling Jaya
Selangor
GPS: 3.137988, 101.610124
BU Centrepoint is one of our favorite places to meet up, partly due to the free parking after office hours and weekends, and mostly due to the dictatorial behavior by Suanie, who stays close enough she could get there on foot if she wants to.
On the very first day of the year, we started off with a great get-together brunch at Champs in BU Centrepoint. (and went to Hulu Langat Thai Fish Farm for dinner on the very same day too)
pork: checked, beer: checked, alfresco: checked, hot waitress: checked
Located on the first floor of the older section of Centrepoint, Champs had been around for quite a long time. The menu at this restaurant ranges from the popular local hawker foods such as hokkien mee and pork noodle to slightly more westernized dishes like spring chicken and fried calamari.
It is quite unique, you don’t get too many bistros with LCD TVs, air conditioned, while serving beer and soya sauce pork at the same time. (Incidentally, Bernard’s Bistro located at downstairs is more of the same, owners are related)
the very sinful tau eu bak (soya sauce pork)
Almost without fail, every time I go to Champs, I order the tau eu bak (soya sauce pork). This is the quintessential traditional Hokkien dish that my mom used to cook on special occasions back in Penang, and I’ve always loved it to the max. Thank goodness I’ve been able to find a good bowl of tau eu bak here at Champs (another place would be Poeny Garden in Kota Damansara).
The two most important thing on a bowl of good tau eu bak are the texture of the pork, and the sambal belacan. Champs got both of these right, the pork very tender and had the right amount of fat vs lean meat ratio; the sambal belacan was just the classic red chili + belacan + lime mixture, I really love the sambal.
the signature Prawn Mee (hokkien mee) at Champs
For most people, Champs is synonymous with their Prawn mee (or Hokkien mee if you’re from Northern Malaysia). Though the price seems quite a bit steeper than those you get from hawker centers, they are quite a big difference in the bowl.
Crispy shallots, kang kung, generous amount of pork, bean sprouts, and that super huge prawn soaked in a soup base that is as good as you can get from anywhere. Of course, the ambiance at Champs beat pretty much any kopitiam too.
fire pork balls, calamari fritters, spring chicken, crispy pork belly
There’s also quite a good selection of finger foods at Champs that goes especially well with beer. Fire pork balls and crispy pork belly are quite essential if you are swine lovers, and though they aren’t exactly easy on the wallet, they certainly tasted very good. However, I thought the spicy calamari fritters were just ordinary, it’s probably not something I would order again.
While the group basically ordered either tau eu bak or the prawn mee, kerol got herself the spring chicken. To our collective amazement, it was the WHOLE chicken! It must have been a long spring season too as the bird didn’t exactly look very small. She did say that the chicken was good, just too big a portion though.
Kim, Horng, Suan, Kerol, KY, Gareth, Jac, Eric, Terence, Rachel
Other than the dishes we ordered, Champs is also quite well known for their Hokkien Mee, Char Kueh Teow, pork noodle, and other local delights prepared with high quality ingredients.
It was a very satisfying lunch session that lasted more than a couple hours at the end. Even though it is not exactly cheap to dine here, Champs will remain one of those places that I visit every once in a while.
Address:
Champs Bistro
Lot F10, 1st Floor, Centrepoint,
Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama,
47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
GPS: 3.137988, 101.610124
Tel: 03-7722 5800
BU Centrepoint has always been sort of a meeting place for the only reason that Suanie stays only a stone’s throw away, and when she says we meet there, we meet there. An argument with Suanie is an exercise in futility.
We have been to the BigWateryAmericanCoffeeChain numerous time but strangely enough, last Tuesday was the first time we went to Cagayan’s right next door.
Update 2009: this place is now closed.
pork ribs at Cagayan’s, Filipino Cuisine
Cagayan’s is one of the very few restaurants that serves Filipino cuisine. Now personally I’ve never been to the country nor have I heard a lot about the food there. I must confess that the only thing about this place that attracted me was the rather big “Non Halal” sign and the pictures of pork ribs and nuermous other pork dishes. Kerol had the same sentiment.
I’m quite clueless when it comes to Philipinno food, but luckily the menu comes with description as well as photos of each dish, making our job much easier.
pork adobo, caldereta (lamb curry), pork binagoongan, french rivera
For the five of us, we ordered a medium rack of pork ribs (RM 36.50) with original sauce to share (6 pieces) as well as individual dishes. To be frank, I thought the ribs were average, Tony Roma’s at Bangkok‘s pork ribs was better than this, but this wasn’t bad either.
My dish was pork abodo (RM 11.00) with rice. Abodo apparently is a very common Filipino cooking process that involves stewing with vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaf, and peppercorn. The wholesome pork belly with the slightly sourish and salty marinate tasted better than I had expected, I could eat it with rice even without any chili, but with the chili padi that they have it was even better.
rachel, suanie, KY, kerol, and horng at Cagayan’s
Horng ordered Pork Binagoongan (RM 12.00), which is a bowl of pork belly cooked with fermented fish paste bagoong based soup. Like fish sauce popular in Vietnamese cuisine or shrimp paste in our local sambal, the soup carries a subtle but distinct taste that might not suit everyone, but we love it!
Rachel’s lamb caldereta (RM 12.50) actually tasted like a mild version of lamb curry with slightly different spices, I find it very delicious too. Apparently this is also a popular method of cooking for dog meat in Philippines, hmm, I wonder if that would taste even better?
The French Rivera spaghetti (RM 9.00) was alright, Suan didn’t complain nor compliment, so I guess it was just average.
Cagayan’s is located at BU Centrepoint, just next to Starbucks on ground floor
With the ribs and drinks, dinner came to RM 20+ per person. Though not everything tasted super awesome, the few rice dishes we had was impressive enough to warrant many visits in the future.
Address:
Cagayan’s
G107-108 Centrepoint
Bandar Utama
47800 Petaling Jaya
GPS: 3.137988, 101.610124
Tel: 03-77241022
