#ewew cooks the simplest ever Spaghetti Dish

After my simplest ever Salmon Dish, here comes my simplest ever Spaghetti Dish!! :D  This is my 'go to' dish when I have nothing in my fridge to cook or just plain lazy to cook something more complicated.  It makes for a fulfilling and wholesome meal.

 

This Spaghetti with Anchovy Fillets in Olive Oil is super easy to whip up as the ingredients are made up of things that we usually have in our kitchen (like onions and dried chillies) or ingredients which we can stock in our pantry because of the long shelf life (like canned anchovy fillets and dried spaghetti).

What elevates this dish from a simple pasta to something more fancy is the use of one secret ingredient....anchovy fillets ;-)  But, they don't come cheap...a 46g can costs RM10.59 while a 58g bottle comes in at RM11.44!

 

So, for this dish, all you'll need is:

1 can (46g) of anchovy fillets in olive oil
A handful of dried spaghetti (enough for two)
1/2 a large onion
3 dried chillies

Soak the dried chillies in water until soften and slice thinly (or you can use those bottled chilli flakes as well).  Peel and chop the onion finely.

 

Use any type of spaghetti you like and boil (in salted water) till al dente according to packet instructions (which was 8 minutes in this case).  My handful of dried spaghetti was enough for two small eaters or one large one.

 

Pour half the olive oil from the can and sauté the dried chillies and onions in a non-stick pan till soft and translucent.  Add half the anchovy fillets (one can has about 9 - 10 fillets which is just enough for two small servings of spaghetti).  I cooked them in two batches, you can certainly do it in one if you like.

 

Mash the anchovy fillets with your spatula and add the cooked pasta immediately (with a little of the water used to cook the pasta).  Stir-fry until well combined and add a sprinkle of dried parsley (fresh would be better, of course, but it's highly unlikely we'd have that in the fridge).  No need to add any salt as the anchovy fillets bring saltiness and it acts as the sauce too.

 

Here's my simplest ever Spaghetti with Anchovy Fillets in Olive Oil!

 

You can tweak it to your liking, more anchovies (or add a pinch of salt) if it's not salty enough for you or more dried chillies (perhaps even cili padi) if you like more heat.  Or you can certainly make it more decadent by topping it with some nicely sautéed large prawns or grilled calamari....but that wouldn't be the simplest spaghetti dish, now would it? :D

 

This is a dish I turn to if the weather turns stormy (or hazy these days) making it too troublesome to go out to get dinner as the ingredients are readily available in my pantry.  Keep some of these staples in your kitchen too and you'll forever have an easy pasta dish to whip up meal at any time of the day.....or a rainy day! ;)

 

Annie 1 @ Damansara Uptown

Annie 1 @ Damansara Uptown is a 2-shoplot kopitiam known for a wide variety of Ipoh hawker fare.  The shop front proudly advertises its famous Menglembu Wanton Mee and best Ipoh White Coffee.

My husband had eaten at this family restaurant a few years back and didn't think it was all that good but I've seen fairly good reviews of it online and wanted to try.  So, I came without much expectations and was pleasantly surprised with the outcome.

It was a Sunday morning and the restaurant was fully packed (which was a good sign) and we had to wait for about 10 - 15 minutes before we managed to secure a table.  I checked out their menu and they do offer quite a vast variety of food here but I think I'll stick to the more quintessential Ipoh hawker food.

It goes without saying that you should start off with their famous Menglembu Wantan Mee @ RM5 which my mother-in-law ordered (with just wantans).  The wantan mee was cooked just right in a flavourful sauce though the pickled green chillies needed a bit more pickling time.

As this was plain wantan mee with just wantons, you get a serving of five wantons.  The wantans were nice and meaty with a thin skin.

My husband had the Menglembu Wantan Mee (with Char Siew) @ RM6.80 that came with char siew and 3 pieces of wantans.  The thick cuts of char siew (barbequed pork) were a bit on the meaty side but nicely caramelised and tender nonetheless.  I've never eaten Menglembu wantan mee before, so I wouldn't know how the original one tastes like but the version here I liked.  It can give many good wantan mee stalls in the Klang Valley a run for its money.

I went with the Chee Cheong Fun Mushroom @ RM4.80 with minced pork and a sprinkling of fried shallots in a mushroom gravy.  This is a common chee cheong fun (rice noodle rolls) dish in Ipoh but not as easy to find here in the Klang Valley.  The chee cheong fun is cut into thicker rolls but still maintains its smooth and slippery texture.  The mushroom gravy was nice and not starchy at all.

My son had the Char Siew Fried Rice @ RM7 and I was happy to see chunks of char siew fried with long beans (not frozen vegetables) and egg.  I've always preferred rice fried with char siew instead of "lap cheong" (Chinese dried sausage) coz I find it tastier.  This fried rice could have been better if it started off with a good base...and that is the rice!  The rice wasn't quite the nicely separated grains but clumpy and soft.

I couldn't resist ordering Stewed Pork with Eggs @ RM6 as both my mother-in-law and I love stewed eggs.  The flavour of the braising liquid for the stewed pork was very decent too.  I didn't mind (actually I preferred) that the chunks of pork were meaty since they were really tender though my mother-in-law only loves it when the meat comes with lots of wobbly fats.

On subsequent visits, I tried the Curry Laksa Supreme @ RM8.50 which came with char siew, 3 pieces of wantan, lots of pig skin slices, a pork ball, bean curd puffs, long beans and bean sprouts in a big bowl of noodles (of your choice) that is sure to satisfy even the biggest eaters.  The price is a steal for all these generous "liew" (ingredients)! :)

It was supreme all right....both in taste and size!  Although this may not beat out our favourite curry laksa (from Imbi), it came very, very close (but then that one wouldn't have this awesome char siew in it).  The curry broth could have been a tad thicker or creamier but still had a good dose of santan flavour with a slight sweetness to it.  This was a very good bowl of curry laksa....and I would have rated it excellent if it was topped with some plump blood cockles! ;D  I foresee myself coming back repeatedly for this.

We also tried the Pork Curry Rice @ RM6.50 served with a bowl of pork curry and some stir-fry bok choy, half a hard boiled egg (though I would have preferred a fried egg) and some sambal (which wasn't good as it was the Chinese-styled type that's usually more sweet than fiery).

Again, this bowl of curry was very delicious with the tender slices of pork.  The curry of this one is thicker and creamier with a more savoury taste compared to the broth of the curry laksa.

When the Homemade Yam Cake @ RM3.50 arrived with both the sweet and chilli sauce, you'd know straight away that this is typical Ipoh style from the reddish sweet sauce.  The yam cake had the texture of soft yam interspersed with cubes of yam with hints of fragrant dried prawns.  It was a lot softer than some of the ones I've had telling me that there was probably less flour in the mix.  It was more brownish in colour as opposed to the usual purplish colour with a good flavour of yam and I liked it a lot.

Who haven't heard of one of Ipoh's most beloved desserts....the egg custard, especially Thean Chun's!  Since it was offered here, I just had to order the Homemade Caramel Egg Custard @ RM3.50 for a taste test.  The version here is smooth and soft, it was quite nice actually.  Although it was filled with a sweet caramel, it wasn't too sweet if you eat it without taking too much of the caramel.  I've not tried Thean Chun's egg custard, so I don't know how this would compare but it was a rendition that I thought was pretty successful.

When I was walking in, I noticed quite a few types of nyonya kuih at the entrance although you'd only find the kuih talam on the menu.  I decided to pack one of my favourite kuih ie. their Homemade Kuih Talam @ RM2.50 a box to enjoy at home.  This was rather delicious...it had a incredibly soft texture and a very fragrant santan top (though it could do with a more pandan flavour in the bottom layer).

The Ipoh Iced White Coffee @ RM3.30 was a decent enough rendition in KL of Ipoh's version.  It was really "kao" (thick) and frothy on top...and if it was just a tad less sweet, it would have been perfect for me.  My mother-in-law had a hot cup and she liked it too.

The "Foo Chook Yee Mai" (Cold) @ RM2.80, a healthy and nourishing drink/dessert of barley and dried bean curd sheet, was decent too, though most would have it hot.

My Personal Opinion

The prices are very reasonable for a kopitiam like this and that's why you see a lot of families dining here.  You can get a decent meal (noodle+dessert+drink) here for around RM10...now that's a good deal.

I actually came here after reading Motormouth from Ipoh's positive comments on the food (although that post is more than 3 years old already).  If it's good enough for Motormouth.....it's good enough for me! ;)  Not to be missed...the Menglembu wantan mee, curry laksa and Ipoh white coffee.

On a parting note, it's very easy to remember the name of this place which rhymes with "anyone" (maybe Annie is the actual name of the owner -_-).  Perhaps, we'll see a second outlet that rhymes with "any two"?  Hehe! :D

Annie 1 Kopitiam
18 - 20 Jalan SS21/58
Damansara Utama
47400 Petaling Jaya
Selangor
Tel: 016-660 8816

Shinjiro @ Tropicana City Mall

I've been craving for a 'meal on a stick' for quite a while now....and I don't mean 'satay'! :D  After checking out a few of such places from online food blogs, I settled on the newly opened (less than 2 months old) Shinjiro Izakaya Yakitori @ Tropicana City Mall.

There seems to be a common trend of what looks like patterned waves and clouds showcased throughout the restaurant's decor.  You can find it on the walls, ceiling and floor. 

Interesting boards adorned one side of the wall depicting the 'Land of the Rising Sun' with its characteristic pagodas and bridges (and I've seen these boards change to a different picture and look in other blogs).  The aptly designed tables revealed a compartment underneath the table top where you'd find the menu and order chits.

As you step into the restaurant, you'll be greeted with a glass enclosure where all the grilling action, over a charcoal flame, takes place.  This ensures you won't leave the place smelling of yakitori! ;)  Look, he even managed a smile for me when I snapped the photo.

As the name implies, it's a casual place for after work drinks and small bites, basically food on a stick, although they do offer rice bowls and noodles too for a more fulfilling meal.  If you're not familiar with the individual skewers, you can opt for the Skewer Sets with predetermined skewers that include some of their more popular ones.  I didn't go for that as I wanted to pick my own selection of favourites.

After making our orders, this bowl of complimentary Edamame landed on our table.  I liked that these green soybeans came lightly sprinkled with salt.  This was served chilled (unlike other places where it's usually served at room temperature), so expect a little bit of water condensation at the bottom of the bowl.

Then, came the onslaught of skewers one after another.  The skewers come with 7 types of sauces...sweet and sour, chilli, garlic chilli, salsa, teriyaki, sesame pistachio and shio (sea salt and pepper).  You can choose your own sauces if you have a preference, otherwise leave it in the able hands of the chef to pair each one with his recommended sauce.

First up, from the Seafood Section, you have a choice of Salmon, Fillet Mackerel, whole Pacific Saury, Tuna, Shrimp, Scallop, Squid, Squid Tentacles and Pregnant Fish.

The Salmon @ RM8.90 was cooked just right, with a pink centre, for a fresh and tender bite.  Simply divine!

The Shrimp @ RM8.90, you can taste the smoky flavour when you suck on the shrimp head and shells.

If you're wondering why there aren't any Squid Tentacles in my blog post, it wasn't because I didn't order, it was because there weren't any left! T_T

From the Beef Section, there's Sirloin, Fillet + Enoki, Fillet + Asparagus, Minced Beef Ball, Tripe, Liver and Lungs on offer in the menu.

I went with the Sirloin @ RM8.90 which was absolutely tender and juicy with just a bit of seasoning to bring out its full flavour.

The meat was cooked to medium judging by the pinkish centre.  The Sirloin turned out to be one of my top favourites...you have to order this, it was outstanding!

We tried the Minced Beef Balls @ RM6.90 made up of three succulent meat balls on a stick sitting on teriyaki sauce for a nice balance of savoury and sweet.  This was equally decent and would have been better if they hadn't been too heavy handed with the pepper.

From the Poultry Section, you have a wide selection of Thigh + Leeks, Thigh Teriyaki, Breast Fillet, Chicken Nugget, Wings, Skin, Gizzard, Liver, Heart, Back End (eww), Duck Breast and Quail Eggs.

The Chicken Wings @ RM6.90 gets you two pieces of the wingette, butterflied and grilled to perfection.  They managed to get the skin so crispy while the meat remained tender.  It was so, so good that we immediately ordered a second serving.

The wings, seasoned with just shio, were perfectly seasoned (though some may find it to be over salted but I think not) with a smoky, fragrant and crisp skin....hands down the best skewer of the night for me!

The Chicken Skin @ RM4.90 was downright crunchy and immensely fragrant.  This took the longest time to arrive and was the last skewer to be served.  One bite...and we knew we wanted more!  Who can resist sticks of crispy chicken skin, right?

The server told us that it would be at least a 20 minutes wait....so, we ordered two more sticks (and it was worth the wait).  If you want to try this, make sure you order enough the first time round, so that you don't have to wait for your re-orders ;)

Of course, whenever I see quail eggs on the menu, they call out to me.  This is the Quail Eggs @ RM4.90...cute and delicious as always!

As usual, we should round off our meal with some compulsory vegetables for a bit of balance.  Under the Vegetables Section, you have Mushrooms, Sweet Potato, Sweet Corn, Okra, Leek, Tomato and Crispy Tofu.

We chose the Sweet Potato @ RM5.90 and, when it arrived, it was unlike those with a deep orange flesh that we're more used to as these are Japanese sweet potatoes which have a purplish (or reddish) skin with white flesh which turns golden (yellow) when cooked.  They were served with a bit of melted butter (maybe I'll ask them to omit the butter the next time) and were sweet and just soft enough....I liked them...heaps!

We also ordered Okra @ RM3.90 which came charred and nicely soft.  It was simple but appetising.

Next was the Crispy Tofu @ RM3.90...I'm sorry but this qualified as vegetables since it's listed in the vegetables section! :p  It featured three cubes of totally crispy tofu served with bonito flakes and teriyaki sauce. 

I noticed that most of the skewers came with either shio or teriyaki, no complaints there as I liked most of them with just shio (and not drowning in sauce) to let the food speak for itself.  Anyway, you can't go wrong with shio and teriyaki, two of the more popular flavourings.  It was an interesting sight to see the chef season his skewers...he sprinkles the shio onto his skewers from a distance. 

And if you find an oddly shaped ceramic vase on the table (with no flowers), that's because it's meant as a vessel for your discarded/used sticks....how handy :)

Besides just having skewers of awesomeness (which I don't mind at all), we also ordered the Mix Tempura @ RM18.90 to try.  The tempura mix consisted of two pieces of prawn, squid and sweet potato each.  This tempura was different from the usual tempura batter as it was coated in crushed bean curd pieces before being deep fried that offered a super crunchy texture to the tempura.  Great eaten with the sesame pistachio sauce to give it a bit of saltiness.  Anything crunchy always get our seal of approval!

For our last fulfilling dish, we went with a bowl of Unagi Rice @ RM28.90.  What came threw us off a bit as we were expecting just unagi and rice (like all the usual ones we've had) but this one was made with egg and lots of vegetables (broccoli, lotus root, cauliflower, red and green capsicum, mushrooms and onions).  Of course, there were unagi in it too but in tiny chunks.

There was quite a fair amount of gravy in this rice bowl, although flavourful, we found the pepper taste a bit too overpowering.  Also, we would have appreciated if the description of this dish was more detailed (to highlight the abundant vegetables) so that we could make a discerning choice if we wanted this version with vegetables.

Green Tea is @ RM3.90 and Water @ RM1.90 and both are refillable.

My Personal Opinion

It was a very good meal on a stick I've had in a long while.  I came off totally satisfied with my dining experience here.  Shinjiro is affiliated to Torii, also a yakitori specialist, but this one comes with a more acceptable price tag.

My top picks are......hmmm, it's difficult to narrow down my top picks coz I liked almost every skewer that I had but the few you shouldn't miss would be the sirloin, chicken wings, chicken skin and salmon...for now.....till I try all the other sticks as well ;)

The highlight at Shinjiro is definitely their skewers and that is what I'll stick to when I return (and I foresee myself returning again and again).  In fact, I'm so pleased with this 'meal on a stick', I'm on the hunt for more of such meals! ;D

Update:  I was told the restaurant has since closed (yet another one that didn't make it past its first year which I'm not sure why as I loved their skewers!)

Shinjiro Izakaya Yakitori
Lot G-06 Tropicana City Mall
3 Jalan SS20/27
47400 Petaling Jaya
Selangor
Tel: 03-7732 2986