Tap Room @ Bamboo Hills

Bamboo Hills is a culinary haven and home to a unique dining concept within a green landscaped setting housing many restaurants in one place like Ginger, Locarasa, Potager, The Qing Banquet, Botanica+Co, Hanam BBQ, Nok Yung Thai, Tap Room, Pizza Duo and Kampai Yakiniku which we had the pleasure of visiting recently.

Most of the restaurants here give you a front-row seat (some better than others) to the beauty of its landscaping amidst serene and lush surroundings with a scenic bamboo garden and waterfalls at the centre of it all.

The lush greenery and water feature is a sight to behold as we took a little walk to take in all that charming surroundings (it was like a picture off a postcard!).  No wonder you see many people taking selfies and wefies at the many instagram-worthy spots here.  I can just imagine the surroundings being possibly even more attractive at night when the place is lighted up.

After our sumptuous and gratifying wagyu meal at Kampai Yakiniku, we proceeded to our next destination, the Tap Room @ Bamboo Hills to chill, chat...and chomp further!

There's alfresco dining if you so choose where you can dine amidst all the breathtaking scenery.  I can just imagine the ambience when night falls...but since it was midday, we chose to sit inside, safe from the heat.

As we've already had lunch, it was time for something light...coffees and desserts is a must...and a couple of snacks won't hurt either.  The first was this refreshing starter of Watermelon Meze @ RM13.80, the flavours of which caught me by surprise, not that it's bold or anything like that but just so delicate and light that it was a joy to eat.

It is a very simple dish of juicy watermelon cubes with some crunchy wakame and crushed peanuts tossed in an equally light Thai dressing.  If you're a light eater or want something truly refreshing after a heavy meal, this is perfect! ;)  All of us enjoyed this tremendously...a wonderful starter (on a hot afternoon), for sure, and certainly one we won't hesitate to order again.

Next was these Sole Fish Tacos @ RM29.80 featuring lightly battered and fried sole fish (locally sourced, the menu says from the shores of Kuala Terengganu) with guacamole, tomato salsa, purple slaw, tartar sauce and sriracha sauce.  Served with a wedge of lime, the tacos were finished with some micro greens and a sprinkling of cayenne pepper (or paprika).

A squeeze of lime over the top...and it's ready to eat!  As you can see from the photo, they were light-handed with the dressing of guacamole (mashed avocado) and tartar sauce which I really appreciated.  Good choice for a light meal or as a shared starter.

My third pick was supposed to be the charred, grilled chilli peppers but the server came back to inform us that it wasn't available that day, so I replaced that with SuperShrooms @ RM26.80 which were just deep-fried enoki and white button mushrooms served with two sauces, a spicy-sweet Thai chilli sauce and a creamy mushroom sauce.

Nothing to fault as the mushrooms had a light batter coating and were fried to crispy perfection.  A great snack with beer.  I especially liked the button mushrooms coz they were extra juicy to the bite.  Between the two sauces, I preferred the creamy mushroom over the common dip of sweet Thai chilli.

It's been a while since I had a "real" dessert...and sharing it with 3 friends is a good thing if you're trying to limit sugar intake coz that means you'll probably get only 2 bites (or 2 tsp)...lol!  I chose the Flourless Chocolate Cake @ RM26.80 (my friends are chocolate lovers) with raspberry ice cream, oreo crumbs, granola and a mixed berries compote finished with some fresh strawberries and blueberries on top.

The flourless chocolate cake was rich and fudgy with an intense chocolate flavour.  It was very good (even for a non-chocolate lover like me) as everything went so well together.  It was a symphony of textures and flavours with the bold, rich flavours of the chocolate together with the tanginess of the raspberry ice cream, lightly sweet + tart berries compote and granola offering a crunch! ^.^

The final dessert of Orange Souffle Waffle @ RM19.80 was served with vanilla ice cream and an orange reduction.  The souffle was high and mighty when it arrived (sorry it deflated a little by the time we got to it) and the texture light and airy.

I enjoyed the tanginess of the orange reduction with the nice, crisp waffles.  It also offered a good contrast to the sweetness of the vanilla ice cream.  All in all, it was still a very decent dessert, just that it didn't quite match the highs of the previous flourless chocolate cake which was flawless in execution and superb in taste.

Of course where there are desserts, there must be coffees...and two of us went with an Iced Caffe Latte @ RM16, one had a hot Cappuccino @ RM16 while another had a Detox drink @ RM18.

Was that all?...not quite!  You can't come to the Tap Room and not order a PaperKite, a local craft beer brand that's brewed in small batches and proudly made in Malaysia (which even won Gold at the 2023 Word Beer Awards).

So, we ordered two beers, one a Pale Ale @ RM23 and another Happy Lager also @ RM23.  Yes, craft beer is more expensive than regular, mass-produced beer but they also taste far superior (and my friends can attest to that)! ;)

My Personal Opinion

The menu at Tap Room is quite extensive from brunch offerings to pastas, burgers, sando, superbowls, soups, snacks and desserts, along with food that have Asian, Spanish and western influences, with even a section for carnivores.

We thoroughly enjoyed the few dishes we tried with the absolutely simple but refreshingly delightful watermelon meze being the highlight for me.  I thought their plated desserts were especially impressive (for a joint that isn't a dedicated cafe/bakery/dessert place).  Probably the most endearing are their affordable prices (there are a lot of choices priced around RM30)...and let's not forget the awesome view and ambience of the surroundings, more so if you're dining alfresco.

Just as you can't come to the Tap Room and not try one of their local craft beers...you also can't come to the Tap Room and not try one of their pizzas!  Reputedly good (they look absolutely gorgeous in photos)...but we were too stuffed already from the earlier lunch, so these pizzas will have to wait until we return.  This place is a wonderful choice for a get-together with friends as the food, desserts, coffees and beers (even the prices) were all above expectations.

Tap Room Bamboo Hills

Unit P10-01 & P10-02

Taman Bukit Bambu

Off Lebuhraya Duta-Ulu Kelang (DUKE)

51200 Kuala Lumpur

Ipoh Ais Kopi @ MyTown Shopping Centre

There were some shopping trips to Ikea where we did end up not eating at their Ikea Swedish Cafe as we always do but ended up eating elsewhere at Ipoh Ais Kopi @ MyTown Shopping Centre instead.

From the name of the restaurant, it's pretty obvious that they serve Ipoh/Malaysian food.  You can find Ipoh Ais Kopi branches in Sunway Velocity, Paradigm Mall, Aeon Bukit Tinggi, Eko Cheras Mall and, of course, the one we ate at in MyTown.

Glancing through the menu, I decided to order the Curry Mee @ RM15.90 which is supposed to be their signature noodle (having briefly forgotten the name of the restaurant and the fact that I do not like Ipoh-style curry mee). >.<

The curry mee came with siu yuk (roasted pork), shredded chicken, taupok (beancurd puffs) and beansprouts  but no clams.  I suppose I should be thankful that it tasted nothing like an authentic Ipoh-style curry mee (apart from the solidarity mint leaf)...but it was still one of the poorest rendition of curry mee I've ever tasted.

My son had the Fried Bamboo Noodle with XO Sauce & Roast Pork @ RM17.90.  The noodles were fried with egg bits, onions, beansprouts and spring onions....and the roast pork pieces looked like they were cut before being deep-fried (he said it was very crunchy).

The XO sauce probably gave the fried bamboo noodles some savoury, umami flavours with a minimal spicy note.  It looked a bit similar to Maggi mee goreng if you ask me.

On another visit, I tried the Char Kuey Teow with Premium Soy Sauce & Beef Slice @ RM18.90 fried with beef slices and vegetables of green capsicum, fresh red chillies, beansprouts and spring onions.

Actually, it would have been a very enjoyable dish as the noodles were pretty well-flavoured but, unfortunately, I found the beef slices to have that distinct beefy smell and taste that I detest.

My son went for the Spicy Chilli & Crispy Pork Fried Rice @ RM16.90 this time.  The flavours were somewhat like the previous dish he ate except that it's rice instead of noodles.

The rice was fried with crispy roast pork, egg bits, carrot and corn.  The light spiciness could probably come from the xo sauce (though there's no mention of xo sauce in the menu) or just a fresh chilli paste.

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If you make your a la carte order a set to bulk up your meal, it comes with some very simple starters/snacks for an extra RM3...and we got fries, nuggets and watermelon that day.

My Personal Opinion

The Google ratings for Ipoh Ais Kopi is very wide ranging from a low of 3.3 to a high of 4.5 which is a real surprise to me.  To run a chain of restaurants where the consistency of the execution and taste of the food can be so far ranging does not bode well for the business.

For me personally, the food was well below average (for the few dishes we sampled) and there'll be no going back after two visits.  Coincidentally, the branch I ate at (MyTown) happens to be the one with the lowest rating (of 3.3!) which I wasn't aware of when I visited. >_<.  Perhaps I should have gone to the Sunway Velocity branch instead which boasts of the highest rating (at 4.5)...but even so, the food selection doesn't quite excite me! ^_~

Ipoh Ais Kopi

G-012C & G012D Ground Floor

MyTown Shopping Centre

Jalan Cochrane

55100 Kuala Lumpur

To All The Cats I've Loved Before.....

To all the girls cats I've loved before

Who travelled in and out my door

I'm glad they came along

I dedicate this song post

To all the cats I've loved before

To all the cats I once caressed

And may I say I've held the best

They live within my heart

I'll always be a part

Of all the cats I've loved before.....

(What a befitting song and lyrics...lol!)

For those who follow my blog, you'd know that many furry, four-legged friends have crossed my paths over the years...one I was privileged to call my own (a stray who found a forever home with me), some became my part-time pets (strays that I neutered, fed and looked after) while some were just passing through.

It had been a series of Hellos...and Goodbyes to my BFFs (Beloved Furry Friends).  So, let us remember the ones who have come...and gone! ^_~

First was my very own cat, of course...my dearly departed Cookie.  He was with me for 9+ years before he passed in 2022.  This reminds me...I was supposed to write a post (for someone) on how/why he died (and I probably still will some day).

You may say I'm biased...but I think Cookie was the best looking cat that had crossed my path.  Well, to a parent, their child is always the cutest or prettiest, isn't it?  Male cats tend to have a more squarish jawline and an almost mane-like appearance that make them look very dapper.

Then there was Gone Girl, a stray that was lucky enough to walk into my porch in.  My husband said she looks like a little tiger (because of her colours).  She also happens to be the most fluffy cat that crossed our paths (especially her furry tail) coz she was a long-haired species.

I provided food and shelter (but not a forever home) and did my civic duty to neuter her (in July 2022)...and just as she gained weight and looked beautiful, someone in my neighbourhood catnapped Gone Girl and she disappeared some 2 weeks before 2023 CNY.  I got to enjoy her affection and companionship for about 9 months.  I will remember her for how she loved to curl up in my basket to sleep. ^.^

Even before Gone Girl came, this ginger male cat was already a stray in our neighbourhood.  He came as a kitten (was born on our street) together with his two other siblings (both males).  He's a true street cat and isn't very affectionate (as in you cannot carry him) but would come for his daily feed.

This was one cat that I know 100% was not kidnapped for the simple reason he was not neutered, I believe.  One day he stopped coming for his daily feeds and I knew (in my heart) he has died.  That's because a few days prior to his death, he was not eating nor grooming (he looked very scruffy and smelled).  This was the clearest sign that the end was near (the scent of death, the same scent that Cookie had before his demise).

 

The ginger cat was bullied to death...and I'm quite certain about it.  He was so stressed in the days and months leading to his death due to the many fights he had to endure with this culprit (the bully, a black & white dominant male cat) who is super aggressive and well-known amongst neighbours, even the security guards!  Me and my neighbours tried our best to help by breaking up the fights whenever we see it (one of my neighbours told me she saw him being grabbed and flung into the air by the big bully)! O_o

The most recent was this grey/white stray cat that wandered into our neighbourhood and followed my husband in.  She could not possibly be a stray as she was rather affectionate from the get-go, so she was most likely abandoned or discarded by someone.

She was between 1 - 2 years old according to the vet when I took her to be neutered (in mid-Dec 2024).  She appeared around June last year and disappeared about 3 weeks after she was neutered (again 2 weeks before 2025 CNY).  This grey/white cat was here for just 7 months...and was an absolutely adorable and affectionate cat.  I will remember her for how she loves to chase her own tail! ;D

Then there were those who were here for a fleeting moment, just passing through or whom I chanced upon when I was out.  One was this little grey/white kitten who was very playful (bosom buddies) with the grey/white cat.

She was here for a real fleeting moment...about 2 weeks and then she stopped coming for her daily feeds.  Not sure what happened to her but my guess would be that she was adopted since kittens easily get forever homes because of their cuteness at a young age.

This heavily pregnant greyish sweet-looking cat I saw her only once and fed her some kibbles.  She came around the time of Gone Girl.  Never saw her again...I guess she was just passing through.

Then there was this brownish cat that came up to my table at an eatery I frequent.  I was tempted to take her home...but no, I resisted.  Luckily so, as I was later told, the cat is still around (adopted by a neighbouring shop) but has an aggressive demeanour.  The cat scratched one of the eatery's customer when patted.

And also this friendly Siamese look-alike that came up to me for a pat on the head at a food court.

This white/orange coloured kitten I chanced upon when at the same food court above.  The shop owners are compassionate about strays and set up a dedicated place for the strays that they were feeding.  The white/orange coloured kitten looked so cute that I found it hard to walk away.

I asked the shop if they could tell me the gender but they couldn't (they even asked a customer) as I can only adopt a female since the insanely aggressive black & white male was still terrorising our street then.  But I took a chance...and took it home only to find out that it was a male when it was sent to the groomers for a bath.

Not wanting the same fate to befall him as it did the ginger cat, I reluctantly took him back to the shop (it was very difficult to give him up even though he was here for just a day).  But all's well that ends well, I found out the following week (when I went there for breakfast hoping to see him) that he had been adopted...I'm relieved that there was a happy ever after for him.

Even if it led to a tinge of sadness with each one leaving, I'm still glad they came my way...even if it was just for a fleeting moment! ;)  These were not the only cats that have crossed my path, there were others which I've written about in the past.  I still think of them every now and then...and look back at their photos with fondness.  Cat lovers will always be cat lovers.

I'm a firm believer of when one door closes, another one opens!  Well, I guess you'll just have to stay tuned for more cat stories to come. ^_~

Restoran Station 8 (Penang Curry Mee) @ SS2 PJ

This will be my shortest blogpost ever! ;D  In fact, I wasn't planning to post this but thought I'd put my two cents in seeing how this Penang curry mee is the rave.  Restoran Station 8 used to be known as Restoran Okay which I've visited a few times before.  But that was before I read out about the existence of a good (and legendary) Penang curry mee here at Restoran Station 8 @ SS2 PJ (from reviews of prominent bloggers).  Since then, I've been wanting to try but by the time I get there (which is usually before 10 am), I find them already closed.

That was before I knew that the stall (photo courtesy of my husband) is reputed to sell out quickly...sometimes within an hour after opening or as early as 8+ am! >.<  So if I've any hope of eating this, it's to ask my husband to tapau (when he's in the vicinity) and he attempted to do that one morning only to find them sold out when he got there.  So, he tried again another day and made sure he got there even earlier.

And this time he was successful.  This is the bowl of Penang Curry Mee filled with all the essentials a good bowl of Penang curry mee should have and that's prawns, cuttlefish, sihum (clams), (the ever requisite) blood cubes, tofu pok (beancurd puffs) and beansprouts.  I'm not sure if this qualifies as Penang white curry mee (though a lot of people refer to it as such) as the broth was certainly not white when served/packed.

The prawns and sihum were fresh and of a decent size.  I've never cared much for the chewy, crunchy texture of the rather tasteless cuttlefish (the same ones as those you'd find in a dish of Cuttlefish/Sotong Kangkong) that has been pre-soaked in alkaline water nor the blood cubes which others swoon over.

For me, a bowl of good curry me has to pass the all-important broth test even if all the vitally essential ingredients are there (especially the blood cubes for some)...and for me, it was a real letdown! >_<  The broth was much too thin with the santan (coconut milk) barely detectable.  Even the tofu puffs were disappointing as they didn't seem to have soaked in the flavours of the broth...probably not submerged in the curry long enough.

Luckily, it was made better by the sambal (but unfortunately only slightly!) which looks more darkly coloured than those I've ever encountered before...signifying that this chilli paste has been cooked for a long time to achieve such dark caramelisation.  It was certainly one of the better sambals I've had.

This coffee shop is also known to house a reputable wantan mee and (James Bond) char kway teow, both of which I've tried before but thought nothing of it.  The one I ended up liking turned out to be the one that's flying under the radar (the one that no-one speaks of) and that's the unique fish ball noodles that comes with Hakka char yoke (stewed pork).

My Personal Opinion

The sambal, though very good (and different), wasn't enough to save this legendary Penang curry mee entirely in the end as the curry broth was much too thin and light (for my tastebuds)...to the point of being bland, if I've to be honest.  Is Penang curry mee suppose to taste like that?  Hmmm.....but I've had the one in Jia Li Mian and it was the complete opposite...the curry broth was thick and creamy. ^_~

I'm not sure why people would be willing to get to the stall so early and wait so long only to be served a bowl of rather underwhelming curry mee.  Now that I've tasted it, I know I wouldn't need to purposely wake up early to get it...and I can safely strike it off my list! ;)  People mention an elderly uncle manning the stall but (from the photo) that's clearly not an old uncle, so I'm not sure if the food standard is still the same.

Restoran Station 8

No 2 Jalan SS2/10

47300 Petaling Jaya

Selangor