Master Duck @ Pandan Indah

We noticed a new place specialising in ducks opened up recently in our neighbourhood, Master Duck @ Pandan Indah when we were waiting for our seats in Win Win Western Food for dinner one evening and decided to check it out for an early lunch the following week.

Apparently they have another branch in Kepong but the shop here occupies a pretty small space with probably about 10+ tables inside...and that's because a major portion of its frontage space is taken up by a display cabinet (where the ducks are hung to dry) and their action counter (where the meats are chopped and prepped).

As the name implies, they're obviously a specialist in ducks...and that's the first thing that greets you when you walk into the restaurant.  On the left, you'll find ducks being hung to air dry (probably to crisp up the skin and for flavours to develop) before being roasted.

Right at the entrance, on the right, you'll see the already prepped and roasted ducks hanging deliciously to entice your palate.  Judging by the plentiful ducks on display, they must be doing good business.

Although I saw pics of wantan mee and curry mee (when I googled the restaurant), I didn't find any noodles on their menu.  Perhaps when they started a few months ago, they had that on the menu but they aren't offered now.  So our only option is to have the roasted meats with rice...and when it comes to duck, we (as a family) hardly ever never order a whole duck (coz only both of us eat duck) nor half or a quarter duck (as both of us only want duck breast)! ;D

My husband went for the Roasted Duck Rice @ RM10 with a request for duck breast and an add-on braised egg @ RM1 (he said the egg is rather cheap and I certainly agree).  I've to say the duck meat is rather meaty but tender while the skin is just lightly crispy.

As for the braised egg, the looks of it tells the story...I wouldn't call that a braised egg as the braising liquid hasn't even clung onto the egg. >_<

Taste wise, the duck was certainly decent.  Just to forewarn you, the meat marinade has a herbal flavour coz I know some people do not like roast duck with a herbal flavour (like my husband).  I too prefer a non-herbal duck but, luckily, the herbal flavour was not strong at all (in fact it's not so evident in the meat) but you can certainly taste the dong guai in the sauce underneath.  My only wish was for the duck meat to be a little juicier and perhaps a tad more flavour.

My son had the Char Siu Rice @ RM10 with a request for a half lean half fat cut of char siu.  The char siu was very tender with the meat falling apart like pulled pork.

The key to a good char siu is in the marinade and how well it's roasted.  This one met half its brief, commendable for being well roasted but the marinade could be better.

As for me, what's the best way of sampling more of their roasted meats...well, order a trio (of course) of Roasted Duck Mix Three @ RM17 of duck, char siu and siu yuk.

I asked for duck breast too...and you already know what I think of the roast duck and char siu.  As for the siu yuk, it had a fairly crispy skin and I wouldn't say it was superbly fragrant or savoury either.  I found both the skin and meat lacking in flavour.  So, it was the least successful of the 3 roasted meats I tried.

Duck (though I asked for breast, got some bones this time >.<) and char siu is what I like to get when I'm here since these two meats are preferred to the siu yuk.  It's what I usually have on my subsequent visits + I can share some of my char siu with my husband. 

At RM10 for a plate of roasted duck (breast) rice, I think it's great value with a sizeable portion.  The portion is (surprisingly) even heftier when I tapau (pack) coz they gave the bony parts as well under the breast...just look at that amount (I wasn't able to finish)! :O

Glad to come across a fresh chilli dip that's thick and spicy as many of the ones out there can be rather diluted (our second visit the chilli dip wasn't as thick but still decently thick).  It was good but could do with just a little bit more lime juice in the mix.  

I included a side dish of Choy Sum with Minced Pork @ RM8 which was just a small bowl of stir-fried finely chopped choy sum with a tiny amount of minced porked.  It was nicely executed and a good accompaniment for our otherwise meaty affair.  When I find this dish at the chap fan place in my neighbourhood, I will not hesistate to get it.  I don't particularly like choy sum but enjoy it when it's cooked this way (all chopped up).

On my second visit, I managed to try this recommended dish of Winged Beans with Dried Shrimp @ RM8 (it was not available on my previous visit) for the vegetable component of our meal.  The four angled beans was nice and crunchy although I would have preferred it to be cut a little thicker for an even crunchier bite.  Just note that the portion of vegetables is really small for RM8.  You can do an add on vegetable (for RM2) to your single meal of roasted meat rice...my husband joked "would that me one spoon of vegetables?"...lol!

For drinks, I was intrigued by the Salted Coffee and Barley Coffee on the menu, not something often offered in other restaurants.  Not knowing what it was and how it would taste, I ordered the Salted Coffee @ RM4.90 (still a safer bet than Barley Coffee I reckon).  Well, it turned out super enjoyable.  Lightly salty to counter the sweetness of the coffee (note that I didn't ask for less sweet coz I wasn't sure if the saltiness would be too much).

On my second visit, I gave Barley Coffee a thought, just for a split second (but the taste of barley in coffee doesn't quite sound as attractive or intriguing enough), before ordering the Salted Coffee again coz it was just too good to not have again.

When leaving the restaurant, lo and behold, I found the coffees being sold at the entrance.  Oh, apparently it's instant coffee from a sachet (so I can't ask for less sweet even if I wanted to)...and the brand is Uncle Wong from Taiping (since 1874!).  Well, I was tempted to cart a box home...but NO, especially not after I've read the content of sugar and salt (let's leave this for once a while indulgence when I'm here for the duck rice).

My Personal Opinion

Overall, it was a pleasant enough dining experience with the roasted meats...probably one of the better roasted duck (if not the best) we have in our taman for now though it's not among the better ones out there. Of the 3 roasted meats I tried, two were like supporting cast members to the main star as the roasted duck still came out tops (it goes without saying that they're still a master of ducks)!

It's a nice addition to the neighourhood of a standalone duck rice place (with roasted meats) where one can dine in a more comfortable environment (that's not a stall in a coffee shop)...and I'm happy that I can have my duck fix without venturing too far.  Above all else, it's really great value for duck coz at only RM10 a plate, the portion is pretty good (even bigger if you tapau). ^_~

Master Duck Roasted House

47G Jalan Pandan Indah 4/6B

Pandan Indah

55100 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 011-5174 9741

Antipodean @ Sunway Velocity

Visiting Antipodean @ Sunway Velocity invoked feelings of nostalgia and took me on a trip down memory lane.  That's because Antipodean was one of the very first few cafes I wrote about when I started this blog in December 2013...wow, that was 13 years ago (it felt like I've come full circle)! ^_~

Antipodean is well-known for their all-day breakfast (so you can even have it for dinner) and to still maintain a 4.7 rating (for the one at Menara Tan & Tan, the one I went to) after all these years is no mean feat and a testimony to their consistency.  The one in Sunway Velocity (which opened in January 2024) has an even higher rating at 4.9 and it's good news indeed as this one is nearer to me with other branches located in Bangsar, Mid Valley, Atria, Penang & Johor.

The very first dish I wanted to eat again was, of course, their Big Breakfast @ RM36 as I could still remember the smoky sausages that impressed me way back then.  This dish comes with fluffy scrambled eggs on artisan toast (which was extremely well toasted to crispy perfection), hash brown, sauteed mushrooms and a choice of bacon or sausage (chicken, pork or beef)...not both like what PH The Meat Lover had...lol!  Everything was exactly the same...except for the price, of course...lol!

I obviously chose their homemade pork sausage and it was fragrant and delicious, perhaps not as smoky as I remembered but still good nonetheless.  The fluffy, light scrambled eggs were cooked just right and their housemade hash brown (which I didn't appreciate as much the first time round) got more love from me this time.  I'm beginning to appreciate the extra effort in making their own thick potato patty against commercially produced hash browns.

But it was the sauteed button mushrooms that turned out to be what I enjoyed the most on the plate (too bad, PH, you didn't get to taste as you got chickpeas and tomatoes instead...hopefully you get mushrooms next time).  They were sauteed with quite a bit of (blended) parsley and chopped garlic which gave it loads more flavour.  Probably one of most well prepared sauteed mushrooms I've eaten thus far which was unlike others where the mushrooms would just be seasoned with salt and sauteed in olive oil.  Ah, I got that hint of alcoholic taste in the salad dressing that PH mentioned (I liked the acidic flavour).  It most probably came from the vinegar in the dressing since vinegar is produced from fermenting alcohol after all.

My son wanted the Fish & Chips @ RM36 featuring 2 slices of beer battered deep sea fish (couldn't tell what fish it was...could be haddock, cod, pollock, sea bass or halibut but more likely the latter two) served with chips, salad and tartar sauce.

The doubled battered fish was fried to a beautiful golden brown, crunchy on the outside with tender, flaky meat.

The thick-cut fries were crisp and fluffy and the tartar sauce was also delicious with added texture from the chopped dill pickles and finely minced shallots/onions.

You can't come to Antipodean and not order coffee, so I went for my favourite drink, an Iced Latte @ RM17 which comes served with a little cute teddy bear coffee-infused ice cube.  My teddy was kind of tilted (and sinking when it arrived) coz I was missing a bit of that milk foam on top (to help it stand better) but that was alright as it brought a bit more bitterness to my coffee which I don't mind.

It was a hot and humid evening (yes, you heard right...I had their all-day breakfast for dinner!) and my poor teddy was melting fast...faster than I can snap my photo! ;D

It was so hot and humid that Mr Teddy couldn't wait to go for a swim...hah..hah!  Teddy aside, the coffee was very good.  The coffee-infused ice cube, besides being oh-so-cute had a purpose...it helped intensify the coffee flavour as we continue to drink which was simply fantastic.

My Personal Opinion

Antipodean continues to hold its own after all these years and have remained consistent with its good coffee and good food which cements their popularity and success amidst growing competition from the many newer cafes that have sprout up over the years.

From pictures online, I noticed that their poach eggs are done differently now...more free-form instead of coming out from moulds which was my bone of contention previously.  I remember getting an email from them after my blogpost was published (what...they read my post?) that this was the only way that they could ensure consistency in their poached eggs.  Well, it looks like they've found a new way of doing it consistently now (either way, I'm glad they took my comment or perhaps it was their other diners' comments constructively).  I guess I can put that to the test on my next visit (well, it does look like it's more free-form here). ^_~

Antipodean

VS1-G-05 & VS1-01-02

Sunway Velocity Two

Jalan Peel Seksyen 90

55100 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-4817 1395

Anyone Missed My Poppy?

 Hello everyone...anyone missed my Poppy?  Well, in case there are, here are some photos of Poppy in some of her cheeky moments for the pleasure of your eyes...and for you to remember her by.....

My Poppy has grown from a skinny little cat into a pretty little princess with her undeniable captivating blue eyes, even if I've to say so myself (mommies are always biased that their little ones are the prettiest or the cutest of them all)...lol!

Her favourite pastime is, of course, snoozing...and her favourite place to siesta is right next to me or between my legs (but I can't show you those not-so-appropriate photos...lol).  Well, she's obviously very comfortable...but I'm not....I can't move my legs! 

She just wants to be near me...and would sit (sometimes even sleep) next to my notebook (when I'm at it)...there's only a tiny space left for her on the table but she doesn't mind as long as it's next to me.

For some reason, she also likes to sit by the kitchen window (maybe to sunbathe?) and gaze outside (not that there's much activity going on at the back of my house (except for a black cat that lives opposite).  If you're wondering why there are no curtains...well, there used to be...

.....until this happened!  She made a little tear in the curtain and the tear just got bigger and bigger until it was big enough to put her whole head through! O_o  I had to get a replacement made...haiz.

She's adapting well to her single triplex penthouse...and loving it! ;D

That's her bersantai-santai (relaxing and chilling) on the middle (or first) floor.

Sometimes I'd even catch her playing cheekily with her little ball (on the second floor)....

......or just having fun in whatever way she can think of.

Her outdoor time is limited to the times when she makes a great escape.  At times I'd carry her for an evening stroll around the porch (but that would last no more than 5 mins) as she would struggle to get free and try to make a run for it. >_<

She now eats Sheba wet food instead of Cindy's as I noticed she would lick the plate clean if I give her Sheba (not the case with Cindy's as there's always a little leftover food).  I've also switched her dry kibbles to Blue Bay (Animate Series) that cost close to RM100 for a 1.5kg bag coz when I brush her, she tends to shed some of her fine hair (so I was recommended this brand).  Let's see if that brings about a change.

She eats much better (and more expensive) food than Cookie ever did but somehow never seem to put on weight...and is still maintaining her slim figure (which is every lady's dream!).  P/S: I prefer to link a post on Cookie (during his happy days) and not of one of his demise (I still think of him and find pockets of memories/happiness when I reminiscent on his old photos).

For all the toys I've gotten Poppy, my money's worth comes from this scratching post which she uses all the time.  She even treats it like it's a toy (other toys I've bought for her don't last 5 mins before she's fed-up with it).

 

Anyone wants a gift?  She looks like she's all boxed up and ready to go! :D

Of course I'm never gonna give you up, Poppy....however naughty you are coz I love you to bits.  You're stuck with me.....and I hope you live a long and happy life in your forever home! ❤️

We end with a little announcement:

This marks the final month of my comments box being open...thank you to all my readers/supporters, both silent and those who have "bantered" with me over the past years since I first started my blog in December 2013.  With effect from April (after this blogpost), the comments section will be closed although I'd still be able to read the comments (of those who still wish to leave them), just that the comments will no longer be published or replied.

My blog won't be shut permanently as it has been my "baby" for more than 12 years and it's difficult to say goodbye for good...but, going forward, it'll be updated as and when I want to or when I feel like writing.  Thanks so much for coming along with me on my food journey.

So, I guess this is it.....I'll see you when I see you! ❤️❤️❤️

Makoto Unagi Restaurant @ Desa Sri Hartamas

I've heard about this restaurant, Makoto Unagi Restaurant @ Desa Sri Hartamas, and have bookmarked it for many years now as I've always wanted to try their speciality...and theirs is not just any unagi (Japanese freshwater eel), they're probably the only restaurant (I know of) that prides itself on serving live unagi.

Most of the restaurants I know (or have been to), the unagi comes to them in either frozen form or already pre-prepared...so getting the chance to eat unagi that's killed on the spot and then cooked for you was an experience I was not going to miss.

I made reservations beforehand and was surprised to find that we were given a private room when I got there...how lovely!

Obviously unagi is at the forefront of this restaurant's specialised menu (and, mind you, their unagi isn't all that cheap either since it's super fresh...well, it's literally alive before it's served to you) and they've since expanded their menu to include some items other than unagi.  So, I ordered a couple of starters/snacks beginning with this Hone Senbei @ RM12 (before we get down to the main reason why we're here).

Hone Senbei are actually eel bones that have been deep fried to crispy perfection and you dip them into the salt provided for some savouriness.  Well, this is like nose-to-tail dining where every part of the eel is used (and nothing is wasted)...lol!  The bones were super crunchy, fragrant and salty (this was a first for me as I've not had fried eel bones before) but do be careful with the slightly thicker bones to ensure that they're well chewed and not get stuck in your throat! >_<

Another crispy snack was this Shirao Kaarage @ RM28 which is lightly battered, crispy whitebait (these are, of course, a lot larger than our usual whitebait).  I squeezed the lemon over it and wished that it came with some mayo (for dipping) but I guess this place is all about clean, subtle tastes.

It was definitely lacking salt (so I sprinkled some salt over it which I got from the earlier dish of eel bones). Wished it was fried a bit more for more colour and a crispier texture.

Next up was the Umaki @ RM54 which is actually an unagi tamagoyaki (or unagi egg omelette) served with some chopped spring onions and grated daikon.

It was like any fluffy tamagoyaki rolled omelette I've eaten (and enjoyed) in other Japanese restaurants...just that this one had bits of unagi meat stuffed in the roll (and hence more pricey!).

The Salmon Miso Maki @ RM38 featured 6 pcs of aburi (flamed) salmon roll served with vinegared ginger and fresh wasabi.  Sorry, I can't remember the exact stuff that was inside the roll but it was delectable.

I absolutely loved the abundant torched mentai on top of the salmon, it was smoky and deliciously creamy, coupled with the juicy, salty, crunchy fish roe, for that perfect bite.

The refreshing choice of Kappa Hosomaki @ RM8 is a minimalist sushi roll featuring crisp cucumber as the main filling, wrapped in seasoned sushi rice and nori seaweed, making it more like a palate cleanser before our main meal...hehe!

Completing our cast of supporting starters (or what I would refer to as "tummy fillers" before our "main event") and fulfilling our vegetable quota for the meal was this Horenso Itame @ RM18 which was simply a spinach stir-fry topped with togarashi (Japanese red pepper flakes).  I thought it was pretty expensive for such a small portion though. >.<

And now, on to our main event which is of course what they're best known for...live eel!  Let me show you "our wriggly, slimy friends" before they met their untimely (or was that timely?) death for our dining pleasure! :O

We begin with the Makoto Unaju Special B @ RM185.  This showcased a charcoal-grilled half unagi with unagi sauce (kabayaki) and another half without sauce (shirayaki) served with a clear soup (without liver), rice and pickles...where as the only difference if you order the Special A @ RM188 is that it comes with unagi liver soup.

Unagi done both ways was good either way...the half done kabayaki-style (the top half) with its sweet, soy-based sauce is the more common style (and what most people have tried and would gravitate towards) as it offers the unagi a smoky flavour and a sweetish, sticky sauce coating.

The other half done shirayaki-style (the bottom half) was grilled plain with just salt and served with wasabi isn't as commonly found offering a pure, delicate flavour of the unagi.  Those who want to taste the unadulterated, clean, natural taste of the unagi without the distraction of a sweet-based sauce would favour this style of cooking.  This was my first time eating it this way as you need really fresh unagi to be able to pull this off. ^o^

The other way of having their speciality is known as the Nagoya-style in the form of Unagi Hitsumabushi @ RM165 featuring charcoal grilled unagi served with rice and condiments and a pot of hot soup. ^.^

For first-timers and those who are unfamiliar with this style of eating, not to worry as it comes with a self-explanatory instruction card to show you exactly how it's done.  Well, you basically divide your unagi and rice into 4 portions and enjoy them in 3 stages.

You eat the first portion as it is to...to savour the charcoal-grilled unagi with the sweet savoury sauce.  The second quarter, you enjoy it with condiments of shredded nori seaweed, chopped spring onions and wasabi.

The third portion, you eat it ochazuke-style by pouring the dashi broth into your rice.  I've had hitsumabushi before though I felt this one was more successful coz soup over plain rice (with a light drizzle of sauce instead of flavoured rice I had at Rakuzen) lets you savour the light, subtle taste of the soup better.  Finally, you savour the last portion in whichever of the previous 3 styles you enjoyed the most.  P/S: Sorry there are no individual photos of the 3 stages as you can imagine dividing the 4 portions into another 4 portions...since the four of us wanted to try the unagi here both ways, actually three ways if you include having the unagi shirayaki-style...we literally had like a spoonful each for each stage...lol!

Green Tea was RM4 per pax which was refillable...of course we wouldn't be satisfied with just green tea. After dinner, we adjourned to Cellar Eighteen, a wine shop within walking distance from Makoto, for some tipple.  Nice little quiet place to sit down with friends to enjoy good wine and good company.

Thank you, dear friend, for buying us this bottle of red wine (good recommendation by the guy in Cellar 18). Of all the red wine I've had before, this one was the one I enjoyed the most (and it's not because someone belanja, ok)! :D

My Personal Opinion

I'm glad I can finally tick off the box of having tried unagi served from live eels, certainly one of its kind and probably the first and only restaurant in KL that serves live unagi.  The unagi was definitely top-notch in terms of quality and taste.  They were excellent...super tender, exceptionally fresh and obviously the best I've had (others I've had before now pale in comparison...and others I'll have in future will now always be compared to this as the benchmark). ^_~

So, what was my favourite style, you ask?  I prefer eating it kabayaki or shirayaki style to savour the excellent quality of this unagi...and not hitsumabushi style as I thought it was a waste of good unagi being drowned in the soup and losing that delicate flavour of the unagi.

This place is all about the unagi...and that's about it.....for me!  If you simply love unagi (and have not had a good quality one), then you must give this live unagi a try! ^o^

Makoto Unagi Restaurant

No 54 Jalan 27/70A

Desa Sri Hartamas

50480 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-6211 1409