Burnin' Pit @ Desa Sri Hartamas

It has been a while since I last met my makan buddies for dinner at Makoto...and we found ourselves in the same area again but at Burnin' Pit @ Desa Sri Hartamas this time.  I've been wanting to visit Burnin' Pit for some time since being attracted by photos of delicious-looking barbecued meats (as well as seeing my blogger friend enjoying meals there).

When I think of Burnin' Pit, for some reason, the Ring of Fire tune gets played in my head...lol! ;D

I fell into a burnin' pit ring of fire

I went down, down, down and the flames went higher

And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire, the ring of fire..........

Anyway.....Burnin' Pit is well-known for delivering good ol' Southern American barbecue meats cooked low and slow in a custom-built smoker (like those delicious-looking Texas barbecue we see on TV).

Our meal began with the Birria Tacos @ RM28 which is supposedly a Mexican crispy (red) taco stuffed with cheesy shredded beef.  It was served with a (birria taco) sauce which is a rich, savoury red broth (made with blended tomatoes, onions, garlic, dried Mexican chillies and spices).  Of course I wouldn't know if it was made with Mexican chillies (like ancho and guajillo) but they say it's not birria if you don't use Mexican dried chillies...haha!

Well, Mexican dried chillies or not, the sauce was absolutely delicious eaten with a spoonful or two over the filling of shredded beef.  The tacos were absolutely crispy as well making the experience a double dose of happiness.  I think I've only eaten non-crispy tacos thus far...and a crispy one definitely trumps a soft, pliable corn or flour tortilla! ^_~

I also ordered one other dish for sharing, the Philly Cheese Sandwich @ RM32 (or Philly Cheesesteak as it's commonly known) with pulled Angus beef shreds, sauteed red and green peppers, caramelised onions and cheddar cheese on a ciabatta served with a side of fries.

This was another good dish...and I was even ok with the cheddar cheese (which was white, not yellow). Worthy of mention was the side of skin-on fries which were extremely fluffy and crisp.  If I had known how good the fries were, I would have ordered an extra side of fries.

We could not order too many pre-main dishes as I know our main platter of The Austin @ RM368 would be massive...and I was really taken aback as to how substantial the platter was.  It got oohs and aahs when it was served...and I can certainly understand why...it was a showstopper! :O

It came with Smoked Lamb Ribs (750g), Smoked Angus Beef Brisket (400g), Quarter Smoked Chicken, Chicken Sausages (4 pcs) with sides of Mac & Cheese, Southern Slaw, Homemade Beans and Brioche Buns (I ordered an extra Brioche Bun @ RM3.50 since there were five of us).

Let's start with the good...and the best thing on the platter, the Smoked Angus Beef Brisket as it was so tender that the knife cut through it like butter and the slow-smoked brisket practically disintegrated in my mouth.  Even after each of us had a slice, there were still 2 large pieces left.  Only downside was you have to eat the beef brisket while it's still warm coz once it's cold, I could detect a hint of gaminess in the beef (which others might not experience) and though it was very negligible, it brought down the pleasantness of the brisket (for me).

The Quarter Smoked Chicken (we chose jerk seasoning coz peri-peri sounds so familiar like Nando's...lol) was tender, a little smoky and tasty enough though the meat was a little dry as we were unfortunate enough to get the wing section (and not the drumstick/thigh section) of the quarter.

The Chicken Sausages turned out surprisingly decent as I found myself enjoying them (not sure if they're housemade, most probably not).

The Smoked Lamb Ribs, which also happens to be the biggest portion on the platter, was the biggest disappointment.  Perhaps "disappointment" is too mild a word...it was a total disaster!  It looked way better than it tasted.  The lamb was so gamey (and there were also lots of fatty parts), it was inedible (I could smell the gaminess even before eating...and when I tried a small piece, no bigger than an inch, I wanted to spit it out).  The gamey taste and smell lingered in my mouth...it was really off-putting! >_<  Even the espresso rub we went with could not mask the gaminess of the lamb!  Even my friends who enjoy lamb found it gamey (and they couldn't stomach more than one bite), so it was practically left untouched...and uneaten.

As for the sides, I didn't care for their Homemade Beans and thought the Southern Slaw was a bit too limp (missing that fresh, crunchy factor) and wished it was served cold to give a bit more freshness that was so needed when you're eating a meat-heavy platter.  Luckily, there were some vinegared jalapenos to offer some respite.  I didn't have any Mac & Cheese as it's too heavy a side dish when you already have lots of meat.  I think they need to rethink their sides (of beans and mac & cheese) as I'd prefer to see something lighter and fresher to cut through the heaviness of the meats.

I ordered extra sides of Grilled Corn on the Cob with Coconut Milk @ RM9 (two portions) and they were well grilled and and tasty enough though I can't say I tasted much of the creamy coconut milk.

The other extra side was the Grilled Vegetables @ RM9 with grilled carrots, green & yellow zucchinis and red bell peppers.  These were smokey and good.

As we knew we would be adjourning for drinks later, we asked for water to be served...only to find out that it's chargeable! :O  Oh well, the 3 bottles of Spritzer distilled water cost RM9 (RM3 a bottle).  There were two bottles of BBQ sauce available on the table for those who need extra sauce.

We ended up at Cellar Eighteen again...and had the same bottle of red wine that we enjoyed so much the previous time.  It was a wonderful end to our otherwise heavy makan session.

Before I end, I feel I need to make a comment about the service.  The service was actually alright right up to near closing time (and that's 10 pm on weekends and 12 am on weekdays)...rather weird, if you ask me, to stay open longer on weekdays than weekends!!  Anyway, I was surprised when I was presented with the bill (coz I didn't ask for it) when I came back from the washroom (this was around 9.30 pm).  I guess they were getting ready to close...but still it wasn't the right thing to do (in my opinion) coz it came out like we were gestured to leave.  We ended up staying another 20 mins or so past 10 pm coz one of my friends was having an "episode" in the washroom (there was one other table still occupied then).  Lo and behold, past 10 pm, they started stacking chairs on the vacated tables and mopping the floor! O_o  I felt very uncomfortable (it was like they were "chasing" us away) that we decided to wait outside for our friend.  Although I'm aware that it's also not right to stay past their closing time, sometimes when you're having a good time, you can lose track of time but (in this case) we were waiting on our friend.  This reminded me (for comparison) of my wonderful experience at Meat Feds when we stayed beyond their closing hours but was greeted with "no problem, it's fine" when I apologised for overstaying...this is what excellent service is all about! ;)

My Personal Opinion

So, does Burnin' Pit warrant a return visit?  It's a YES to their Birria Tacos (especially), Philly cheese sandwich, fries and maybe beef brisket.

It's a definite NO...to The Austin platter (or The Kansas which also includes the lamb ribs) as the gamey lamb, unfortunately, was not a hunk, a hunk of burning love (like Elvis Presley was in his older days...lol).  In fact, it was so gamey (that you can smell it a mile away) and inedible (that even lamb lovers couldn't stomach)...and the platter comes with a whopping 750g of it! >_<

In the end, even without partaking in the lamb, we were too stuffed, so clearly the platter was too much for our party-of-five to handle (Did I order too much?  Not, right?).  I thought if phonghongbakes's party-of-three (who incidentally also had a much more positive experience than us) can devour the platter, it shouldn't be a problem for the five of us.  But I guess I was wrong (now I'm really in awe at how much food they can handle especially when one of them is an 80+ year old lady).  For us, there were leftovers of everything (all the lamb ribs, of course + beef brisket and even smoked chicken), corn, grilled vegetables, mac & cheese, slaw and beans)...but no regrets ordering the first two dishes for sharing though since they turned out to be the better things we ate that night. ^_~

Burnin' Pit

No 24 Jalan 24/70A

Desa Sri Hartamas

50480 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 013-399 3920

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! ❤️❤️❤️