#ewew makes (Kylie Kwong Inspired) Chicken & Iceberg Lettuce Sandwiches

Sandwiches are probably one of the most ideal things to whip up when we want something light for lunch or a nice afternoon snack.  Although this sandwich may not be the easiest to make, it's more than worth the effort and time when you see the end result.

 

This Chicken & Iceberg Lettuce Sandwich is taken from an episode of Kylie Kwong: Cooking with Heart and Soul series that I watched some time ago (and I've not had the need for another chicken sandwich recipe since I saw this one).  The ingredients and timing may not be exactly the same as Kylie's recipe coz I can't quite remember (and I can't seem to find the recipe in her cookbook either)....so, I'm just putting my own spin (and what I can remember) on it here!

Ingredients:

1 whole chicken leg (deboned but with skin on)
1/2 a carrot
1 onion
2 stalks spring onions
1 stalk celery
A few iceberg lettuce leaves
3 cups water
2 tbsp store-bought mayonnaise
4 slices of bread
Butter
Salt, white peppercorns & black pepper

Preparation:

Roughly cut up your carrots, onion, celery and spring onions.

Wash and drain (really well) your iceberg lettuce leaves.  Finely shred your lettuce.

Method:

Bring water to the boil (in a small saucepan) and put in all the vegetables (the aromatics).  Season the stock with a sprinkle of salt and some coarsely crushed white peppercorns.  

 

Let it boil for 5 mins and then lower in your deboned chicken leg (with skin on) into the broth.  [#Tip: The skin keeps the meat moist and gives it more flavour.]

Bring it back to the boil for about 2 mins.  Then, turn off the power, put the lid on and let it steep for 1 hr.  [#Tip: Not boiling the heck out of your chicken keeps it from being dried out.]

 

After it has been steeping for an hr, take the chicken leg out and let it cool.  [#Note: Do not throw away the stock (but strain it) and you can make a soup (on another day) out of the fairly flavourful broth.]

Once cooled, remove the skin and finely dice the chicken meat.  [#Tip: I use the meat of a chicken leg (and not chicken breast) coz I don't fancy dry chicken breast in my sandwich (but you can use chicken breast if you like).  Of course, it takes a bit more work to dice up the chicken leg meat but the end result will prove worthwhile, I assure you.]

 

Mix your diced chicken meat with a good store-bought mayo (although Kylie makes her own fresh mayonnaise...but you don't have to if you don't want).  Season to taste with salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
 

Butter your bread with a spread of your finest butter (this will elevate your simple chicken sandwich and make it more decadent).  Make sure the butter is spread to the edges of the bread.  Place the shredded iceberg lettuce on top of one side of your buttered bread.
 

Put your finely diced chicken meat on top of the shredded lettuce and ensure that it's spread to the edges...no-one likes to bite into a part of the sandwich and find it 'empty'...kekeke!!  Trim off the edges and cut into two.

 

And here's my (Kylie Kwong inspired) freshly made Chicken & Iceberg Lettuce Sandwich that is healthy and light.  The chicken filling is moist and juicy (because of its poaching in a light, aromatic stock), coupled with the crisp iceberg lettuce, makes for a plump sandwich (unlike some of those dried up chicken breast sandwiches we get from the deli).

 

It makes for a delightful afternoon tea snack (or a light lunch) and is great with a cup of hot coffee (or tea).  It's also versatile as a great 'party food' which you can pre-prepare ahead and quickly assemble for your party.

 

Makes 2 sandwiches

 

Pudu 168 (Claypot Chicken Rice) @ Pudu

I decided to check out this coffee shop, said to offer a very good claypot chicken rice in Pudu (other than the more well known one), after reading about it on a blog.  So, on a Sunday evening, we came to Pudu Satu Enam Lapan Coffee Shop @ Pudu to try out this reputed claypot chicken rice.

Let's just say that finding a parking in this area is a nightmare, let alone one that is close to the shop, so be prepared to walk a little.  Once there, you'll realise that it's a very small coffee shop with just about 10 tables inside but, fret not, as they've set up a lot more tables across the lane.  The stall actually operates from the side of the coffee shop with another stall next to it selling fried noodles.  I assume these 2 stalls only open for dinner as I could see a number of closed stalls inside the shop (presumably those stalls operate for breakfast and lunch).

We arrived at around 7 pm and it was already full with people.  We finally got a table but overheard that the waiting period was about 1 hour (actually that was the table we got after the patrons decided to give up the table coz they couldn't 'stomach' the 1 hour wait).  We decided to 'suck it up' and wait since we've already parked the car, walked to the coffee shop plus it was already 7.15 pm.

I guess the reason for the long wait (other than many customers) is the fact that the boss himself does all the portioning of ingredients and cooking himself.  He mans 3 rows of stoves (with each row having about 8 charcoal stoves).

From the no. of charcoal stoves to the big pot of marinated chicken and the big tray of thinly sliced "lap cheong" (Chinese waxed sausages), you'd know his business is thriving ;)

Finally, our food arrived at 8.15 pm.  As soon as the claypot hit our table, you could smell the distinctive smoky, fragrant aroma of charcoal-cooked rice and a whiff of "shaoxing" (Chinese rice) wine.

This Claypot Chicken Rice (big) costs RM17 (and RM19 with salted fish) or RM11 (for small).  I liked that it came with lots of chopped spring onions although the salted fish was just a few measly thin slices (and taste-wise not as fragrant as some salted fish I've eaten).

We did like the tender and well marinated pcs of chicken and lap cheong (wished there were more lap cheong though....and not so thinly sliced until they curled up...kekeke)!  When eating the chicken with the rice, I did get a very slight hint of rice wine coming through but it needed more wine flavour (if you ask me).

As for the rice, I found it to be just okay...the rice is a tad on the wet side due to the overly abundant dark soy (in my opinion)....I would have preferred a wee bit less dark soy.  For those of you who don't love the dark thick soya sauce as much, then this may not be the claypot chicken rice for you.  [#Note: My husband did hint that there was a slight bitterness...although I didn't detect it (but it can happen with an over abundance of dark soy), especially so if you scrape the crispy burnt bits at the bottom of the claypot (which I didn't, of course).]

Or, maybe it was because I was eating my rice with lots of freshly sliced red chillies (which I was glad to see instead of those fiery bird's eye chillies).

We also ordered a vegetable to go with our rice...blanched beansprouts @ RM4 (small)...and they were excellent!  The beansprouts were super crunchy but it was the generous amount of fried minced garlic and the combination of oyster and light soy sauce (which was not over salty) that made it very good =)

Before I came, I read that the soup here is really good.  What I thought was that they serve double-boiled soups but I was mistaken.  They only have one soup and that is their soup of the day...much like those chicken rice stalls where they boil one big pot of soup except this one came with better ingredients (there were some slices of pork belly in it) instead of using cheap parts like chicken carcass and feet :(

When we were there that evening, it was the Dried Vegetables Soup @ RM4 (small)...I think it's called "pak choy kon" in Chinese.  Taste-wise, it was alright...it tasted like something which we (or our moms) used to boil at home to the same level of success.

My Personal Opinion

The claypot chicken rice was good....just not 'drop dead good'!!!  I liked the tender chicken chunks but didn't like as much the quality of the salted fish and the overly abundant dark soy on the rice.

If you want to try this claypot chicken rice, I suggest you come before the peak dinner hours (like before 6 pm or after 8 pm), otherwise be prepared to wait for up to 1 hour for your food to arrive.  It's still a good pot of claypot chicken rice (judging by the large crowds who are willing to wait)....just not good enough to warrant me to wait an hour for...in a warm and not-so-conducive 'eating' environment.

It's funny how I came for a pot of claypot chicken rice but ended up liking the blanched beansprouts...a lot more.....instead! :D

(Kedai Kopi) Pudu Satu Enam Lapan
(Opposite Restoran Sek Yuen)
Jalan Pudu
55100 Kuala Lumpur
 

Bonjour Garden Cafe @ The Intermark

The last time I came here was for some cakes and pastries (after an earlier lunch at Fresco with friends).  Remembering that I had a pleasant afternoon tea (or should I say coffee) experience here a while ago, I returned for a revisit to check out "what's for dinner" one Saturday evening.

The place I'm referring to is Bonjour Garden Café @ The Intermark, which has a bakery in front, to cater to all your bakery and pastries needs....and they're pretty good, I might add!

But, this time I was here for dinner.  A look at the menu and I can see that they have everything from an all-day breakfast to snacks, soups, salads, pastas, pizzas, sandwiches and main courses.

We settled for the Potato Wedges @ RM8 (from their snacks menu) as our starter for sharing.  No complaints here on a simple dish of freshly fried, crispy potato wedges.

For the mains, there was a choice of Fish 'n' Chips (RM25), Rosemary Chicken, Salmon & Asparagus, pan-seared beef Striploin (RM40) or Rib Eye (RM48).

I decided to go with the Rosemary Chicken @ RM28 which was a roast leg of chicken marinated with rosemary and served with garlic mashed potatoes and an aromatic chicken broth.

This main was accompanied by a fresh salad and lightly sautéed cherry tomatoes.

The roasted chicken leg came with a crispy skin and the chicken leg was tender and moist.  You can smell the rosemary seasoning in the chicken especially so when it arrived with a stalk of roasted rosemary sticking out from the chicken.

What was truly outstanding was the sauce which was not your typical black pepper or mushroom sauce that we're so used to seeing.  The aromatic chicken jus, that resembled a herbed brown gravy, was flavourful and delicious.

I don't usually order roast chicken (as I make them so often at home) but I was pleasantly surprised by this one and was glad that I ordered it.

The other main was the Salmon & Asparagus @ RM35 which was a pc of pan-seared Atlantic salmon served on a bed of sautéed asparagus, eryngii (king trumpet) mushrooms and a creamy citrus sauce.

The salmon skin was pan-fried till crispy but the salmon was a bit overdone for me (although I find that it's quite common for it to be cooked to this level of doneness at most places).

The soften mushrooms, the nicely grilled asparagus (the thick type) and well-seasoned cherry tomatoes, together with the creamy citrusy sauce (and balsamic reduction, I think), provided some freshness to the plate for yet another successful dish.

[#Story 1: Actually, the main courses here are enough to fill you up and (for an average eater) you don't need any starters.  That's why, we couldn't finish half the potato wedges and I asked for the balance to be packed...kinda like asking for a 'doggy bag'....and that was exactly what I got.  The waiter literally gave me a paper bag!  He just passed me the bag and expects me to pack it myself...what the heck :(  Their service was pleasant throughout the evening until this happened (P/S: this particular foreign worker actually looks kind of dumb...so that explains it)!]

[#Story 2: While dining there, I saw a Caucasian man order a soup, a steak and the roast chicken leg + a juice and a coffee....nothing wrong with that...except he was dining alone!! :D  Now we know why an American-sized portion has to be shared by two here :D]

Our drinks for the evening:

Cold Americano @ RM7

Iced Lemon Tea @ RM8

My Personal Opinion

If you're looking for a reasonably affordable eat at The Intermark, this is probably it as the other places here are more 'upmarket'. 

Even a pc of uncooked salmon from Jaya Grocer will set you back about RM30...and you have to pay to get it cooked at Fresco.....and the salmon comes with 'no frills' :'(

So, it's a worthwhile place to have a bite after some grocery shopping!

Bonjour Garden Café

Lot LC-01-08 Intermark Mall

The Intermark

No 348 Jalan Tun Razak

50400 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-2181 1822

Favourite 'Affordable Eats' of 2014

Next in my series of favourite eats is my favourite 'affordable eats' of 2014, the definition of which refers to food that is deemed affordable to the majority of us, more wallet-friendly and eaten in a comfortable and somewhat trendy environment.

This was a little bit more difficult to narrow down than my favourite 'nice eats' coz (first of all) it was a longer list and (secondly) I had eaten way more affordable meals than the pricey ones.

The Red Beanbag @ Publika

Absolutely loved the Bagna Cauda...a perfectly poached egg, beef bacon and sautéed spinach sitting on top of a nicely executed rosti laced with a handsome amount of bagna cauda sauce.

 

Their soft and fluffy Classic French Toast with the crunch of the almond slivers, the sweetness of the caramelised bananas and maple syrup, the tartness of the strawberries....all worked together for a slice of heaven!

Antipodean Cafe @ Menara Tan & Tan

 

The slightly salty, utterly fragrant pork sausages and scrambled eggs (cooked just right) of their Big Breakfast were what I enjoyed the most here.

 

Village Park (Nasi Lemak) @ Damansara Uptown

 

It's the artery-clogging, fragrant, freshly fried "ayam goreng" (fried chicken) that I can't seem to get enough of...gimme more, gimme more! :D

 

They also make one of the best "Kedondong" & Sour Plum Juice I've had.

 

Fahrenheit 600 @ Publika

 

The pizzas made from their wood-fire brick oven (with a searing 600 degrees Fahrenheit) is the order of the day like their signature 12" Fahrenheit 600 of oven-baked tomatoes, eggplant, black olives and caramelised onions.

Jung Won Korean BBQ @ Ampang Hilir

 

Dine amidst lush greenery and tranquility (maybe some mosquitoes too) while savouring juicy, tender, charcoal Grilled Salmon.

 

I adored the traditional Korean Chicken Soup with Ginseng.....it's healthy, it's nourishing, it's a bowl of love!

Hakata Ippudo @ Pavilion

 

Come here for a classic Hakata-style flavoursome bowl of ramen...the Shiromaru Motoaji Special with tender pork loin and a perfectly cooked soft-boiled egg in a robust and rich tonkotsu (pork bone) broth---go on, s..l...u..u...r..p....p to your heart's content!!

Wong Kee (Roast Pork) @ Pudu

 

Ok, this entry might not fit the 'trendy place' tag but fits the 'affordable' tag although it's not that cheap.  Wong Kee's "siew yoke" (roast pork) here is not for the 'faint of heart'...that's in terms of price (and not cholesterol level) :D   Each strip of oh-so-tender meat, with its perfect crispy pork crackling, sets you back RM16 (which supposedly serves one but one can finish 2 strips if you don't hold back).

Yut Kee @ Jalan Dang Wangi (now at Jalan Kamunting)

 

The no. 1 seller here is (without doubt) their signature Hainanese Chicken Chop that has stood the test of time.  Though some may say that the standard has dropped, it still dishes out wholesome, comforting chicken chops that we've grown up eating.  The success (for me) lies in the sauce which I've not seen replicated elsewhere.

 

Hot on the heels of their signature dish comes the (English) Roast Pork.  I call it that coz it's unlike the Chinese-style roast pork that we're accustomed to as it has a 'nuts and herbs' stuffing and is served with a traditional apple sauce.

Frisky Goat @ TTDI 

 

The Pan Seared Barramundi deserves mention here in that the fish was light and fresh on a bed of creamy potato mash, diced vegetables and a balsamic reduction.

 

Sitka @ Damansara Heights

 

The use of farm fresh ingredients, coupled with modern techniques, gives rise to the creation of unique salads like this Mango with Charred Red Onion (& a 63-degree egg) that's crisp, fresh and distinctively different.

Map's (Revisit) @ Bandar Sunway

 

There's quite a fair bit of good dishes here and all affordably priced as well but if I had to choose two, I would go with the Map's Pork Balls coz the roasted potatoes and herbed brown gravy made it all even better.  It's pop...power of pork, that is!

 

The other one would be the Homemade Bacon Bruschetta...the winning combo of crispy bacon, basil, tomato and mozzarella just brought it home ;)

And that's my list of favourite 'affordable eats' of 2014 that's good to eat but not too taxing on our pockets (at the same time)....now how great is that!!!