ATV: ATV Adventure Park Kuala Lumpur

Overview:

Fancy a day riding an ATV through the lush, green forests in the heart of Kuala Lumpur and taking a dip in the cold chilly waterfall? ATV Adventure Park Kuala Lumpur offers these experiences to those craving for a bit of adventure or just wanting a whiff of mother nature away from the stone forest in the city.

After an approximately half an hour's drive from town, we finally arrived at our destination and was greeted with hot scorching mid-day sun and a huge rock spray painted artfully indicating that we've arrived to the correct place.

This place has garnered so much attention that even celebrities the likes of Josh Hartnett and Owen Wilson have grazed this place with their presence. 

After all ten of us have gathered and picked out our helmets and mentally prepped ourselves for the ride, we were given a short briefing session by one of the instructors. Working the ATV is pretty much similar to driving a car-motorcycle hybrid vehicle, equipped with a forward, neutral and reverse gear as well as front and back brake handles. It MAY sound intimidating at first if you're a freshie at riding one of these, but you'll get the hang of it after few test rounds around the block before going into the off-road track.

The off-road trail was filled with uphill and downhill slopes and muddy potholes. Nothing too difficult for the ATV to handle. All it takes is some maneuvering skills and if you come across a difficult trail, just follow the person in front of you (hopefully this person does not get stuck too). An instructor will be right at the front leading each group which is split into two groups of five. 

Our instructor was not very friendly and were constantly equipped with a sour face. He was also increasingly annoyed when one of my friend was stuck several times in the ditch and he had to help get him back on track. Service could definitely be improved.

Alas, after the rough ride but enjoyable ride, we finally reached the waterfall with the cold, icy water in all its glory soothing our aching forearms from all the braking and maneuvering through the rough terrains.

After dipping in the waterfall and quenching our thirst with water (which was provided), it was another hour back the same route to the starting point.

Me and mah ride.

These are the available packages according to level of difficulty and length of trail. The one we chose was Package C, good enough for beginners and first-timers. If you're more experienced you can go for Package D or E, heard from one of the instructors that the trail on Package E is challenging even for the seasoned ATV riders. 

Overall, tiring but was a great experience, one worth trying for sure. Enough of shopping malls during weekends already Malaysians!

Nitty-gritty details:
Name: ATV Adventure Park Kuala Lumpur
E-mail: miza1010@advadventurepark.com
Website: www.atvadventurepark.com

Place: Kg. Kemensah, Hulu Kelang, Kuala Lumpur

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday (9.00am to 6.00pm); Closed from 11.00am to 3.00pm on Fridays

Contact: +6019 244 8544 (Mazlin)

Directions:

Restaurant S.M. (Yong Tau Foo)

Overview

A place made popular by serving its famous yong tau foo well known by many Klangnites. Nonetheless, Restaurant S.M. remains hidden from plain sight to many outsiders. 

If there's one thing that I can impart to people about eating in Malaysia is to never judge a book by its cover. Restaurant S.M. is one of such places. Although it may look old and dingy on the outside, this place serves one of the best yong tau foo you can find around Klang town if you can look past the exterior of the restaurant and compromise the possibility of being drenched in sweat on a hot humid day in Malaysia.

The interior of the restaurant looks like any typical 'kopitiam', fully equipped with plastic chairs with faded paint and XXL size metal standing fans.

Iced Coffee and Iced Barley

Curry 'Chee Cheong Fun'

Sweet Sauce 'Chee Cheong Fun'

You can choose from two types of sauce for the chee cheong fun at Restaurant S.M., which are the curry sauce and the sweet sauce. Both are topped off with a dash of fried shallots and sesame seeds to enhance the taste. The curry sauce was delicious but I preferred the classic 'sweet sauce' (personal preference) which had a thick consistency, tasted great and goes amazingly welll with the fried shallots and sesame seeds.

Fried Yong Tau Foo 

Yong Tau Foo in Clear Soup

We were provided with a list of yong tau foo items to choose from ranging from ladies fingers, fish ball, soft tofu, fried wanton, fried 'tao pok', etc. All the fried items are separated from the steamed items as you can see from the pictures above. The fried items were crispy and kept as crunching away.

Besides yong tau foo, Restaurant S.M. also serves curry mee and wan tan mee which are quite popular as well. If there was anything bad that I could comment about this place is that the restaurant is located among industrial factories and by a main road, hence, tend to be noisy and humid. Also, don't expect a lot from the service as there have been comments about the servers being rude and slow. Nonetheless, I'd still recommend anyone who happen to be around Klang town to try this place out. 

Nitty-gritty details:
Place: Jalan Kapar, Klang, Selangor

Opening hours: 

Lunch hours

Sanuki Udon

Overview:

This petite hidden gem located in Taman Desa and calls out to all udon and kushiage lovers out there looking for a decently priced meal that would not burn a hole in your pocket. Plus, they do serve beers and sake, making it perfect for weekday dinners after work for some stress relief ;)

Small shop with a simple design and deco

"Sanuki Udon" is named after the previous name of Kagawa Prefecture, Sanuki Province in Japan where this type of udon was popularized. Sanuki Udon has been around since 2010 and takes pride in their handmade udon noodles, its a shame we only found out about this place this year. 

Kakiage [RM3.00]

These vegetable tempura tastes great on its own or as a garnish to your udon. Part of the reason why we ordered this is also it's one of The Boy's favorite dish.

House Special with Egg (Hot) [RM5.00]

The house special with egg remains one of my favorite at this place. Comfort in a bowl, if you ask me ;)

House Special with Egg (Cold) [RM5.00]

The Boy prefers the cold house special with egg which is also delicious. The cold alternative is perfect for the hot and humid weather in Malaysia. Whats really different about the cold house special udon compared to the hot one is the dash of wasabi that comes together with the dish which gives the udon a spicy kick. 

Hot Green Tea [RM1.00 each]

Karaage (3 pieces) [RM3.00]

Another highlight of Sanuki Udon for me was the karaage which comes in 3 pieces of chicken for each order. These are boneless chicken which are fried to perfection, leaving the outer skin crispy and the meat inside juicy and tender. Worth every penny.

Kushiage Shiitake, Onion and Quail Eggs [RM2.00 - 3.00 each] 

Kushiage Menu

Apart from udon, Sanuki Udon too serves an array of kushiage choices to complete your meal. There is also a special sauce that comes with the kushiage which is quite unique and has a tinge of mustard. Tastes amazing together.

Food and Drinks Menu

From other food blogs, I was made to know that Sanuki Udon used to serve yakitori and have recently stopped serving in 2012. Recently, they have also opened a new outlet at JayaOne called Marafuku Udon. Will check that out soon! :)

Nitty-gritty details:
Place: 9, Jalan Bukit Desa 5, Taman Bukit Desa, 58100 Kuala Lumpur

Opening hours: 

Daily from 11.30am - 3.00pm; 5.30pm - 9.30pm, except on Mondays

Contact: 03-7980 3704

Mr. & Ms. Cafe

Overview:

Mr. and Ms. Cafe is the product of the brains and brawn of two friends who have come together to bring us this homely and cozy cafe tucked in the midst of Oasis Square, Ara Damansara. The menu is laden with eggs, salmon, mushrooms, and all you need to satisfy your breakfast/brunch cravings. Plus, they serve all-day breakfast. Hooray for sleep-ins during weekends!

Craving badly for a food-venture, myself, the Boy, sister and a friend  headed over to Mr. & Ms. Cafe on a Saturday afternoon for brunch. We had high expectations based on positive food reviews from blogs and other means of social media.

Freshly squeezed orange juice [RM9.50]

Nothing like a cup of freshly squeezed orange juice to kick-start my day and also my best remedy for any hangover ;).

Latte [RM8.00] and Cappuccino [RM8.00] 

Iced Latte [RM8.00]

A variety of coffee is also available for those who can't function without having their morning fix of caffeine.

The Eggs Benedict [RM14.90]

The Eggs Benedict comprises of poached eggs topped with hollandaise sauce on wholemeal toast and underneath, asparagus, sauteed mushrooms and turkey ham. Can never go wrong with this dish. 

Poached eggs are one of my favorite ways eggs can be cooked and eaten. 

I can hear angels sing as I slice open the poached eggs, revealing a stream of gooey golden yolk. The eggs are cooked to perfection and tasted heavenly.

The Eggs Atlantic [RM16.90]

Another staple brunch dish, Eggs Atlantic, comprising of poached eggs topped with hollandaise sauce on wholemeal toast, asparagus, and salmon.  

The Eggs Portobello [RM20.90]

The main focus of this dish is the two gigantic baked portobello mushrooms sitting beneath the poached eggs. This was a rather unique and healthy dish as the poached eggs were topped with lentils with a dash of feta cheese and sprinkled with nuts.

The 'Meaty'  Big Brekky [RM21.90]

To many, the epitome of every breakfast meal is a wholesome big breakfast set. The 'Meaty' Big Brekky comes with eggs of your choice (poached, fried & scrambled), wholemeal toast, herb chicken sausages, turkey ham, beef bacon, button mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, hash brown and homemade baked beans. 

The highlight of this dish was the homemade baked beans which were baked in a fragrant herb sauce and not your typical canned red beans from Ayam Brand. The flavorsome baked beans balanced out the meal nicely.

The inside of the cafe is cozy and homely. As you can see, the place is jam packed during lunch hours. Be there early and be prepared to be put on a waiting list.

Alternatively there are two tables outside the cafe which are not popular with the crowd as it can be quite hot and humid in this Malaysian weather. But if you are not bothered to wait, this may be your best option. We settled for the seats outside as we were too hungry to wait. 

This is what the restaurant signage looks like in the event you have trouble finding the place. Would definitely return to Mr. & Ms. Cafe to enjoy the ambiance inside the cafe and the other 'goodies' on their menu.

Nitty-gritty details:
Place: B-G-3A Block B, Oasis Square, Jalan PJU 1A/7A Ara Damansara, 47301 Petaling Jaya

Opening hours: 

Daily from 10.00am to 6.00pm

Contact: 03-7859 6664

D'italiane Kitchen

Overview:

Now with three branches, D'italiane has made a name for itself in the Klang Valley by serving up an extensive Italian food menu that is sure to keep you coming back for more. Coupled with a cosy ambiance of light jazz music and warm lighting, a variety of alcoholic beverages, ample seats and affable service from the staff you can look forward for a long unrushed meal while playing catch-up with loved ones.

Frequently passing by the newly opened D'italiane at Paradigm Mall which was always packed to the brim, I told myself that one day I'd have to come try this place for myself to see what the big hoo-haa was all about. Last Friday was that fated day where myself and the Boy managed to tryout D'italiane.

When we arrived,  we were welcomed with a smile and ushered to our seats which was a comfy couch/sofa with a short dining table. We were surprised to see how big the place and could easily seat 120 people or more. We were thankful that we managed to arrive early before the Friday dinner crowd as we were there before 6.00pm. *Hint: Be there early to avoid waiting :)

First thing I noticed was how comfortable it was and I absolutely loved the lighting on the ceiling.

Warm Portobello Salad, [RM15 (Starter)]

 Being a HUGE mushroom fan, the warm portobello salad caught my eye instantly. The salad was served up with char grilled warm portobello mushrooms, aragula, baby spinach (another fav!) and shaved Parmesan cheese tossed in herb dressing. The herb dressing was appetizing and not too heavy which allowed us to taste the fresh vegetables and mushrooms. Must say the salad made an excellent appetizer to the meal and was absolutely delish.

Seafood Chowder [RM22]

The seafood chowder was a great accompaniment to our appetizer and had huge bits of prawns, calamari and fish fillet served up in a creamy seafood reduction. 

The kitchen was absolutely generous with the ingredients and you are sure to be able to bite chunks of seafood with every spoonful of soup.

Affumicatto Anatra (Smoked duck) [RM29]

For our first main, we ordered the smoked duck risotto in thick creamy sauce based on recommendation from the waiter. The top of the dish was filled with crispy duck pieces and if you think that's all, wait till you dig your spoon deeper into the dish where there's more duck meat! The risotto was cooked perfectly and the grains were tender without being too soft. If there's anything to complain about that would be that there's too much duck meat, which may not be a bad thing for many.

Salmon with White Cream [RM 40]

Due to my sudden craving for fish, I ordered a pan-grilled marinated salmon fillet for our second main.  There are so many good things to say about this dish that I don't know where to start. First of all, the white wine cream reduction was absolutely amazing with a thick creamy consistency. 

The salmon was so perfectly cooked I couldn't stop praising the dish the entire dinner. As you can see from the picture above, the salmon meat is still pinkish and juicy on the insides and I could separate layer by layer which shows how fresh and perfectly cooked the fish was! Amazing.

And to top it off, the salmon skin was cook separately and packed a crunch! Every bite produced a crackling sound in my mouth. 

I have to specifically commend the service from the waiters as although it was not a fine-dining restaurant or what-not, one particular waiter took the effort to ask us how our meal was and also when they forgot to key-in one of our order, instead of just keying in later without our knowledge while we waited unknowingly for the dish, they apologized and asked whether we wanted to cancel or we wouldn't mind waiting.

We were so satisfied with our meal that we told ourselves we have to return to try the other dishes especially the pizza and dessert. 

P.S. One piece of advice though, make sure you do not order too many cream based dishes, they fill you up fast!

Nitty-gritty details:
Place: Lot GB03A & 05, Level G Boulevard, Paradigm Mall, Kelana Jaya

Opening hours: 

Daily from 10am to 10.30pm

Contact: 03-7802 8968

Fong Lye, Taiwan Fusion Cuisine Restaurant

Overview
Recently opened at the Gardens Mall, neighboring its 'sibling', Fong Lye Taiwanese Restaurant and specializes in steamboat and teppanyaki dishes. Highlights would have to be the option to customize the 'sauce' accompanying the steamboat and the high quality ingredients used for the steamboat. 

Passing by this restaurant numerous times with every visit to the Gardens Mall, me and the Boy always been curious to try the food here. Judging by how popular the 'sibling' Fong Lye Taiwanese Restaurant is (always packed to the brim and has a long waiting list during peak hours), I decided to give this new restaurant a shot.

Looking through the menu, we did not know for sure what to expect from this fusion restaurant. As we noticed that most of the restaurant patrons have got a steamboat pot on their table, we decided to have steamboat ourselves. As we wanted to try the different broths available, we ordered the Taiwan Style Yuan Yang Hot Pot priced at RM78 where we could choose two types of broth from three bases: 1) Seaweed, 2) Spicy, and 3) Tomato. We opted for the seaweed and spicy soup bases.

Chinese Tea
RM 6 per person

The Chinese tea was really fragrant and did a pretty good job washing off the oil from the steamboat and  plus point, the teapot set looked adorable. 

All ready for the steamboat!

To go with the steamboat, they provided us with the basic soy sauce with spring onions and chilli padi as a dip for those wanting a little more taste to go together with their steamboat ingredients.

Regrettably, we did not manage to try the 'self-customize' dipping sauce available for restaurant patrons who may have different tastes and are adventurous to try more than the conventional soy sauce dip. We were actually not made aware that we had the option to mix and match our own dipping sauce by the waiters/waitresses there.

Fresh ingredients for the steamboat. Spot the angry bird.

The ingredients used for the steamboat at Fong Lye was really fresh and we could tell it was of better quality than most conventional steamboat buffet restaurants. The ingredients tasted 'genuine', not like some cheap processed artificial crab meat you can get from the grocery. I'm not surprised if they actually made the steamboat ingredients themselves.

Tiger prawns and fish

The tiger prawns and the fish for the steamboat were fresh and delicious. Particularly loved the fish. Beware to not overcook the prawns though or the meat might get stuck to the shell and will be difficult to remove.

Spicy soup on the left and seaweed soup on the right 

If you do not have a very high tolerance for spicy food, please stay away from the spicy soup. It will burn a hole through your throat. We had to wash off the spiciness from the spicy soup with the seaweed soup in the end to minimize the spiciness. 

Prawn paste (darker coloured one) and cuttle-fish paste

I love how fresh the cuttle-fish and prawn pastes were. Especially love the cuttle-fish paste.

These are how the pastes look like after its cooked. Even the 'bear' is salivating.

Thinly sliced beef

The beef was really sweet and just a few seconds in the boiling soup is enough to cook them to perfection.  Yum.

Another good point worth mentioning about this place is also that the waiter/waitress will actually cook the ingredients for you which is a value-added service provided by Fong Lye. I guess for those of you who prefer to experience 'cooking' themselves you could request to do so.

Mango pudding + Chocolate coffee cake

At the end of our meal we were served with a set of dessert each. The mango pudding was so good I contemplated coming back again just to have this dish. As I'm not much of a chocolate lover (I know, right?!), I did not fancy the cake as much as the mango pudding, little bit of bias-ness there. 

Pig decorative at the front of the restaurant. Clearly non-halal.

Nitty-gritty details:
Place: Lot T209, 3rd Floor, The Gardens, Mid Valley City, Lingkaran Syed Putra, 59200 Kuala Lumpur

Opening hours: 

Daily from 10am to 10.30pm

Contact: 03-22832889