Homecoming (笑着回家)

Good laugh. That's what I got after watching Homecoming (笑着回家). The latest Jack Neo ( 梁志强 ) comedy movie which is about going home for reunion dinner on the Chinese New Year's Eve. This time Jack Neo again portray as a woman but not an old grandma Liang Po Po but a middle aged woman Karen Neo that has a son that is 30 plus year old (Ah Niu, 阿牛).

Mark Lee (李国煌) portray a chef that speaks Hong Kong Mandarin mixing Cantonese when he spoke in Mandarin. I like the word that he created by mixing "Fantastic" with "Fabulous". In the movie you hear a lot of "Fantabulous".




The story will have two arc. One is Karen Neo's and the other is Mark Lee's Chef character's. While Karen Neo's arc is about the people and situation she and her son have to go through when they were travelling by bus from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur for the reunion dinner with Karen's family, Mark Lee's arc took place in his restaurant where he have to prepare a dinner for some Singaporean minister but he scolded all this kitchen staffs away and left to faced the problem with his restaurant manager (Jacelyn Tay 郑秀珍).

Afdlin Shauki (Papadum, Sumolah), one of Malaysian most famous comedian was roped in to portray a taxi driver that Karen and her son bumped into while on the way to Kuala Lumpur. With so many good comedy actor in this movie. I will say that I laughed from the beginning to the end.

While the story is quite simple, there are some surprises in the humour part. Also, the moral of the story also teach us to help each other and why it is important to go home for reunion dinner on CNY's eve.

Rating: 8/10

I take this opportunity to wish you all Happy Chinese New Year and Gong Xi Fa Cai. Remember to drive home safely for your reunion dinner ;)

P.S. Homecoming is already showing in the cinemas in Malaysia. A few weeks earlier than Singapore screening.

OMG! Sixthseal Is Being Sued For Defamation!

I can't believe this when I woke up this morning and read the link from The Star Online. It's about a restaurant owner suing Google and a blogger. Then I read the blogger name is Poh Huai Bin which happened to be Sixthseal. I know him personally and this is a bit devastating news for me.

This is the excerpt from The Star Online:

"KOTA KINABALU: The director of a fish head curry restaurant which is recommended by Lonely Planet is suing a blogger and Google for defamation.

Jothys Sdn Bhd director Tharumaraj Sivaperumal filed a RM6mil civil suit at the Kota Kinabalu High Court, naming blogger Poh Huai Bin as the first defendant and California-based Google Inc as the second defendant.

The suit filed on Monday is over allegedly defamatory statements made about Jothys Fish Head Curry Restaurant here which was posted in May last year by Poh, who is originally from Sibu, Sarawak and now resides in Kuala Lumpur."

Huai Bin and I when we went to Penang 2 years ago.

So, if we write a bad review about a restaurant and it's because the food and services is real bad and we could get sued? Now I know why Wilson have to back down on the post he's written about the bad services he got from the restaurant where he held his wedding dinner. Wah, now when we blog about something we can only write all the nice thing about a product or service.

Well, I think I'll just not write anything about the bad service or food that I got if I bumped into any. First, I don't want any defamation lawsuit on my back and second, I don't want to give coverage for the product or service that is bad. Even though it is good to warn people about that.

Here I hope that Huai Bin will come true this suit and able to settle the case out of court. All the best Huai Bin.

A comment from Dabido about this issue left on my Facebook link to this post:

"Okay, some things to know about Defamation (I can't seem to post on your blog, so I will write it here).

First, someone commented that it isn't defamation if it is true. Unfortunately, not so. People can still get sued for telling the trut...h about someone.

However, pleading guilty also isn't always an option (which I think you suggested).

I think SIxth Seal could counter sue. After all, his blog is well established and it is technically a publication (such as a newspaper etc).

Did a comment say he got poor treatment at the restaurant?
If he had dinner with witnesses, then I suggest that he call those witnesses to provide support to the claims in his blog.

Though this is along the lines of 'proving' that what was said was true, there is an aspect of it being a 'review' of the food and service at the restaurant. As a publication he is entitled to writing some truth without fear of recrimination.

He should speak to a lawyer though.

I can't see how the restaurant can sue Google though. That's a bit like suing a TV channel for running an advert to buy a magazine that wrote a bad review.

But, not having read Sixth Seals entry (and not being a lawyer) is difficult for me to give much more advice than I have. Like I said, he should speak to a Lawyer, he might have a winnable case, and someone suing for defamation can be counter sued for many things ... included defamation if it can be proved the restauranteur leaked the law suit to the press in order to generate business. Thus, tarnishing Sixth Seals name in order to get free advertising.

But, this is speculation, so I have no actual concrete advise to give, only general advice based on what might be occurring.
[Does that make sense?]"

Valentine's Set from California Pizza Kitchen, Fahrenheit88, Kuala Lumpur

First off, I have to tell everyone that California Pizza Kitchen didn't close down if you can't find it in KLCC anymore. It has shifted to Level 2 of Fahrenheit88 (formerly known as KL Plaza) in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. CPK told me that KLCC want to change concept so did not renew their leased on the lot taken by CPK. Good news is that more outlets is being planned to open around Klang Valley.

Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day is coming soon. While there's no CNY set menu from CPK but from February 1st to the 17th there will be ‘Triple-L Celebration: Longevity, Love & Luck’ dine-in promotions. Diners spending RM30 or more will stand a chance to win up cash and dining vouchers up to RM388 in the restaurant’s Sure Win Festive Draw!

Lucky for those of you that celebrate Valentine's Day, CPK came out with a customized set menu just for Valentine's Day from the period of 12th Feb - 14th Feb 2011. Its set menu for two, which includes a choice of one half-size salad, one pizza, one pasta and two mocktails or sparkling wine at the special price of RM88++. This sweet deal saves diners up to 25% from normal price if order the items à la carte.

I was lucky enough to taste the dishes that is offered in the set menu. For the salads, there is a choice of Thai Crunch Salad or Caesar's Salad.

The Thai Crunch Salad has a more Asian influence with shredded napa cabbage, edamame, crispy wanton, grilled chicken breast, julienne cucumbers, peanuts, cilantro, julienne carrots, red cabbage and green onions tossed with a lime-cilantro dressing. Topped with crispy rice sticks and authentic Thai peanut dressing. This is the second time I had this and still loving it. There's option to add avocado to it. If you like gado-gado, you will love this salad.

Thai Crunch Salad

This is the first time I tasted CPK's Caesar's Salad. The grilled chicken breast is optional top up but they are very generous to add it for us. I found their Caesar's Salad dressing is a bit different from other I've tasted before. CPK's dressing is not too sourish. I found it to be very pleasant eaten the Casesar's Salad here.

Caesar's Salad

For pasta, one will have a choice of either the Kung Po Spaghetti, optional of chicken or shrimp or both lol. I tasted a bean paste in the sauce. A very nice fusion of the East and the West. I prefer it to be a little bit more spicier. A very appetizing pasta.

Kung Po Spaghetti

Or if you prefer the more traditional Spaghetti Bolognaise. The spaghetti is cooked al dente. For those that like tomato, this is the choice of pasta he/she should choose. Generous amount of minced beef that make sure each strand of spaghetti can be eaten with the minced beef.

Spaghetti Bolognaise

The Sausage & Pepper Penne is not my favourite because I have a weird feeling of sausage in pasta lol. It's just a personal taste really, nothing to do with the taste of this dish. The taste is actually not too bad. If you like sausage then go for this by all mean.

For pizza, the is a choice of The Original BBQ Chicken that comes with Barbecue sauce, smoked Gouda and Mozzarella cheeses, BBQ Chicken, sliced red onions and cilantro. The BBQ sauce is really good and goes well with the BBQ Chicken. The cheese just made it tastier. A must order if you like BBQ sauce.

Or one of CPK bestseller. The Peking Duck Pizza. Another fusion that make the pizza not so pizza lol. Low fat cheese is used, so ladies don't worry about the diet. It will be better if the crispy thingy were put at the side instead of on the pizza. More spring onion will be good. It's my personal taste. Some people might like it the other way around. I like the taste of the sauce when eaten with the shitake (Japanese mushrooms) on the pizza. I even tapaoed one whole Peking Duck Pizza home. There's extra. :p

Peking Duck Pizza

My favourite pizza is of course the Pesto Chicken Pizza. Basil always goes very well with pizza. Grilled chicken breast marinated in a basil pesto sauce with mild onions, Mozzarella cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto sauce and toasted pine nuts. Topped with fresh basil. I'm craving for it again as I am writing this. I can just smell the nice aroma from the fresh basil and basil pesto sauce.

Pesto Chicken pizza

A meal in California Pizza Kitchen won't be complete without eating their dessert like the Red Velvet Cake or Chocolate Souffle Cake. Red Velvet cake is actually dragon fruit mixed with chocolate hence the taste is a bit chocolaty. Natural colour of the dragon fruit is used to get the red.

Red Velvet Cake

Those that like chocolate will probably fell in love with their Chocolate Souffle Cake. Rich in chocolate and top with optional vanilla ice-cream it's a dessert to die for. Coming here for the dessert alone is worth a try.

Chocolate Souffle Cake

CPK Valentine's Set Menu:



Address:

California Pizza Kitchen Restaurant
Level 2, Lot 2.02(01-02) Fahrenheit88 (formerly known as KL Plaza)
179 Jalan Bukit Bintang,
55100 Kuala Lumpur.
Opening Hours: 11:0 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. daily (last order @ 9.30 p.m.)

Doreen Loo's Facebook Got Hacked, For A While

Those of you that followed the poodle puppy abuser Facebook video that has spread widely will know that netizens found out the girl that is video taping the video's Facebook is Doreen Loo. I was checking my FB and saw a Rojaks shared a link saying that Doreen Loo's Facebook has been hacked and has the privacy settings all set to Everyone.

True enough, once I got into her Facebook, I got to view all her wall comments, browse her photo albums and search for friends in her list. I went through some of the comments on her wall and photo album. Mostly written in Chinese. All of the comments were left just less hour ago, and most of them are scoldings, some even in Chinese vulgar words.

Some of the comments in her FB's Wall:

Comments in her photo album:

I can browse and look at the photo album even though I am not in her friend list.

I saw one comment there saying the album with Sushi the poodle in it was uploaded in July 2010. Hence, the rumour that Sushi died three years ago might not be true.

Then it is widely speculated that the culprit (Doreen's ex boyfriend) is Alan Champ which is in Doreen's friend list. There's still no concrit proof that the culprit is Alan but someone already posted his name and even home address on Facebook.

While what they did is wrong, I think all this is better to leave it to SPCA and the authorities and not takes thing into our own hand like leaving vulgar comment and spreading unconfirmed news. If I am Doreen Loo, I think it is better to contact SPCA to clear things off once and for all and also make a press statement to the media. I wish that Sushi is still alive and healthy and SPCA and the authorities get into this case as soon as possible so that the rumours won't turn into something uglier. Peace.

Joez Coconut, KL Sentral, Kuala Lumpur

Alright, Penang famous Joez Coconut Jelly is now avaiable in Kuala Lumpur. We KLians don't have to drive all the way up north to have a taste of it's silky smooth coconut jelly. Doing in in kiosk style, Joez Coconut Jelly first branch outside Penang is in KL Sentral, opposite CIMB Bank and in front of Chicken Rice Shop, near the departure side.

What's so special about coconut jelly, you asked? Well, first of all it's not you agar-agar type coconut jelly. It's all naturally created through the process of heating, freezing and chilling a whole coconut. Heating is to caramelized the natural sugar in the coconut to make it sweeter, freezing is turn the juice into solid form, and last but not least, chilling is to turn the solid into a semi-solid jelly like form. Nothing is added to the coconut during the process. Voila, there you have it, Joez Coconut Jelly. For more of the info, visit their website here.

Joez Coconut Jelly (RM 4.70)

I scooped out the coconut jelly and put in my mouth. Oh my, it's so silky smooth and melted in my mouth leaving the natural sweetness from the coconut juice and the very nice pandan like aroma. Joel the owner of Joez Coconut assured me that it's the natural aroma from the coconut, no pandan leaves were added.

This is the first time I ever tasted something like this. A jelly that is form entirely using a whole coconut itself. Remember to eat the coconut meat too after scooping out all the jelly. The meat is smooth and tasty.

I also tried their Coconut Shake (RM 3.50) which is currently only available in the kiosk in KL Sentral. Blending the coconut juice, coconut meat, and evaporated milk, then top it with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream. It's a very rich and flavourful taste in coconut. I found it to be a bit too sweet for my liking. Joel then told me that sugar syrup was added because of the milk. He told me, next time I can asked for less sugar. Maybe I'll try no sugar next time lol.

If you don't fancy jelly or shake, you can opt of the Pandan Coconut Juice. It's the coconut juice with pandan like aroma. I didn't try it though, I was already quite full.

Do drop by for heat killing coconut jelly/juice/shake here. One can stop by the departure side and walk in to tapao but be sure there's someone in the car because it's a no parking zone. KTM Commuter and LRT also can reach here.




Address:

Joez Coconut Kiosk
KL Sentral Level 1 (Departure side)
Opposite CIMB Bank and in front of The Chicken Rice Shop.

Main HQ:
201, Jalan Dato Kramat
10150, Penang, Malaysia
Website: http://www.joezcoconut.com.my


Other Ppl's View:

What2SeeOnline
FoodPOI
PenangTuaPui
Penang Stree Foods

This YouTube Video Has More Than 150 Million Views

I was watching 黄子华-拾下拾下十年栋笃笑 on YouTube. Then I saw a related video wtih 152,181,107 views on the side. The title of the video is called "An Experiment". So I clicked on it and found that the video is not so special that to have generated so many views. It's just a video of a teenage girl doing the mentos and coke experiment. Even video of famous superstar might not be able to generate so many views.

See for yourself whether this video is worth 150 mils of views.

Why???




Actually, it is not the contents of the video that attracted people to click on it. It is the thumbnail still that attracted people to click on it.

See the thumbnail of An experiment? If you didn't look properly, you might mistaken that the girl in the thumbnail is naked. This is why so many people clicked on it. But quite obvious the girl won't be naked because YouTube would have deleted any such video long ago.

So next time see the thumbnail properly before we click on any YouTube video lol.

Faster

Dwayne The Rock Johnson is back in another movie. This time is a more serious role unlike the role of a tooth fairy in well in Tooth Fairy. In Faster, he is Driver. After doing his time in the prison for a bank robbery, he's out to get his revenge on the people that killed or indirectly killed his brother.

Dwayne Johnson as Driver

Having the list of the where about of his enemies, he hunted them one by one. The police too are on his tail as they started to figured out what's he's doing. The Cop (Billy Bob Thorton) seems to have great interest in pursuing him.

Killer first encounter with Driver

One of Driver's enemy hired a overachieving psychotic Killer (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) to take him down before he can reach him. But I think the Killer is more of a comic relief rather than a direct protagonist to the Driver. I'm sure Ninie Ahmad will like the scene where the Killer shows off his yoga asanas. He boasted that only a handful of yogin in the world can do the asanas he did.

Cop in the crime scene

I won't tell you in the end did Driver succeed to taking revenge for his brother or he is killed by the Killer or arrested by the Cop. You'll have to watch the movie to find out. Overall, Dwayne Johnson's acting has improved a bit. The story well kind of cliche but still has a bit of twist in it. Worth a watch in the cinema.

Rating: 7/10

Selina Jen of S.H.E. Released From the Hospital

After 89 days (燒傷後89日！終於可以出院！) of treating her 3rd degree burn after the filming accident. Selina Jen 任家萱 of S.H.E. is finally released from the hospital and met the media. Her hair is quite short now and she wore clothing that covered all her up except for her face.

Well, she gained 5kg of weight while she's recuperating in the hospital. This means she got her appetite back. Good news. Even in short hair she's still look cute. It's a relief seeing her to be fine. I supported S.H.E. way back in 2001 when they released their debut album "戀人未满".

Selina 出院了！

Snippets form Channel News Asia:

"TAIPEI: S.H.E's Selina Jen faced the media for the first time in a Taipei press conference on Wednesday, 89 days after she was hospitalised for the serious burns she suffered in a filming accident on the set of Chinese drama "I Have A Date With Spring", reported Taiwan media.

Sporting a head of short hair, Jen, whose face appeared to have escaped any serious injury, entered the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital auditorium flanked by her group mates Ella Chen and Hebe Tien, to thunderous applause from the gathered journalists."

陳嘉樺 Ella, 任家萱 Selina and 田馥甄 Hebe at the press conference.

Seems like Selina will have to rest for 1 or 2 year before she'll be able to fully recover and rejoin her group mates Hebe and Ella to perform as S.H.E. again. Great news is that S.H.E. will not be disbanded. Cheer all you fans out there. Also rumour has it that she will be getting marry soon. Her fiance can't wait to marry her. Such a nice guy.

Selina cutting the cake to celebrate her release from the hospital. (Selina灼伤后首度亮相 短发造型当场落泪-selina切蛋糕出院)

You can get more pictures of the Selina press conference here. You can watch the press con video on Tudou here (直击Selina术后首度亮相).

Update: Just found this YouTube Video of the press conference (Selina出院感恩記者會).

Wishing Selina a quick recovery and good health. Hope I will be able to see S.H.E. performing again with all three members Selina, Hebe and Ella soon.

Nagomi Valentine Lover's Bento, Nagomi Shabu-shabu

Okay, Chinese New Year is two weeks away and 10 days after that will be Valentine's Day. If you are doing some early planning on celebrating Valentine's Day with your love one then I have one good recommendation. The place for superb shabu-shabu, Nagomi Shabu-shabu will be having Nagomi Lover's Bento promotion from 11th Feb - 14th Feb 2011. Three days because 14th is a Monday, so expecting most people to be celebrating earlier.

I had have the chance to taste Nagomi Lover's Bento on New Year with lovely foodies Lex & WeiZhi, Ivy, Wen Ching and Chris & Christine.

While waiting for the preparation of the Nagomi Lover's Bento we were served with Nagomi Potato Salad as appetizer. Not bad.

After seeing the presentation of the Nagomi Lover's Bento only we know why it took quite a while to prepare it. It's so beautiful.

The bento consists of Soba Soft Shell Crab Salada (Soft Shell Crab Salada serve with Buckwheat Noodle).

The soft shell crab is deep fried to crispiness and yet it's still soft and juicy inside. Biting into the soft shell and came exploding is the crab roe. It's extra tasty when dip into the Nagomi own made salad sauce that came with it.

While the Buckweat Noodle is cooked quite springy I ate it by dipping into the special soya sauce with Nagomi's spicy plum radish grating.

Soba Soft Shell Crab Salada (Soft Shell Crab Salada serve with Buckwheat Noodle).

Nagomi's Salad Sauce.

Sashimi lover will love the Rose Shape Sashimi (Combination of Salmon & Tuna Sashimi topping with Tobiko). Never have I eaten sahimi with raw salmon and tuna lice rolled together. Each of the meat compliment each other. Quite a surprising combination. The tobiko added the extra texture into the combination. Try to eat it as a whole and you'll experience a few different layer of taste and texture.

Rose Shape Sashimi (Combination of Salmon & Tuna Sashimi topping with Tobiko).

I can eat the Suzuki Senbei (Home-made Seabass Crispy Cracker) as a snack alone. The texture is a bit like soft satay fish without the overwhelming taste. I like the fact that when bitten into it you can still fill the flosses of fish meat. Eaten with the special soya sauce with Nagomi's spicy plum radish grating, a perfect match.

It will not be Valentine's Day without some Love Sushi Roll (Love Shape Sushi with Strawberry & Avocado). I didn't expect at combination of strawberry, avocado and cheese rolled in a sushi rice will be this good. While strawberry offers the sweetness & sourness, avocado offers the buttery taste and cheese offers a bit of saltiness and milkiness. It's like experiencing different level of courtship, except there's no bitterness here but who wants bitterness during Valentine's Day :p

Love Sushi Roll (Love Shape Sushi with Strawberry & Avocado).

I felt like I was back in Tanjung Tualang when I bite into the King Prawn with White Sauce(Grilled King Prawn with White Sauce). Altbough it can't compare with the freshness of Tanjung Tualang fresh river prawns but still it's a near match. Not easy to find in Klang Valley. The prawn is grilled to perfection, not overcooked or undercooked. The prawn meat in tender yet still able to feel the springiness when bitten into. The special white sauce is able to bring out the taste of the prawn. I even had Wen Ching's prawn when she can't finish it.

King Prawn with White Sauce(Grilled King Prawn with White Sauce)

For a perfect ending of the Lover's Bento, it's of course some sweet sweet love of Chocolate Cheese Brownie. Now this is a first for me to taste chocolate cheese brownie. I tasted chocolate brownie and cheesecake before but this is quite something. It's not too weird as I thought actually. A nice ending to a beautiful Nagomi Lover's Bento.

Nagomi Valentine Lover's Bento RM99++/bento. Available from 11th Feb - 14th Feb 2011. My advise is for a couple to share a bento and order one or two a la carte dish (maybe their sashimi yee sang) because the bento is quite filling. Wen Ching only able to finish half of it and I was very full after finishing it.

Rating: 4.5/5

Oh by the way, Nagomi will also be having sashimi yee sang promotion during Chinese New Year from 18th January – 20th February. 4 kinds of Sashimi ( Salmon. Tuna, Amberjack & Sea bass), I never tried before yee sang like that. I think I should drop by again. RM 48++ for 2 pax and RM 88++ for 6 pax, not too bad right. Check it out here.

Lovers.

Lovers.

Lovers???

BFF.

This is one very nice choice when celebrating Valentine's Day. Try it out. Valentine's Day dinner don't always have to be candle light dinner.





Address:

Nagomi @ Jaya33
PG-02B, Ground Floor, Jaya33
3, Jalan Semangat, Section 13
46200 Petaling Jaya
Selangor, Malaysia
T/ +603 7956 2330
Location Map

Nagomi @ Menara Hap Seng
Suite 1-19, 1st Floor, The Podium
Menara Hap Seng (Formerly Mui Plaza)
Jalan P. Ramlee
50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
T/ +603 2141 6332
Location Map

Maxis Om Nom Nom - Dancing Fish

Update: Dancing Fish has been awarded Bib Gourmand by Michelin Guide Malaysia

yes...akhirnya kami, Nasi Lemak Pedas sudah sampai venue yang terakhir.. venue apa??? sudah tentu lah Dancing Fish..kat mana Dancing Fish tue?? Sesiapa yang nak sampai sini, saya sertakan address :

Dancing Fish

Lot T120, T121 & T122

285, Jalan Maarof, 3rd Floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre,

Bukit Bandaraya, 59000 Kuala Lumpur

Phone: 03 2095 6663 Fax: 03 2095 6662

Email: dancingfishrestaurant@gmail.com

why Dancing Fish? Look here...

Kiutkan ikan ni? ;)

Suka ini! Dan, diaorang reserved 1 tempat ni untuk kami. Thank you, Dancing Fish!

sampai-sampai jer, kami telah disambut dengan girangnya oleh manager yang bertugas. Kepada sesiapa yang tidak mengetahui, konsep Dancing Fish ini adalah Balinese, dengan tagline Malay-Indo Cuisine. Dengan bantuan Maxis Finder301, dengan mudahnya kami sampai ke Dancing Fish dengan mudah.. Terima kasih Maxis Finder301 yang melancarkan misi Om Nom Nom ini. Sekarang, kita terus ke menu yang telah dihidangkan untuk kami. Sangat peramah dan mesra layanan diaorang ;) Terima kasih daun keladi, kami nak datang lagi! Ikan Nila Goreng RM38.00 Boleh dimakan dengan nasi putih. Untuk additional, makan dengan ayam panggang, cumi-cumi pun laxat. I cannot help, ikan ini sangat sedap. This is MUST try ;) Rating: 5/5 Si Ili yang happy jumpa sambal belacan :P Sambal Terung RM9.90 Sedap! Makan dengan nasi putih yer, makan sama dengan Ikan Goreng Nila tau. Rating: 5/5 Sambal belacan Ili cakap sedap! Dalam restorant pun nyaman je, dengan muzik jazz yang menemani kami sepanjang kami nak makan ni :)

Oh, lain kali confirm datang lagi. Simon cakap: ais krim durian dan kelapa kat sini ohhh sangat mantap. tak cukup kami dapat 2 je :P Nanti korang datang sini sila order ye. Must Try! Thank you Dancing Fish!