Mikan Japanese Cuisine & Bistro Re-vishifted

Wow. It's been a year plus now since I ate at Mikan Japanese Cuisine & Bistro. You can read about my last visit here. I saw Groupon Malaysia was selling Mikan cash voucher at 50% discount. Every RM 50 voucher will be sold at RM 25 a piece. So, I paid RM50 and got a total of RM 100 worth of Mikan cash voucher. It's time to revisit Mikan again.

Before I could utilize my vouchers, I got email from Groupon that Mikan has been shifted to Damansara Perdana. Time extension was given. Phew. I left only 5 days before the vouchers expired. So, two weeks ago I asked my cousins Joyce and Jas to tag along with me.

The shop was only 80% complete according to the co-owner, Casey. There's still a little bit of touch up needs to be done. I left the ordering to Casey, which is somewhat like an Omakase. I didn't even see the menu.

Coincidentally Nicole was there too. It's been a while I didn't camwhore with her. So, a #selca is a must, especially she just got her long hair cut short that day itself.

Back to the food. For starter, Casey recommended Kinoko（木野子） Salada (Mushrooms Salad). Using cooked Enoki and Shitake sprinkled with Ebiko tossed with cherry tomatoes, Japanese cucumbers and lettuce dressed with special sesame salad dressing. There's a mix of warmness from the mushrooms and coolness from the vegetables. The dressing is nice for a Japanese style salad. Nice playing of different texture. Substitution of meat with mushrooms made this salad healthier to be eaten.

Kinoko Salada (RM16++)

Moving on is Shake Sashimi (Salmon Sashimi), which according to Casey he just collected it fresh that afternoon. If, it's that fresh, I will want taste of it. True enough, the salmon sashimi is so fresh that just a dab of soya sauce is enough to make it taste good. What I like is that Mikan is not stingy at all with their sashimi, the cut is thicker that some of the Japanese restaurant I've been too where I only get very thinly sliced sashimi. Ah, it's salmon orgasm in my mouth.

Shake Sashimi (RM16++)

The current trend of Japanese cuisine in Malaysia is the use of mentaiko sauce in the dishes. We had two mentaiko dishes that night. Mentai Tamagoyaki (Grilled Eggs with Mentai Sauce) and Hotate Mentai (Scallops with Mentai Sauce).

The Mentai Tamagoyaki looks simple but it's quite hard to make it taste good especially the right texture for the eggs which is not over or undercooked. The chef in Mikan did it just right. Top with the flavourful mentai sauce. Yums.

Mentai Tamagoyaki RM12++

The most expensive dish that night is the Hotate Mentai. Why? The scallops are air flown from Hokkaido and it's the biggest scallop I've ever eaten in my life. My mouth can only fit in half of the scallop. The Hotate Mentai here beats all the other versions that I've eaten in so many other Japanese restaurant chains.

Hotate Mentai (RM45++)

Last but not least, something that I rarely see in any Japanese restaurant here in Malaysia. Behold, le Braised Pork. Although it's not some expensive pork like the Black Fur Pork from Japan is used the chef was able to make the Braised Pork so juicy and tender that it will just melts in my mouth. The broth is the best. Tasted just nice, not too salty nor too greasy. A few pieces of pork lards were put in there to just bring out the aroma. It's a must order for pork lover. Although I've ate quite a lot of the braised pork but I don't feel 'jelak' at all.

Braised Pork (RM32++)

We also had Mushroom Skewers (RM4.50++ per stick) but I didn't take any photo because Casey told us to eat it quick while it's warm. Not much flavouring was used but the natural sweetness of the mushrooms made up for it.

It's such a wonderful dinner. High quality ingredients are used and the price is quite reasonable. Also, there's pork served now after shifted to Damansara Perdana. I will surely come here quite often from now on.




Address:

Mikan Japanese Cuisine & Bistro
LG 03, Plaza Emerald North
PJU 8/3A, Damansara Perdana
Petaling Jaya

Tel: 03-7713 5288
Lunch: 11.30 a.m. - 3.00 p.m.
Dinner: 6.00 p.m. - 10.00 p.m.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikanjapanesecuisine

View Damansara Perdana in a larger map

Dato' CQ Teo Debate Challenge 2013 at KDU University College

The only debate I participated in during my secondary school time was the inter-class debate competition. I was not the debater but an audience. Forward to year 2013, I was privileged to be invited by KDU University College to cover the final of their annual Dato' CQ Teo Debate Challenge. The key objectives of this annual event are to help promote the spread of English among high school students and provide a platform to enable students to enhance their communication skills. This year the organizers decided to limit the Challenge to 60 teams with each participating school only allowed one team. Last year there were 63 teams from all over Malaysia participated in the Challenge.

The finalists that made it to the final were Team Tunku Kursiah College and Team SMK Assunta.  Team TKC formed the Government and Team SMK Assunta formed the Opposition.

Team TKC

Team SMK Assunta

I won't go into details of what each speaker had said. The Government points out that it has always been a closed door affair amongst the Cardinals and the result of the voting is based on the white smoke or black smoke. The Pope needs to be closer to the people and thus should be chosen by the people instead of just the Cardinals. They proposed that 5 nominees to be the Pope will be chosen amongst the Cardinals and their profiles will be published and make known to all the Christians in the world for them to vote which among the 5 will be the Pope.

The Opposition pointed of view is that the Cardinals knows better than the normal people when it comes to choose the right Pope because they the Cardinals have always been working together and knows each other well. Also, they pointed out if the Pope was to be voted by the people then he'll have to sanctioned policy that will pleased the people in order to be favoured by the people for example approving LGBT relationships.

If I were the Opposition, I will points out. What mechanism the Government planned too use for hundred of millions or even billion of Christians around the globe to vote? How to qualify whom is or whom is not a Christian? Is there an age limit? If a well planned mechanism can't be proposed, don't even think about letting the motion passed. This is just my own opinion.


It's interesting to see debates of this scale. Now I only I know during the speaker's session the opposing party can stand up and challenge point or points that the speaker just spoke. The speaker has the right to accept the challenge or to reject it. Hence, I heard a lot of "Please sit", and "No. Thank you" when the speaker rejects any challenge. Sometime the challenge will be accepted.

Here's a video snippet of what I meant.

I will really love to see motion that is closer to home, something like "This House Believes That The People and not the Federal/State Government Should Elect the Local Goverment". Nevertheless, this kind of debating competition is very good to nurtured our young to be critical thinking and has no fear voicing out their own opinion. It's also a good stepping stone to train them to debate in an open and civilized manners, unlike the comedy we see now in the Parliament or Dewan Undangan where the focus is not on the motion but on politicizing and personal attacks.

Finally, the final was won by Team Tunku Kursiah College and they went home with the new and improved Challenge trophy and RM 3,000 cash. Team SMK Asunta went home with RM 2,000 cash. The best final speaker is from Team TKC. Congratulations to both teams. See you all next year!

Guinness St. Patrick's Day 2013 Launch

Wow. Time flies. It's March already and it means one thing. St. Patrick's Day is back! And Guinness Malaysia is the expert when it comes to celebrating St. Patrick's Day in style.

I was invited to Guinness St. Patrick's Day 2013 celebration launch in Havana, Changkat Bukit Bintang last week. At the event, Mr. Thum Chee Yuen, Sales Director of Guinness Anchor Berhad (GAB) shared the highlights to this year’s celebration, “GUINNESS has always been synonymous with the St Patrick’s Day. Here in Malaysia, it is no different. In fact, GUINNESS Malaysia was the host of the biggest St Patrick’s Party in Asia last year. This year, we are taking the festivities up a notch by adding a new spin to the celebration.”

“GUINNESS fans in Malaysia can look forward to being part of the country’s biggest GUINNESS St Patrick’s Pub Crawl! This unique experience will have fans and friends of the black brew on a trip of a lifetime,” Thum added.

Thum was quick to point out that only 200 odd lucky fans and friends of GUINNESS will get a chance to be part of the largest GUINNESS pub crawl in Malaysia. These selected participants will receive a special St Patrick’s kit consisting of 2 free pints of GUINNESS® and an exclusive GUINNESS® St. Patrick’s Pub crawl T-Shirt. They will also qualify to be part of the St. Paddy’s Hunt. During the journey, it will so March fun as the St Patty’s crawlers will be entertained by some of Malaysia’s most renowned comedians adding good humour to the trip.

I had the opportunity to be one of the few first one to have a taste of what's the pub crawl is like. Basically we just hop on the Guinness St. Patrick's Day Double Decker with a group of entertainers.

While the bus tour around the pub areas in the Golden Triangle guests will have fun being entertained by magicians, clowns and Drink Sensibly Angels. If memory serves me correctly, we departed from Changkat Bukit Bintang, passed Jalan Alor and into Jalan Bukit Bintang up to Jalan Pudu. The bus then make a turn into Jalan Imbi and then turn into Jalan Sultan Ismail passing Sg. Wang. It's quite fun when people on the street see the Double Decker and wave at us. Moving along Jalan Sultan Ismail, the bus drove up to Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur and make a left turn into Jalan Doraisamy. Frequent clubbers will know that there are a few night spots along this road.

The bus then moved to Jalan Dang Wangi and into Jalan Ampang and turn right back into Jalan Sultan Ismail. Thinking that the bus will make its way back to Havana but it make a left turn into Jalan P. Ramlee instead passing by Beach Club. The bus then turn into Jalan Kia Peng making its way to Jalan Raja Chulan and turn back into Jalan Sultan Ismail. At the cross road it turned left into Jalan P. Ramlee and then left again into Jalan Raja Chulan and finally made it back to Changkat Bukit Bintang through Lorong Ceylon.

Here's a video of what it's like on the Double Decker:

To help GUINNESS fans and friends Drink Sensibly during the St Patrick’s biggest pub crawl, “Drink Sensibly Angels” will be at hand to provide water bottles and food during the journey, and to share tips on how to party safely.
There are several ways for fans and friends of Guinness to gain a chance at being part of the biggest GUINNES St Patrick’s Pub Crawl, they may either:

1) Join www.facebook.com/guinnessmalaysia to win exclusive pub crawl tickets by participating in our ‘Spot the Reveler Contest’! More than 200 tickets are up for grabs and more than 800 prizes including Limited edition Guinness Merchandise to be won daily!

2) Visit www.tokl.com.my OR www.expatriatlifestyle.com.my.

True to the theme of ‘March More Fun’, GUINNESS has also planned about 70 St Paddy’s parties throughout Peninsula and East Malaysia, unbelievable promotions on your favourite black brew, GUINNESS® as well as the GUINNESS® St. Patrick’s Big Weekend Bash which will take place citywide right here in the Klang Valley from the 15th till the 17th of March 2013!
So don’t miss out on all the fun and get ready to be part of the most exciting St. Patrick’s Experience with GUINNESS®!

GUINNESS ‘March More Fun’ Promotions
About 1,000 outlets nationwide will have special promotions on your favourite black brew! With every purchase of 6 half pint or 4 full pint of GUINNESS® Draught, or a bucket of GUINNESS® stout, entitles consumers to a limited edition GUINNESS® St. Patrick’s plush pillow. There are 4 fun designs up for grabs with each design revealed weekly. On top of that, come join us on for some St Patrick’s fun on Thursday and get our Thursday Specials! Guinness will be giving away 1 free pint of Guinness with every purchase of the Guinness St Patrick’s promotion in participating outlets throughout March!

To find out how you can have ‘March more fun’, connect with us on www.facebook.com/guinnessmalaysia for more information and join us at a GUINNESS® St. Patrick’s celebration near you!

Tickling My Tastebuds

Kolo mee, the famous noodle from Kuching, Sarawak. One can get it almost in any eatery is Kuching, it's not too far fetch if I say that it is a staple food in Kuching. The name Kolo mee is actually the style of cooking and not the type of noodle used in it. The noodle used is usually "Q-mee" which is the thin noodle. One can choose to have a wider version called "mee bok".

Trusted a Kuching local friend to bring me to Sin Lian Shin, one of the oldest restaurant specializing in serving kolo mee. He told me it's been two generations and the 3rd generation will be taking over. There's two version of kolo mee. One white and the other is red. The only different is that the red is mixed with char siew sauce (BBQ pork). The noodle "Q-mee" got it's name because the thin noodle is very springy. True enough when I bit into the Q-mee it is indeed very springy. The savoury sauce that is mixed with the Q-mee goes very well. As for the red version, the char siew sauce has a subtle sweetness to it. Personally I prefer the white and my local Kuching friend likes the red. Both are equally good, it's just taste of personally preferences. Although, the serving is simple with only minced pork and char siew but once you've tasted it you won't get enough of it. If you ever go to Kuching, kolo mee is a must. Although, people from Sibu might not agree with me. ;)