The Foodies Cafe

The Foodies Cafe in Putra Heights opened its doors in December 2014 to enable the residents in the neighborhood to enjoy a delicious meal without having to travel very far from where they live. 

With over 35 varieties of dishes and drinks on its menu, the cafe prides itself on serving simple yet delicious food, with fusion and rustic elements.

The drinks preparation area, strategically placed in the middle of the cafe

Books for rent

Eat, drink and chillax

Kids' play area

Love the quirky menu

Ice Blended Java Chocolate Chips

Hot Latte
Happiness in a cup

Chicken Run
Crispy breaded boneless chicken with special homemade sauce, served with potato salad, mixed salad and thousand island dressing

Grilled Chicken Mushroom Consomme
Grilled boneless chicken with mushroom sauce and mixed salad served on top of herb focaccia bread and french fries

Foodies Jumbo Lamb Burger
Homemade lamb patties and mixed greens, served with melted cheese sauce, breaded onion rings, chili sauce and honey mustard

XOXO Fried Rice
Wok style fried rice with XO paste served with chicken pop, sunny side up egg, pickled cucumbers and fish crackers

Yummy cakes for dessert

My Overall Verdict:

Taste: 8/10

Service: 6/10 

(only because we had to wait quite a bit for our food even though there were not that many patrons in the cafe at the time)

Ambience: 7/10

Presentation: 8/10

Value for Money: 8/10

Address and contact details:
The Foodies Cafe
17, Jln Putra Mahkota 7/6B,
Putra Point 2, Putra Heights,
47650 Subang Jaya, Selangor.
Tel: 03-5103 9250
Website: https://www.facebook.com/TheFoodiesCafe

Operating hours:
Mon-Thurs 10am-11pm
Fri-Sun 10am-12am

Lotsa Luv

Chinoz On The Park

Working in the KLCC area means occasional lunch dates with friends and colleagues at restaurants within Suria, the shopping mall. I've passed by Chinoz On The Park many times but I've never felt the urge to step in mainly due to the fine-dining vibes I get from the place. However, since it was a get-together to celebrate my birthday and I fancied something different, I thought I'd give Chinoz a try.

Chinoz On The Park is a cool and modern brasserie on the ground floor of Suria KLCC and the location makes it conveniently accessible. When we arrived, the restaurant was not yet packed with the lunch crowd and we were quickly ushered to a table. You can opt to dine inside in air-conditioned comfort or at the al fresco terrace which gives a fantastic view of the KLCC park and fountain. We chose the former to escape the scorching heat (although ceiling fans are available).

The dining area - inside and outside

The restaurant has an extensive menu which will satisfy a variety of tastebuds. They offer Western dishes from pasta to burgers as well as a small selection of local delights. There is also a Raw Bar with fresh seafood including lobsters. 

 Spoilt for choice

Chinoz has a set meal option for lunch and dinner. We ordered the 2 Course Lunch set which consisted of a starter, a main and a soft drink. With the 3 Course Dinner set you get a dessert instead of the soft drink. The menus are changed weekly depending on the supply available for that week. 

The 2 Course Lunch Set. For mains, you have a choice between meat or fish.

Iced Calamansi Tea - refreshing with just the right level of sweetness. 

Our mains - Beef Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast served with Ratatouille, Shimiji Mushrooms and an Egg.
Although this dish looked like the chef had simply threw in whatever he could find in the fridge, believe you me, it tasted much nicer than it looked. 

Since our lunch set did not include dessert, we ordered this Orange Ginger Creme Brulee separately. The creme brulee was sinfully delicious and provided the perfect ending to our meal.

My Verdict

Taste: 7/10 (we loved our dessert!)

Service: 8/10 (pleasant service from the waiting staff)

Ambience: 8/10 (nice place to chill out with family, friends and work-mates)

Presentation: 6/10 (our main course did not look very appetising even though it tasted great)

Value for Money: 8/10 (at RM29, the 2 Course Lunch Set represents excellent value; prices of other items are fairly reasonable by KLCC standards).

Overall, I would consider going back to try other dishes on the menu. 

Address and contact details:
Chinoz On The Park
G47, Ground Floor,
Suria KLCC, Jalan Ampang,
50088 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2166 8277
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Chinoz-On-The-Park-KLCC

Note: Chinoz On The Park is part of the Tourist Privilege Discount Card Program which entitles tourists to a discount off their bill.

Lotsa Luv

Khadijah's Kitchen

If you were growing up in Malaysia during the 70s and 80s, chances are you would have heard of Khadijah Ibrahim and her songs. Khadijah was a very popular singer back then but she left for New Zealand to pursue a course in interior design where she also ran a Malaysian restaurant there for several years.

Following her return to Malaysia, the legendary songstress opened Khadijah’s Kitchen in Section 11, Petaling Jaya. I’ve always wanted to visit this place since I’ve heard rave reviews about her signature dishes such as Laksa Johor and Assam Pedas Melaka. Khadijah prepares all the pastes and does most of the cooking herself and I couldn’t wait to try her dishes.

The restaurant is not very big and can only seat about 30 people at any one time. I found out that Khadijah purposely planned it this way to make her customers feel at home. The cosy setting also meant her customers can practically see each other from across the room and perhaps even be friends the next time they dine at her restaurant.

The place was packed when we arrived so we had to wait a few minutes before we were seated. There was a jovial and happy atmosphere; people were talking and laughing while enjoying the food and Khadijah herself was seen mingling and chatting with her customers, treating everyone as if they’re part of a close-knit family. Most of the furniture is made of solid wood and the walls were lined with framed photos of VIPs and local celebrities who had visited the restaurant.



The menu is pretty extensive with a wide variety of Malaysian delights covering favorites from the state of Johor right up to Terengganu. Beside the main dishes that would go well with rice, there are sections devoted solely to all kinds of laksa (laksa Johor, laksa Terengganu, laksa Penang) and rice sets (nasi bryani, nasi tomato, nasi ayam, nasi kerabu). The rice set consists of a starter, main rice dish, ice lemon tea and dessert of the day. There is also a Kid’s Menu for 10 year-olds and below and the Afternoon Tea Set (available 3pm-6pm) which offers tea-time favorites such as cucur udang and pengat durian with pulut.

Most of the dishes on the menu are from Khadijah’s own recipes but she sometimes uses her friends’ or relatives’ recipes and credits the dishes with their names. I guess that’s how Nasi Goreng (FBI) Datin Paduka Faridah Sedap Gila and Ubi Kayu Goreng (Ramli Sarip) got their names!

We spent some time looking at the menu after which we settled on these 4 dishes from the Starters and Main Dishes sections, to eat with white rice:



Sotong Masak Hitam (Ibrahim Family Favourites) (recipe from  Masria)
RM10.80 (S), RM23.00 (L)

This is pan-fried squid with tamarind, ginger, onions and chillies and is a popular dish among Johoreans. The squid ink is used as an ingredient which lends the dish its dark color. Not many restaurants serve this and I was really excited to see it in the menu. However, I was disappointed when our order arrived. There was very little squid meat in the dish and the jet-black gravy was a bit too watery for my liking.

Kari Ikan Jenahak (Kak Mas)
RM11.80 (S), RM24.80 (L)

The thick gravy of the curry was bursting with flavor although we felt like we were eating reheated, day-old curry since the fish wasn’t very fresh. However, taste-wise, this dish would appeal to any curry lover out there.



Tauhu Telur 
RM9.80

The tauhu telur (Chinese egg tofu) garnished with shredded carrot and bean sprouts, was cooked to perfection. It was simply crispy on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth soft on the inside. What also makes this dish outstanding is the cili padi dipping sauce - a fiery sweet combo of light soy sauce with cili padi (bird’s eye chillies).

Gado-gado 
RM9.80

The Gado-gado was another big disappointment for me. The taste of the peanut sauce was a bit off and it was way too oily.

At the end of our meal, we were already full and there’s no way we could make room for dessert or even the Laksa Johor, which I was dying to try. So we decided to take away these 3 dishes and enjoy them at home.

Laksa Johor 
RM15.80

The secret of a good laksa lies in its gravy and Khadijah Kitchen’s version was superb. The spicy fish broth was full of flavor and the sambal belacan (chilli paste) provided a nice kick to this yummy dish. I wished there was a bit more garnishing though – some fresh mint leaves and ‘daun kesum’ (Vietnamese coriander) would have been nice.

Kway Teow Goreng 
RM9.80

The fried kwayteow with chicken was really delicious and I liked that it wasn’t dripping with oil. 

Forgot to take a photo of the Bubur Kacang Hijau (RM7.80) but I loved the creaminess of this dessert which wasn't overwhelmingly sweet and the beans were boiled just long enough to make them tender but not mushy soft. 

Overall, our meal at Khadijah’s Kitchen fell short of my expectations. Apart from a few dishes that stood out such as the Tauhu Telur, Laksa Johor and Kuay Teow Goreng, I felt the other dishes were mediocre. I’m guessing it’s because these dishes were pre-cooked and not prepared on order so they have somehow lost their freshness along the way. I certainly hope that Khadijah looks into the quality of the food served because Khadijah’s Kitchen used to be THE place to bring your visiting foreign friends for a taste of authentic Malaysian cuisine.

Apart from operating her restaurants (there are 2 more outlets in Setapak and Shah Alam), Khadijah also produces a range of cooking sauces.

My Overall Verdict:
Taste: 6/10
Service: 7/10
Ambience: 7/10
Presentation: 6/10
Value for Money: 5/10

Address and contact details:
Khadijah's Kitchen
11, Jalan Bukit 11/2, Seksyen 11,
46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Tel: 03-7960 1079
Website: https://www.facebook.com/khadijahskitchen

Operating hours:
Daily 12.00PM - 10.00PM


Lotsa Luv

The Perfect Highchair

Hi Everyone!

It has been a while since I last blogged. Ever since I got back from my 4-month maternity leave, there has been some changes at work and I was busy adjusting to the new life as a working mom as well as the new challenges that come with the new portfolio at work. Finally I feel like things has slowly started to settle and I have adjusted to the "new norm" - work during the day and try to spend as much time as I could with my precious little one at night and during the weekends.

My little girl is now 7 months old. Can you believe it? Time has passed by so quickly! She is now one little eager explorer. She can now crawl all over the house and stand while holding on to something. She loves standing - she will try to stand at every chance she gets. It has also been over a month since we introduced her to solid food and I have to be grateful that so far she is not a picky eater.

We have been using the Mamas&Papas Baby Snug floor support seat (picture below) during feeding and now that we have established a 3 times daily feeding routine we thought it is time for us to invest in a high chair so that she could join us at the dining table.

So, I was in search of the perfect high chair for my baby. So what were the things I look for in finding the perfect highchair?

• Safety - This is the most important criteria. It is very important that the high chair comes with a sturdy wide base and 5-point-harness to ensure my baby is safe and snug with no chance of slipping down or climbing out of the high chair.

• Portable with Adjustable Height - I was looking for a chair with adjustable height as we have two dining tables in our house and we want our baby to be able  to join us at both tables. We also need a chair that is not too heavy and portable so we could just move it around the house. Perhaps when she is older we can move the chair to the living area and she can enjoy some snacks while watching her favourite show on TV.

• Easy to clean - Mealtimes can be very messy at times and we need the chair to be easy to clean with wipe-able seat and easy to clean trays. 

• Value for Money - We were also looking for a chair that can be used for longer time period and durable enough that we could re-use it for our future children.

Guess what, we finally found the perfect chair that fits with all the criteria we were looking for and more! I am excited to share with all of you the latest addition to my dining table...

The Cosatto Noodle Supa in Flamingo Fling

The Cosatto Noodle Supa features 6 adjustable heights with 3 reclining positions, Easy to clean with pop-off tray and wipe-able and fully removable seat cover, 5-point harness, comfortable padded seat with adjustable footrest, sturdy and folds up easily and can be used from 6 months up to 3 years old. Not to mention that the design is also very quirky and it definitely makes my dining area livelier! It retails at RM755, we got ours from my place to shop for baby stuffs - Jumpingbabyjacks. (However I believe the price has increased slightly recently to RM835, but still I believe that is a worthy investment)

I leave you guys with a short video of the Cossato Noodle Supa so you can see for yourselves what a brilliant piece of baby furniture the highchair is!

Till Then, Have fun at your family meal time!

Liv

Unboxing the Beaba Babycook Solo

Hi Everyone!!

First solid is a very important baby milestone and is one that I look forward to. I enjoy cooking for my husband and now I can start cooking for my little one, too! Like any other overly-excited first time mothers, I was in search for the perfect steamer/blender. Note that if you have a steamer and a blender separately in your kitchen already you may not need this. I just like the fact that I have a dedicated cooking equipment for my baby. I researched and reviewed a few Steamer/Blender for baby food in the market, such as the Avent Steamer/Blender, The Little Bean Multi Function Food Processor, The Cherub Natriblend and a few others  but, this Beaba Babycook seems to top the charts. 

I got mine from jumpingbabyjacks, my favourite go-to place when it comes to buying stuffs for my baby. Did price comparisons from a few online stores, and jumpingbabyjacks seems to give the best offer.

The Beaba Babycook Solo retails at RM699 with a choice of one out of two free gift - the Beaba Bento Box or the fill& squeeze food pack. I chose the Beaba Bento Box worth RM123. On top of that they throw in free shipping via Skynet, too. I told you, jumpingbabyjacks always have the best deals. Plus, their customer service is superb. I was in touch with Joanne through Whatsapp and she was very helpful in giving recommendations and patient in answering all of my queries. 

The Beaba Babycook Solo and Beaba Bento Box in their respective boxes

Unboxing my Babycook

Currently , they have 2 colors in stock and I chose red. The other color that's currently available is Gipsy (white with purple/green handle)

It comes with a jug lid and spatula

The Steamer Basket that can be taken out 

The Manual and Recipe Book

The Free Bento Box

The Cutleries

The inside of the Bento Box

The Key Features of the Beaba Babycook:

• 4-in-1 functions: steams, blends, defrost and re-heat

• Large capacity: 1100ml (this is the biggest compared to other brands)

• Fast: Cook in less than 15 min!

• Ingenious: Open and close the lids with one hand thanks to the Easy clip system

• Healthy: Preserves vitamins and nutrients

• Auto shut-off feature

• Sound signal at the end of the cooking cycle

• Backlit screen

• Descaling indicator will turn red to indicate that descaling is required

• Removable cable for easy storage

• Includes:  Recipe booklet (created by a nutritionist for babies from 6 to 24 months old), cooking basket, spatula to lift the baskets and scraping out the bowls, mixing lid/smoothie filter.

I am very happy with my purchase. It is definitely a good addition to my kitchen gadgets. I guess once my baby has outgrown baby food, I can still use this Babycook for normal cooking. I am planning to use this Beaba Babycook for my baby's first solid this weekend and I will post another review on its functionality. I shall end this post with this cute summary video of the functions and usage of the Beaba Babycook Solo and it comes with recommended recipes too!

Till Then, Happy Puree-ing!

Liv

Liv & Luv at Lunch - A Harrods Lunch

Hi Everyone!

It has been quite some time since the two of us went out for an episode of Liv & Luv at lunch. And after a 4-month hiatus, we decided to visit Harrods Cafe, KLCC for lunch.

There are two different Harrods outlet in KLCC, one is Harrods Restaurant which is attached to the Harrods World Signature Shop at Level 1 and the other is Harrods Cafe located at Ground Floor, opposite Melur & Thyme.

Harrods Cafe has a semi-alfresco concept. It has a very relaxed ambiance which is perfect for a girly brunch, a casual business lunch or for family dinner. The menu is not very extensive with a selection of sandwiches, limited main course and dessert. I guess Londoners don't really fancy variety.

Sandwich and Desserts Bar - View from where we were sitting

I have been here many times since its opening in 2013 and I have been a fan of the Harrods ribs and that was exactly what I recommended to Luv since it was her first time at Harrods. We both decided that getting two orders of ribs would be too much for the both of us so we decided to share the Mixed Platter and order a starter and a dessert.

The Starter:

Potato and Leek Soup RM24.50

The Potato and Leek Soup did not disappoint. It was served with a slice of grilled toast and butter, the portion is perfect - not too little or not too much for a starter and the soup was creamy and tasty.

The Main Course:

Mixed Platter RM88.50

The Mixed Platter boasts of a combination of grilled sausages, ribs and chicken served with a side of salad. I'd like to highlight that this platter is definitely not for sharing. The portion is just nice for one person. Sharing this plate was a bad decision, we were both left hungry after we have wiped the plate clean.

The Dessert:

Cherry Brownies RM14.00

The Cherry Brownies has a strong dark chocolate taste to it. Though very tasty, we both agreed that it would be nicer if the brownies was served warm with a side of vanilla ice-cream. There's essentially nothing to shout about with this one, we suggest giving it a pass, and perhaps opt for the cheesecake instead.

Our Drinks:

Cafe Latte RM17.50

Strawberry Iced Tea RM21.00

Our Overall Verdict:

Taste:8/10

Service: 9/10

Ambiance: 8/10

Presentation: 7/10

Value for Money: 6/10

You can visit Harrods Cafe and have the Harrods experience for yourself, details as follows:

Harrods Cafe KLCC

Ground Floor G03J-03K

Tel No: 03-2165 1111

Moon's Kitchen

Moon’s Kitchen began its humble beginnings as a hawker stall serving Western dishes in Pandan Indah 18 years ago. After a successful run, the family decided to open their own restaurant in Putra Heights, managed by young couple Aizuddin and Atikah.

Since the early days, Moon’s Kitchen’s specialty has always been their meat dishes, ranging from lamb to different cuts of halal-certified Australian beef. Today, they have expanded their menu to include lobsters, although these are only available on a seasonal basis and were unfortunately out of stock during our visit.

The restaurant is located on the ground floor of a shop-house with plenty of street parking available. The interior of the restaurant is cozy and welcoming and the walls charmingly decorated with mural paintings of iconic buildings.

The menu is divided into various sections and each dish within a sub-section is given a brief description. Everything sounded yummy and I had a hard time deciding what to order. 

BBQ Braised Beef Brisket - RM49.90++

I finally settled on the Braised Beef Brisket in BBQ Sauce from the BBQ Wagon section and it was a wise choice indeed. The Australian lean beef brisket was braised in Moon’s Kitchen home-made Chipotle BBQ sauce, then quickly oven-roasted to get that delicious caramelized taste. The rich flavors of the fork-tender meat were enhanced by the sauce which was so lip-smackingly good I simply wanted more! A serving of coleslaw and fries complemented this exceptional dish.

Chicken Chop - RM16.90++

If you prefer chicken to beef, the Chicken Chop from the El Classico section is a must-try. The breaded boneless chicken is well-seasoned and deep fried until it becomes crispy. The generously portioned chicken is served with salad, coleslaw and fries.  There are 4 choices of gravy - sweet & sour, black pepper, mushroom and brown sauce. We had the mushroom gravy but I’m sure the other choices are equally as good.

Fish & Chips - RM16.90++

Non-meat lovers need not despair; Fish & Chips is available from the El Classico section and it is absolutely yummy. The crumbed Dory fish fillet is deep fried until the batter becomes golden brown. The result is a piece of fish that is crispy on the outside but moist and flaky on the inside.  Served with salad, coleslaw, fries and tartar sauce, Moon’s Kitchen’s version of this classic English dish did not disappoint.

Lil Marco Polo - RM11.90++

The kids simply loved their choice of dishes from The Junior Chef section. The Lil Marco Polo is a 170gm grilled piece of chicken served with a delicious cordon bleu cheese sauce. The chef used the sauce to create a pretty pattern on the plate which makes the dish looks more appealing especially if your little one is a fussy eater.

Tempura Chicken Nuggets - RM8.90++

The kids were delighted to find that chicken nuggets were on the menu and they gave their two thumbs up to the tender, juicy chicken! The 6pcs of chicken nuggets in tempura batter were fried to golden perfection. Served with fries, salad and mayo on the side, this is a dish that any kid (or grown-up for that matter!) would simply enjoy.

After such a scrumptious lunch, we were looking forward to round out our meal with some desserts. Unfortunately, the cake display stands on the counter were empty. But with hardly any room left in our tummies, we didn’t bother to ask if there’s anything else available.

Our lunch cost RM174.25, inclusive of 6 Fresh Fruit Juices (Milky Carrot, Fresh Green Apple and Fresh Watermelon) at RM7.00 each and 1 take-away of the Little Mermaid from the Junior Chef section (single piece of deep-fried tempura fish fillet served with fries and tartar sauce). 

If you like Western food and are a fan of red meat, then this is THE one place you shouldn’t miss. The quality of the food is truly top-notch and the prices are fairly affordable. If there’s anything that this place needs to improve, it would be the time it takes for your order to arrive. However, the taste and presentation of your food makes it totally worth the wait!

I’m looking forward to return to Moon’s Kitchen and try the other dishes on the menu, especially their Lobster Thermidor (got to check if lobsters are in stock first!), Lamb Ribs and the Black Pepper Steak. Just looking at the pictures of these dishes on Moon’s Kitchen’s Facebook page is making me drool already!

Lobster Thermidor

Lamb ribs glazed with sweet mango chutney

Black Pepper Steak

My Overall Verdict:

Taste: 9/10

Service: 7/10

Ambiance: 8/10

Presentation: 9/10

Value for Money: 9/10

Address and contact details:

Moon’s Kitchen

12A-G Jalan Putra Mahkota 7/6B

Putra Heights, Subang Jaya,

47650 Selangor.

Tel: 03-5887 1081 / 012-2358290

Website: https://www.facebook.com/moonskitchenkl

Operating hours:

Tuesday-Sunday (12.00PM - 10.00PM)

Friday (3.00PM - 10.00PM)

Closed on Mondays

Lotsa Luv