Kiat Seng Seafood Restaurant (Bandar Puteri, Puchong) Selangor

Another year gone by, another "Mother's Day". Unlike the previous years (Bumbu Bali & Bibiwok), this year, mum was honoured a week earlier. Seemingly I am pushing Mothers Day earlier and earlier, because, as I have already said before, its really crazy these days on Mothers Day. Crowded eateries, literally, in fact, all of it, on top of that, securing a table and waiting for service will really test our patience. So, the best option is pushing Mothers Day way earlier. I am not really sure, maybe next year, it may be one month earlier. Let's just wait and see what is gonna be the trend for the years to come, on this day, deciding on where to lunch was pretty straightforward. Soon as we parked across the main road, I noticed Kiat Seng Seafood Restaurant. I decided at once before family members start debating and then get me all worked up.  

Chinese Chicken Noodle Soup

I think, if I am not mistaken, I have already told you that there's no right and wrong formula to cooking? For the food we cook at home? Basically, its pretty much up to us, though we like to gather some ideas on food cooking from tv programs and of course, these days, we shouldn't discount online search (Nyonya Lam Mee, Hakka Noodles, Chow Mein & Fried Mee Hoon). Let's forget about tv programs for the time being and speak about online recipe sharing. Oh my god. Millions of recipes will pop up, wouldn't you agree? Definitely (Chinese Vegetarian Noodle Soup, Char Kway Teow,  Curry Chicken Noodles & Penang Assam Laksa). These recipes of course without a doubt are a guide to our cooking or for some of you, you like to follow exactly. Then again, basically its up to you and your choice. However or whatever, for me personally, even when I share my own recipes, I like to make it a point in telling all of you that if you feel you can substitute the ingredients because you feel you already have other ingredients which are equally good, go ahead. Use them instead buying just to replicate recipes. For this Chinese Chicken Noodle Soup, I didn't have to refer to recipes because I quite know how to make Chinese noodle dishes (Bee Hoon Soup, Penang Mee Yoke & Sour Spicy Fish Broth Noodle Soup) and what can be different with the ingredients, you tell me (Chinese Chicken Meatball Soup, Chinese Chicken Herbal Soup & Burdock Root Soup)? This Chinese Chicken Noodle Soup I must say is mine. In other words, I did it my way considering ingredients availability. Chinese Chicken Noodle Soup I must stress is a delight. A true delight for tummy delightfulness and make sure you tuck in alongside some sliced chillies soaked in soy sauce and lime juice.

Bubur Cha Cha (Sweet Potato And Sago In Coconut Milk)

Guys, I think I have said enough about our Malaysian desserts? You can still remember the much I have spoken about in my previous recipe? Bubur Kacang Hijau? Our desserts usually made from our local ingredients like coconut milk, sago, palm sugar and pandan leaves (Honeydew Sago, Sago Gula Melaka & Coconut Panna Cotta). And for Bubur Cha Cha, the extras can be yam or sweet potatoes or maybe some of you may like to add tapioca. This my version of Bubur Cha Cha, what shall I say? I made do with whatever ingredients I had at home, except I had to get the sweet potatoes (Sayur Lodeh) and I also didn't want to over-load Bubur Cha Cha with any other. That's all guys.

Kerabu Mangga (Mango Salad)

Kerabu? What is kerabu? Kerabu is basically our Malaysian, Malay style (Sayur Lodeh, Sambal Petai Bilis & Masak Lemak Nenas) raw salad. Nothing much to do actually when this kinda of kerabu is a concern, though for some other types, sometimes a tiny bit of cooking is involved (Gado Gado), but generally we should just look at tossing and mixing the ingredients together (Chicken Feet Kerabu, Thai Mee Hoon Kerabu & Prawn Cocktail). Kerabu Mangga or Mango Salad? Ohlalala! Dang a million times. I bet you are agreeing how attractive and tempting this mango salad is (Prawn Mango Curry)? Of course. I should vouch. Not only temptation to the highest degree, its also a burst of freshness and crunchiness (Shrimp Thai Salad, Watermelon Salad & Cucumber Yogurt Salad). Can you imagine the sweet sour mango notes, spiciness from chillies, appreciated acidity from shallots, fresh burst of mint leaves and of course crunchiness of nuts, all coming together? My-my! Can't get enough right? And Kerabu Mangga by far is a great pairing for rice and other side dishes or as a start-up before your main course. So, tell me, why slog in your kitchen for a veggie side dish when mango salad is the wonder easiness. Oh, before I forget, its a vegetarian version as well without compromising on deliciousness. 

La Bodega Spanish Restaurant- Empire Mall (Subang Jaya)

Least expected today was the phone call for a leisurely outing over a couple of drinks at La Bodega I have been to once before. Honestly, I was in two minds if I should join my two friends because for me, there is no such a thing as one drink for the road. Knowing well that one drink may lead to other twisted roads, I still arrived at La Bodega hoping my will power will not take over me. In the carnival like environment, wondering how on earth people actually start drinking at 4 pm and how can they also afford to topple themselves with expensive booze in La Bodega Spanish Restaurant, we also, okay-lah, started with booze.  But instead of the "rock me up" shoots of alcohol, each of us opted for Stella Beer, Hoegaarden Beer and Erdingeer Beer.

Shahi Mutton Curry

Shahi Mutton Curry, or Mughlai Mutton Curry. Rich, creamy, thick and call it a royal mutton curry (Navratan Korma & Lamb Rogan Josh), Shahi Mutton Curry simply packs bags and bags of  flavours (Mutton Devil's Curry, Masala Mutton Curry & Mutton Parathal) which will wake up your taste buds almost instantly until you most probably will long for more or you just can't stop eating. Believe me. And in my house, can you imagine how it would have been after I made this really attractive and eye popping Shahi Mutton Curry? Eaten alongside Cumin Coriander Rice and Stir Fried Turmeric Cabbage. Oh my goodness! Truly a royal meal and after eating by taking our own time, we could hardly move. Then again, each time I cook mutton (Mutton Soup, Mutton Dalca, Indian Mutton Meatball Soup & Mutton Kurma), mostly of course as a dry or thick masala based curry (Mutton Bone Marrow Curry, Easy Mutton Curry, Mutton Varuval & Mutton Keema) its the same story as well and we love it as well when we actually bite and ripe the meat out of mutton bones and then we will still continue with nibbling the bones and also helping ourselves to rice and stir fried veggie. Sounds familiar? The same thing in your house too?  Shahi Mutton Curry as I have already told you is full of spices and ghee richness, fabulous deliciousness.

Bubur Kacang Hijau (Green Bean Porridge)

What and how for this our Malaysian forever loved and forever inviting and forever fab (Honeydew Sago & Sago Gula Melaka) Bubur Kacang Hijau? My god! Seriously guys, the easiest, yes, the easiest dessert anyone for the matter can make. In other words, what is so complicated with simmering the ingredients listed below and these are the ingredients available at the snap of our fingers in our country, of course in other Asian countries as well, and these days, ingredients have traveled and landed all over the world. Meaning, if not all, some ingredients are available in Western and far out countries too (Watermelon Sorbet & Rava Kesari). But local produce is definitely cheaper compared to those imported ingredients? And my style to desserts as you know, mostly is Malaysian calling, though every now and then I do include those the rest (Chocolate Cheesecake, No Bake Cheesecake & Poached Pears in Citrus Syrup).  Bubur Kacang Hijau, aka Green Bean Porridge? Green beans, sago, pandan leaves, palm sugar, coconut milk and salt. That's it. Slurp in everyone.I bet you will truly enjoy every bit of this Malaysian sweet pleasure (Pandan Jelly Coconut Milk & Coconut Panna Cotta).