Bigger stomach

The school holidays are here and last weekend was one hell of a binging weekend. My in-laws were down in PJ and it was all food, food and more food.......
We had brunch over Saturday morning at Natrabu which serves up Padang food(Minang or Masakan Padang). It has been a while since I had Indonesian cuisine as I no longer travel to Jakarta anymore. Natrabu is situated in Kampung Baru just behind the Petronas kiosk if you are coming from Jalan Tun Razak via Jalan Ampang way. You will have to take the underpass(not over the highway of Jln Tun Razak) when you cut out from Jln Ampang. Then after you pass 2 traffic lights, you will need to turn left at the 3rd light to go into Kampung Baru. As you turn left, you will notice a Petronas Kiosk in front and Natrabu is just behind the kiosk, so keep left and go slow after turning left at the traffic light. It was here that I got to rekindle those days of traveling to Jakarta as many of the food just came popping out of my head. Then there was the ever popular Indonesian "teh botol" or "Soros", and not until I took a sip of the drink that I realize how long ago since my traveling days to Jakarta. It was this "acquired" taste that brought back memories of drinking "teh botol" at offices, restaurants and road side stalls. Then it also occurred me to some, this "acquired" taste actually taste and smell like "cockroach"(the usual smell of a place after it has been infested with cockroaches). There is also another local(to Indonesians) drink that is very popular and that is the avacado chocolate fruit juice drink. This is an extremely rich and creamy drink, so be warn. The waiter started by taking our orders for drinks and before we could asked him to recommend the food, he pointed out that we do not need to worry as he will bring all the dishes out and we can opt to take or reject the dish. This was how we ate in Jakarta as this is also pretty similiar to our "budget rice" concept or "chap fun". That is good as we can then visually see what we are actually going to eat. We took fish, chicken, gado gado, ox tail soup, rendang and deng deng(Indonesian beef jerky). They have many other varieties but are mainly internals(liver, lungs, brain etc.) which are not our cup of tea. But basically, it was an experience, for me especially as it was more like a time traveling event that puts me back 10 years ago. The food was good, as we all like our food hot and spicy and the Padang food is full of that and more. One good thing about eating Padang food here as compared to those days in Jakarta is at least they don't put back the unfinished portion of our servings back into their main pot! Yes, that was what they did back in Jakarta and after we found that out, we actually stop going to the stalls that served "Nasi Padang", but I guess that is their culture and if you can stomach it, no harm trying!.
I personally like the rendang Natrabu served, it was really tender and the herbs used were really fragrant. I know I could go for second or even third helping with the rice but self control got the better of me(which I am glad I did now!) This place would definitely go down well with the adults but not with the children, so if you do go, don't bring your kids along......

After that wonderful, down the memory lane brunch, we took a break by shopping around The Curve till about time for "high tea" and we snuck into this cozy place called "Winter Warmers Coffee and Tea House". As you enter into the establishment, you will get a sense of a very "English" deco feel. We sat our ass down and started flipping thru the menus. Actually, my instinct tells me that food vice, nothing to scream about so I am more interested in the type of teas and coffees they served. After much deliberation and snooping around(table around us), we sense that most people come in for light refreshments, tea, coffee and sandwiches or salads. I am a tea person and I wanted to try something different, something out of the ordinary and something cold would be nice. As I moved my eyes up and down the tea menu, something caught my eyes. I saw the word "Lavender", and instantly my eyes were focused on what that tea is all about. It is actually a cold drink, tea mixed with Lavender and it just fit my liking to a "T". I did not regret ordering this lavender tea as it was a really refreshing drink to perk me up again after a long and lazy Saturday afternoon. The soothing lavender taste and smell did wonders to relax my tiring mind. We also tried some rose tea, salads, sandwiches but I personally still prefers the lavender tea. The tea itself had some jello that I presume is made of lavender extract as well and that gives the tea some kind of "bite" to it. After feeling re-energize, ours eyes all wonder around the tea cups and pots that was on displayed. To my disbelief, these tea cups cost a bomb! Each cup that was on displayed costs about RM80.00 each, that must be some kinda of tea we are having! Anyway, my sister in-law decided to join their membership as members get additional discount for their F&B and also tea leaves purchased there. We just sat around, sipping our teas and watching people walking by outside the shop.....one really lazy Saturday afternoon.

I am not much of a Korean food fan so going to one is like getting a birthday present, you don't know what to expect from it. Anyway, we were deciding what to eat for dinner after we got home from that lazy Saturday afternoon tea. I was watching the AFC channel with my in-laws and they were show casing Vietnamese food and damn!, it looked really "tasty". So, I thought of popping by at this Vietnamese restaurant at Bangsar for dinner and then head over to the many "watering holes" nearby after that. But somehow, as we were driving along and one thing lead to another, we ended up in Section 14 where this Korean BBQ restaurant is situated. This Korean restaurant was recommended to my wife by one of her friend who loves everything about Korea. Anyway, if I got the name right, the Korean restaurant is call "Dae Jang Gum" and is it situated the same roll of shops with PJ's Digital Mall but on the opposite end of it. You need to take the stairs up as downstairs is a Mamak shop. Since I am no Korean food connoisseur, I left it to my in-laws and wife to order. The only thing I know about Korean food is the "kim ci" or preserved cabbage. So, to my delight, while my in-laws and wife were deciding what to order for the main course, I kept on eating the "kim ci's" and about 8 other side dishes that came along as starter or appetizers. These side dishes are all replenishable, so as usual being the "thick skin" fella in the group, I kept asking the waiter to refill and more refills! So, by the time the main course came, I am already half full......
When the main course came, we had 2 types of BBQ beef, and don't asked me what it's called coz I can't pronounce them but it is damn bloody good meat! They gave lots and lots of green to go with the meat too. You wrap the BBQed meat in lettuce, mixed in some garlic and spicy sause and lord and behold, you get the most wonderful sensation when you put it into your mouth! The beef literally melts in your mouth as you start to chew, no words can describe the taste so you have to try it yourself to know what I am talking about.

So, at the end of the day, of the 3 things we had for the day, the Korean BBQ really made my day! I can safely say that I too enjoyed having Korean cuisine and I am waiting eagerly for my next trip there. Don't you just wish one would have a bigger stomach to take all this wonderful and glorious food in.