Pho Hoa, Tropicana City Mall. Vietnamese Beef Noodles Soup

 I tend to have a soft spot for any kind of noodles soup particularly Vietnamese style. It will be my obvious choice if any food court/shopping mall is serving one of these. Restaurant Pho Hoa, as the name suggested they are specialized in Vietnamese Pho (Flat Noodles Soup). Vietnamese Noodles soup usually comes with lime, mint and coriander leaves as condiments. By adding in some chopped chillies, your bowl of Pho is perfectly sour, spicy, sweetened by onions, beef broth as well as a refreshing minty after taste. A bowl of regular adventurer's choice of briskets, flanks, tendons, steaks and tripe @ RM18.90 has never fail to satisfy me.

 Restaurant Pho Hoa is a Vietnamese food chain started off in North America and has since established around the globe. A bowl of regular Pho is usually in the range of RM15.90 to RM18.90. With the large bowl priced at RM2.00 more. Pho Hoa is one of the place that I reckon served a better version of these Vietnamese proud.

As appetizer, we had the Gol Muc (Squid Salad) @ RM6.90 which is a rather let down as the squids were tough and chewy. The taste was rather dull either. I dont think I will order that again for my next visit. While, Cha Trung Hap, home style steamed chicken & egg pie was simply marvelous. Best served with the companion sauce. The thin vermicelli mixed in the pie, added comfort dining texture towards every mouthful that you savour. Cha Trung Hap is priced @ RM5.90 for a bar size. 

I really hope that I will get to visit Vietnam some time this year for a real authentic bowl of hawker style Pho. It has been such a comfort food to me that the crave for it is as strong as sexual drive. ^_^

   

Safee Sali is exported to Pelita Jaya FC, Indonesia

Safee Sali, the most talk about footballer in Malaysia or perhaps the whole Asean region is officially joining Pelita Jaya FC, an Indonesian League side. Thought there were rumours saying that Safee is going to join Persib Bandung earlier on. However, it seems Safee decided to choose Pelita Jaya instead which is currently placed at the bottom place of Indonesian League. Pelita Jaya FC which consists mostly younger players with less experience, are struggling to score. It is hoping that with the assistance of Suzuki Cup's golden boot, there will be advancement on their league position. 

My 2 cents worth, I'm 110% on Safee Sali's side on choosing Pelita Jaya to gain more playing times rather than Persib Bandung which already have 2 South American strikers plus the neutralized Cristian Gonzalez. It is such a crucial move for Safee who is already 27 and he does realized that such opportunity of oversea exposure may not come again if he will to miss out on this one. 

Safee Sali, who has constantly been compared to the legendary late Mokthar Dahari scored 3 awesome goals in both legs of Suzuki Cup final against Indonesia. Such performance has landed the golden boy that golden chance of his career. If I have to relate him to a current prominent striker in the football world, it has to be Wayne Rooney. They both are quite similar in size, not naturally gifted in height but well built enough to win most of the body contact with defenders. Of course, the killer instinct in front of goal.

All the best, Safee Sali. Lets create your own legacy and be the legend of the current generation. Good luck !!

The Old School - Klang Bak Kut Teh

Bak Kut Teh is not a new thing to savor in my book. I do have BKT "meat bone tea" once a while. My favourite is a dry version served at one of this BKT outlet in Kepong. However, I'm still a shy virgin when it comes to original Klang Bak Kut Teh. Needless to say, I have never been to Klang before.  

 I finally get the chance to visit this town which is so synonym with BKT delicacy when Lard from Czech Republic visited us. We were brought to this unknown shop lot in the older part of Klang. I know I should have making the effort to at least even find out the name of the restaurant. This is definitely not the famous Seng Huat but rather similar as they served their BKT in a rather traditional way. That is in a bowl and no fancy condiments, no "You Tiao", mushrooms, inners, not even chilli padi and garlic.

 A small bowl of this, cost us RM8.00 each. Rather pricey considering the portion. Though I have no complain on the taste. The meat was succulent and the soup was flavorful but if this is the best of Klang has to offer, I will say it is over rated then. I can definitely find equally awesome BKT else where.

The lunch session for the four of us with a pot of tea costs us RM47 in total. Good value for money ? hmm...not really. I will reserve my judgment up until I have tried other established BKT joints in Klang.

By the way, does anyone of you know what is the name of this BKT joint ?

Happy Rabbit New Year 2011

It is the first day of the lunar new year. May the year of rabbit be a prosperous one be it in the form of wealth and health to you and your family members.

And more Ang Pao !!!!! Gong Xi Fatt Cai !!

Jess Lee Jia Wei 李佳薇 is a Malaysian

Jess Lee Jia Wei 李佳薇 has been a household name for the past few days among the Chinese community around the globe. Particularly in Malaysia. For being the first Malaysian ever to win the 超級星光大道, a Taiwanese based singing competition which is equally well known as American Idol of the Chinese world. Kudos to her. Jess is making Malaysian real proud.

I'm not jumping in the bandwagon to discuss about her victory here. But I'm rather let down with some of the comments the Chinese Malaysians left on Youtube. There were criticisms saying that Jess is not suppose to sing a Malay Song "Gemilang" as well as to converse in Malay to thank the Malaysian fans. And I see Jess done that in an absolutely brilliant way. She does not forget her identity of being a Malaysian and fully utilized the multi lingual ability of being Malaysian. Chinese Malaysian in a singing competition does not have slight disadvantage at all. We are bringing in our own characteristic. It is this element that sustain. Well done, Jess !!

While, there were comments that "yet another Malaysian artist shined in the foreign land but not locals". Fair enough, most the Chinese Malaysian artists make their name overseas before they would ever get noticed back home. Does that means we do not have the platform for Chinese Malaysian artists to shine in Malaysia ? Does that means that we do not have the atmosphere for the artists to grow ? My 2 cents is most of these Chinese Malaysian artists were trying so hard back home, with the opportunity given, the platform to perform. Yet the core element in an entertainment business, which is us , the fans are not there to support them. So stop blaming that Malaysia does not give Chinese Malaysian artists a platform. We are given as much freedom as any other races in the country.

It is the fans that does not willing to even spend a bloody 10 bucks to support our Malaysian movie. Without the fans recognition, artists moved overseas, gaining their fame. Then We, the bloody sick Chinese Malaysian starting to join the bandwagon to celebrate their glory. Get a life !!!

Support our very own entertainment business be it local music or film industry.