HUHU Café @ Waitomo Caves, New Zealand

If you are like me, putting a night around Waitomo Caves and not sure where to eat for dinner; Huhu Cafe is a good choice. The place is cozy and the food was good. 

As we are clueless on the proportion of food and suitability to our pallette, the waitress was patient enough to accommodate our constant requests.

Ice Cream Sundae with Marshmallows

Lemon & Garlic Roasted Chicken Leg, Mash Potato, Chargrilled 

Asparagus

Crispy Pork Hock, Apple & Coriander Salad, Kumara Mash, Apple 

Syrup, Tomato Chilli Jam

Pan-Fried Fish of the Day, Courgette & Avocado Salad, Corn

Mayo, Potato Skins

We ordered a glass of Vilagrad Tawny Port (Ohaupo, Waikato) each. It was sweet and easy to down though you can feel that it is quite strong. Half way down I felt all warmed up and my face can feel the heat. 

Overall, I find the dinner a good wrap up of the busy day we had. And of course the good food and drinks, as well as the helpful staff and warm ambience complete it.

Quickie: SS15 Rojak Pasembur and Cendol

My friend brought me here for the infamous rojak/pasembur. The queue is always long. 

The menu is simple. You choose among the 4 options: 

(1) Squid + egg; (2) Squid only; (3) Egg only; (4) Without squid/egg

Many people ordered take-away. I ate there (standing) and ordered 18 take-away (for my other friends who placed order through me).

I'd say the sauce texture is nice - not too thin/thick. Sweetness and spiciness blends well.

As you walk down the next stall, you will get cendol. But it is really nothing to shout about. The cendol's coconut milk is not thick enough and the palm sugar is not fragrant.

Address: Jalan SS 15/4g, Ss 15, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor

Vegetarian Lunch @ Gandhi's (Brickfields)

We wanted to celebrate my colleague's birthday. He is a strict vegetarian, so for his Birthday, we brought him to Gandhi's. The place is very packed and food can be cleared by 1.30 pm.

The restaurant offers rice with 30-40 dishes for customers to choose. At night, they even offer menu dishes. 

Alternative to rice, you can also choose idli or other flour dishes, depending on day.

Below are the various combo we all picked for ourselves. 

We are all terrible big eaters :D

Even with our plate full, we are still looking at the serving table and other people's plate. Haish.. terrible.

As the restaurant is named after the great man, not only there are food for tummy, there are also food for thought. ❤❤❤

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/cZevt5jCCTJ2

Address: Gandhi's Vegetarian Restaurant, 28, Jalan Scott, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur

森苑 E Farm Restoran

On the way back from Kuantan, Sis and Bro In Law suggested we stop by at the foothill of Genting for dinner. The English name of the place is quite funny - E Farm. The location is not somewhere you might come across easily. But the food was good.

The environment is cooling and relaxing.

The restaurant offers good river fish. For those that are not familiar with Chinese food, river fishes can be very expensive due to its rarity. So please do not order if you are not sure and did not ask the price properly. 

Anyway, the dish that made a mark in my head is this free-range chicken in pig stomach soup. The soup is strongly peppered. But the chicken skin is the most crunchy I have ever tasted. The only other time I tasted such crunchy chicken skin is in Betong, Thailand.

The river fish we ordered is called "Sun Yue". I have no idea what species or its name in other language. But the meat is smooth and firm. And most importantly, because it is not farmed fish, there is no smell of river soil (if you know what I mean). The best way to eat a fresh free-range fish is steam.

The next interesting dish is the frozen sweet sour pork. A good frozen sweet sour pork must be crunchy cold on the outside and juicy hot inside. They have made it quite well. 

Then we have seafood tofu for the kids.

The steamed calamari is suitable for people who are on "Clean Diet". Too clean for me :P

The price of the whole dinner is not cheap, but given the quality of food, we'd say it is quite fair. We would go back again if we do pass Karak Highway again.

MAP: Google Map to E Farm

森苑E Farm Restoran, Kampung Bukit Tinggi, Pahang, Malaysia

Spring Water Bak Kut Teh @ Sungai Lembing

Haha.. By virtue of the whole town's water supply is from spring water, everything and anything you eat also it is called SPRING WATER XXX.

We went to Sungai Lembing Mining Restaurant for bak kut teh lunch as recommended by the resort owner. When we settled down in the restaurant, we understand why he recommended that restaurant. The restaurant is decorated with posters of the resort as well. Hmm.. you scratch my back, I scratch your back.

Anyway, the bak kut teh was ok. The pot include a big bone (as long as the pot's width) with meat attached. The meat was tender. I won't say the soup was particularly fragrant. Overall the bak kut teh was just average. No complaints.

They also have vinegar pork trotter. I think it was not too sour. A nice to have.

 They also sell roasted pork and char siew. The roasted pork is crispy and more flavourful than Ah Ding's (Refer Post on Ah Ding). The char siew was tender and sweet. 

 Other than the spread below, we had wanted to try their pau (steamed bun), but at 2pm, they are all sold out. Maybe other times then. 

MAP: Google Map to Spring Water BKT

Quickie: Ngap Thui Mein (Herbal Duck Meat Noodles) @ Bidor

Everyone goes to Pun Chun, while this stall in Restoran Sin Thean Thean stays inconspicuous at the corner (cross beween Jalan Besar and Jalan Dewan Orang Ramai).

The lady sells herbal duck noodles and wanton noodles.

Just the look at the noodles already win over Pun Chun's.

Need I say more? Don't think so.

MAP: Google map to Sin Thean Thean

Sungai Lembing's Ah Ding Charcoal Roasted Pork (林明阿定柴香烧肉)

We came with some expectation. It was mentioned everywhere and the crowd was impressive. This picture was taken before the stall is even selling. This is just the pre-sale queue.

They start selling around 5.30pm, but the crowd/queue starts earlier around 5ish. So if you are kiasu, better be there early.

 The selling point of this place is:

1. The pork is roasted using charcoal instead of gas, which gives it a specific fragrant and juiciness.
2. The pork is roasted whole, which retains its juice and flavour better than those roasted in parts.

The oven

The production for the day

They only sell on Fridays and Saturdays, so if you are interested, plan your visits accordingly. 

 Other than roast pork, they also offer Char Siew and Siew Cheong.

Another thing to note. It is better to park outside. If you park right in front of the house/stall, be ready to get stuck in the heavy traffic.

Was it good? Ok only la...

For better experience, eat there and then when it is still crispy (because taste wise, it was a bit flat for me)

MAP: Google Map to Ah Ding