I am a real sucker for pastries. Which is why every visit to Chinese towns and cities such as Ipoh, Penang and even Malacca is a wonderful merriment of traditional pastry exploration. By that I mean walking from shop to shop in the old town to check out what traditional delights the local folks have to offer.

Even though my latest trip to Ipoh did not provide much time for such leisurely activity, I was happy to have checked out these two outlets which are located close to the chicken rice hot spot. Right after dinner, we walked across the street to Comeson Restaurant which houses the Lam Fong pastry stall from 4pm onwards till late. I do not know what all these various pastries are called in the English language, but I believe the exploration of tastebuds is an adventure in itself when you check out all these cute delights. Just buy one each to try them out, and maybe come back the next day to buy more of the ones you really like.

Next stop – the Yee Thye Cake House for Perak’s famous produce [among its many other], the 香饼 (heong peng), directly translated as fragrant pastry or Biskut Madu. Ever since my friend took me to a home bakery in Taiping to buy freshly made, out-of-the-oven piping hot heong peng, every trip to this northern state is never without a few bags of this deliciously addictive treat.

These biscuits were still hot when we picked them up. They are not made in the shop itself. The pastries are transported to the outlets to be packed upon delivery. The layers of crust is crisp and flaky yet not too thick. I like the fillings very much, with just the right blend of sweetness, saltiness and fragrant shallots. So yummy I wished we had bought more

I have yet to visit the famous one in Gunung Rapat so I can’t quite compare between the various brands but I give this a thumbs up and a verdict of 8/10.

Yee Thye Cake House & Confectionery

No 1-3, Jalan Theatre, Ipoh (Tel: 05 – 241 3482)

The branch is located at No 32-36, Jalan Theatre, Ipoh (05 – 253 2270)

After reading all the wonderful write ups from foodies around the blogsphere, we were really keen to feast our weekend appetite at this restaurant, a franchise from Indonesia famous for its delicious authentic nasi padang.

There are many outlets in Malaysia and we chose to go to the one nearest to where we live, at Sunway Damansara. The menu indeed left us confused as to what to order, since there was quite an array of selection. We went with the recommended dishes such as the much talked about Dendeng Daging.

As soon as I sank my teeth into the meat, I was some what disappointed. Perhaps I had greater expectations.

The fried Talapia fish (Ikan Nila Goreng) was crunchy  but not crispy, as it was served at room temperature. I always feel that fried dishes should be served fresh right out of the wok. The chilli dips for the chicken and fish were the only saving grace for our lunch.

Ayam Pop was dry and tasteless. We were annoyed during payment because they charged us RM12++ for the chicken when the menu clearly stated RM6++. Apparently, they served us two pieces of chicken because there were three of us, and because we had already consumed the chicken, we can’t argue. We honestly thought that each serving came with two pieces of chicken.

The Ais Teler was the only firm favourite among us. Creamy coconut milk with chunks of avocado and palm seeds, thin slices of fresh coconut and jackfruit, and topped with ruby red sagos that were infused with a light note of rose syrup. Rich and exotic in its taste, it was surprisingly, not as sweet as I had expected it to be. The dessert would probably be the only reason I’ll make a second visit to Restoran Sari Ratu.

Our total bill came up to a whooping RM67.75 including drinks. In my book, it’s definitely not worth the price but maybe I just don’t have deep pockets. As they say, one man’s taste is another man’s poison. So you may differing opinions.

Where to Eat

Sunway Damansara outlet: Restoran Sari Ratu, 47-1, Jalan PJU 5/12, Dataran Sunway, Kota Damansara

Kelana Jaya outlet: Restoran Sari Ratu, Dataran Glomac, Kelana Jaya

Desa Pandan outlet: Restoran Sari Ratu, No G26-G28, Jalan 4/76C, Desa Pandan, KL

Ampang outlet: No 26, Ampang Waterfront, Taman Kosas, Ampang

Bukit Bintang outlet: Sari Ratu Grand Restaurant, Ground Floor, 42-2, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Bukit Bintang, KL

Other blogs on this:

World Windows

Masak-Masak

HALAL (but not certified)

In my reason trip to Ipoh, I was totally clueless as to where to go and what to eat. We stumbled upon this corner shop located two shop blocks away, on the next road after McDonald’s (depending on which direction you’re coming from). Brightly painted in strips of white and chilli red facade, Aun Kheng Lim is relatively difficult to miss.

Dubbed as the pioneer and king of salted chicken, Aun Kheng Lim has been serving baked salted chicken for the past 22 years. Unlike the ones we have back south, the salted chicken at Aun Kheng Lim is baked with generous serving of Chinese herbs. Juicy and tender with just the right amount of salt, the salted chicken is extremely tasty and definitely worth a stopover if ever I happen to travel up north again.

Where to Eat (takeaway only): Aun Kheng Lim Salted Chicken, 24, Jalan Theatre, 30300 Ipoh

Price: RM16 for a whole chicken

Business Hours: 10am to 6pm

As a planner, I’m always in search of beautiful venues that make the most stunning backdrop for memorable occasions. I am certainly not disappointed at all with what Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa has to offer.

Nestled within the surrounding of lush tropical foliage and a pristine stretch of private sandy beach to boast, the resort is deliriously inviting for a romantic escapade for two or an intimate party for a happy celebration.

Apart from the exhilarating outdoor activities and the holistic pleasures of the hotel facilities, one of their best features is their signature Heavenly Bed®. Well, it’s certainly beguiling if the entire hotel chain around the world pays homage to their signature bed with a  string of local activities and programmes to celebrate Westin’s Heavenly Bed® 10th Anniversary. In Langkawi, the management kicked off the celebration with a Westin’s Heavenly Bed® 10th Anniversary Pajamas Night for their associates.

With 10 layers of sumptuous, stylish and plush comfort, the all-white Heavenly Bed® consists of a custom designed Simmoms Beautyrest® pillow-top mattress set, a cozy down blanket, three crisp sheets ranging in thread count from 180 to 250, comforter, fluffy duvet and five of the best pillows in the business (two feather and down pillows, two hypo allergenic pillows and a boudoir pillow).

Isn’t this a far cry from your typical hotel chain bed? In fact, you’ll never sleep on your own bed the same way again. It’s the kind of bed that after you’ve slept on it, it’ll make you long for it months after you’ve returned from your holiday. Serious!

That is why you can always bring home a slice of the ‘heavenly’ experience by purchasing the bed. Yes, the bed!

In August 1999, after receiving a wake up call from travellers who said the most important service a hotel can offer is a good night’s sleep, Westin hotels decided to build the best bed in the hotel industry. After months of testing hundreds of mattresses, pillows and bed linens, thus the Heavenly Bed® was born. 10 years on, their signature bed is still one of the most talked about features of the hotel and you are always welcome to buy the bed or any of their signature products.

The ocean view rooms, from the basic Deluxe room to the luxurious private villas, offer a picturesque horizon of the Andaman sea. My friend who is based in Langkawi claimed that the Westin Resort has one of the best sunset views of all resorts in Langkawi. I have not visited each and every resort in Langkawi but I certainly agree that the sunset view from the deck where we sat is magnificent.

If you are there for your honeymoon or anniversary, be sure to request for a sunset dinner for two at the gazebo. It’s definitely a romantic experience not to be missed!

For more hotel reviews, check out Trip Advisor.

NON-HALAL

I think all the Perakians are gonna shoot me for saying this but in my personal opinion, the chicken rice at Lou Wong is over-rated.

Amanda warned me that most locals go to Onn Kei on the opposite side of the road, but alas, we were pulled in by the overwhelming crowd at Lou Wong. People were waiting around for tables! Despite the chaos, the service was really good, prompt and efficient, with smiling faces. I guess this is organised chaos in motion.

Overall, the star dish of the evening was a tad bit too oily for us eventhough the texture of the chicken meat was a little dry. The bean sprouts were really good, probably the best I’ve ever tasted since I’m not really a  big fan of bean sprouts. These were fresh and crunchy with just the right amount of simple seasoning. Meat balls were superb. I could have more if it wasn’t for mom who stopped me from ordering.  I was a little disappointed with the chilli tho’. Chopped cili padi with soy sauce just didn’t sit right with chicken rice dishes.

Price is pretty reasonable. For two persons, the bill came up to RM17.90. Any other recommendations beside Lou Wong or Onn Kei in Ipoh?

A shout out to all Sarawakians and Sabahans!

This coming Harvest Festival, make a trip to 1Borneo Hypermall in Kota Kinabalu and feast your eyes on some incredible wedding exhibition by renowned studios, jewelers, hoteliers, caterers and more at the largest International bridal fair in Borneo.

Jointly organised by 1Borneo Hypermall  and The Beauty Hub, a host of exciting activities have been lined up to benefit couples with destination ideas, showcase of latest gown collections, Q&A sessions by industry experts and fun-filled games and trivias.

To entice you further, every purchase made during the fair will entitle the couple to a lucky draw with fantastic prizes to be won including pre-wedding photoshoot by Posh Wedding worth RM9,888. For more details, check out Yahoobrides.

So, see you there!

I L.O.V.E destination weddings! Well who wouldn’t, right?

In our second wedding feature, I’d like to introduce you to Faye and Kevin from Hong Kong. Like most couples, Faye and Kevin wanted their wedding ceremony to be special and memorable. After much research, they decided to elope for an intimate wedding ceremony overlooking the pristine blue sea of Guam.

Dressed in an alluring gown by Anzy Zoe, Faye described the ceremony as a sweet and simple dream wedding come true.

“I always wanted to get married in a glass chapel overlooking the sea. Without having to worry about my guests list or the quality of the food and all the travel logistics, I could just relax and take in the moment. It was exactly how I imagined my wedding to be, sweet and simple, minus the stress.”

Here, she shares a few words of advice for future wedding couples who want to elope:

The hardest thing in planning is actually making a decision. There are just so many things to decide on! We took a while to decide between Bali and Guam, taking into consideration the cost of travelling, food and accommodation for our guests. In the end, we decided to elope to Guam, just the two of us! It was so much less hassle. We hosted another wedding back in Hong Kong a few months after that, the traditional way.

Do your research well and engage a really good wedding planner. Our planning would have been much slower if it hadn’t been for our wedding planner from Watabe Wedding. Despite the small ceremony, there was a lot of administrative work to be done.

Ceremony planning and photography by Watabe Wedding. Stay tuned for Part II of their wedding feature.

Welcome to our virtual Bridal Bistro and say hello to our very first wedding couple to be featured here, Lyanne and Derek.

Keeping it simple with accents of earthy tones, Lyanne and Derek tied the knot in a fuss-free and relaxed ambience that exuded a refrained charm of old-fashioned sophistication.

As their wedding planner, helping them with the flowers for the church was an easy task as both Lyanne and Derek wanted a pure down-to-earth ambience to allow the historical venue to speak for itself. Large lush blooms of imported crepe paper flowers lined the steps leading up to the church hall and along the aisle.

The flowers for Lyanne’s bridal bouquet was a tight nosegay blend of beautiful white peonies with ivory roses and touches of green cymbidium orchids designed by Wishing Tree.

With just the right amount of sunlight filtrating through the glass windows on a bright December morning, Lyanne marched in to the song sang and composed by Derek and the sweet tunes from his guitar.

For the dinner reception at Sime Darby Convention Centre, bronze and yellow dominated the colour theme. As with most Chinese weddings, the budgeting priority went into the food for the dinner reception. With a few simple planning observations, here are some tips on how to stretch your pocket and pull off an elegant wedding.

HOW TO STRETCH YOUR WEDDING BUDGET:

Create a usable centrepiece: Doing away with floral centrepieces, a mixture of white and cream coloured edible pebbles (Jordan almonds) in jars lined the registration counter with sprinkles of gold shimmering stars.

Two stalks of white Carla Lily completed the love quote place mat on each lazy susan, paired with message cards for guests to pen down their well wishes.

Reuse decor pieces from the ceremony: During the planning stage, consider how you can maximise each decor piece for both venues. Get your friends and bridal party to assist you so that you can cut down on transportation charges if you enlist a decorator to help you move the decor items.

Make your own stationery: Almost all the stationery for the wedding were delicately handmade by Lyanne and her bridal party. Lyanne’s mom put in much thought into carefully selecting each and every love quote for all the 39 tables, which made them even more meaningful as it was almost like a gift of advice from mother to daughter.

These gorgeous photos are courtesy of Robin Ng from Robin Ng Photography.

In March, Barbie® doll celebrated five decades as the world’s most popular fashion doll by unveiling a new face and throwing a birthday bash at her real *read: LIFE SIZE* Malibu Dream House®. Unveiling the new Bathing Suit, Barbie® debuted a new face with a more natural look, including a thinner jaw line, more almond-shaped eyes, fuller lips and a softer makeup palette using shimmery pink lip shades and neutral eye colours. She is a modernised version of the original 1959 doll. Always a reflection of fashion, pop culture and aspiration, the new 2009 Bathing Suit Barbie® doll sports a two-piece black-and-white bikini trimmed with Barbie® signature colour – pink with pink hoop earrings, a flirty high ponytail, and one of today’s must-have accessories – a cell phone.

Mattel rolled out the pink carpet for their favourite girl with  a super cool, swanky birthday bash at a 3,500sqft Malibu beach house.

Celebrity event planner, Colin Cowie together with interior designer Jonathan Adler brought Barbie to life with an overwhelming amount of clever details and outrageous dose of ‘girlie girl’ pink to create a larger than life dream lifestyle any girl could ever imagine.

Here are the list of things you’ll need to host a luxe pink party as glamourous as Barbie®.

3,000 pink Roses, 100 Hydrangeas and 300 Ranunculus to make up the centerpieces. 1,800 pairs of Barbie®-sized sunglasses, 3,500 pairs of Barbie® shoes and 3,500 Barbie® handbags to fill custom designed Lucite tables.

65 reproduced dolls of the original 1959 Black & White Bathing Suit® Barbie® doll to create an eye-catching one-of-a-kind wall mirror.

Designer chandelier that consists of 30 blonde wigs and took more than 60 hours to construct, not forgetting the oh-so-stylish corseted “dress” chair.

A girl can never have too many pink custom-made Christian Louboutin shoes in a lifetime!

Over 200 yards of fuchsia velvet fabric to turn the bedroom into the dreamiest place in the house.

To be so girlie and yet so so so cool, you must have a pool table with pink balls!

46 pounds of pink candy lined the dessert table and 1,030 pounds of ice were used to create an ice sculpture of a birthday cake. The back wall of the bar comprised of 750 actual Barbie® dolls and framed by pink jewels.

I really love all these witty phrases that were cleverly communicated:

Signage – A plastic tan never fades

Dessert Bar with a chic message – Eat healthy but always have a decadent dessert

Signature drinks – Ken’s Caiprirosca, Doll-icious!, Strawberry Blonde and It’s a Pink Thing.

and my favourite phrase of them lot -  I wasn’t designed to do housework

To top all that, is a custom-designed Malibu Barbie Beetle® featuring a pop-up vanity.

We’re bringing the entire idea of Barbie alive – how she eats, how she decorates, how she lives, and certainly how she entertains. Barbie is a great client – she has great style, she loves the details, she enjoys her bling and she has tons of amazing imagery for inspiration – you’ll see lots of pink, shine, her famed black-and-white zebra print and always a few Barbie surprises.       – Colin Cowie -

These custom decor and signature pieces from the Malibu Dream House® will be heading to The Palms, Las Vegas, opening the Barbie Suite® for anyone who wants to experience the fantasy and fun of Barbie’s Dream House®. But it kind of freaks me out though, to know just how alive she really is when you can Twitter with Barbie® and stalk her on her blog.

Source: Details and photos courtesy of Mattel Inc.

HALAL

It’s been four months since I moved out from Taman Desa. I find myself craving for Sri Neela’s nasi lemak.

As my friend Tuck Yew puts it, nasi lemak “POWER”!

I give it 7/10.

What’s your verdict?