Malaysia Track: Food

An Italian's Adventurous Food Trip to Malaysia (By Happysuffer)

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Cinzia Greco, who loves travelling made a trip to Kuala Lumpur recently and enjoyed it so much that she wants to share her wonderful experience.

Food, good food at that, elevates a travel experience. Here. Cinzia (Cynthia) shares the food she eat at her friend's new outlet. And if you are in Kuala Lumpur, you may want to give the Gastro Project in Section 17, Petaling Jaya a try and be blown away by their food, the decor, well, the whole experience!

Cinzia also shares some travel booking sites that she uses for her travel needs. Images are also courtesy of Cinzia.

Thank you, Cinzia, for sharing your experience. I hope you enjoyed yourself here in Malaysia and will be back soon.

Read Cinzia's travel story:

One visit to Malaysia is enough to make you fall in love with it and to inspire in you the desire to travel there again.

However, if you are expecting a post describing the countless natural beauties of this country, you should not be reading this as I would rather focus on a specific aspect of my most recent experience in Malaysia. So, keep on reading if you like to find it out.

What is so great about Malaysia is the extraordinary melting pot of races and cultures, the balanced mash-up of traditions and religions where diversity is seen as something positive, an enrichment rather than a limitation.

Perfect evidence for this is the local cuisine, an explosive combination of gastronomic ingredients that, if combined together in the right way, can create exquisite recipes and dishes.

During my last trip to Malaysia, I got the chance to have an excellent guide: a good old friend of mine I met in UK several years ago.

I was really excited to see him after so long (unfortunately, in my previous visit to Malaysia we could not meet up as he was abroad for work).

Plus, I was particularly excited as I knew he and his family had open a new fusion restaurant and bar in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, near the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, just for the sake of their shared passion: food.

I could not wait any longer to go there and try what they describe as a sublime culinary experience and not only.

This time, I did not have to bother with accommodation search as my friend was putting me up in his apartment. But just to provide readers with useful information, during my very first visit to Malaysia I checked the various accommodation options listed in the main hotel booking portals, such as Booking.com and Expedia. Eventually I ended up choosing a nice hotel through the HotelsClick website simply because they were offering the best price. Before booking my room, I gathered some information about this site that was previously unknown to me and, although opinions were different and not all positive, I just clicked the book now button… And I have to admit that everything went great!

For my next trip in general, I’d like to use this site http://www.homestaybooking.com/ that put travellers in contact with local host families: I think it could be a different way of travelling.

But let’s go back to my latest trip. My friend couldn't pick me up at the airport and, to tell you the truth, that was better for me as, when I travel on long distances, I tend to suffer from jet-lag quite a lot. So I was happy to have some time to recover and to meet my friend at the top of my shape.

We had arranged to meet the day after my arrival at The Gastro Project, their restaurant. He didn't tell me much about the place so it was a great surprise to find out that, apart from food, they had conceived it almost as a movie sanctuary with plenty of photos and posters from the film-making industry (loved the Godfather series!). That was a goal for me considering my passion for movies: the combination between food and cinema is a winning one! (They also have a wall screen projecting movies on a daily schedule).

Cocktailing at the bar

So, on my friend’s tip, I started my experience at The Gastro Project at the bar with a cocktail, of course. I had Hmmmm which is made of fresh strawberries, almonds, brown sugar, dark rum and midori liqueur. Sublime!

They also serve beers and different types of wines. To make sure you have something to taste along with your cocktail, finger foods and canapés are always handy.

Chatting with my friend made me hungry: time had come for dinner!

Dining at the restaurant

So we moved to the restaurant area where, you know what… I could not make my mind up while I was reading the menu. So I had to trust my friend once again. According to him, one of most popular dishes, something The Gastro Project has become famous for, is the Japanese salad. And after tasting it, I understood why!

I don’t think there is a better dish to begin your dinner with: your belly will be grateful to enjoy this delicate salad made of greens, avocado, pomegranate, pine nuts and edamame with a delicious topping of sesame dressing.

After the salad, I opted for a selection of two pasta dishes: spaghetti aglio e olio with crabmeat andorecchiette with lamb and cumino sauce.

My friend had pumpkin ravioli: of course I tasted them and I must say they were excellent.

Being a lover of lamb meat and couscous, my second course choice was obvious: lamb stewed with carrot and apricot and served with aromatic couscous. The meat literally melt in my mouth as though it was butter.

I was ready for dessert, but first I need to refresh my palate with a mint sorbet. I have to say that I am not passionate about dessert, but still I had to taste their offer. So I went for a trio of dessert including:

• an English strawberry trifle with layers of fresh cream, custard and strawberries

• some chocolate cake balls with rum cocoa sauce (a must for chocolate lovers)

• a truly original cardamon pannacotta with a caramel sauce

I don’t need to say that every dish was paired with the most appropriate selection of wines.

I am Italian and the passion for good food is ingrained in my DNA. Also when I am travelling, I’d love to enjoy the most typical local recipes or, as in this case, the combination of different influences merging into the same dish.

So, it was a pleasure for me to discover that we Italians have this passion in common with the Malaysian people.

By Happysuffer

http://all-about-malaysia.blogspot.com

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Money Saving Tips for Traveling in Malaysia (By Lash)

Recently I’ve met several long-term travelers who are visiting Malaysia for the first time. Somewhat to my surprise, I quickly found myself giving lots of tips about choosing products, finding restaurants, and saving money on all sorts of things. Even though they are veteran travelers, they didn’t know many simple practical things about ‘living’ in Malaysia because they’ve never spent time here.

evening with travel bloggers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

I suppose that many common daily-life practicalities about any destination you figure out only by spending a significant amount of time there. Perhaps by returning several times, working there, or having local friends who fill you in on daily life details. And apparently guidebooks skip many of those practicalities.

Since I’ve spent so much time in Malaysia over the years, I discovered that I can dish up lots of useful money-saving tips that you probably won’t find in guidebooks. Here’s what I’ve come up with so far:

Hot Link sign in Malaysia

1. cell phones / sim cards

In all Asian countries, Australia, UK and Europe, you can easily and inexpensively buy a new sim card for your mobile phone, thus obtaining a local phone number. (Excluding use with US phones, which operate on a different phone system).

In Malaysia, several phone companies sell sim cards. I recommend ‘Maxis’ also know as ‘Hotlink’. They sell new sim cards for just 8.80 RM ( < $3 US) which includes 4 RM phone credit. Domestic text messages/sms cost 0.10 RM. So, with your new sim you can already send 40 domestic text msgs, without buying any more credit! International sms rates vary per country, but are also very cheap. You can sms to every country except the USA. (Thanks US) You can call to US phones, but not text.

You can add more credit when you run out by buying ‘top up’ credit at 7-11s, many local convenience stores, phone shops, and Maxi/Hotlinks stores. Pre-paid (top up) cards come in increments of 10 RM / 30 RM /60 Rm / 100 RM.

Hotlink IDD 132 promoHotlink has a special international calling rate program, ‘IDD132′. To use it, you have to add extra numbers in front of your calling number. Ask about it when you buy your sim and/or check Maxis website.

You’ll need your passport to buy the sim, since Maxis officially registers the phone number to your name.

Even if you’re traveling through Malaysia for just one or two weeks, it may already be worth buying a Malaysian sim to communicate with people.

2. Internet

Internet shop in Penang, Malaysia

Generally, internet connections in Malaysia are fast, consistent and abundant every where. Plentiful local internet shops typically charge 3RM/ hour ($1 US). Many guest houses, hostels, and hotels also have internet centers. I generally find their rates higher. To save money, visit a nearby internet shop.

In Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian Tourism Office on Jl Ampang, just one block down from Petrronas Twin Towers, offers free internet sessions of 30 minutes. They also have unlimited free wifi.

Wifi

Most modern cafes, coffee shops, hotels, and some restaurants offer free wifi. Many budget guest houses also have wifi, either free or for a minimal charge. It’s really easy to use your own computer in Malaysia, and throughout SEASia, in fact.

3. Buses / trains

…between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore

Malaysian trains and buses are great: super clean, with spacious padded seats and air conditioning. Overnight sleeper trains offer decent-sized beds with clean linens. Private cabins are also available.

Malaysian Train

If you’re making a round-trip journey between KL and Singapore, buy BOTH tickets in Malaysia! You will pay Malaysian prices. Currently, the overnight train from KL to Singapore costs 30 RM ($10 US). When you buy tickets in Singapore, you pay Sing $30 Sing ( $25 US) Big difference! Read more in my post Overland Travel Between Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia (prices are subject to change).

note- Malaysian buses and trains are what I term ‘super-refrigerated’. C O L D. Make sure you have some warm pants, shirts and jacket on hand when you enter… unless, of course, you like refrigeration.

4. Drinking water

filtered water and boiled water at hotel in Malaysia

Many guest houses and hotels offer filtered drinking water free to guests. Sometimes there’s a filter attached to the tap. Other times they have a huge bottle to refill from. Malaysians drink filtered tap water, boiled water, or commercial bottled water. They generally don’t drink water directly from the tap unfiltered.

You can save a lot of money by not buying water while traveling in Malaysia. For example, if you drink one bottle-1.5 L – per day, then in 30 days, you’ll spend minimum 60-90 RM ($20-30 US) per month (prices are subject to change). If you’re on a tight budget, that makes a difference.

If you prefer commercial bottled water, it’s cheapest at super markets, where you can buy 1.5 L bottle of local brands for ~ 2 RM. Branded water costs more and varies by brand.

taxi in Penang, Malaysia

5. Taxis

Make sure you get a metered taxi. The cost will be half to one-third of a ‘set fee’.

On the streets and when ordering a taxi, you will generally get a metered taxi automatically. But make sure you discuss it beforehand. And make sure they flip on the meter when you start.

At some places, like Sentral Station, you don’t have the option to get a metered taxi. The station has a taxi service set up whereby you pay for the taxi at a booth inside the station, get a receipt, then go wait in line for the next taxi.

However, you can walk from Sentral Station down to the main road to flag down a metered taxi if you prefer. It’s less than 2 blocks down the road ramp to the main street.

Also keep in mind that after midnight there’s an extra night charge of +50%. The fee should not be charged before midnight.

Old Town White Coffee sign, Malaysia

6. Coffee

If you prefer espresso coffees, keep in mind that prices at Starbucks, Coffee Bean, San Francisco Coffee, Dome, and other modern coffee chains the are the same or higher than in US and Europe! Various espresso drinks cost 8-15 RM ( $3-5 US)

If you’re a bit of a coffee gourmand, like me, but don’t want to pay US prices, here are some rescue options.

You can get delicious, high-quality local coffee at a few shops in Malaysia. It’s not exactly the same flavor as espresso coffee, but it’s strong and delicious. I’m extremely picky about coffee, so I do not recommend these shops lightly.

* Old Town Coffee is a Malaysian high-end coffee shop/restaurant chain. They serve a variety of dark, potent coffee drinks in a charming retro colonial setting. I often order their iced coffee for 4.30 RM ($1.50) At Starbucks or Coffee Bean, the equivalent costs about 10- 14 RM ( $3.35- 5 US) - prices are subject to change.

Old Town White Coffee branch in Penang, Malaysia

* Local coffee shops. Nowadays, local neighborhood coffee shops aren’t so easy to find. You’ll find tea shops, either Chinese or Indian, much easier. But when you do come across a local coffee shop, stop in. You’ll get an excellent strong local coffee for just 1-1.50 RM ($0.35-.50 US)

* Another tactic I often use is to switch to Indian teas. Te Tarik is sweetened tea with milk, topped with froth. Like a tea cappucino! Te tarik is a potent caffeine/sugar combo, thjus a great substitute for espresso. And at a fraction of the cost. The going rate is 1- 1.5o RM ($0.35- 0.50 US)

Lash
http://www.lashworldtour.com

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