Ole Ole Bali, Empire - Klang Valley, Malaysia

Bali conjures images of sultry seasides, the lingering aroma of Keretek (cloves) and a place where time moves at its own pace. The air is humid tropical, the food is spicy and the living can be easy. One wakes up wrapped in a  sarung, that delightful wardrobe that does allow air to flow through. One views the moon in the evening through different eyes. Bob took me to the Empire one evening in early June outside Kuala Lumpur, near the suburb of Subang Jaya, where amidst the shops in a modern shopping mall, a restaurant called Ole Ole Bali beckoned. Ole with the same spelling has been used by J.K. Rowlings and Mark Twain.  It is also the expression used by Spanish bullfighters in the bullring.

I was not disappointed by the saffron coloured rice, the centerpiece in my dinner set chosen. (picture above) Surrounding this were a variety of concoctions and a generous serve of marinated chicken. There were crispy bites of crackers, bits of fresh red chili, a sambal sauce, deep fried garlic, fresh shallot garnishings, beans, stir-fried local spinach (kangkong) and a Hainan -inlfuenced condiment, all laid on fresh banana leaves.  The restaurant was full of diners on this Friday evening and we sat outside.  We both had fruity and refreshing drinks served with fresh mint leaves. I noted nearby tables had deep fried wings as part of their cumi cumi goreng ( fried snacks like calamari).   Another dish that caught my eye was the nasi kambing bumbu, a combination set like what I had in the pictures shown here, but served with goat meat or lamb cutlets. 

The prices asked are above average but the menu does provide variety.  There are standard dishes like soup buntut (oxtail) and the es campur (ice shavings with sweet shredded cocount strips, honeydew bites, jackfruit, sago and banana blends),  but do try the sate lilit, which is seafood on a lemon grass flavoured skewer, accompanied by two types of sambal.  Surprisingly, Ole Ole Bali also offers Western styled meals, including pasta, which echoes the predominance of tourists for many years back on the island itself.  For dessert, they also  have the interesting combination of ice jelly with the flesh of the rambutan fruit.

The same chain has outlets in Sunway Pyramid, Solaris Mont Kiara and Mutiara Tropicana in the Klang Valley of Selangor.  My impressions of the visit to Ole Ole Bali at the Empire Shopping Centre, Subang Jaya, are:

Atmosphere:  Crowded, suburban.

Location:  Shopping centre

Taste:  Interesting, not quite Sumatra or Java.

Service:  Quick

People Engagement:  Acceptable

Fav Dish Experienced: Nasi ayam bumbu.

Best Time to Visit:  Early dinner.

Would I Return?:  Yes.

Dean's Diner - Newtown, Sydney

On first impressions, it can be one of the ubiquitous takeaways seen in each conurbation across the Australian sub-continent. Deep fried stuff, burger buns and the quick takeaway coffee. After my first visit, I found Dean's Diner to be more of a budding Hard Rock Cafe, without the frills, but with the friendly service, framed pictures that defer to the Age of Rock and Roll and a practical neighbourliness of its own.  I had a bacon and egg wrap for a late breakfast on my recent drop by there, together with the usual cuppa of cappuccino. A poster under the counter for a concert by the Flight of the Conchords caught my eye (image above).  Most customers that morning seem to know the place well and just had takeaway.  Great 1980s music was blaring away.

Spanish Harlem, Australian Crawl, Love Shack, Dixie Chicks. If the clientele are fans of such tracks, then their average age must be getting up there - baby boomers!  However, as you can figure out above, the food is ever ready teenage like or for the twenty somethings, nutrition and sustenance for people in a hurry, perhaps wanting instant gratification, but also providing the suburban comfy food feel.  Fast food, street food.  Perfect for the Newtown crowd, who contrary to perceptions, may not all want fancy and exotic cuisine everyday of their lives living there.

The diner is not far off from the corner of King Street, Newtown's main strip, and Goddard Street, where bright and captivating murals have been etched on the brick, for passer-bys to ponder and for residents to have a kind of landmark. The image below reminds me of Balinese or southern Chinese lions.

It can be fun going through in detail their varied and numerous menu items. The names of such items recall rock bands, great hits and the feel of another era.  Why the Beach Boys are actually buttered fish can be debatable, but they make selection of the burgers, wraps and seafood combos interesting and delightful. Critics may say the diner is just an ordinary takeaway and milk bar, but little touches like even in the labels of the food items help to make us think otherwise.  The food is reasonably priced.  There are many details to appreciate in the surroundings of the diner, from the clock to the framed photographs on the walls.  There is even a tray of Turkish balaclava available, apart from a diverse offering of canned and bottled drinks inside the fridges.  No Ben and Jerry ice cream flavours though at this stage, but you never know.  Speak to Marie and Steve?  Maybe not, as B & J's could jar the perception and reality of an old fashioned milk dairy burger joint that Dean's Diner has - and value - in many circles.

Open late most evenings (including till the very late 230am from Thursday to Saturday nights), Dean's Diner can be said to both contribute to and incorporate the lifestyle in one of inner Sydney city's cosmopolitan and buzzing suburbs.  My impressions of Dean's Diner on my most recent visit are:

Atmosphere:  Classic Aussie burger joint.
Location: Cosmopolitan and with easy access.
Taste:  Good enough.
People Engagement: Neighbourhood feel.
Service: With a smile.
Fav Dish Experienced: Got to go back more to try more selections.
Best Time to Visit:  Any time
Would I Return?:  Yes

Tao Asian - Penang, Malaysia

Salmon papaya, a delicate and delectable entree served with oozing juice and a contrast between fruit and seafood. Best eaten with chopsticks. Welcome to the world of Tao.

A selection of sushi and more from the buffet table (above picture) gives a hint of the care and diversity that goes into a thoughtful and varied menu.

Try the clam with garlic, three layer egg, spicy Idaki Maki, Shabu Shabu and Hawaiian Lamb.

The setting at Auto City is idyllic, with wood panels, interesting with even a live music area and cultural feel.   Watch your step as you climb up artificially made sloping steps from the entrance, and once inside, you have to navigate your way past quaint Japanese styled bridges and stone structures to get to the reception or washrooms.  Tables are often small to adequately accommodate the range of food any typical group or couple orders.  You do, however, get a choice of seating options from cushioned enclosures to  that of chairs which can be too low rise.

Chawan mushi is one of my standard calming side dishes in Japanese cuisine, accompanied by grilled unagi on a small bed of cupped rice (image above).  One can order ala carte or select from the buffet spreads.  Even if each dish may be minimal in size by itself, you can chalk up a hefty bill and/or a most appetising experience by the time the night is over.

The menu is categorised into mains, salads, steamed dishes, sushi, noodle soups, grills, deep frieds or agemono, cold cuts and hand rolls.  Presentation and style catches our eyes when the food is served to us in a group of three in May 2012.  Below, my California temaki roll and further down, Tao's version of an abalone starter, which is yummy to the palate.

Tao operates in both Malaysia and the United States. In the former, they have outlets in E-Gate, Penang Island; Kota Damansara, Klang Valley; and in Auto City, Juru, Penang mainland.  The menu can be primarily Japanese but in reality they provide concept food that incorporates a wider selection like Thai, Korean, Taiwanese and Chinese. In Juru, there is a choice of around 130 dishes to ponder over.

My impressions of the Auto City Tao on my most recent visit there last month are:

Atmosphere:  Maybe too busy for its own good.
Location:  Suburban.
Taste:  Good when you are selective.
People Engagement: Can be improved.
Service: Patchy, unless you meet a bright and eager staff member.
Best Time to Visit: Early shift of the two or three sessions for dinner. The variety and availability can decrease during late sessions.
Fav Dish Experienced:  California Temaki Rolls.
Would I Return?:  Yes, to try dishes like the Unagi Mushi Tofu, soft shell crab hand roll and smoked duck breast.

Auto City Juru - Penang, Malaysia

Bright strobbing lights, flashy sights, well polished surfaces and clean brick tiled floors. Car accessories, pharmacies, mobile phone stalls and hair saloons add to the variety. Welcome to a fair in Auto City, alive with crowds of people, periodic parades, diners, apparel sales and music.

It is not just all cars, for it is a suburb, offering all the amenities of a small township. There are replica murals of a Thai restaurant (above) and another manifestation of Americanism (below) is an example of what draws the crowd out of their residential areas to congregate.  When I was last there, the rains came down and whipped up by the winds, unleashed the water on all the cars exhibited there.  Audi, BMW, Subaru, you name it.

Auto City lies at a locational nexus, not far from the Peninsular Malaysian mainland side of the Penang Bridge, within a half hour drive from the regional hubs of Butterworth, Seberang Perai and Bukit Mertajam, having easy access to the North-South Expressway to Alor Setar, Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur, and all within Penang State. I was introduced to a yogurt and nuts mix concept store called Tutti Fruitti, apparently popular in this nation, for which there is a similar business at Macquarie Centre in Sydney's northwest. A giant LED screen offers free movies to the public each evening. Interesting restaurants include The Boston (claiming to provide "Hongkie
food" ); Haagen Dazs and Swensen ice cream; the Winter Warmers tea cafe; Old Town White Coffee shop; Xian Ding Fei Taiwanese fare; and Sushi Sakae.

The cooler and less humid surroundings after sunset entice people from neighbouring areas to drop by and stroll by whatever is offered. I was captivated by the huge car stereo combos placed in the boot of certain car makes, and under the moonlight, these glow and throb with colour and sound. (picture above).  The fair went on till midnight in a definite holiday atmosphere.

Basketball, lion dance troupes, restaurants, banks, retail outlets, souvenirs, T-shirts, pottery, plants, fabric, coffee, karaoke and more.  The evening when I was most recently there turned out to be a carnival, of automobiles, motor bikes, models, hair stylists, playing bands, family gatherings, teenagers having a night out and with a deep sense of community feel.

Wedding Vibes, Georgetown, Penang

Many preparations lead to a festive wedding. They include the traditional practice of making and consuming brightly coloured rice dough balls (above) in light syrup, to signify roundness, celebration and good vibes. Cakes, hearts and toasts share a common link for all cultures to mark a marriage.  The images below were taken on site at the Ming Garden Restaurant in Georgetown's Times Square on 30 May 2012.

The above images in this entry are from the collection of Mr Loke Yew Fai of Kuala Lumpur.