Crisp of Life: Woo! Cafe @ Lorong Dewan, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Woo! is a contemporary, simple and modern cafe in Kota Kinabalu and serves well as a good hangout place.

The location might be slightly concealed from the main roads but with the help from Google Maps or Waze, locating it ain't a uphill task now.

Woo! cafe serves primarily western dishes and a range of drinks, including Matcha Latte by using pure Uji matcha powder, cold pressed juices and tea.

The cafe has a minimalist design with white paint on the wall, yielding a comfortable ambiance for a laid back afternoon.

Upon stepped into the cafe, the staff greets everyone equally with a big shout of welcome.

Picking a choice for meal here is not difficult as the menu is filled with a number of appetizing dishes, such as baked pumpkin on toast and mushroom bruschetta for breakfast, a range of unique pasta such as unagi sauce salmon pasta, spicy Korean seafood pasta, steaks, lamb loin and some desserts.

I was surprised to see the 180gm steak here is priced at RM 33 only.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Crisp of Life: Woo! Cafe @ Lorong Dewan, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

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Dinner In The Sky coming to Sabah at Sutera Harbour Resort

KOTA KINABALU: Dinner In The Sky Malaysia is proud to announce that it will be making East Malaysia its next stop for the first time ever beginning 1st August 2017, after enjoying an immensely popular and sold out series of events in  Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor.

This one-of-a-kind dining experience is endorsed by Sabah Tourism Board and will be co-sponsored by Sutera Harbour Resort for a month, with two dinners served daily in the beautiful Kota Kinabalu skies.

Dinner In The Sky is a unique dinner experience that uses a crane to hoist diners, table and waiting staff 150 feet off into the air, giving them an amazing bird’s eye view whilst enjoying exquisite culinary feast.

To complete this experience, diners can expect to not just marvel at the view but take their gastronomically journey to a whole different level with a special-made Italian menu served by chef Danielle Rossetto from Ferdinand’s, which is listed as one of Malaysia’s best restaurants by Malaysia Tatler.

Brought to you by TwoSpicy Entertainment, Dinner In The Sky is currently only available in Malaysia in the South East Asian region. Already a well-known brand of entertainment, this innovative Belgian-based experience has hosted more than 5,000 dinner events in 40 cities around the world.

Iconic locations have included the Kuala Lumpur Tower, the Marina of Dubai, Villa Borghese in Rome, Athens, Copacabana Beach and Cape Town. Forbes magazine has called it as one of the world’s top ten most unusual restaurants.

Some of the more notable Malaysian celebrities that have had this one of a kind experience include Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza, Dato’ Lee Chong Wei, Erra Fazira and Amber Chia.

Continue reading at: Dinner In The Sky coming to Sabah at Sutera Harbour Resort

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A Fat Girl's Food Guide: 10 Must Eats in Sabah, Borneo

As you may have seen from my instagram feed, we have been relaxing and enjoying a fabulous vacation on the beautiful island of Borneo.

Borneo is famed for its luscious rain-forests, wildlife, and monkeys, but it also has some incredible food.

While our time was short and we didn’t get to try as many dishes as we would have liked, we were lucky to have more than enough to make a top ten.

1. Satay

Satay is probably one of Malaysia’s most famous dishes, and for very good reason, it’s bloody delicious!

You can find good satay pretty much everywhere but we were lucky enough to have our resort’s head chef prepare some us specially.

The delicious little sticks of meat, usually chicken or beef, are cooked with handful of spices and lemongrass and then barbecued to give them their unique flavour.

They are then served with a scrummy dipping sauce usually made with coconut and peanuts among other things.

2. Butter Tiger Prawns

Tiger prawns are a specialty in Sabah, because they are found locally.

They also grow to a humungous size, thanks to the great conditions of the Mengkabong river. 

We tried them two ways, wet and dry. While the wet sauce was absolutely divine, it did make them very hard to eat if you didn’t want to spit out the shells.

I have no idea what the etiquette of eating them is, but I preferred to get my hands messy and de-shell them before eating them.

3. Soto

At both of our fantastic hotels, they offered Sota for breakfast which was a delicious local noodle dish.

A selection of different noodles were available then we added the different vegetables and meats.

If you are fan of noodle soups then you are sure to want to give this Indonesian classic one a try.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: A Fat Girl's Food Guide: 10 Must Eats in Sabah, Borneo

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8excite: Great Places To Eat In Sandakan, Sabah

While most travelers head to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Borneo Malaysia, only a few venture to other parts of the 'Land Below the Wind' and here to share with you, is a list of great places to eat in Sandakan.

Yes, when you travel, you need to eat, so let me just share with you some of the recommendations of this coastal city in the east coast of Sabah.

Sandakan is well known as a nature city due to the many Ecotourism destinations, namely Sepilok, Labuk Bay, Bornean Sun Bear Sanctuary, Gomantong Caves and the famous Kinbatangan River.

But with any kind of tourism, people must eat, and most visitors to Sandakan would mostly be staying in the city, so here are the best places to eat in Sandakan.

Ikan Bakar at Pasar Sim Sim (Halal)

This old market located about half a mile out of Sandakan City serves probably the best ikan bakar in the east coast of Sabah for many years now. There are two stalls that sell the grilled fish and the notable or recommended one is called Mama Resipi Ikan Bakar who has been serving locals and now tourist some of the freshest seafood around. Her stock is delivered daily and the stall is open for lunch and dinner. Mama Resipi now has three outlets, the other two at Mile 3 and IJM Mile 6. To get here, you just need to ask anyone in Sandakan and they will point you in the right direction. You can also take a taxi here, but make sure the taxi waits for you. Besides the awesome grilled fish and seafood, do try their amazing home made sambal chili.

Address: Pasar Sim Sim, off Jalan Sim Sim, Kampung Buli Sim Sim, 1/2 Mile, Sandakan.

Sandakan Famous Spring Noodles at Restoran 88 Sim Sim (No Pork)

If you have tried spring noodles before, then you must try the famous Sandakan Spring Noodles which is located at Kampung Buli Sim Sim and at Jambatan or Bridge No.8. These noodles are totally one-of-a-kind as they are handmade with their own little secret recipe which makes the noodles really springy and tasty. They serve a mean seafood spring noodle dish, in either soup or dry which is probably one of the best noodles I've tried. Usually, locals come here for breakfast and lunch and we recommend you do the same. They operate as a seafood restaurant as well and the food here is pretty good. As you head down the bridge, their restaurant is on the right side.

Address:  Right Side, Jambatan No. 8, Kampung Buli Sim Sim, Jalan Sim Sim, Sandakan.

Seafood Bak Kut Teh in Sandakan (Non-Halal)

Most people would have heard of the famous seafood bak kut teh around Malaysia, but the mother of all is found here in Sandakan. The restaurant is called Nam Chai Restoran and is located along the main Jalan Leila Road out of Sandakan City. The beauty about this is that from my experience of trying a number of others, Nam Chai tops them all. Order the bowl of fresh sea prawns and the special 'Lai Mung' fish. They also have the normal pork bone and meats as well. Best time to go is just before lunch.

Address:  Ground Floor, Blok D, Jalan Leila, Bandar Nam Tung, Sandakan.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: 8excite: Great Places To Eat In Sandakan, Sabah

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Curios Traveller: Dinner @ Spice Island, Sutera Harbour Marina and Country Club, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

“Food for the body is not enough. There must be food for the soul.”-Dorothy Day

It’s one of the 3 signature award-winning restaurants in Sutera Harbour Resort that have been awarded Malaysia Best Restaurant 2016 by Malaysia Tatler. Welcome to Spice Island @ Sutera Harbour Marina & Country Club, a restaurant that focuses on elevated, fusion traditional Malay and Indian cuisines. We both are on the same page with Malaysia Tatler, this particular restaurant is indeed one of the Best Restaurant in Malaysia. The products and services exceeded our expectation, both went beyond our imagination, delivering the best to its clientele. We went here for dinner and never we expected that we will be consuming some amazing food. Is this the best Malay & Indian restaurant in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah?

About Spice Island

Spice Island which is located on level 3 of Sutera Harbour Marina & Country Club, one of the Resort’s signature and award-winning restaurants, offers a unique fusion of traditional Malay and Indian dishes. The restaurant has hosted royalties and dignitaries, designed to replicate ethnic Malay houses and lavishly decorated with traditional artifacts. Open only for dinners, it is advisable to make an advanced reservation as the restaurant is popular among Club members, their guests and hotel guests. It’s important for us to repeatedly mention that though this restaurant is located in a private club. it is open to the public.

Opening Hours: 6.30 pm – 11.00 pm daily

Cuisine: Asian (Malay & Indian)

The Exterior

“The outside architecture and interiors need to speak the same message, so the curb appeal, signage color and layouts of outdoor and indoor seating, and flow needs to be cohesive.”-Carter Elkin-Paris

Upon reaching the main entrance of Spice Island, we were amazed with the exterior of the restaurant. There are many Malay and Indian characteristics being displayed through the spectacular decorations. There are 2 Trishaws (Rickshaw/pedicab/trisikad) or Beca on both side of the main entrance. Beca was an important type of transportation mostly for the common in Malay society long time ago.

There is also 2 Rebana or Tambourine(s) being displayed next to each Beca. Rebana is a Malay tambourine that is used in Islamic devotional music in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore. The sound of Rebana often accompanies Islamic ritual such as the zikir. The name Rebana came from the Arabic word Robbana meaning “our Lord”.

Then there are 2 big vases on the right and left hand side of the main entrance. Centuries ago, Vases are important for both Malay and Indian community as it’s used to store water and food. Though less significant nowadays as vases are mostly regarded as decorations, it still ably to remind us how the item played an important role for the Malays and Indians. Seeing all these important elements as decorations outside Spice Island restaurant made us sensed that we’re about to see and eat food of Malay and India origins.

The Interior

“Ambiance can affect everything from perceptions on responsiveness and reliability, how much and how fast customers eat, how much they spend, how long they stay in the restaurant, if they decide to return and more.”-Carter Elkin-Paris

We’re on the same page with Carter Elkin-Paris. Ambiance plays an important role in customers decision. Amazing ambiance will make customers stay longer thus consuming more food and beverages. The ambiance and overall environment in Spice Island is definitely awesome. Again, Malay and Indian characteristics/elements are seen here and there. Orange is the main color in this restaurant followed by some earth colors. There are some Malay Traditional pattern carved on woods as seen in the image above. Bicycle was an important type of transportation for both Malay and Indians.

A replica of Malay Traditional Oil Lamp is on display on the ceiling. Though it is just a replica and not being the real one, it is an important indication of the type of food being served at Spice Island. Traditional Music Instruments of the Malays are on display too such as the Gong and Kulintangan.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Curios Traveller: Dinner @ Spice Island, Sutera Harbour Marina and Country Club, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

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Curios Traveller: The Pacific Sutera Hotel, Sutera Harbour Resort @ Kota Kinabalu, Sabah - Dinner at Silk Garden

Silk Garden Chinese Restaurant was featured in Malaysia Tatler’s Best Restaurants list of 2009. Recently (2016), it’s once again in the list. Repeating the same triumph indicates that this particular restaurant is worth visiting and so we did. We had such great moments, eating the best food at this Chinese Restaurant.

Located next to the tranquil gardens and landscaped ponds of The Pacific Sutera Hotel, the restaurant enjoys fabulous views of the yachts by the marina, the swimming pool, swaying trees and the South China Sea against a picturesque backdrop of the islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.  One great restaurant in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, located in within a 5-star resort complex but with affordable prices.

Our Arrival and The Layout

Soon as we came in, two lovely young ladies, Ms Nurul Nasharina and Ms Ivy greeted us and warmly welcomed us. They politely introduced themselves and were more than happy to have their photo shot by our lenses. Our first impression, service is definitely top-notch, not that too formal as in fine dining restaurant but great enough to be served ‘as Kings’. The ambiance of the entrance really reflects total Chinese characteristics. The food? Honestly, we had no expectations when we came in.

We’ve been to so many Chinese Restaurants already and we’re not that sure if this restaurant will be serving us much better Chinese food. We were seated at the rear of the restaurant thus giving us the perfect view of the on-going throughout the restaurant. Then there was Mr.Micheal Ang, the Outlet Manager of Silk Garden.

He had no idea that we are food critics and travel writers. All that was in his mind, we’re regular diners and he seemed to tried his very best to suggest great dishes for the two of us. We let him do the explanation in details about each of the sub menu.

We’re pretty much amazed by his suggestion and we then decided to let him chose the best one for us. We told him about our budget and ability to eat large portion of foods. He simply recommended this and that, and all of his suggestions were truly delectable, most importantly in within our budget which is RM200. Ms Yap then came serving us that famous and refreshing Chinese Tea.

With a genuine smile, she greeted us and started pouring that tea into our mini Chinese cups. She keep coming back to pour more tea for us, a task that can be done by ourselves actually. She must have the sharpest eyes as she knew the right moment to come to pour tea for us.

While waiting for our food, we revealed our identity to Mr Micheal Ang and he’s obviously delighted to have us dining at Silk Garden. We had to reveal our identity as we need to go around and take some photos of the restaurant.

Micheal must have been in pretty much happy as he earlier suggested the best food of Silk Garden for us. We went around to take some photos and we’re amazed with each tiny details being looked into by the Management, across this entire restaurant, be it the interior or exterior. No wonder the restaurant is listed by Tatler’s!

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Curios Traveller: The Pacific Sutera Hotel, Sutera Harbour Resort @ Kota Kinabalu, Sabah - Dinner at Silk Garden

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CuriosTraveller: Haus Cafe @ Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Some said it’s a cafe with unfinished design. Some said it’s a hipster cafe. We said, it’s a cafe with Industrial Design, purposely left unfinished on some parts, implying a big statement, a significant impact and trademark readily for viewing to those passing by.

Alluring that is, as if it’s a call for people to come in and check out what’s inside. That is definitely genius and smart. Welcome to Haus Cafe, one burgeoning cafe in Kota Kinabalu City, we must say.

The concept is different. While other cafes tend to outshine competitors, Haus look at things differently. Being humble that is. The owner intend to create that community feels by ensuring that the cafe is fit for people of all ages and background.

It ain’t only for the avid coffee hunters and young career people (as you can see in many other cafes), the door opens for everyone.

About Haus Cafe

Haus cafe is owned and managed by Farish Aziz, a well known actor, a celebrity that is. Being super talented he broadened his ‘skills’ by opening the Haus Cafe. Located at 88 Marketplace, Kota Kinabalu, the cafe started it’s business on December 22, 2015.

Operating from 9 AM to 11 PM daily (Except Tuesday-Off day), the cafe is supervised by the Manager, Ms.Charleen. Though pretty being compared with other cafe’s products, the Manager told us that Haus is readily to introduce more food creations that differ from what people are getting from cafes alike. According to Charleen, Farish Aziz himself keep infusing his positive thoughts into the overall Haus concept.

Food and Beverage Menu

Food

There are about 12 or so items in the Food Menu, with some being main(s) while the rest are sides. It’s quite fascinating to see some menu with unusual names such as Tamaha and Tabarus. 

Probably that’s the radical thought of a young clever business person such as Farish Aziz, daring to bringing up the cafe Industry one level up. Being radical in business is a must nowadays. It is one of many creative ways to attract customers.

Brilliant idea, Farish! Such names made we wondered for a while and I became more curious. Curious to know what’s on the plate for that super unique food names.

Price wise, it’s mid range for the average customers, the lowest being RM5.00 and max at RM24.00. Simply put, affordable for all.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: CuriosTraveller: Haus Cafe @ Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

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CuriosTraveller: Cafe 5 @ Hotel N°5 Kota Kinabalu - The Dining Experience

The curiostraveller.com team members are avid food hunters. We just love to visit cafes/restaurants and eat some good foods, slurping the best beverages and chill out, relaxing, enjoying the atmosphere and admiring the ambiance. Recently we stayed at Hotel N°5. Hotel N°5 does have its own café named as Café 5. We decided to have our lunch and dinner at this café on the same day we checked in. What were our thoughts about this café? Read our review and discover the uniqueness of this café.

About Café 5

Café 5 is located inside the Hotel N°5 building right after the Lobby/Front Desk and Café Bar. The café offers international and local a la carte delights to customers who wanted to experience an exciting gastronomic adventure. All foods are skillfully prepared by the expert Kitchen Team. Café 5 has 2 dining areas, indoor and outdoor. It opens daily from 6.30 A.M to 10.30 PM. Breakfast buffet is from 6.30 A.M to 10.30 A.M. Hotel guests are entitled for free breakfast while walk in customers will be charged RM25 per person. Customers may also opt for the a la carte breakfast menu.

Our Experience

Lunch

For lunch, we ordered Nasi Goreng Café 5 (Café 5 Fried Rice) and Ayam Masak Merah (Chicken cooked in tomato puree). We ordered one Appetizer as well, The Classic Caesar Salad. For beverages, we opted for Teh Tarik (Pulled Tea) and Iced Fresh Lime. Below are the images of Foods and Beverages that we ordered.

The Classic Caesar Salad- RM14.00

The Caesar Salad by Café 5 is a combination of crispy romaine lettuce dressed with parmesan cheese and crouton tossed in Caesar dressing with a garlic prawn. We always have Caesar Salad wherever possible and the Café 5 version resembles almost the same as what we had previously (somewhere else). The original Caesar salad is a salad of romaine lettuce and croutons dressed with parmesan cheese, lemon juice, olive oil, egg, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies, garlic, and black pepper. However, we were actually satisfied and happy with this version by Café 5. The taste of sweet, salty and freshness of the lettuce as well as the prawns really delighted us and definitely an appetizing starter. We love this Caesar Salad by Café 5!

Ayam Masak Merah- RM22.00

Generally, Ayam Masak Merah is a Malay/Indonesian dish which is spicy and sweet at the same time. Pieces of chicken are first pan-fried to a golden brown then slowly simmered in a spicy tomato sauce. This popular Malay dish is especially scrumptious with Nasi Tomato (tomato rice), Nasi Jagung or Nasi Briani. I am a big fan of Ayam Masak Merah and I saw this option in the Café 5 menu. Without thinking twice, I opted for this dish.

The Ayam Masak Merah by Café 5 is by far the best that I have ever consumed. The Chef cooked the chicken in red style intoxicating of tomato puree and Malay Spices. This dish is served with steamed white rice and vegetable pickles. There’s combination of sweet, salty and sour in this dish. It’s not spicy but that’s fine for me. The Chicken tasted so good with the Sauce, although topped with generous gravy, I was still able to taste the crispiness outside and tenderness inside. A perfect dish!

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: CuriosTraveller: Cafe 5 @ Hotel N°5 Kota Kinabalu - The Dining Experience

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Pure Glutton - Dining at Gaya Island Resort, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Gaya Island Resort boasts of several dining options on its premise.  Believe me, guests are quite spoilt for choices when it comes to food at the resort.

Besides the regular offerings at the outlets, guests can also request for private dining should there be any celebration to be held or simply because they want a special dining experience. 

How about a Sunrise Breakfast, an Aqua Dinner, a Sinagang Steamboat or a personalised gourmet picnic? 

All these can be arranged with a day advance notice to the resort.

We had a special unique dining experience at Gaya Island Resort, too … more about that later.

FEAST VILLAGE

Our first meal at the resort was at the Feast Village, YTL’s signature all-day dining outlet. 

Feast Village in all the YTL Properties is well-known for its sumptuous array of food, whether it’s on the buffet or on a la carte orders.

Upon arrival at the resort, we went straight for lunch at Feast Village, hosted by James Sutcliffe, the Resort Manager. 

The chef cooked up a storm of local dishes for us, using the freshest seafood. 

In between laughter and friendly conversations, we dined on a huge seabass with sambal, black pepper beef, sweet and sour chicken, butter prawns and crunchy saute’ed four-angle beans.

It was an immensely satisfying lunch indeed and definitely coma-inducing when we hit the bed in our villa after that.

The breakfast buffet spread at the Feast Village is something not to be missed. 

Being sea-fronting, the view from the restaurant adds on to the total enjoyment of the meal, of course. 

There are the usual counters offering salads, breads, cereals, hot dishes (Japanese/Asian/Western), rice congee as well as egg stations but my favourites are the fresh fruit juices and noodles counters. 

Get the chefs to fry you a plate of noodles on-the-spot…  they do a darn good job at that! Oh, and also their Pisang Goreng (fried bananas) and Cucur (fried fritters) were amazing!

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Pure Glutton - Dining at Gaya Island Resort, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

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Sabah food paradise - Nine food trial tourism packages

SANDAKAN: A new brochure to promote Sabah as a food paradise was launched yesterday by Tourism Malaysia Sabah.

Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Kamarlin Ombi who officiated at the launching at the Ibis Styles Hotel here, is confident that the “Sabah Food Trail” brochure is another effort that will give additional attraction to the tourism industry in the state.

The brochure contains nine interesting food trail packages, published in  collaboration with six travel agencies.

It is created to promote local food and natural attractions in Sabah. The tour packages, which range from two days one night to five days four nights, give foreign and domestic tourists a chance to explore their taste buds by trying local delicacies and mingle with the local community.

The nine trial packages are Food Lover in KK, Sabah Cooking Experience, KK Food Mania, Makan Makan Bah Kita, Food in Wonderland, Borneo Food Hunter, Sandakan Food Galore, Pusing-Pusing Cari Makan and Sandakan Seafood Channel.

Out of the nine packages, six packages are in Kota Kinabalu and three are in Sandakan.

“Sandakan is clearly the backbone of Sabah tourism industry. Sandakan Town is blessed with bountiful natural wealth, namely the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, Sukau-Kinabatangan, Selingan Island, heritage as well as its fabulous food.

“I appreciate the effort made by Tourism Malaysia and participating agents for their efforts, as this initiative marks another milestone in boosting tourist arrivals in Sabah, not only focusing on the capital city but also Sandakan,” said Kamarlin.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Sabah food paradise - Nine food trial tourism packages

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Nagisa Japanese Restaurant, Hyatt Regency Kinabalu, Sabah

The award winning Japanese restaurant, Nagisa at Hyatt Regency Kinabalu, is a venue valued not only for quality cuisine, but too for its suitability to entertain important guests and visitors.

Resembling a Japanese winter cottage, the restaurant is framed with dark wood panels, and lit with gentle warm lighting. The main dining area has an outlook over the sea, of which the hotel is an immediate neighbour. The large space is divided into smaller more intimate areas with the division of a tatami room, two private dining rooms, a sushi counter and two teppanyaki tables.

I meet some friends for a light lunch, which turns into quite a feast, as there are so many tempting items that grab our attention.

A house specialty, Unagi Sunomono – vinegared eel with seaweed, sliced cucumber and ginger shoot – whets our appetite for more, much more! Good thing the Miso Soup arrives and takes the edge off our hunger. It proves a good standard with the signature murky broth holding plenty of seaweed, cubes of white tofu and a speckling of green herbs.

An assortment of sushi is made a la minute and we have such a challenge choosing just a couple that we leave our selection in the hands of the manager, who picks three for us to sample.

The white rice exterior of the Soft Shell Crab Maki Roll is speckled with sesame, while the interior is a twirl of green chives, orange ebiko roe and fried brown crustacean. With the crab still hot, the bites are bundles of deliciousness.

The most popular roll is the Unagi Maki. Topped and filled with avocado, ebiko and Japanese mayonnaise, it’s a lovely combination of textures: creamy avocado, fresh bursts from the roe, slippery eel, crispy cucumber, and sweet Japanese omelet tamago.

Last month’s promotion was so successful it remains on the menu, Salmon Skin Maki. Rolled in dried grated seaweed and stuffed with cucumber, pickled veggies and roe, the warm filling contrasts its casing creating a very pleasant experience.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Nagisa Japanese Restaurant, Hyatt Regency Kinabalu, Sabah

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The Lounge, Afternoon Tea, Hyatt Regency Kinabalu, Sabah

Set up as a modern living room, the recently renovated Lounge at Hyatt Regency Kinabalu immediately sets us as ease with its homey décor.

A meeting place pre or post dinner, or for a longer stretch nibbling on an afternoon tea set with sweets, savouries and a hot beverage, The Lounge offers a versatile setting, just as if we might be in our own home.

We’re here today for their Tiffin Afternoon Tea. Following a day of sight seeing, it’s just what we need to refresh and carry us over until evening.

House baked goodies, of both sweet and savoury in nature, are accompanied by our choice of hot beverage.

An organic Sabah Tea is my pick, and hubby chooses a Teh Tarik.

The Teh Tarik is lighter and not quite as sweet as the KL version: I enjoy this more mildly sugared style, as does hubby (surprisingly).

A beautiful red and black lacquered basket tiffin carrier holds a duo of trays: a layer of western and another layer of local.

The top basket is packed tight with treats, the only savoury inside being a three-tiered club sandwich.

The sandwich is plump with sliced beef and chicken ham, tomato, lettuce, egg and mayonnaise.

A large scone, already spread with blueberry jam and cream, centres the tray, with the rest of the sweets encircling it.

Blueberry cheesecake, various fruit tarts, a jam sponge and, a biscuit cored walnut brownie round off the western selection.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: The Lounge, Afternoon Tea, Hyatt Regency Kinabalu, Sabah

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Food hunting across Sabah

My eating adventure across the “neck” of Sabah (imagine the map of the state as a wolf’s head) involves an epic land journey from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau. It starts at KK with the famous Tuaran mee, one of Sabah’s “representative dishes”, and a 4am breakfast of nasi lemak. And now, it’s time to head deep into the interior of Sabah.

We – a mixed bunch of tour guides and travel writers – head south of KK along the coast, past the small towns of Papar and Kimanis, before swinging inland to cross the Crocker mountain range. Up here, the weather is similar to Cameron Highlands. But instead of a bustling highland resort, there is a modest national park headquarters with a handful of chalets. After a quick look at the small collection of mountain ferns (in a garden), we descend back to the lowlands.

Bittergourd Bath

Being insatiable gluttons, we stop for our second breakfast of the day at the town of Keningau, which is famous as the home base of the Kadazandusun’s “paramount leader” Joseph Pairin Kitingan. The Fook Loi coffee shop is probably one of the busiest in town, and we sink our teeth into some bak chang or dense glutinous rice dumplings with a rich filling of pork, mushrooms, beans and chestnuts, as well as packets of nasi lemak.

Those who feel that glutinous rice is too heavy for a morning meal can also try the excellent hum chin paeng. This version of the famous deep-fried Chinese pastry is light and fluffy, its aroma of freshly-fried dough/oil is complemented with spiralling strands of sweet tausar bean paste that make it look a bit like a cinnamon roll.

Speaking of the spice, Keningau was once famous for its cinnamon trees, known in the local language as “kendingau”. In the 1970s and 80s, it became something of a timber boom town until the supply of logs was exhausted, and the economy is now mainly based on agriculture.

A walk through the market reveals lots of fresh vegetables and also a curious remedy for a detox bath – bunches of dried bittergourd leaves. “Boil these in a pot and then pour it into a tub of water. It will clear your skin of any problems,” the lady selling them tells me.

Hunters’ Heritage

We pressed on further into the interior towards the town of Nabawan, moving from the Kadazandusun heartland into Murut country. “Be careful of the headhunters,” jokes Pat Lingham, our guide from Equator Adventure.

In centuries past, a man could only get married if he had proven his bravery and virility by chopping off an enemy’s head and presenting it (after being suitably preserved, by being smoked, that is) to the family of the desired girl. Indeed, the Murut were the last of Sabah’s ethnic groups to renounce head-hunting, after many of them converted to Christianity.

Traditionally, they lived by shifting cultivation of hill paddy and tapioca, with blowpipe hunting and fishing to supplement their diet. They lived in communal long-houses, usually near rivers which served as their highways. Traditional dress for men was a jacket made of tree bark and head gear decorated with Argus pheasant feathers.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Food hunting across Sabah

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Sabah Dining: Lucy’s Kitchen at Market 88

Purported as the place to go for desserts but having the reputation of so-so savory dishes, the KKMOI team decided to go have lunch at the popular Lucy’s Kitchen at Market 88 to see if what we heard was true.

So without further ado, let us tell you a bit about our experience.

SITTING AREA & AMBIANCE

When we arrived, the entire air-conditioned area was occupied, so we headed out to the outdoor area at the back. In spite of it being a hot day, the outside area was breezy, so we were quite happy to be there. Moreover, two of the team members were smokers and they liked the “outdoor” option.

Crowd

The scene is a good mix of families with small children, friends, and folks in business-attire. By the time we were 70% through our lunch, more people started to pour in, all tables were occupied, and there were folks waiting around for tables to be vacated. Regardless of whether you are going there for lunch or dinner, our advice to you is to arrive early.

Food

Appetizers

Prawn Fritters

At first glance, this dish looks like any Chinese prawn fritter dish, but it doesn’t feel quite as oily. Biting into them was lovely. The dish however came with commercial mayonnaise, so the sauce didn’t have the character that would have made this better by our standards.

Oxtail Soup (Malaysian Style)

This wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t the kind that gave me a Malay food-gasm. I know how wrong that sounds, but there’s no better way to describe it.

The meat was tender, the soup was flavorful, but I guess what I was looking for was a knockout oxtail soup. It had the punch power of a kampung rustic pot, but what we want is for it to taste like a makcik made it. It didn’t taste like that. :( Still something worth eating if you like a) oxtail and b) the Malay sup bumbu taste.

Caesar Salad

Being served fresh salad leaves is the single most important aspect in the sweltering heat of the tropics. Why? Bacteria and germs populate a lot faster in hot and humid conditions. The lettuce looked nice and fresh, but I would have liked the tomatoes to be cut right in front of me if I had a choice (but let’s be practical here).

The dressing however tastes like packed commercial stuff. If you’re okay with that, then that’s fine, but I’m a “Salad Nazi” (I make salads all the time) and unless the dressings are freshly made, I’m going to get on every salad-maker’s case. Why? If ultra-busy KKMOI can toss a fresh dressing in 2 minutes, so can they. That’s if they want to improve!

Main Dishes

Spaghetti Bolognaise

Decent by local layman standards, “meh” by a New Yorker’s standard. This isn’t something I’d lift up my skirt to hitchhike to get to, because I guess I can make something I like more.

However, don’t listen to me, it’s fine. I can’t help being a little picky because I am a Queens gal, where every other corner serves some damn good bolognaise from real Italian-Americans.

If you’re a Westerner who has been cast away like Tom Hanks for months at a remote island or something, this will sooth your pang for pasta, until you discover a better bolognaise. It’s saucy, so very saucy!

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Sabah Dining: Lucy’s Kitchen at Market 88

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Popular Places in Kota Kinabalu Sabah

Popular Places in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah are created for travelers who want to see the best of KK city in a short time. As you know, Kota Kinabalu or KK as it is commonly called, is a seaside city where there are quite a number of interesting things to do there. I frequently visit KK for work and hence have come up with a list of popular places you can go in KK. It may be subjective but then again, only a guide.

Kota Kinabalu city can be covered by foot in under two days, that is considering visiting the very popular tourist places around KK. Some attractions may require driving there but this can be arranged by any of the local registered tour counters found in the city. They are usually in shop lots or shopping mall kiosks. A general reminder is never to sign up with an unregistered tour guide or company as it can lead to all sorts of complications.

Shopping in KK

From modern shopping malls to bazaar style markets, you get the best of both worlds in one city. For the shopping mall fans, there are about five main malls in KK town which are Suria, Wisma Merdeka, Centerpoint, Warisan Square and KK Plaza and all can be easily accessed by foot.

Just around the vicinity there are bazaars and markets like the KK Handicraft Market (Old Philippines Market), KK Wet Market, Salted Fish Market and Fruit Market. Bazaars are found in the old area of Sinsuran, Segama and Kampung Air. One recommended popular Sunday Market is held at Gaya Street from 6am till about 3pm. Here you will find an interesting variety of local produce and handicraft to all sorts of everyday items including plants, flowers and even natural herbs.

Many other new shopping malls are built outside of the city which can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes drive. Notable ones are 1Borneo Shopping Mall, City Mall KK, Mengalong Mall Penampang and soon to open Oceanus Waterfront Mall at the KK Waterfront.

Eating in KK

As many travelers love to eat or try new foods, Kota Kinabalu city is well known for their Seafood and Chinese food and also a mix of other local and international food. Seafood is mainly popular by the KK Waterfront while Chinese food can be found at numerous places. Gaya Street is one place to start exploring, especially the old coffee shops as this is the main Chinatown of Kota Kinabalu. Most of the restaurants and coffee shops here serve Chinese food and are non-halal. The best time to explore Gaya Street is in the mornings right through lunch. In the night, a number of the popular places sell the famous Sabah Bak Kut Teh.

For your breakfast or tea break, there are a number of Cafes and Coffee Shops to explore around Gaya Street where some notable ones are the Museum Kopitiam Restaurant at Australia Park, try the Kopi Botol or Bottled Coffee. Another two at Gaya Street is called Foong Ip Cafe and also Fook Yuen just next to the Sabah Tourism Board office. Great coffee and decent variety of local food which are pork-free. So Muslims can eat here.

One interesting place to explore is the Grace Point Food Court or Double 6 Food Court which is at Grace Point, Sembulan. This is about 5-10 minutes drive from KK town and the Double 6 Food Center is quite modern with a nice touch of design. It is clean, spacious and the choices vary from local to international. There is a Seafood Restaurant and Japanese Restaurant here as well. Usually, I visit this place to have my fix of local Sabahan Kadazan Food, the Hinava Rice as in the picture above and the place is very recommended by me and many other Sabahans.

For the seafood lovers, check out Welcome Seafood Restaurant at Asia City in KK while another local popular place are the seafood restaurants at Sedco which is like a giant food court in town. At the waterfront, Ocean Seafood seems to be the popular one while the most famous seafood restaurant would be Nelayan Seafood Restaurant which is out of KK town.This is a themed restaurant with cultural performances so if you are up for it, catch the local Sabahan Cultural Shows while having your dinner here.

A 10 minutes drive from the city center will take you to the Tanjung Aru Beach and this is the most popular public beach in the city. Usually frequented by locals for weekend stroll or picnics. There are a number of food stalls and a couple of bars located here. Asia City is another place to explore as there are various coffee shops and restaurants available there. The Fook Yuen Cafe is a recommended place for all day dining. Asia City is located across the road from Center Point Shopping Mall in KK.

There is also an open food area at the KK Waterfront where a myriad of local Muslim stalls sell all kinds of fresh seafood that are either cooked or barbequed. You can find this place behind the Handicraft Market at the Waterfront area. Rows of stalls sell BBQ fish, crabs and huge prawns. Other local dishes are available as well but the seating conditions are outdoor and basic. Avoid if you have a weak stomach.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Popular Places in Kota Kinabalu Sabah

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China tourist influx a boon for Sabah eateries

KOTA KINABALU: The influx of Chinese tourists to the state has brought about roaring business for eateries here, especially shops that serve local food.

Come lunch or dinner time, locals and tourists alike would swarm eateries such as Kedai Kopi Yee Fung, Sin Kee Bah Kut Teh, Yu Kee Bak Kut Teh, and Five Star Hainanese Chicken Rice and BBQ Pork, and feast on bowls of aromatic laksa, devour pork belly, ribs or intestine from fragrant bak kut teh soup, or simply demolish plates of chicken rice.

Some eateries claim that Chinese tourists make up between 30 to 50 per cent of their customer base, a figure that shows the increasing significance of tourists to local businesses.

Preliminary statistics has shown that tourist arrivals from China and Hong Kong has increased by nearly 88 per cent in the first six months of this year, compared to the same period last year, said the Minister of Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Masidi Manjun recently.

Cheng Chew Wang, owner of Kedai Kopi Yee Fung on Gaya Street, said his business has gone up by 20 per cent since April this year, a phenomenon that has intrigued him as tourist arrivals usually peaked in July and August.

Cheng said tourists from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong made up almost 50 per cent of his customers. The Chinese tourists have taken a liking for his Kuching laksa, claypot chicken rice and beef noodle soup because the food suit their taste buds, Cheng said.

Meanwhile, Ivan Chia of Sin Kee Bak Kut Teh at Jalan Pantai said, the shop’s customer base comprised of 50 percent locals, 20 percent regular customers and 30 per cent tourists. Western tourists, he said, made up less than 0.5 percent of his customers.

Bah Kut Teh has proven to be a very popular cuisine among Chinese tourists, especially those from China, who make up 80 percent of the Chinese tourists that patronise Sin Kee, followed by 15 to 18 percent Hong Kong Chinese and two percent Taiwanese, he said.

Chia said most of the Chinese tourists were walk-in customers or recommended by websites, adding that Sin Kee did not do any marketing or promotions.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: China tourist influx a boon for Sabah eateries

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Don't Miss Dishes at Gaya Island Resort, Borneo

Quality wining and dining can turn a good holiday into an excellent one. All too often though, meal inclusive packages around Malaysian resorts can be decent tummy filling ventures, but not mind blowing taste sensations. Gaya Island Resort by YTL however, has more than a few dishes capable of exciting the palate and creating a deliciously memorable vacation. Here's The Yum List's pick of:

Don't Miss Dishes at Gaya Island Resort, Borneo

Barbecued Seafood Bajau Laut Style

Seafood, seafood, seafood. It must be eaten en masse when it's this good. A Bajau Laut Beach Barbecue not only delivers a romantic set up, with sand in your toes, the sound of the sea lapping the shore, your own private butler and chef, but... too offers succulent seafood. Cooked the traditional way on skewers over hot coals, fish, prawns, mussels, lobster and a host of supporting meats and vegetables are barbecued according to the seafaring indigenous conventions of the Bajau Laut. Book in advance for this delectable experience.

Line Caught Fish

I have found not one fish on the mainland comparable to the quality of what we ate while in Sabah. There's something about the waters around the island of Borneo that produce incredibly fresh and juicy aquatic creatures. In an attempt to move towards sustainability, Gaya Island Resort by YTL offers the "catch of the day," which are caught by line, not the common net fishing method (which traps all in its path, in an attempt to snare one desired species). Sourced daily, you're assured freshness and simple preparation enhances the natural flavours.

Tuaran Mee

This traditional egg noodle dish was recommended by a number of Sabahans as a 'must try' while in the state. Haling from a small city on the coast to the north of Kota Kinabalu, these springy noodles are usually fried with local vegetables and topped with char siew and egg rolls. Gaya Island Resort proffers their own luxurious version brimming with seafood.

Hinava

Sabahans' version of ceviche marinates the freshest of seafood in lime, chili and ginger. A tangy, fresh and unstoppably more-ish dish is the result. Available at Fisherman's Cove and on the Bajau Laut Beach Barbecue, order this one close to arrival, as its addictive quality will leave you yearning for more.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Don't Miss Dishes at Gaya Island Resort, Borneo

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KK Food Festival kicks off with Opening Bazaar

KOTA KINABALU: Food aficionados are in for a sumptuous treat as Kota Kinabalu Food Festival (KKFF) kicked off with the Opening Bazaar yesterday.

The bazaar, which is held until today from 11am to 8pm, is a platform for the festival’s participating restaurants to showcase fine food or sell their products.

“Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun has hoped that the food festival would run for a month instead of last year’s KKFF which lasted for two weeks, so it’s good that it gives an opportunity for everybody,” said project manager Alfred Allan.

He said many people did not know where these restaurants were located, and the Opening Bazaar could showcase all the restaurants, many of which are locally-based and run.

The participating Sabah restaurants include Lucky Bean, Aubergine Bistro, Cristao Café and Grill, Newspaper Café, Yu Café, The Tea House, Silk Garden, The Golden Dew Bistro, The CHUBs Grill, Nagisa Japanese Restaurants, Ferdinand’s, Shang Place, The Chinese Restaurant, 90’s The Restaurant and More, Bintulu Korean Restaurant, Brooklyn Restaurant, Bomber’s Burger, Cherry Restaurant, Bella Restaurant, Brooklyn’s Restaurant, Hungry People, Emperor’s Delight, Malisa’s Flame Grilled Chicken, Kampung Nelayan, Tasty Wok and Red Place.

Visitors would have a chance to try out assorted delicacies from the various restaurants like local favourites, Portugese, Chinese, Japanese, Fusion, Western and many others.

The Opening Bazaar also features programmes for children like a colouring contest as well as a dance performance and games like the ‘Buy and Win’ where visitors who purchase anything above RM20 at any of the participating booths will stand a chance to participate in the Yummy Pick and win that offers attractive prizes.

The KK Food Festival also has its very own magazine, which can be found at one of the participating restaurants.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: KK Food Festival kicks off with Opening Bazaar

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Restaurant Review: Gayang Seafood Restaurant, Tuaran, Sabah

Two months ago, I attended a dear friend’s wedding in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. That’s in Borneo Island, in East Malaysia, for those of you not local in Malaysia. *wink* Of course, when in such an exotic place like East Malaysia, everyone wanted to try the seafood in the other side of the country.

Our hotel concierge recommended us to the closest nicer seafood restaurant, which is apparently not too far away from where we were in Shangri-la Rasa Ria, Sabah. We hopped into the hotel van and it chauffered a bunch of us over to Gayang Seafood Restaurant in Tuaran, Sabah.

Ambiance and Menu

Like any other seafood restaurants, Gayang Seafood Restaurant seems to be a local favourite. It was very packed when we got there at dinner time. Our host had also apparently called ahead to make a reservation – for our tables as well as some crabs. Apparently, their seafood is so good that it gets sold out very early in the night.

The restaurant is a simple building with zinc roof where you have the showcase of all live seafood for the picking on one side where the kitchen sits behind it, and the table seating on the other.

There are no food menu. You basically pick the seafood that you want with the staff loitering around the seafood tanks, where they inform you of the weight of the seafood and the price per gram / KG.

Well, there are plenty of seafood for you to select, of course. All different fresh seafood catches of the day, ranging from plenty of shell fishes (crabs, clams, oysters, lobsters, scallops), seafood (fresh or salt water fishes) and more.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Restaurant Review: Gayang Seafood Restaurant, Tuaran, Sabah

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Many Sabah eateries now offering international cuisine due to demand

KOTA KINABALU: Known for its sandy beaches and seafood, Sabah is not only a seafood haven but also is fast becoming a place for great food and wine.

Apart from local cuisine, there are now many eateries offering international fare ranging from Japanese, Thai, Italian and Mexican.

Driving this development is Sabah's rapidly growing travel industry.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai said demand for good food and wines had led to more diversity and quality in the restaurant and hospitality sectors.

“Visitors want to enjoy good food, not just seafood but food similar to what they are accustomed to, and this is where the food and beverage industry needs to play its role well,” he said when opening Sabah's first Food and Wine Fair at a mall here yesterday.

Event organiser Johnson Or, the director of operations of Vino Vino Bistro, agreed that the food sector had progressed.

A telling sign, he noted, was that many people in Sabah no longer thought of wine as just a beverage.

“Now that we have so many varieties of wine from all over the world, people are more knowledgeable about what good wine is all about,” said Or.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Many Sabah eateries now offering international cuisine due to demand

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