Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Thai Food @ Restoran New Neighbour (and Kay Tse)

There are times when one finds a something so mesmerizing, it sticks in one’s mind for a good few weeks. Just like underwear, one will wear this recollection to carry out one’s mundane routine, providing comfort and support in more ways than one.

In the past few days, I’ve been wearing two such interchangeable supports. So much for hygiene, eh? One is 謝安琪 or Kay Tse’s 喜帖街 (loosely translated as wedding invitation cards street). When I first heard it on the radio, I had no idea whom this pretty voice belonged to. And what soothing melodies it brought. Oh, on a rainy day, at that. With the wonders of the internet (and a few Chinese words I managed to catch from that DJ), I found the video and title of the song. Some might call it stereotypically sweet, but I guess that’s just the trend in Canto/Mando pop these days. Like Ivana Wong, Janice Vidal and Vincy Chan. We have to evolve with the times lor, I guess. I miss the 90s! Oh, interesting, slightly gray lyrics as well, by the eccentric genius, Wyman Wong.

The second support comes in form of a Thai food stall, in a coffeeshop called Restoran New Neighbour in Bandar Menjalara. I have been coming back to the same stall for the past 3 weekends. Unless one reads Chinese, it could have easily been mistaken for a typical soupy noodle stall. Heck, even the owners (whom speak minimal Cantonese/Hokkien) look local. Ever-friendly, nevertheless.

I have been told that the Tom Yam Noodle here is good. Very. At RM5.00, the portion was huge. Upon seeing the fiery stock, I began to perspire. A sip of the soup revealed an aptly sour and sweet taste that screamed salivation. The generous amount of ingredients, including prawns, squid rings, onion slices and oyster mushrooms gave the dish an extra boost of flavour and texture. The bee hoon was al dente and rather fragrant as well. Perspire I didn’t, relatively, as heat was kept minimal. If Kay, I mean a date craves for tom yam, I’ll know of a place where I won’t have to embarrass myself. Now.

Cooling down the heat with a glass of herbal tea, infused with winter melon cubes, from the drinks stall. Kay’s song comes to mind again.

There is also the Braised Pork Rice, another Thai staple. Flaky meat meets flavoursome gravy. Yummy. Value for money as well, given the big chunk of meat. Unlike the dark, heavily spiced version, this stall’s was rather mild and sweet as well. A dish that complements the compulsory white rice.

On the third visit, I tried the braised chicken with rolled rice sheets. The purpose was of course, to get a feel of the sheets. Well, I must say it’s quite interesting to slide the smooth rolls into the mouth, together with a tasty soy sauce/five spice powder infused stock. Perhaps a little too sweet, but that aside, a good alternative to the usual clear broth.

And what better way to end breakfast than with a bowl of hearty barley/ginkgo/soy concoction. Again, wedding invitation cards street comes to mind.

This particular street in Bandar Menjalara boosts a few good coffeeshops that I absolutely love coming back to. A few restaurants can be found here as well. Across the street is that heavily lit Goldhill Club restaurant. Check out Bernsy’s review. I saw Kanna Curry House too and wondered if it’s a branch from the infamous joint.

Above, above all, I hope to come back to some comfort this weekend.

On the street of coffeeshops.

With that street of wedding invitation cards in my mind.

And Kay's voice, of course.

Thai food stall at Restoran New Neighbour
Cornershop along Jalan 9/62A (damn those a*#$holes who stick adverts on signboards!),
Bandar Sri Menjalara
Kepong
55200 Kuala Lumpur.

29 comments:

ling239 said...

must find time to go d !!
i want that tom yam...

Ciki said...

splendid! makes me wanna eat spicy food.. like NOW! too bad it's in sing :( too far for a quick lunch getaway:D

Live2Talk said...

Wow ... someone is catching up with the HK music trend besides getting perspired over exotic food ;P Kay Tse has an unique voice, one of my fav singer.

"Joe" who is constantly craving said...

wah tat pork trotter rice really got me going..haha temporary forgot abt the strained neck n shoulders..even the egg looks the same with the orangy yolk

J2Kfm said...

in Kepong ah?
oooh ...RM5 per bowl is cheap la! so many ingredients somemore.
tomyum too spicy also spoil the experience, what's with the flowing mucous and all. =P

fatboybakes said...

ah, i see u've taken to taking pictures of stamens...
the tom yam looks delectable. you must bring me there next time. barley /ginko/soy....living up to your moniker of SOY BOY eh.

wmw said...

Apart from adding new eateries to your list, you're also adding new songs to your repertoire? :o)

Jason said...

Yeah, d**n those a***h**es for sticking stickers on the signboards!

Weekend Peach said...

I think I saw dat same flower in Genting. :-P And Kay Tse - I can see why u like da singer lor. Kinda cute and all. I think I'm more attracted to dat bowl of tom yam noodles, though.

choi yen said...

wow, another place very near my hse...TQ for ur recommendation!!! Mayb I bumped into u b4 coz u seem like always loitering around this area ^.^

馨韵公主™ said...

When i back msia, i wanna go try this!~

Every single pictures that you took, very nice~

Kenny Mah said...

"I saw Kanna Curry House too and wondered if it’s a branch from the infamous joint."

That'd be a great name for a story. The Infamous Joint. Joint ape tu? The mind wanders (esp. after our recent FB conversation with LL) and wonders...

backStreetGluttons said...

at one time this zone was a super top fav of beautiful Wheels of Happiness which we have yet to salivatosavour but only grazed thru a few minutes on our way to the Goldhill. To think that it must take a Sporean to jolt us up & so...
...shall we shall we not ?

where art thou Meiyen ?

Precious Pea said...

Sniff...your post made me miss BKK so much! Sigh....*hopping to airasia.com now*

HairyBerry said...

ling239, hehe, i also must find time to go this weekend d! *salivating*....oh, i think they close by 1 or 2 pm. ;D

cumi & ciki, no lar, this place is in bandar menjalara, somewhere between kepong baru and taman bukit maluri, i think. check it out! ;D

live2talk, i like catching up with canto/mando pop once in awhile. cannot be singing jacky cheung all the time at K mah...hehehe...yupe, i think Kay is kinda nice. reminds me a bit of sandy lam.

joe, hahaha! really ar! i'm glad the temporary remedy worked! the flakiness of the meat was nice! oh, i think there's a chilli sauce for dipping as well.

j2kfm, yupe, in kepong. i was surprised when they told me it's RM5. still relatively expensive for this area but i have no complains cos it was yummy! hehe...

fatboybakes, errr, yupe. the stamens were absolutely glorious in the morning, as with other reproductive systems. hehe...can, we can go there. quite near also. well, i guess soy boy is better than soil boy lar...hehe...

wmw, spot on! hehehe...i dont have new songs to sing already. that reminds me, when wanna do K again, ar? We must go Neway again! ;D

HairyBerry said...

jason, ya lor!!! those a***holes! imagine if there's an emergency. lagi teruk. sigh....i think must apply high electric current to all the signboards lar..that'll keep 'em away...hehe *evil laugh*

weekend peach, oh, i think they are available at certain higher altitudes. genting, cameron, etc. as for kay, it's the voice (and that song) that captivated me. love at first word? woah, darn deep..hehe...i'm more attracted to that tom yam (with kay) as well..hehe

mimi, hehehe, ya lor, i always lepak around the kepong area. that's why i always refer to your blog for makan places in kepong and desa jaya...hehe...keep it up, ya! ;D

馨韵公主™ Princess Xin Yun, oh, you are currently not in malaysia? yes, do check it out when you get back. nothing like malaysian food hor? ;D
and thank you for the compliment. i blushing already..hehe

kenny, ya, it'll make a very interesting post. like having a dislocated joint and visiting a blf joint after that and just "joint"...woah, damn shiok! oh, the joint here refers to the likes of laksa shack and big apple. ;D

backstreetgluttons, oh yeah, i forgot that meiyen used to talk about this area as well. i guess it is still developing. this singapore resident/malaysian is very much a food slut and will go all out for a bowl of nice tom yam..hehe...

and yes, my beloved team, you shall! ;D

precious pea, ya, i was thinking of bkk as well when i was eating at this stall. the resemblance! ;D and i think it's time for me to hop to airasia as well...long timd din visit that website already..hehe

Kenny Mah said...

I needWe should have a "joint" discussion about these "joints" or otherwise, then... :P

HairyBerry said...

ohhh...kenny, you wanna open a joint ar? i have lotsa ideas!!! mostly on food lar..haha! let me know and we'll do power lunch to discuss the details.. ;D

UnkaLeong said...

Oh...Looks like the real thing ;) Must pay them a visit soon :)

HairyBerry said...

hey unkaleong, no time no see. yeah, having tried the ones in bkk, i think the taste is kinda similar. well, they dont provide the free flow of basil leaves and bean sprouts though...yupe, check 'em out and let us know! ;D

Unknown said...

the flower photo very beautiful! haha

ladyironchef

HairyBerry said...

haha, thanks brad! i took that in genting highlands at 7+ in the morning, i think. so sleepy then..hehe...

Jan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jan said...

y i din realize that there is such a nice thai food restaurant near my house?

HairyBerry said...

jan, i also just found out recently...seems like a less crowded than the other coffee shop. give it a try and let me know if you like it! ;D

Jan said...

alrite...let me go n try first...

Simon Seow said...

Yeah, Kay Tse's new song not bad. Recently heard of Jade Kwan's new song Pong Pui 21st Century also not bad. I think it's time to explore Manjalara a bit more.

HairyBerry said...

jan, having exams now ar? ;D

simon, ohhh, manjalara got lotsa stuff to makan. sometimes, i feel that i dont hafta pay RM1.60 to go to pj for makan..haha!

Jan said...

yea...starting by tomorrow...
yest night i watch the "A Xian" TV program in Astro AEC...he introduce a Thai food restaurant in Kelatan...wow..it looks great...dad said he went before...it's really taste great...wow...i wish i can go there to taste it myself...lol