garden recipe finds its secret recipe

This is a very short write-up mainly to introduce this new 'healthy eating' concept cafe originating from my very own hometown Melaka. It's organic fusion, it's based on 3L1H (Low Salt, Low Sugar, Low Oil and High Fiber) and unlike what you think; on the contrary, the food actually tastes pretty damn good.

Only my second time here and that's only because my virgin visit made such an impressive mark, I just had to come back!
Their signature dishes include ...

King sauce steam chicken roll with tomato concasse spaghetti with salad and fruit (RM 18.90)
This was my order and i was amazed with how tender the chicken pieces were. The spag was very tasty with the most generous topping of cheese. Food presentation gets my two thumbs and two big toes up. Kudos to the chef.
King sauce grilled chicken with garlic bread, salad and fruit (RM 14.90)
Not my dish...na-ah...but the garlic bread that I managed to steal from my neighbour's plate was so damn crispy and garlicky!
I ordered this same dish in my last visit (took the fries instead of the bread) and recalled a very nice juicy grilled chicken. Hence, I bet my neighbour enjoyed his too!
Ginger extract soup with brown rice mee sua (RM 10.90)
Mum's fave...I love the hot gingery soup...

Lei Cha with Brown Rice (RM 10.90)

9 pieces of tableware just to serve this one dish... wow.

Upclose...not 'my cup of tea' though; never will I order this in a million years; can't stand the soup...*shudder*

Soothing Chamomile Tea (RM 12.90/ pot)

If you wana save on ordering individual drinks (which can be quite costly), this is a good choice as it serves enough for 4 pax.

So if you've got nothing better to do in Melaka/ or is simply sick of all those nyonya or portuguese food, why not try this for a change.

It's located in Lot. G55, AEON Bandaraya Melaka Shopping Centre,

No 2, Jalan Lagenda, Taman I-Lagenda, 75400 Melaka
Tel: 06-2839 168
Website : http://www.gardenrecipe.com.my/

(This is how the cafe looks like...A cool exterior like this would easily draw hungry passersby like sugar draw ants)

Coincidentally, since I didn't managed to find any other review of this place on the www, hopefully mine is the first of many positive reviews to come. For all this free publicity, maybe the owner should give me free garlic bread the next time I visit!

(drool)

best nyonya at aunty lee's

Lurking behind the closed doors of this place are gastronomic delights of mouth-watering authentic Nyonya cooking. Nothing commercial-looking about its exterior, no flashy neon signboard that says 'The Best Nyonya Restaurant'; but then, that is what makes this place a well-hidden 'treasure' among the locals. I feel a social obligation to unravel the 'goodness' of this place simply because I think sharing is caring. Let's hope high publicity doesn't jeopardize the quality of food nor my chances of securing a table reservation in the future. (grin)

For now, we shall feast our eyes on every one of these dishes ordered:

Prawn Masak Lemak Nanas (RM 49) - must-try!

Ayam Limau Purut (RM 23) - must try too!
Fish Cili Garam (RM 57.50 according to the weight) - DISH of the DAY!! dunchu dare to not order this; i will kick your butt.

Curry Devil Chicken (RM 20.50) - must try also!

Bendi Ulam (RM 14.50) - loving it for its sweet tangy fiery blardy H-H-HOTTT chilli dip!

'Chap Chai' (RM 15) - the usual 'must-call at least 1 vege' dish (esp when there're 'parents' around)

Sotong Sambal Petai (RM 23) - nothing fancy or memorable probably coz i ain't no fan of da squid? tee~hee

(sorry, picture missing...no idea wat happened to it @_@)

Cendol (RM 3)...this turned out to be quite the disappointment as the ice shavings were rough and it was missing the pungent gula melaka aroma

The total bill for 17 pax came to an astounding RM 493. A little over the top for its price but damn, it's always gonna be an unsolved mystery as to why people are so willing to pay for good food!

I gotta start making my own nyonya meals...but gee, ever notice why the recipe for a nyonya dish is usually so damn long?!

Still, if you're in Melaka hunting for some good food to pamper your taste buds with, I suggest you pick up the phone and make immediate reservations (table AND your food order as well) with

Restaurant Aunty Lee

No 385, Jalan Ujong Pasir, 75050.

06-283 1009

You'll most probably be speaking to the very busy Aunty Lee herself. Brace yourself as she is one feisty spunky lady over the phone who'll start sounding real impatient as soon as you start stammering in your speech. Then like me, you'll end up with Aunty Lee deciding on your order instead.

But no worries...know why?

Coz all their dishes are damn sedap!

Just remember to make reservations waaayyyy ahead coz should you decide to walk-in, chances are you might just be shoo-ed away.

The place sits a little over 50 pax, closes on Tuesdays and cater to real short hours during lunch and dinner (11.30am-2pm; 6pm-9pm), hence the minimal seating rounds.

Also recently found out Aunty Lee's daughter has opened a new place just next door.

Gonna try this place too one day and see if it leads to another social obligation of mine :p

My Wedding (Part 3) - Tea Ceremony in Malacca

To all whose necks have grown longer waiting for this (yup, I am that efficient),

Mark and I finally held our tea ceremony in Malacca on 7th Aug - d best date that suited most of my guests, not to mention the last weekend before the start of the seventh month (aka 'ghost month' of the Chinese calendar). The venue - where else but my humble home in bearhill (Bukit Beruang is the place I grew up)

As hosts, we felt more like the guests of honour as we travelled down to KL on that very early Saturday morning itself. I was stubborn coz I insisted on getting my hair and makeup done in KL first. By Cyndi Chia (again) of course.

My look for that day was made to last till night!

All in all, RM 250 to get my face painted (at least it doesn't look like I had ICI paint on my face!) and to get this girly, slightly retro hairdo using 2 of my own hairbands.

In line with my 'white' wedding theme, I was dressed in an all-white lacy cheongsam which I got specially for this tea ceremony. I guess I was more inclined to buy this dress since it was a cheongsam rather than for its design. You know la...tea ceremony = tradition = old fashioned = elderly people attend = cheongsam... hehe

looking back at these pics, why hadn't I thought of getting mark to dress in traditional wear too..

First and foremost, we prayed to my departed grandparents. Without them, there would never be a happily married 'us' today.

Then the official tea ceremony begins,

with my immediate family and relatives who attended.

It was the biggest thrill to be on the receiving end of ang pows and all :)

I had to constantly remind myself that this was a one-time thing and hereafter, I would be looking at an outflow of cash on the CNYs to come (gulp).

Like right now, when it was my younger cousins' turn to pour us tea.

Thanks to cou Sarah for being such a great helper - we couldn't have asked for a sexier 'tea-lady'.

Love Mum and Dad for really putting their efforts and time into planning the entire event and ensuring the guests felt welcomed, entertained (that must have been my bro's department as he screened the movie IP Man 2)

and fed well.

Mum even cycled out to buy some pulut rempah udang and yummy curry puffs from a nyonya neighbour.

It was a bubbly atmosphere as everyone stood around eating and chatting, it felt like a CNY eve reunion makan.

look, we even got cheezels!

And then it was time to take some memorable family shots...

with grandpapa

Dear and his hair-raising moment...

with 3rd uncle and family

with uncle Lim and family all the way from S'pore

uncle Nam and wifey came from JB

This was the girl my mum took care of ever since she was a baby... the same girl dat grew up calling me 'small cheh-cheh' up till today. Aih I'm not so small anymore ler...

with Sarah

with big bro and big sis and mr teddy peeking in

the ladies in the family.....waitaminute, where's mom

Great that Jason and Annie popped by as well

Wonder what we said/ did that made mum and dad laugh this hard in a dozen candid shots we took. These are just a few of them.

My parents must be thinking "Look how big they've grown..."

... in numbers".

Finally, our boldest attempt to take a picture with everyone in it.

I'm putting these up so you can see everyone's goofy expression in the process.

Nobody knew the self-timed camera was busy clicking away, I guess. lol.

Here we go...

And it's a wrap!

Flipping through the album, I found a couple of pics looking like advertorial shots -

would you try Maggi brand of curry puff?

a sip of Yeo's to quench your thirst on a hot Sat afternoon

Even our food covers made it into the album!

It was an eventful afternoon that ended with every family going home with a box of deliciously baked wedding biscuits.

I was so glad we went ahead to hold the tea ceremony. And held it in this place I grew up in and in this house that holds countless fond memories for me and my siblings right there beside me.

My next part of 'My Wedding' is the dinner we held on the same night.

Wait for that part to come, y'all.

Cheers.