Din Tai Fung Chinese Restaurant
After my long trip overseas, we decided to head to The Gardens Shopping Mall to try out
DIN TAI FUNG Chinese Restaurant. The restaurant is famous for their steamed shanghai dumplings (xiao long pao).
The line was so long that we had to wait at least 20 minutes before our table was ready...luckily they had an open kitchen concept..it's quite interesting to see how the Chefs prepared their world famous steamed dumplings.
This is how they steam the dumplings. This particular chef works non-stop in ensuring that there is a continuous supply of freshly steamed dumplings.
While waiting for our food to come, Fong Fong busies himself with the available cutleries.
The first dish arrived within 5 minutes. This is one of their signature noodle dish called "La Mien" literally translated it means "pulled noodles". It is so called due to the chef "pulling and tugging" on thick rolls of flour to produce thin strips of noodles. The noodle tasted really nice, the meat is juicy (probably full of fat haha) and best of all it is not salty.
The fried rice in the background is nothing to shout about. Rice is a compulsory dish if Fong Fong is around!! The dumplings in focus is the signature steamed shanghai pork dumplings. it is a testament to the chef's skill when you pick up dumplings individually without the dumpling skin breaking (and thus spilling all the tasty soup). I give this dish a 10/10.
This is what they claim to be their signature dish as well. Instead of pork fillings, it is filled with crab meat and pork. Although it tasted good (Cleo and my mother in law loved it), personally I still think Din Tai Fung should stick with the traditional meat dumplings.
Fong Fong as usual insisted on sitting on my mother in law's lap while he eats. Manja....
In total, we ordered 2 baskets of dumplings (half dozen each), one fried rice and one "La Mien". 3 ice tea and one warm water. Total damage? RM65 inclusive of taxes. In my opinion it is not cheap, but totally worth the money spent. Food rating? 8/10 (I would have given it full makrs but for the "normal" signature fried rice and crab meat dumplings). Staff friendliness? 10/10. Children Friendly? 10/10
So head on to The Gardens, adjacent to Mid-Valley Mall, Din Tai Fung is at the Lower Ground. It is best to call (+603 2283 2292) for reservations as it is usually packed on the weekends.
We decided to head towards the food market in SS19 on Sunday. Parking as usual was a problem. The food market was so packed with people or all races and religion buying food. This is the absolute beauty with Malaysia, multi-racial and multi-religion. Politics asides, I think people on the street get along extremely well without any prejudices at all. why can't our politicians get this right???
Food...oh...Food...For those of you based overseas...salivate on this hahahaahahahahhahaha...
As my dad is a big fan of Dim Sum, decided to haul the whole family to Sri Petaling, which is about 20 mins drive from my place. The particular establishment that we visited is famous for the "Kai Pau" literally translated it means "Chicken Dumpling".
This is their signature "Kai Pau". Its basically "Lor Mai Kai" = Glutinous Chicken Rice wrapped with "Pau"= Dumpling. It is very tasty and juicy if compared to the conventional "Lor Mai Kai".
Of course, we ordered my dad's favorite (fried carrot cake) and the usual dim sum fare.
Anthony, as usual wants to sit on someone's lap while waiting for the food to arrive. Very "manja" with my dad.
Mr Anthony Eng as usual think rice is God's gift to man and only wants to eat plain rice. We had to trick him by mixing the bean curd as well as fish plus some soup into his rice.
This is how they steam the dumplings. This particular chef works non-stop in ensuring that there is a continuous supply of freshly steamed dumplings.
The first dish arrived within 5 minutes. This is one of their signature noodle dish called "La Mien" literally translated it means "pulled noodles". It is so called due to the chef "pulling and tugging" on thick rolls of flour to produce thin strips of noodles. The noodle tasted really nice, the meat is juicy (probably full of fat haha) and best of all it is not salty.
The fried rice in the background is nothing to shout about. Rice is a compulsory dish if Fong Fong is around!! The dumplings in focus is the signature steamed shanghai pork dumplings. it is a testament to the chef's skill when you pick up dumplings individually without the dumpling skin breaking (and thus spilling all the tasty soup). I give this dish a 10/10.
This is what they claim to be their signature dish as well. Instead of pork fillings, it is filled with crab meat and pork. Although it tasted good (Cleo and my mother in law loved it), personally I still think Din Tai Fung should stick with the traditional meat dumplings.
This is Mina's favourite resting spot. It's quite funny to see him swim around and snuggle into the corner.
What do you do when it's cold outside? You go out and enjoy it! And that's what exactly we did. We went to Ottawa for Winterlude, the annual winter festival. Winterlude occurs over 3 weeks. We went on the very first weekend. We rented skates $15 per pair for 2 hours each, (So expensive! We are definitely buying our own skates!), and skated on the Rideau Canal: The World Largest Skating Rink. It is a designated UN World Heritage Site. Well, I tried to skate... there were pot holes the size of my arm... I gave up. 
Anand is a much better skater.
Can you see the mouse in the ice sculpture? 
In case you were wondering how much snow there is... ... normally you can see the tree trunks. 
... we could barely see these park benches! 
