A Kelantanese Breakfast

Imagine having authentic Kelantanese breakfast with birds chirping in the garden. I  discovered this little-known place in PJ this morning. When I asked the lady boss about the blue colouring of the Nasi Kerabu, she quickly ran to her garden and plucked a blue petal from the Bunga Telang (Clitoria Flower or Blue Pea Flower) to show me.

The affable woman is Kak Zakiah. Like many enterprising Kelantanese women, the 70-year-old grandmother operates two other restaurants in Section 17 Flats (Riah Cafe) and Damansara Kim (Riah Seafood). This place is special because it serves only breakfast and it is in her house.

Her cuisine is simple. Nasi Kerabu, Nasi Berlauk, Nasi Lemak, Laksam, Lontong and some really awesome homemade Kelantanese kuih. Kak Zakiah also said it is a meeting place for people from the state. She herself originated from Pasir Mas.

In the age where so many houses in PJ were converted to become commercial entities selling hipster furniture, bridal products and even bubble tea, it is really gratifying to see a genuine home business.

The humble eatery has no signboard nor name. It is located next to the PJ Cemetery in Kampung Tunku.

61 Jalan SS 1/22, Kampung Tunku, 47300 Petaling Jaya. (8am to 12pm daily)

A Kelantanese Breakfast

Frosty The Filter

A frosted glass wall on a fine-dining restaurant in Brunei creates a moody but enticing hint of what lies inside. Look out for these real-life visual ‘filters’. They are rare and are especially effective when the etched lines or gaps provide a contrasting plane of focus.

Tip: If you are using a kit zoom lens, stand as far back if there is room and zoom in. Keep your camera level and dead center without tilting up or down. This reduces wide angle distortion such as slanted parallel lines and curvature effect significantly.

Frosted

Banting’s Best Kept Secret

Drove into little Banting town after visiting Carey Island the other day. Settled on a nondescript restaurant named The Chaiwalla and wasn’t expecting much. Ordered their Homemade Mushroom Soup and it turned out surprisingly good.

Tried their Grilled Dory Fish next and it was excellent. Then came the Beef Stew, Seafood Marinara Pasta and Hainanese Chicken Chop. Every dish was consistently delicious, which is rare in many places. Upon inquiry, the waiter told us that the chef used to work at La Bodega Bangsar. Compliments to the Chef!

Shown in picture is their juicy grilled fish (which I cut up), served with a dash of lemon juice and a heap of tangy coleslaw.

The Chaiwalla Restaurant is at 7 & 9 Jalan Cemerlang 4, Pusat Perdagangan Banting, 42700 Banting, Selangor (opposite McDonald’s Banting). Tel: 03 3180 4861 (www.thechaiwallarestaurant.com)

The Chaiwalla Restaurant