Mixed, "Cham"

"Cham" in Cantonese means mixed. If you order "cham" in Malaysia, Hong Kong probably Singapore...most would know what you are talking about. For coffee drinkers or tea drinkers, this is probably committing the biggest sin in enjoying the true coffee blend or the simplicity of the tea aroma.

"Cham" means coffee and tea mixed together. You will get the combination taste of coffee and tea in one drink. This probably works for coffee and tea lovers! :)

For me, I love coffee but sometimes it is too strong for me. I actually like the version of "Cham". It is a unique blend. The coffee and tea mix goes well when mixed with milk.

My dear friend Soos, her mom would make me "Cham" whenever I go over to their house. It usually taste so yummy and smooth. She makes the perfect blend of the two.

I decided to do it myself and use the easy read made drink, using Old Town White Coffee and TehTarik - the instant packs.

Pour the instant mixture is a big mug cos I wanted to do some "tarik" (pulling) to get my drink blended and filled with bubbles. It's easy...after you pour hot water onto the mixture, hold the mug of drink misture and pour into another empty mug. Keep pouring, try to minimize spills and each time you pour, pull your mug higher up. get the picture?? :)

The "Cham: is ready! Add some ice for a cooler drink.

Afternoon tea @ Yogitree

The best thing about spending time with girlfriends are the relaxing time spent shopping, going for a massage, go to an expensive saloon for a haircut and then proceeding for a wonderful afternoon tea.


And that's exactly what I did with my best bud Soos one Saturday afternoon in Midvalley shopping mall. We started with some light shopping and then proceeded to a good thai massage. After that we walked around and window shopped a bit more. Just in time to get to our hair appointment at A cut Above. Feeling really good about our super productive day, we decided to pamper ourselves with some well deserved food.


It was almost time for dinner but we told ourselves we will just have something light, just coffee....


And we found a nice little cafe called Yogitree tugged nicely at a corner in Gardens Midvalley. Boasting the concept of back to basics cooking, thier food is mostly fresh, natural and organic. The range of food are pretty wide from cakes, deserts, organic tea, pasta, sandwiches, wraps, salads, local and international main courses and an interesting menu of Juice coutures.

We decided to pampers ourselves with the afternoon tea set, it was a bit too much food, but what the heck, it was good value for money. You know...our Chinese minds are always calculating on what gives the best value.

The afternoon tea set came with a piece of cake (we can choose any cakes from the counter), A plate of snawiches, a pot of tea and English scones!! Hmmm..great value huh.

Of course, it was way to much food for us, as it was just like another hour or so till dinner time. So, we ended just eating the scones...oh my! Oh my! It was delicious!!

Soos packed back the plate of sandwiches and I packed the Chocolate cheese cake home. I will definitely be back to Yogitree to sample the rest of their menu. What a lovely afternoon!

Yogitree
Lot F-237B,1st Floor, (Isetan Side)

The Gardens Mid Valley 59200 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 603 2282 6163 Fax: 603 2282 6213

Email: hello@yogitree.com

Steamed minced pork with salted egg

A simple yet easy to make dish for dinner or lunch. After posting my recent dinner at Restoran Ping Wa and remembering the steamed salted fish minced meat, I found the inspiration to cook something similar at home. I did not have salted fish but I decided to use a better alternative...Salted eggs.

I have to confess, I love salted egg and I especially love love........the egg yolk. However, when I was in the States, I honestly did not find any fresh ones. I bought the pre-packed salted eggs from the Chinese supermarkets but to my dismay it ended up to be perserved boiled ones.

Can anyone tell me if I can get fresh salted eggs in the States? :)



This is simple dish of Steamed minced meat with salted egg. I was just happy to be able to get fresh salted egg. Look at how beautiful and orange the egg yolk is.

Simple ingredients -

1. Minced meat (200gm)

2. Salted egg yolk

3. Chopped preserved radish (optional)

4. Fried shallots

Simple Steps :-

1. Place all ingredients in a plate. The salted egg yolk maybe a little difficult to break up as it is sticky. Add some salt, soy sauce and pepper and mix well

2. Steam for 15 minutes in high heat. And it is ready! Simple and fast.

Best served with rice or porridge (congee).

Home-cooked dishes - Restoran Ping Wah

In Malaysia, we are spoiled for choice when it comes to food. From cheap to expensive, from bland to spicy, from night to dawn - essentially anytime, anywhere, anything.

However, sometimes after eating out so often (eating out is quite a norm in Malaysia), we crave for home-cooked dishes. I have just the one place to recommend if you want to eat out but yet craving for home-cooked dishes.

Situated in Paramount PJ (Petaling Jaya), it is right opposite the Giant Supermarket. To be clearer, imagine if you are facing the entrance of Giant Supermarket in Paramount, Restoran Ping Wah is on your right hand side.

For as long as I can remember, probably more than 10 years, the restaurant has been there. Everytime I go, I am always been greeted by a bubbly old man. I have not been there for probably 9 months and this time when I went, he was not around. I asked and they said he has retired. Good for him!

There are few dishes that are extremely popular in this shop. Best of all....they cook it like dishes that you would normally cook at home.

Firstly, everyone who comes, would definitely order the house specialty. Deep fried fish with soy sauce. This dish is so simple but yet it is so yummy. The fish is fried to perfection and the special soy sauce goes extremely well with the fish. Trust me...it is so yummylicious, I can almost finish the whole fish by myself. They also have ample of deep fried garlic strip to enhance further the flavour of the fish. You must order this dish when you go ok!

Next I order another simple home-cooked dish - Steamed mince meat with salted fish. Hmm hmmm super yummy...goes so well with rice, you can take 2 big bowls of rice just with this dish!

The last dish I ordered was just a simple Baby Kailan dish - stir-fried with garlic. Simple enough but yummylicious.

I went there with a good friend Choos and since there were only 2 of us and we already ordered 3 dishes, we had to stop our greedy mouths from wanting to order more. And yes, we did want to order more!! But I stopped her. Have to "jaga badan" (diet, diet)

There are more home-cooked specialties at Restoran Ping Wah. You must also try their Steamed 3 eggs which consist of normal egg, salted egg and century egg.

Another super yummy dish that you can order is potato with pork. This dish is definitely a home dishes. My mom and grandma cook it at home all the time. Infact, I have taken on the tradition to cook this dish too. You can find my recipe at foodmadesimple.blogspot.com. Please click here.

Let me know if you have been there.