That Little Gerai @ Gerai Kecil Itu

That Little Gerai (TLG) is the latest and hottest Western food joint in Klang valley....it is actually a little gerai in Taman Permata, Ulu Klang where New York dining experience (the food) is brought to the streets of Kuala Lumpur...and made available by US trained Malaysian chef , sold in Ringgit rather than US Dollar.

TLG is located in Taman Permata, Ulu Klang. If you're from Ampang on the MRR II, turn left to Taman Permata at the Melawati junction or turn right if you're from Gombak / Batu Caves. Once you're in Taman Permata (you can see Giant on your right), drive straight ahead (say 150m) until you see a junction to the right...take that route and you'll see Syed Bistro 50 m down the road on the right hand side and TLG is just a few meters away....tucked nicely at the corner of Thira Tomyam. Yes.....the place used to sell tomyam food but of late, the whole place is taken over by TLG operations....TLG is slowly becoming TNSLG (That Not So Little Gerai) and probably then on to TBLG (That Big Little Gerai)!!! Anyway, if you couldn't find it ......use the GPS or just ask!!

TLG serves excellent tasting, affordable and halal western food and the best part is that you can ask the chef to cook anything you fancy, but you'll have to bring the ingredient or you negotiate with him in advance....where to find like this!!! The chefs also love to interact with the customers....so you can talk to him or discuss about food....people kind of like that. Offers on the menu include rib eye or sirloin steak, lamb chops, grilled chicken or chic chop, burgers, pasta, lasagna, salmon, dory, salad....or even nasi goreng is available. The mashed potato is probably the best in town and the sauces are thick and tasty...yummy!! So its perfect for everyone, young or old, big or small, loaded or pokai....plus the very relaxing ambience (no particular dress code required...but don't come naked!).

TLG is opened every night except Monday night, normally after Maghrib and it goes on until everything is finished (can be as early as 10 PM) or as late as 2 AM. To maintain the quality of food, the chefs would normally do their own shopping after the gerai is closed for the night. Sometimes there is low turnout but most of the time the place is full of patrons...so it it best that we come early or do a booking by calling the chef. Its a bit of a squeeze if it rains but we're sure the chef will think of something to make the customers happy. In addition, the place has a flat screen TV with Astro....so the joint is normally full when there is LIVE football. The chefs are both inclined to Liverpool FC....but they welcome all LFC supporters and non supporters...even if you're MU's fan or Chelsea's fan or Arsenal's fan.....the chefs will still serve good quality food!!

TLG is run by 2 very experienced chefs.....Chef Aidy and Chef Ray....both of them learnt to become chef the hard way. Chef Aidy started the whole thing about a year ago after coming back from the US (he was there for 20 over years...surviving the New York city by being a chef and have served challenging & demanding customers).

The Chef had applied his trade in Malaysian context and was well accepted, evident by his involvement as chef at Starhill and even serving western dinner for the PM and the King!!! But he got fed up working with people and decided to open up his own brand and style of good western food for local Malaysians. Chef Aidy firts started as One Step KL in Setapak but it did not do well due to management issues and poor location...but the whole picture changed when he moved to Tmn Permata...support and response from the local Malaysian were simply amazing....local Malaysians love good western food....and they seem to have found it here at TLG. Similar story on Chef Ray, he had experienced being chef in many parts of Asia and Europe serving demanding customers in hotels and cruise ships, and he is also good with local food. He crossed path with Chef Aidy sometime ago and they decided to team up and slog it out...they seem to have evolved into a very formidable team.

TLG now has many new and repeat customers and we ourselves normally have dinner once a week at TLG....and we know of a few people who makes TLG as their second kitchen!! Many new customers got to know of the place through the internet...many people have come here and wrote their comments and views about the food and the gerai...most of them were very good comments and that inspired the chefs to do better...of the course the 80:20 rule always applies.

Click on TLG's reviews by their customers @ bloggers:-http://nooraishahzaharin.blogspot.com/2011/05/finally-got-to-taste-it-yeah.html; http://catzscafe1.blogspot.com/2011/03/that-little-gerai-au5.html; http://catzscafe1.blogspot.com/2011/05/hey-that-little-gerai-is-going-local.html;http://myinahar67.blogspot.com/2011/03/that-little-gerai-au5.htmlhttp://myinahar67.blogspot.com/2011/03/that-little-gerai-au5.html; http://uncle815.blogspot.com/2011/03/that-little-gerai.html; http://weekendiminlove.blogspot.com/2011/03/that-lil-gerai.html; http://the-fef.blogspot.com/2011/04/dinner-that-little-gerai.html

So, if you're nearby Tmn Permata or if you're dying for good western food, That Little Gerai (TLG) is the place to be...good food guaranteed, insyaAllah. Like TLG on facebook @ That Little Gerai in AU5 and Twitter @ThatLittleGerai. Chef Aidy can be contacted at 012-3320416.

Chef Ray in action!

TLG on full house!!!

Laila, the Sous Chef :-)

TLG @ Jalan Au5D

Chef Aidy @ his open kitchen

The charbroiling beef patty


Seafood Aglio Olio

Special Salmon Olio

The famous Chix Chop

Khan Baba Restaurant...Our New Discovery!

We have been quite adventurous lately, eating out of the box and no longer at the same old place. We decided to explore new eating places around our area and this time it is located behind Ong Tai Kim (OTK) at Medan Idaman. Adik told us that his friend has experienced the food there and recommended him to try. Kids nowadays, they talked about all kinda stuff including where to eat good food.

Khan Baba serves a combination of Arabic, Pakistani, Western and BBQ cuisine. The menu offers a huge spread of dishes you can choose from. You just need to consult the waiter/waitress before you make your selection because some of the items listed in the menu can be tough to comprehend such as Mutton Yakhni Pulou, Zeera Pulou, Alu Muttur, Soluna, White Lobia or Alu Anda!!!

Their signature dish and recommended by the chef include briyani and mandy rice with either lamb, chicken or beef. We ordered Mandy Rice with Lamb, Garlic Nan Bread and the mix BBQ. The food was excellent and it was a good choice. The price is reasonable since they are quite generous with the portion that they serve.

The restaurant itself is nice and cozy and it is a good place for family gathering and events. If the place is full, they have a sitting area for you to wait. You can also relax outside the restaurant after the heavy meal for tea or smoking. However, it is always recommended to pre-order your food since preparation can take a bit of time. Good food takes time...If you wish to try, they are located at No. 16-18, Jalan Jernai, Medan Idaman, Gombak, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Suka Makan Ikan Sungai?

Sudah lama kami perasan kewujudan Restoran Ikan Sungai. Ia terletak di Desa Melawati bersebelahan MRR2, jalan yang kami tempoh hampir setiap hari untuk ke pejabat atau menghala ke Ampang. Walaupun sudah agak lama restoran ini dibuka iaitu pada akhir tahun 2008, kami tidak berkesempatan untuk mencuba. Kami ada cuba terbaca mengenai restoran ini di dalam majalah Saji keluaran Febuari 2010.

Akhirnya, pada 24 April 2011 setelah Adik selesai Hari Ihtifal, kami ke sana untuk makan tengahari. Kami disambut oleh Chef Hishammudin, mungkin kerana kami pengunjung pertama untuk hari tersebut. Menu restoran ini memang di luar jangkaan. Bermacam spesis ikan sungai terdapat disini termasuklah ikan kegemaran kami sekeluarga iaitu ikan kelah. Biasanya kami akan ke Kuala Berang untuk menikmati masakan ikan kelah, sekarang kami boleh menikmatinya pada bila2 masa. Restoran ini diusahakan oleh tiga beradik chef yang pakar mengenai ikan sungai hasil dari ilmu yang diturunkan oleh ayah mereka yang mengusahakan kedai makan ikan patin di temerloh semenjak 1976.

Kita boleh memilih mana2 ikan yang kita suka seperti kelah, patin, jelawat, baung, sebarau, lampam, kerai, tengalan, temoleh, toman, lais, tapah atau belida, untuk dimasak samada gulai masak asam, gulai lemak cili api, gulai masak tempoyak, goreng panas atau bakar kunyit. Oleh kerana ikan sungai ini liar dan bukan yang dibela di dalam sangkar, permintaan bergantung kepada bekalan yang diperolehi dari peraih dari Perak dan Pahang. Setelah membuat pilihan, chef akan menunjukkan dulu pada pelanggan ikan yang ditimbang beserta harga kerana harga ikan2 ini dikira mengikuti berat, dari RM10.00 hingga ke RM95.00 untuk setiap 100gm. Setelah mencapai kata sepakat, barulah ikan tersebut dimasak mengikut citarasa pelanggan. Restoran ini menghidangkan makanan secara a la carte dan mengambil masa untuk disediakan bergantung kepada ramainya pelanggan pada satu2 masa.

Restoran ini juga menghidangkan lain2 masakan kampung seperti masak asam batang keladi, pucuk ubi masak tempoyak, gulai lemak rebung/kulat sisir/nangka, sambal janda kaya, sambal tumis petai, ikan pekasam dan sepat goreng. Pilihan sayur pula terdapat kangkung goreng, sayur campur dan ulam2 serta sambal. Tak pastilah pulak sambal janda kaya ini macamana rasanya :-) Restoran ini ada menyediakan pencuci mulut seperti tapai, ais krim dan buahan2an. Ada kalanya, mereka membuat promosi hidangan lain2 seperti sup tulang, ayam goreng kampung dan lain2 masakan kampung.

Kami sempat berbual dengan Chef Hishammudin mengenai ikan2 sungai yang dijual kerana Abah memang pakar ikan sungai walaupun hanya makan ikan kelah, kerai dan gurami. Kami pula peminat ikan kelah, keli dan patin. Tiap2 kali kakak balik bercuti, nenek pasti memasak makanan kegemarannya ikan patin masak tempoyak dan ikan keli goreng cili. Kali ini kami mencuba ikan kelah masak tempoyak, kangkung goreng serta sambal dan ulam. Memang sedap dan menyelerakan walaupun pedasnya sampai ke telinga. Sekiranya berminat untuk mencuba, Restoran Ikan Sungai terletak di No. 9, Jalan 2.4C, Desa Melawati, 53100 dan untuk tempahan boleh menghubungi 03-41053192.

Goodbye Whittington & Hello Serendah

Next morning we woke up nice and fresh...we were in the clouds....it was misty, foggy, very cool, cheerful with the sound of birds....morning is still the best time...we got to enjoy that after our solat Subuh. We spent some time wondering around the bungalow, breath the fresh and cool air and enjoy the scenic panoramic view of the surrounding hills and the colourful flowers.

At 7.30 a.m., we wanted to have breakfast at the food court but they were not yet opened...too early I guess. So we decided to go again to Shahzan Inn's cafe and it was a right decision....we had good breakfast while watching birds having fun feeding themselves (Shahzan Inn made 2 bird feeding spots beside their cafe for the birds to come and enjoy the food while the guests could enjoy and learn about them too...good concept).

The Bird Feeding area

Outside the coffee house

View from Shahzan Inn

We then took a trip to Jeriau waterfall, 4 km drive through winding lonely roads...important that you follow the road signs. After a short drive, we reached the entrance of the forest reserve...different than the lower altitude forest...some look like a Jurassic Park, again a very nice place. We were the only visitor to the park! Just imagine having the whole place to ourselves, simply amazing! So, we took a walk into the area....very clean, nice pavement and hand rails are built for public....we met one pakcik who maintain the place regularly and had to register our names in a log book...and after 10 - 15 minutes walk, we finally reached the fall....an awesome place for family picnic with small rapids, one natural fall and one man made fall....but going down to the main fall can be challenging for oldies, not so much of going down but the challenge of climbing up! We were there alone...enjoying the noise and the mist..didn't take a dip as we were not prepared for it and it can be very cold. Satisfied with the new discovery, we walked back slowly towards the exit....we met 2 more couples who had just arrived.

The important sign showing the directions

The eerie road to Jeriau

Abah at the entrance

The lane to the falls

The flow of the stream

Scenic view

The smaller fall down the stream

Jeriau waterfall

Abah enjoying the sounds

Natural and man made falls

After we left Jeriau waterfall, we made one last tour around Fraser's Hill. These are some of the hotels and bungalows which you can put up a night or two on your trip here. Since it was already 11.30 a.m. so we stopped at the Food court (already opened) on the way back to the bungalow....for some brunch ie roti canai sardin and coffee. The food here are very tasty and nice. Once done, we drove back to bungalow...packed our bags and ready to leave by 1.00 p.m. We said our goodbye to Annie and hope to come back again very soon...and we headed down to the clock tower to catch the 2.00 p.m. downhill drive window. When we reached the exit, it was not yet the time and since it was already Zohor, we decided to perform our solat jamaah at the mosque together with a few other families. It was almost 2.00 p.m after solat and it was just the right timing to go downhill....and a group of us drove down in a convoy to the Gap and to KKB. At the Gap, we saw many cars waiting for their turn to go uphill...important to plan for the right time to avoid waiting.

RHB Bungalow

Puncak Inn

Pine Resort

Silverpark Resort

TM Bungalow - open to public

On the way down, we did stop at Sg Mangkok recreational area where there is a small waterfall and also at Kg Pertak....trying to look for Sg Chilling fall but it was a bit far inside and I was not prepared to drive on gravel road. Further on, we exited KKB town towards KL following the old road through Serendah, when we again stopped for tea at a stall known as Kedai Pokok Ceri (in front of Serendah mosque) .....popular for rojak mee and mee kari....we didn't know that until we saw many people at the stall....it must be serving good food...and true enough, it did for the last 50 years!!

After the nice tea, we then continued our drive home...coming into traffic jam in Rawang and finally got home at about 5.00 p.m.. It was indeed a short, sweet and memorable outing for both of us....and hope we'll be able to do this again in the future....sharing it with the family.

Sg Mangkuk Recreational area

The waterfall

Sg Pertak

Stop when you see this sign

Kedai Pokok Ceri

The famous Rojak Mee

In existence the last 50 years

Masjid Nurul Iman Serendah