Ayukawa Grand at The ZON Regency Hotel - Japanese and Italian Buffet Restaurant (This Restaurant is Closed.)

Today, we were at Ayukawa Grand Japanese and Italian Buffet Restaurant at The ZON Regency Hotel for lunch at the invitation of Rebecca Lee, the owner.

 

 

 

Ayukawa Grand is a large a la carte buffet style restaurant on the sixth floor of The ZON Regency Hotel in Stulang Darat, Johor Bahru. The interior is huge and cavernous.

 

 

I like those seats with large arch windows with good views of the Straits and of Singapore. I was there at lunch and could imagine that the view is going to be quite pretty at night.  

 

 

 

 

There were many items on the spread but as usual at buffets, I went for the same few things that I liked most. And, when it comes to Japanese, I go for the sashimi :)) The sashimi was fresh and we had two large servings which were quite prettily presented. 

 

 

I love grilled salmon heads especially for its gelatinous parts and that little bit of belly just behind the chin where the pectoral fins are :)) Simple and nice. 

 

  

I love grilled oily sanma or Pacific Saury.  

 

 

 

 

 

I sampled a plate of their pasta and was so impressed with the al dente spaghetti and the freshly made olive based sauce that I ended up trying servings of the other sauces.

 

 

 

By now, I was stuffed and stayed on to chat over steamed soy beans. I love chomping on these healthy munchies as we chatted. 

 

 

Chef Yap takes special pride in his sushi and sashimi creations. Chef Yap's brother who is also an accomplished chef, takes care of the Italian section.

 

 

 

Just before leaving I ordered a teppanyaki pan fried salmon, just to have a picture of the Chef in action.

 

 

As I watch and photographed the Chef, I caught a waft of that aromatic fragrance as the Chef was making that sauce on the teppanyaki. In the end, I ate up that lovely fried salmon in savoury sauce, somehow  finding space in my stuffed stomach to pack it in :))

 

Obviously, I couldn't eat everything on offer but at least we could feast our eyes on them. So here are the OPM - not "Other People's Money" in that Danny DeVito movie classic but "Other People's Makan" :))

 

 

 

Turkey

 

 

Lamb chops.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are having a foodies' gathering on 17 Jan 2013, also at Ayukawa Grand at The ZON. I am so looking forward to meet fellow foodies and to enjoy the food at Ayukawa again. This time, I shall try out the things that I missed this round :)) Look out for the update.

 

 

Restaurant name: Ayukawa Grand Japanese and Italian Buffet Restaurant at Level 6, The ZON Regency Hotel

Address: 88 Jalan Ibrahim Sultan, Stulang Laut, Johor Bahru

Map: http://goo.gl/maps/IqzbY

GPS: 1.470826,103.783239

Hours: Lunch 12:00 noon to 3:00pm. Dinner 6:00pm to 10:00pm.

Pricing information: Mon - Fri Lunch Adult RM43, Child RM24. Dinner Adult RM69, Child RM39. Sat & Sun Lunch & Dinner Adult RM69, Child RM39. No charge for child age 5 and younger. Tax extra.

Not certified Halal, no pork, no lard served

 

Date visited: 7 Jan 2013



Ayam Penyet at Sutera Village near Sutera Mall in Taman Sutera Utama, Johor Bahru (Business Closed)

 

My family and friends know that I am a big fan of Ayam Penyet. When my office was not too far from my favourite Ayam Penyet stall, I had Ayam Penyet at least once or twice a week, to the chagrin of my lunch kakis.

 

Norhayati, the lady boss making their Must Try coconut jelly

 

Sutera Village just opened for business at the popular shoplots near Sutera Mall and the owners Farid and Norhayati invited me to try their Ayam Penyet. I am not sure if Farid and Norhayati knew my craving for Ayam Penyet :P 

 

 

Sutera Village is a simple and cosy café with a neat air conditioned interior and an al fresco dining area outside. Sutera Village is managed by Farid and Norhayati supported by a Chef who had experience working in a famous hotel in JB.

 

To me, good ayam penyet has four qualities. The best Ayam Penyet is where good chicken, sambal, rice and soup all come together.

 

 

At Sutera Village, the large chicken thigh was fried till golden brown yet the flesh was still tender and slightly juicy.

 

 

Sutera Village uses fresh chicken which is softer, moistier and sweeter. Average ayam penyet stalls use frozen chicken so the meat tends to be fibrous, dry and more or less tasteless.

 

 

Sutera Village serves a pulpy green chili sambal which is spicy hot, tangy and savoury. This sambal is good for dipping the chicken daintily as it enhances the chicken meat's flavour. It would be perfect if I could also have a milder and sweeter sambal that I can mix into the rice in large dollops, just like the way we eat nasi lemak. It's just my own quirkiness and I shall ask for this next time :P 

 

 

Sutera Village is especially proud of their unique Nasi Beriani Ayam Penyet which is served with Basmati rice. The fragrant rice cooked with many spices is served compacted which many people like. Personally, I prefer my beriani rice to be looser and fluffier.

 

 

The Beriani Ayam Penyet costs RM10.90 and Sutera Village also serves the basic Ayam Penyet with steamed white rice at RM8.90.

 

The accompanying chicken soup has body and was tasty, similar to those at other ayam penyet shops that I also liked.

 

Sutera Village's Ayam Penyet would be my choice if me or my friends are near Sutera Mall area and are craving for Ayam Penyet. 

 

 

We also had this chicken nuggets served in a large glass. The chicken nuggets go very well with that smooth eggy buttery slightly sweet sauce in the background. 

 

 

The fish and chips made with fresh Ikan Siakap at RM11.90.

 

Farid and Norhayati said I should also come back to try Sutera Village's Tangkak style Nasi Lemak and their family recipe Asam Pedas. I am looking forward to that :)

 

 

Restaurant name: Restoran Sutera Village

Address: 69, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/2, Taman Sutera Utama, Johor Bahru (near Sutera Mall)

Map: http://goo.gl/maps/o2DRP

GPS: 1.515335,103.667555

Hours: 10:00am to 10:00pm (closed on Monday)

Halal

 

Date visited: 4 Jan 2013

Beef Noodles at Grand Beef Restaurant 牛肉王之家 in Taman Melodies, Johor Bahru

  

 

Grand Beef Restaurant was mentioned a few times by Johor Yummy friend Melvin Wu. Melvin once said that the beef noodles here is one of JB's "best kept secrets". Indeed, Grand Beef Restaurant is tucked in a quiet corner of Taman Melody, yet it is just a stone's throw from the bustling KSL City Mall and Taman Century.

Today, I "finally" found my way to Grand Beef Restaurant. "Finally" was Ben Ting's comment when I posted about my lunch at Grand Beef Restaurant on Johor Kaki Facebook page.

The understated Grand Beef Restaurant obviously has many supporters online and also at the restaurant as I saw during lunch.

If anyone wonders how come Grand Beef is located in this part of town, which seemed out of place for a restaurant, this shoplot used to be a spectacle factory. This gets even more intriguing. The boss MR Ong's family used to operate a spectacle frame manufacturing factory here. But, ten years ago, the family decided to switch business due to competition from low cost imports from China. As the family patriarch is passionate about cooking, MR Ong's father decided to open a restaurant. And, hence, Grand Beef Restaurant was born.

So, how was the food?

To start, it's a little different from the other Hainanese beef noodles that I have tried. I was looking forward to that gooey, beefy gravy made by boiling beef bones and cut offs into a jelly like syrupy gravy. This goo was "the thing" in Hainanese style beef noodles that got me hooked.

But at Grand Beef, there isn't this signature Hainanese beef gravy. Instead. the kway teow was garnished with a blend of dark and light soy sauce and shallot oil much like what we will find in Teochew kway teow soup stalls.

The boss MR Ong explained that they use the same sauce for both the beef noodles and pork noodles which Grand Beef Restaurant also serves. Many customers do not eat beef, so they decided that both the beef and pork noodles shall use the same sauce. At first, I wasn't excited about this compromise.

Any reservations that I initially felt was quickly forgotten once I tasted Grand Beef's beef. The pieces of beef, innards and tendons were so tender and tasty.

The savoury and subtle herbal flavours were mild and easy on the palate. It appealed to people who like their beef without the "beefy" taste, yet for those who like that bovine flavour, it is there when you pay attention to what your taste buds are feeling. MR Ong said that they used local cows 黄牛 to make their beef noodles. Overall, it's a very pleasant taste and flavour, and mouth feel.

 

Grand Beef's soup is another distinguishing feature which is unlike the beef soup I have tasted elsewhere. MR Ong said the soup is made by boiling chicken and beef bones. The soup was cloudy, not too oily and it was full bodied and soothingly smooth. I like its savoury umami flavour. It's like a beef version of good savoury prawn soup.

Grand Beef's beef noodles are quite different from other beef noodles that I have tried, and I like it. If I am in the area, I would be glad to pop by to have this beef noodles for lunch or mid afternoon tea.

Restaurant name:  Grand Beef Restaurant 牛肉王之家
Address: 89, Jalan Beringin, Taman Melodies, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/h3ZxY
GPS: 1.490437,103.763058
Hours: 11:30am to 5:00pm (Closed on Mon. Closed at 3:00pm on Sundays)
Non Halal

Date visited: 3 Jan 2013

32 Melaka Nasi Lemak at 777 Food Centre in Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, Johor Bahru

 

  

32 Melaka Nasi Lemak stall at 777 Food Centre in Taman Ungku Tun Aminah always has a queue of customers waiting in line to buy their famous nasi lemak (or, is it their fried chicken?).

32 Melaka Nasi Lemak sells various accompanying side dishes with their nasi lemak such as their popular rendang chicken, but their main draw is their fried chicken.

There is something about the chicken, the batter and the way the boss, MR Goh fries his chicken. The huge chunks of chicken were so delicious. The batter was thin yet it was just nicely crispy, and the chicken flesh was still moist and juicy. Not as moist and juicy as boiled or steamed chicken, of course, but it did remind me of them. Interestingly, the chicken was not greasy or oily, even though this was fried chicken.

I couldn't resist indulging in these fried chicken claws. Crunchy and crispy fun at RM1 for 5 pieces :P There are also fried necks and bishop's noses for those who are so inclined :P

 

MR Goh is always so neatly dressed when frying his chicken.



32 Melaka Nasi Lemak stall takes extra effort to ensure the crispiness of their fried chicken. The fried chicken are displayed in a glass cabinet with sliding glass doors to prevent exposure to draft and chill. Even though there is always a queue and business is brisk, the staff will slide open the cabinet glass door, pick out the pieces of chicken ordered and then closes it after that. So, the chicken is always served hot, crispy outside and tender and moist inside.

 

I was so absorbed by the fried chicken that I didn't pay too much attention to the rice. Just recalled that it's cooked with turmeric and pandan leaves and it's flavours were slight and the grains were separate and discrete with just the right texture.

 

The little clump of stir fried cabbage typically served with Chinese style nasi lemak was good too. The sauce was savoury and the cabbage was tasty. I sometimes got cabbage that tasted a little bitter at Chinese nasi lemak stalls but not at 32 Melaka Nasi Lemak.

The sambal looked ordinary but it was nice as it had that anchovy aroma and savouriness which I liked.

Be sure to include 32 Melaka Nasi Lemak's fried chicken when you are having dinner at 777 Food Centre. As for me, I would also like to try their rendang chicken, next time.

Restaurant name: 32 Melaka Nasi Lemak
Adddress: Stall inside Restoran 777 Food Centre, Jalan Perkasa 4, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/6BfgX
GPS: 1.509549,103.650153
Hours: 6:00pm to midnight (closed on Weds)
Not certified Halal, no pork, no lard served

Date visited: 2 Jan 2013

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Johor Wanton Mee Selection

Wanton mee stalls and shops are found in many places in Johor. To me, the best wanton mee are those where good noodles, sauce, char siew, wanton, soup and the green chilies all come together perfectly.

Good wanton noodles are subtly crunchy, al dente and have an eggy taste as they are made purely with just eggs and flour 全蛋面. Good noodles have a certain energy that make them feel alive in our mouth and not lifelessly limp.

There are rather wide variations in the sauce depending on the stall and also the locality. In Johor Bahru, the sauce is typically light, has a sesame oil fragrance and balanced with a little lard. In Pontian, the sauce is a blend of spicy hot, tomato tanginess and sweetness with a bit of unami savouriness from oyster sauce.  

Good char siew is sweet, savoury, slightly charred and caramelised with a pleasant smokey taste and flavour. The juicy grilled meat has a bite that is a little springy and bouncy. The best ones feel and taste like savoury sweet candy. I like my char siew in thick chunks with tacky firm outsides and juicy insides but in Johor, char siew that comes with wanton mee are always sliced thin.



Good wantons have slippery slurpy smooth skins wrapping a tiny ball of thumb sized tender minced marbled pork well marinated with sesame seeds and oil, soy sauce and white pepper. 



Good accompanying soup has body from hours of boiling with stock bones and has the comforting aroma and flavour of anchovies.



Last but not least, good green chili pickles in vinegar are fresh, crunchy as fresh green apples, spicy yet sweet and tangy.

While most wanton mee stalls or shops in Johor have at least a few of these good qualities, I have found none that has all these qualities together, at the moment.

The following are wanton mee shops in Johor, that I would make a special trip to, if I have a craving for wanton mee.

Yit Foh in Taman Century has their slippery, slurpy wanton noodles bathed in fragrant sauce that was drippy light yet heavy on flavour.



The noodles at Chin Chin 晶晶 in Skudai near the MPJBT Building is refreshingly light and crunchy. If you don't want to travel that far from JB, 許记 in Taman Sri Tebrau has similar noodles as they were disciples of the same noodle master. To me, Chin Chin has the edge because I love (crave) their wanton mee with their special braised chicken feet and braising sauce.



Sin Kee in Pontian though not related to the Loh family that originated the Pontian style of wanton mee, is probably the most popular Pontain wanton mee stall today. Sin Kee's handmade noodles were weighty and springy, and the sauce was spicy, tangy, sweet and savoury, in the signature Pontian wanton mee style.

Ah See Kee in Batu Pahat serves crunchy, al dente eggy noodles in a special savoury sauce loaded with delightful sesame fragrance. People from Batu Pahat are understandably proud of their Ah See wanton mee.

There are the other wanton noodles that I also like and would have them when I am in or around the area where they are located. You can view all of them by clicking on the picture below.