Here is another Penang White Curry Mee instant noodle bandwagoner banking in on the phenomena success of MyKuali.
This one is from Ibumie. Ibumie's owner Biz-Allianz International, founded in 1982 is a relatively big player in the Malaysian instant noodles market.
My JB friend Terrence brought me a 4-pack packet to try. Thanks Terrence.
Open the pack, there was a noodle block and three sachets inside - curry paste, non dairy creamer and seasoning powder.
The curly instant noodles were the generic cook and oil fried type, so we can feel a very slight film of grease on the noodles in the pack.
The large sachet of white powdery non-dairy creamer (not specified but usually manufactured from palm oil).
The smaller heap of seasoning powder. Mainly salt, MSG and other synthetics.
The curry paste was aromatic with strong hae bee (dried shrimps) smell and a blend of real spices cooked in palm oil.
My bowl of hot Penang white curry mee in 5 minutes from opening the pack to serving. I followed the instructions on the pack, to the letter.
The instant noodles were very similar to MyKuali's version. Curly, spongy and soft. Tasted of wheat.
Generic, non descript, unremarkable noodles.
The broth was round bodied, not too heavy. The flavours and spiciness were mild.
Even though MyKuali and Ibumie's instant curry broth were quite similar, we did not get the surprised feeling like when I first tasted MyKuali. Perhaps, we are now already initiated and well accustomed to instant curry broths.
Now for Johor Kaki's signature dip stick test.
A moderate amount of oil was stuck to the dip stick.
I only took a couple of spoonfuls of the curry broth to taste as I felt put off by the MSG, synthetics and grease.
Taking a few spoonfuls, I didn't feel unease or MSG thirst afterwards.
I found Ibumie Penang White Curry Mee very similar to MyKuali's version.
Ibumie Penang White Curry Mee is certified Halal.
Rating: 6.5/10 based on Johor Kaki standardised instant noodle rating system.
Join the Instant Noodle Facebook group for more fun with instant noodle fans.
Just Want Coffee, The Factory 30 in Mount Austin in Johor Bahru created quite a stir in the JB coffee scene since it opened slightly over a month ago.
I visited Just Want Coffee, The Factory 30 twice so far and enjoyed myself there.
Of course, a lot of it had to do with the company of my great kopi kakis Nicole, Corrine, and Ryan too :D
The Factory 30 is inside a refurbished factory in the industrial area of Mount Austin surrounded by large warehouses and greasy car workshops.
If you come to Just Want Coffee, The Factory 30 and found yourself greeted by this pulled down shutter, do not panic :D
Stay calm.
The entrance is at the glass doors on the left.
You've come to the right place.
Just Want Coffee, The Factory 30 in Mount Austin is now the go to place for JB's trendiest people.
JB's coffee crowd on a week day night. Be prepared to queue on weekends.
Comfortable chairs and sturdy tables that blend in with the total "factory" look.
Take a seat at the open concept bar where you can watch the youthful baristas in action and also engage them in friendly coffee chat.
Senior barista Chris sharing the finer points of coffee appreciation with customers.
A staircase leads to the spacious upper deck.
Nice quiet space to chill on the upper deck but The Factory fills up fast.
The Factory has a space reserved for art and cultural events and activities.
A good place to chill.
Don't worry about those coffee sacks over your head. They are filled with shredded paper only :P
David, one of the partners at Just Want Coffee.
David's said Just Want Coffee's philosophy is "跟本,不跟风 Stay faithful to fundamentals and not chase after trends." In all of Just Want Coffee's plans and what it does, good coffee remains at the very core and centre.
Not following trend blindly.
No wonder Just Want Coffee is the one of trend setters in the Johor coffee scene.
The simple menu - everything on one single page. You have to squint your eyes a little bit but you can see all the items and prices in this photo :P
Just Want Coffee, The Factory 30 makes their waffles fresh when there is an order. I love that sweet buttery aroma rising from the waffle machines as I was taking this picture.
So, I couldn't resist ordering a waffle to try :D
We enjoyed our butter caramel waffle (RM14.20+). The thick freshly baked fluffy waffle made of flour, eggs, milk and butter was slightly crisp outside, bouncy soft inside, and not overly sweet. Comes with spreads of premium butter, caramel, whipped cream and ice cream.
Just Want Coffee's signature tiramisu is something I will order every time I am at JWC.
The tiramisu was still as good as ever.
Classic tiramisu with spongy liquor and coffee-soaked ladyfingers between rich mascarpone custard and whipped cream.
But, there is a cool JB twist.
Customers here like their tiramisu icy cold and so Just Want Coffee keeps their tiramisu in a freezer before serving.
Senior barista Lucas was all focus making our coffee.
Today's coffee was a Just Want Coffee house blend of Mandheling, Brazilian, Colombian, and Indonesian.
My Original Latte 8oz (RM10.00+).
I enjoyed the round bodied, smooth, rich yet mild flavours of today's blend.
(I need to take a few more cupping lessons to truly appreciate the subtleties but even now as a novice, I felt the coffee was very enjoyable.)
Ryan's Cappuccino (RM9.00+).
Corrine's Gibraltar Latte (RM9.00+).
My complimentary Papua New Guinea Baroida AX with thanks to Jack, senior barista and coffee roaster. Jack was conducting a cupping session and let me try this :D
Before leaving, I took a look at the pretty coffee roasting machines at The Factory 30.
Just Want Coffee started about 2 years ago with the founder Nelson roasting batches of coffee in his own kitchen at 300 grams per batch.
Just Want Coffee was so successful, Nelson bought this second coffee roaster capable of churning out 3 kilos per batch.
Soon even that wasn't enough and now Just Want Coffee added this 12 kilo capacity coffee roaster.
When we went to settle our bill, the cashier told us that our friend Ryan (who had to leave earlier for another meeting) had already paid for our food and drinks.
Thanks Ryan.
Next kopi session on me, ok? :D
Restaurant name: Just Want Coffee, The Factory 30
Address: No 30, Jln Mutiara Emas 5/3, Taman Mount Austin, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/r3Qnc
GPS: 1.547554,103.776383
Hours: 2:00pm to 12:00 midnight
No pork, no lard, no Halal cert
Date visited: 3 Jun 2014
Return to Johor Kaki homepage.
Yi Poh lou shi fun 姨婆老鼠粉 is one of Seremban's most written about food stops in social media.
Yi Poh 姨婆 is a simple, typical Malaysian small town food shop.
Started as a push cart stall in 1948 by old Yi Poh 姨婆 (grand aunt) in this same area, the restaurant now occupies two spacious shop lots, including an air conditioned section.
Many Seremban folk grew up with Yi Poh 姨婆老鼠粉 and every weekend, the restaurant is filled with people living outstation renewing their connection with home with a bowl of lou shu fan noodles.
Yi Poh's signature lou shi fun comes with a soup and we can add chili paste, if we want it more spicy.
The lou shi fun was topped with thin char siew slices and savoury minced pork.
The aroma of lard raises to our noses as we tossed the lou shi fun in the lard and soy based sauce.
Yi Poh's lou shi fun is actually what is also known as lai fun 濑粉 elsewhere in Malaysia. It is the not the stubby rice noodles with pointy ends which people in KL and Singapore also called lou shi fun 老鼠粉.
Yi Poh's tender, chewy, bouncy lou shi fun is still house made using grand aunt, yi poh's old recipe.
The savoury sauce is old school and heavy on lard which many will appreciate.
Fresh house blended chili paste. Yes, it is as spicy as it looks.
I liked the peppery soup that came with the lou shi fun so much that I ordered an additional bowl of the broth.
Inside the peppery soup were pork stomach and various types of pork intestines. I like it that the nice round bodied soup was not greasy. The intestines were also very well cleaned.
The peppery sting woken up my taste buds to appreciate the tender chewy textures and flavours of the ingredients.
I like this soup very much!
The meaty wanton at RM0.60 each.
Packed with flavourful minced marbled pork.
The popular crispy fried wantons (RM0.60 each). Nicely fried - not greasy at all. Every other table had some :D
The fourth generation still in high school helping out and learning the ropes at the 汤 family business.
Enthusiastic and passionate about their heritage. Eagerly took our questions. Already talking about coming back to the family business after university.
Restaurant name: Restoran Yi Poh 姨婆老鼠粉
Address: 26, Jalan Seng Meng Lee (Off Jalan Temiang), Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/zxlXH
GPS: 2.734130,101.940277
Hours: 7.30am to 6.00pm (Closed on Monday)
Non Halal
Date visited: 28 May 2014
Return to Malaysia Kaki homepage.
Finally, it was third time lucky for me.
I came all the way to Pek Kio food centre in Singapore twice before and both times Wah Kee 華記 was closed.
Disappointed, twice before.
