Dinner at Celadon, Pavilion

On last Thursday night, as a family we decided to eat out. It is rather rare that we go out at night. We prefer to save our outings for the weekends. But since Friday was Awal Muharram and the boys were on school holidays, we decided to go to Pavilion.

Mini-concert going on downstairs, hence the full carparkThe restaurant located on the 6th floor, right next to Spice of IndiaBad move! Apparently we found out after about 30 minutes looking for a parking space at the basement that a local Chinese singing group was holding their 'meet the fans' session the same evening. Hence the long queue for parking and the throng of crowd at the main foyer.

Puan Anita actually fancied some Thai food. Some Tom Yam she said. After a quick look at the stalls downstairs, we decided to go upmarket and eat at the restaurants. We went up to 6th floor. There was a Lebanese restaurant, a Turkish joint - desperately trying to be authentic with the turban-wearing waiters. There was also Spice of India - not tonight. Finally we came across Celadon.

Nice and serene setting. Nice ambianceA word of warning, it wasn't the cheapest dinner I took my family too. We were talking around RM80 per head here, and a couple of the heads were my boys! The ambiance was the main reason we went there. Initially Idlan was in a strop and did not want to go in, but one of the waiter actually spoke to him and asked where he wanted to be sat. He picked the sofa right at the back and off we went. More on the waiters later.

There were also seatings by the entrance if you fancyThe theme was all white, from the chair, walls, curtains and spread. There were general seatings at the entrance, a small more private area with cushions where we sat and a couple of function rooms should you want to organise dinner. There were subtle motif of Thai culture adorning all the ornamental decorations. There was of course the photograph of the King and a miniature white elephant. The salutations and greetings, the dressing of the staffs. There was also peaceful elements thrown in. Since everything was all white, it looked serene when the lights were dimmed. I noticed that every table has its own lighting. There were also some tables on the corridor outside should you fancy some fresh air - if you call the foyer with high ceiling as fresh air!

The unmistakeable Tom Yum. Comes in two guises, with or without coconut milk.The sizzling beefPuan Anita did the ordering. We had soft shell crabs and thai salad for starters. The crab was OK, but the salad which was mainly sour mango and vinegar was too strong for me. I quite liked it at the beginning but the portion was too big. Definitely for sharing. We had the mixed seafood tomyam, which was very impressive. She also ordered marinated sizzling beef, very tender and lightly spiced. My order was the steamed seabass - the reason why the cost was so dear. It was very well cooked, the fish was fresh, too much garlic and mint in the sauce but that was nitpicking. The sauce was good enough to sip. I was full however by the time dessert was on the card. So we skipped that.

The steamed seabass ...... before ........ and afterNow back to the waiters. There were a couple of local and a Thai waiter. The Thai gentleman was the one attending us. I was very impressed when he offered plastic plates and cutleries for my children, and made sure that their fried rice was not too spicy. Maybe it was restaurant policy but I have been to a less upmarket restaurant where the waiters bat their eyelids at the sight of my kids - although they were perfectly handsome just like their Daddy! The air-conditioning was also not too cold.

Would I go there again? Only on special occasions or while on business duty. Would I recommend my friend to go there for a romantic dinner - definitely! The money spent there will be well worth it! The waiters were good, the food was good and the ambiance was very nice.

Time of visit - Thursday, 17th December 2009

Address - Lot 6.37, Level 6, Pavilion KL, Jalan Raja Chulan, 50200 Kuala Lumpur

03-21488708 - no website

Fraser's Hill - Day 2, Part 1 - Breakfast and the Outing

I slept like a baby last evening. Especially so when the boys decided to leave me to sleep alone on the bunk bed. The two of them and Puan Anita were huddled away on the four-poster bed.

I got up the earliest, at just just after seven. It was pretty nippy outside and the bathroom floor was as cold as ice. A quick hot shower and changed. Before I managed to sneak outside, Puan Anita woke up. Soon after, the boys were jumping on the bed. We hot the maids in, got them in the bath and headed for breakfast.

Idlan getting ready for breakfastThey served full English breakfast here and those were on the house. We are talking homemade croscent, jam and butter, followed by sausages, bacon and choices of eggs. Toast and cereals were also there if you fancy. Unbelievable!

I had omellete with cheese and mushrooms. Those certainly hit the spot. I counted 4 tables being occupied. I am sure the place would have been busier during weekends. It was Monday then.  As a result, the waiters were able to attend to my boys every need. The fact that they wanted only sausage and no bacon. They wanted to pour their own fresh milk into their tea. They wanted to run around in between mouthful of scrambled eggs. Irfan does not want any beans because according to him they are stinky! Oh man! They were really the bosses!

Looked like Maria Tunku Sabri has been hereWhile waiting for the food to sink down, Anita did some research about places to visit for the day. Since we have elderlies and children with us, hiking was definitely out. There were many beautiful trails around here. They were very well mapped and cater for all level of adventure. There are the simple ones with minimal gradient while others that were damn right brutal. Some of them lead to waterfalls and they are plenty of those if you are really keen.

Hmmm! Chillies? Big ones?

We learned however by the end of the day that if you were looking for flowers, Cameron Highlands is a better bet. There were a few nurseries advertised here, but they were pretty poor. Maybe they were out of season. There were certainly no roses and strawberries, and not much butterflies either.

Arriving at Allan's WaterDeciding what to doWhile enjoying the view

We decided to start the day about half a kilometer away at a manmade lake called Allan's Water. There is a pedal boat here and the place was very well maintained. Next door is a small nursery but again, there was not much on show.

The area where the archery and horseriding activities were hosted is called 'The Paddock'The barn where the horses livedEnjoying the rideNext stop was at the other side of town near the Golf Club. There is a small stable here with a few horses. Idlan was really excited and I took him with me for a ride. Nope, the horse was hardly running. It was just a gentle walk around a small circuit. Cost me RM4 and RM3 for Idlan. Irfan was too small to get on. There was also archery range next door. Further along is a small putting green. It was unfortunately closed that day, so we got Idlan a small plastic golf set to play back at the hotel garden later.

It was soon time for lunch when we finished with riding. We went to Shahzan's Inn, back in the town center. There is a Chinese and Malay restaurant here that opened for lunch and dinner. The resort looked slightly older than Puncak Inn across the road and in need of a make-over. Nearby is a playground and a small garden which the boys went to while waiting for food. We then headed back to the hotel right after, for some rest before a touch of golf and scones later.

Taking Mum to Lunch at The Curve

My Dad was pestering me for quite a while for some Western Food for lunch. He wanted some Roast Chicken. Since everybody was free last Sunday afternoon, I took both my parents out. Puan Anita wanted to buy some shirts for the boys as well at The Curve. We arrived rather later than usual and was caught with the heavy traffic on the way in. With the school holidays and end of year sales, the crowd was bigger than the usual Sunday.

Entering the main foyer at The CurveDon't touch!

After having our lunch at Marche, we decided to have a quick stroll around the place while Anita went about to do her shopping for the boys. The Xmas decorations were in full show, complete with carol singers, Santa and his helpers. Unfortunately Anita's flu was taking her down and after only half an hour, we decided to return home. She has been having fever for the last few days, and it was about time she saw a doctor. It all started earlier in the week when she took my maid to see a local GP after she complained of painful eyes. She had some infection there and was given some drops. While waiting to see the doctor, there were a few patients with heavy cold at the cramped room. She started having sore throat the same evening.

I was trying to figure out why this cute Santa helper was wearing a table round her waste?The main foyer was transformed with the decorations

We went to a clinic in Bukit Antarabangsa where my parents lived. she was given antibiotics and since then had been feeling much better. We spent the rest of the afternoon at my parents, just sitting around while Anita had some chicken soup.

Fit For 2 Revisited

After finishing the basic syllabus at Pingu's English, we sent Irfan for weekend reading sessions for an hour every Saturday lunchtime. It was his idea. He loved the place so much. The reading sessions were practically a drop-in session. We usually use the time to do a bit of groceries or window shopping. Last Saturday, we took the time to have a walk at Bangsar Village. The place was certainly festive. Puan Anita had sore throat, so she did not feel like having lunch. After a quick bite, Idlan wanted to go for a run at the indoor playground over at Bangsar Village II. They had energy to burn, so I thought why not.

The initial lunch at Nando'sThe bridge linking Bangsar Village and Village IIFrom which you can see both the Smokehouse Restaurant and Pingu's English at TelawiWhile there, I found my colleague, Ida and Alex having lunch at Fit For 2, right opposite the playground, with their kids. I was already full by then. The boys spent a good couple of hours running around. When they were done, Anita decided to have a some tea at Fit For 2.

The cozy interior of Fit For 2The indoor playground where the kids burnt their excess sugar across the corridor from the diner The yummy roti jala and curryWe visited there a few months ago, and the place has not lost its charm. It was cozy and warm. Most importantly, the menu is kid-friendly and wholesome! Anita had some root gala and the curry was gorgeous. The boys had some hot chocolate - with marshmallows of course and mini-pizzas. There was a yoga class going on in a studio next to the diner. In a small corner, there was a small play area for babies - my boys were too grown-up for the toys there - and a comfy sofa. There were magazines to browse and leaflets to read. Definitely for mummies!

After the delightful tea, we left for home. Puan Anita's flu got the better of her and she retired early that night. I did as well but woke up later to watch the football. Yes, United got beat by Villa! We got what we deserved!

Xmas Decorations Exploration - Great Eastern Mall

In keeping with the 1Malaysia spirit, Xmas is the time when Malaysians from all walks of life celebrate few things in common. It's the end of the year, school is off, the paycheck comes early, usually with bonus on tow and you can see sales everywhere! 1Malaysia indeed! So we celebrate it as with our brothers and sisters in this great nation of hours ….. we go shopping!

The foyer from the 3rd floor

In the last few weeks, we took the time to visit many of the shopping malls around Lembah Kelang. Most of the big ones were covered, some have already been blogged. During this weekend alone, we visited three. The keyword there was 'visit'. We hardly bought a thing. What typically caught my eyes were the decorations. The first one I liked to mention is the Great Eastern Mall. We went there for dinner last Friday evening. The was a Jazz Band coming to play at Alexis, so that's where the hip crowd were. In the main foyer, they have stalls and a stage. Apparently, during weekends, there will be visits by Santa and his helpers. Rudiolf included as well.

Idlan, Puan Anita and IrfanThe decor there was children friendly compared to other places. There is a snowman, a few Christmas trees. There was a stall keeper handing over candies to kids when we were walking by. The stalls mainly sold ornaments, cards and toys. Not much to shout about really. Maybe because it was in the evening, there were hardly anything going on. According to the shop keeper, there will be carol singing, life band, balloons and other fun stuff during the weekend. That will be a better time to come visit.

After checking out the stalls, taking pictures and mingling about, we headed upstairs for dinner at Cozy House. It was usually packed but for some reason tonight, it was quiet. For some reason, I fancied a steak. The way it was written on the menu made me order it. Apparently it was supposed to be spicy. After all, the name was 'Bombay Steak'.

The not so well done Bombay Steak - you can even almost taste the blood. O positive I think - don't argue, I'm a HaematologistWe soon found out why they were losing clientele. The food was not like it used to be, and a far cry from its sister restaurant, Cozy Corner at Ampang Park. In fact, the food there had also deteriorated if you read my entry a few months back. Not only that there was hardly any spice, the 'well done' steak I ordered came almost straight from the fridge. Nearly as raw as the sashimi I enjoy. The fried rice was not great either and Irfan only managed a couple of bite. Since the theme seemed to be raw, we might as well head to the basement floor to Express Sushi for some proper raw stuffs.

We did some groceries right after that before heading home. The verdict - better to head there during daytime especially weekends. There will be much more activities there then.

Date of visit - Friday, 11th December 2009