SOONG KEE@SETAPAK SERVES MORE THAN BEEF NOODLES

Established in 1945 by its eponymous founder Soong Kee, this 6-decade old lou jiu phai (notable brand name) beef noodles in Kuala Lumpur drew only loyalists during the early days.

Today, the business has grown beyond its original premises, with newer outlets making their way into mall-based food courts and independent set-ups appearing in commercial suburbs.

Although synonymous with beef noodles, Soong Kee has expanded its menu to include non-beef offerings, to widen its appeal amongst today’s familial crowd of multi-generational diners.

Our recent visit to Soong Kee in Setapak is an enlightening experience – we discovered new things to enjoy in addition to getting reacquainted with the tried and tested.  Firstly, the signature Beef Ball Noodles (dry/soup RM8.90) and Five Spice Beef Tripe Noodles (soup/dry RM10.90) especially the kon lou (dry) version remain a perennial fave to hit the spot. 

Here’s the unexpected clincher: meehoon or rice vermicelli is even better than mee when it comes to capturing the lush flavour of that beefy mince.

If you want more of the extra lieu (ingredients) such as Beef Balls (5 pcs RM5, 10 pcs RM10), Beef Slice (RM10), Five Spice Brisket (RM12) or Five Spice Tendon (RM13), the various items can be ordered a la carte.

Should you have family members in tow who eschew beef, Soong Kee now offers alternative options such as Char Siew Wantan Mee (dry/soup RM7.90) and Chicken Curry Mee (RM9.90). We can vouch for both the noodle variants especially the latter. Not only is the spice quotient pleasantly tantalising, the coconut milk creaminess is also nice enough without being cloying.

 

Accompanying comfort food dishes such as Fried Wantan (5 pcs RM4, 10 pcs RM8), Wantan Soup (RM6.50), Fried Dumplings (RM6.50) or Dumplings in Soup (sui kow) are plump and chockful of tasty mince filling; crowd-pleasing fare for both adults and kids.

 

 

Healthy Poached Vegetables (RM5.50) and succulent Steamed Chicken (RM9) are also served should you wish to supplement your meal with more substantial dishes for the family.

Call Soong Kee tel: 03-4141 8124 /016-924 0507 for delivery or take away (self pick-up) orders. Soong Kee is open during CMCO from 10am to 8.30pm daily. Address: 22A, Jalan Danau Niaga 1, Setapak, Kuala Lumpur

RETRO AMERICAN FAVES ROCK AT ED'S DINER

 

Opened in 1st Dec last year, Ed’s Diner - Malaysia’s one and only American retro-concept eatery from London - is the first ever to operate outside the United Kingdom since its establishment in 1987. Channelling cool 1950s vibes like the movie Grease, this 158-seat restaurant at Resorts World Genting (RWG) flaunts glowing neon signs, a monochrome, checkered tile floor, glossy vinyl booth seating and chrome-accented soda fountain stools.

 

A working jukebox – an authentic analog machine loaded with chart-toppers from the 50s, 60s and 70s – takes pride of place. RWG Outlet Manager Mohd Fauzan, Sous Chef Hapizi bin Hussain and Outlet Chef Zulkifli Nayan underwent 2-month training with the master franchisor, to ensure the food and beverage selection comply with expected standards.

Both RWG chefs who have 27 years of industry experience each, not only exceeded the franchisor’s expectations but are also playing a key role in getting halal certification for Ed’s Diner. “Once we succeed, this will be the first halal-certified Ed’s Diner in the world” says Mohd Fauzan.

Food-wise, portions are huge at Ed’s Diner so it’s advisable to share especially if you’re a light eater. Remember to amp up the rock & roll feel by selecting your fave retro hits from the jukebox, absolutely free of charge.

Familiar curtain-raisers of Nachos To Share (RM39) and Chicken Caesar Salad (RM18) paved the way for lunch. The generous heap of tortilla chips came smothered with chicken chilli cheese sauce, tomato salsa, guacamole and sour cream. Each hearty bite was addictive with hints of coriander and chilli seasoning. Mildly sweet yet tart green chilli pickles helped to alleviate the cloying richness.

 

Loading up on the salad of romaine lettuce, grilled chicken thigh, cherry tomatoes, parmesan, croutons and Caesar dressing made sense; especially when we had to chomp through the plethora of tempting eats.

 

My personal pick of the lot is Chicken N Waffle (RM24), one of best selling items Ed’s Diner is famous for. The savoury and sweet profile combo of deep-fried chicken with crisp vanilla waffles and honey hit the spot for me.

Smoky slices of streaky beef and Big Ed’s burger sauce lent additional appeal to the double 150g beef patties, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and gherkins which made up the trademark Big Ed’s Burger (RM35). It’s a hefty speciality for one person to handle but if you have a humongous appetite, go for it.

Fancy some heat with your burger? The Nashville Hot (RM19) comprising fried spicy chicken burger with hot sauce and chilli seasoning was piled high with cheese, lettuce, tomato, coriander, cheese sauce, mayonnaise and onion rings. Also available in Super Hot version with double lashings of hot sauce.

 

Family and child-friendly fare includes Classic Foot Long (beef RM23, chicken RM21) and Love Me Tenders (RM38). Sandwiched between soft, sesame seed-flecked buns, the sausage adorned with gherkins, ketchup, mustard and crispy onion passed muster.

I was more smitten with the delicious fried chicken tenders. A dash of chilli seasoning, a cup of macaroni & cheese, classic fries and onion rings enlivened the boneless chicken, alongside the house BBQ and cayenne ranch (sour cream, cilantro and mayo) sauce. Try the Falafel Burger (RM19) with a patty made from chickpeas and spices for those looking for a vegetarian option.

Specially created for Malaysia, the local team proffers Buko Coconut Pandan Cake (RM28) – a delightful pandan ice cream milkshake crowned with coconut pandan jelly, whipped cream, palm sugar syrup and love letter biscuits. Lightly creamy, its sweetness was agreeable.

Our other fave is the no-frills Peanut Butter Deluxe Shake (RM24) while the signature Strawberry Donut Shake (RM28) with its no-holds barred strawberry ice cream and fresh strawberries concoction could be a meal by itself. Colourful fruit loops, love letter biscuit roll, whipped cream, strawberry sauce and a mini strawberry doughnut complete the liquid dessert.

Ed’s Diner is open from  11am to 10pm Mon-Thurs. On Friday-Sunday and eve of public holidays, it’s open from 11am to 11pm.

For information, please call tel: +603 6101 1118 or visit www.rwgenting.com

SAIL AWAY SUCCESS ANTICIPATED FOR ROYAL CARIBBEAN QUANTUM OF THE SEAS

Imagine a huge hotel, shopping mall and entertainment city all rolled into one. Royal Caribbean Quantum of the Seas is the world's smart ship with an under-stated opulent interior. At 1,141 feet long with 16 decks and an international crew of 1,500, it can accommodate 4,905 guests.

 

Being the cruise newbies we are, the sleek, refined interior adorned with modern accents: glass artworks, arty installations and ambient lighting left an indelible impression.

 

Designer boutiques and epicurean dining venues like Jamie’s Italian restaurant amplify the sense of sophistication. We proceeded to Two70, a theatre-style entertainment and activity space for the welcome address by Royal Caribbean’s Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Angie Stephen.

 

In her opening remarks, Stephen said Royal Caribbean International will be celebrating its 50th global anniversary by rolling out a 5-year deployment in Southeast Asia, from November 2019 up to 2024.

“The deployment starts with Quantum of the Seas, one of Asia’s largest and most revolutionary cruise ships after her multi-million dollar refurbishment. The ship is slated to make a record-breaking 55 calls to Malaysia during its upcoming 2020-2021 season, starting October next year.”

L to R: Elya Marini Darmin, Deputy President of the Klang Municipal Council; Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari, Selangor State Exco, Tourism Selangor; Angie Stephen, Managing Director, APAC, Royal Caribbean; Syed Jaaffar Syed Mohamed, General Manager, Boustead Cruise Center and Captain Sindre Borsheim, Master of Quantum of the Seas

Lauding the cruise-friendly infrastructure of Malaysia and the pertinent roles played by the government including local municipal councils, port authorities and tourism stakeholders, Stephen said, “Royal Caribbean will bring 430,000 tourists to Malaysia in the next two years. Quantum of the Seas will be Asia’s largest cruise ship to call in at Port Klang since Kuala Lumpur and Penang’s vast array of gastronomic, cultural and shopping options remain popular with our guests on board.”

She continued, “Cruising holiday is fast gaining popularity amongst Malaysians and the numbers have grown significantly from the time Royal Caribbean started some 11 years ago. Malaysia is one of our fastest-growing markets and Royal Caribbean cruises have everything that appeals to different generations. For the MICE business, we offer customised cruising experiences.”

 

Stephen said while Royal Caribbean incorporates cutting-edge technology to streamline some of its services and facilities on-board, she emphasised it won’t replace their battalion of personnel as the human touch is the key factor in ensuring Royal Caribbean guests enjoy their cruise experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After savouring a simple, delicious lunch at the American Icon Grill restaurant, we toured the new facilities: FlowRider, RipCord by iFly, Bionic Bar, an escape room and glow-in-the-dark laser tag on board the Quantum of the Seas.

 

 

 

 

 

It’s easy to be caught up in the palpable excitement, especially when we witnessed how AI is used to power the robotic ‘mixologists’ at the Bionic Bar. Laughter, convivial conversations and happy recreational bustle bore testament of a great time the holidaymakers were having.

 

 

We also took turns to be whisked up high, to admire the surrounding panoramic views from the ‘North Star’ observation capsule. Raised up to 300 ft above sea level, the breathtaking scenery glimpsed from high above was unforgettable.

The hi-tech entertainment facilities inside the ‘Two70’ venue also set the stage for live performances and whimsical large-screen projections.

Different sized pools, rock climbing wall, various shopping and entertainment options, in addition to themed dining outlets will keep the ship’s multi-generational cruise passengers fully occupied. Tour itineraries for whistle-stop ports of call can also be booked on board.

 

 

 

 

 

For more information, visit Royal Caribbean's official website: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/sgp/en?country=SGP or https://www.facebook.com/RCCMY/