Hot Can - Hot Drinks on the Go!

Do you like it HOT?
Well, some do!

Some Like It Hot.

That's the tagline of HOT CAN - innovative self-heating drinks that are now available in our market... and proudly made in Malaysia, too.



At a recent launch party in Havana at Changkat Bukit Bintang, Hot Can's CEO, Dato' Kenneth Warren Kolb explained the innovation and technology behind the self-heating beverages. The patented technology is his brainchild and the process & technique were shown in a simple presentation that evening.



How does it work?

Well, the special double-chambered aluminium can contains the beverage in the outer chamber while the inner chamber holds water and calcium oxide (quicklime) separately. You need to press the button at the bottom of the can (till a small click is heard). Once that's done, the water mixes with the quicklime starting an exothermic reaction that heats up the beverage in the outer chamber in less than 3 minutes and the temperature can go as high as 55 deg C!



We tried it... a bit apprehensive at first. You need to shake the can and let it heat up. The special heat-sensitive coasters provided actually turned red when the can gets heated up!



Some of the other guests' cans had steam emitting, which was pretty cool. Do be careful when shaking it, though - the drink's pretty hot and scalding!



At the moment, 2 flavours are available - Hot Chocolate and Cafe Latte - I prefer the former - creamy chocolatey flavours always win with me!



More flavours will be available later and I believe they will also be coming out with the Soups soon. Yeah, Hot Soups will definitely be a hit! At the moment, the Hot Cans are retailing between RM7-RM9 in the shops at petrol stations and Cold Storage.

So, if you are going camping or somewhere cold and you need hot drinks to warm you up without much hassle, grab some Hot Cans to bring along!

I'd like to thank Nazeen Koonda of Mongoose Asia for the invitation. It was a very pleasant evening, checking out these Hot Cans and meeting up with other foodie friends.

pla dib @ The Heritage Village

pla dib.

What do you make of that name?

Can't fault you if something Thai popped into your mind. It is Thai for "raw fish" and the original restaurant was set up in Bangkok. However, pla dib doesn't exactly serve Thai cuisine - based on their philosophy of "freedom of food", its menu features a variety of Asian fusion items... namely marriages of Thai, Japanese and European cuisines. Besides KL, the other Asian city where you can find pla dib is Singapore.

pla dib is located at The Heritage Village out in Seri Kembangan, across The Mines Shopping Fair. When I got the invitation from Nigel and Anna Chew of VenusBuzz, I had no idea where this exactly is... but thank goodness DL, my partner in crime, knows that area like the back of his hand. So we arrived at pla dib in good time and were warmly welcomed by Anna and Sherlene of Bluwater Estate, the owner & operator of pla dib. While waiting for the others, we had ice cold Phuket beer, enjoying the fading rays as the sun set across the tranquil lake.

Once everyone had arrived, we were ushered into the dining area. Sherlene and the team had prepared a varied menu showcasing most of pla dib's specialities.

Appetizers...

First to arrive at our table was the Salmon Labb (RM10). I have never been one who goes for raw fish, really... but pla dib's version intrigued me. The succulent pieces of raw salmon doused with shoyu & lime juice and sprinkled with chilli flakes & roasted rice were quite different from your regular sashimi eaten with plain old wasabe. Suffice to say, these morsels had none of the dreaded fishy taste as the acidic lime juice had kinda "cured" the rawness a bit and the shoyu, chilli flakes, mint leaves and roasted rice were perfect foils.

Single Sun Beef (RM15) - there was quite a debate over the name of this dish (as to why it's "single" sun) but I shall not repeat the rather lengthy details here ;-) The jerky-like beef had been sun-dried before being deep fried and then tossed with garlic flakes and basil leaves. I was told this is a good accompaniment to beer.

Raw Shrimp in Fish Sauce (RM15). Now normally I would shudder at the mention of both "raw" and "fish sauce" in one serving. Encouraged by the yumminess of Salmon Labb earlier, I was feeling kinda adventurous and took one bite of the medium-sized shrimp. That one bite escalated to a 2nd shrimp! DL totally agreed with me that the shrimps were so deliciously sweet which could only be attributed by their extreme freshness. By now I have almost been converted to a true-blue sashimi fan.

pla dib's platter of Mixed Four Raw Seafood (which was not in the menu yet) had chunks of salmon, tuna, shrimps and octopus served prettily on fresh greens and topped with a miso-paste dressing, garnished with mint leaves. The contrasting flavours and textures were a delight on our palate and I can now say that I do love sashimi, but only if they are served with Japanese and Thai accents such as these!

Soft Shell Crabs Salad (RM15) with Mayobe (mayonnaise + wasabe) dressing. I have yet to meet someone who doesn't like softshell crabs. Fried crunchy crustacean served with leafy greens, cherry tomatoes and a tangy, slightly fiery dressing - what's there not to like?

With our appetites whetted, we were ready for their Pastas.

Black Spaghetti with Seafood (RM18) - this was my favourite pasta that night. Spaghetti done just right - al dente - the way I like it, succulent shrimps, tossed with olive oil and chilli flakes, this was a winner in my books.

Spinach Fettucini with Mentaiko (RM18). The mentaiko (codfish roe) gave the pasta a creamy touch while the seaweed shreds lent it that unmistakable Japanese influence - a tasty sample of Jap+Italian done right!

Creamy Capellini Angel Hair Pasta (RM18). Generally I do not fancy rich creamy sauces for my pasta, so this wasn't on the top of my list. The angel hair pasta was a tad overcooked - I prefer pasta al dente, with a bite in it. But if you fancy creamy pasta, try this.

On to the Main Courses...

Black Fried Rice (RM20)... when this very interesting dish was served, most of us were fascinated and a trifle reserved. Thai jasmine rice which had been infused with Spain-imported squid ink, fried with seafood chunks and what's that raw egg doing on top there?! We were told to quickly mix the raw egg into the hot rice. This was duly done and everyone dug in... and the immediate response was "Mmmm... sooo good!" Yes, this was clearly the superstar item that night and it is truly recommended (it's marked "recommended" on their menu too!)

Rainbow Trout in Lime Leaves (RM28). The New Zealand trout was served whole after being cooked in parchment paper. The kaffir lime leaves lent their fragrance to the gravy, which had seeped into the enoki and shiitake mushrooms. Squeeze some lemon juice over it and this goes well with steamed rice.

Grilled Lemongrass Chicken with Roasted Rice (RM20)... boneless pieces of chicken marinated with lemongrass and tumeric - very healthy. What I liked was the creative way of serving their roasted Thai jasmine rice - shaped into triangles, coated with egg and then grilled, thus creating a crunchy crust outside while the insides were soft and pillowy. Nice work.

For the Mains, the Trout and Grilled Chicken were as Thai as they could get!

Mashed Potatoes with Wasabi (RM8)... we all know how common & mundane mashed potatoes can be, right? Well, trust pla dib to jazz up theirs with wasabi and the result was so flattering. DL loved it so much that he promptly replicated it at home the very next day!

When in pla dib, if you have to order a pizza, then let it be the Smoked Salmon Pizza (RM30 for Regular, RM36 for Large).

Generous portions of sliced smoked salmon adorned the super-thin pizza pastry, on top of sprigs of rosemary and mozzarella cheese and topped with a semi-cooked runny egg. The pastry was so thin it's practically curling up at the edges. The secret to eating this is to eat it immediately! Otherwise, the runny egg and juices from the salmon will turn the thin pastry soggy and messy.

Desserts...

Thab Thim Krob (RM8) - now that's really Thai! Unadulterated coconut juice and milk had been frozen and then shaved to make this delectable Thai dessert... each spoonful tasted as creamy as the first, even if the ice has melted. My only complaint was that there was no jackfruit mixed in with the gummy chestnut cubes, but this was to the delight of Babe in the City_KL as she abhors jackfruit!

Their homemade Durian Gelato (RM8) is nothing but pure frozen creamy durian! Which I totally hearted! This item has not been included in their menu yet (at that point of time), so if you love durians, do remember to ask for this.

Drinks - don't forget their signature concoctions: Mint Soursop Blast and Pladib Art, both at RM9.50. The 1st one had soursop, mint leaves, pineapple juice, fresh lime and sugar syrup blended into one refreshing thirst quencher. The Pladib Art is a combination of peaches, pineapple juice, grenadine, yoghurt, fresh lime and sugar syrup. Of the two, I prefer Mint Soursop Blast - I like soursop, as simple as that.

The meal rounded off superbly with a piece of Nigel & Allan's new cake - Spiced Marble Cake, which was so good (so fragrant, so rich, so evil!). I did the unthinkable - I begged for a piece to be tapau'ed home which I guarded selfishly to be savoured slowly. I was told by Nigel this cake will be made available in their outlets sometime this month.

It was a lovely evening, spent in the company of the likes of FBB, Nigel & Allan, Babe_KL & Captain Hookk, Aly of Red FM, not forgetting the delightful hostesses - Sherlene and Anna. Their wicked wit and banters and deep-throated laughter bursting out ever so often, (thanks to the darnedest questions posed by FBB) made it a memorable dinner.

Many thanks to Sherlene and team for organizing such a perfect review session - everything was well planned and went like clockwork.

pla dib is one place I will certainly return as LL has been pestering us to take him there - those are all his favourite food!

pla dib Restaurant

G13 & 14, The Heritage Village

Jalan SB Dagang

43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor
(opposite Mines Shopping Fair)
Tel: 03-89381936
Business Hours: 12.00pm to 3.00pm; 6.00pm to 10.00pm

Closed on Tuesdays

Giovino @ Changkat Bukit Bintang

Changkat Bukit Bintang. A popular and "happening" upmarket dining & clubbing area in downtown Kuala Lumpur. Countless hip and trendy restaurants, pubs and clubs line this never-ending street a busy hub for both visitors and locals.

To be honest, I have not checked this place for some time. So, one evening, braving the usual after-work horrendous jams from Petaling Jaya, I had the pleasure of Marian Eu's company in the car while we made our way to Changkat Bukit Bintang (CBB)... to Giovino, to be specific.

By the time we reached CBB, it was in full swing! What with the current FIFA World Cup fever gripping almost everyone, the street was vibrant and bustling with night birds. Located diagonally across Frangipanni, Giovino beckoned...



Giovino serves a mix of Greek and Italian cuisine in its chic and warm enclave. Hmm... why Greek and Italian, you might wonder? I believe this stemmed very much from the influences of the owner, Giovanni Koromilias, who is of Greek and Italian parentage. By the way, the "V" design in the signage of Giovino actually depicts Giovanni's nose, I was told ;-)

Greeted warmly by the vivacious friendly Ginny and the charming owner, Giovanni, we chose our table (with the best lighting) and were promptly served with glasses of their chilled bubbly Italian Prosecco...



... which currently is on special promotion at RM498 nett per case (6 bottles). That's quite a steal, I would say.

Almost immediately, we were served one of their signature starters - Prosciutto & Melone...



... paper-thin slices of the most succulent Parma Ham served with wedges of chilled sweet rock melon. Yumms! The play of salty and sweet was most enchanting. The slices of porky delights disappeared in record time, I tell ya!



There's something heady about parma ham and prosecco on your palate that does wondrous things ... it just whetted the appetite for more, more - it was purely good manners that stopped me from begging for another plate...

While I was in Greece, I had their salads at almost every meal... so Greek Salad is really nothing new to me, hehe!



The fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, capsicums and lettuce leaves were all tossed with Kalamata olives, olive oil and of course, the must-have Feta cheese. While not my favourite for the night, this salad provided the much-needed fibre & greens.

Pan-fried Scallops...



It's rather unfair for me to talk about scallops... because I love scallops. Cooked any way, I simply adore scallops. So what's there not to like about Giovino's version?? Served on a bed of portobello mushrooms and doused with Red Pepper Sauce, I could not fault this dish at all. Enough said.

Moussaka is to the Greeks what pizza is to the Italians and what roti canai is to Malaysians. I had plenty of this in Greece too and that was one dish I could eat repeatedly.



Giovino's Moussaka was truly authentic (and yummier than the ones I had in Greece, really) - baked layers of eggplant, lamb bolognaise, potatoes and topped with bechamel sauce. While we were still helping ourselves to the layers of soft tender creaminess of this Greek delight, the Trio of "pitas" arrived... various fillings stuffed in Filo Pastry:



On the Left is the vegetarian Spanakopita - Saute'ed Spinach & Feta Cheese.
On the Top Right is the Baked Kreatopita - Minced Meat, Feta Cheese, Fresh Mint.
On the Bottom Right is the Tiropita - pure unadulterated Goat Cheese - totally recommended for cheese lovers!

My favourite, among the three, was the Kreatopita - the flavours of the minced meat and feta cheese were delicately balanced by the mint - very nice indeed.

Next was this Pork Belly in White Wine...



Listed under their "Tapas" category, this was a rather mediocre item for me. I thought it was a bit bland - could have done with a bit more of the wine, garlic and herbs, I think!

On the other end of the taste-scale, their platter of homemade Italian Sausages was a tad too salty...



Flavoured with Spanish paprika, I must say the sausages tasted wholesome and earthy and to dilute the saltiness, we squeezed some lemon juice over it... and when eaten with some of the saute'ed onions, the sausages became more agreeable.

Greeks are meat lovers. We were fed more meat... Pork Skewers were next...



Served with thick slices of toasted bread and wedges of lemon, the skewered pork would appease any meat fan - even the most finicky, I would say. Well-marinated with spices and herbs, the pork chunks were well-grilled. At this point, we were already so full we could hardly chew anymore.

But, no matter how full you are, when in Giovino, you must must must order their Piadina!



Piadina - sandwich toasted Pizza with mortadella ham and cheese! I am no pizza fan...BUT this Piadina totally won me over. Ginny claimed that this is her bestest comfort food - and I totally agree with her! It's really really good. Those thin crispy pastry encasing the yummy ham and melting cheese were such a delight - we polished off the entire serving!

Desserts ... even though we were bursting at the seams, Ginny insisted we should try at least 2 of their sweets.



So we had the Warm Chocolate Flan with Vanilla Icecream and Cheesy Vanilla Creme Brulee. Of the two, I preferred the chocolate flan - warm, gooey and so chocolatty!

Since the charming Giovanni went off and was not around for us to photograph, we got to know the other chef - Chef Giogos Kalaizakis, better.



Ginny warned us that he's a shy one... but we managed to "persuade" him to do all kinds of poses (such a good sport, he was!) and he even took us to the back of the restaurant and explained the different kinds of wines, fresh and cured meats available for sale... customers can buy the meats by weight here.



Thank you, Marian and Ginny for a most wonderful evening of traditional Greek food with touches of Italian thrown in - the Prosecco was sublime. I want another glass, please :-)


Giovino Restaurant
32 Changkat Bukit Bintang
50250 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2141-1131

Roti Canai Pandamaran

Roti Canai.

This famous popular Malaysian Indian pancake that's synonymous with Life here. I can't imagine life without roti canais, can you? I mean, it's such a Malaysian way of life - it's not even food, it's just a way of life! We eat it anytime of the day and it's readily available everywhere! So, because it is sooo everywhere and everyone has their favourite shop/stall for this, it doesn't get blogged about much. Well, at least I haven't.

Not until I've heard so much about this one particular joint in Pandamaran, Klang. Yes, my family members have been singing unending praises about this place... about how popular it is... how you have to wait & wait for tables there... that the place is always full, even at 7am! So I actually went there once, sometime during the Chinese New Year break this year, at night, hoping to see what the fuss was all about.

Big mistake.
It's not open at night!
I was, like "tell me, where got roti canai shop doesn't open at night one??!"

Well, this one doesn't.

So, after that fruitless disappointing trip all the way to Pandamaran, I shoved the idea of going there, to the back of my mind... and thought nothing about it... until one day I read J2Kfm's review about it. That's when I reminded myself that I needed to go & check this place out! If J2Kfm - an Ipoh blogger - can blog about it, all the more reason that I should go and try their so-called famous roti canai, right? :-)

The name of the shop is Restoran I.V. - I wonder what IV stands for?! But never mind, the important thing is the "Roti Canai Pandamaran" below it... I guess everyone knows it by this name!



We were there just before noon, so I guess the crowds had thinned out by then. But you can see that it's still pretty full...



Like most mamak shops, you can choose from a variety of curries and spicy dishes...



Since I went there with a group of relatives, I can't recall how many plates of Roti Canais we ordered! Indeed their reputation is justified.

Their roti canais are g.o.o.d.



Light, airy, fluffy, crispy and hardly a trace of oil!

All the criteria for excellent roti canai are met - what more can one ask? Yeah, except for a 2nd or 3rd piece... hehe!

I, of course, also had to test their Thosai. It passed the test too. Not oily, the thosai batter was perfectly made and grilled... and the accompanying coconut chutneys (2 types) were tasty enough - I hate bland chutneys!





Being the glutton that I am, I just cannot not have at least an accompanying dish to go with the rotis and thosais, right?

Try their Mutton Masala - it's scrumptious!



Chunks of mutton cooked in a thick masala gravy - the spices have rendered the meat so flavourful and meltingly tender with none of the strong smell associated with mutton.

Ahhh... I'm keeping the best gem for last...



Yeah... it looked like just any ordinary harmless currypuff, right?

But... but.... it's really one of the BEST currypuff I've ever had! Just look at that thin crispy pastry and the very generous amount of filling! And as you can see, it's just not any old potato mush filling either. It's got carrots, green chillies, a bit of dhall, potato of course & small chunks of chicken meat - all cooked in a very yummy masala paste. They were so good we re-ordered plates of it!



And for days after that, LL kept asking when we're going back there again for the currypuffs ;-)

So, on the days that you do not want to eat Bak Kut Teh in Klang/Port Klang, why not go for roti canai and currypuffs here...


Roti Canai Pandamaran (Restoran I.V)
117 Jalan Pandamaran Jaya 62
42000 Pandamaran Jaya
Port Klang
*the map to this place is Google-able!