Gorging On Crabs In Hokkaido

     Unlike the two men in my life, I do not have a penchant for crabs. But when I visited Hokkaido, the juicy, succulent and plump crabs were a delight to partake. Famous for its high quality and fresh seafood, Hokkaido especially excels in crabs. It would be a sacrilege not to feast on the specialty of the place that you are visiting.

     On my second night in Hokkaido, I was staying at Mombetsu Prince Hotel, which is fairly near Abashiri. This is on the northeastern coast of Hokkaido and touted to be the best place to eat the Red King Crab. A Deluxe Crab Meal was served at the hotel and I literally stuffed myself with the crustacean fellas. There were crab tofus, sashimi from Okhotsk Sea, Zuwai Crab shabu-shabu (raw crabs to be cooked in a pot of boiling soup), steamed crab meat dumpling, crab tempura, Japanese rice cooked with crabs and the piece de resistance of the meal had to be the steamed Snow Crabs! The crabs were so meaty, sweet and luscious. 

Our Deluxe Crab Meal, with all its different courses, was beautifully laid out  for us.

Cooked and ready to be devoured

Poised to begin the arduous task of digging in

Simple pot of rice but it was so sweet because of the crab meat

Crabs in sauna

     Crab-san and I met again on the penultimate day of my Hokkaido trip. At the Kitanogurume wholesale market in Sapporo, there were crabs galore for photo-taking, shopping and feasting. As part of the Gala Seafood Lunch, which included abalone, scallops and salmon, the enormous Red King Crab was also served. He eyed me from his station on the table, taunting to say that a crab novice like me would have a tough time prising open his thick shell and scooping out his tender flesh. How wrong Crab-san was! In addition to the crab cracker, scissors and long-stemmed fork that had been provided, the attentive waiter took pity on me and helped to rip apart Crab-san, exposing his wondrous flesh in its full glory! Oishii!

Catching my 3.5kg crab worth RM800!

Tempting array of crabs to be bought

Can't wait to gorge on this gigantic King Crab

     In addition to these two main crab meals, I encountered them at the buffet spread and BBQ dinner on other occasions during that Hokkaido trip. Had my dad and my hubby been with me in Hokkaido, they would have been over the moon gorging on the crabs.

Savouring A Hainanese Breakfast

        The latest fad to take interior decor by storm is the rustic, old school look. It is fairly common these days to find new restaurants and cafes sprouting the vintage look. But when you walk into Vintage Coffee & Bread, Ipoh, you'll know that you're getting the authentic deal. Located at the end of Jalan Theatre (with the new Octagon serviced apartments at the other end), Vintage Coffee & Bread is part of the Hong Loke Hotel building. Entrance into the cafe is via the side of the hotel, which is due to re-open after being given a new lease of life. It is a true blue Hainanese cafe that has retained its original facade but has been given a new coat of paint and is peppered with vintage decor.

Picture of Vintage Coffee & Bread (111, Jalan Theatre) taken from their Facebook page

Entrance to the cafe is at the side of the hotel building

Interesting corner at the cafe with vintage artefacts

This was once used to brew those aromatic Hainanese coffee

        Inheriting their father's hotel, the Lee sisters have decided to continue his legacy of the hotel and cafe. Prices are reasonable at the cafe and the food served is simple yet tasty. The ambience is cozy and laid-back. On Sunday mornings after church where jostling with the masses seems to be the sport at Ipoh eateries, savouring a leisurely breakfast here at Vintage Coffee & Bread is a treat.
        Today, Mummy and I shared an All-Day Breakfast (RM13), which consists of chicken ham, chicken sausage, fried egg, bread & butter, fruit salad and coffee. We also tried their Tuna French Toast (RM6.50), which Mummy especially loved. It was neither greasy nor laden with egg coating. 

Our All-Day Breakfast

Delicious Tuna French Toast

       

The very tantalising Hainanese Chicken Chop (pic taken from their Facebook page)

        I was excited to spot Signature Hainanese Chicken Chop (RM14) in their menu but that's only available after 11 a.m. They also serve the usual Hainanese toast with butter and kaya (RM2.50), pasta (RM10-RM12) and waffles. In addition, they have homemade buns, puffs and cakes. I was told that their specialties include their crispy cream puff, parmesan cheesy sponge cake and signature yam puff. Yum!
        This is definitely another eatery that Mummy and I will frequent.

Taking The Plunge In Hokkaido

        My roommate, Cheng, refers to it as "the highlight of our trip" and I find myself agreeing with her, despite delighting in other aspects of our holiday in Hokkaido. Even though it has now been 6 months since we got back, we find ourselves reminiscing about our onsen moments.

        An onsen is a Japanese hot spring, immensely popular among locals and tourists. Being a volcanically active country, Japan abounds in onsens. They are a central feature of tourism in Japan and are definitely high in the list of must-dos for any tourist interested in immersing himself in Japanese culture. It's listed as #4 out of 102 things to try in Japan. Indulging in a soak in the onsen, however, requires overcoming one's inhibition. You see, one has to be completely in the buff!

        Onsen etiquette dictates that bathers have to shed all clothing at the changing room and cleanse themselves  thoroughly before entering the hot springs. It can be a mighty long walk from the changing room to the shower area and then on to the hot springs, which can be indoors as well as outdoors. So the catwalk to parade your nudity can be a long one. And you are only permitted one minuscule towel for modesty. Male bathers, admittedly, require only one towel, but what about female bathers?

        Cheng and I braved ourselves to take the plunge on our very first night in Hokkaido. We convinced each other that we were quite blind without our spectacles and contact lenses so  any perusal of the other's naked body would be a mere blur. We were initially extremely hesitant to remove our yukatas and valiantly tried to cover some unmentionables. Also, we were conscious of possible prying eyes, even though we were in an all-female onsen. Boy, were we relieved to finally be able to ease our bodies into the hot springs!

        And the fun began! It was incredibly relaxing to submerge ourselves in the hot waters, which range from 40 degrees to 43 degrees Celsius. I could feel my muscles unknotting, especially after being pounded by some jets of water. We left the first hot spring pool to venture to another pool outdoors, which was even more enjoyable as the crisp night air helped to balance the hot temperature of the pool.

        Once we overcame the initial shyness, there was no looking back. We tried out the onsens at all the different hotels that we stayed in. By the time we reached the end of our Hokkaido holiday, we were confidently striding from the changing room to the shower area and finally to the hot springs, without being self-conscious of our nudity. It is really so true what people say, life is too short to be ashamed of your body, regardless of size or shape. And honestly, no one even glances your way! I am so glad Cheng and I gave each other the courage to brave the first hurdle.

Dressed in our yukatas, which we wore to dinner as well as to the onsen

Outdoor onsen with a view of Lake Akan (photo taken from the Web)

Two beauties (not us) in an onsen (photo taken from the Web)

        

Remembering Ben

     During our 2014 trip to Scotland, I met and fell in love with Ben. He is named after Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the United Kingdom. Before I raise anyone's hackles, especially friends of Derrick's, let me be quick to clarify that Ben is a lovable West Highland terrier, or fondly known as a Westie. Ben and I became great pals during our stay at Stanton Villa B&B, near Fort William. He loves a good cuddle, and I could sit there for ages, giving him lots of cuddles and kisses. It was painfully difficult to tear myself away from him when it was time for us to leave the b&b.

Ben and I, with scenic Loch Eil in the background

Ben welcomes us to Stanton Villa B&B

Darling Ben

Cuddling up to each other

     I was very soon reminded of Ben when we visited Glen Nevis, where climbers start making their way up Ben Nevis. I stumbled upon a packet of Walkers shortbread in the form of mini Scottie dogs. Both Westies (West Highland terrier) and Scotties (Scottish terrier) are short-legged Scotland terriers. They share the same ancestry but are classified as separate breeds. To me, they are both equally lovable.

Yum yum!

     Truth be told, the mini Scottie dog shortbread was far too adorable to be eaten. I was behind the wheels, and could not protest when Derrick kept popping them into my mouth. And mmm...they were absolutely scrumptious!
     Although we can find Walkers shortbread in the form of rounds, fingers and triangles in Malaysian supermarkets, no Scottie dogs are to be sighted. When my sister-in-law, who lives in the United Kingdom, learned of my predilection for them, she bought a box of them for me during her recent trip home. Thanks a million, Emma. It was sheer joy to be reunited with my delightful Scottie dogs.

The Walkers Shortbread Scottie Dogs that Emma got for me

9 scottie dogs happy to be out of the box

Wonderful tea time with Earl Grey and Scottie dogs

     Best eaten with a hot cup of Earl Grey tea, these finger-licking good shortbread doggies are so crisp and buttery. You can admire the perfect shape of the Scottie dogs, inhale the rich scent of butter and slowly indulge in its melt-in-the-mouth texture. And I'm reminded of Ben again.

Focusing on the Chicken Part 5

        Lest people think that chicken posts have to be solely associated with food, I am ending my month of posts about the plucky fowl without focusing on food. This domestic fowl (and all its parts) not only ends up frequently on our dining tables, but also finds its way in quite a number of English idioms.

     Getting up with the chickens this morning, I decided to pay tribute to them in this post. Thinking that my brain could function better in the solitude of the early morning, my hopes were dashed when repeated sounds of a banging metal door shattered the silence. It always ruffles my feathers when my Korean neighbour chooses to announce her arrival or departure by slamming the door. This is not something trivial because our houses are attached to each other so the sound reverberates and sometimes, it feels like it’s a mini earthquake. I really do not know what goes on in that bird brain of hers but she has also been known to play handyman in the wee hours of the morning by hammering against the wall!

       When hubby sees me fussing like an old hen, he eggs me on to confront her. Refusing to do so does not mean I am chicken hearted; I just prefer to maintain a civilised relationship, well, for as long as I can. I would rather walk on eggshells than launch World War 3. Nevertheless, I have spoken up, when the need arose. Her multitude of cars often block our path, and there was once I could not reverse out because of her inconsiderate parking. I tried calling out to her several times but there was no response. Feeling a rage brew inside me, I got into my car and honked loudly! Fortunately, that got her rushing out, with an apologetic face, which I returned with an angry look.

        I know Buddhism warrants one to be humane to animals, but leaving food leftovers on the road to feed the stray cats is really taking things to the extreme. And scattering the stale rice mixed with yucky meat and vegetables over to the road in front of your neighbours’ houses is downright rude and irresponsible! This time I did not chicken out. I lodged a complaint to the house developer (at that time, the house developer was still overseeing our gated and guarded community). Her practice seemed to halt very soon after my complaint and I was feeling smug about it. Hubby told me not to count my chickens before they are hatched. How right he was! She was soon back to her nonsense. And I went to complain again! I later found out that her other neighbour had also marched to the developer’s office in fury, threatening to bring in the local municipal council.

        My Korean neighbour is no spring chicken but she dresses like one! She loves to wear skin tight pants and puts on heavy makeup. Despite being a housewife, she is tardy where house cleaning is concerned. The part-time Indian maid who used to work for me was also cleaning her house for several months. Saras finally could not take it, complaining to me that my neighbour’s house is extremely dirty and unhygienic! She does not even bother to clean up after her dog’s menstrual blood stains the floor!!! I’m not certain if this was one of Saras’ cock and bull stories, but she had nothing to gain by telling me this.

         Having good neighbours is scarce as hen’s teeth, but fortunately, my neighbours on my left are gems. The husband is friendly and helpful. The wife, who has a sunny side up, is not a mother hen but trains her two daughters to be independent. Both girls are polite and pleasant, always ready to lend a hand to their mother where household chores are concerned. If only my Korean neighbour is more considerate!

1. Get up with the chickens - wake up really early
2. Ruffle one’s feathers - annoy someone
3. Bird brain - senseless
4. Fuss like an old hen - get angry
5. Egg someone on - encourage, goad or incite someone into action
6. Chicken hearted - cowardly
7. Walk on eggshells - try very hard not to upset someone or something
8. Chicken out - run away from something because of fear
9. Count your chickens before they are hatched - predict a successful outcome before the final outcome is confirmed
10. No spring chicken - not young
11. Cock and bull story - untrue story
12. Scarce as hen’s teeth - extremely hard to find
13. Sunny side up - cheerful attitude
14. Mother hen - very protective

Focusing on the Chicken Part 4

     Ask any Malaysian if he or she has tasted chicken chop, and you will probably get an incredulous look that goes to say you must be nuts if you have never eaten this quintessential dish at Malaysian eateries serving Western food. But ask a true blue British or American the same question, you may be asked if you mean a new kind of karate chop or if you are referring to chicken pieces in chop suey (an American Chinese stir-fried dish of vegetables and meat). 

     Apparently, chicken chop is a local creation, probably introduced by the Hainanese chefs who wanted to cater to their British colonial masters working in Malaya. It is a very versatile dish as the boneless chicken can be deep-fried, pan-fried or grilled and then smothered with various kinds of gravy.

     Although I prefer to try other dishes whenever I go to a Western restaurant, I do have a weakness for Hainanese Chicken Chop. This is deep-fried boneless chicken drenched in onion gravy. In Ipoh, I have found two establishments serving an excellent version of this.

Sin Hoong Fatt's Hainanese Chicken Chop

1.      Restoran Sin Hoong Fatt (better known as Vegas Ipoh) 

         1, Lebuh Cecil Rae, Canning Garden, 31400 Ipoh

View of the coffee shop from the Canning Garden market

                 Although this Halal coffee shop opens from morning, it is somehow more bustling in the evening. John Junior’s Western food stall starts business in the late afternoon and this is where I get a caramel-coloured onion & green peas gravy enveloping my chicken chop. In addition to the french fries, tomato and cucumber slices, this plate of chicken chop also comes with a slice of bread for you to mop up the scrumptious gravy. By the way, John Junior’s dad (John Senior, I presume) was an excellent Hainanese chef in his heydays and I can still remember his delicious pork patties, which he used to sell at another coffee shop in Canning Garden.

Cathay's Hainanese Chicken Chop

2.      Restoran Cathay 

         17A, Jalan Dato Tahwil Azhar, 30300 Ipoh

  

Photo of the coffee shop taken from Rebecca Saw's blog

                   A very old school Hainanese coffee shop, this eatery has been popular among Ipoh folk since the 1970s. In those days, it used to be at another location near its present premises, and was also frequented because of its famous Indian mi goreng. I practically grew up eating this Hainanese chicken chop and especially love its tangy, tomato-based gravy. I also prefer the thicker cut of fries. Another dish that I like to order whenever I go to this coffee shop is its French toast with heavenly kaya.

Simply yummy French toast with kaya

     Apart from these two eateries in Ipoh, I have also tasted an exceptionally yummy version in a very unassuming Hainanese coffee shop in the sleepy town of Kuala Kubu Bharu.  It was at Kedai Makanan Hailam Sun Sun Nam Cheong that I sank my teeth into the most mouth-watering Hainanese Chicken Chop. It was so palatable that I considered giving in to gluttony and ordering another plate. Hmm...perhaps I should pester hubby to make a detour to this town the next time we go to Kuala Lumpur, just to satiate my desire.

Sun Sun Nam Cheong's Hainanese Chicken Chop

A photo of the old coffee shop taken from a blog

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Making My Heart Melt

     I am interrupting my chicken series for today's post. After all, this blog is all about La Bonne Vie (The Good Life) and I was gifted with such a sweet surprise. I cannot let this day pass without recording this wonderful gift.
     After a busy day in school, I came home, jaded, sticky and sweaty. Upon opening the door, my eyes fell upon this huge bouquet of pink and purple roses. My jaw literally dropped!

     It was totally unexpected. Hubby had left for a meeting in Bukit Jalil at half past four in the morning. The meeting was supposed to end around four in the evening. By the time his driver eases out of the infamous traffic jam and drive back to Ipoh, it would be late. I texted hubby at about half past five this evening to see if he was already on his way home. The cheeky fellow answered in the affirmative. In truth, the meeting had ended very much earlier and hubby had arrived home at four in the evening! He had then driven out to get the roses to surprise me.
       This Valentine's Day surprise is so touching. Knowing that he had a meeting in Bukit Jalil today, we had a pre-Valentine's Day dinner at Three Little Pigs & The Big Bad Wolf last Friday. Old married couples like us do not jostle with the masses on the actual day and pay through the noses for special menus. Old married couples like us do not expect to be given presents on special occasions like Valentine's Day. Old married couples like us do not make a fuss over Valentine's Day and get all lovey-dovey on this day. Every day spent with your loved one is Valentine's Day.
     And yet, being greeted by the sight of the roses on Valentine's Day, especially when it's least expected, is so heart-warming. Hubby really made my heart melt today. Merci beaucoup, mon amour.