Ratatouille La Gourmet, A Hidden Gem at Tmn Setia Indah, Johor Bahru

Ratatouille La Gourmet (N1.57163 E103.75767) is my first dining experience that enjoying such a good quality western cuisine at a very simple 'Kopitiam'. It's actually a stall in one of the Chinese kopitiam (aka small food court) named 'Fu Sing Kopitiam' and serving nice + delicious food. Thanks for the friend's recommendation from Facebook.

We were there around 6pm on the Sunday evening, the Chef Brian politely introduced the series of western cuisines that serve by Ratatouille La Gourmet to us. After about 15-20 minutes, the first salad served on table - Caesar Salad.

Caesar Salad by Ratatouille

That was the first appetizer for us and the presentation was nice, taste not bad.

Followed by second appetizers - Foie gras, some of us just cannot believe it because we were enjoying a nice Foie gras in a 'Kopitiam'...

Foie gras by Ratatouille

This was my first time in my life having Foie gras in kopitiam too! What a experience!

The Foie gras was well prepared and served with some mushroom slices and piece of bread, the bite will bring some mild alcohol fragrance...excellent! The dish above is selling with a affordable price (RM38) for everyone to be able to try it.

The third appetizers - Escargot.
"Escargot is a dish of cooked land snails, usually served as an appetizer in France and in French restaurants. The word escargot is also sometimes applied to the living snails of those species which are commonly eaten in this way." Source from Wiki.

Escargot by Ratatouille

Another experience that having this French cuisine in 'kopitiam' again!
The escargots were served in 6 per order (RM18), I'm not in the position to say about the taste because I don't really have much experience having it, but...actually they were acceptable and nice!

Next was the Spaghetti Bolognaise.
As for the Italian authentic ingredients including pancetta, carrots, celery, onions, tomato paste and a dash of wine, and the key ingredient is minced beef. This spaghetti did all right except I didn't taste the wine...maybe it was my mouth problem. :)
The rich minced beef and the tomato sauce were really made our mouth can't stop until the spaghetti is finished. (RM11)

Spaghetti Bolognaise

Anyway, it is a light and fast meal you should try if you visit Ratatouille La Gourmet.

By having the dishes above, Chef Brian served us two different type of soup - Mushroom soup and Clam chowder to let us have a break before continue our extraordinary dinner.

Clam chowder

Mushroom soup

The clams were fresh and the soup was rich flavor but not starchy at all. Their mushroom soup was another great version compare with others, fresh mushrooms and rich. Again, not starchy. We like the both soup.

Here come the first main course - Grilled Salmon with pumpkin sauce.

Grilled Salmon with pumpkin sauce by Ratatouille

The grilled salmon served with pumpkin sauce, broccoli and Ratatouille.

Grilled Salmon with pumpkin sauce by Ratatouille (another view)

The combination was excellent! The grilled salmon was well grilled to perfection! This was another different experience to savor the dish.

Another main course - Crusted Roasted Rack of Lamb.

Crusted Roasted Rack of Lamb

The rack of lamb were served in the medium doneness, succulent and juicy! The dish was served with Ratatouille, broccoli and mashed potatoes. We like the crusted outer layer of the lamb which was mixture of herbs and pine nuts that really brought us a new taste of the dish! The bite had give us a different layer of enjoyment, awesome!

 

The medium doneness of the lamb and the special crusted herbs and pine nuts outer layer.

The last main course was the US Black Angus Ribeye steak.

The US Black Angus Ribeye Steak

The Black Angus steak was absolutely delicious! Served with the medium well doneness for the best way to enjoying the steak, said by the Chef. The dish was served with the marvelous home recipe sauce which mixed with mild brandy. Another awesome steak in that evening!

I had a chat with the Chef - Brian Soon, understand that he's still working in one of the 4 star restaurant in Singapore right now...and only available at the stall during Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday. Thursday and Friday's duty will be handle by his wife. According to him, he'll be full time at Ratatouille few months later within this year.

Ratatouille La Gourmet

Brian said, he wanted to introduce the nice and quality western cuisines to the public with a affordable price, and he'll try his best to educate the local on the various dishes serve by Ratatouille La Gourmet.

The stall is operating by Chef Brian and his partner Mr Sherman, both of them are good friends since teenage until now and they are from Malacca. That is also one of the reason that the wordings at the stall has some Malaccan style on it, can you feel it?

The staffs of Ratatouille La Gourmet

They also provide catering and private chef services to your house for private function. Do contact them from the email address below if you need it.

Chef Brian in action!

This will be one of my regular place for western cuisine. The prices are very reasonable and affordable, beside that I also tasted the quality ingredients provided by the Chef.
Do drop by if you happen in the area, I believe you will be surprise by the dishes serve by Ratatouille.

Ratatouille La Gourmet

24, Jln Setia 3/6,

Tmn Setia Indah, Johor Bahru.

Tel : +65 9711 4138 / 0167550886

Email : ratatouille.lg@gmail.com 

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ratatouille-La-Gourmet/1420891281470133

Operating hour : 5.30pm - 10pm (Wednesday - Sunday)

Location map of Ratatouille La Gourmet at Taman Setia Indah, Johor Bahru.

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#FoodHoppingSG - Sinpopo BRAND 新泡泡甜品小吃

Sinpopo BRAND 新泡泡甜品小吃 - #OldSchool

Old people love to say "想当年... 想当年..."

Bright red sliding gates, metal biscuit tins and a fat screen TV set assembled at the entrance. Upon entering, I was swamped with songs and after songs of Chinese oldies music from a bygone times, for instance the unforgettable Teresa Teng's folk songs. Old music discs and vintage posters on the walls together with flimsy tables and uncomfortable wooden stools are the typical setup 60s-style of coffeeshop.

This #oldschool concept cafe is opened by the owners of Awfully Chocolate.

It is very hard to find such a #oldschool cafes in such a modernized city. This is definitely a big draw to boys, girls, olds and youngs. You might be sitting beside a family of three-generations or elderly couples reminiscing about their "想当年" or a group of friends talking about their childhoods.

Awfully chocolate owners really captured the hearts of all ages. #GoodBusinessIdea

Of course, they offer local signature dishes such as nasi lemak, john roti, ngoh hiang and many others. Customers just have to click their choices on the menu paper and pass to the waiter. While waiting, I rambled around the shop and surprised to find that they are so detailed enough that all their equipment are so #oldschool as well! Like their coffee maker jars, cups and ice crusher.

Fake bird nest drink - my favorite pasar malam drink lol

Lo Gai Yik (marinated chicken rice) and chicken curry rice - $8.90 each. 

Black carrot cake (actually quite nice)

Ais Bor (ice ball) -$3.90

Given the name, their main attraction is their desserts which I totally agree even though I only tried their ais bor. You think it is only a ice ball drenched with coconut milk and coloured syrup but you will be surprised to see ice kacang ingredients (like red beans, attap seeds and lychee jelly balls) inside the ice ball.

This is a place where can go for ambience but maybe not for their food. I don't mind going back for desserts though. 

Having local desserts in a classic settings and listening oldies folk songs is a new unfounded pleasure!

Sinpopo BRAND 新泡泡甜品小吃

Address: 458 Joo Chiat Road Singapore 427671

Sun - Thu: 12:00 - 22:00 

Fri - Sat: and Eve of PH 12:00 - 00:00 

Closed: Monday

Website: http://www.sinpopo.com/

#FoodHoppingSG - Kombi Rocks Diner

Kombi Rocks - The same old brand new diner

"I am a vintage lover"

I came across this vintage diner place when I was googling interesting theme cafe in Singapore. Immediately, I bookmarked the address and checked the diner out on the very next day.

Very hard to miss the diner due to its prominent location - just opposite Serangoon stadium and first shop to see when you turn in to the small alley.

Now then I know, Kombi is the name for this hippie van (above), the second model manufactured by Volkswagen. The owner must be a Kombi lover so much that to name the diner "Kombi Rocks". There are only 18 Kombi in Singapore and the owner already have 3-4 in hand already or maybe more. 

Imagine riding this hippie van for a road trip, the road trip is already off with a great start! But, a little expensive to rent for just a road trip... 

Kombi Rocks Diner is the revamped look for Koon Kee Restaurant which started in 1971 The main cuisine are Thai & Chinese dishes which have passed down three generations.

I feel like I was instantly flashback to the 80s when I stepped into the diner. The setting is retro 80s where it has retro coffee tables, old vintage posters, barber chairs, old fans and even vintage refrigerator! I wonder if they are using the vintage refrigerator or just for show.

It was not crowded on a Sunday afternoon but I bet the diner will be packed in the night as it has the relaxing atmosphere for chilling.

These vintage toys, guitars and props are available for rental or sale as well. Personal favourite - Vespa.

Seafood Hor Fun ($6) - Mee Goreng ($6)

Black Sesame Icecream ($5) - Honey Green Tea ($3)

The seafood hor fun was only so-so but the mee goreng was as good as recommended by other websites. It was not oily at all and the taste was very local. Black sesame ice cream was not bad as well. Heard from the waitress that the ice cream was suitable for diabetic people too. 

Their Kombi and other vintage cars available for rental as well. Mostly are for wedding event or photoshoot. The prices are on their website. 

Dont be alarm to see many people taking selfies there. It is a perfect place for vintage themed photoshoot. I guess the waitresses and waiters are immune to it. 

This definitely worth a second visit. I hope more themed cafés set up in Singapore.

Kombi Rocks Diner

Web: http://www.kombirocks.com/

Address: 66 Yio Chu Kang Road, Singapore 545568

Tel: +65 9008 6918

Opening hours: Monday – Thursday: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm 

Friday – Sunday: 12pm – 11pm

Nearest MRT station: Serangoon station
Parking is available in the sports stadium carpark opposite the diner

Recent updates from Jewish Heritage Europe

Postcard showing Chmielnik synagogue and the Archangel Gabriel

By Ruth Ellen Gruber

As I have begun to do on a regular basis, I'm posting here last week's updates from www.jewish-heritage-europe.eu, the web site that I coordinate as a project of the Rothschild Foundation Europe. There's news mainly from Poland, Ukraine and Belarus.

I post on the JHE newsfeed several times a week, to keep content dynamic on what we aim to make the go-to web site for Jewish heritage issues in Europe. JHE will celebrate two years online next month, and we are planning to expand the enhance the site with new features.

Meanwhile -- please subscribe to the JHE news feed! You can use the subscribe buttons on the home page or on any of the news pages. The deal is that, on days that I post on the JHE news feed, you will receive one email with the links to the posts. Easy, convenient and informative, no? And you won't miss any of the feed.

Look at all the news we ran last week:


"Shtetl Routes" under development with EU grant in Poland-Belarus-Ukraine border region

An ambitious, international “Shtetl Routes” tourism itinerary through a score or more of towns in the Poland-Belarus-Ukraine border region is under development with a more than €400,000 grant from the European Union’s Cross-border Cooperation Programme Poland-Belarus-Ukraine 2007-2013.

Call for Papers: Conference “Urban Spaces of Lviv/Lwów/Lemberg: Imagination, Experiences, Practices”

Commemorative postcard of Chmielnik synagogue

Call for papers: New Research on Memory in Eastern Europe conference in Warsaw

Aim of the workshop is to discuss specificity of the collective memory and research of that memory in Ukraine and Belarus

Dariusz Stola named director of Museum of the History of Polish Jews

Report on Jewish Cemeteries in Silesia Province Published

The Brama Cukerman (Cukerman’s Gate) Foundation in Będzin, Poland, has recently published “Our Cemeteries,” a detailed, 50-page report on the state and status of the dozens of Jewish cemeteries in the Silesia Vojvodship (Province).

New series of foods and desserts from Moshi Moshi Dessert and Tea Cafe at Taman Mount Austin

Do you like desserts?
Moshi Moshi Desserts and Tea Cafe at Taman Mount Austin had launched their new series of desserts and some snacks on December 2013! We visited the cafe not too long ago, and below are some of the new series available...

Before the desserts and snacks, let me brief some information of Moshi Moshi Dessert and Tea Cafe...Moshi Moshi is selling their 100% local handmade ice cream and sorbet (they learned the skill from Taiwan) and serve with 'Natural, Fresh' ingredients with NO preservatives, and their drinks is make from fresh fruits, not from 'powders' that easily available in other cafe. Majority of their ingredients are imported from Taiwan and they make the sorbet and ice cream locally.

The first dessert was Coffee Ice Cream + Guava Bum Bum Ice (咖啡冰淇淋 + 土巴乐泡泡冰)

Coffee Ice Cream + Guava Bum Bum Ice (咖啡冰淇淋 + 土巴乐泡泡冰)

The dessert served with 2 flavor of ice cream which was coffee and guava, corn flakes and some fresh fruits. The coffee flavor was rich and nice, we love the 'aroma' very much! If you are coffee lover, I believe you will love it too! The guava flavor ice cream was fresh, fragrant and original. It's advise to take the side dish (fruits and flakes) together while enjoying the handmade ice cream.

The corn flakes and fruits served together with the ice cream above

The dessert above serve in 4 types of combinations.

The Sesame Q-Rice Ball (芝麻米果甩) was the second surprised for us. The rice ball was fried in sesame seed and glutinous rice with the fragrant Gula Melaka (palm sugar) filling. The outer skin was crispy and soft inside. It's advise to taste the rice ball with the peanuts topping, the first bite was unforgettable!
There are 3 types of rice ball available from the menu.

Sesame Q-Rice Ball (芝麻米果甩)

Peanut Mochi Cake (花生西麻薯烧餅)
This was one of the Classic series of the Mochi Cake, topping with peanuts butter and a cube of butter + honey.

French Mochi Cake (花生西麻薯烧餅)

The Mochi cake is waffle look-a-like, but it was not the waffle. It made from the sticky rice, baked to perfection. Crispy outside and really chewy when you bite on it! It was a totally new experience! The dish can really fill up your empty stomach even it doesn't serve in big portion.

The Mochi cake from Moshi Moshi

The Classic series of Mochi cake serve in 4 different types...Chocolate, French, Strawberry and Peanut.
The Mochi cake also serve with ice cream, our next dish was Chocolate Ice Cream with Cheese Koshi Cake (浓情巧克力冰淇淋起司烤餅).

Chocolate Ice Cream with Cheese Koshi Cake 
(浓情巧克力冰淇淋起司烤餅)

The chocolate ice cream

The chocolate ice cream was not sweet, it taste like dark chocolate...slight bitter. Cheese lover will love this light meal because of the nice aroma of the cheese which baked with the Koshi cake. The whole combination was just perfect!

Beside the series above, Moshi Moshi also provide the Special Baked Series （烘烤咸味系列） for the Kochi cake.
One of the popular Special Baked Series is the Smoked Chicken Koshi Cake (烟熏鸡烤餅）.

Smoked Chicken Koshi Cake (烟熏鸡烤餅）

I like this smoke chicken baked koshi cake! It's hard to describe in words about the taste, it took a little strength for chewing it and the smoke chicken was a good combination for the cake. Love it!

After we filled up our 'tank', the last dessert was served on the table...Coconut Ice Cream Parfait (夏日椰子冰淇淋芭菲)  It was one of the dessert from the Parfait series...

Coconut Ice Cream Parfait (夏日椰子冰淇淋芭菲)

This parfait ice cream was served with fresh coconut where you feel the coconut within, they mixed the young and old coconut with some home recipe to provide this NICE parfait ice cream. It can really cool down the temperature during the hot sunny day...please take note the layer of the dessert, there were cornflakes and cut fresh fruits in between. One of the great refreshment we had!

Prices for the above desserts and snacks is between RM6.90 - RM15.90

Do visit the Moshi Moshi Cafe not only on the hot weather day, it's also a nice hangout place in evening. It's good to enjoy some good dessert after your sumptuous dinner. The cafe understand the market demand about the after meal dessert culture, so Ms Elaine (one of the partner) said their operating hour is until 12am everyday...Yes! It's everyday!

Related post :-
*  Moshi Moshi Dessert & Tea Cafe at Taman Mount Austin, Johor Bahru.

Moshi Moshi Dessert and Tea Cafe

19, Jalan Mutiara Emas 10/19,

Taman Mount Austin, Johor Bahru.

Tel : +607-3616337

Business hour : 11.30am - 12am Daily
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Moshi-Moshi-Dessert-Tea/218158191645500 

Location map for Moshi Moshi Dessert and Tea Cafe at Taman Mount Austin

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