MY WAY

And now, dinner is near…I ate Yau Char Kway…I did it my way (to the tune of “My Way”)

Damansara Heights is a place where the rich tougeys stay…tougey or towkay? Depends on how one pronounces it. However, this is a place, the place where those who are above the affluent status (just being affluent doesn’t cut it.), live.

As you would expect, everything or almost everything here is at a premium price. The stores are premium, too. When you hear Pavilion; you know that everything here, almost; is ssseesss so hotly expensive.

It was after work for Jeannie. I picked her up from her office and drove up here, to Damansara Heights. Jeannie, my wife; and I, window-shopped at this latest Pavilion premium mega shopping gallery, while waiting for our daughter, Laura; who had an appointment at one of the restaurants. Laura was done within an hour. We decided to have dinner in Pavilion; instead of wading through the traffic jam all the way back to Subang Jaya.

We came across a “I Love You” restaurant. You would think this was some sort of dating restaurant, for romances to bloom and relationships to bond. Not so. They actually serve food like “yau char kuey” and “ham ching peng”. (1)

We have eaten this delicious food on multiple (not many. “Many” is for the commoner 😉😏😅.) occasions at their other outlets in Publika Shopping Gallery and Empire Shopping Gallery, to name a few. However, it has been a long time since we last ate at one of these establishments.

I Love You is sort of a fast food restaurant where you get your food immediately.

I picked a table that was not directly under the air-conditioning. The Pavilion was a tad bit uncomfortably cold, temperature wise. Jeannie and Laura brought our food over.

Me, trying to be inconspicuous and not make it obvious that I am looking at the love sign, not the lady. I am so transfixed on the sign, trying to read the whole poster.

Me: The suave look, with a big bone above my head.

While waiting for Jeannie and Laura to order our dinner at the counter, I was trying to create “the look” which would be used for newspapers, magazines, online publications and social media. So, shoot away. With the smartphone camera, I tried capturing “that angle“. At least that was what people around me must have been thinking; with all those selfies that the camera was taking of me. Haha😂

Made by hand. Made by love. The rest of the poster is kind of gibberish, especially when I am trying to read the message reflected off my phone’s screen in camera mode.

err… what?

Something seems to have caught her attention. What is she looking at? She’s constantly on the lookout for new products for her Business Development unit.

Y-e-e-e-s-s-s?

Laura on the left, the Batik Influencer, Jeannie in the centre, and me, the Hatted Writer. Me, the Hatted Writer; having had experience with former World Ventures; with one of their famous poses and smile / laugh with mouth open.

Laura and Jeannie wanted porridge. It looked yummy as they dipped pieces of the yeow char kway in the porridge, then ate them. I, personally am not into porridge, but I can imagine that it was good, as I saw the satisfaction on Jeannie’s and Laura’s faces as they savored it.

Yau char kway, cut in pieces; ready to be eaten with porridge rice.

I had the butterfly style, and a couple of other types of yeow char kway. We had a large glass of hot soya bean drink, shared between Jeannie and me. You can choose to order the soya bean drink cold, as well. It is just as good. Laura had her Starbucks iced coffee drink with her.

My meal, a mixture of hum ji peng with red bean filling, hum ji peng with sweet glutinous rice and butterfly shaped style yau char kway.
Rich, thick, soya been milk drink. No added sugar. We took it hot. Delicious to the last drop.

The food and drink was really (“really” – should I use this word? There will be a question mark”?”) good. Dinner was good. The staff were friendly, too. If ever you are in Pavilion Damansara; drop by to this restaurant for a good local meal.

After dinner, it was a short walk back to our car, before heading home. The weather was good throughout the evening. It was a pleasant and comfortable evening at the Pavilion. We were at a relaxed pace. Nice.

Our din-din. Looks simple. It is simple. It was delicious. We had more than our fill.

A follow up from the previous article:
http://leatherpotato.com/2024/05/06/a-new-burger-joint-in-town/

NOTES:
1. Yau char kway is an oil-fried pull-apart dough stick popular throughout Southeast Asia. Twinned lengths of wheat-flour dough are fused together, with a groove down the centre making them easy to tear in half lengthways. wikipedia
2. ‘salty fried pancake’, also spelt hum chim peng, known in Singapore and Malaysia as haam ji peng, hum ji peng, or ham ji peng, is a deep-fried hollow doughnut of Chinese origin. Commonly eaten as a breakfast food, it is sometimes fried with a coating of sesame seeds. Ham chim peng. wikipedia.

A NEW BURGER JOINT IN TOWN

The favourite? To be seen….and tasted….

The puffy, light grey clouds decided to gloom the day by covering or blocking whatever direct sunlight we had at about midday. Yes, It looked like it was going to rain. The questions were (more than 1 question) should I or should I not? I asked these questions in quick succession. Should I go for my 10km walk? The weather forecast notification on my phone warned of heavy rains in the afternoon.

I decided to hit the road (not literally) (1) As I was into the second kilometer of my 10km walk, it started to drizzle quite heavily. Got home, grabbed the umbrella and continued my walk. I was determined to complete the distance. I did.

Freshened up. Then, headed to meet my cousin, Chris; for a cuppa of hot americano at Jings Specialty Coffee, our neighbourhood, upstairs cafe. Jings Specialty Coffee cafe is tucked away upstairs on the first floor, above New Apollos (nothing to do with the one which landed on the moon😂). Eugene, the very young co-owner; is quite the entrepreneur. He has several enterprises and more to come. He is soft spoken, gentle, always smiling. And humble, too.

Coming back to the cuppa of coffee. It just dawned on me that all these cafes are serving their hot beverages in tea cups and saucers. Now, when I think back to the time I had coffee in Perugia, Italy at a very tiny cafe: they served coffee in cups and saucers. I am so used to having a mug of coffee near me at work, or anywhere. It gives that air of casualness. Cups and saucers seem prim and proper, like you’ve always got to be at your best behaviour at all times. Like somebody’s watching you.🤔

Picked Jeannie, my wife; up from work. Then, headed to Laura’s office. Laura is our daughter. We had to wait for Laura as she had an appointment at the Pavilion, the new one. So, Jeannie and I did some window-shopping, very little, actually. We looked for a coffee joint and found Starbucks. They seem to be everywhere.

Same thing as in the U.S. (of America, just in case you had other ideas😏) – they are all over the place. Their capsulated drinks, packs of coffee beans and powders can be found at popular grocers and stores. They have become brand commercial first, then coffee commercial. You want to be known and seen there.

Then, when you are at one of these big shopping centres, you think coffee, and walla; a Starbucks “suddenly” appears in front of you. The experience at Starbucks are no longer the same as it was many years back. For example, the bright and happy greetings is no longer there. I think that was one of the main differentiating points when compared to their competitors. However, their appeal to yuppies (remember that word that described the young, urban executives with everything flashy?) and college students is still very high. Starbucks provides the right setting and environment to draw this group of people.

Laura was soon done with her appointment and we headed to the “I Love You Yau Char Kway” restaurant for dinner. It has been a long time since we last had this type of food. Laura and Jeannie wanted porridge. It looked yummy as they dipped pieces of the yeow char kway in the porridge, then ate them. I had the butterfly style, and a couple of other types of the yeow char kway. We had a large glass of hot soya bean drink, shared between Jeannie and me. Laura had her Starbucks iced coffee drink with her. Dinner was good. And the staff, were friendly. If ever you are in Pavilion, Damansara; drop by to this restaurant for a good local meal.

After our meal, as we walked back towards where our car was parked; we stopped by at this place called, “Five Guys”. “This looks interesting”, I said. Lots of red and white, a typical American diner. The set up looked really good – brightly lit, lots of pictures and sayings on the wall. The decor – like an American diner. Claims to be the favourite burger joint in town. We will have to experience it for ourselves. Next time perhaps.

“Favourite burger joint” poster on the wall.

Here, in Malaysia; every day is Summer.

NOTES:
1. “Hit the road” can be likened to “get cracking” or on simple English, “started doing it”.
I attempt to add colour in English and try to be as descriptive as possible.