Modesto @ The Royal Selangor Golf Club

Not many restaurants survived the ups and downs of an economic cycle. Modesto is probably one of the few that have battled through the perfect storm and still remained steadfast to its tradition and origin. Started in 1995, Modesto has always been a popular place for people to gather for drinks and good food. The convivial atmosphere and massive picture windows set this location apart from its other outlets.

A plate of green to start our meal

Carpaccio with rockets. The briny meat provides a heft that complements the rocket's peppery taste

Appetizer platter - These bite sized are well seasoned giving us little tingles

This plate featured a pan seared cod fish nestled on a bed of grilled vegetables. The fish was fresh and cooked to perfection, mirroring the level of care the Chef brings to Modesto

Recommended by the waitstaff. The swordfish was a tad too dry, due to overcooking. What a pity

Located inside Royal Selangor Golf Club, Modesto is an unexpected choice to have a quiet Sunday lunch.

Verdict: SOMEWHAT SMITTE

Huize van Wely @ Bangsar Shopping Complex

Surroundings - Located on the 2nd floor of Bangsar Shopping Complex, HvW is situated near the Apple Store. The setting is rather classy with dark furnitures filling up the open space. With limited obstruction, this is an ideal spot to vegetate and do some people watching.

Menu - The menu largely comprises of sandwiches, salads, soups, cakes, pastries, cookies and chocolates. Prices are rather steep ranging from RM8.50 to RM90. According to the waitstaff, the pastries are flown in fresh from Holland. It is made with quality ingredients, using tradition techniques dating back to 1922. The end result : balanced, high quality and of course expensive products.

The du Hammam (RM15/pot) - Japanese Green Tea with scent of rose, green dates and red fruits. This was recommended by the waitstaff and frankly it was quite tasteless. I could only taste the green tea, where did the rose, green dates and red fruits go?

Egg Sandwich (RM18) - For RM18, I was expecting something more, not just egg + bread.

High Tea Set For Two (RM90) offers a choice of coffee or tea served with a selection item from its patisserie, an assortment of savories and mini quiches. To finish off are two macaroons. The only thing memorable about this Tea Set are the macaroons. It was fresh with a thin crust giving way to the silky filling. Not to mention, the texture was extremely smooth and pleasant.

There was some hits and misses. Perhaps it was my mistake to come here for brunch. To embrace Huize van Wely's sweet side, you may want to drop by during tea time.

Verdict: SOMEWHAT SMITTEN

Soo Kee Restaurant @ Jalan Imbi (Sang Har Mee)

In Malaysia, it's often hard to remember what time of the year it is, since is sunny all year round. But you know the holiday season is here when friends from overseas are dropping by Malaysia for a visit and what better place to bring them than the iconic Soo Kee Restaurant @ Jalan Imbi.

Happy marriages of Siu Yok and Kai Lan. The smoky Siu Yok is the perfect enhancer for the earthy Kai Lan.

The stir fried vegetables with intestines deserve a nod too. The vegetables are fresh and crunchy, while the intestines are an excellent taste of the Chinese tradition.

These deep fried paper-wrapped chicken are marinated in oyster sauce and bean sauce. Even though this is not the best paper-wrapped chicken in town, it is still worth trying.

This plate of Sang Har Mee is worth going GAGA over. The humongous prawns coupled with deep fried noodles soaked in gravy, infused with ginger is worth every penny.

Thinly sliced beef and green onions are tucked among the silky soft Koay Teow. Each bite is packed with delicious beef and ginger taste.

The Sang Har Mee at Soo Kee has long been the city's best source of noodle. Each dish offers strong flavors that stand up to the diner's expectations. Not to mention, this meal would not be complete without a few glasses of ice cold beer.

Verdict : TOTALLY SMITTEN

Tate @ Intermark KL

Surroundings - Tate is probably the hardest pub to find in KL and perhaps the closest we have to a genuine hidden drinking den. There are two steps in finding it; firstly, locate Tea 42 and walk to the cashier, you will see a white door with a long gold handle engraved with the word "Tate" on it. If you have perfect eye sight, locate the hanging hat and push the door to enter.

Menu - They have a good selection of cocktails, consisting of classics and house specials, which are well-crafted. However, they have a rather limited beer list. There are no food menu, so be ready to drown yourself with drinks.

A special drink from the bartender - Chili Martini (RM30). I was perfectly happy with the amount of chili which blended very nicely with the orange juice.

Mai Tai (RM39) which means "Out of this World" in Tahitian is made out of rum, lime juice, orange curacao and some mint.

This Pomegranate Margarita (RM39) consists of tequila, pomegranate and lime juice. This was slightly stronger than the previous two drinks - absolutely love it.

Tate is a bar with opulently designed, well-crafted cocktails, friendly staff and good music. Even though the drinks are slightly more expensive, Tate is an ideal place for you to unwind and challenge your friends at the pool table. Strangers are compelled to make friends due to its intimate ambiance.

Verdict: SOMEWHAT SMITTEN

Ye Ole Smokehouse @ Cameron Highlands - Breakfast

Surroundings - Located at Tanah Rata, The Ye Ole Smokehouse is one of the most famous boutique hotel in Cameron Highlands. Built in 1939, this iconic building is situated near the 18-hole golf course. The eclectic mix of furnitures and fittings helped set the right English ambiance for this old colonial.

Menu - The Smokehouse offers traditional English breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner. As expected the British kitchen serves tea all day long. Fruits and vegetables are sourced locally from Cameron Highland, while the meats are sourced from the reliable producers around the world. The kitchen has also long been famous for its homemade scones, cakes and jams.

It was a bright and sunny day. Unfortunately we woke up a tad too late to secure a table at the patio area.

Fresh orange juice without ice!

English Breakfast Tea.

"The is ultimate English breakfast" says Mr. Smitten. Hmmm....really?

The blueberry muffin was cold and it reminds me of the muffin served on FireFlyz. The croissants suffer similar criticism. Its not my prerogative to start my day with a sorry pastry. =(

This hearty bowl of English porridge is smooth and has a light consistency. Did you know that porridge should be stirred only using the right-hand and in a clockwise direction to ward off evil spirits?

Homemade jams

My big breakfast set.

Honestly I was quite disappointed with the service and food quality. The pastries was not up to standard and the big breakfast was just mediocre. I much prefer the breakfast at La Bodega. Nonetheless, the stay at The Smokehouse is something to be treasured.

Verdict: NOT SMITTEN

Shangrila - Wedding Food Tasting (Hidden Meaning)

Wedding session is here again and I have lost count on the numbers of weddings I have attended this year. Chinese weddings are famous for it extensive 10 course dinner, where each course symbolizes something special. Let's try to figure out what each dish represents.

Shangrila Hot Cold Dish Combination - This plate usually consists of various meat and seafood. During our tasting, we were served 2 sliced abalones, 2 crab claws, yam nest with stir fried chicken and 3 slices of fish cakes. The Hot and Cold exhibit the Yin and Yang, symbolizing the balance of a new relationship.

Golden Pumpkin infused with Crab Meat and Dried Scallops - The appetizers is usually followed by a double boiled soup. The golden pumpkin indicates wealth, while the crab meats and dried scallops represent prosperity.

Deep Fried Boneless Chicken with Marmalade Sauce. Serving chicken denotes joy and celebration. Most of the restaurant will serve the entire chicken to connote completeness.

Eight Treasure Chicken in Gold Foil - We were given two choices of chicken to taste. I personally prefer the latter, as it is less fatty compared to the first chicken. Nevertheless, the bride and groom have decided to go with the fried chicken since there will be a lot of non-Chinese guests attending the wedding.

Vegetable Parcel topped with Wild Mushroom & Hokkaido Dried Scallop Gravy - The vegetable parcel symbolizes "money pouch", which translates into plenty of wealth and happiness.

Wasabi Prawn Salad and Grilled Buttered Prawn in "Bird Nest" - The big prawns represents liveliness.

Steamed Atlantic Cod Fish with Superior Soya Sauce. In Chinese, Fish means plentiful and abundance.

Glutinous Rice Wrapped in Lotus Leaf. While ordinary rice is the daily staple for Chinese people, glutinous rice is regarded as a bit of luxury in China and it is only eaten on special occasions such as a wedding reception. The grain of the glutinous rice tend to be whither and rounder compared to ordinary rice. It also tastes much sweeter. Glutinous rice are usually served in a Lotus Leaf.

A wedding reception will usually end with some red bean soup coupled with some pan fried lotus paste to wish the newlyweds a hundred year of togetherness. The sweet lotus paste symbolized fertility and many descendants. Nonetheless, we were charmed by the Baked Lychee Tart with Coconut Ice Cream. It was delicious.

The 10 course dinner which includes a bottle of white/red wine cost around RM2588++/ table. Overall the food was good and the plating was decent. Hopefully the quality of the food on that night will be equally flavorful.

Verdict: SOMEWHAT SMITTEN

Marmalade @ Solaris Dutamas - Breakfast

Surroundings - Jump start your day with a hearty meal at Marmalade. This child friendly restaurant is located at Level G3, right next to the children playground of Solaris Dutamas. The homely atmosphere coupled with friendly wait staffs set the right tone to start your morning with a glow.

Menu - The restaurant focuses on delivering simple home cook food with big flavours. The salads, gourmet sandwiches, spaghettis and other comfort food makes it an excellent spot for health conscious diners. Marmalade was voted the Best Healthy Eating/Vegetarian Restaurant in the Time Out KL Food Awards 2010. Bravo!

The intensely chocolaty milk shake and refreshing fresh apple juice.

Sounds of Havana was staked with crunchy pineapples, diced pepper, fresh lettuce, roasted chicken cubes and some fragrant cashew nuts. To finish, the bowl was drizzled with honey mustard and coconut salsa.

The combination of strawberries, bananas and french toasts echoed the sweetness of life.

Verdict: TOTALLY SMITTEN