Catching A Glimpse of Stockholm

School Children Crossing.

Colorful Letter Box.

One of the many narrow, cobblestone alleys in Gamla Stan.

Stortorget - a smal public square in Gamla Stan.

Stockholm Street Music - Musicians playing in Gamla Stan. Great music!

Saturday Hay Market - A modest size outdoor food market that happens every Saturday at the heart of the city.

Cycling in Stockholm is a breeze

With Love from Stockholm...

Paradise Dynasty @ Paradigm Mall, Petaling Jaya

We wanted two things after a few hours of walking at Paradigm Mall: Food and Drink. Located on the first floor, Paradise Dynasty did a good job in fulfilling our needs.

 Just in case you can't decide what to order, I suggest that you go on a dumpling adventure. You can't go wrong with their signature Dynasty Xiao Long Bao, which comes in 8 different flavors. 

Signature Dynasty Xiao Long Bao (RM23.80) -  Let's break down why this is the Xiao Long Bao you want. To start, the ratio of the skin, soup and meat was perfect. The skin was not too thick and not too thin, the soup was sweet, infused with meaty goodness that was carefully curated. But what really tied this little package together was the final craftsmanship. 

White - Original

Black - Black Truffle

Light Orange - Crab Roe

Grey - Garlic

Bright Orange - Foie Gras

Green - Ginseng

Yellow - Cheese

Red - Szechuan

Beijing Pork Dumplings (6 pcs for RM9) - Unlike the Xiao Long Bao, the dumplings were served on a plate instead of a bamboo steamer. It was meticulously wrapped and sealed with ground pork meat. This classic dish is just about the best thing you can get for RM9.

Smitten Dishes:
Original Xiao Long Bao
Black Truffle Xiao Long Bao

Beijing Pork Dumplings

VERDICT: TOTALLY SMITTEN

Smitten By Ideas: The Little Printer

This is what happens when old technology meets new technology. A piece of low resolution paper summarizing everything we need in a day. This little device is cloud connected, capable of printing news, to-do list, messages, tweets and everything in between. Can't wait to get my hands on it! 

 

Hello Little Printer, available 2012 from BERG on Vimeo.

Hokkaido Ichiba @ Gardens Mall, Kuala Lumpur

Hokkaido Ichiba challenges diners with a seasonal menu of what they should be eating during the summer months. You will find interesting dishes such as, Nouryo Somen, Ankimo Ponzu, Jumbo Kaisen Chawanmushi and Wagyu Sukiyaki on the 2 page seasonal menu. 

Kyuri No Asazuke (RM7) - The selection of delicious starters are perfect for sharing. The homemade Japanese cucumber pickles brought in the conversation of sweet and crisp - a balanced portrait of what a simple salad should be. 

Ankimo Ponzu (RM13) - Monk fish liver served with ponzu sauce was equally noteworthy. With scattering of green onions and seaweeds, we almost forgot that we are eating one of the best delicacy in the world.   

Jumbo Kaisen Chawanmushi / Japanese Steamed Egg with Assorted Seafood (RM20) - If you like steamed egg topped with generous portion of assorted seafood and lightly perfumed broth, then the Jumbo Kaisen Chawanmushi will surely satisfy. 

Sashimi Moriawase (RM100) - 8 kinds of seasonal sashimi nestled on a elongated ceramic plate. Perfectly cut and absolutely fresh!

Nouryo Somen (RM20) - Cold thin wheat noodle came swimming in a special broth, crowned with fresh prawns, scallops, tofu and cucumbers. At first glance, the dish appeared simple, but the not so usual noodles brought all the elements together on our chopsticks for the best bites. 

Wagyu Sukiyaki (RM60) -  While the restaurant has a spotlight on fish, it provides beef substitutions for those who are craving for meat. The number was 6, so if you are in an odd numbered dining party, be prepared to fight over the last bite! 

The wagyu beef (shoulder part) was dipped in a sukiyaki style hot pot.

To score extra points, slather a layer of raw egg before putting it into your buds. The splash of vivid raw egg will elevate the dish from "soso" to "wow". A perfect dish for rainy days, even though it has not been rainy for the past few days. 

Smitten Dishes:

Jumbo Kaisen Chawanmushi 

Sashimi Moriawase

Wagyu Sukiyaki 

VERDICT: TOTALLY SMITTEN