Friday, June 15, 2012

Tasty Discoveries @ Sakae Sushi

This week, I was given the privilege to attend a event to sample some of Sakae Sushi's newest creations. By now, everyone should already be familiar with the friendly green frog from the outlet that offers scrumptious Japanese cuisine. Come on, isn't he just adorable?


Sakae offers a wide range of items on the menu that leaves you spoiled for choice, ranging from teppanyaki, yakimono, agemono, tempura, nabemono, Japanese noodles and donburi. While offering tasty Japanese delights at reasonable prices, Sakae is constantly innovative in creating new ways to offer customers the best value in terms of variety, food quality and dining experience.

The first dish to arrive was the Kaisen Salad (RM16.90), which looked both vibrant and appetizing. Top of the salad consisted of prawns, tuna flakes, snow crab leg and is strewn with shrimp roe. All this was sitting on a bed crunchy, raw cabbage and surrounded by lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, blanched broccoli and seaweed. It came with a side of creamy goma (sesame) dressing. The prawns and crab tasted fresh, while the shrimp roe added a hint of saltiness that was just right. The dressing with really delicious and nutty, and really made the dish. I found myself wanting more in the end, as there were more salad than dressing, even after we mixed it through. The salad overall had great texture, with the crunchy assorted vegetables and the soft seafood.




Next up, came the Kaisen Pirikara Nabe (RM 24.90). It was an abundant and appetizing seafood hotpot that comprised of prawns, squid, salmon, Japanese fish-cake, scallop, assorted vegetables (napa cabbage, shiitake mushroom, hon-shimeji mushrooms, leeks and sliced onions) and some glass noodles in a kimchee soup. The seafood was fresh and not overcooked. The soup was flavorful, but the spiciness was definitely milder than Korean version. However, I felt that it lacked just a slight bit of saltiness, which would really add a bit more depth to the flavor of the soup and bring out a tad more savoriness. I added a small amount of shoyu and it was perfect.


After that, it was time for some new sushi dishes. First up was the Ebi Crepe (RM5.99). A luscious roll with whole-cooked prawn, crab stick, lettuce and egg mayonnaise wrapped in a light crepe layer. Taste-wise, it was just alright for me. It could use a bit more texture, as each bite was a bit too soft. Perhaps adding cucumber would be good, just for some crunch.


The Sakae Blossom (RM9.99) was just gorgeous and just as lovely to eat. It was an intricately-designed roll with very lightly grilled salmon as the blossom, with sides covered in shrimp roe and finished with small dollop of mayonnaise on top. It was easily one of my favorite sushi of the night. But then, I love anything with lots of shrimp or salmon roe =)


The Soft Shell Crab Maki (RM 5.99) was scrumptious. The combination of soft shell crab, sweet beancurd and spicy mayonnaise really made each bite sing. Also, I love anything with crispy soft shell crab, but who doesn't? =P


The Inari Avocado Ebi (RM7.99) was pretty good as well. The salad dressing, avocado and sweet beancurd skin combination was tasty but it wasn't as memorable for me.


Another favorite for me was the Hana Maki (RM9.99). It was a beautifully crafted flower rolls with delicate, fresh, raw salmon petals wrapping a sushi rice centre and topped generously with mayonnaise and shrimp roe. The richness of the salmon and mayo made each bite melt in my mouth.


The Hotate Mentaiyaki (RM20.90), which is succulent half-shell scallops grilled with cod fish roe, tasted both creamy and fresh. The scallops were still soft and slightly briny and cod fish roe tasted almost like mayo. I'm not sure if any mayo was added to the topping.


I've always loved the Genmaicha (brown rice tea, which is green tea combined with roasted brown rice) that is served in Sakae. The roasted brown rice really gives it a pronounced, toasty and delicious flavor.


The last item was the Curry Udon (RM12.90), which came with Japanese fishcake slices, chicken, cubed carrots and potatoes. The texture of the curry is not as thick but taste-wise, it didn't disappoint. We were all stuffed by then but still managed to scoff it down.


After all the fantastic food, we were ushered outside for a group photo with none other than the plump green frog. It was flattering as some of the marketing crew, along the with the frog, came all the way from KL for this event!~

Yes, I look like I'm still hungry, as I tried to steal a bite on the froggie XD


A big shout-out to Emily, as it was her birthday that day!~ And she met her prince too...in frog form. Not yet kiss mah, so haven't transformed yet.


When we got back in, we were surprised with dessert and presented with 4 flavors of their ice-cream. From the top: Dragon fruit, passion fruit, black sesame and green tea. My favorite were the dragon fruit and passion fruit ones, albeit it digressed from the usual Japanese flavors. I loved the refreshing, bright and clean taste of both =)


Each of us got a goodie bag, with a little green froggie inside too!~


A big thanks to Sakae Sushi for gracefully hosting us and making sure we had a great time that night. Also, thanks to my buddy Criz and our helpful organizers from Foodsion for making this happen =)

Monday, June 11, 2012

Dark Side

I find this song to be incredibly beautiful and meaningful. It reflects the acceptance that we all hope for from others. We hope to be loved for everything that is good about us, but often draw back the side we wish to hide from the world. The side of us that embodies our insecurities, transgressions and gross imperfections. The side of us that makes us eccentric, downright weird or even shamefully different in the eyes of others. A side hidden, in secret, even from the closest confidants or longest of friends. No matter how big or small, everyone has a dark side.

It's easy to dream up a perfect partner, family or friend, but in reality, everyone is far from perfect. How much do you really love them? And if you do, do you love everything about them? Do you accept them wholly as they are? Or do you judge them for their imperfections? Think about it.



There's a place that I know
It's not pretty there and few have ever gone
If I show it to you now
Will it make you run away

Or will you stay
Even if it hurts
Even if I try to push you out
Will you return?
And remind me who I really am
Please remind me who I really am

Everybody's got a dark side
Do you love me?
Can you love mine?
Nobody's a picture perfect
But we're worth it
You know that we're worth it
Will you love me?
Even with my dark side?

Like a diamond
From black dust
It's hard to know
What can become
If you give up
So don't give up on me
Please remind me who I really am

Everybody's got a dark side
Do you love me?
Can you love mine?
Nobody's a picture perfect
But we're worth it
You know that we're worth it
Will you love me?
Even with my dark side?

Don't run away
Don't run away
Just tell me that you will stay
Promise me you will stay
Don't run away
Don't run away
Just promise me you will stay
Promise me you will stay

Will you love me? ohh

Everybody's got a dark side
Do you love me?
Can you love mine?
Nobody's a picture perfect
But we're worth it
You know that we're worth it
Will you love me?
Even with my dark side?

Don't run away
Don't run away

Don't run away

Promise you'll stay

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Revival of the Pooh

It has been a little more than 7 months since my last post. I've decided at the last post that I no longer had the inspiration nor the time to sustain my blog. However, a recent circumstance compelled me to resurrect this little bloggie from the dusty, cobwebbed tomb that I've left it in. So, here I am. Hopefully ready once again to pen finger my thoughts for the amusement of the cyber community and my once avid (I hope) followers. What has transpired for the past 7 months of my absence here?

For starters, my work organization went for a re-shuffle beginning of this year. I was freed from the tyranny of the 'shining' (a term branded by some of my new co-workers for my bald, tall and imposing Indian ex-boss) and I was left in the hands of a proper manager. One whom I'm more than happy to work with, as we knew that he has a good rep and was pleasant to work with, and am still happy to do so today. That alone lifted a great deal of stress off my shoulders, and I felt like working in a proper office again. Not struggling with a 'kuli' and big boss relationship, but a professional employee and manager one.

And it seems that my ex-boss is facing sort of a downward spiral at the moment. We did a survey last year, as do all large companies, regarding anything from working conditions to direct supervisors and top 3 lowest points in our department was selected for a workshop to brainstorm for improvements early this year. My ex-boss was one of them LOL. Also, we just changed dept head (his boss) and plant manager as well. Basically, he is also under new management as well and we wonder how he will cope because we know that even current managers and dept heads dislike him or working with him. I know it bears a hint of cruelty to chuckle gleefully at that, but he treated us like dirt with no respect, made my life miserable, didn't teach my shit and even gave me a borderline low performance.

Zai2 and I aren't together anymore. It happened early this year and we agreed mutually to separate. I won't elatborate right now but I was at a point in my life where I had a little too much to handle, among other things. But all in all, we're both still good friends and pretty much enjoying our single lives. I'm not really looking for anything right now, but wouldn't mind sampling some 'goods'. So far, haven't done that.

It seems now that I'm in my early 30s, my focus has shifted and my perspective has changed. In my 20s, all I could think about was finding a BF. Now, I'm more concerned about enhancing my network of friends or contacts and pondering about my financial future. Not that I'm poor or anything, but just wanna focus on improving my lifestyle. And money opens up more options. Life has been pretty quiet in Penang, with quite a few of my close friends having left the country to work/study overseas. As much as I love Penang to bits, I miss KL a lot. I love the city life plus have many friends there that I really enjoy hanging out with. You know who you are =)

So far, the year 2012 has been pretty good and we're already almost halfway through. I hope the second half will bring better things!~