Satisfying Weekend with Marco's Pizza@ PJ

Happy 50th birthday to my dear Malaysia!

Finally touching half a century of Independence, which is worth a celebration! A country that offers comfort, variety of food and places to spend time socially no doubt!
I went to the Putrajaya Convention centre last night on the Merdeke Eve, to join in the countdown celebration and marked the independence day with so full of enthusiasm and excitement!... as there was the musical fireworks from Team Japan!!! More sharings later then! The atmosphere was just filling up with sophistication and "wow-ness".

I hope everyone is enjoying their 3 days day-off and it's weekend!

I didn't wonder anywhere despite the holiday. Just have to finish up revisions for another test next week! and worst of all, nasal congestion made me tiring and sleepy. Darn! There's even some tingling sensation down my thoart!

Last week, as Chris promised, he brought me to have lunch at Marco's Pizza. Located opposite the Kelana Jaya LRT station, we've always got captivated by the giant signboard displayed while we're on our way to 1 Utama. This time, Chris suggested that we should make a stop for food here! It's quite difficult for us to get a parking space around. Well after about 15 minutes, finally we managed to. This is quite a big outlet with different degree of ambience, I must say. There's corners for kids, decorated walls with cute cartoon paintings, as well as spaces that compromised with contented interior and lightings that layout to the front door.

For starters, we had their Wild Mushroom Soup scented with grape seed oil. For RM8.00, you'll get to taste the creamy and thick soup! Accompanied with extensive aroma and taste, a spoonful with just have its aroma penetrate your nostrils right away while covering with these soups in your mouth! I love it absolutely... but also thought that the mushroom soup that Precious Pea had at Max Kitchen would be extra tempting!

Not to forget the drinks, as usual Chris ordered the Iced Lemon Tea for RM4.50. Strong lemon sensation just boost my vitamin C level higher! *smiles* which I need it badly right now!

And... here comes our main course orders! Initially I plan to try on their pizza as well as pastas, but after asking how many they would serve for the regular portion they said 8 pieces! I thought that we can't finish them all, so I'd rather have their pizza... what they are famous for. However, Chris insisted that we have them both since he knew I love pastas! Then... ok for sure!!

We ordered the Spaghetti Carbonara, a traditional creamy pasta with beef bacon, garlic, egg & parmesan cheese! Oh.. this was appetizingly delicious for sure!! As what had been mentioned, creamy and tasty! This for RM 18.80.

Have a look! Served hot and this gain an extra credit to its taste!

Our order of Marco's Pizza was served while we're busy having our creamy carbonara. This is Marco's signature pizza with shredded turkey ham, country chicken egg, mozzarella cheese and plum tomato sauce. I requested for the thin crust version as I've not have any before. All the while, was eating the thick crust that Pizza Hut offered! Although I'm not a typical pizza lover, I still managed to eat 4 pieces! Chris sapu the rest! haha! Whoa.... the crunchy crust and the hot, delicious toppings left me drifted with pleasant thoughts! RM16.80 for a regular pizza was indeed a reasonable price for sure :) *claps claps to Marco's*

I love thin crusted pizza!

The workers were busy cooking the pizza in the open oven. Traditionally methodology prepared pizza is the best!!!

Yea. We loved it absolutely! They had built quite a high reputation in the media world.

Hope you would check this place out and once again Happy 50th Independence Day! I hereby conduct a virtual celebration with all of you by sharing my pictures on Marco's Pizza! *smiles*

Have a great weekend people!

Click for enlarged map

~Halal~
Marco's Pizza
No: 81-85, Jalan ss25/2,
Taman Bukit Emas, 47301 PJ
Tel: 03-7803 5000
Fax: 03-7803 3805








Blog reviewed:

• Da Wheel of Life & Happiness

Girls Lunch-Out at Old Town White Coffee

I missed their companies! I missed the laughter shared and "girls gossips" with them! They are no other than my soul mates ~ Yen and AiWei :) We met up for another lunch hang-out at Jusco Cheras Selatan. I meet AiWei up while she's busy strolling and eyeing on the shoes at Vincci. As usual... Yen, the princess is late, although actually she was already there with her mom. Ai Wei and I walked from one end to the other corner of the mall figuring out what should we eat :(
Almost end up in the Orchid Bistro but since there are not many customers dining in, there goes our desire to try it out. After Yen arrived, we headed to the Old Town White Coffee restaurant since AiWei and I have not tried on their main dishes yet :)



For drinks, Yen and I had the Honey Lemon Juice. She opted for the hot juice while I needed something chilling to quench my thirst. So I ordered the cold version. Love honey and lemon. Just so compatible!

Hot Honey Lemon Juice at RM 2.80

The Cold Honey Lemon Juice was hydrating! RM3.20 per glass.

AiWei had something different, the White Coffee Gao for RM2.80

Since Yen had already taken her lunch... hey, I thought we're suppose to have it together! She just watched us have our delish meals. I'm recommended by Yen on the restaurant's nasi lemak. They offer one with Rendang Chicken and another special version. Both tempted me lots!
Well, I had the Nasi Lemak Special instead as I wanted to know how special it can turn out to be... This portion for RM5.8o.



It really turn out to be special after all and I fell in love with their sambal right away. The taste of excitement! hehe.. It's served with a piece of fried chicken and I thought it tasted like the KFC! Still delicious no doubt :)

For AiWei, she had something light... since she had something back home, an order of a Tuna Toast seems appropriate. Tuna fillings with veges were delicate, at the price of RM3.50.

Though we have gone our separate ways, even further from each other next year! *sob* We just can't stop it, can't we? Another 'musketeer' is heading home soon.. till then, we shall have more hang-outs and food blogging... and after my coming test! Oh dear...

-soulmates-

~Halal~
Old Town White Coffee
Jusco Cheras Selatan,
Tel: 03-90741898

Steamy dinner @ Only Steam

Another Chinese meal dining period devoted with my family... This restaurant, named Only Steam... opened not long ago near my place. Perhaps a few weeks back. Hey... my area is going to be overwhelmed with more eateries! More to visit nearby.. *glad* The name tells it all "only steam" - only steamed dishes are available. No fried food! Healthy? 50% oil-free? haha... probably can reduce the risk of having lipidaemia! The walls of its interior caught my attention. Filled with images of the available steamed food. Attractive and looked tempting of course! What a luring technique!
The menu was printed bilingually, in mandarin and english... so I getta know what are they serving. A "mandarin-noob" I'm being :P



We had the Meat Filling Tofu Steamed. Funny name... The tofu was soft and silky. A great combination of gravy and meat fillings. However, Thought the this dish was overpriced for RM10!

It's been a long time since I had clams a.ka. lalas. So I decided to request for a lala dish. Introducing the Claypot Lalas with dried Chilis. This is quite disappointing as the lala was kinda small. The lalas had not much taste but its gravy is tastier! They should work more on trying to blend the tasty sauce into the lala meat! Hmm... Priced at RM15

As for vegetables, we dad ordered the Hong Kong Choi Sum.. A normal dish at RM4. Basically they just immersed them in boiling hot water and serve with fried onion and sauce.

I was reluctant to have this at first, but after many convincing attempts, decided to give this a try, the Paddy Frog steamed with Brand's Chicken Essence! Whoa... special, steamed with chicken essence. I smirk a little while eating its thigh as there's a lot to contemplate especially while u r eating a frog! Despite that, it still tasted nice. I only had one :P This is priced at RM15.

I love this.. but find it kinda bland though once tasted it. The 3 Variety Steamed Batter Egg which include em.. eggs, salted eggs and century eggs. RM6 for this portion.

Last but not least, the steamed fish! I forgot what it's called but it tasted not bad after all... We waited kinda long for this to be served so... we don't really enjoyed it. Finished everything and what's left is the fish that is priced RM25.



Em.. the total bill came up to about RM90++. Overpriced?? I thought so, for such dishes... can be better.. Overall, this meal didn't satisfy our appetite to such an extent for a revisit. Dad said, "Once is enough" :P

Weekend Cooking Lesson 2: Peping Sytle Fried Dumpling

After my attempt to prepare nasi lemak on Saturday, mom agreed to help resolve my fear of 'incapability to work in the kitchen' :P again on Sunday. We decided to prepare the Peping Style Fried Dumpling, mom's recipe when she's learning how to cook back then! Hmm..."Peping style" Initially wondering what's that but it's just a name for this dish... famously known as "Wo Tip"! I just love fried dumpling lots! and now I get to prepare it for myself! Should taste nicer than the ones sold outside! *haha*

Sharings:
The below ingredients are sufficient to prepare about 30 dumplings. Depends on the size of the dumplings that you want them to be.......
Let's start of with the recipe people :)
Ingredients for the skin: the outer layer

• 8 ounces of multi purpose flour
• 4 ounces of boiling water (half a rice bowl)
• 1-2 ounces of cold water

Ingredients for the fillings

• 1/2 kg Grounded pork
• 1/2 kg Grounded prawns
• Chopped dried shiitake mushrooms (have to be soaked first)
• Stalks of leeks

Grounded pork ~ so pink!


Prawn paste




Chopped Shiitake Mushromms

Another important step is that, the fillings have to be seasoned! with....

• 1 1/2 teaspoon of sesame oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1 tablespoon of chinese wine
• 1 teaspoon pepper

Seasoning of the fillings

It's up to you whether you opt for the dipping sauce as an extra stimulation for the taste bud :P But it really stimulate mine! It's easy peesy!
For the sauce:

• 1 small plate of shredded young ginger
• 2 tablespoon of black vinegar
• 1 tablespoon of soya sauce
• 1/2 tablespoon of cooked oil

The sourish and tasty sauce :)

Method:

• Place the grounded pork, prawns, mushrooms and leeks in a larger bowl, season and mix these ingredients. Leave them for about 1/2 an hour while preparing the dough for its skin
• Flatten each dough and put about 1 tablespoon of fillings in the center, then fold over and pinch edges together
• Heat a flat frying pan until it's hot enough, add 2 tablespoon of oil and place in the dumplings. Fry until the bottom of the dumpling is golden brown, add 1/2 a bowl of extra ingredient (water with 1 teaspoon sesame oil and 1 tablespoon white vinegar) - to soften the skin and add extra taste to the fillings and skin!
• Cook till dry then add in another 2 tablespoon of oil (to enhance crispiness on the bottom layer) and fry for another 1/2 minute
• Arrange them on the serving plate and serve with the sauce! *yes*

Photo sessions!

Make them flat!

Bro's working on the mould. We used rice bowl instead!


Wrap it!


Looked like curry puffs? haha.. :P




Fry them!




Not enough?? Fry more then!




Arrange!

Although it's kinda time consuming when preparing all these but the effort is worthwhile :) Quite tiring.. especially the rate-limiting process of wrapping the fillings up! Luckily my brothers were willing to offer help! Eh... they can make nicely shaped dumplings! Mom did the frying part while we were busy producing them.. We had fun fooling around with the flattening and wrapping process :P Flours all over the table :P

Guess how many dumplings that we managed to make? It's 97 all together! Oh.. we had so many and our stomachs were overloaded with dumplings!.. Can't finish and grandpa kept them for his dinner!

The "Wo-Tip" Meal!


I'm lovin' It! Wanna give it a go? Here's one for you!

Weekend Cooking Lesson 1: Homemade Nasi Lemak

Since reading XLB's post on her homemade nasi lemak, I've decided to give it a try as well! Assisted by my aunt, every procedure went on smoothly, particularly when trying to cook the main dish: the sambal! Every other steps are just as easy except the sambal of course. Think I've not added in enough sugar as Chris claimed it's not sweet enough and I should have added more onions! Will work on that in my next attempt.
Frankly speaking, I'm no good in the kitchen. The timid me who is forever afraid of the splashy oil, can't bear the hot and lazy to cook a proper meal as well! haha.. but I'm determined now to have more actions in the kitchen as I'm worry that I'll be having culinary potential difficulties when studying abroad. *sweat*
Let's move on with the important ingredients for the sambal :)

Chopped small onions

Anchovies a.k.a ikan bilis in the wok! Ah.. move out! :P Becareful while frying it... those striking oil!

Fried the peanut as well and fresh cucumber!

Fry the small onion in a little bit of oil till fragrant and soft, add in the chili paste and let it simmer for a moment. Add some sugar to eliminate the little sourish taste of the chili paste. Taste it! *hehe* Now the coconut milk (santan) is added followed by the anchovies later. And this is it!

I screwed it up? NOT! still OK-lar... :P Still edible!

The Dry Chicken Curry by aunt. Will learn this in my next attempt. Wish me luck :P

Nasi lemak isn't complete without? The Eggs!

Here goes my plate of Homemade Nasi Lemak. Anyone dares to give this a try? Don't worry... :)

I'm anticipating more lessons in the kitchen! Brushing up cooking skills is a good activity :) Nah! Chris.. don't say I always didn't have the intention to cook for you! By the way... did you lick your plate?? Hmm...
I've also gained another recipe from dear mommy and will share it out soon enough!