Photo Gallery by QuickGallery.com

Don't they look delish? These are just some of the dishes that you can try at Han's Dim Sum. At affordable prices and guaranteed freshness (the dim sums are steamed upon ordering, not pre-steamed and kept heated) you'll be pleasantly surprised by how full-filling these dishes are. Looking for a quick lunch that is light on the tummy and pocket, but heavy on flavours and satisfaction, add Han's Dim Sum to your existing list. If you don't have a list yet, why not start with this?

Located at the Third Mile area, Han's Dim Sum occupies the corner lot of shophouses across Timberland Medical Center just next to Jolibee. Other landmarks to hep you spot the right location is Siang Siang Corner and Maxis. Here's the foursquare location. No pork, no lard, no alcohol served here. According to my host, Han's Dim Sum is trying to attract the younger generations to enjoy dim sums as a meal in general, and I have to agree, this place has all the perks that we all could enjoy (personally tho, if it comes to food, I'm game >.<)/

Let's start with the house specials - Chicken Rice Wrapped in Lotus Leaf. Choose your preferences be it roasted or steamed. As the name suggests, the chicken rice topped with chicken of your choice is wrapped with lotus leaf before being steamed, giving the pleasant aroma as you enjoy it. The portion is also good for a full lunch meal.

Next is another house specials - the Sifu Pau. This is another lunch-appropriate meal, and suitably made to enjoy dine-in or to go. It is a essentially a bundle of joy - a hot, steamed bun with glutinous rice, herbs, chicken and salted egg yolk (a Chinese friend told me it is essentially lo mai kai in a bun >.<)/  OMG I cannot get over the taste of it. I only had a quarter, but I kid you not, the bun was soft and supple (erk, that's a weird adjective to use on buns.. pun intended) the sticky rice and chicken was savoury, and the salted egg yolk was the surprise center. yummeeeehhh!!!! 

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

The writer would like to stress that it is now 12.30 on a Saturday morning, and he hasn't had lunch and skipped breakfast and is now droooling at his own post >.<

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

When it comes to choices of dim sum, there are many to choose from the menu. If you're a little lost at what to get, came with a couple of friends or simply have a big appetite, try Han's Yamcha Starter Set. This is the house favourite, serving the following dim sums:

Chicken Ham Roll

Seaweed Roll

Braised Chicken Wing

Century Egg Siew Mai

Chicken and Mushroom Siew Mai

and the chef's pick of the day.

Of course, you still have a choice to mix and match the individually priced dim sums from the menu.  Various condiments and dips are also available to dip the dim sums - I'm inclined to think that some dips complements a certain dim sum and do not work as well with others, but the only rule I follow is that if it taste good, it taste good. If not, try a different one. >.<  

Common kopitiam drinks are also available to wash down all those good food, or just order a pot of Chinese tea and shoot the breeze with your friends. 

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

The writer would like to point out that he just realised Han's Dim Sum is less than 5 minutes drive from where he is currently at. There can be no doubt that he is going there for lunch >.<

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

So my blog recently got featured in Sarawak bloggers for the month of September. In a mood for celebration I headed to the Sarawak Regatta Fair. I’ll have another entry for that later, but right now I am fully content with my own company having a bite of Steak Beef Pie at John’s Pie. I’ve heard of John’s Pie from someone, I don’t recall whom though. Also came across the name while covering for the Rainforest World Music Festival 2013.

The entrance

I gotta there was a small misunderstanding about John’s Pie. Though the name was familiar, I was never able to find it. Instead, I came across John’s Place. Boy they are worlds apart. Where John’s Pie serves pie and pastries (as the name implies), John’s Place is a kopitiam which also offers a bed & breakfast on the first floor. I have a feeling that they are related - perhaps of the same business owners. If you know dow put it into the comments below! Thanks!

Inside - rather cozy albeit small

John’s Pie is a small quaint little cafe on the street of Song Thian Cheok. Common landmark is the 360’s Hotel, Liwah Hotel and Wisma Pheonix across Secret Recipe Padungan. I have to say after spending a whole day at the Regatta Festival with a bunch of awesome friends (a couple of which I just met) this quiet little place with its mellow jazz music in the background is all I needed while my other half is doing her own thing, if I may be to bold to point out.

Well anyways I I tried the Steak Beef Pie and boy was I pleasantly surprised. It was delish. The crust was thin but not too thin –it simply crumbles away revealing the scrumptious fillings inside. I have to point out that this is not a good place if you have large numbers in your party. Solo coffee time, couple’s date, that’s just the right number. Three, four or more would be a crowd. As it stands, I will definitely bring my better half here.

The receipt - not expensive at all!

John’s Pie also serve Shepherd’s Pie among other things ~ for those who fancy juices with their pies, there is bottled orange juice, but I like my pie with a cup of plain old coffee. They also serve a few types of quiches - a type of baked flan or tart with savory filling thickened with eggs (or to me it's a much larger version of egg tart - except instead of just egg, you get chicken or meat on it as well >.<) 

There is also a new pie on their menu - a locally inspired Laksa Pie! I might head over there to try it out soon! Who's coming with me?   \(^_^)/

Laksa Pie

What do you get when you combine heat, marshmallow and cracker? S'more!!! Traditionally, marshmallows are roasted on an open fire (usually during camping trips) and then sandwiched between two graham crackers together with chocolate. Since I don't have any graham crakers - nor do I know how it looks like exactly having never found it anywhere in Kuching - which I'm almost certain some supermarkets do have them - I used Tiger crackers for substitute. As for chocolate, I got creative and sprinked Milo! >.<

Like I said, traditionally, the marshmallow would be roasted on fire - I took the high-tech approach of microwaving it (turns out after looking at Wikipedia, microwaving s'mores is pretty common...) And the result?

Looks good eh? I only dared to try one because at that time I had a suspicion that the marshmallow would explode in the microwave. For this particular s'more, I used medium power, 30 seconds - rest for 5 seconds, and another medium power for 20 seconds. The second time I tried it I used medium power for 50 40 seconds continuously - that did not turn out as well as the first. 

Anyways this is purely preference, but generally you don't want to heat it too much too long cuz then you'd have to wait for it to cool down or risk burning your tongue. Honestly, who has the patience when it comes to food?!

 

Trust me, this is an awesome snack to enjoy with family and friends over some football / basketball / tennis / badminton whatever, or just movies / series at home in the living room. If you do go out camping, I'm almost certain that roasted marshmallow beats microwave any day. 

Another guide - if you decide to use Milo or any powder form (milk / chocolate powder) -  sprinkle, don't spoon. As you can see in the picture above, it tend to melt and then stick together forming a candy hard sweet center filling. Not chewy, just hard. Unless if you're into biting hard candy, I don't recommend it..

I gotta say I'm a die hard fan of pastries and cookies (I'm sure I'm not alone n this one). The thing is I have to  (really really REALLY have to) watch what I eat. I gain weight very easily and lose rather slowly. But, I will make exceptions every once in a while. Otherwise, I'd probably be stuffing myself full with pastries ALL DAY LONG between EVERY MEAL. XD

Anyways, this is the first time I've actually tried a home made cream puff. Already I'm craving for more. Had a prospective client coming to our office for a visit and a presentation. As good host we decide to serve them a little breakfast. You know what they say, one way to win a heart is to win the tummy. 

Well obviously the pics aren't the ones I ordered. The moment I got to the office, put the puffs on the table in the pantry, half was gone! I didn't even have time to snap a picture. (Plus it would be very awkward to snap pics of food with guests around) Delish much! XD

I'd like to thank Nurul from Mia's Kitchen for preparing this great masterpiece of a pastry. My colleagues love it! The prospective clients love it too! She also has a few other pastries and desserts to die for - crepes, pavlova, these puffs that comes in either icing or chocolate toppings. I think she has a few other dishes - she posts them on facebook. Here's a sneak peek!

For now she operates from her house. I hope she goes around and expand this to a full business!!

PS : I'll have to ask for her permission to put her contact channels. Will update once she give's me an OK!

Well, here I am again, 2nd night in a row. I don't normally do this, but it seems that I've found the perfect spot to relax. It's quaint, quiet and cosy, and none too costly. On the contrary, imagine Starbucks serving kopi o. Yeap.. you got it. Where? Bingka Cafe.

You can locate Bingka Cafe at Plaza Astana, right across Shell Jalan Astana. Here's a map to get you by :

2nd nite here. I'll definitely come more often. It's actually a bakery, but just behind the bread shelves they have quite a big section of seatings. From normal 4 seater table, high stool pair table, couples settee and a 2 + 1 + 1 set rattan settee. Like a high end cafe.

Location wise, well not so much. As it is located in the suburb, I dont think a lot of people come here to sit. Not sure about the pastries tho. Not really our culture anyways. But, it is a plus to me as this is the second time I had this place practically all to myself.

I do hope this place holds up. Its close to my house, cheap, and very cosy. Definitely a place to bring a date. XD