Spending the whole of Saturday morning running errands after the hill walk had left me spent, and with me wanting to loll around the house. When news had arrived that an acquaintance wanted to treat us to dinner on the very same day, it left me a little apprehensive.

But I threw on myself a graphic tee and a pair of Uniqlo jeans and we headed out anyway. The restaurant was not of my choice; it was the acquaintance's, and seeing that she's an adventurous foodie who's willing to sample new restaurants, it was best that she made the call.

Which she did.

And brought us to ... The Carpenter's Daughter in Taipan. Have a look around their bakery section....... where you can find a variety of artisan breads.

Oh, what's this?It says here, Multi-grain Country Bread. Should've bought a loaf as a sample, but Mama Carrie mentioned that the texture was too soft and the weight was too light for her liking.

Don't look at me.The variety of desserts offered: Red Velvet Cupcakes, Plain Cheese Cake, Crème Brulee and Apple Pie among others.Looks lovely. Should've stayed with the original order instead of changing my mind at the last minute.

Sigh, talk about being deeply in love with the plain version. I'm a born and bred cheesecake lover, what. >.<This is where their baked goods are for sale.

Have a peek around table. Who knows what you might just find?I found this lovely dish, Chocolate Croissant, which reminds me of something that I had sampled in Shah Alam; and no, I didn't bring this home.Seafood Flat Noodle (15.90)

Not to say that I didn't have any chance to sample this; my stomach would've exploded if I did. The acquaintance kept offering a portion to Mama Carrie, hoping to indirectly convince her to eat more.

Mama Carrie had a taste, added that although the soup leaned on the salty side, there was a generous serving of seafood, especially the squids. Aglio Olio (15.90)

I'm so sorry, there's nothing special to scream about this dish. It lacked that touch of an extra teaspoon of salt but the taste was still alright.

I polished the plate clean and it filled the space in my stomach, almost to its maximum capacity.Apple Pie (7.90)

It so happened that there was a clash of tastes. I felt that it leaned towards the sweet side whereas Mama Carrie commented that it was perfect; the amount of sugar used was just nice and didn't overpower the natural taste of the apples.

She even polished the plate clean!Baked Plain Cheese Cake (9.90)

Everyone at the table complained that it was terribly too sweet for their liking at the first bite, and I must say that I have to agree with them. Even after setting aside the crust and glaze, it didn't do much to decrease the amount of sweetness.

How I wished that the baker had omitted the sugar; it may just allow the crust to make up for the lack of taste. Here's to hoping that he'll do something about it. Peppermint Tea (5.00, part of desserts promotion)Matcha Latte (5.00, part of desserts promotion)

This was my favorite drink, hands down; I love how the maker incorporated two favorite drinks of mine: skim milk and green tea.

My personal opinion? Would I return for another meal? I'm not sure, actually. The dishes suit my palate and I wouldn't mind spending an afternoon here over a cuppa and a conversation with my elementary school pal, but the parking hell of USJ 10 (Taipan) would send me back thinking twice and thrice.

If it was just me alone, I'd have ordered more dishes and brought home the leftovers for our next meals. =D

Address: The Carpenter's Daughter,

46G, Jln USJ 10/1E,

47620 Subang Jaya,

Selangor

Tel: 03-80811218

Business Hours: 9 am - 9.30 pm (for weekdays); 9 am - 10 pm (for weekends)

Landmark: It's opposite Ampang Yong Tau Foo and behind PappaRich. Within walking distance from RHB Bank.

The plan was to explore Empire Gallery for some shoes at a discounted price and maybe a couple of T-shirts to compliment them before extending it to the nearby Subang Parade. But before we were able to call it a day, Teochew Mama growled that she was starved. We took our time, debated between I Love Yoo! and Pasta Zanmai before deciding on the latter and dividing the meal into two. The lunch crowd had started to flock into the restaurant the moment we were seated and given some time to mull over the countless varieties of dishes that ranged from rice to pasta, fish to seafood.

We placed our order with the waitress without any further do, and happily waited for the order to be completed and delivered to our table.

First, came the iced lemon tea (RM 6.00 for a glass), plain and without any added sugar. Iced Lemon Tea (RM 6.00 for a glass)

The first sip told me that there was a trace of Ceylon tea in it and a whole load of freshly squeezed lemon juice in it, almost turning my teeth sour. Teochew Mama loved the bitter taste to it, said that it suited her just fine.

She wouldn't be able to finish the drink if she wasn't sharing it with me because she dislikes cold drinks. This was not our first choice; we were actually looking for a hot drink, something like green tea but couldn't find it on the menu. It wasn't until after we placed the order that I saw someone on the adjacent table enjoying a jug or cold green tea and his food companions sharing a pot of hot green tea.

Next came the set that I ordered, Tori Tortilla MP (RM 25.00) that included..... Chicken Cream Pasta (exact name, I have forgotten) and Soft Shell Crab.

Now, let's talk about the main dish.The moment the pasta arrived, the aroma of the dish knocked her right in the nose, rendering her taste buds numb. It was after I tasted the sauce that I knew what she meant. The sauce was cooked with butter and cream, and she doesn't like the latter, especially.

The spaghetti was perfectly cooked; although it was chewy, it was not to the point that I couldn't break it with my teeth easily. As for the chicken, she commented that it had to be grilled with black pepper; she was sure she could taste it on each bite.

But what about the soft shell crab (individual plate at RM 16.00)?When the plate was placed on the table, the hints of green in the wrap made me suspicious if avocadoes were used as an ingredient as only that item will produce such a color. After a quick check with menu, my suspicions were proved true.

There were indeed avocadoes in it.

Crap. For someone who doesn't have a penchant with the fruit, ordering this might rub off on you as weird, right? But since the other set meals didn't quite appeal to me, this was the only choice. I'd have loved to order seafood pasta but I couldn't quite risk a rash attack and scratch my fingers the whole night long.

Oh, yes, seafood is now forbidden. =(

Upon the first bite, she mentioned that she loved this dish as it contained neither butter nor cream and neither too sweet nor too salty, just the right consistency of mayonnaise. Without much hesitation, I asked her to polish the plate as I knew I'd have difficulties downing the pasta and polishing hers.

My only pet peeve?

The lack of soft shell crab. You'd have dig deep into the middle before you are able to bite onto the crab, and it'll smooth down your throat within two bites.

I however liked that they chose to wrap it with pieces of lettuce leaves.

Yes, I wanted to sample their parfait or their desserts but I had difficulties swallowing the last bits of the soft shell crab and burped twice while the cashier sealed the purchase, waited for the credit debit card approval. There's no way I can order a scoop of green tea ice-cream or parfait without kneeling in front of the toilet bowl and puking everything into it. (I've done that too many times during my younger days at Hotel Equatorial KL's Kampachi buffet brunch; back then, I had a voracious appetite in food. Nothing could satiate me.)

Now I know what Kar Wyai meant when she said that she felt like throwing up after finishing the meal. The sets were definitely designed for couples or a group of two diners, as the portion is a tad bit too much for one person.

Address: Pasta Zanmai

LG33, Empire Gallery,

Jln SS16/1,

47500 Subang Jaya

Tel: 03-5637 1910

Landmarks: Kenny Rogers Roasters, Gelato Fruit, I Love Yoo! and Speedy

It was never planned this way, but I presume that when the stars collide, surprises will occur instead.

Mama Carrie and I were happily shopping for a Christmas makeover when the caricature of someone familiar standing at the side of Oiso Korean Traditional Restaurant and Café burned itself in my brain, pleading for a sense of recognition. After throwing the image back and forth in my psyche, I finally remembered who she was: it was Mama Carrie's Korean client, Mr. Jung, who is now the current co-owner of Oiso with his wife, Ms. Vanessa. After the obligatory greetings and small chat, he invited us into the restaurant to sample their dishes... and yours truly being yours truly, the opportunity to write a food review was as bright as the glimpse of a diamond.

According to Jung, Vanessa and he were frequent patrons of this restaurant at a time when it was previously owned by a Korean lady as their son loves the authenticity of the food. The previous owner met with some struggles and the stress of managing a chain of restaurants (including the branch in Cheras and Bangsar South), choosing to sell the business to them and retaining all of the kitchen employees including the chef and waiters. The moment you step in and comfortably settle into your seat, the retail lot radiates the feel of a Korean home, welcoming you with open arms. The tidbits are sold at one corner of the restaurant behind the cashier while the Korean ornaments are displayed in a built-in wooden shelf at the back of the restaurant, never failing to attract the attention of curious diners. In the middle of the restaurant lies a life-sized tree with curving branches and acting as a divider between the two double sided seat sofas is a row of potted greenery; some with flowers, some mere plants.

It may be a little retail outlet hidden from public view but the restaurant can be sardine-packed with employees from the neighboring offices such as Nestle, hungry for something so satiating that they can survive the remaining working hours without the need to reach out for finger food. What I like about Oiso is that it harbors a complacent snug that resembles a well-behaved bug in a rug - or at least during our visit. It actually allowed us to enjoy the dishes that we ordered and savor each bite/spoonful in a relaxed manner. I'm a sensitive diner, so when the distractions in the restaurants grow louder with the inclusion of loud chatters, I tend to desire to finish my portion faster than normal and bolt from the place after payment soonest possible.

Seating space here, unfortunately, is rather limited; you can find yourself queuing for a vacant table during the peak lunch hour. The items for a decorative displayKimchi Soup Noodle (Cold Noodle) (RM 13.90) consists of enoki mushroom, sliced cucumbers, seaweed flakes, sliced egg yolk and white, kim chi, noodles

To be honest, I was more than apprehensive when I perused the menu as I've never tasted more than half of the dishes printed on the booklet and certainly didn't want to ruin the dining experience by ordering an item that I'm not comfortable with. Sensing my hesitation, Mr. Jung recommended that I order the Kim Chi Soup Noodle as it's a summer dish and a hot favorite among diners.

My jaw was gaping wide when the waiter delivered the dish as the portion was enormous. Although the stock was ice-cold, it contained a rejuvenating twist that soothed and satiated the thirst. The cucumber slices were a refreshing contrast to the kim chi, the cool comfort seeping into the soap and balancing the spicy flavor produced. The seaweed flakes provided a soft twinge of salt, not sweetening the Kim Chi Soup Noodle or making it saltier either. The aftertaste was in the middle of the food spectrum. The mushroom however leaned towards being uncooked. I was crammed with the lavish amount of condiments, especially the soup that satiated the hunger with ease.

If you're not famished, I'd recommend you to share this dish with a fellow food companion. [Seafood] Bibimbap (RM 15.90) contains carrots, mushrooms, purple + white cabbage, cucumber, seaweed flakes, rice, baby octopus and baby squid

It is extremely common to associate bibimbap with Korean cuisine due to its popularity worldwide, but to find authentic ones can be like finding a needle in a haystack. It is a historical dish, originating from the city of Jeonju in the 19th century as a way of harmoniously blending the ingredients into one dish before seasoning it with only chili pepper paste and, on rare occasions, a salty soybean paste to even out the tang. Bibimbap is kind of similar to Chinese mixed rice, or more commonly known as chap fan in Cantonese.

Mama Carrie adores this dish so much that she practically finished 3/4 of the portion in the silence, leaving only 1/4 for me to sample. She felt that not only was there a generous amount of elements that left a lingering but satisfying zest to the palate, it contained traces of a Korean mother's traditional cooking.

She added that the flavors of each ingredient didn't attempt to override each other or compete to stand out, retaining its distinctive attraction instead. The sliced mushroom was blanched, omitting the use of salted water whereas the small squids were chewy but not rubbery. The carrots, on the other hand, were extremely juicy and produced the natural glucose that it is known for. Chopped Spinach and Carrot SlicesKim Chi: fermented cabbage with pear slices and rich in vitamins A and C but high in sodiumChili SauceKorean Miso with Seaweed

The bibimbap was flavorsome and nutritious yet healthy with no MSG being added to heighten the flavor. It exposed her taste buds to a variety of aroma - with the aftertaste lifting you to culinary haven.

We desire to return for a second serving in the future as she has fallen in love with this dish. She believes that this is the best one so far as our first try was at Food Republic Pavilion KL and the second was in Westfield Carousel's food court, Cannington, WA. Korean Green Tea + Korean Organic Brown Tea Korean Green Tea (RM 2.90) has a mellow scent to it and does not overpower the olfactory system either. Unlike certain types of tea, this drink is instead soft on the palate and digestive system.

The flavor does not subside, be it served hot or cold. Korean Organic Brown Tea (RM 1.90), on the contrary, has an immense roasted flavor that surprisingly glides down the throat with ease, not leaving an awkward aftertaste on the palate.

The aroma evokes the afterthought of brown rice tea.

Special Promotion: For diners who quote the code OISO10, they will receive a 10% discount off their total bill. Name: Oiso Korean Traditional Cuisine and Café,

Lot LG19 and 20, Lower Ground Floor,

IPC Shopping Centre,

No.2, Jalan PJU 7/2,

Mutiara Damansara,

47800 Petaling Jaya,

Selangor

Landmark: It is directly opposite Pos Malaysia.

Note: I know that this is no longer hot news, but I am relieved that the rain has finally shooed the haze out from Klang Valley, returning to us the air that we're used to. As long as it's still the open burning season, I won't jump to the conclusion that the haze has left the building. My stomach growled for food almost immediately after I had paid for the weekly's grocery purchase and remembering Crystal's penchant for Whisk's coffee, I threw the bags of groceries into the car and headed straight there.

I was lucky that it was after the lunch hour crowd that I entered the F&B outlet and paid for my order, waited for it to be personally delivered by the employee (or barista, didn't quite catch a glimpse as my concentration was glued to Facebook and the email and whispered my thanks aloud.Between the limited choices of lesser-sweetened cakes and its sweeter siblings, I briefly hesitated before I chose this cake in view of its nutritional benefit. If I can remember correctly, one bar of dark chocolate daily will boost the endorphins and prevent an emotional blue.

I like chocolate not because of that, but because it also soothes the cravings easily.Chocolate Cake Slice (RM 8.90)

The first bite was lovely; it easily blended well with the taste buds and smoothly coated the mouth. The frosting, however, revealed the actual sweetness; it hit my taste buds with such a bang that it numbed the pancreas momentarily.

The cake itself was moist with endless amounts of chocolate inside. Cappuccino (RM 10)

It was in that faint moment shortly after the first sip that it dawned on me that this could be the type of coffee that Teochew Mama would love: just the right amount of coffee beans and very little froth has been used in the production of Whisk's cappuccino.

On a fairer note, it didn't contain the oomph that I wanted and a strong but balanced taste of milk and coffee.

Maybe I should've ordered latte instead. Address: Whisk Espresso Bar and Bake Shop,

LG 03A, Empire Shopping Gallery,

Jln SS 16/1,

47500 Subang Jaya

Tel: 03-5022 2060

Website: www.facebook.com/whisk.KL

Landmarks: Tong Pak Fu, GNC and Jaya Grocer

(16/12/2014 - Updated the post with more pictures and included the prices for the dishes)Spot the blogger?

With Mama Carrie ravenous and I famished from the early breakfast, we diverted from the original destination - a good twenty-minute drive away - and landed at Chef Low Organic Kitchen, a haunt we once frequented whenever we were in the vicinity. I still remember but vaguely the area when Chef Low Organic Kitchen took residence; it was awkwardly serene with less than a handful of shops taking the same gamble.

That was at least five years ago when it was under a different ownership and look at how prosperous the place is now! There are more retail tenants, especially the ones dabbling in the food and beverage arena and just weeks ago, a meatball restaurant opened its door to the public at the adjacent block, as reviewed by Sean at Eat Drink KL.

Mind you, this is a meat-free and egg-free restaurant. Anyone in the mood for some crackers? One is greeted by a reading section the moment s/he enters; to the left, there is a built-in bookshelf with Chinese and English reading materials for the bored diner. Towards the right is a tiered shelf with the merchandise such as tidbits and organic oats for purchase. The drinks and dessert section are next to the cashier with the refrigerated deli case being the divider; lining the kitchen counter-top is a tray of shot glasses for their house specialty and a basket of goodies. Ceiling-to-floor windows act as the natural source of light, illuminating the restaurant with brightness from the front and back on melting, scorching afternoons. The furniture in the seating space is placed in such a way that it accommodates everyone on a busy day yet it does not obstruct the service flow at all.Seaweed Roll (RM 7.90): wrapped with raw julienned purple cabbage and carrot in nori (or laver in English-speaking countries) and served separately with mayonnaise

There is nothing like raw vegetables to begin a meal as it prepares the stomach to accept the heavier parts of the meal - such as the main course and desserts. There is a light coating of mayonnaise on the nori layer, complimenting well with the fresh aroma. As you bite into the roll, you can hear the crunch with each subsequent mouthful with the flavor continuing to emanate and mingle with the taste buds.

I caught myself leaning forward and sniffing it, imitating the four-legged brother with my eyes closed; I was instantly brought back to the time when I was collecting chestnuts and the Carries sampled a couple of bites from the ripe ones in a New Zealand farm years ago. Jade Roll (RM 16.90): deep-fried, rolled fu chuk (bean curd sheets) with seaweed and topped with pineapple cubes; sauce includes orange juice, chili slices and chili oil

This is one of the specialties for Chef Low Organic Restaurant - being one of the most popular dishes as well. The bursting fragrance gently penetrates into the taste buds when you gnaw into it, laying the foundation for the sauce to coat the palate. The strong taste of bean curd as well as the carrot and celery sticks wrapped inside attempts to balance the numerous elements found in the dish. The pineapple cubes provides a sweet tang to it, careful not to overpower the subtle yet scented sauce.

Considering that most deep-fried dishes contain excessive oil, this dish will not leave you feeling like you consumed a bottle of cooking oil - or at least that's how I felt. You won't find yourself downing glasses after glasses of the accompanying drink that you may have ordered.

It's not something that I'll sink my teeth into often, though. Fruit Tea (RM 16.90): as the name suggests, it is a fruit blend with thinly sliced green and red apples, orange juice, passion fruit and lemon with lemon slices

Like the Jade Roll, this is one of the restaurant's best-selling items. A quick look around illustrated that most of the diners ordered this and some even went to the extent of going for seconds. The similar acidity of the fruits revolves with each other; none of which are competing to stand out as it seeks to satiate the diner's thirst in pleasure. It invigorates the body as it swims down the throat and replenishes the body of the nutrients it needs, specifically Vitamin C.

I have tasted their coffee during my first visit there and hands down, I'll recommend this fruit tea instead to all of the diners, future and current alike. Be sure to inform the waitress that you don't want extra sugar or honey to be added. Cheese Cake (RM 9.90): cream cheese and cream with graham/digestive biscuits

I can't believe that the cheesecake is sweeter now than before; not only is the sugary filling terribly tough to digest, it felt like my teeth were about to be attacked by the nasty saccharine. The addition of the chocolate and strawberry syrup may have increased the level of presentation to beautify the dish, but taste wise, it became a tragedy. It was supposed to be a shared dessert between Mama Carrie and I; she could only sustain for a couple of bites before she surrendered, forcing me to polish the plate.

Maybe if the baker had gone slow on the sugar and chose a sugarless digestive biscuit as the crust or perhaps allowed the sugared crust to be the only source of the sucrose for this dish, it'd have been a better confectionery experience for myself and Mama Carrie.

If you're particular about exceeding your daily sugar quota, don't have this for dessert.

There were definitely hits and misses about the dishes that we ordered, especially the aforementioned cheese cake. Service wise, it is swift, but be forewarned that the waiting period can be lengthy during the peak lunch (starts from noon until around 1.30pm) and dinner hours (starts from 7pm onwards) - especially if the crowd suddenly begins to swell without any warning. Taste wise, it satisfies both the palate of the commercial crowd and health-conscious customers. Name: Chef Low Organic Kitchen

Address: C-G-43, Block Camilia,

10 Boulevard, Lebuhraya Sprint,

PJU 6A,

Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara,

47600 Petaling Jaya

Tel: 03-77257154

Business Hours: Tue - Sun: 10.30am to 9.30pm