Malaysian Chinese High Tea Kuih | 59th St Heritage Popiah Kuantan Food Review

The Malaysian food culture is so diverse.  We have our own range of kuih or dessert that can be either sweet or savoury, great for breakfast or teatime. But it's not easy to get a healthy and nutritious version because they are often loaded with simple carbohydrate, sugar, oil and excessive calories. Today I'm going to show you all where and how to get proper and tasty Malaysian Chinese High Tea Kuih without feeling guilty.

59th St Heritage Popiah Kuantan
888 Food Court,
Jalan Teluk Sisek, Taman Plaza Kuantan
Facebook
Phone 0102257660
Opens Wednesdays to Mondays 1pm until stock lasts

Even though it's not served in a 5 star hotel,  but the most serious and delicious treats are often hidden in local food courts as such. All the Kuih is hand made by experienced local pastry chefs including a popo in her 80s with natural coloring, less sugar and the freshest ingredients. The pastry was thin and the inside bursting with fresh fillings. They can only operate for 5 afternoons in a week because of the sheer amount of time used to produce about 15 types of high tea options.

Among the Kuih on sale when we visited was fairly representative of the popular Malaysian Kuih. So if you are on the looking for this,  head here.  They also accept custom made orders 2 days in advance.

Zongzi

Assorted Kuih Koci

Fried Sesame balls

Curry puffs

Pumpkin 'Fa' (prosperity) cake

Kuih ketayap

Yam cake

Mochi

Vegetable dumplings

Tapioca cake

We sampled most of the Kuih and were really amazed at how juicy, soft and fresh the fillings were. The portion was generous and value for money. The pastry was thin and soft which literally melted in the mouth. This is why we say tasty treats like this can be healthy and not loaded with sugar or calories!

We started off with savoury options-sticky rice dumpling (zongzi). Pork belly braised till tender with the collagen rich skin still slightly chewy. Huge and fresh chestnuts. These with other ingredients like salted egg yolk and shitake mushrooms made up 3 quarter of the dumplings wrapped with warm and fragrant glutinous rice and Thysanolaena latifolia leaves.

The signature popiah has a paper thin homemade pastry with every inch filled with vegetables such as carrots,  jicama,  lettuce and sambal which has chilli, tamarind, onions and dried shrimps as main ingredients. One could be filled easily by a whole popiah. The fritter is a crispy indulgence that's made less guilty  because of the amount of vegetables.

Two types of curry puffs were available. Both made with puff pastry with dry curry potato filling the Malaysian style.  The rectangle puff was baked whereas the half circle puff was fried.

A selection of savoury and sweet kuih that looks so vibrant and colorful. The pastry is thin with a generous amount of filling. The vegetable dumpling has translucent skin called crystal skin in Chinese with stir fry julienned carrot and jicama filling that is soft and juicy. A similar version also comes in en elongated shape with orange sweet potato and white opaque skin.

The red kuih (Ang Ku Kuih aka red tortoise cake) contains slightly sweetened mung bean paste which is carefully blended to a consistency that simply melts in the mouth. The yellow kuih is made of soft pumpkin pastry with sweet ground peanut flakes. On the other hand,  the green kuih has screwpine skin and sweet coconut filling that is fluffy. The coconut shred filling is worth special mentioning as it's made of premium coconut without impurities.

These kuih trio completed our high tea. Yam cake with generous amount of yam and little flour. Topped with minced dried shrimps,  it was a heavenly combination with their homemade chili sauce. The small pumpkin prosperity cake is a great snack that has a dense texture,  a great cake for ancestor and prayer offerings made healthier using pumpkin instead of artificial food coloring. Mochi is a soft Japanese dessert made from  short grain japonica rice flour dusted with raw flour to prevent them from sticking together. There were 2 flavors on sale-the classical peanut filling and the more Japanese green tea pastry with red bean paste filling.

This is a stunning Malaysian Chinese high tea selection, affordable at the highest quality with friendly staff. Come on and try yourself. Our verdict is 9/10!

Meal replacement for healthy weight maintanence

The obesity crisis has hit the Asian region pretty hard. Malaysia has also quickly become the fattest country in South East Asia. I blame this on the delicious and indulging food choices in which many Malaysians simply cannot resist. The haze and hot weather also discourages outdoor activities and exercise. We know that lifestyle diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure is on the rise as a result. And a healthy diet is imperative in battling this.

A healthy diet does not have to be bland or boring. It's well tested that taking properly balanced meals is the key. It should be abundant in fruits and vegetables which fill half the plate,  a quarter with protein or lean meat and the last quarter with complex carbohydrates. However,  hectic lifestyle often precludes the possibility to prepare such a meal all the time. That's where the role of meal replacement comes in. It allows people to stick to a nutritious meal plan on the go.

Meal replacement was originally designed for athletes for a nutritional boost. It has now expanded its use for people who needs a quick fix high in nutritions. Meal replacement bars and drinks can be kept in bags and taken while traveling. However there are so many options available in the market. Many of which maybe sugar loaded with high calories-not that much different from junk food!

These are rough guides of what should be in a good meal replacement product (Adapted from WebMD):

-220-230 calories per serving
-Less than 5 grams of fat per serving
-3-5 grams of fiber per serving
-10-15 grams of protein per serving
-Fortified with a third of daily vitamins and minerals

I have started to consume YogurtSlim by Everfood Malaysia This special yogurt
drink is made for:

1) Filling up stomach and controlling hunger
2) Weight loss and boosts metabolism
3) Improves digestive system

Each sachet contains protein equivalent to 1/2 an egg, 10ml coconut oil, 5 billion lactobacillus live culture and fibres of 3 Apples. Using the rough guide provided by WebMD,  it fulfills most of the requirements but would be better if there is more protein. The total carbohydrate content is about 1 carbohydrate exchange (in a single main meal- we aim for 3 exchanges  and snack- 1 exchange).

Other active ingredients include

Natural fruit extracts- Avocado, Mixed berries and Mango. These contain the natural goodness of the fruits which are packed with vitamins and minerals.

Medium chain triglyceride oil-is a type of fat used for people who have problems with fat absorption, to increase lean muscle mass and strength,  as well as to help with weight loss.

Konjac powder, aka glucomannan- is rich in fiber. Therefore, it helps to improve satiety,  relieves constipation, promotes weight loss and improves sugar control.

Probiotics- relieves indigestion, constipation, colic, reflux, antibiotic associated diarrhoea and functional abdominal pain.

Chlorophyll may help with constipation.

Yoghurt Slim is also free of preservatives, transfat, cholesterol and colouring.

What does Dr Yingzangel think?

Yoghurt Slim is a great energy and nutritional boost. It tastes great and creamy- just like a sinful milk shake without the sky high calories and sugar. The natural fruit flavour makes the drink palatable and the sweetness comes naturally from the fruit only. Besides having it straight,  I have also tried adding quick cook oats and refrigerating it overnight. Adding some fresh fruits or Chia seeds, it becomes an awesome overnight oat breakfast. When I'm traveling,  it's a quick and healthy fix on the go.

Get your own Yoghurt Slim using my promocode :

Everfood
Official website
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#instantyogurt #healthy #mealreplacement

Mooncake festival celebration in Kuantan

Mooncake festival is celebrated by Chinese worldwide. But the Kuantan folks do it in a unique way.  We still savour wedges of Mooncake and take a stroll with our lanterns. But all along the popular Teluk Cempedak beach,  just 10 to 15 minutes drive away from the town centre. Families often set up their own sand sculpture lit with candles or lanterns hung on tree branches buried in the sand. Often,  many would have dined out before hitting the beach with nearby Satay Zul one of the favorite spots.

Of course the must eat during Mooncake festival is Mooncake. The traditional Mooncake is baked. The crust is made of shortening (healthier alternative is vegetable oil) whereas the rich and densed filling is classically made from red bean paste or lotus paste with or without salted egg yolks. The more premium version may come with 2 or more yolks in a single pastry that is either round or square using intricately carved moulds.

The newer versions of Mooncake includes the snowskin Mooncake of which its crust does not require baking.  Instead,  it's refrigerated for a few hours to create a slightly powdery and chewy distinct texture. Alternatively, the crust can be made with gelatine with fruits.  Many innovative choices of filling such as longan, gojiberries, multigrains, as well as the King of fruits durian have made Mooncake such an interesting and healthier food choice.

As people become more health conscious,  there is also a move to support less sweet and home made Mooncake without preservatives. Kravve is an online platform which sells homemade Mooncake. Their products are freshly made upon order and couriered immediately to your door step. The ingredients used are vegans friendly. The flavors available are black charcoal with lotus filling (with or without salted egg yolk), red bean, green tea and emerald (pandan flavoured lotus paste). Kraave recently concluded 10000 free boxes of Mooncake giveaway and I was one of the lucky receiver!

What does Dr Yingzangel think?

I love the elegant packaging which makes Kravve's Mooncake great as gifts. It comes in sets starting from 2 Mooncakes which can be an affordable gift options with a beautifully designed festive card. The size of the mooncake is about half a palm's sized each. Cutting and served in small wedges,  this makes sure that I can still enjoy having Mooncake without worrying about sugar consumption and excessive calories. The Mooncake tasted rustic with just the right amount of sweetness. The pastry is thin with a generous amount of filling.

Remember a healthy lifestyle involves having a healthy diet and doing enough exercise, especially with regards to consuming sweet treats like Mooncake in moderation. Spend the Mooncake festival with your loved ones like Kuantanese to burn some calories as well.

Kravve.co

Hearty and Cheap Chinese Meal | Shin Ong Lai Restaurant food review

Dining out in a decent restaurant in KL area does not have to be pricey. We recently tried Shin Ong Lai restaurant in Chow Kit for a sumptuous family dinner.

Shin Ong Lai Restaurant
6, Lorong Tiong Nam 3, Chow Kit.
https://g.co/kgs/VpgJuB
Opens Tuesdays to Saturdays 7am to 3pm, 5.30pm to 12am
Sundays 5.30pm to 12am
Mondays 7am to 3pm

The restaurant has 2 levels of cosy indoor and air conditioned seatings. We prefer upstairs because there is less crowd and noise as the kitchen is downstairs. The staff were friendly, attentive and entertained baby Yi while we enjoyed our dinner. We really have to apologize though because baby Yi was not feeling so well and threw up at the end of our trip.

These are the 3 tops dishes that we would recommend.

Stir fry rice cake.

Rice Cake sliced into small oval pieces and stir fried the Hokkien noodle way using pork lard, thick caramel sauce with spring onions and thin slices of pork. It was done the right way with the right wok heat called 'wok hei' to give rise a a slightly barbecued style of flavour. Instead of having rice, this is a good option for comfort food.

Steam fish

We ordered a steam tilapia. We loved how fresh the fish was and it was steamed to perfection as the flesh was still soft. The sauce doubled as ginger soup with pork slices and a generous amount of Chinese cabbage on top of the fish. The dish was kept warm by candles and it took us about half an hour to savour it. A standard portion can easily feed 4 adults.


Stir fry roast pork.

Crispy roast pork cut into slices and stir fried in caramel sauce to create a slightly sticky texture. Those who love skin and pork lard will enjoy the dish and it goes well with a can of chilled beer. If you prefer lean meat just like me, there was also part of the roast pork that was less fatty.

We also had braised tofu pot, stir fry vegetables and oyster fried egg which was fresh and did not have any fishy taste. But we were so busy eating by then we did not take any photos. The bill only added up to less than RM30 per head which is very reasonable by KL standards.

Our verdict was 8/10 for the great taste and affordable price tags (which is even cheap for Kuantan standard). Running out of ideas for dinner? Try Shin Ong Lai and let me know what you think.

Kuantan Public Library and Petroscience Centre Family Day Out

It's unbelievable that we have not been to the Kuantan Public Library after 7 years residing in this idyllic town! So there we were, on one fine saturday morning, we decided to bring the two children for a fun visit. As usual, we also have to prompt Bing boy a day beforehand because he does not take surprises very well and likes to know where he is going. 

Pahang Public Library and PetroScience Centre

Jalan Kemunting, Tanah Putih, 25100 Kuantan, Pahang

Opens daily from 9am to 5pm except Sundays, Mondays and Public holidays

09-515 5050

This was a long weekend in September and there was already a singing competition happening earlier during this Merdeka month. We arrived nice and early to have a great spot to park under the shade. The library has a wheelchair and stroller accessible ramp, as well as 4 lifts. The whole building was sparkling new with exciting colour combinations that looked really welcoming. 

We visited PetroScience first. I still could not believe that entrance is free of charge. There was various small stations with challenging science related experiments that was not only appealing to children but to adults as well. There were various levels of difficulties and many involved mathematics which I think we can definitely bring Bing Boy from time to time. So as he grows, he will be able to solve more difficult quizzes. Nevertheless, we had fun maneuvering the robot on "Mars', experiencing 120km/h fast of storm brewing up and punching lit up boards on the wall.

We only managed to visit half of PetroScience before we ran out of steam and decided to head upstairs for some quiet reading time. The Library mainly had 3 levels with the children's library and adult fiction located on level 1. Level 2 was the general knowledge section.

The children library had vibrant murals that really made the place so welcoming. It was clean and bright with many chairs and tables, as well as comfortable couches for people to lounge on. The selection of books were not exhaustive but the books were new and well kept. We were extremely excited to discover many flippable story books that were interactive ways of learning. 

With an annual membership at RM10 each year, one can borrow up to 5 books in one go. We ran out of the quota too fast to be honest. And there was still so much to explore. So it looks like we have gotten our own treasure chest! We would definitely welcome a wider book selection in other languages as most of the books for younger children were in English. The check out system is very convenient. Just scan the books and key in the member's IC number. 

Time flies when we had so much fun in the state library. We were feeling a bit peckish by the end of the trip. The book cafe had a decent selection of halal food choices from Nasi Lemak to cookies, brownies and doriyaki. They do not cook hot food on the spot so it mainly serves packed food from caterers. It is good enough to fill the tummy before one goes for a proper meal. 

So if you run out of ideas to spend your children's energy, why not head to the Pahang Public Library and have hours of fun!

x

Healthy gut for the whole family | Biogaia Probiotics Review

My hectic schedule at work requires me to be always on the go,  including traveling interstates frequently to attend conferences and meetings. I usually bring baby Bing and Yi with me. They love staying at hotels but this also means that we have frequent change in mealtimes and dietary choices.

This causes problems like indigestion and constipation. I often feel bloated, gassy, sometimes with heartburn and hard stools. Besides trying to consume more fruits and vegetables,  as well as water to help, I also find probiotics supplement useful.

Biogaia is a Swedish Healthcare company. It has a good track record in producing probiotic supplements for the past 30 years.  It's products are available in 100 countries.

Lactobacillus Reuteri Protectis is one of the good strains of bacteria, living in the digestive tract that helps to keep the bad germs at bay and to assist in the normal digestive process.  L.reuteri binds to the epithelial lining (inner skin) of the digestive tract which sheds every 4 days which means the bacteria also get washed away every week or so.  In order to keep a healthy level of L.reuteri in the gut, daily dose of probiotics is required. In Biogaia probiotic products, the bacteria is isolated from breastmilk. Biogaia Probiotic Supplements should be kept under 25 degrees celcius to make sure it lasts its shelf life.

Different strains of Biogaia L.Reuteri has been studied extensively in 203 clinical studies in 17,200 people of all ages of which 105 were done in children and 98 in adults. It has shown the effectiveness of probiotics in helping with gut problems like indigestion, constipation, colic, reflux, antibiotic associated diarrhoea and functional abdominal pain.  Many of these conditions can be difficult to treat and cause distress and impairment to function normally.

The most important is that L. reuteri supplements are safe as no serious side effects have been observed up to the maximum tested dosage of 10 billion CFU per day which is 1000 times the recommended daily dose. They also do not contain toxins or transferrable antibiotic resistance genes. Manufactured under controlled conditions, this ensures contamination does not occur. Biogaia Probiotics is also free from common allergens such as egg, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish and soy.

Biogaia Protectis Drops

These drops are suitable for use in newborn and young children. When taken at 5 drops a day, this consists of a minimum of 100 million live Lactobacillus reuteri Protectis. Remember to shake the drops for 10 seconds  to mix the bacteria with the oil before use.  This probiotics is useful to treat conditions such as colic. It can be extremely stressful to have a colicky baby in which I wrote about here.

Biogaia Protectis Tabs

These are lemon flavoured probiotic tablets at the same dose for adults. It's safe for expectant and breastfeeding mothers.  It also contains xylitol which is a sweetener used to make the tablets palatable. These tabs can be consumed for those aged 3 and above.

These are the potential benefits for consuming Biogaia Probiotics
-Infection protection
-Relieves Constipation, Functional abdominal pain , Diarrhea, Indigestion
-Boost immunity

What does Dr Yingzangel think?

I love the taste of these Biogaia probiotic tablets. Most importantly, now I feel much less bloated and am able to open my bowels almost everyday.  I feel confident in consuming it because it's safe for breastfeeding mothers like me. As for baby Yi, he is recovering from a viral gastroenterities in which these probiotic drops came just in time to relieve him of the uncomfortable stomach cramps and diarhhoea.

Please head on to Biogaia website to find out more about their products. If you buy online,  don't worry,  they only employ the nicest express delivery using ice box to maintain the  cold chain.

Official website
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Disclaimer: the opinion given is merely a personal experience and does not constitute formal medical advice. Please seek your medical professional's advice before any complementary therapy. Always ask for certified professionals before proceeding with treatment and stop if discomfort or side effect ensues.

Choosing a good body wash | Antioxidant Burst Leafy Agarwood Cleansing Bar Review

I spend a lot of time looking for good skincare products on my face.  To be honest,  I rarely pay much attention to choosing  a good body wash.  Many people have recently changed from using shower gel to bar soaps in order to cut down the amount of plastic used according to this article in the Guardian.

However,  shower gel vs cleansing bar really doesn't matter that much as long as we choose a product that has good quality. Myth has it but bar soaps don't really harbour more bacteria comparing to shower gel.

Leafy Agarwood Cleansing Bar is my new companion in the shower.  A common belief is that soap dehydrates the skin but not with Leafy Agarwood Cleansing Bar because it consists many moisturising ingredients listed below.

The active ingredients include

Agarwood leaf and fragrance - this is more commonly used as decorative items because it's deemed to give good fengshui and lucky charm. It contains terpenoids with sedative and anxiolytic effect which help people to relax. The presence of alkaloids and hexadecanoic acid make agarwood antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasite. In animal studies,  agarwood has been shown to build new connections between new brain cells.

Coconut oil- this is rich in fatty acids and a great moisturiser. It maintains the skin elasticity, contains many antioxidants and protects the skin against damaging UV rays.

Olive oil is abundant in squalene, a substance similar to human sebum. It also contains many antioxidants that's anti-aging properties.

Rice Bran oil contains lots of vitamin E, vitamin B, omega-9 and a rich array of fatty acids. These help to hydrate the skin,  fade pigmentation and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Sunflower Seed oil also works similarly to rice bran oil.

These are all naturally derived and are suitable for those with sensitive skin and eczema. Not all soap bars are banned in those with ezcema. You just have to look for the good one.

As with all other good skincare product, the Agarwood Cleansing Bar does not contain harsh chemicals like paraben, SLS, alcohol and mineral oils. These ingredients may irritate and dehydrate sensitive skin.

Watch my YouTube video about how great my skin feel after using the cleansing bar.

What does Dr Yingzangel think?

For such a good quality product,  it's very reasonably priced and suitable for the use for both and face and body, as well as those with sensitive skin.  Since the cleansing bar is registered under NPRA, it's quality assured and is only made under the strictest conditions. I particularly love how silky my skin felt after cleansing using Leafy.

Leafy Antioxidant Burst Agarwood Cleansing Bar Official Website

The site contains many of the research evidence and benefits of agar wood.

Leafy Antioxidant Burst Agarwood Cleansing Bar is now available in 80 over major pharmacies in Malaysia now!