Speed blogging from Ipoh right now as we speak.

So I drove back to Ipoh – in the goddamned rain! – last night to attend an event right after an event in the city. 

ELEVATE hits downtown Ipoh @ Sensation of Sound (S.O.S)!

*Full blogpost coming soon*

Talk about a back-to-back schedule on a Saturday! Geez. But it was all worth it.

Coming back to the place I spent half my childhood in is always something to look forward to 

Heck, it's practically my first time partying/clubbing in Ipoh! 

Was taken to supper after the party! I shall eat what the Ipoh-peeps eat 

Popular for their Bak Chiok (baby octopus) & Yuet Gong Hor (Raw Egg "Moon" Koay Teow noodles), Restoran Tuck Kee along Jalan Yau Tet Shin is the place to go.

We also had Braised Chicken Feet – I didn't eat it but the others did! – , Herbal Boiled Eggs & Pork Balls

People patronize them during dinner and it's also the to-go place for "after-clubbing" hours.

Coming back to the comforts of home means being spoiled by comfort food as well.

A gift from granny. Kieldsens' original Dannish butter cookies! 

Discovered excellent news that made the raver in me jump for joy!

The legendary God of Trance music, Armin Van Buuren will be making his way to Sepang, Malaysia for A State of Trance (ASOT) 600!

Mark your calendars fellow EDM-kakis, for March next year will be so fun!

Cuddles & playtimes with my babyChivas 

He's the best cat in the world, my one & only –  I love him to bits! 

If you can ever read this, lil one, mommy loves you a whole lot

So what else did I do earlier in the week? Let's see..

Woke up early to have quite an elaborate breakfast Tuesdate with boyfieKon

at La Bodega @ Bangsar Shopping Centre

I fully recommend the Club Sandwich, Big Breakfast and Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon on Toast.

It was sucha hearty breakfast and much chattering over coffee & hot chocolate. 

Tues outfit of the day! Casual with an edgy hint on a day out 

Fri outfit of the day! Played it girly with a childlike, Japanese touch. Matched my iPhone with my outfit too!

Oktoberfest with the buddies! 

Drink up on a Friday night to kickstart the weekend 

Made Organic Wholewheat Durum Spaghetti with Roast Chicken,

Button Mushrooms, Chopped Basil & Asparagus for dinner

Breakfast like a king! Had O'Briens Irish Sandwich Bar @ The Curve

The Big Club Sandwich & Classic Triple Decker Sandwich were real winners! 

Brunch! Fruit & veggie platter of mangos, watermelon chunks and celery

Dinnertime. My fave mix of oven-roasted Zucchini, Baby Potatoes, Australian Carrots, Pumpkin,

Shallots, Garlic and a generous amount of Rosemary & Black Peppercorn seeds

Dinner again! Organic Wholewheat Durum Pasta Carbonara with Broccoli,

Button Mushrooms, diced Carrots with lots of onions! 

Replaced cream with a healthier alternative – a nice blend of low-fat yoghurt, egg-whites & milk.

And when I do decide to eat out, Japanese food has always been at the top of my list.

Check out the Grilled Gindara Codfish in Teriyaki Sauce I had at Sushi Zanmai @ The Curve

Another one of my all time favorites – the Caterpillar Maki Roll, also from Sushi Zanmai 

Can't ever say no to Grilled Unagi (eel), Omelette & Avocado 

Imma let you in on a little secret 

You know how I always share the healthy, clean food that I either homecook or when I eat out, right?

Truth is, that's as close as I can actually get to my ideal diet.

A whole lot of my sweet-tooth snacking, overindulging & unhealthy food enters my system too. 

Hey, I'm only human – just like you.

But the very moment I've set my mind to propagating health & fitness, by inculcating this idea and motivating all of you, I have to first set an example. 

One always have to practise what one preaches, right? 

And I'm glad I've managed to drive this point home, from the feedbacks I've received and by mere observation. I see more and more healthy eating & an obvious increase of a fitter lifestyle in all of you.

So proud of ya'll! 

My favorite bowl of Mac & Cheese. Just one of the many sins I indulge in. Don't we all?

I hope this doesn't demotivate you, but rather motivate you even further with the truth.

So don't be discouraged or think you've failed and have to start all over again, whenever you succumb to that burger, pizza, chocolates or nasi lemak – I do too. 

The moment you make an attempt, you're one step closer to your idea lifestyle, ya hear me? 

Oh and yes, some good news to share!

I've been invited to a fully-sponsored trip to Cambodia to attend BlogFest Asia 2012 held in Siam Reap! 

Simply cannot wait – Angkor Wat, here I come! 

Before I go, as usual, a song of the week for your listening pleasure 

Got this one stuck in my head since last Friday at David Guetta's rave party . 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8aaR6jo4VA

The lyrics. Just six sentences, but means so much. Just… yeah. 

Have also been plagued by an alarming, inexplicable occurrence in the household that is seemingly responsible for my missing belongings and finding those said missing belongings in the possession of others 

There is a fine line between having absolute trust in someone and

having to believe in the supernatural. I can only choose one. 

No matter. Whatever it is, I'll have it dealt with. SMILE! That's all for this week's wrap-up.

Have a lovely seven days ahead of you!  I will too.

Sleep well, ladies and gents. Let your dreams take flight *yawns*

Much love,

Jessicat

———————————————————————————————————————————————–

The Sunday Times is a new once-a-week series; a personal piece published every Sunday night to recap the highlights of my week, capture what piques my interest and to share recommendations for to-go places and to-eats throughout the week.

Check out the entire series here : The Sunday Times edition.

Some of the photos are posted instantly on my Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr & Facebook on the go.

So follow me to get instant updates and pretty photos of the sights & sounds all around!

Ohai lovelies! It's Sunday again.

Feeling a little sleepy now but here's my weekly edition of The Sunday Times, as promised!

Apart from cooking & eating (LOL I sound like sucha fatty!), studying & working, I didn't do much fun this week except…

THE FREAKIN' WEEKEND! Friday night let's geddit on!

DOUBLE outfit shot! Guess where we're all dressed up to go?

Future Sound Asia presents David Guetta LIVE in Malaysia!

Our World #1 DJ made his 4th stop right here in Sepang International Circuit during his Asia Tour 2012 with special guest DJs Alesso & Kaz James. I had my mind completely blown away that night. 

We went with boyfieKon & two of my buddies, Larry & Sabrina. Major thanks for the carpool too! 

We truly enjoyed ourselves raving away like no one's watching!

*Full blogpost coming soon*

Dinner date with boyfieKon at a Manhattan-townhouse inspired restaurant : Ben's KLCC

Food was terrific! We had Mum's Cottage Pie, Wild Mushroom Quiche & the Roasted Tomato Soup.

I would fully-recommend the ones we had! Food & ambience deserved a 5/5 rating from me 

However, the service was deplorable (Foursquare was right!) The waiter & waitresses (except one) were hardly attentive towards their customers and even forgot to serve us our Chargrilled Rack of Lamb which we ordered along with our other meals – to which he gave 101 excuses as to why it wasn't jot down. 

Moving on…

Had my first ever swimming lesson thanks to Swimin12! Check 'em out 

I am now actually able to swim properly/correctly instead of paddling like a drowning puppy

Corporate outfit again. This time, to attend a rather corporate/business/formal event in KL city!

Congratulations PETRONAS on the successful launch of your

first solar photovoltaic installation system! *Full blogpost coming soon*

Having many massive solar panels – largest in the region, mind you! – on the rooftop of our iconic mall KLCC Petronas Twin-Towers allows electricity to be utilized from the sun's natural solar energy to power up the building 

So proud of my country & its efforts of going green with effective sustainable development!

On a random note…

GOSSIP GIRL SEASON 6 IS *FINALLY* OUT THIS WEEK.

Had been waiting for months on end for the season finale to premier.

Outfit of the day! Donned a smart-casual yet edgy wear tonight for…

The official launch of Samsung's latest tablet-smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Note II

I was impressed by the really cool features & user-friendliness! *Full blogpost coming soon!*

This week, as usual, spells being domesticated & self-sufficient again. 

Yup, cooking healthy, low-calorie food strikes again!

Fluffy Omelette with Old El Paso salsa, tomato ketchup & lotsa ground black pepper!

Black Peppered scrambled eggs with Tuna Chunks, Baby Romaine Lettuce & Oregano!

Oh and yes, I discovered a new-found love for beans in my cooking escapades. 

Yup, lentils are the way to go! Full of protein & fibre 

Haricot Beans baked in tomato paste & rock salt, Romaine Lettuce, 

Omega Eggs, Oatmeal flakes with lots of Thyme & Oregano!

Stir-fry garlic Iceberg Lettuce & Moroccan Chickpeas 

on buttered Wholegrain Toast + Roast Carrots glazed in Raw Maple Syrup

Middle-Eastern style Chickpea Stew with Spinach, 

Carrots, Basil & a Sunny Side Up Omega egg!

Combo Salad of Iceberg Lettuce, hard-boiled Omega Eggs, Steamed Chickpeas, 

Onions, Mashed Tuna & Ranch with Tomato ketchup & Parsley!

Sounds good? I had so much fun in my kitchen cooking all those delightful, healthy bites 

Speaking of which, I just returned from doing some grocery-shopping at Jaya Grocer

Some of the foodstuff that will keep me going throughout next week!

My apologies for the delay in certain overdue blogposts, will have them up throughout this week & the next!

I have an exam tomorrow & during the little time I was ever at home, been trying my best to slot in the most study-time I could. Can't believe I had to forgo my gym trainings all week too. Bummer!

Pretty short edition tonight, I've really gotta go! Imma burn the midnight oil tonight to make sure I'm well-prepared for tomorrow's exam.

Have a superb seven days ahead, dear readers! 

Jessicat

———————————————————————————————————————————————–

The Sunday Times is a new once-a-week series; published every Sunday night to recap the highlights of my week, capture what piques my interest and to share recommendations for to-go places and to-eats throughout the week.

Check out the entire series here : The Sunday Times edition.

Some of the photos are posted instantly on my Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr & Facebook on the go.

So follow me to get instant updates and pretty photos of the sights & sounds all around!

Upon receiving an invitation from The Eatertainment Group to attend the media launch of Circus KL held a day before its official launch to the public, one thought immediately came to mind :

Circus?

Well, then I can't wait to be captivated and entertained at this brand new, quintessential hotspot!

Was served my favourite champagne, Moët & Chandon, at the entrance upon arriving! 

A sister venture of its predecessors Al-Amar Lebanese Fine Cuisine & Al-Amar Express setting the bar for high-quality food, I knew Circus KL was the one place to spend my Wednesday night.

So I dolled up for a swanky, stylish yet casual evening and was ready to go!

((STYLESHOT OF THE DAY))

Jessicat wears : Halter-neck bareback top in purple by Wh | Slacks in black by MNG | 

Raspberry Sorbet tote bag in red by Burberry | Hermes-inspired skinny belt |

all accessories from a local bazaar | Criss-cross strappy heels in dark blue by Charles & Keith |

The moment I entered Circus KL, I was wowed by their extensive, artistic and very chic interior! 

I stood before a spacious bistro & cocktail lounge; wonderfully furnished & well-decorated with modern influences.

Look to the left!

If you're a fan of modern art, avant-garde & artsy-fartsy aesthetics, their decor will definitely hit the spot!

These are just a couple of them! The quotes are really inspiring too 

Now, look to the right!

Their bar set-up immediately caught my eye. 

Boasting a wide array of liquor bottle collection, they were placed very creatively on shelves of mass hexagonal cells – very much like the honeycomb in nests built by honeybees! 

How creative can you get? 

The other end of the bar! Check out those unique statues & decorations 

We just HAD to take a photo with it 

Hey, it's not everyday you chill at a bar with honeycomb-inspired fittings!

Some of the choices of draught beer right from the taps!

My favorite from this range is undeniably the Kronenbourg 1664

If you ain't too fond of beers, Circus KL's variety of exotic cocktails might tickle your fancy like it did mine

Bartenders carefully mixing our choice of over 60 different cocktails!

Another range of drinks they have on the menu is the exquisite range of champagnes, particularly Moët & Chandon as well as Dom Pérignon. We were served the former that evening.

My one & only favorite champagne! 

We were lucky to be served so much champagne that evening!

The waiters saw how I never stopped taking swig after swig from my glasses of Moët & Chandon.

They were sweet enough to ask me if I'd like more & refilled my glass after I sheepishly nodded. *hic*

More champagne, if you please? 

Before we knew it, we were given a warm welcome by Joseph!

He introduced the concept of Circus KL – where everyone can wine, dine & mingle in an appealing & stylish ambience in the heart of the city as well as being able to fuse an outstanding culinary experience with stellar entertainment. 

We also learned that it took so much hard work & planning for several months on end to complete Circus KL!

From the planning, designing, conceptualizing, construction, decoration & finally, its execution & launch. I'd say it's a job well done. Congrats! 

Oh but wait, there's something more.

He then directed our attention to the…. CEILING. What's up, doc?

Oh wow! Video montages & other videos flashed across the huge LCD screen placed above us

That was certainly something we all did not expect! Pretty cool, I must say 

Four out of the many people who made Circus KL happen!

MD of The Eatertainment Group. Joseph Afaki & I!

He's really friendly in person! Was nice to know that he remembers me from Al-Amar Express' cocktail party 

Manager of Circus itself, Joshua & I 

More pictures!  With Executive Chef Spaniard David Caral & Joseph

I spotted the chefs preparing food!

It was time for some mouth-watering favorites from all around the world.

We were served various delectable canapés from their international cuisine menu, which we could never get enough of! 

Those bite-sized pieces made to complement cocktail hours really gets you wanting more 

It's tough to choose, really. I was spoilt for choice!

I ended up taking at least one of everything. Okay, make that three…. 

The waiters were busy buzzing around the entire Circus outlet making sure us guests were satiated 

I shall introduce you to some of my favourites – of which are all samples from their menu, by the way!

Ahi Tuna Tatare

Beef Stroganoff with Rice

Mini Pizzas (Should totally check out their gourmet hand-crafted pizzas!)

We were also served plenty of others, such as Mushroom Ravioli, Jumbo Lump Chilli Crab Cakes and Beef Pie!

It was THAT good. Can't wait to go back to dine again 

While we guests were busy gathering, relaxing, mixing, mingling, flirting (!), eating and drinking, there was a DJ playing LIVE for us.

Circus KL also has a podium & a set-up for live band performances too 

Here are some partyphotos of the evening! 

The flow of savoury, delicious canapés soon came to a halt, and paved the way for tantalizing desserts

Here they are!

My faves are (obviously) the chocolate and also the kiwi ones! 

No doubt, Circus KL is a casual, cosmopolitan eatery by day, but as the dinner tables are cleared, the music is pumped up and the bar comes alive.

More mingling, mixing, relaxing & drinking with my buddies!

So if you're up for a charming & exciting date or an outing in style that involves food, drinks, entertainment (and even cigars!)  you know where to go now! *winks* 

Interesting, ain't it, how the word 'Circus' is used to give us the idea of morphing into a decadent world of fun, glamour & excitement.

I sure had a fabulous time… and I'm sure you will too 

How can you not fall in love with the delightful & eclectic interior? 

Thank you Circus KL for a lovely evening!

Looking forward to take some time off to chill at KL's latest dining & drinking hotspot again 

For more information, head on to:

Circus KL's official Facebook page

Circus KL's official Twitter page

Did you know that there was a cosy and very quaint Japanese restaurant – Kyoto Lab – nestled directly above the buzzing hotspot called The Pool KL? Bet you didn't.

Cos I didn't too!

Me with their original design of a Japanese maiden

(There's an interesting story behind this artwork…ask when you dine there!)

It  was very nice of them to extend a dinner invitation to me to sample some of their dishes.

Being the absolute Japanese cuisine fan I am, how could I say no? 

As the name suggests, this hip & happening nightlife hotspot organizes awesome pool parties too!

So I decided to pop by The Pool KL in Ampang last week

There was an elevator which took me directly to the upper floor of the restaurant.

Upon entering the premise, I was impressed by the simple yet creative and unique interior already

Should you take the staircase, this will be the first thing you see ! 🙂

The dining area & the counter

As I took my seat, I noticed something peculiar right above me.

See the ceiling lamps? There were so many of them & actually tins containing wine, biscuits, soy sauce & oil before

The owner of the restaurant then shared how most of their interior and furniture pieces are actually reused items. How ingenious! I felt as though I was talking to Robinson Crusoe before he even finished his story 

The table base and legs were also the metal carriers previously used in the construction industry too.

See the lovely fuchsia pink & vermilion decor behind me?

Those are real bamboo sticks chopped up, dried, painted & lacquered up beautifully!

After checking out Kyoto Lab's highly innovative and resourceful interior decor, I was ready to be wowed by what they have to serve already.

I began to develop pretty high expectations! Surely the food ought to be as good as the outlet looks 

Let's find out, shall we? 

I was given the cocktail menu to select my drinks & was spoilt for choice.

There were three pages of creative & never-seen-before cocktails! Ever heard of The Fish Bowl, Spicy Mango Madness, Skittles Bomb (as opposed to Jager Bombs), Pink Elephant, Milo Ais cocktail.. and especially Chemistry Lab Experiment? 

Nothing beckons me better than chocolate does  So I opted for the Nutella Martini (RM25)

The pleasantly sweet chocolate-hazelnut flavour complemented the vodka in the martini excellently!

It wasn't garnished with the usual olives, but with Koko Krunch instead 

It had me at the first sip 

The next cocktail I had was the best-selling Watermelon Slush (RM40)

It was served in a heart shape carved in a giant watermelon half. How lovely!

Perfect for couple sharing 

I loved its distinct slushy & chunky watermelon & lychee taste, with a good hint of vodka & midori.

Tasted very refreshing & sweet!  Something most girls would most likely fancy.

Cute presentation too! Major hearts (literally) for this cocktail! 

The final cocktail that I am going to write about (because at this point, you must be thinking – where's the food? So I'll let you discover the other cocktails yourself!) is a cocktail named Coco's Nutz (RM28) .

I swear I can't be the only one who found that name particularly amusing. Teehee.

Looks like it's fresh off a tropical island, no? 

I enjoyed its milky, creamy texture with a good blend of Malibu, Rum & fresh coconut juice. So rich!

Heck, it's no wonder it bagged the Winning Cocktail in 2011's JTI Horeca Bartending Contest 

Rebecca & I getting a mouthful of the intricately made cocktails!

Okay, on to the food! I wonder if the cocktails were served to alter the receptivity of my tastebuds?

I'm joking; of course it didn't! I actually had the cocktails sparingly in between meals, not all in one go! 

Chefs hard at work preparing our meals in Kyoto Lab's open concept kitchen

One of my favorite entrees was the Salmon Potato Salad with Truffle Oil (RM18)

I love salmon. I love Potato Salad. I love lettuce. When combined, I trust it will be absolutely divine.

A simple entree but it sure as ever was a delicious kick-start! 

Prawns, Avocado & Crab Meat Timbale (RM12)

This is an entree of amazing flavours that I would most definitely vouch for!

The three main ingredients fused together so well, almost a melt-in-your-mouth combo 

Another light bite I had was Sashimi Nouyeou Salmon Trout (RM25)

Sashimi lovers will be in for something really different!

Far from the traditional, plain, raw sashimi, this splendid take on sashimi

boasts a zestful but not-too-overpowering sweet & sour flavour with each bite 

Next up and hot off the griller, was Kyoto Lab's skewered grilled meat.  

Let's take a look at some of them!

Chicken/Beef Yakitori (RM8)

I have always fancied skewered meat doused in teriyaki sauce and this certainly did not disappoint.

 Both the chicken and the beef were very tender and bursting with teriyaki goodness) 

Gyuniku Asparamaki (RM10).

This was arguably my favorite dish of the evening 

Being a pro-health junkie, I took so much pleasure in relishing this skewered asparagus wrapped in grilled beef strips served with Teriyaki sauce & sesame seeds. I ABSOLUTELY MUST have it again! 

Scallop Misoyaki (RM15)

The soft & melt-in-your-mouth scallops marinated sweet & salty miso sauce will never be enough! 

One bite gets you hooked – not even joking 

Is it epic mealtime yet? The following dish was pretty damn marvellous to me.

The Green Monster Lamb Burger with Mint Sauce (RM28)

I love lamb! Served with potato wedges & onion rings, the Green Monster's lamb patties packed a punch!

It was so juicy and the taste of well-done lamb with mint sauce ruled my tastebuds. Thumbs up 

The following "burger" blew me away & made me appreciate steak a little more! (I was never a fan, tbh)

Portobello Mushroom sandwiched between two thick slabs of medium steak with grilled Zucchini

Australian Grain-Fed Chilled Tenderloin (RM60)

I have never seen something quite like that before.

Perhaps the closest would be KFC's Double Down but it pales in comparison!

A cross-section of the meal

You have no idea how I ravaged the poor thing.

I devoured the portobello mushroom (heh, I love my vegetables more than my meat), but each time I sank my teeth into it I made sure I had a bite of the thick, succulent tenderloin as well 

Now, what about dishes from the fryer? I immediately pointed to another one of my personal favorite.

Soft Shell Crab (RM25)

Despite the creative experimenting, Kyoto Lab did a great job in their basic Japanese dishes too.

It was crispy enough on the outside, but soft and juicy on the inside – just like how a perfect soft shell crab dish should be!

We squeezed a lemon that accompanied the crabs for that extra citrus boom 

Curry Flavoured Wings (RM18)

For the peeps who never fail to have fried chicken wings or chicken drummets, you can opt for this.

It was served with a helping of salad & a slice of lemon too. I didn't eat this one but boyfieKon said it was as it is – not too spicy!

Now, what's Japanese cuisine without its sushi and maki rolls, hey?

But the first one I'm going to talk about comes with a slight twist as well 

Tuna & Mango Roll (RM20)

This maki could be an acquired taste, if you aren't too keen on mango. But I am, and this is pretty swell!

The interesting (but slightly odd!) combination is really something you should definitely explore! 

Green Dragon (RM24)

You can never go wrong with a dragon roll! 

The prawn, avocado & Japanese mayonaise rolled into a tight rice-wrapped seaweed is a must-eat!

Cheesy Fire Roll (RM24)

Sushi with cheese is pretty new to me, although it's something I've tasted before.

This version however, was delicious with its combination of crab meat, roe, Japanese cucumber, cheeeeeeese and wasabi!

You just gotta dig in!

On to the dessert! 

I was full to the brim so I didn't help myself with any. BoyfieKon ordered this for himself –

Sakae Wine Poached Pear & Green Tea Ice-Cream (RM15)

He mentioned to me that the pear had a bitter-sweet after taste to it 

And that wraps up the wide array of choices of my dinner. You should totally put your explorer hats on and check out this Japanese "secret laboratory" for yourself tucked away like a hideout upstairs Ampang's The Pool KL.

I had a brilliant time there experimenting & tasting new stuff that tantalized

my tastebuds however strange it initially felt 

Thank you Kyoto Lab for an evening with a nouveau twist to the traditional Japanese fare I've known all my life!

More details at The Pool KL's Facebook page & The Pool KL's official website

You know what to do now, if you're up for taking your tastebuds on a fascinating adventure!

During the weekend, I flew up to Penang Island to attend a hardcore indoor rave, all thanks to Heineken!

Yup, you guessed it. It's none other than the Heineken Progressive Tour.

I've always loved Heineken's parties.

So much energy brimming from my partysoul whenever I'm thrashing about at their dance floor!

One that somehow landed me on our local newspaper, The Sun last Friday.

Before I share the photos of my weekend trip and the mad-awesome time at Heineken Progressive Party at 32 The Mansion in Penang, I'd like to announce that the celebration continued with their regional tour in Ipoh and Johor 

Remember this Heineken bottle launch party? *click*

In conjunction with that launch of Heineken's new bottle in the city, the Heineken Progressive Tour keeps the party momentum going with the same experience heating up 3 more states in Malaysia!

So if you missed the KL, Penang and Ipoh one, don't fret.

Mark your calenders for this Saturday, 15th September 2012!

Heineken Progressive Tour will be jet-setting down to Johor Bahru's Lost Malaya

Mini Compo, Nick Haydez, DJ Faith and KBnL Dancefloor Hell will be your entertainment for the night 

See you there!

Stay updated with Heineken on their Facebook page and their Twitter feed!