Dining With Jewelle

We finally got to try the new Buccaneer Thai Restaurant for lunch today (barely 2 hours after our chicken rice brunch!). Buccaneer Thai is a branch of the Buccaneer Western Restaurant which is just around the corner of the same building.

The menu even had a chili guide of how spicy you want your food to be. Since it was our first time and didn’t want to push our luck, we settled for 1 chili, which was described as “Mildly spicy and will leave a warm glow in the mouth”.

As you know, I didn’t have to think too much about what I wanted to eat. Thai food to me is just this :

Hubby ordered Sea Food Tom Yam and I thought it was one of the best tom yam soup I’ve ever had. Just the right kind of spiciness that tingles your tongue but didn’t make you want to bloat yourself with water. So I guess the 1 Chili level is right for us!

Sis Jacq is not a Chili eater but the tom yam was so good that she rather tortured her tongue that give up. That good, I’m telling you.

The place was elegant and nicely accented with some Thai decorative items. Besides the open floor, they also offer 2 private areas with a round table.

It was in these rooms that we found 2 very interesting pieces of wall decoration.

I noticed that Thais are very loyal to the King. You can guarantee that his picture will adorn the wall of any Thai establishments here in Brunei. At the Buccaneer Thai, they have a lovely picture of our Sultan and the Thailand King during his 60th Anniversary in Bangkok last year.

There was also a lovely picture of all the Royalty from around the world from the same function and I was probably there scrutinizing the photo for around 5 mins!

Food was great and the decorations made the place even more special. It was reasonable too. Our food cost us less than B$50.

Sis Jacq and Wei Chuen came along with me to Kuala Belait late this morning without having their breakfast (Sabahan pro-money-blogger even works during holiday it seems).

When we parked the car in front of the KB hawker stall, we were greeted by the delicious smell of chicken rice. Needless to say, they didn’t want to wander further and immediately plonk down at this stall.

As it was only 10 am, the place was deserted but I’m sure that they’re packed at lunchtime as their chicken tasted as good as it looks and smells.

A complete meal came with a bowl of soup, rice, a plate of chicken and chili sauce. Hot tea is available and self-service.

Besides the stalls, there were 2 huge oak trees and as a result, the place was so shady and even at 10 am, it was cool. Nowhere in KK will you get that!

While eating, I was also struck by how quiet the area was despite being just behind KB main street and even the Chung Hwa school bell rang loud and clear.

To the small-town-lover in me, this is the life. No noise, no rush. As expected, the city folks who are currently on a holiday with us are so “disturbed” by our peaceful land that they are both asleep right now. 9.00 p.m!

Sis Jacq Food Blog and Sis BF Wei Chuen will post their own versions of this Hainanese Chicken Rice in KB (one of these days) so do check their blogs.

Kat’s is one of the first Western eatery in Pandan area. For non-Bruneian, this is a residential areas about 5 km from Kuala Belait downtown. Nowadays, there are many more shop lots with dining places such as Excapade (Japanese), Fratini’s (Italian), LemonGrass (Thai) and most recent, Orchid Room 2 (Chinese).

Last Saturday night, hubby and I brought the kids over to Kat’s for dinner (that was after I put my foot down and insist on Kat’s because Eu has been brainwashed by hubby and asks to go to Excapade). Besides we haven’t been here for ages!

It’s nice that Kat’s still looks the same, from the layout of the tables to the wall decor. The only noticeable change was the staffs and the menu which is even thicker and had loads of choices.

Hubby and I went wilder than usual and ordered an appetizers each. The potato salad was tasty but I think the portion turned me off a little. It’s TOO much. Hubby’s smoked salmon (what else!) was fine but I thought the presentation looks a bit funny.

For main meals, we had a Surf N Turf (beef steak and fish), Spicy Chicken Creole (the name did me) and Kat’s Kiddie Spaghetti.

We were surprised that Eu ate a lot of her spaghetti. I think hers, although a little dry, was quite a good value, big portion for only $3.50. My spicy chicken was basically chicken smothered with sauce, looks messy, taste ok but I don’t think I’ll order it again. Hubby’s was just fine.

Overall, the choices are good (western, chinese and kiddie’s) and the prices are reasonable. Nice place too. Service was okay.

I think one of Asian most known dish is the “chicken rice“, steamed or roasted chicken accompanied by steamed rice.

In Brunei, nearly all Chinese kopi tiam serves excellent chicken rice but our favorite is “Moi Nam” of Seria because they usually serve very big pieces of chicken especially if you have them for take away. This outlet has another branch in KB but from our experiences, the cook at the KB branch is a bit stingy with the meat so stick to the Seria “Moi Nam” folks!

I have also recently noticed that only Brunei and Sabah serves their chicken rice with bones still intact.

In Bangkok, I was surprised when my chicken rice dish came without the bones. I thought it was a bit weird then. But on our last trip to Singapore, I then noticed that the chicken rice that I had there were also this way!

I’m not sure which I prefer best but I think either way, chicken rice is still one of the best Asian dish there is.

Despite the small number of eateries in Brunei, there are a lot of fabulous food bloggers that regularly shared their dining experiences on the well-known and not so known restaurants, kopi tiam and hawker stalls around Brunei.

Yet, it’s funny that despite the bigger number of makan places around Kota Kinabalu (Sabah), I know of only one food blogger and not surprisingly, it’s a my own sister Jacq who, together with her food-connoiseur of a BF, regularly tramped around town for the good, great and sometimes lousy type of eateries.

So if you’re not from KK and would like to know what the locals dine out on, check out her reviews at KK Food Blog.

In fact, I decided to highlight her site today because she found a place which I am now eager to go try on my next trip back, that is a herbal soup!

Good job sis! Now, go find more herbal soups outlet.

Whenever we have friends over, we like to bring them to Thiam Hock, one of our favorite Chinese restaurant for their reputedly best “Curry Fish Head” in the whole of Brunei.

Not only is their curry fish head tasty, it is their Chinese-influenced decor which makes this small restaurant stands out from the bigger Chinese restaurants in town. To me, even the myriad of myths and stories revolving around the gangster-like owner and the altar of Buddhist Gods from Thailand (as I was told) lend romance to this place.

Unreliable sources said that this place has been around for decades where it began business as a simple kopi tiam serving mostly contractors. The owner then reportedly made offerings to the a certain Buddhist God in Thailand, which I was told was famous for fulfilling wishes, and his business increased tenfold. Hence one of the few Chinese places around town that sported a different Buddhist God.

Now, this place is like an elegant antique store with all kinds of bric a brac lining up its walls. In fact, there are times when I am tempted to ask if their decorative items are for sale. Besides, nowhere else will you find a restaurant with a fish aquarium in the bathroom (Lilian Too is definitely not his Feng Shui Master).

Foodwise, they are excellent. Their curry fish head is a definite must, although there were times when the flesh was a tad too tough (old fish has to be used for this dish as my fish-lover of a hubby clarified) but it’s usually done to perfection and fast. They have other exceptional dishes too and their prices are reasonable.

On our last visit, we saw that they are opening another section on the top floor which is just as well as this is another popular place in Bandar.

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Last note :

• Stories narrated are not meant to offend anyone and corrections are most welcome
• Some Picture Credits : Sis Jacq

 

Yesterday in Bandar, we had lunch at Shikai Restaurant, a halal Chinese eatery at Batu Bersurat, behind the Happy Star SuperStore.

At the front, there is narrow pond with live koi fish with a tiny bridge to cross over. On one side there is a ceramic turtle and on the other side, was a big vase with continuously over-flowing water. I won’t be surprised if the owner practices feng shui.

There are outdoor tables for al fresco dining and one table is in a gazebo. If you noticed from the pictures, this place is heavily decorated with Chinese calligraphy on its walls and pillars. Since I don’t read Chinese, I can only assume that they are auspicious phrases which some feng shui school believes is useful to invite good fortune. There was a tiny garden, lush with green leaves and some blooming flowers. I doubt there is any other restaurant in the country that has this feature!

The interior was accented with a lot of dark timber, antique chairs, framed calligraphy on the wall, huge Chinese 3 Gods with some Chinese New Year decorations still hanging from the ceiling.

Apparently, as the waitress advised us, their speciality is the duck and that was obvious from the long rows of roasted ducks hanging near the kitchen.

 

Their almanac-like menu (2 cm thick!) has quite a wide variety of dish. This place is halal but if you’re really desperate for the forbidden meat, there is always “char-siew” chicken (!)

Because of the square dining tables, this place has more of a kopi tiam feel than a restaurant but their menu clearly shows that it’s a restaurant. My dry chili chicken is served in 3 sizes, the cheapest being $8.00 and even that comes without rice. But their portions are large so I guess they are worth the price.

It’s popular too. A little later after we arrived, the place started to fill up and I was told that this place is usually packed to the max on weekdays.

Perhaps I’ll try their duck rice next time. Read what Hunnie says about this place too.

We didn’t mind having hubby’s birthday dinner at Teo Chew as they do serve delicious food. What’s more, it’s a mere 5 mins drive from home and with my kids strict bedtime, it’s the best choice.

As usual, father in law was in charge of the dish selections. This time he picked 8 dishes :

There was a soup and a claypot dish which, for some reason, they never fail to order. Needless to say, it’s not my favorite.

I had to miss the prawn and beef because of my allergy but the other dishes more than made up for this. The spare ribs were so tender, it had to pressure-cooked. Even Eu gave me an assignment. She wanted me to cook the sweet and sour fish at home.

Service was as usual prompt and efficient. I thought we’d be the only customers at this time of the day but I was pleasantly wrong. Obviously, there are others who enjoyed their food as much as we do.

It’s very reasonable too. 8 dishes for 9 adults only costs $100+.

If only they have a nicer environment, they would be the clear choice for wedding dinners.

The Government relocated the hawkers from the Seria mee market to the newly built Komplex Seri a few months ago. And with the new place comes a new condition. Pork meat is no longer allowed to be served in here.

We had breakfast there on Sunday and despite the place being enclosed as compared to the open air style of the old market, ventilation was okay. Most of the original hawkers relocated themselves, albeit with a higher rental fee. I was told that the rental at the previous market was ridiculously cheap and with the heavy demand for take aways by offshore staffs (especially in the past), some of the hawkers are reputedly to be seriously rich. So never look down on the sweaty man or lady behind the wok!

This Seria-styled mee, as they are famously called, has a distinct taste. There is no strong flavoring or MSG taste. Some might even called it bland. But once you tried it, you might get the taste for it and be one of those folks who just had to eat the Seria mee when you are in town!