JC

PCL, have you tried Indulgence in Canning Garden? I've only had dessert there.

Eh, I didn't know about the first gathering... oh well there's always a next time. All you can eat dim sum sounds good, but I see that the promo ends this month. And this month is not good for me, work up till my eyeballs! Anyway, I heard there was a good high-end Vietnamese restaurant behind Jalan Alor. Anyone been there?

Hey, us eGullets from KL should catch up!

Shiewie, that bowl of laksa looks like it's from a bistro in Plaza Mont Kiara... right?

That place looks like Kayu Nasi Kandar in SS2, PJ.

Hi, Fine dining in KL is often associated with Italian or French or generally European cuisine. And yes, many such restaurants are located in the hotels. But there are many other standalone ones as well, e.g. - Frangipani - Nerovivo (http://www.nerovivo.com/) - Scalinis - Bon Ton For something asian try Eest at the Westin Hotel.

If you're visiting Malaysia you can try "ikan bakar", which is grilled fish. There are also many Chinese restaurants in Malaysia, where fish is best served steamed.

The Shun comprises 3 parts, a central core of VG-10 steel and on both sides of the core, the damascus. This is what is typically called a "san mai" construction. The damascus sides on the Shun are folded metal (16 layers I think), but it is important to note that the damascus in this case is not meant for cutting, just for aesthetics (or finish as you call it). The cutting is done by the core steel. The Bob Kramer knife you showed is the same, the damascus on that is at the sides and the cutting core is 52100 steel. In a true damascus knife, the whole blade is damascus (not just the sides) and it is meant to cut. In such a case, the metals that are being folded are of a different type/grade and heat treated to high hardness. This differentiates it from the damascus in the Shun knives, which is purely for cosmetics. Looking at Bob's site, he also has knives which are true damascus.

My wife loves sushi and sashimi. Now that she's pregnant, the advice from some books is to avoid raw fish. I'm just wondering if this is also common advice in Japan. Are Japanese women advised to avoid raw fish when pregnant?

SG, That piece from Bob Kramer sure is pretty. But the construction is similar to the Shun, i.e. a sanmai laminate, since it's got a 1600 layer outside and a 52100 core.

The other thing I would recommend to those travelling to Rome, hire the services of a good local guide. A guide can really bring the city to life and reveal so much background that you'd miss just walking around by yourself. I was introduced to Francesca Caruso and she was an excellent guide. Clear spoken English and passionate about her work. She does private group tours and charges by the hour. If you have around 4 persons it works out quite reasonably. She can show you the most popular sights, or customise an itinerary just for you. Oh another suggestion for what to see: the Vatican Scavi (excavations). I enjoyed this very much. Need to book in advance. Also the Borghese Gallery.

Had a good meal at Dal Toscano, serving Florentine specialities. Their bistecca alla fiorentina was something else.

Wish I had knowledge of this restaurant earlier. I came back from Italy about 3 weeks ago and in fact spent a night in Seiano. If I knew, I would definitely have tried Torre del Saracino.

If you take a walk up Monte Aventino (nearest metro is Piramide), a bit of an uphill walk mind you, you'll find Sant Anselmo. This is a monastery where in the evenings (around 7 pm) the monks do Gregorian chants. Just round the corner is the Priory of the Knights of Malta, where you should peek into their bronze keyhole (for a nice and surprising view).

Try the Trionfale Market near the Vatican (Metro Cipro stop). The stalls are set up along Via Andrea Doria and it's a wonderful place to pick up fresh fruits and veggies, cheeses, etc and just observe the Romans shopping and interacting. At the northern end of the market is a bakery (about 2 stalls wide) that sells very nice baked goods, cakes, etc - excellent place to get something to munch on while wandering the market.

Update Went to Suchan last night for dessert since I haven't been there for a while. Yikes, they've changed their tiramisu recipe. The new version is more moist (I think overly so) and makes the slice not as tall as it used to be. Not enough mascarpone and coffee/rum. I prefer the old version.

I tried some cakes at L'Opera at Ikano about 2-3 months ago. They were too dry and unimpressive. Won't be going back. I agree about the tiramisu at Alexis though. I hear Suchan makes it for them.

Yup, that satay guy at Tien Chun is such an Ipoh institution. Everybody remembers him! He used to be (20 years ago) much more boisterous, more subdued now with age but you can clearly hear his voice going around asking people if they want satay.

Oh, it's not at Hungry Jack's anymore? Could've been a special item like PCL said. I do remember having it in Melbourne in the early 90s when I studied there. Oh well... that is a long time ago... The biggest burger I ever had was at Hungry Jack's. They had a special once - a triple Whopper!!!

Phish, You're right. That Double Mushroom Swiss burger is something else. But it's not unique to Malaysia. They have it in Australia as well (where Burger King is called Hungry Jacks).

Thanks for your help Hiroyuki. I hope Jumi understands English because I cannot communicate with him in Japanese.

Hi Hiroyuki, Yes, I'm looking to buy a knife from a specific maker. His name is Tokifusa Iizuka (or better known as Shigefusa) from Sanjo City. There are some US websites that sell his knives, but I don't live in USA. Besides, I find it much better to get knives from the source.

I'm actually looking for some help in contacting a knife maker from Sanjo City. If someone who live in or near Sanjo City can help, please post here. Thanks in advance.

Glad to see so many people enjoying their granite M&P. It's very common here in Asia, and they last for ages. Mine was passed down from my grandmother! It's much cheaper than £30-40 here. Definitely something to shop for when in Asia. Carrying it back is another matter though :)

Then you need a Hattori