Everything happens for a reason !!!: 2015

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Soon Kueh First attempt fail. The skin turned very chewy when cold, skin too thick and not enough fillings. I'm very sure I messed up somewhere as the dough was too wet to handle while kneading. I should attempt this same recipe again sometime. #lizaohlala #lizzyspantry #soonkueh #blog #failattempt #musttryagain

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Monday, December 28, 2015

Quick supper of Mee Goreng campak2 (Fried Noodles) We reached home quite late. It doesn't take long to cook because i'm using shabu shabu beef so it's fast to cook. I also have sliced fishcake and cut vegetables left over from yesterday's chap chai so I cut down on the prep time. Because I'm cooking small portion, this took no more than 15mins. #lizaohlala #lizzyspantry #blog #meegoreng #friednoodles #noodles #spicynoodles

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Sunday, December 27, 2015

Deep Fried Seabass with sweet soysauce

Deep Fried Seabass with sweet soysauce for dinner.

Today's sides are green onions omelette, chap chai (mixed veg) which I added too much dark soy sauce.

Simple and fast recipe.

Ingredients
Seabass. Garoupa or Red Snapper is yummy too.
Cornflour for coating before frying
Salt
Oil for Frying

Sweetsoy Sauce. I used Kicap Manis Habhal Cap Kipas Udang.
1 Onion - Sliced
1 red chilli - Sliced
Mixed all in a bowl.

Scale, gut and score the fish.
I cut into half so that I can fry the otherhalf tomorrow.
Wash wipe the surface abit so that it's not too wet.
Season with salt, be sure to season the inner belly area.
Dust with corn flour, Deep fry.

Drain on kitchen towel.
Serve and pour the sweet sauce. Squeeze lime if you like.

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Japan Halal : Narita Airport Terminal 2 : La Toque

Date : 21 November 2015

One of the highlight of this Japan trip was to visit as many halal restaurants in Tokyo (subject to time availability and bank approval to my Credit Card / ATM Spendings). The food in Japan are not cheap. So do be prepared to pay between ¥900 to ¥1500 ($10 to $18) per person for your normal inexpensive meals or pay more for the Yakiniku (grill meat)

Most of the small restaurants only accept cash or there is a dispenser machine (common in the non halal and cheaper establishments) where you order your food first and provide the ticket to the cook / waiter / staff.

Our first halal experience for this trip was right after we touched down. By the way, that was one of the smoothest landing ever and it's JAL.

There are 2 Halal certified restaurants here at Terminal 2. Our first meal here is La Toque at Narita Airport Terminal 2. Main building level 4. I will share my experience at the other halal restaurant called Tentei in another post. (we went there on the day we left Japan *sob*)

It's very easy to get to La Toque. Carting around 3 luggage (50% full, 25% full and 0% full) is not easy in a crowded place but we found it. After you exit the arrival hall, look for the lift or escalator to the main building at level 4. I can't seem to find the unit number but please click to Narita airport URL link here
http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/shops/rest_shop/rest/floor_list/detail/t2mn04_t0004m.html
Do note, there are signs in English pointing out the direction to La Toque. It is actually near to an entrance/exit to one of the Viewing Galleries to watch the tarmac.

They served Japanese Curry here. Mr is actually not a fan of Japanese food. Japanese Curry does not taste like our curry but It's curry and it's something familiar I guess.

As of most Japanese restaurants, they have pretty plastic food display showcasing the food listed in the menu. It look so pretty realistic.

This was what greeted us.

The display were made of plastic.

I guess because this restaurant is located in International Airport, they add english description as well.

See the display with the omelette nasi pataya look alike below? This look very much like the dish we ordered. Just ours is a bit more darker..

Menu ... well part of it.
They are halal certified by Japanese Halal Certification as well as under guidance by Malaysia Halal Certification body. I read somewhere that their kitchen was halal certified by Muis but I see any notice or cert of that in the restaurant.

Mr ordered Egg Curry. (below)

Look somewhat similar to the plastic display right? This dish cost ¥888 before tax. It's about SGD$10.40.

And I ordered Chick on bone curry. This cost ¥1088 = $12.70 before tax.

It taste like Japanese curry that I'm familiar with. No diff. But it's halal. And Mr said it tasted way much nicer than the Japanese Curry in SG (but he still doesn't like Japanese Curry)

While we were there, we don't see many walk ins. Mostly tourists.

(above, his best pose for the camera with his Hello Kitty)

Total damage. ¥2134 = $24.90. The price is reasonable for a restaurant. They accepted Cards.

Information listed below is accurate as of Dec 25 2015.)

Restaurant Name : La Toque

Address : Narita Airport Terminal 2. Main building level 4. Please click on to Narita airport URL link for it's location,
http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/shops/rest_shop/rest/floor_list/detail/t2mn04_t0004m.html
Operation hours : 7:30am to 8:30pm

Price Range : Please be prepared to pay ¥1000 to ¥2000 per person.

Restaurant URL :

http://www.narita-airport.jp/jp/shops/rest_shop/rest/floor_list/detail/t2mn04_t0004m.html

Also read : Japan 2015 - Day 1 Part 1 : BizzyLizzy and Ben went Japan

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Japan 2015 - Day 1 Part 1 : BizzyLizzy and Ben went Japan

Note :

This is going to be a lengthy post with a lot pictures so I'm going to split Day one under 2 posts and the write up on the 2 restaurants we went to, on Day 1 under another 2 postings.

Date : November 21 to December 02 2015

Place : Singapore, Narita, Shinjuku

We went ahead with this trip with so little planning. (What's new. Seems like this is our travel SOP which is last min packing and planning) It was during busy period in our respective place of work so we didn't really sit down and plan our itinerary. The only thing we were sure of, was to buy the JR Rail Pass (7 Days pass), which we bought from JTB Takashimaya. http://jtb.com.sg/home/

We literally packed our luggage less than 6 hours before our early morning flight, bought travel insurance, pack our medications, decide which winter jacket to wear and pack (but forgot to my winter boots), how many sets of jeans should I pack or should I just get it from Uniclo since it's commonly everywhere in Tokyo.

Here big boy helping me to pack,

I did not sleep the whole night, (normal SOP) before flying. You see, I'm a nervous Flyer. I will start getting anxious a few days before we flying hence the sleepless nights.

Our flight is at 8:20am Changi Airport Terminal 1. Check in at JAL was a breeze. Because I'm bringing Epi Pen on with my carry-on luggage (which is adrenaline injections for my allergies) This cause concerns with the JAL staffs. They got worried about my allergies even though we assured them not to worry as nuts and prawns only cause me discomfort wheezing but the one that can cause me asphyxia is crab which I doubt they served on air.

The first thing we did after entering transit was to look for Changi Recommend counter to collect the Overseas Wifi router which we reserved. (See Below)

It cost us $98 for 10 days unlimited usage and you can connect up to 10 devices at any time. There is another company called StarLight which offers cheaper rates but it was fully booked. I will post on the other data connection options while overseas on another blog post (if I got around to that)

For this trip, We fly with JAL. My sisters were kinda surprise because we are dieheart SQ flyers, but I read a lot of positives review about JAL, and it's way cheaper than SQ prices, so here goes nothing.

Before boarding, we stop by Kiliney.

That was a bad decision. The line was snaking and slow. We stayed because I need something to nibble but that left us with no time to shop around and we were the last to enter the gate which was at the other end of the terminal.

After entering the boarding area, one of the ground stewardess approached us. JAL was being overly concerned and was assuring me again that the the food served does not contains any stuffs allergic too. This was repeated again as soon as we were seated, where the flight stewardess came over and enquire again about my allergies and assured me again that they will not be serving any kind of nuts, shellfish, prawns, .. Wow... I don't recall SQ doing all out for that.

Before take off, remember to recite doa.

And one of ours before take off

It was a full flight. The plane look new and the service was fantastic. I don't like take off and landing so I forced myself to look out the window and took videos of mindless stuffs to just calm/distract myself. Here's one.

One of the worse thing that can happened on a plane for me apart from severe allergy reactions and asthma, that would be panic attack.

Over the years I more or less has manage to overcome this. One of the steps I took was to walk or stand frequently. Another one thing I found out was to have a sip of water frequently to wet my throat. Coffee is a no no. The one that helps me the most is Apple Juice and hot tea. That's why I try to secure seats nearer to the back of the aircraft which is nearer to recess areas as well as near to the loo (if loo malfunction and start to get smelly, can die lah). Aisle seat is also a must for me cos of my frequent walk about.

Maybe perhaps this is only a 9hr trip so apart from the frequent toilet breaks, I had a pleasant and uneventful flight there. I even manage to keep myself occupied by watching Jurassic Park Movie and past seasons of Doctor X (Japanese Drama).

The food was ok. Not as good as SQ but still ok.

Due to some miscommunication about the allergy portion, one of us got served vegan food :-) heheheh I supposed that was meant for me hehehe.

This was what I had. That's fish with tomato gravy and rice.

And this was the vegan food served for Mr. Vegetarian Lasagne.Our non muslim fellow travellers got 1 dessert and 1 Haagen Daz Ice Cream.

Because we got 2 types of dessert, no Haagen Daz Ice Cream for us. We didn't know that so we thick skin and asked If we could have one. Must be rezeki kita kan, they had some left overs and passed us 2.

The view....

Snack time before landing. I learn that when you want tea, must say black tea. Else they will serve you Green tea :-) Unlike SQ, they served tea in paper cups. I have no complains.

Our Muslim sandwich. Tuna, Cheese and Margarine

After 8-9hrs we reached Narita. Mr still look fresh and not so fresh me who have not been sleeping for last 24hrs. (Opps photobomb)

Touch Down... Welcome to Narita. One of the smoothest landing ever..

This was taken 4:26pm Japan time or 3:26pm SG time. It was late Autumn and daylight is shorter.

For customs clearance, you will have to fill up the disembarkation card as well as the customs declaration form. You only need to fill up 1 customs declaration form for your party.

No picture because the one I have was already filled up with our particulars.

Here's Mr managing 2 huge luggage (50% and 25% full only) up the escalator like a pro.

One of the highlight of this trip is to visit as many halal restaurants here. Our first meal here was at La Toque at Narita Airport Terminal 2. Main building level 4.

I created another post for La Toque here.

I think it's a good more to have Halal options at the airport. I remembered last 4 years ago when we first came, there wasn't any halal restaurants around.

Here's more info on La Toque.

http://lizaohlala.blogspot.com/2015/12/japan-halal-narita-airport-terminal-2-la-toque.html

To be continued...
In my next Day 1 Part 2 post, I will share on the following
1) Narita to Shinjuku via Narita Express
2) Finding our way from Shinjuku Station to Hotel Sunroute Plaza
3) Our very first halal Yakiniku in Japan...

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