 Appetizer - Squid in Special Home Ground Wasabi Sauce  Chawanmushi so fresh and so tight that you can even smell the difference  Spot the Toro, Uni, and Mantis Shrimp  Looks great like this too right?  Best Tenpura ever!  This is the kind of Tofu that you'll never want to stop eating  Home Ground Wasabi with Radish Flown Fresh from Japan  Handmade Tsumetai Soba  Fried Cod Fish and Scrambled Eggs As many of my friends would know, I am not a person who's very picky when it comes to food. I eat virtually everything, from the weirdest most exotic things you can find on earth to the cheapest and dirtiest things you can find on back-streets to the most expensive things in top Michelin Stars rated restaurants.
However, I am extremely serious with the passion that the chefs put in preparing their food. It can be the Stinkiest Tofu of China, Roasted Kangaroo Eyes of Australia, Barbeque Scorpion in Thailand, as long as they are made with passion, I can taste it like how I feel the songs that I play on the piano. Moreover, I totally hate dining in commercialized restaurants ie chains, fast food etc. I can taste the complains that employees put in their food, you know what I mean?
Today, I had lunch with my parents in this quiet little Japanese Restaurant in Federal Hotel. The name of the restaurant is Kapoh Muneharu and it is located in the Arcade One Front Entrance of Federal Hotel in the heart of Bukit Bintang, one of the most exciting tourists and locals populated area of Kuala Lumpur. The entrance of the restaurant is quite small and looks absolutely average and when I walked in, the place is small, not much interior design, but very clean. On the left is the Sushi Bar, right is 3 tables of 4, a small room at the end of the hall and a kitchen at far right. Together with my parents, we sat at the bar in front of the Chef, Muneharu Tokunaga & Mr. Safuan.
Like what I do when I dine in all other Japanese Restaurants, I ordered the largest Bento for my enormous appetite. My mum ordered Tenpura & Sashimi Set and my dad, the Bento as well.
Sitting in front of the Chef Tokunaga san, I can see his passion even from cutting our first slice of Sashimi. The Sashimi knife that he was holding, I asked, cost more than USD 3,000. Most of the ingredients that the restaurant use are freshly flown from Japan every Tuesday and Friday. Beside Chef Tokunaga san, I could also see Chef Safuan holding a part of radish with one hand and the other hand holding a knife, twisting and cutting it into one long slice so thin that it is virtually transparent.
While chatting with Chef Tokunaga practicing my worsening Japanese Language, the appetizer came. Squid in special sauce made partly with home ground Wasabi. Oh My God!!!!! Oh My........... Oh My.......... - Usher. I ain't gonna explain further. This is my first time eating this kind of Japanese Appetizer.
Once I finished my Appetizer, another Appetizer came, the Chawanmushi. I'm very particular with Chawanmushi. To tell the difference between a good and bad Chawanmushi, just very lightly shake the cup. You'll see the egg vibrates as if it's dancing. Then smell it, it will smell heavenly if the ingredients are fresh. To me, it smells like having a nice warm dish beside the fireplace during the cold winter snowstorm.
My mum's Sashimi came first, I took a piece of her Toro (Tuna Belly), it melted in my mouth. Melt over here doesn't mean melt like M&Ms in your mouth or hand. It is the tenderness of the flesh that you can never taste in any commercialized Japanese restaurants. I really mean NEVER. Then I took a piece of her Uni (Sea Urchin) covered in Yellow Tail Sashimi. Priceless!
Two minutes later, my Bento set came. I took the first dish in front of me, the Tofu. I thought to myself, I just wanna finish the most average dish first then I'll take some time to enjoy my Sashimis. Upon touching my tongue, the texture and the taste of the ordinary looking tofu unexpectedly exploded outside and inside my mouth. I asked Chef Tokunaga, "Kono Tofu ha tokubetsu desu ne?" (This Tofu is very special) Then Chef Safuan answered. It is the result of one full hour of slowly grinding fresh soy beans and sesame together. I cut the small little tofu into Ten even tinier pieces so that I could enjoy it a little longer. If I were eating in normal Japanese restaurants, that would have gone within one third of a second, I won't even bother chewing it.
Then I thought, Tenpura should be just normal. I took a bite, I could not taste any oil at all. All I could taste is the distinct rich aroma of very crispy fresh sea prawns in really great Tenpura sauce. Those Tenpura vegetables were as if they were just harvested.
Tokunaga san asked if I wanted another bowl of rice, I was like "Okawari!" (More!)
Then on my Right was the "Tsumetai Soba" (Cold Noodles). The most outstanding feature of the Soba is not the texture, but the taste itself. Soba with a slight bouncy slight crunchy texture is great, but the secret lies in the taste of the noodle. That explains why Japanese have Char Soba (Green Tea Noodles), Malt Noodles etc. Noodles with different kind of Flavors EMBEDDED in it. This one is soooooooo good that I don't know how to type about it. I took it strand by strand.
I slowly took my time to enjoy the rest of the passionately prepared food. I thanked the Chefs and their very dedicated waitresses. Then I asked if I could take a picture with the Chefs because I really want to write down my experience, be it to be shared with you guys or just like YouTube, for my own memories, since I have the memory of a Goldfish. (I'll explain to you why Goldfish if you email me or write on my Facebook wall).
Anyway, if you guys really wanna dine there as well, here're the details. Just say that you got to know them from the Internet or perhaps mention to the Chefs Tokunaga san or Safuan san, "Ray Mak" or "Mak san no musuko". I don't know if they'll give you some special surprise.
Kapoh Muneharu Japanese Restaurant
Managing Director / Chef Muneharu Tokunaga
Arcade One Front Entrance, Federal Hotel, No. 35, Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. +603-2144 6909 or +6012-944-4960 Fax +603-2144 6908
For my Japanese friends who're reading this. You must try this!!! Price? I swear to God that you ain't gonna believe what you see. However, if you're really Rich, just say "Omakase!" for your order. Please write your experience there! You are what you EAT!
Warmest Regards,
Ray Mak  Chefs - Mr. Safuan & Muneharu Tokunaga san
I was cravin for some Steak in the afternoon just now and I wanted the Best, the Highest Quality. So, I drove out to the Japanese Supermarket for some Wagyu Beef. Anyone here had Wagyu Beef before? If you're a fan of Steaks, you'll probably want to look into this.
Wagyu refers to several breeds of cattle genetically predisposed to intense marbling and to producing a high percentage of oleaginous unsaturated fat. The meat from wagyu cattle is known worldwide for its marbling characteristics, increased eating quality through a naturally enhanced flavor, tenderness and juiciness, and thus a high market value. The wagyu cattle's genetic predisposition yields a beef that contains a higher percentage of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids than typical beef. The increased marbling also improves the ratio of monounsaturated fats to saturated fats.
Just look at the marbles man....  Wagyu Steak  The Marbles  Ordinary Beef Preparation is easy, you only need a good non-stick frying pan. If your pan is brand new, wash it with oil and sliced onions to sterilize and deodorize. Oil is not necessary as the Wagyu Beef will cook in its own highly nutritious fat. Perhaps you can use some salt for taste. Cook for 90 seconds on each side leaving the middle medium rare depending on how thick your slice is. The outer layer will be slightly crunchy while the inside is juicy and tender.
Wagyu stands out for its unique taste and tenderness. It is so tender that it is not chewy at all. The moment you place it on your tongue, it kinda melts or dissolve, partially, not completely. You'll feel its burst of flavors right in your mouth. While the remaining parts which requires a little chewing will explode its flavors in your mouth from chewing or even grinding it with your teeth. Emmmmmm Ummmmmmmmmm Yummmmmmmmm........  Two packs of Wagyu Strips with Rib Eye in the Middle  The Wagyu Strips will melt in your mouth while the Rib Eye requires a little chewing Well, if you have some extra Gold to spare or huge sums of ongoing residual income. Go for Kobe Beef. Kobe beef refers to cuts of beef from the black Tajima-ushi breed of Wagyu cattle, raised according to strict tradition in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. The meat is generally considered to be a delicacy, renowned for its flavour, tenderness, and fatty, well-marbled texture. It is believed that the cattles are fed one beer per day, massaged with sake daily, brushed to set their fur, and fed on grain fodder.
It is still best to cook it yourself than eating outside. PROFIT MARGINS, you know what I mean?
Ray Mak
China can be the biggest Heaven for Cuisines be it authentic or normal dishes. It can also be the nastiest Hell for Cuisines that will damage your body for eternity. I was in Guangzhou a week ago and these are some information that I was seriously informed about prior to touching any food.
Cooking Oil from Drains, Gutters, and Sewages
Cooking Oil is dirt cheap in China, but Cooking Oil from Drains, Gutters, and Sewages is ten times cheaper than normal Cooking Oil. I was amazed when I was told about this, and I thought to myself, what does Cooking Oil from Drains, Gutters, and Sewages mean?
Well, Cooking Oil is used extensively in the preparation of many Chinese Cuisines especially those from Sze Chuan. Most of the oil in the food is not consumed and they are simply disposed into drains, gutters, rivers, sewages etc. The oil will remain on the top part of the water which can be easily extracted from the source be it drains, rivers, sewages or any other sources. This is known as "Swill Oil". Due to the extreme pungent smell of the extracted oil, these "highly intelligent" business people will add some chemicals to it which removes the pungent smell and replaces it with a uniquely synthetic aroma. The oil will then be sold in bulk to street hawkers, restaurants, especially those that prepares Steamboat a.k.a. Luk Luk. The Swill Oil is Rich in Aflatoxin, a really yummy toxin that will keep you "Healthy". According to newspapers in Hong Kong, a single consumption will cause cancer for life. Though the Chinese Government is making lots of efforts to track it down, it is virtually impossible to put an end to it, a highly profitable business in China.
If you watch TV in China, you'll probably see advertisements that warn you not to consume food from street hawkers.  Street Egg Burgers, You Can Gamble Your Life with these  They Do Smell Really Delicious!
Paper Box Meat Bun
Yummy!! Meat Buns are delicious! Paper Box Meat Buns are even more delicious!!! They just bring you to Heaven upon consumption at the fastest rate you can't possibly imagine. This is another business opportunity, a really huge one! Chopped Paper Boxes or Cardboards, softened in an industrial chemical and made tasty with pork flavoring is the main ingredients of these Meat Buns. Have you heard of the Top Quality Beef known as Wagyu or Kobe Beef? I heard that the meat in these delicious buns taste like those. Wanna try?
Sewage Enhanced Seafood
If you're a fan of seafood and you're in China, you should check out the source of the fish on your table. Well, I went back to the village where my ancestors came from. It's called the Mak's Village. Nothing wrong with the village actually, but there was a huge pond over there. Being a person who loves water as much as me, I was running towards it to jump in for a swim, until I was told, "This is an Oxidation Pond". You know.... Sewage / Shit Pool... According to my cousin, if I had jumped in there, I would be his biggest JOKE for life.
Now take a look at the fish on your table. In that village, and many other villages, most fish products are raised in such Oxidation Ponds using dangerous drugs and chemicals to allow them to grow huge for better profits. Subsequently, China, is the leading seafood exporter to The United States.
 My Swimming Pool
Guangzhou is a city in China well known for its unique culinary styles. Food that we get in Chinatown everywhere else in the world is very different from those that we get in Guangzhou or even China in general.
First of all, I'm gonna share with you guys about the TASTE of food in Guangzhou.
Comment :
Generally Salty. Most of the cuisines are rather plain in taste. There is not much variety in comparison to cuisines from countries like Thailand, India, Malaysia, Singapore etc. where the food are blended in a variety of flavors ie Sweet and Spicy, Sweet and Sour etc. Unless you're dining in expensive international restaurants, the food that you get in typical ordinary restaurants are either Salty, Sweet, Sour, Spicy, or Bitter. The Spicy is plain spicy, salty is plain salty, sweet's just sweet. Not much flavor in them. Especially restaurants outside the city. The food actually tastes really good in its original taste on plain flavors provided that the raw ingredients are fresh, really fresh.
The modern restaurants in Guangzhou serves fusion food from all over China or all over the world. Those are much more flavorful.  Tofu with Meatballs on it, with soy sauce  Fried Vegetables with black fungus and squid, with salt and cooking oil  Famous Translucent Noodles on Streets of Guangzhou, just Spicy  Fried Eggs with Bitter Gourd Secondly, I'm gonna comment about the INGREDIENTS used in Food in Guangzhou. Well, in China, any animal with the back facing the sky is edible, which include monkeys since they hunch a little. For those are attempting to compete in Fear Factor, be sure you experience China first, probably for a few months. The food you eat in Fear Factor will be NOTHING. I mean NOTHING! to you.
Let me bring you to the cage...
 Awwwww... this puppy looks so yummilicious (ZOMG)  I hope these sharkfins are fake. Or else I can't imagine how many sharks were sacrificed in this 1 insignificant little store  Perhaps Ninja Turtles can make use of some of these shells here  Aqua Snakes preparing to meet their cruel Fate  We had Joy, We had Fun, We had Seasons in the Cage  Lonely Gator who wishes to meet his friends in Heaven  Alligator Turtle is the Chinese Name for this Turtle. So Extremely Fierce that it melts in your mouth =_=||  The Kitchen - Parental Advice - Please do not watch if you can't take this The Results!!! Let me know if you can't take this anymore....
 Testicles Soup!  Wanna be smart like Einstein? Errrrrr............ I think I'll just stick to Starbucks!
 YouTube & Facebook Banned in China
While I was teaching my maid to do some gardening today, I found out that one of the 3 pineapple plants that I've planted have been destroyed by my naughty puppies. All that remains is a hole in the ground, lots of dirt by the walkway, and shredded pineapple leaves.
What to do... ='(
Dear Visitors,
I know you've tried different types of Noodles before. But, Hey, Fish Noodles, made entirely out of Fish Meat, I believe, is new to you. This is sooooooooooooooooo good!!! No preservatives! If you ever come to Malaysia, I'll bring you guys there. It tastes sooooooooo good that you're definitely gonna come back for more!
Isn't this Bizarre!? Life is Short, Eat Well!!
Ray Mak
The Internet, Television, Polluted Atmosphere, Water Supply, Food Supply, and a lot more, are contributing factors to the degradation of health in society today. I wonder what will happen to our future generation.
Well, there's still hope. Exercise!
By performing some form of physical activity everyday, our basal metabolic rate will increase. By having high metabolism, we're literally burning fat 24 hours a day. With a strong metabolism comes a strong immune system. When you burn fat, the toxins are released into the bloodstream, and are quickly carried out of the body through sweat. This inoculates you against the probability of developing cancerous and diseased cells. Therefore, hard exercise—that makes you sweat—is very good for you.
Picture tells a thousand words. I don't really like writing too much. Below are pictures of my grandma doing Tai Chi and also her Tai Chi mates. She's past 80, still strong and still driving.
Who do you think triumphed in this battle?
Sadly to say, I lost. Nature Wins.
Damage to my piano since Mickey Mouse's Ancestors:
Full set piano hammer replacement (a few thousand bucks)
In depth cleaning of piano countless number of times a year
Fire ants colony, I think inside my piano, from the food kept by Mickey for hibernation and musical entertainment
Monster Highest Quality Toslink Digital Fiber Optics Cable Pee Pee and Poo Poo in my house, takes one full day to mop the floor of my house per damage
Inedible food
Tonnes of mouse traps which instead traps birds, lizards, squirrels, and my grandma
Too much to mention here...
By the way, for your information. Rats here in Asia are very much different than those in the West. Just like Alligators and Crocodiles. Rats here are a lot bigger, stinkier, dirtier, has sharp pointy ears, longer nose, razor sharp teeth, and longer limbs. In contrary, those in the West are much smaller, less threatening, round ears, short nose, rounder teeth, and shorter limbs.
Dear Guest,
As you all know, I am AZN (Asian). In spite of the recent economic turmoil, most of the nations in Asia, which are developing nations, are still enjoying a healthy growth. Some of the recent very high growth nations include Malaysia, Pakistan, Vietnam, Mongolia, Cyprus, Uzbekistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and also other mineral and agricultural rich nations. One of the reasons, I believe, is that many Asians, are highly competitive people. We love to work, really hard, really really hard, to the extent that we sometimes neglect our health and well-being. It is also a culture here in most corporate that when any employee perform over-time jobs and working late nights, even mornings (2am-3am or non-stop), he or she is considered capable and hardworking in the eyes of their bosses. Some do not even witness sunrise and sunsets for a long period of time. Such unhealthy mindset is deeply embedded in the souls of many employees in corporate Asia especially for those working in giant firms.
I am personally a workaholic. I love working and I am able to perform multiple tasks efficiently at all times. However, as much as I love working, I strongly oppose the idea of working too hard to the extent that we sacrifice our time with family, love ones, and friends, well-being, and most importantly health. Many individuals spend most of their time working really hard and in return, spend most of their wealth away in healthcare, beauticare, and medical expenses. Other side effects? Broken family ties, break-ups, divorces, severe health problems, and even death. There was a time in the past where I worked so hard that I was unaware of the need of going to restroom. As a result, I was physically and psychologically deteriorated. My mood was most of the time, bad.
Beauty and health, I believe, comes from within. Our body needs a break sometimes. We need to strike a balance between work and play, but most importantly rest. If you're working with computers, make sure that your eyes take a break every now and then. You will never be benefited no matter how much supplements you take, how healthy you eat, how often you exercise, if your body is not well-rested. Well, if you think your corporate provides sufficient medical insurance to cover your life, think twice. Constantly working overtime does not make you any richer. If you do not take care of yourself, no one will.
One last quote for you: Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them - Work - Family - Health - Friends - Spirit, and you're keeping all of these in the air.
You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls -- family, health, friends and spirit are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. - James Patterson
Ray Mak
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