Gantetsu Hokkaido Ramen, Isetan Eat Paradise, 1 Utama

I automatically turn to Japanese when it comes to deciding what to have for lunch. I had Ichiro in mind, but kids wanted ramen (again!) so we decided to try out Gantetsu, which is also located in Isetan Eat Paradise. A long time ago, I tried Gantetsu in Changi Airport, Singapore and that time I had their signature Hokkaido miso and enjoyed it.

I ordered the Hokkaido King Charshu Tonkotsu (RM27.90) which came with thick noodles, wood ear fungus, spring onions, 4 thick slices of charshu and egg, in a tonkotsu broth. The tonkotsu broth here is not as thick and rich as Menya next door, however it is still flavorful. However, I thought the pork charshu tasted pretty bland and the egg was not a flavoured egg as advertised (just an ordinary boiled egg) - fortunately it was nice and runny. Nevertheless, still a good bowl of ramen which we enjoyed.

Baby C had the Kids Set 1 (RM14.50), which came with a small bowl of ramen with half an egg, wood ear fungus, as well as 3 piece of fried chicken (karaage), a bottle of Vitagen and jelly. Hubby had the katsu curry rice (RM22.90), which according to him is tasty.

Sweet Phone

Price: Total bill RM80.55.

Location: Gantetsu Hokkaido Ramen, 2nd Floor, Isetan Eat Paradise, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, 1 Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama City Centre, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. (near Isetan Kids Department)


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Homeschooling: How to Make Giant Bubbles at Home

Last week, we took our kids to see Dr Bubble with Milkshake show at PJ Live Arts in Jaya One. This interactive storytelling show features all things bubbles - we got to see monster bubbles, bubble in a bubble, smokey bubbles, and much more.

Dr Bubble at PJ Live Arts (full screen here)

It's school holidays this week, but ironically, BabySumoKids requested that we do "homeschooling" on the first day of the school holidays. First lesson of the day was Science, and for Science, Hubby was the teacher-in-charge, and he decided to let them learn and play with bubbles, as inspired by Dr Bubble. You too can have a magical day of bubble fun at home with your kids - I guarantee that they will love it!

You can see easily buy bubble solution in the stores, which usually comes with a bubble wand. However, you can also DIY your own bubble solution - simply mix washing liquid with water in a shallow container / plate. For the bubble wand, we used a variety of apparatus to achieve different bubbles. The best one we made today was using an old badminton racket (with no more strings in the centre) to make giant bubbles. The racket was bent at an angle to enable the kids to easily dip it in the bubble solution, and then create lots of big bubbles. If you do not have an old racket in the house, you can buy a cheap one at Daiso or DIY for slightly over RM5.

 Yay we can make giant bubbles too! :)

Our giant bubble!

We also used mesh to create multiple bubbles in one go, as well as straws to create "caterpillar bubbles" (ie several small bubbles attached to one another to look like a caterpillar).

We sure had fun experimenting with bubbles today :)



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Recipe: Gnocchi with Sage Butter and Mushrooms

We had half a pack of gnocchi left after we used half in this steak recipe. Sage and butter are two of the most common ingredients to pair with gnocchi, so we decided to use up the remaining half pack of gnocchi and cooked it with sage, butter and mushrooms, and finished it off with some white truffle butter for a decadent touch.

Gnocchi with Sage Butter and Mushrooms

As you can see, no meat is used in this recipe so it's suitable for Meatless Mondays. The mushrooms have a great meaty texture. Do remember to shave generous amounts of Parmesan cheese on top to give it the extra oomph.

Watch video in full screen here (link here)

Gnocchi with Sage Butter and Mushrooms
Recipe by Baby Sumo
Preparation time: 3 minutes
Cooking time: 7-8 minutes
Serves 2

Ingredients
250g store-bought potato gnocchi
150g grey oyster mushrooms, chopped
2-3 tbsp salted butter

1 tbp olive oil
1 tsp white truffle butter
1/2 pack sage leaves
2-3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Parmesan cheese
5-6 cherry tomatoes, halved

Salt and freshly ground pepper



1. Bring a pot of salted water to the boil. Once boiling, add the gnocchi and cook for 2 minutes, or until the gnocchi float to the top and then lift out with a slotted spoon and drain well.

2. In a frying pan, heat the oil and salted butter over medium high heat. Add garlic and saute for about 1 minute, until lightly golden, then add the sage leaves and saute for a few seconds. 

3. Then, add the mushrooms and cook for about 2 minutes, until the mushrooms have softened. Finally, add the cooked gnocchi and saute for about 1 minute until the gnocchi are coated in butter, then toss in the white truffle butter. Season with salt and pepper. 

4. Serve gnocchi immediately with generous shavings of Parmesan cheese and fresh cherry tomatoes.

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Sakae Sushi, Paradigm Mall

We thought that it would be fun to bring our kids to Sakae Sushi one weekend, for the conveyor belt sushi experience. We arrived at the restaurant just after it opened its door, hence there were not many items available yet on the conveyor belt, so we ended up ordering from the menu.

Ordering is done via their iPad menus, just a few taps and your order is sent. We did find waiting time for some items ridiculously long even though there were only 4-5 tables occupied at that time.

We ordered a mini chicken katsu curry don (RM7.99) which was tasty. Then, we had two plates of salmon sashimi which was pretty fresh, 5 thick slices per plate for RM12.99. 

Breaded chicken cutlet with Japanese curry

Sushi prices start from RM1.99 per plate, the plate are colour-coded according to the prices.  Had this salmon mentai sushi (RM4.99) - half-grilled salmon coated with creamy mentaiko mayo sauce. This was yummy.

Chuka idako gunkan sushi (RM2.99) - seasoned baby octopus topping

Baby C's selection, the kappa maki with Japanese cucumber (RM1.99) - I'm not sure what influenced her choice, but she ate most of them.

Mochi (RM4.99 for 3 pcs), we had like 3 plates of this.

Price: Total bill RM67.50.

Location: Sakae Sushi, CF13 Paradigm Mall, No.1 Jalan SS7/26A, Kelana Jaya, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Tel: 03-7887 3218

GPS Coordinates: 3.105378, 101.594757


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Hotel Review: The Ritz-Carlton KL - Revamped, Refreshed, Relaunched

The Ritz-Carlton KL has recently undergone a stunning transformation and it is now looking even swankier and better than ever. The new look is fresh and modern, and exudes the elegance, luxury and exceptional attention to detail that The Ritz-Carlton is well-known for.

The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur is a 5-star luxury hotel owned by YTL Hotels, the hospitality arm of one of Malaysia's most dynamic conglomerates, YTL Corporation Berhad. Located in the vibrant Golden Triangle, guests can enjoy convenient access to upscale shopping, dining and entertainment and is a 10-minute walk via an air-conditioned walkway to the world-famous Petronas Twin Towers attraction.

You will experience the highest level of personalized service and facilities, from the moment you step through the hotel doors. A smiling gentleman greets us and helps us with our luggage and directs us to the stylish lobby and reception area for check-in. Shortly after, our butler Jeffrey arrives with our welcome drinks, The Ritz Fizz and ushers us to our suite.

Reception area

The 2-bedroom suite (1885 sq ft) at The Ritz-Carlton KL surpassed our expectations in terms of spaciousness and comfort. Not only did we have two bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, there is also a TV lounge, dining room, quiet/reading room, a spacious kitchen and two further toilets. We were suitably impressed, especially our children who couldn't stop gushing about how amazing the room was.

The bedrooms were luxuriously appointed and are ideal for families - in the master bedroom, there is a plush king-sized bed, large mirrors as well as a separate powder room and walk-in closet with ample storage space.  For entertainment, there are three flat panel HD TVs, in the master bedroom, second bedroom as well as the living room (60"). There is also complimentary wifi for guests in the rooms and throughout the property.

A very warm welcome from The Ritz-Carlton KL

Master Bedroom

The marble master bathroom features a separate bathtub, shower and toilet, with exclusive Asprey bath amenities. Our butlers very kindly ran a bubble bath on the first evening, and the kids were overjoyed and enjoyed soaking prior to bedtime. Speaking of butlers, The Ritz-Carlton butlers are the very personification of service excellence. The butler delivers every request with the touch of a single button on the room telephone. From unpacking and packing, shoeshine and car transfers, to organizing the perfect itinerary for shopping, dining and entertainment, these highly-trained butlers are the cherry on top of this prestigious property.

BabySumoKids quickly made themselves at home in their own bedroom, assigning beds and quickly confirming that Disney Channel is available on their very own TV.

The reading room, a relaxing space with a spacious writing desk and lounge chair

The living room is a warm, inviting space, thanks to the rich furnishings in earthy tones

Chilling like a boss

 There is also a dining area and well-equipped kitchen (hob, microwave, large fridge, and coffee/tea making facilities)

Enjoying The Ritz Fizz, The Ritz-Carlton's signature cocktail, dating back to 1934.

Turndown service goodies - chocolates and cake

For families, The Ritz-Carlton KL has introduced the Ritz Kids Room, located on the 4th Floor of the hotel, where you will be able to find video games, card games, books and magazine as well as various toys to keep your children entertained. The butlers will be on hand to give you assistance should you require any.  For example you can put in a request for a towel origami lesson for your kids. There will be daily activities planned for kids as part of the Ritz Kids program and additionally a special Ritz Kids menu available for in-room dining.

BabySumoKids treasured momento from the hotel - towel art "penguin", from our butler

The swimming pool area is also sporting a refreshed look; feature walls with greenery gives off a relaxed vibe. Not to be missed at The Ritz-Carlton KL is a visit to the award-winning Spa Village Kuala Lumpur for a spot of pampering. The Spa Village now boasts a brand new Sensory Sound Bath Room, the only of its kind in Asia, which complements the host of wellness facilities and therapies available at the hotel.

Fitness centre

Spa Village Kuala Lumpur refreshed treatment rooms

 Enjoying the milk bath with rose petals at the spa (read about my experience in detail here)

There are various F&B outlets throughout the The Ritz-Carlton KL, offering a myriad of tastes and experiences to hotel guests. Li Yen is the hotel's award-winning Chinese restaurant, offering great service as well as fine Cantonese cuisine and sumptuous dim sum in an elegant setting. Click here to read the full review on Li Yen.

Guests can enjoy the legendary afternoon tea at The Ritz-Carlton KL in the new, spacious Lobby Lounge on the first floor of the hotel. The Lobby Lounge offers 40 types of Ronnefeldt tea including the new Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur Blend,  crafted exclusively for the hotel. Click here to read the full review on the Afternoon tea at Lobby Lounge.

Breakfast is served daily at The Cobalt Room; a wide range of local and international cuisine is available. We especially love their mee goreng, pastries, fresh fruits and fresh juices. Sunday Brunch is also served here, featuring sumptuous spreads of signature roasts and fresh seafood to artisanal cheeses, an impressive oyster spread as well as decadent desserts accompanied with champagne and wines. 

Roast beef (read more about the Sunday Brunch here)

At the Sunday Brunch, there will be a special Ritz Kids corner with various activities planned for the kids, such as cupcake decorating and smoothie-making.

For lighter meals, The Patisserie serves up the offerings and mood of an intimate Viennese patisserie with a modern twist. Click here to read the full review on The Patisserie.

The Library is a brand new beautiful space that features wood-panelled walls and floors for a relaxing ambiance. An extensive collection of books are available here. In the evenings, guests can dine on the daily changing Menu Du Jour, with a selection of fine wines, cocktails and vintage cognac and whisky while being entertained by the songstress and the accompanying musical ensemble.

Thank you to The Ritz-Carlton KL for hosting us.

Check-in time 3.00pm, check out time 12.00 noon. Room rates for 2-bedroom suite start from RM945 per night.

Location: The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur, 168 Jalan Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Tel: 03-2142 8000

GPS Coordinates: 3.146901, 101.715438

Website: http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/malaysia/kuala-lumpur



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