Swood Smokehouse BBQ - Meaty Paradise in JB

“Alright Alright Alright”. I said that in my best Matthew McConaughey texas drawl Because that’s what we enjoyed at Swood Smokehouse – Texas-style BBQ that is SEDAP GILER!

As you may know, it can be quite a challenge to find a Halal BBQ/smokehouse here in Singapore because, well, there simply aren’t that many. Well, if you’re willing to make a short trip across the Causeway then Swood Smokehouse is highly recommended!

At Swood Smokehouse, they specialize in MEAT! They smoke it, BBQ it, roast it and the end result is a festival of meat you cannot even imagine. The team prides themselves on ensuring a great product from start to finish. All meats are prepped, marinated, dry/wet rubbed and cooked in-house on a daily basis.

In fact, you’ll even see their smokers and burners in the corner of the restaurant itself. And just to the side, stacks upon stacks of wood from Lychee, Mangosteen and Rubber trees which they use in their smokers.

You could go for a Single Meat Platter but for the full experience, we recommend you gather up your fellow carnivore makan kakis and go for the Combo Platters. That way, you get to savour the flavours of all their greats meats 

Beef Brisket is actually a personal favourite of mine and I was super stoked that I would get to try some at Swood Smokehouse BBQ. And I knew the Brisket was tender when I saw them slicing it up but it literally fell apart as I was taking some from the platter to my plate. THAT’S how TENDER it was!

As expected, the Brisket did not disappoint. Tender, great smoky BBQ flavour (thanks also to that great dry rub they use!) and just that right meat to fat ratio (thanks to some expert trimming!). I could probably whack nothing but Brisket but alas there were other meaty goodies to be enjoyed.

Coming in a (very) close 2nd place on my favourites list is the Beef Ribs. I mean, who doesn’t love a good serving of Beef Ribs am I right or am I right?

They Beef Short Rib is given that great dry rub which gives it a nice crust on the outside. Inside, the meat is super tender and juicy and full of great meaty flavour. And yes, it’s literally fork tender 

Lamb Ribs

Beef Sausages

There’s more than just beef on the menu by the way LOL

Lover of lamb rejoice! They’ve got Pulled Lamb (SO GOOD!) and Lamb Ribs ready for you. Super tasty and tender to the max. Best part is that there’s little or no gamey flavour or smell at all! Signs of good quality ingredients and great cooking techniques.

They’ve also got some Chicken but my fave among this lot was the Beef Sausages! They make them (like everything else) in-house of course. They have both Lamb and Beef Sausages but we only had the latter that day.

PRO TIP – Enjoy your meats with this special ‘Spicy BBQ Sauce’ they have. You’ll see a Spicy and Non-Spicy one but just go for the Spicy one okay trust us! It’s not that spicy lah but it has just enough zing to give it a little kick in the flavour department.

And you’ll also notice that they mix in bits of meat into the sauces and sides too! Nothing goes to waste (which really benefits us lah) at Swood Smokehouse 

And speaking of Sides…

Sides come with all Platters and your meal complete. Baked Beans, Coleslaw and Mashed Potatoes are all made from scratch at Swood Smokehouse. They’ve also got Fries and Onion Rings too by the way.

But you simply must enjoy your meats with these delicious buttery Potato Buns they have. POWER TO THE MAX!

When I spoke to the Swood Smokehouse team, I could see how passionate they were about their craft. They were intent on producing a great quality and delicious product for everyone to enjoy. Texas-style BBQ and smoked meats may be a rising trend but it’s always important to innovate and do your own thing. And Swood Smokehouse is doing just that.

I was so happy to MEAT them. (Sorry, I could not resist)

1.30am til 2.30pm // 5.30

Halal Italian and French cuisine

From just a food truck serving pastas, Little Fat Duck has proven to be not so little after all. What started off as a simple idea of bringing affordable Italian and French cuisine to the locals, they were surprised to find that Malaysians really do enjoy their cuisine as much as their local delicacies.

As the love for their food has grown in such a short period, Little Fat Duck wanted to further expand their market to be able to cater to every single individual living in Malaysia. Hence, their latest accomplishment of making their food officially Halal.In a nation where the majority of its citizens are Muslims, this was the next logical step.

Malaysians’ go-to restaurant

“We have always wanted everyone to be able to afford and enjoy our food hence the low prices without skimping on its taste and flavor. We also want everyone to feel comfortable and confident whenever they decide to consume any of our products. In order to achieve this, the Halal certification was the next step in our efforts for a more sustainable brand image of being the go-to Italian and French cuisine for everyone and anyone in Malaysia,” said Adel Ishak, co-founder of Little Fat Duck.

Little Fat Duck strives to ensure their brand will always be able to cater to the masses.

Currently, there are 6 outlets across KL and Selangor and the eatery is still growing with plans for expansion in the future. The truck still runs in selective events and is available for caterings starting from RM1200. Food can be delivered with a delivery fee or collected from outlets. 

Cheap and Delicious Pastas

Little Fat Duck is synonymously known as the place for getting cheap and delicious pastas in popular malls such as 1Utama and Midvalley. They can also be found in Utropolis Glenmarie, Damen USJ, Tropicana City Mall PJ and Evolve Mall PJ.

One of the must have dishes in Little Fat Duck is its chicken confit. It consists of a whole chicken thigh with drumstick that has been marinated for 12 hours and cured for 24 hours before frying and served on a bed of mashed potatoes with a generous helping of brown sauce to finish. The famous spaghetti bolognaise is another one to try. Its rich meaty tomato based sauce made entirely from scratch, seasoned with Italian herbs, lots of juicy tomatoes, fresh veggies and meat makes it to die for and the Carbonara, every diners creamy sauce pasta dream made with a delicious Australian cream sauce. If these aren’t one of your favorites already, there are so many other delicious and affordable dishes to choose from that certainly won’t break the bank.

About Little Fat Duck

Established in June 2014, this 6 outlet chain of eateries can be found in 1Utama, Midvalley, Tropicana City Mall, Evolve Mall, Damen and Utropolis Glenmarie. The Little Fat Duck food truck can be found at selected events and caterings. For more information, please visit  Instagram at littlefatduckmalaysia.

La Famiglia Pasta Food Truck @ TTDI

La Famiglia is an Italian mafia themed food truck that specializes in pasta. It used to station itself at SS15 and Damansara Heights but has since found a permanent spot at TTDI.

Since it’s a food truck with limited cooking capabilities, there are only a few pastas and two potato-based snacks to order. Price wise they range from RM5 to RM8, reasonable enough for a quick no-frills bite.

From what we observed, only spaghetti is available here so don’t expect anything else like angel hair or fettuccine. The pasta is cooked from scratch upon order so you will have to wait for a few minutes to be served. We tried two pastas – the Gambino Olio @ RM6.50 and ‘The Boss’ @ RM8.

The Gambino Olio is a light and refreshing pasta that comes with a handful of seafood such as prawns, strips of squid and mussel. Our pasta was not overcooked (we specifically told them not to) so it was firm with a bite. A dash of black pepper and chili flakes gave it some nice heat so it wouldn’t taste so one dimensional.

‘The Boss’ is La Famiglia’s special signature pasta that truly deserves its reputation. It is topped with spicy grilled chicken and a unique combination of both Carbonara and Bolognese sauce which gives it a savoury yet not overly rich taste.
While looking up some information on La Famiglia, I noticed that they used to serve the chicken in chunks instead of minced like what you see. Personally I think minced chicken is better because it coats the pasta more evenly.

We also tried their Omerta Wedges @ RM5 but found out later from a friend that the Luciano Pizza Fries is a better option. Nevertheless, the wedges were good and more importantly, the price is a steal for the portion that you’re getting. If you love wedges I am pretty sure you’d like this as well.

McDonald’s Nasi Lemak Burger

Ever since McDonald’s Singapore launched their Nasi Lemak Burger last year, many Malaysians have asked the question “why not Malaysia first?”.
Well, better late than never, as McDonald’s Malaysia is finally launching a local version of Nasi Lemak Burger on 26th April 2018.

McDonald’s Malaysia’s version of Nasi Lemak burger consists of a juicy coconut flavoured chicken thigh patty coated with a cornflake crunch, and topped with a rich, sweet & spicy sambal sauce, fried egg, caramelized onions and cucumber slices.

If ordered a la carte, it’s priced at RM14.95 each while a regular set which includes French Fries and 100PlUS costs RM16.95. Not entirely cheap and I think that would be the main hindrance for most people to try.
And if you are wondering how is it different from the Singaporean version, our Malayisan version’s bun is chilli infused and the sambal tastes more local and authentic.

To be honest, I did not have any high expectation for the Nasi Lemak Burger initially. But it’s actually quite delicious. The fried chicken thigh patty is thick, juicy and you can definitely taste the coconut fragrance in it.
As for the sambal, it’s a respectful rendition though I would prefer it to be spicier. But of course, you can’t make it too spicy because it has to please the taste buds of the general public.

ONLY RM3 FOR Cheesy Fried Chicken Burger @ Stylish Burger

With everything considered, Stylish Burger could be the cheapest burger stall in Klang Valley. Their burgers are priced at a flat RM3 and you can choose between Zenger (cheesy fried chicken burger) and Rambly double beef burger.

If the name Zenger sounds familiar, obviously that’s because it’s a play on KFC’s famous Zinger burger. Also, from what I was told, the owners of Stylish Burger and Burger Baek used to be partners. So that explains the similarity in their offerings.

Although the burgers are cheap, they do not taste any different from what other burger vendors are churning out. But since they want to keep the menu as simple as possible, requests for additional patties and toppings are usually not entertained here.

The Zenger features a boneless and lightly seasoned fried chicken thigh then topped with lettuce and plenty of mayonnaise, chili and cheese sauce.
For RM3, I think you are definitely getting your money’s worth and whether you like it or not, taste comes second at this price. Now, don’t get me wrong, I think the burger was decent (albeit not as good as Burger Baek’s) and it’s everything you expect from a local street burger – quick, unpretentious and sloppily good.

As for the double beef burger, if you like your Ramly burgers overflowing with sauces, safe to say you will find this to your satisfaction.

The easiest way to look for Stylish Burger is to use Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Medan as a landmark, as the stall is just a stone’s throw away from the school.

Milo Chicken Chop @ Cheese Banjir,

 Desa Pandan KL

There is no such thing as impossible any more especially in the F&B industry. Do you know that you can now have Milo Chicken Chop at Cheese Banjir restaurant? This is probably one of the craziest mashups in the history of Malaysian food.If you think this is weird, you are not wrong but there had been plenty of instances where chocolate or cocoa powder was used in food preparation eg. KFC’s Chochiks and cocoa-rubbed steak.I wouldn’t know if they taste good or not, but for the Milo Chicken Chop I can say it is good – in a weird way. Because the chicken chop itself is already spicy, it kind of evens out the sweetness of the Milo. Plus, if you dip it in their extra spicy sambal belacan, it tastes even bett

er.

If you feel like trying, I suggest that you try the Milo Chicken Popcorn first, as it doesn’t cost as much and you can also share it with a friend. Personally, I feel the Milo Chicken Popcorn tastes better because it has more a thicker coat of the spicy flour so the Milo flavor is not as overpowering.**Cheese Banjir’s new Milo-coated Chicken Chop and Chicken Popcorn menu will be available from 20th Dec 2018.Price:Chicken Chop Milo Earthquake – 27Chicken/Beef Popcorn Milo Platter– Regular: 19 (12 pcs)– Large: 25 (20 pcs)Mixed Pop Corn Milo Platter (chicken, fish & beef)– Regular: 22 (12 pcs)– Large: 27 (20 pcs)

【Restoran Cheese Banjir Desa Pandan】Lot G10, G-Village,Jalan 1/76, Desa Pandan55100 Kuala LumpurLandmark: Next to Shell OutHours: 12pm – 10.30pm

Satisfy your hunger with a generous plate of chicken chop meal, cooked and drizzled with sauces of your choice, including cheesy, honey, potato, garlic, black pepper, and brown sauce. Finish off your meal with refreshing glass of iced lemon tea and ice cream for desserts.