Thong Kee Cafe PJ 溏记海南茶室

When there are raving reviews from reliable sources and sufficient triggering "touch points" on social media, you go for it... whatever that means!

Here's one for the record - Thong Kee Kopitiam. This was at the Sea Park branch as we were heading into central PJ over the weekend.

As for me, it's embracing my Hainanese roots and putting this place to the test, you know, a fellow Hainanese checking up on our fellow Hainanese. Don't play play ah! :)

Sequence of events -

1. Get a table. Weekend crowds are mad. Ask around if you're able to share a table.
2. Walk over to "Order Counter" - only applicable on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.
3. Menu is largely available on the right side as you face the counter. All along, please bear in mind your table no.
4. Place your order, make payment, head back to your seat and wait to be served.

Here comes the plus points!

Food was promptly served, practically less than 2 mins after being seated. Impressed! Ordered the ultimate Ham, Egg and Cheese Croissant as I felt the Hainanese steam and toast bread can wait for our next trip. Haha!

RM7.90 for this piece of Heavenly Homemade Croissant. Take my monehhhhh~

An unassuming piece

All ye food enthusiasts, you'd know that in order for the cheese to appear as such, is to have the croissant at the right temperature. 

Do you feel my heart that's stopped beating just at the sight of these?

If you have not been here and thoughts of "Oh, what's there to shout about? It's just croissant with ham, egg and cheese! I can easily recreate this at home!"

Here's why you've got to hold onto THAT thought... primarily because, unless you are able to cook up an egg with perfect thickness, tenderness and taste that's equivalent to that of a tamago yet slightly firmer than scrambled eggs; you ain't got nothing on this piece of goodness.

Mr Wooi ordered this from another stall - RM6.50
Portion was just okay, chicken was too small although the meat falls off easily from the bone as we peel it apart with cutleries.

For many, it can be quite an unassuming corner lot of hawker fare. That's what I love about it! :)

The best way to wash down our meal was definitely with this Large cuppa 1+1. The drink is called "1+1", for us, done right with less ice, less sweet. Seriously, one of the best cuppas I've had in awhile. Foamy and just well done. Hainanese coffee tends to be lighter than usual on our tastebuds and stalls may sometimes over/under-brew it that has it a tinge of sourness. This was lighter than usual, yes, but also dances very well with my caffeinated tastebuds.

Mr Wooi upon his first sip, said it was GOOD. Coming from a non-coffee lover and someone who is generally "okay" with everything, it says a lot.

All in all, despite parking being sh*t, we are definitely coming back again!! Maybe to their other branches which are nearer to home :D

Please try if you haven't! Because I can guarantee, there's nowhere quite like the same. Let me know if you've tried :)

***

For more information:

Opening hours: 7:00am - 4:30pm; closed on Mondays
Address: 33, Jalan 21/1, Sea Park, 46300 Petaling Jaya
Branches: Sea Park, Glenmarie, Pandan Indah
Payment mode: Cash only
Service charge: N/A

#LynnOnKen - Part I

It's been another day on Facebook, mindlessly scrolling through the feed. There were photos of friends being happily proposed to, videos of cliche wedding stuff and the usual click-bait ones. It struck me that I needed to pen down my thoughts on our wedding!

Most people who attended came up to us telling us how beautiful it was, even those who felt like a part of our joyous occasion through our cinematography said the same. For me, it was a wedding I never knew I wanted (in a good way).

It was perfect for us. Every single moment of it. Here's a recollection.

In summary, #LynnOnKen was held over a span of two days in 4 main agendas - Garden Wedding, Evening Casual Shoot, Bridal Pick Up + Tea Ceremony and Wedding Banquet.

***

The day before our first order of events, we did a dry run with Elaine (our lovely wedding coordinator provided by Adonis bridal house),  met our Emcee (Emma), Celebrant (Daniel) and Photo/Videography crew (Basetime). I also did my make up and hair trial because the bridal house had a last minute change - earlier assigned MUA was not well.

What can I say? It was a blessing in disguise because this MUA is so much more experienced and knew the simplistic look I wanted! :)

5am sharp when our alarms went off. We packed well ahead the night before and took approximately 30mins to get ready with Hui and Jean before heading off to the bridal house where our Garden Wedding will be held. It was less than 5 mins drive away, literally just across the road - Ipoh is THAT small.

Skies were pitch black, chilly yet humid morning as we were the first car to pull up at the bridal house.

It’s a new day. I’m getting married. Exact thoughts that ran through my mind? Nah... instead, “how’s traffic on Friday for those coming from out of town?”, “will there be enough seats?”, “will my nubra stick on well?” Hahaha

The sun made a grand appearance that very morning.

Our party of less than 50 pax made up of our closest friends and family members arrived just in time. Getting ready in the bridal studio, putting on the dress of my choice, slipping into my Pedro ombré glitter shoes... here we go!

Today is the day we sing a song (wedding vows), telling the world it’s been a better place since we came into each other’s lives and that we want to continue seeing the whole world in each other’s eyes. With this, Ken took lead with the march in, followed by Kane and Hui.

Emcee - Emma :)

My wedding shoes which was a coincidental find, happy to say I'm still wearing it until today. Great ROI haha!

Hand in hand with Papaya, my heels dug into the soft ground as I held in one hand the bouquet of customised flowers, the other holding onto my gown. My mind was filled with “ops”, “smileeeee”, “look up”... clearly, multitasking.

Papaya handed me over to my Husband. His vow was “spontaneous” in an acronym of SMILE while mine took us to “Here’s to us as one, no more you and me”.

Tears and sweat combined, I must say, we were drenched. Yet, it was perfect. More than what we’ve prayed for, i.e. tan lines along the seams of my off shoulder dress hahaha

Bride-to-bes, if you want tips on how to get the single ladies to go for the bouquet, let me know! :D

Weather took a turn that late afternoon. We were inspired by the resilience and resourcefulness of Basetime Production. No weather nor being banned from using the train station as our shoot location stopped them. Think on their feet, they did. If you’ve watched the video, you’d agree that they’re superb. If you’ve not, here you go -

Ken and I decided against a pre-wedding photoshoot. It was a common consensus even before he proposed. As much as we love capturing photos in selfies or taking photos together, we feel that being intentionally framed or overly dressed up just wasn't us. Basetime, however, was very generous in offering an hour's slot to do a casual shoot and capturing footages for our Same Day Edit video. I did it without make up nor hair do, just a simple pin up of my fringe done on my own. In that hour, we felt extremely comfortable as they were hilariously entertaining. Grateful that Hui was there with me too, helping with every detail you'd deem unnecessary; e.g. taking BTS shots and boomerangs which meant a lot to me :)

Day one, 2 agendas done and dusted! To be continued...

Read Ken's record of the Journey with #LynnOnKen as well.

More photos of our Garden Wedding and Photoshoot in the video below (created by Ken for our 1st Year Anniversary).

That's What They Tell Me

A glass box, or first hand experience

More often than not, this moulds us to be who we are today

Yet, tomorrow is in your hands.

To change or to stay

Yet the world tells you to count your blessings.

To be grateful over petty grumblings

To count your blessings over blaming others.

Life is such a cliche cycle

Our parents wants the best for us

By fitting us into professional moulds

Success stories they’ve had or even watched their peers created

The world and their quotes?

They tell us to embrace and to do what we love

They say, “if you enjoy what you do, you’ll never have to work a day in your life”.

Then again, they didn’t say if that would bring food to the table

They say, when you hit rock bottom

There’s no other way next but up.

To be a realist or a dreamer?

Tough choices.

One over the other,

You’ll never win Life.

The only way you surpass this subject matter Life, is

To take charge of your mind

The perception of what is and what can be

Positivity feeds, negativity corrodes

It is all in the state of mind

Or at least, that’s what they say.