Suzie's Corner, Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Suzie's Corner is known for its tender, melt-in-your mouth steaks, especially the New Zealand cuts of tenderloin. Your steak comes out sizzling on a bbq plate with a side of fries and veges. (Still learning to use this camera so didn't get a good steak shot:-( ) The salmon is also great, (got that shot:-)) and a bit of a healthier option - you can ask for no oil or butter when frying and all veg instead of fries too. Suzie's is a favourite stall for expats on the Ampang side of town. It is reasonably clean and dry compared to many others. Food is a bargain for an expat but is quite expensive compared to stalls frequented more by locals - EG 7RM for a fresh juice at Suzie's compared to 4RM at other stalls. You can get the usual array of stall food here from tandoori chicken, roti canai and any variety of noodle or rice combinations. Cashmere naan is a personal favourite.

Suzie's Corner
Corner of Jalan Ampang & Ulu Klang
Across from Ampang point & near Ampang City
Ampang
Malaysia

Nero Vivo, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Nerovivo has been consistently good since opening, even with a change in ownership (a quality rare to find in KL). All things Italian can be found here, including the chef. I enjoy visiting this place for lunch during the week, or Friday and Saturday nights, when the place is buzzing with customers and good ambience music (NO 80's music! another rare find in Asia). The walls are decorated with bold paintings by Sandra Knuyt and a great selection of Italian wines are available. I've had delicious experiences with their pizza, pasta (gnocchi - yum!), seafood (seabass :-) and meat dishes (lamb rack). For something lighter, and of great value, the antipasto buffet available at lunch for 34++, or 54++ including a main plate and coffee, is a satisfying option.

Nerovivo
Enoteca con cucina
3a Jalan Ceylon
50200 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
(03) 2070 3120
info@nerovivo.com
www.nerovivo.com

1 Stop Cafe, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

This cafe was a great little find in Jalan Ipoh. It is a cross between a cafe and a stall - yummy food, good prices, open air feel, but a cleaner and greener environment. The menu offers Chinese and western food with some interesting creations. The dry noodles and soup were great - cooked on the spot and packed with fresh ingredients. They also have an extensive list of fresh juices. I will keep coming back to this place though for their mouth watering pumpkin pies! Round balls of steamed pumpkin quickly fried in a light batter. I'm not a fried food fan but these were done so well I'll be going back just for those little balls of goodness.

1 Stop Cafe
#2 Jalan Balam,
Bt. 3 Jalan Ipoh
51100 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
03 4042 6880

Sao Nam, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Sao Nam Tengat Tong Shin is a funky little Vietnamese restaurant just off the main drag of Changkit Bukit Bintang serving food from the south. You can expect to find fresh ingredients and friendly service in this cosy establishment. Personal favourites are mangosteen and pomelo salads (seasonal), lamb in coconut sauce, fresh spring rolls and duck in tamarind sauce. The mangosteen salad is a creation of chef Tien and was awarded the best salad in HCM Vietnam together with the vege spring rolls. They offer a set lunch Tuesday to Friday which is not a bad deal including two spring rolls, salad of the day and choice of a main dish all for RM18++. The lemongrass chicken noodle salad is particularly tasty. They have just opened a new outlet serving central and northern Vietnamese food in Subang Jaya at Empire Gallery. Can't wait to try that one out too!

Sao Nam Bukit Bintang
25 Tengkat Tong Shin
50200 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
03 2144 1225
pliao800@gmail.com
www.saonam.com.my

Neroteca, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Neroteca is one of my favourite restaurants in KL. The food and service are consistent (which is hard to find in Malaysia). Salads, sandwiches, pastas, pizzas, cold cuts, great meat dishes - it's all good. The wonderful thing about this place is that it is perfect any time of the day - a late breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee at the bar (they do this well too) or a glass of wine with friends. It gets quite busy in the evenings so reserving a table is recommended. Neroteca = Yum!

Neroteca
Ground Floor, The Somerset,
8 Lorong Ceylon,
50250 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-20700530
Fax: 03-20702530
Email: info@neroteca.com
http://www.neroteca.com/

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Cafe Stelle by Raffles, Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Food at Cafe Stelle is fresh, uncomplicated and tasty. They offer an Italian themed menu with salads, pastas and sandwiches being the highlights. Presentation of everything, including drinks, is beautiful. Service is professional and friendly and the decor is stylish and comfortable. This is a great option in this busy mall - away from the crowds of the food court, but not so isolated as the restaurants on the top floor.

Cafe Stelle by Raffles
Couture Pavilion, Level 2, Pavilion,
168 Jalan Bukit Bintang
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
03 2118 8822
http://www.raffles.com/EN_RA/Property/RKU/Restaurants_Bars

Basil Leaf, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Basil Leaf is a great place for lunch. Their set meals are real bargains including a starter, choice of main, dessert and bottomless lemongrass tea from 20 - 25RM. Their curries are particularly tasty and anything they make with coconut milk goes down very well. The setting is lovely and service has always been sweet and friendly. The owner has a great eye for design so the setting is pleasant and peaceful. It's also not a bad place if you have young children, as there is a nice grassy lawn for them to run around on while you enjoy your meal.

Basil Leaf,
35, Jalan Damai, Off Jalan Tun Razak,
55000 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
603-2166 1689
reservation@basilleafrestaurants.com
http://www.basilleafrestaurants.com

Galler Chocolatiers, Brussels, Belgium

Authentic Belgium chocolate... mmm... died and gone to heaven.

Galler Chocolatiers
Grand-Place
Rue au Beurre, 44
1000 Bruxelles
Belgium
02 502 02 66
www.galler.com

Marmalade, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Marmalade is one of my favourite lunch places in KL. Their menu features a variety of fresh salads, sandwiches and light meals. I love that you can get "wholemeal" banana pancakes for breakfast, they have skim milk if you so choose for your coffee and their carrot cake and banoffi pie are heavenly. All are reasonably priced for a nice clean cafe in Bangsar Village too. The place is bright and comfortable. A great place to pass the afternoon away with friends.

Marmalade
1F-18, 1st floor
Bangsar Village II
1 Jalan Telawi 2
Bangsar Baru
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+ 6 03 228 2830
http://www.ilovemarmalade.com/

Lagkagehuset Bakery, Stroget, Copenhagen, Denmark

Who knew Danish pastries and breads were soooo good?! I didn't until I visited Lagkagehuset bakery in Copenhagen. My eyes have been opened to a whole new world of treats. Buttercake... mmm... ryebread... aaah. Their sandwiches and coffee are good too.

Lagkagehuset
Torvegade 45,
Christianshavn
+45 32 57 36 07

http://www.lagkagehuset.dk

Stoop & Stoop eetcafe, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Shame the camera batteries died for this one. Food is really decent here. Stoop & Stoop is amongst seemingly endless strips of restaurants trying to catch tourists. It was the busiest place on the block, filled with what we assumed were locals. The food was filling and prices reasonable. Some of the selections we tried were the warm goat cheese and walnut salad with honey dressing, onion soup, potato chips and chicken satay. It's not a fine food restaurant but it is certainly tasty, satisfying and stands out from the hundreds of very average options in that area.

Stoop & Stoop eetcafe
Lange Leidsedwarsstraat 82 HS
1017 NM Amsterdam
The Netherlands
020 62 00 982

http://www.stoopenstoop.nl

Il Tramezzino, Amsterdam, Holland/ The Netherlands

This place has great coffee, without the drugs associated with all of the "coffee shops" along that street. They have a beautiful coffee machine (but they would not allow me to photograph it). Sandwiches and pastries are fine, but you go here for the Italian coffee. Mmmm :-)

Il Tramezzino
Haarlemmerstraat 79
1013 El Amsterdam
The Netherlands
020 77 07 131
http://www.iltramezzino.nl/index.php?menu_id=50

Huyze Die Maene Restaurant, Bruges, Belgium

This place is in a convenient location to watch the crowds flock by the main square. They offer a set lunch menu which is quite good value for the location. The service is friendly and it is a good place to try Flemish beef stew. Portions are medium sized - sufficient for lunch. We purchased a set meal including starter and main for 16 Euros.

Huyze Die Maene Restaurant
Markt 17, City Centre
Bruges, Belgium
+32 50 33 39 59
http://www.huyzediemaene.be/uk_home.html

Elizabeth's, Waffles, Brussels, Belgium

One of the many treats worth trying in Brussels is the infamous waffle. There is no need to go with all of the excessive toppings that interfere with the flavour of the already divine dough below. Try a straight up waffle from Elizabeth's on Rue au Beurre. There's not even any need for powdered sugar as these heavenly creations are quite sweet enough. At times there can be long lines at Elizabeth's as the waffles are made freshly on the spot. If you happen to pass when there are only a few people waiting, be sure to take advantage of the situation and purchase a couple. If the lines are long, the treat is still worth waiting for.

Elizabeth
Grand Place
Rue au Beurre
(in front of Galler Chocolatiers)
1000 Bruxelles
Belgium

EXKi, Natural Fresh Ready Cafe, Brussels, Belgium

Okay, this cafe nearly did not make it on to The Yum List because of the rude waiter who told me, "Taking photos is absolutely forbidden!" in his best growly voice. However, I love their food and their concept of natural, fresh and ready food. At least by what is written in their brochure and the food offered for sale, they seem to be making ethical choices for people and the world around us. We did enjoy a delicious light lunch there and went back for coffee and snacks a couple of times. There are lots of organic foods and their ingredients seem to be sourced from and support Fair Trade and charitable causes. My fellow food conspirator loved the vegetable quiche and I enjoyed their salads and coffee.

EXKi
Rue Neuve 78
1000 Brussels
Belgium
Tel: 32 2 219 19 91
Fax: 32 2 219 19 92
rueneuve@exki.be

www.exki.be