Ribs by Vintry, Damansara, Malaysia

Ribs and wine - one stop - at Ribs by Vintry, Damansara Heights. A relaxed atmosphere (yes please do eat your ribs with your fingers letting the sauce drip down to your elbows and a sticky tongue dabbing ring of sauce develop around your lips and up to your cheeks), cosy set up and a fantastic wine selection make for a comforting and tummy satisfying evening with friends or family. You already know the two reasons to visit - ribs and wine. Starting with ribs, the waiter told us that the braised ribs are the most 'special' but our table thought the BBQ pork ribs and the butter cream pork ribs gave them a good run for that honour. Portions are generous and accompanied with some type of vegetable most often mashed potato and coleslaw. Around 50RM will get you a large rack of ribs enough to share or to take home some leftovers. If you are only going along to accompany the carnivore in your life there are a number of other menu options that won't leave you needing a coronary cleaning before midnight. The Vintry house salad is pretty filling, packed with fresh leaves, cherry and sun dried tomatoes, olives and a tangy papaya dressing. You could also easily just nibble on the cheese platter while blissfully sipping away your hand chosen bottle of wine. Get a recommendation from the trained waitstaff or walk around the racks and coolroom to see for yourself the great assortment of award winning wines from around the world. A decent bottle of wine starts from around 70RM and there is no corkage for wine purchased from the cellar.
Ribs by Vintry
120-122 Jalan Kasah
Damansara Heights
50490 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
03-20961645
http://www.vintry.com.my

Choclicious House of Chocolates, Gold Coast, Australia

Squished into an oddly shaped shop lot and off the main drag in a laneway leading to the carpark between Myer and Kmart at Pac Fair, you might wonder how Choclicious stays in business. But then... you taste their handmade chocolates and soon see why the place is still open. Cappuccino Cup, Champagne Truffle, Pecan Pie, Red Heart and Wild Passionfruit are my top picks. However at $2.00 or more a piece you won't be having too many. Good quality chocolate though is more satisfying right, so you should only need one or two?

Choclicious House of Chocolates
Shop 198-200
Pacific Fair Shopping Centre
Hooker Blvd
Broadbeach 4218
Gold Coast
Australia
http://choclicious.com

Passage Thru India, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Passage Thru India is a fun place to take visitors. The restaurant is made of many little rooms each decorated heavily with lanterns, wall hangings, wood carvings, pots and mirrors. It is a kaleidoscope of colours and mismatch. The food is delicious and offers a range of specialities from both northern and southern India. Another reason to take your guests here is because they will get to eat off a banana leaf - not such a big deal for Malaysians, but guests visiting from overseas are usually tickled by this. There's lot of parking too - both out the front and out the back.

Passage Thru India
Golden Triangle
No. 235, Jalan Tun Razak,
55100, Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Tel : +6 03 2145 0366
http://www.passagethruindia.com/

Fudge Heaven, Mt. Tamborine, Gold Coast, Australia

I have a real sweet tooth, and the smooth textured, 'slowly dissipate in your mouth and have sweet dreams' fudge from Fudge Heaven on Mt. Tamborine, is probably one of the few things that can truly satisfy it. If you're watching calories stay well away from this place as just a little slice is not nearly enough. Not only is it addictive, it is difficult to choose just one piece from the array of mouth watering selections on offer. Caramel macadamia, lemon meringue, black coffee, chocolate orange or do I go for the 'adults only' range - baileys, orgasmic or a c.s. cowboy? Located on the main gallery walk of Mt. Tamborine, it's a perfect stop for an afternoon sugar rush. If you don't make it up to Mt. Tamborine don't miss the stall at the weekend Cararra markets on the Gold Coast. Fudge heaven...

Fudge Heaven
130 Long Road
EAGLE HEIGHTS
Mt. Tamborine
QLD 4271
Australia
Ph: 07 5545 1074
http://www.fudgeheaven.com.au

Eco Cafe, Desa Pandan, Malaysia

Eco Cafe in Desa Pandan is a great little find. Although the items on the menu didn't grab my attention, the fresh fruit and veg stall selling locally grown organic produce certainly did. Passionfruit, bananas and mini papaya all seem so much sweeter and juicier than those in the supermarkets. I've been back nearly every week for the last month as I can't resist those succulently sweet passionfruit. They even make their own peanut butter that is 100% nuts, no additives. If you enjoy Malaysian cuisine, Eco Cafe makes a good effort to cook with less oil, sugar, salt, no MSG and ensures that most meals are accompanied by an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables, so you can be satisfied with quite a healthy version of a local dish. Other initiatives such as energy saving bulbs, solar panels and rain water harvesting are a few more reasons to show your support for this place.
Eco Cafe Sdn. Bhd.
15 Jalan 2/76C, Desa Pandan,
55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: 03-9200 4268
Fax: 03-9200 7368
http://ecocafe.my