The Origin, Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The Origin, the latest vegetarian restaurant in town, could possibly be the best thing to hit Ampang this year. A fully vegetarian menu is the highlight with lots of organic ingredients, no genetically modified products, a focus on locally sourced produce and of course no MSG. A mishmash of Asian dishes are featured - Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese and Nonya flavours all make an appearance. Being a family run business, many of the recipes are traditional favourites coming from grandma herself (who has been vegetarian for more than 30 years). You cannot go wrong with any of the dishes on offer - all showcase colourful, flavourful, wonderous combinations of grains, nuts, fruits, legumes and vegetables. As no garlic or onion is used in any dish it's hard to believe that everything can be so tasty! The list would encompass just about the entire menu if I were to note everything that I liked here. So, to keep it short, do not leave this place without trying the pumpkin tofu with Thai passionfruit sauce, organic seasonal leafy greens with ginger and goji berries and the seaweed wrapped tofu with nyonya assam sauce (grandma's recipe!). Even the kids can be satisfied with dishes such as soya nuggets and cheesy broccoli rice.  Word must be spreading quickly as The Origin already has a decent lunch time crowd. Weekdays, set lunches start from 9.90RM and include a drink and dessert and the most expensive items on the menu don't go much above 20RM. Even though it has just opened (11/11/11) there seem to be very few kinks to be ironed out. The owner says they look to expand the menu though it all appears to be just right to me. The feel of the place is peaceful and happy and the owner glows with health and happiness. A sure attestation that she is doing something (or many things) right.

The Origin Restaurant & Café

No. 8  Jalan 1/67B (Off Jalan Mengkudu)

54540 Ampang  (Besides Ampang Grocers and Brussels Beer Cafe)

Tel : 03 – 4253 5388,   012-3789415,    016-2913000
Coordinate:   N03⁰ 09.469’ E101⁰ 44.854’

Open Tuesday - Sunday
12noon - 3pm & 6pm - 10pm

Veg Fish Farm Thai Restaurant, Ampang, Malaysia

The Thai Veg Fish Fam is a great place to take visitors and a quick getaway from the city. Nestled in the hills of Hulu Langat, the restaurant is surrounded by a green valley of farms and jungle. Afloat on a small natural lake sits the bamboo seating area and even in the middle of the day you feel comfortable with a light breeze sauntering off the cool water. The first journey getting there can be a bit tricky if you're not familiar with the area, but seems so easy once you've been. Head out of town on Jalan Ampang, past Ampang Point, past Ampang Waterfront all the way to a traffic light for an intersection with Jalan Taman Putra (same street as Carrefour). Turn right into this street. Keep going straight until you get to the second traffic light for Jalan Ulu Langkat Ampang - the road that leads you to the Look Out Point. Head up a windy ascent continuing about 1km past the Look Out Point and you will see a small sign for the Veg Fish Farm on your right. Since my first few visits the owners have created a new entry road making for a much smoother ride than the previous bumpy dirt track. The Look Out Point by the way has a spectacular view of KL and would be perfect if you planned to be there around sunset either after a late lunch or before dinner on your way to the restaurant. Fresh local produce is used by the Veg Fish Farm Thai Restaurant to create delicious Thai dishes of which much is grown on an onsite farm. Some is also available for purchase to take home. You won't find any fresher fish around either as you'll see it's kept in and netted out of the pond just before cooking. Picks not to be missed are the salt crusted talapia, fresh stir fried seasonal vegetables, tom yum soup and (no Thai meal is complete without) mango sticky rice, which they do a mighty fine job of with generous servings of both rice and mango.  

Veg Fish Farm Thai Restaurant

KM4, Jalan Ampang - Hulu Langat

68000 Ampang, Selangor

Malaysia

contactus@fishfarmthai.com

fishfarmthai@gmail.com

Eugene Ng 019 2606 493

Bua Chan 010 2111 519

William 012 2868 193

Open 7 days a week, 11am - 11:30pm

www.fishfarmthai.com.my

Ecogreen, TTDI, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Ecogreen can get busy over the lunch period so if there's a crowd and you're in a hurry this is not the place to be. Service can definitely be improved in both speed and accuracy but organizations attempting to be socially responsible should be supported - the food is really good and the market well stocked  - so give them feedback on the service for a chance to improve and go eat some scrumptious environmentally sustainable meals. Fresh organic produce and simple dishes are the main reasons to visit this cafe. A sleek inviting contemporary design and an organic grocers are the cream cheese on your carrot cake (which, by the way, is something not to be missed). Ecogreen offers quite an extensive menu brimming with healthy meals. Lui cha is one such nutrient packed powerhouse - a bowl of brown rice, mixed greens and raw nuts topped with a hot green soup makes one of the most nourishing dishes you'll ever have. While not for everyone's taste buds (hubby turned his nose up) the well-being zealots will be in wholesome euphoria. The fish laksa is a winner in my books and, as mentioned already, you can't go past the carrot walnut cake for a sweet ending.  

Ecogreen

Organic Shop and Life Cafe

125 & 127 Jalan Aminuddin Baki

Taman Tun Dr. Ismail

60000 KL

Malaysia

+603 7725 8388

www.EcogreenOrganic.com.my

Wainoni Farm, Bellingen Markets, Australia

The husband and wife team at Wainoni Farm grow their own non-sprayed bananas and berries to make homemade chewy dried bananas and muesli.  Another scrumptious treat found at the Bellingen markets.

Wainoni Farm
100 Pavans Access
Grassy Head
NSW 2441
+61 (0)2 65690408
wainoni.farm@gmail.com

The Happy Frog, Coffs Harbour, Australia

The Happy Frog makes me happy too.  It's not only a healthy cafe serving some of the yummiest treats in town (think delicious caramel date slice) but also doubles as a fresh food market offering locally grown organic produce. Fruit, veg, herbs and even coffee that is nutritious for your body and ethical for the earth can all be found here. The Happy Frog is a comfortable place to gather with a few friends, check out the community notice board and pick up a few groceries.

The Happy Frog

16 Park Avenue 

Coffs Harbour

NSW 2450

Australia

+61 (0)2 6652 947

Food on Five, Westfield, AMP Tower, Sydney, Australia

Food on Five is not your ordinary food court.  This very upscale sampling of gourmet cuisine showcases some of the best known names in Sydney and from around the world.  Dumplings from Din Tai Fung should be on your hit list... but so should... pasta, yoghurt, bread, sushi, seafood, sausages, pastries, salads, dessert... too many to name.  Take a look for yourself.  You won't be disappointed.  

Food on Five

Level 5

Westfield Shopping Centre

AMP Sydney Tower

Corner Pitt St. Mall and Market St.

Sydney, NSW, 2000

+61 (0)2 8236 9200

Australia

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

Earth Food at Little Green Planet, Ampang Hilir, Malaysia

I'm very excited about this week's find - an organic cafe on the Ampang side of town. Earth Food at Little Green Planet has only just opened. As with all new places the owners are still working out the kinks but this place tastes promising. They offer a mix of western and local food made from the freshest organic ingredients. They also serve a huge cup of full flavoured smooth coffee. My dad's favourite - dory fillet with orange sauce, hubby's fav - a variety of huge soups, and mine - roasted beet salad. Besides the cafe, they also sell a range of organic food, bath and mum & baby products. You can have a facial using organic products from Australia and next month a bakery will be opened offering a variety of healthy baked goods including a gluten free range. There are even plans for a garden on the grounds and classes on how to grow your own organic plants. I can't wait to go back a bit earlier in the day and try their breakfasts. I've already picked out the buttermilk pancakes and a couple of serves of coffee for when I return. The location along with the happy, clean, bright and green atmosphere is sure to make this place a popular spot, particularly with those of us who live in this part of the woods.

Earth Food
Little Green Planet
12 Jalan Ampang Hilir
55000 Kuala Lumpur
+6 012 223 5328
www.littlegreenplanet.com.my