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Mobitechstudio.com – mobile application development: where exactly to start

Mobitechstudio.com – mobile application development: where exactly to start

In our get the job done we endure many of the phases belonging to the everyday living cycle of making a mobile app and that i would want to share our know-how with this subject. Under certainly is the tale about bases of mobile development: the selection of the system ahead of development, inserting in store and then the subsequent checking. So, let us get started our tale from Mobitech.

Trends. Exactly what are mobile cellular phone house owners?

  • More than fifty percent (53%) use downloaded apps.
  • Approximately identical amount of money (52%) through mobile mobile see the sites.
  • Over a 3rd of individuals (38%) use social networking sites from a mobile cellphone.
  • A tiny fewer women and men, participate in game titles (34%).
  • Approximately three-quarters of folks converse by using mobile mobile phone (moreover phone calls): it might be SMS, a social networking app, quick messengers etc.

Statistics. What would you spend money on?

If we glance with the studies of sales and profits of smartphones by running devices, we are going to begin to see the next:

  • 62% of smartphones offered is definitely an Android gadget.
  • In the next position Symbian – 15% within the sector.

The remaining share is split bada, iOS and Home windows Mobile phone (at any time you require this chart only in Moscow, the distribution will most likely change in direction of rising the share of Apple services).

If you search for the equivalent timetable around the world, we are going to see that below Android from the forefront with ? from the advertise. The way in which from the specific situation Mobitech Studio.

For the next quarter of 2012, the entire world has marketed 104 million Android telephones – given that the inhabitants of the rather sizeable nation. But we as mobile builders have an interest in not simply smartphone, but in addition ideas on how to do the job with him. A substantial proportion of homeowners of products on Android works by using them as usual telephones: SMS, phone calls and all. They don’t activate the system in Google Enjoy, not downloading apps.

Mobitech Solutions for mobile iphone app

What does one use? Not all citizens received the cellphone in 2012, and so the true distribution of forces between mobile working programs demonstrates our interior figures. This statistic features Russia also, the CIS nations around the world: Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan.

  • 73.five p.c could be a Java telephone.
  • Android is in next area with eleven.6%.
  • The legacy of Nokia, Symbian, a great deal driving Android mobile phone with 11%.
  • Apple items have got a three.5% of Runet end users.
  • The most attentive will see around the chart of Microsoft with Home windows Cell phone ( under 1%).

: Appropriate solutions for iOS and Android from Mobitech

Installation of applications. Once you pick out a system below which the application are manufactured, it really is vital to know the studies on presently present applications. Graphics study business enterprise App Annie through the September 2012 demonstrate you the way to mature two competing Apple and Google. There is certainly foolish to check Mobitechstudio.

Mobile app development small business mobitech . The best quality, superior quality solutions for iOS Android, etc.

By number of downloads on the first destination Google Perform: a little more units, additional downloads, greater traffic and a growth of 66% compared with January 2012. The growth of iOS were two times considerably less, about 30%. But the main chart – what kind of revenue customers bring. And listed here the problem is radically different. It is always easier to make on iOS, but the money is there and in Google Participate in, should you know why you should pick them up.

Types of mobile apps. In practice, we can divide mobile apps into 3 types.

Mobile sites, web applications. This certainly is the most common type of applications for mobile gadgets. Modern smartphones are able to display usual website. They can do anything that we are accustomed to seeing in desktop applications – support for HTML5 is doing its job. mobitechstudio.com.Remember that web applications are ideal for start-UPS: they allow you to obtain a great result for very little money and for a short time. Another advantage of the mobile website compared with other mobile apps is cross-platform. However, there are negative, though weighty, is relatively difficult to make.

Development of all types of applications from Studio Mobitech

Hybrid apps. With this approach you get access to most of the advantages of functioning system APIs: the app is cluttered with push notifications and other pleasant buns, also, now your product could in fact be placed in stores. The main content still is mostly a platform-independent page layout, hosted about the server. www.mobitechstudio.com. This allows you to make cosmetic changes inside product without releasing a new version: it really is enough to upload changes to the server. Hybrid application is truly a appropriate solution for those who are starting a business or wants to test their idea, indicate it to your investor friends.

A native app. These kind of applications are probably the most resource intensive, but it allows the maximum use from the opportunities offered by each specific working system. As a result, native apps win as being the functionality and speed of other types of mobile applications. It is really to this approach now come to those companies who did combined application. For example, Facebook started with the combo app: native controls (switches, tabs and the like) and then the web page as content. http://mobitechstudio.com/Несмотря that this is a really good solution, the problems with performance lead to the fact that the builders are moving away from combination with the web.

Statistics. The figures in the downloads on our apps.

First, we have an app that is constantly developing: amid the recent changes it happens to be worth noting facetime audio. The main difference between the apps is who their audience is. The first is undoubtedly an international product. The program is downloaded don’t just in CIS, they are actively used by residents of Europe and Latin America. The next application originally was made in Russia and for people of CIS.

Great mobile iOS and Android app development on Mobitechstudio.com

It is interesting to check the studies of downloads within the stores. A enormous part in the 62% of foreign audience goes to Google Enjoy. About 1/5 is inside AppStore, 14% in Ovi Store. And previously the remaining 5% share for Home windows Cellular phone (4%) and Samsung Bada (1%). With the Agent circumstance is radically different: the share of Google Engage in and Ovi are about the identical. Well, 10% belonging to the AppStore demonstrate love for “Apple” solutions within our state.

The process of making a mobile prilozheniy so, let us get to by far the most delicious: the process of developing a mobile application.

A User Tale. First of all, you need to determine what and for whom we write. The answers to these questions are documented in a User Tale. On the picture you can begin to see the genuine ticket within our tracker.

mobitechstudio.com. He describes how an current ICQ user can log in to the app, and what challenges it could meet. At this stage it happens to be imperative that you give good results out all possible scenarios to avoid unpleasant surprises at later phases of development.

It is significant to understand that each item on your to-do sheet is hiding a huge iceberg of functionality. Try to fragment and specify tasks. Major wishlist ultimate split into several levels (releases in stor). However is a really topic for another discussion, back to the levels of application development.

Design and design. After writing from the User Tale is to begin designing and design development.

At this stage, we use prototypes that we hang about the Board as well as the arrows demonstrate how the navigation will occur.

The design necessarily used guideline.

The guideline on the General sense is known as a document which is issued by the organisation, and that designers and builders understand the principle of building the application communicates with the user. Relatively speaking, on iOS the buttons need to do the round, and for Home windows Mobile phone – square. However, we use interior guidelines for builders. Thus the result on the designer’s perform often consists of models, guidelines and slicing graphics.

sector Sharks and Mobitechstudio, fierce competition

Layouts most suitable served “linked urls”, for example, using the Prototype to understand the logic transitions. The guidelines contain information about the padding, sizes, visual effects, mechanics, animations, etc. you can skip This step if your project is one designer and one developer sitting next to each other. The 3rd part from the result – cutting charts – must contain a minimum of needed graphic resources (care about the weight of your app), have versions for different screen resolutions. Most often we draw for retina and xhdpi screens. Next is most likely the preparation for Neretina mdpi and automated tools (if appropriate their use). Often the hands have to cook hdpi resources.

Transfer in development. Discussion and necessary corrections with the description.

After receiving the models, guideline and slicing begins the operate belonging to the developer. We share inside the development of everything that came up, and expect an early result. This does not mean that the deliver the results about the architecture also, the user interface is finished. Mobitechstudio.com. Sometimes the builders develop interesting ideas that will make adjustments to the original plan. When development is complete, comes the testing stage.

Testing. There are a number of ways to test the application.

In mobile development tester is a person around whom some telephones. We possess a huge wardrobe, which are as old telephones, plus the latest novelties. Inside we try to test in test cases. Should you implement a new feature, in her description from the prepared test plan.

There are solutions to help in testing. We use HockeyApp – an application that allows you to distribute our product to beta testers. We write in social networking sites: “Guys, we have got a new cool app. Who wants to try?” I wish to receive a build, use the app, and it collects stats, makes a crash report and sends it to us.

There are also expert services that allow you to test your app on different working units – for example, all Android firmware version 2.one or 2.three. You give the application, products screenshot the entire path that you set, sends pictures to you inside mail, and you check if everything is in order.

checking Companies and tracking of application data.

Monitoring. So, you have developed, tested application, filled it in stor. To track stats of downloads you can use the service Distimo. It shows data on end users who come to the store to download applications, and aggregates the comments.

It is critical to understand that people today are much more likely to leave negative comments. If a person is doing well, he usually just utilizes the application, not commenting. Inside the stable operation of our applications we get 40-50 comments daily. Over the day of error the number of records can reach up to 400 on a single system. So keep in mind that comments are not a full evaluation of your job, rather another bug tracker.

To change the specific situation could very well be rather a common “hack” – window Rate Us. Offer to leave a positive review inside store, and in case of problems, email developer. The effect is strong enough, the main thing is to consider the algorithm of showing the dialogue to the user.

In addition to the review Distimo shows the number of downloads, earned money, and just where are downloading your apps.

Another interesting checking service Flurry. It helps to collect the client data. Flurry provides a report about what the user does in your application: how many times he pressed the button, how many times have returned to the app and greater General settings – audience, geography, gender, age, etc. Mobitechstudio.com.

In some mobile merchandise we also use counting client stats using Google Analytics. Difference when compared with the Flurry has almost no. Disadvantages in speed and processing with the logs is, in both cases, however, any time you are used to working with Google release a user interface can use this tool.

Despite the major number of third-party companies, we have our own studies. No matter how good was not external sources, they need to be checked. We are able to evaluate the stats, but it can be necessary to build infrastructure for report generation, weekly reporting by using email and other things that simplify lifestyle. Therefore it’s always easier for us to use providers such as Flurry and Distimo, and then the inside logs to contact those that have any questions. Our practical knowledge shows that this approach is justified: periodically our data and expert services are slightly different. Any time you are inclined to check the stats, use different sources.

Specific. You need to remember?

On each new system the user expects to begin to see the rich application. He argues as follows: “I sat on bad Java mobile, thus could use ICQ. I bought a new cell phone, go to Marketplace, and there’s no ICQ? Are you doing something?” The user does not consider into account the fact that you have to do the app from scratch. The new system can be a new equipment, new documentation, new resources.

The far more popular the system, the extra you have competitors. With the moment there are two Stora, which is perfectly clear: AppStore and Google Perform. Should you have an idea of an application that is easily monetized or just get a lot of downloads, type keywords into the search and chances are you’ll find that this app exists. The extra popular the system, the way more competition. In such cases it really is necessary to carefully study the analogues to begin to see the studies, trying to understand what the parameters of your current solutions could be bettered.

It is crucial to understand how consumers choose the apps. Regular people are not going to decide to buy a specific app, it just looks a list. For example, the query “free music”. Icon along with the first two lines in the description is what a person sees and evaluates on the first put. If the icon is decent, it truly is possible to pick up, so a bad icon reduces the number of downloads.

to get to the top belonging to the app store is very necessary

It is very vital that you get to the top in the app store. To get to the top, stores very well, to gain a foothold there – the key to success. Why is it necessary? When the user wants to download something, it comes into the chart and see which application is now in first put during the number of downloads. It truly is very necessary to get there because it’s kind of the vicious circle. Mobitechstudio.com. The app hits the charts, it’s always seen by buyers, they download it, it re-enters while in the first area, and therefore the next iteration continues. Therefore by all means get horse racing and rating: ask mothers, grandmothers, neighbors put the app five. It will be worth saying that the marketplace is full of solutions with the guaranteed program output during the top. However, organic people, this brings a little bit, that does not prevent to continue the experiments.

Remember that the publication time can certainly be up to several weeks. Suppose you have developed and tested the app, called all bloggers or the media and said: “I Have got a new application, come to the press conference”. You send it in to the AppStore and have to wait up to seven business days. In this particular case, Google Engage in – Paradise for live updates, wherever publishing takes several hours.

The fragmentation within the working system. Should you are developing Android applications, consider the fragmentation plus the existence of the whole zoo of equipment. This affects the time development at all levels: planning, design, development and especially testing.

Within the store it truly is impossible to converse with consumers

In the store its impossible to connect with end users. For example, the user says that he don’t go to ICQ messages. He is unhappy and is expressed in a very colorful, but not very informative. We have no way to contact him and learn a little more about the issue. All we can do is to get into the monitor and see do we use a message. Maybe him blocked anti-spam.

Now some within the tale get a admin panel wherever you can ask questions to the user, to find out his contact information to see what nations are downloading your app, but the specific situation is not too improved. Mobitech Studio. It will be worth noting that Google Participate in continues to add this option to some builders, like our specialist it is always available.

The time to test it. There are several ways to test the application. You can have testers on test cases, test-plans, which they must pass. In addition, you will find a service for testing – you pay with the found bugs. You put up the application it is really tested 20 thousand regular people. In such a approach, of course, there are pros and cons.

Shots inside of the mobile industry solves everything. Good mobile builders are difficult to find even good sized companies, such as Mail.Ru Group, Yandex or Google. That is why we are working with the trainees – because sometimes it’s easier to choose an intelligent student and to teach him.

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Tourism Malaysia

Yashiki Yakitori Bar @ Viva Home Shopping Mall

March 8, 2013 at 2:00 pm

After a surprisingly ‘refreshing’ Yee Sang with the gang, we started on our second dish for the day – the Soft Shell Crab Salad. Served with a Japanese dressing made from mayonnaise and sesame seed, it is this condiment that brings out the best of the salad and the soft shell crab. In fact, it was so delicious that this was the first time I’ve seen a plate of salad totally cleaned out! Parents may want to consider investing in a bottle to make vegetables more appealing to their children. I know for sure that Emily Tang enjoyed every single bite of her vegetables that day.

Soft Shell Crab Salad – healthy AND delicious!

Next dish up for tasting was the Tuna Tataki. Each delectable piece of tuna is covered in tangy citrus sauce and is garnished with a row of chilli spiced radish, spring onions and raw garlic. Though it may appear to be quite strong in taste, everything comes together perfectly at the end. We also tried the chef’s selection of 8 different types of Nigiri Sushi, which included raw items like salmon, tuna, sea urchin, fish roe and octopus sashimi.

Tuna Tataki

Sushi Deluxe comprises of the Chef’s selection of 8 different kinds of sushi, including squid, salmon and fish roe

Any trip to a Japanese restaurant is never complete without giving its Sashimi dishes a try. And so we sampled Yashiki’s Sashimi set. This set comes with four kinds of chef’s selection of raw fish together with a bowl of rice, 3 pieces of fried gyoza, a bowl of miso soup, slices of fruits and pickled Japanese radish. Its fresh sashimi pieces coupled with hot bowl of miso soup and rice is guaranteed to fill any growling stomach to the brim. Another must try when you are dining at Yashiki Yakitori Bar is the Shake Atama, which is salmon head that has been grilled to perfection. Its sweet tasting meat and the other succulent parts of the fish head is sure to bring fish head lovers to paradise. I know Evelyn Ang enjoyed every piece of her fish head.

The sashimi is fresh and comes with a bowl of rice, miso soup, fruits, Japanese pickles and 3 pieces of fried gyoza

Fish head lovers should definitely try out Yashiki Yakitori Bar’s Shake Atama

But my most favourite dish of all (other than the Yee Sang) was the Salmon Cheese Oshizushi. The lightly charred and melted cheese spread atop the fresh salmon gives each individual portion a smoky taste. Absolutely mouth-watering! We also tried the restaurant’s yakitori offerings (kind of impossible to give it a miss, since the outlet is quite well-known for their yakitori dishes) and chose about 8 different types. In my humble opinion, the yakitori sticks tasted quite normal. There were some sticks where the meat tasted a little bit dry.

Salmon Cheese Oshizushi

The assorted yakitori sticks (L – R) – Bacon with White Prawn, Negima, Beef with Enoki, Bacon with Asparagus, Pork Belly, Lamb with Asparagus, Bacon Enoki and Salmon Belly

The drinks bar of Yashiki Yakitori Bar

All in all, it was a truly enjoyable meal, made even more so with the company that was there. It is easy to just lose track of time when dining at Yashiki Yakitori Bar. The outlet has a cosy environment that makes it a wonderful venue for a long lunch or an intimate dinner session for two. Great place to head to the next time you want to enjoy great Japanese food with your friends or your loved ones.

This Dining With Moola experience is courtesy of Moola, the first-ever Cash-Back Lifestyle Programme specially designed for shoppers to enjoy free shopping, great savings and best deals in town. Moola is a mobile application that utilises QR code technology for all interactions; from member registration, Moola accumulation and redemption, to the actual shopping.

Moola Frenz who dine at Yashiki Yakitori Bar are entitled to a 10% cash back everytime! What’s more, you can also grab FreeMakan vouchers for even MORE savings here!

Moola is completely hassle-free; no administrative effort; no joining fee; no cards; and comes with even greater flexibility for shoppers to enjoy the variety of rewards for redemption. Visit www.moola.my for more information and download the Moola app today! Apple, Android and Blackberry phones supported.

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Chilling Out at The Norse Bar & Bistro, BB Park

March 5, 2013 at 5:33 pm

Where is your favourite place to hang out and relax after a long day’s work? For some, it could be as simple as lounging on a cosy sofa at home whereas others may need to boogie their stress away. For me, I love sitting at a bar and observe the good people of Kuala Lumpur go about their daily life. And there is no better place to do this than at The Norse Bar Bistro at BB Park, Kuala Lumpur.

The cosy yet spacious settings is definitely a plus point for many of the bar’s regular patrons

The bar’s special wine ‘cellar’

You can also celebrate any special occasion in the bar’s private room

Situated within BB Park, The Norse Bar Bistro not only offers a good selection of beer and liquor but also a wide range of food items. There is a classy yet cosy dining area on the first floor of the bar for those private moments with family and loved ones. The bar is located on the ground floor and is where most people hang out to chat and drink. The Norse Bar Bistro also engages amateur singers to perform for its patrons on certain nights. Live band performances during the weekends liven up the place even more, making it a great place to just chill and hang loose.

Anyone up for a round of darts?

There is also live entertainment for The Norse Bar Bistro’s guests on certain nights

The atmosphere is just nice to hang out and chill with your friends and family too!

As the bar is open from afternoon till late, the bistro’s menu caters for meals that suit everyone at any hour of the day. You basically can find dishes like appetisers and salads to main course servings like fried rice or pasta dishes. There are also Western food like soups, steaks and chops for those who are looking for a light but filling meal at night.

Delicious Garlic Bread

The bar’s Hong Kong Style Chicken Wings is bound to whet your appetite for more

Euro Banger Sausage

During the few times that I was there, I noticed one interesting thing about The Norse’s patrons – most of them know each other very well. Though it may be a public place, but the greetings that were going around made me feel like I was in a home party instead of just another bar. The laughter and smiles, the jokes and the chatter floating around made the atmosphere much livelier than it already is.

Salmon Caesar Salad

Wild Mushroom Fettucine is a good alternative for a lighter yet filling meal

The Hockkieniese Fried Rice with Roasted Pork is one of the many creations of the bistro’s Executive Chef

The Norse Bar Bistro serves a good range of local and imported beer as well as wines. Other than the local beer favourites like Carlsberg, Tiger and Guinness, the outlet also serves other brands such as Corona, Tuborg, Heineken, Stella Artois and Konig Ludwig. Everything is reasonably priced, which will explain why there are so many regulars. It is easy to just sit and while the hours away, what with the live entertainment and your group of friends. As the day progresses on, BB Park comes alive as more people flock to the many restaurants and The Norse Bar Bistro for a relaxing evening.

Pan Grilled Lamb Rack – grilled to perfection!

Spaghetti Vongole

Looking for something to go with your drink? Why not try out The Norse Bar Bistro’s Pork Knuckles instead

The only thing that I can consider as a downside to this experience is the parking factor. It being located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur city, parking is always a headache for those who are unfamiliar with the area like me. But do not let such a trivial matter hinder you from paying The Norse Bar Bistro a visit. Take the chance and you will find that it is worth every moment of it.

This Dining With Moola experience is courtesy of Moola, the first-ever Cash-Back Lifestyle Programme specially designed for shoppers to enjoy free shopping, great savings and best deals in town. Moola is a mobile application that utilises QR code technology for all interactions; from member registration, Moola accumulation and redemption, to the actual shopping.

Moola Frenz who dine at Norse Bar Bistro are entitled to a 10% cash back everytime! What’s more, you can also grab FreeMakan vouchers for even MORE savings here!

Moola is completely hassle-free; no administrative effort; no joining fee; no cards; and comes with even greater flexibility for shoppers to enjoy the variety of rewards for redemption. Visit www.moola.my for more information and download the Moola app today! Apple, Android and Blackberry phones supported.

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Yashiki Yakitori Bar @ Viva Home Shopping Mall

January 29, 2013 at 3:18 pm

There are many times in my life where I wished I was a braver person. I wish I was brave enough to sit through a horror movie without having to use my hands as a shield at certain parts of the movie. I also wish that I am not easily daunted by the appearance of a restaurant. You know how the situation goes – you walk past an interesting looking restaurant, you take a peek inside and suddenly a hundred and one thoughts flood your mind. Is the food nice? Is it another overcharged restaurant where portions are way too small and bland? Will I regret this decision? These are but some of the many thoughts that comes to my mind.

Yashiki Yakitori Bar at Viva Home Shopping Mall, Cheras

Yashiki Yakitori Bar’s Salmon Yee Shang is priced at RM55++ and is good for 3-4 people

A squeeze of lime juice gives this traditional dish an interesting twist of flavour and taste

If left to my own devices, there would be a high chance that I may not have visited Yashiki Yakitori Bar. But I am glad that I stepped into the outlet, for I would have definitely missed out the many great dishes that it has to offer if I had not gone in. It was part of the dining experience by Moola, the first ever homegrown Cash-Back Lifestyle programme by ICT Utopia. During my visit, I tried the Yee Sang promotion. With the Chinese New Year just around the corner, Yashiki Yakitori Bar is currently offering 5 different types of Yee Sang for its customers. From vegetarians to sashimi lovers, there is definitely a winner for everyone. My friends and I opted for the Salmon Sashimi Yee Sang with generous slices of fresh salmon. I must say, this yee sang is very much more different than the ones that I have tasted before. The lime oil together with the lime leaves and plum sauce used to toss with the raw vegetables gives it a tangy and refreshing taste that complements the salmon very well. Absolutely a must try for those who are dining at the restaurant.

Emily Tang, Eric Thong, Evelyn Ang spouse enjoying a good toss

The higher you toss, the more prosperous it is for you! So go on and toss it as high as you can!

Yashiki Yakitori Bar also serves a selection of Japanese sake and local beer to its customers. And what goes well with a mug of beer than a serving of baby pork ribs? Although the outlet incorporated baby pork ribs as part of its menu earlier, it is now a promotional item for limited time only. I strongly recommend the Baby Ribs Teriyaki to anyone who loves their pork ribs. The meat is tender and soft and falls off from the bones with just a nudge from a butter knife. It is the perfect meal to go with that mug of Tiger beer or that cup of sake in your hands.

Yashiki Yakitori Bar is also promoting their Baby Ribs Teriyaki to their customers, apart from the Yee Shang fare

Baby Ribs Teriyaki. A dish normally consists of either half rack (3 ribs) or full rack (6 ribs)

Of course, in a place such as Yashiki Yakitori Bar, one just does not only try the promotions and forget all the other delicious staple dishes of theirs. Read all about it in the second post coming soon…

This Dining With Moola experience is courtesy of Moola, the first-ever Cash-Back Lifestyle Programme specially designed for shoppers to enjoy free shopping, great savings and best deals in town. Moola is a mobile application that utilises QR code technology for all interactions; from member registration, Moola accumulation and redemption, to the actual shopping.

Moola Frenz who dine at Yashiki Yakitori Bar are entitled to a 10% cash back everytime! What’s more, you can also grab FreeMakan vouchers for even MORE savings here!

Moola is completely hassle-free; no administrative effort; no joining fee; no cards; and comes with even greater flexibility for shoppers to enjoy the variety of rewards for redemption. Visit www.moola.my for more information and download the Moola app today! Apple, Android and Blackberry phones supported.

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Tourism Malaysia

A taste of Szechuan with Moola

January 29, 2013 at 5:00 pm

How many times have we walked past a shop or a restaurant without realising what is offered in there? I know I do. In our haste to reach our destination on time, these shops have been reduced to blurry images that recede into the background. One such restaurant was Zhi Wei Yuan, located along Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur.

Zhi Wei Yuan specialises in Szechuan cuisine, and as Chinese cuisines are a big mystery to me, I did not have any preconceived expectations prior to dining at this outlet. I was there with a couple of friends, including Emily Tang of Sunrise Emily blog and Evelyn Ang of Missyblurkit.com, courtesy of Moola, the first ever homegrown Cash-Back Lifestyle programme by ICT Utopia. The girls had a lot to say about their experience here, so please remember to see how it went for both of them!

Read: Emily’s first encounter of the Szechuan kind
Read: Evelyn loves it SPICY… for food of course

It turns out that Szechuan food is famous for its spicy dishes and the generous use of its Szechuan peppercorns in cooking. These peppercorns are known to possess a unique aroma and flavour that is very much unlike its more well-known counterparts, the black and white pepper. Regulars patrons who know exactly what they want can have their dishes customised according to their requests. Freshness is their main emphasis when it comes to choosing their ingredients to ensure quality dishes. Most of their basic ingredients used in preparation of their meals are brought in from China.

Our dishes for the evening looked pretty common, but let me tell you, this lot packs a punch taste wise! The manager offered us a very useful tip to fight off the heat from the peppercorns – that is to drink Wong Lo Kat (a type of Chinese sweet herbal drink) instead of the usual cold water to complement our meal. Our dinner started off with prawns fried in spicy sauce. The prawns were fresh, and it the first of many great tasting dishes that made the dinner great.

Surprisingly, Wong Lo Kat really does help cool down the spiciness of the Szechuan pepper!

To me, food is like songs and movies; you may encounter a great many of them throughout your life, but only a few will actually leave a lasting impression. For me, the Sichuan Style Braised Fish Fillet with Beancurd was one such dish. I never knew that a combination of simple ingredients like fish fillet, soft beancurd and salted preserved vegetable could become something so delicious. The taste of the soup is strong enough that it gives the whole dish its flavour, but not so strong that it overpowers the beancurd and fish fillet.

Sichuan Style Fried Prawn with Spicy Sauce – delicious down to the very last bite!

Sichuan Style Braised Fish Fillet with Beancurd – Though it may look simple, one taste of this dish and you will fall in love with it

We were also treated to a serving of Fried Spareribs in Sweet Sour Sauce and Chongqing Stir Fried Chicken with Dried Chilli. Unlike some restaurants where the colour of the sauce LOOKS delicious but in fact lacks in taste, this dish is just perfect – not too sweet, just enough hint of sourness to make it tender and yummy with every bite! Definitely a must try for lovers of pork spare ribs. For frog lovers, look out for the Dry Braised Spicy Edible Frog. Though it was slightly salty to the taste, the frog meat was fresh and tender, making this dish a great accompaniment with rice.

Fried Spareribs in Sweet Sour Sauce – a must try for spareribs lovers

Chongqing Stir Fried Chicken with Dried Chilli – spicy to the last morsel!

Dry Braised Spicy Edible Frog

The chef also made us a few other non-spicy dishes like the Sauteed Hand Ripped Cabbage, Xinjiang Boiled Lamb Cutlets, Sauteed Shredded Potato with Salted Egg Yolk. Again, do not be fooled by these simple looking dishes. The cabbage tastes absolutely scrumptious! The vegetable is crisp and tasty with a slight sweetness and a hint of vinegar added to it, yet there isn’t any of the raw vegetable taste that is present as a result of undercooking. If you were to ask the manager as to how the lamb is prepared, you’d be surprised with the answer. There isn’t any gamey taste and it doesn’t feel like you are chewing rubber with every bite.

Sauteed Hand Ripped Cabbage – the cabbage tastes crisp with a slight sweetness to it. One of the many favourites for the night

Xinjiang Boiled Lamb Cutlets – who knew that lamb could taste this wonderful cooked this way

Sauteed Shredded Potato with Salted Egg Yolk – looks like noodles right? It’s actually shredded potato coated with salted egg yolk. Another favourite for the night

By now, anyone would already be so full that it would seem impossible to take another bite. Maybe it was the rainy weather, or it could be the company that we had, we were definitely up for one more dish – the famous Sichuan Hot Pot. We chose the Spicy Fish Hot Pot. This item comes with 3 side dishes of your choice, 6 condiments and lots of fish meat underneath that bubbling soup. The condiments, which are raw garlic, spring onions, sesame seed oil, peppercorn oil, chopped red and cilantro, play a part in enhancing your eating experience.

Sichuan Hot Pot – Spicy Fish

The side dishes and condiments that comes together with the order of hot pot

Glutinous Rice Balls in Sweet Rice Wine Soup – a nice dessert to round up the night

Unlike the conventional hot pot where you drink large quantities of the soup, the soup for this hot pot can be a tad too spicy and oily for anyone. That is why one of the condiments given with every dish is sesame seed oil. When mixed with the other condiments of your choice, it will prevent the person from suffering from heartburn. A very useful tip indeed!

It was close to 11pm by the time our dinner ended. Everyone went back with a big smile on their faces and a slightly bigger waistline! Though eating at Zhi Wei Yuan can be slightly expensive, it was worth every dollar. It may seem that we have managed to taste quite a number of dishes today, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. I will definitely make Zhi Wei Yuan a stop in my continuing journey of exploring Szechuan cuisine.

This Dining With Moola experience is courtesy of Moola, the first-ever Cash-Back Lifestyle Programme specially designed for shoppers to enjoy free shopping, great savings and best deals in town. Moola is a mobile application that utilises QR code technology for all interactions; from member registration, Moola accumulation and redemption, to the actual shopping.

Moola Frenz who dine at Zhi Wei Yuan are entitled to a 10% cash back everytime! What’s more, you can also grab FreeMakan vouchers for even MORE savings here!

Moola is completely hassle-free; no administrative effort; no joining fee; no cards; and comes with even greater flexibility for shoppers to enjoy the variety of rewards for redemption. Visit www.moola.my for more information and download the Moola app today! Apple, Android and Blackberry phones supported.

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