#Maxis 10 - HTC Desire Z Camera & Video Function for Japanese Restaurant Nagomi Food Review

Last week, got an invitation to a Food Review @ a Japanese Restaurant called Nagomi. Located at Jaya33, Petaling Jaya. Anyway, this would be a combination post of Nagomi Food Review + #Maxis 10 - HTC Desire Z :) Something new, this is because I wanted to test the camera function of the HTC Desire Z. So throughout the whole night, I totally used my Desire Z to take pictures of closeups foods shots!



For the Camera part for the HTC Desire Z.
The exiting part for me is the camera/video function on the HTC Desire Z. All of you know that Imma photographer who uses Nikon D300s. So I'm quite fussy about cameras which does not perform the standard as it suppose to be. Let's have a quick look on HTC Desire Z camera function.

The HTC has a decent 5-megapixel autofocus camera with flash which despite having less pixels than the Desire HD’s 8-megapixels. The results are quite good especially under good lighting conditions YES but more often, it’s prone to blurring even with steady hands when taking the shot. Like seriously. Focusing is not lightning quick and I would recommend using the on-screen shutter button instead of the dedicated camera button to reduce shake.

Photo enthusiasts will appreciate a solid shutter, alongside a virtual one. Autofocus is quick (and you can tap to focus) but there’s slight lag between depressing the shutter and the photo being taken, it’s not terrible by any means, but certainly not fantastic for fast-moving action.

Photos are fine, without being fantastic. Colors are bright, detail is sharp, especially close-ups, you can make tweaks to the sharpness, contrast, exposure and saturation. Like the Desire HD we found Auto white balance produces the most accurate results, Daylight looks unnatural. Be careful using the ISO settings, noise is really visible around ISO 400 and ISO 800 is practically unusable. The single - instead of dual - flash is surprisingly powerful, so the Desire Z will easily illuminate a small room.



What I like about its camera is the different effects you can choose prior to taking a shot and also the post-processing effects. You can take a shot with live effects such as depth of field, vignette, distortion, vintage, etc.

Here's the end product. Some photos below are taken using the Desire Z. With flash and without flash.


(Above) Not bad for a point and shoot camera. At least it's better than my Blackberry Curve 3G.

(Below) Close up macro shots I took from a food review at Nagomi Japanese Restaurant. Below photos are expended to the height of 720P. Motive is to see the true quality of the camera function.


Nagomi Food Review.


ZENSAI 前菜
Foie Gras Caviar Delicately Presented Goose Liver Served with Crispy French Baguette


SASHIMI 刺身
Salmon Carpaccio Thinly Slice Salmon Sashimi Marinates in Delicious Balsamico Sauce


SHELLY BEACH. Fine Red Wine Year 2007.


OSUIMONO 御吸い物
Asari Potato Kurimu Shiru Mouth-watering Soup of Fresh Sea Clams, Asparagus & Potato.


YAKIMONO 焼き物
Tori No Karashi Yaki Scrumptiously Chicken Drum Stick Grilled to Perfection with Flattering Mustard Cream


SUSHI 寿司
Sushi Cake Chef Special Concoction of Maguro, Scallop, Fruits, Vegetables & Sushi Rice


DESSERT デザ一ト
An Epitome of Dessert. A Delightful Dessert of Mixed Fruit Jelly with Japanese Almond Tofu


This is Mochi.


Food Reviews partners. Xiang, Esther, Ah Bok and Feeq.

Group shot turned out not really nice likewise as the FOOD! I rate a fair 6/10. Not much a review yet but will soon do a proper one as this is for my - #Maxis 10 - HTC Desire Z Camera & Video Function for Nagomi Food Review Post.

As you can see (Above) it's quite blur. This was taken without flash. Instead all the photos are taken without flash and a lil editing. :)

Available outlets for Nagomi Japanese Restaurants:

Kin Shui Tei Japanese Fine Dining@Tropicana Golf & Country Resort
03-7804 2079/ 03-7804 8888 ext 315

Nagomi Japanese Restaurant @ Jaya33
03-7956 2330

Nagomi Japanese Restaurant @ Menara Hap Seng
03-2141 6332

Close up objects shots with a perfect amount of light, the pictures would turned out very nice. But, all the shots are not advisable to take with flash as I don't really believe in direct flash. Only uses it when I'm desperate for light. Eg. in CLUBS and super dark places.


This was taken using Vintage mode! December birthday babes Vivian and Samantha. Instant iPhone4 Instagram lol. Damn nice right?

For the video part for the HTC Desire Z.
720p footage isn’t fantastic. Although it’s smooth and bright, detail seems soft and lacking definition, for example in one test shot leaves on a tree appear so soft they tend to blur into each other and in another you can’t see the fine detail on brickwall on a house. So if 720p video is your choice, we’d suggest the iPhone 4 or Samsung Galaxy S instead :)

I will show you some video on my NEXT POST!

That's all for now. To be continued. This is #Maxis 10 Reviewers Programme - HTC Desire Z

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Taragon Food Review in Melacca

A month ago, me and 5 other bloggers went for a day trip to Malacca! Purpose is to hunt for FOODS!

After a long touristy day trip in Malacca, we finally got to settle for dinner @ Taragon Restaurant & Bistro. It’s situated right opposite Christ Church Malacca, also along the Malacca river. If I’m not mistaken, it’s an old bungalow, revamp and become a Restaurant/Bistro. Serving Nyonya and Western Foods! was so exited when I received a call that we're going for a food review session at a restaurant beside the river. Here's how the place look like.



Million thanks to Darling Joanne Kay for the offer and Mr Gwei, the Owner of Taragon Restaurant. We, 6 of us all the way from KL manage to do a food review session for them in the very last minute!

Photos below taken without flash! Not really that nice. It's a sudden thing so yeah. Anyway, let's check out Taragon, Malacca!


Florence, Baldwin and Xiang !


Bryan, Chammaine and ME!


With Taragon's Boss, Mr Gwei and wife, Sharize. :)


The amount of food we ordered! Around 10-12 dishes. Yummsssss. Are you ready to eat virtually with me?


Fruit juices; 4.90MYR

Refreshing. VERY! mango and pineapple Juices. when you're having spicy dishes and stuff, you will feel thirsty!


Fettucine Concasser; 12.90MYR

Claim that it was as same standard what they have it in the UK! Certified by an ENGLISH Chef in Malacca. Typical Italian dish. Just to try out whether their western/Italian dishes are as good as the Nyonya dishes. because they seems pioneer with their Nyonya style dishes!


Taragon Dory Fish; 16.90MYR

This is something unique! Usually you don't see this around. It's more like Cordon Bleu but inside the dory fish, it has cheese inside oozing out and melts in you mouth! you needa eat that immediately when it comes to your table. Recommended to eat when it's HOT! Sauce was da bomb. Lastly the mash was perfectly creamy. Thumbs up on this!


Fried Oyster; 28.90MYR

Chef recommendation! Fried Oyster instead of fresh oyster. Nothing will go wrong with fried dishes! Thus, it's perfectly blend with squeeze lemon and dip it in Thai chili cause. Worth trying!


Sambal Bendi; 14.00MYR

I'm not quite a fan of ladies fingers thus the sambal was awesome! with a touch of squeeze lime on it. It tasted very special that no where you can find it but only at Taragon. Chammaine LOVE em.


Chili Garam Prawns; 28.00MYR

This was a recommendation dish as well form the manager. Big juicy prawns with a touch of spiciness around your mouth. Best to eat with white rice!


Terung Bakar; 14.00MYR

I ordered this because im a HUGE fan of brinjal. In Yong Tau Fu, I will ordered as much as I can and only eat brinjalsssss for my lunch. Terung bakar. They grilled it on the griller and serve it with onions, chilies, garlic, spring onions and etc. Love this dish as my vege.


Lemak Nanas Fish; 45.00MYR

I love nenas in lemak dishes because I can taste not only spicy and sour but also sweet in it. The pineapple gives it a sweet taste in the lemak curry fish. Fish is fresh blends very well the pineapples and tomatoes. Best to eat it with plain white rice!


Chicken Asam Buah Keluak; 20.00MYR

This is one unique dish. Called the Chicken Asam Buah Keluak. Buah Keluak??? Mr.Gwei thought us how to eat the buah Keluak. It's a fruit which has a weird taste. I can't define what taste is that but all i know its salty like black beans! But the Chicken asam was awesome! Tasted like the original Nyonya dish which I haven't ate for a very very long time. Highly Recommended!


Itik Tim Soup; 14.00MYR

Duck soup! First time having duck soup in restaurant. It tasted very nice with a duck flavor comes with different types of vege and spices in it. There's salted vege in it as well. Slurppss!!! Perfect soup to complement with all the other Nyonya dishes!


BEST Cendol in Malacca; 3.50MYR

Cendol for dessert! Claim that it's the BEST cendol in Malacca. Their gula malaka they used is concentrated grade A gula malaka instead of the diluted/cheap ones. Thus it gives a very rich favour. not to mentioned that their cendol is coconut milk are freshly made not from the cans/tins.

Done with the FOOD and let's have a look around the Restaurant.

What about the Interior of Taragon you may ask? Fred not! Mr. Gwei & wife toured us around the whole place. We got to tour upstairs, which is not open for customers yet. And outside! Check it out.


Outdoor section by the riverside for chilling purposes. Also for smoking Area.


Indoor section. More for family concept dining.


Upper floor section for function purposes!


Oh yes! They served Beers, Martini and Liquor as well.

Overall ratings. 8/10 Love the place/Food! Pricing is quite affordable. Clean environment as it's quite new. Only 1 year of operation since they opened. Nice location as well. Certainly will go back there again.

Goodbye Malacca! Thank You, Taragon! Maybe now it’s time for you to pay Taragon a visit when you gonna be at Malacca ya.

Taragon
Nyonya – Western – Bistro

Business hours:
Mon: 10:00 am – 11:30 pm
Wed – Fri: 10:00 am – 11:30 pm
Sat – Sun: 10:00 am – 1:00 am

42A & 44A, Lorong Hang Jebat,
75200, Melaka.
Tel: +6062881688

For reservations:
Alvin Tan; +60129055865

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Friendscino Food Review

Friendscino = Friends Culture Is Not An Option. Friendscino Cafe + Bar + Restaurant was formerly known as "Friendster Cafe" located at Damansara Perdana has now re-brand and redesign into a lifestyle destination icon with urban interiors design, offering lovers of fine, innovative Food & Beverage will rubs their hands in glee.

Thanks to Friendscino, we the Advertlets bloggers have the privilege to do a food review with them. Get prepared to drool over your monitor screen! This a full FOOD POST!

* Huge bulk of photos in this post. Will load a lil bit slow. be patient yeah :)


Welcome to Friendscino Cafe and Restaurant.


Went with these bunch of happening bloggers. They're not exclusive bloggers, They're not high traffic famous bloggers. Is because I LOVE them.


Lets have a look what we have in the menu! BEST part is, we are allowed to order what we want on the menu. We're in HEAVEN! The bloggers all Ordered as much as they like. But of cause, they did a great job on reviewing the food as well.


Spaghetti Cream Carbonara.


Farfalle Napolitana Pasta.


Soup Of The Day.


Caesar Salad.


Wild Mushroom Soup.


Bruschetta with smoked salmon and sliced tomato.


New Zealand Lamb Chop.


New Zealand Lamb Shank.


English Fish & Chips.


Norwegian Salmon.


Roasted Whole Chicken Leg.


Cheese Lamb and Dates Croquettes.


Deep Fried Tortilla.


Bread and Butter Pudding.


Fan Mango Fruit.


Strawberry Romanoff.


Banana Split.

I'm sorry no proper review on hows the foods there. Only photos are up. I was quite sick that night. So I didn't eat much. Will pay a visit soon to do a proper review on myself. Of cause I did tired a lil here and there. The food there was actually not bad. OVERALL for the food i rate 7/10. :)

Now here's the bloggers camho groupshot whatever shot. LOL


Table no.1


Table no.2


Table no.3


Table no.4


Group Shot no.1. Eh Jeremy what are you doing huh?

Group Shot no.2. Thanks Jeremy for this shot.

We really had fun that night with all the bloggers. Thanks to the new bloggers who'd joined us that night as well. Last but not least, thanks Friendscino Cafe for the opportunity for us to do a food review on your Cafe/Restaurant.

Do check them out if you haven't been there before.

Friendscino Restaurant & Bar
LG01 & 01A, Plaza Emerald North
Jalan PJU8/3A, Damansara Perdana,
47820 Petaling Jaya, SELANGOR
03-7710-0035

Open Weekdays 10am-1:30am; Weekends 10am-3am

Check out their FRIENDSCINO FACEBOOK PAGE

Anyway, If you are a blogger and you are interested to join us (Advertlets.com) events/outings/parties/food reviews in the future, here's your chance to join us. Please send in ur profile of personal details, blog URL and email address to jason.ong@advertlets.com with the title 'Im interested to join Advertlets.com' :)

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