Espresso Lab, e-Curve

Espresso Lab - from the name itself I am pretty sure that most of you realize its another coffee post. Espresso Lab, it lives up to its name for preparing outstanding coffee that makes you crave for more. I did not tried out any of their cakes, so there would be no commentary made on their food.

 

 

Cappuccino

Mocha

Both the latte and cappucino was memorable and good enough for a round two. Rich, aromatic and sinful, that is all I could describe the coffee.

Espresso

The espresso was really well bodied and the acidity level is really high. I need milk in my coffee, so espresso was out of the question. But my friend had an adrenaline rush after having the espresso and needless to say, it was a good go to coffee if you need the adrenaline and energy to continue work for a tired day.

I think there is an abundance of good coffee place in both KL and PJ. By the way, Espresso Lab also provide coffee art, coffee brewing and basic coffee lessons. It is stipulated in their Facebook page, but the price is pretty high too.

-thevanillapudding-

CoffeeStain by Joseph, Publika

Publika is the latest in place to be, with the number of coffeehouse sprouting in Publika, it is no wonder that it is always so packed, especially on Fridays and weekends. JinnyBoy filmed one of their short films in CoffeeStain, titled Conversation Over Coffee.

 

CoffeeStain interior is kept minimal with bright yellow plastering it walls. I was there during the weekends for coffee and boy, it is a wait for a table.



Latte

The latte is definitely one of the nicest I had, I personally liked it better to Antipodean's latte.

Mocha

The mocha was two thumb up, I love how the richness of the chocolate and the aromatic coffee does not overpower each other. It was a compliment to each other and oh so rich.

Moroccan Baked Eggs with Turkey Ham and Toast

It was a spicy platter, not too spicy but sufficient to leave a tingling taste on your tastebud. The moroccan sauce I presumed goes well with the toast. Nothing speaks of thick rich spicy sauce and toast.

Olio Pasta

The olio pasta definitely had a local touch in it. It was spicy! Tossed with mushroom, ham and capsicum, it is a localized version of olio with the addition of chili flakes. I prefer my pasta simple with garlics and herbs.

Carbonara Pasta

The carbonara pasta was a pleaser. Creamy and rich for that satisfaction one craves for.

Lasagna

 

The lasagna was a tad disappointing. It tasted off and felt as though it was packet lasagna, instead of fresh hand made lasagna. The best lasagna still stays with Italiannies.

The coffee is good enough as a staying factor, food wise, I believe its up to personal taste. If you just want to grab a bite, CoffeeStain is good enough but if you want a satisfying meal, CoffeeStain does not stand out for its food.

-thevanillapudding-

Coffea Coffee, SS15

Another popular coffee joint in Subang which serves a good cuppa. Coffea Coffee main customers are students themselves and it is prominent each time I set food at the coffee giyse itself.

 

 

Latte

Rich, aromatic and the ratio of milk to coffee is just right.

Tiramisu

Tiramisu

 

We get a little classic tiramisu here with tiramisu in cup and a rich amount of mascarpone cheese. Between the tiramisu and the chocolate nut fudge, I pick this tiramisu any day.

Vanilla Latte

I never really fancied vanilla flavored drinks, I prefer it to just be latte. The vanilla syrup wasn't strong in this case, it tasted pretty much like normal latte.

Chocolate Nut Fudge

This chocolate nut fudge was too much, too sweet and rich to my liking. Like the name itself, it is a fudge and there is a rich amount of caramel in it. Too much of chocolate and caramel. The only good combination for a rich caramel fudge would be a long black to compliment its sweetness.

Overall, it is a decent place for coffee, but the cakes were just average and I think I will do without cakes next round. Coffea Coffee also serves up specialty coffee, pour over and single origins. It is especially good for those who love single origins made from beans of different country.

-thevanillapudding-

Awet Thai Seafood Restaurant, Kampung Kayu Ara

Awet Thai Restaurant - you may or may not heard of it. But it is pretty popular for its Thai food, I didn't even know of its existence till dad told me about it. If you need a good Thai fix, this is the place.

 

There are several outlets, but I tried out the one in Kampung Kayu Ara. The restaurant itself is located off the mainroad, where one would have to turn into Kampung Kayu Ara to find the restaurant. On weekends, it is crowded and jam packed with customers. It is definitely a good idea to book a place prior to visiting the place.

 

 

Tom Yum Soup

Do not expect bland watery tomyum here. Instead, you get a thick and well boiled tomyum soup. The strong taste of tom yum and ginger is present. However, the seafood in the tom yum soup was not overpowered by the tom yum taste, instead it contributed a deliciously seafood taste in the soup itself.

Thai Salad

 

The Thai salad is simple and unpretentious. Fresh juicy prawns are tossed with onions, chili, minced pork and capsicum, a significant hint of lime juice coated all the ingredients. It was sour but delicious, I am confident that a splash of fish oil was added into the salad.

 

 

Tom Som

This is different from the normal red tom yum soup, instead it is of clear broth but nonetheless, delicious. Between the tom yum and tom som, I love the tom sum better.

Stir Fried Angle Beans

The angle beans was stir fried in basic garlic and oil and combination. It was delicious, but I was less than impressed by the amount of starch they added into the dish to give it a whole glossy, thick coating.

Salt Baked Fish

Salt Baked Fish

The fish was covered in thick sea salt before being tossed into the oven for baking. The outer crust is salt based and will be removed, we will only consume the flesh itself. The fish was delicious and the salt gave the fish a simple seasoning that doesn't outshines the freshness of the fish itself. Best eaten when freshly served.

Pork Chop

 

The pork chop is Awet Thai Seafood Restaurant signature dish. The pork chop was surprisingly tender and well marinated. When dipped into the sauce of garlic and chili, it was good, The pork chop was tender enough to be made for sandwiches.

 

Baked Pumpkin with Eggs

Baked Pumpkin with Eggs

The baked pumpkin with eggs was superb and damn good. I can just have it for dinner. The pumpkin was baked to softness and perfection where each spoon digs into the flesh easily. The egg custard complimented the pumpkin so well. The richness of the egg custard complimented the blandness of the pumpkin. I really recommend it.

Ice Kacang

The ice kacang was a disappointment. It was bland despite the mountain of ingredients added into the bowl of ice.

Mango with Glutinous Rice

Mango with Glutinous Rice

 

Another signature Thai dessert which deserves two thumbs up. The glutinous rice was warm and goes well with the coconut milk and mango. Nothing says comfort food like the combination. It was just so good with warm rice, cold mango and cold coconut milk.

 

I would return for a second round definitely and the dessert makes it to the top of my list. It would be a good place for some above average Thai food.

 

-thevanillapudding-

Alexis, Bangsar

One of my client was based in Bangsar and I had the opportunity to tried out the much raved about Alexis. I tried out the one in Bangsar Shopping Complex together with my colleagues and boy, I wasn't disappointed.

 

The place was less crowded than I have anticipated, perhaps it was a weekday and the only crowd was people clad in office suits. Alexis was decorated in a simple and unprentitious manner where decorations are kept to a minimal with classy furnitures and white. 

 

  

Angel Hair Agio Olio with Yabbies

 

Contrary to the typical aglio olio, this was definitely different than the usual aglio olio where it is tossed in olive oil and herbs. The pasta was surprisingly delicious with a mild tinge of creaminess to tantalize your tastebud.

 

 

Mushroom on Toast

Mushroom on Toast

Despite its miserable portion, I am inloved with the mushroom on toast. The mushroom were sauteed in generous amount of olive oil and well marinated. It was topped off with rocket salad leaf and a splash of truffle oil. The mushrooms were juicy and the there was a tinge of sourness, the sourness stems mainly from the splash of truffle oil. However, it wasn't overpoweringly sour, but it gives you that oomph to go for another bite. The portion was disappointingly small and was done in a few bites.

Roast Chicken Sandwich

A healthy lunch option apart from the fries. Crispy toasted bread with chicken slices and rocket salad, it is definitely a good option for those looking to maintain their diet.

 

Banana  and Peach Crumble

Banana and Peach Crumble

This was delicious. Two thumbs up. I am a fan of apple crumble but its difficult to get a decent apple crumble in KL, the last time I had a memorable apple crumble was in Rosemary Bites. The banana and peach crumble was heavenly. They made it hot and served with sauce which I think it is condensed milk mixed with some other ingredients. The combination was good. The crumble itself wasn't sweet but the combo of soft fruits together with the crumble and the sweet sauce was heavenly. I would so returned for another round of crumble.

 

So far, Alexis had left a pretty good impression on me. Perhaps, I would return for a second round to try their popular Tiramisu and other main courses.

 

-thevanillapudding-

Antipodean, Bangsar

Need I introduced this local favorite? Antipodean, a well known and popular breakfast outlet in Bangsar. Located on the same row as Yeast Boulangerie, it is difficult not to missed it especially during weekends where people will be bustling about and waiting at the entrance for an empty seat. Again, it is another Melbourne inspired cafe which serves up generous portion of food with a good cuppa.

 



It is usually packed from 9am till noon, where their all day breakfast menu becomes a favorite.

 

 

Scrambled Eggs with Salmon and Toast

Antipodean serves up a generous amount of eggs and salmon pieces, actually too generous that I rarely finished it especially with the amount of scrambled eggs.

Big Breakfast

The Big Breakfast includes butter on toast, mushrooms, potato roastie, a choice of either bacon or sausages and scrambled eggs.One thing to note about Antipodean, they serve a pretty delicious sauteed mushroom.

 

Most of their customers returned for the delicious mushroom. The baby portobello mushrooms are sliced thickly, sauteed in olive oil and tossed in herbs, salt and pepper. Simple yet so addictive. Nothing beats a juicy and well seasoned sauteed mushroom for breakfast.

 

 

French Toast with Bacon

The French Toast was decent but not great for a shoutout. The best French Toast I've tried will be the ones in Red Bean Bag. That French Toast wins hand down. The French Toast here wasn't crispy, instead it was a tad too thin and soft.

Pancakes with Butterscotch Sauce and Fruit

 

This ain't the typical thin pancakes you get, but rather, prefectly shaped and thick slice of pancakes. Instead of honey or maple syrup, Antipodean serves up Butterscotch sauce to match their pancakes.

Mocha

 

Latte

 

Apart from their breakfast, Antipodean serves up good coffee using illy. You can never go wrong with illy, unless the barista does not have the skills. Their latte and mocha are good and delicious, the mocha is relatively rich with chocolate without an overpowering taste of milk like some other mochas I had.

Sausage and Scramble on Croissant

The sausage and scramble on croissant is currently my new obsession instead of the big breakfast. It is simple, delicious and mouthwatering. Served with a geenrous amount of scrambled eggs, a sausage and rocket salad on top of fresh crispy croissant, it is an epitome of food orgasm. I love how the rocket salad gives the whole dish a different taste and tones down the overpowering richness of the eggs and croissant.

Antipodean is good for a valued for money meal. You get a classic take of Australian breakfast. However, I never fancied the crowd and the wait for a seat. The best time to savor the breakfast would be during weekdays where there is lesser crowd and you can enjoy breakfast in peace without noisy chattering.

-thevanillapudding-

The Redbean Bag, Publika

The Redbean Bag was established by two siblings, they were inspired by Melbourne's coffee scene during their study trip. Hence, the establishment of the coffee joint in Publika where the coffee scene resembles those in Melbourne.

 

The RedBean Bag is located on the same row as Coffee Stain and Coffee Societe in Publika, but it is located on the first floor instead of ground floor. Its interior is mainly wooden based, cushion and sacks hanging on the wall. Very rustic feeling.

 

On weekends, anytime after 10am, the place is crowded with the family crowd and youngsters dying to get their breakfast fix. If you don't want to join the crowd, its best if you reached earlier than 10am.

 

 

Latte

Mocha

Long Black

Both the latte and mocha was as good as it looks. Rich, aromatic and the proportions of milk and coffee is at its best. The long black was average with a lack of crema.

Baconia

Baconia

Baconia

Baconia indicates pancakes with bacons and fruit compote. Simple but satisfying. The pancake wasn't great, but satisfying enough with the addition of bacon. The fruit compote was good without being excessively sweet.

Scramble Eggs with Toast

I can never comprehend why  people would order toast and scramble eggs outside when you could whip up your own scramble eggs. However, I didn't fancy RedBean Bag's scrambled eggs, it wasn't as well season or as fluffy as the ones served in Antipodean.





French Toast with Almonds and Fruit Compote



 

To date, The RedBean Bag whips up a mouthwatering French Toast as compared to many other coffee joints. The bread was coated with almond sliver and eggs. Instead of the typical soft French Toast, you get a crispy exterior and soft bread internally. It was really good. The bread itself was thickly sliced instead of thin which caused most French Toast to be soggy.

 

 





Poached Eggs with Portobello on Toast with Balsamic Reduction and Arugula





 

 





Poached Eggs with Portobello on Toast with Arugula and Balsamic Reduction



 



Epitome of a Good Poached Eggs



I would recommend this poached eggs with portobello as a good breakfast choice. It is filling nonetheless, I could barely finished the toast. The highlight of the whole dish was the balsamic reduction. The balsamic reduction leaves a tingling sensation in your mouth, when consumed together the portobello, eggs and arugula, it is a wonderful combination. The juiciness of the mushroom, the richness of the eggs and blandness of arugula, the balsamic hypes up the taste by a notch.

 

The RedBean Bag is definitely one of those good place for a hearty breakfast. Their food is nonetheless a typical Melbourne inspired dish, but there is something different in it. Something that makes it less common compared to the other coffee joint.

 

They served pretty decent lunch and dinner meals too. Although they have limited variety for lunch and dinner, it is worth a try. But perhaps I will cover that in another blog post.

 

-thevanillapudding-