Chilling at PULP on a rainy day

Well, I finally had time to check out the famous PULP by Papa Palheta which originated from Singapore. My friends and I actually drove past the cafe without knowing there's no obvious signage other than a wooden door located in a factory lot. It's great that it doesn't need any flashy signs to attract fellow coffee enthusiasts. It was a nice place to chill while waiting for the rain to stop. :)

Since it was our first time, we asked for some recommendations from the barista based on each of our preference for our coffee. Since I wanted to try their tea and coffee wise I want something not too strong, he recommended the Cascara for me. It's a mix of coffee and tea which actually gives out a sour plum-ish taste. 

Definitely an acquired taste because the friends were not fans of it but I find it alright. Somehow, I felt like I was drinking some herbal soup instead of drinking coffee. I do taste a bit of sour plum but other than that, it's a light cuppa. 

Cascara- RM12

Samantha's becoming my cafe hopping partner and she always orders a cup of Flat White or Latte first before trying other varieties. She said it doesn't have much kick so I guess she needed one more shot in her coffee. :P

Espresso + Milk- RM10

Now in front, we have the Carrot Cake and at the back, we have the Baked Cheesecake. Both tasted mediocre to me, the cheesecake was dense, not fluffy. I think the selection of cakes were curated to complement coffee so the coffee made the cake taste a little better and vice versa.

Carrot Cake- RM10

Baked Cheesecake- RM8

I got meself some Hot Chocolate to keep me warm and I really like it! You can really taste the slight bitterness of the cocoa and the sweetness was just right! :)

Hot Chocolate- RM10

The deets!

My advice is to come on weekdays instead of weekends because there's not many tables available so once it's full, you gotta wait for someone to leave. Also, the baristas would have more time to explain or recommend something just for you too so it's more special than the usual! :) You can really feel how passion for coffee as they suggest different blends to suit your taste buds. Don't expect brunch meals here, they only have cakes, pies and popcorn which sold out before we could try.

KL rates:

Food- 4/10

Price- About RM10 for a cuppa 

Service- 7/10 

Variety- 6/10

Cafe Korea, Sri Petaling

Yes, another cafe for them cafe hopping folks to check out! This time we head to one that's inspired by Japan's neighboring country for a Korean wave at Cafe Korea! Situated beside Kinrara mamak, it's a cozy and pricier place to yumcha but who can say no to a place that has a wide range of Pat Bing Su (Korean ice kacang) and imported Korean instant noodles?

The beau ordered the Butterscotch Latte which was not bad! Wrong move for ordering it during dinner because he has a sleepless night. :P

OMG OMG OMG THIS JJAJANG MYEON WAS SO GOOD!!! I'M SALIVATING JUST BY LOOKING AT IT! THIS IS AS GOOD AS THE ONE I HAD BACK IN LOTTE WORLD, KOREA!!! Soft yellow ramen-like noodles drenched in deliciously thick black bean sauce! The only issues the beau and I had with this is that the portion should be bigger and more sauce please! :D

Jjajang myeon- RM14

Each main was given a small saucer with pickled radish which gave a nice crunchy bite to our meals.

I ordered the Kimchi fried noodles since there was a promotion going on that night where we get a cup of green tea for only RM14. Not for people who can't

take spicy food and is not a kimchi fan because it's a yummy kimchi goodness! I hope they make their own kimchi because it's has the right balance of sour, sweet and spicy!

Kimchi noodles with chicken (Option: Rice)- RM14

We ordered the Milk Pat Bingsu and it's not much to rave about. It's tasteless and you're only getting some sweetness from the red beans. The mochi is really yummy though! It has red bean filling but somehow, there's honey in it too! I accidentally ate most of the mochi so the beau was a little upset. :P

Milk Pat Bingsu- RM13

I wasn't full enough so I thought of trying the Pumpkin Porridge. Bad move because it's tasteless just like the bingsu. It would be nice if it was sweeten with some honey or sugar. 

Pumpkin porridge- RM8

- Prices might be slighty inaccurate because I forgot to take pictures of the menu. 

I would try some of their instant noodles next round, but mostly I would go back for the Jjajang myeon! :D If anyone has any of their instant noodles and other bingsu flavours to recommend, do let me know! 

KL rates:

Food- 7/10

Price- Mid-range 

Service- 6/10 

Variety- 5/10

103 Coffee Workshop, Sri Petaling

Those who live in Sri Petaling are lucky because they don't need to drive far to get to a good cafe such as 103 Coffee Workshop! Slide open the metal door and be greeted by the cozy cafe which is a great shut-in from the horrible traffic outside. One glance at the menu and you'll be happy to know that they have a brunch, donburi and snacks menu! Yay for Japanese and Western fusion food! :D

Flat white for my girl, Samantha who accompanied me to check this place out. After sipping some of her coffee, I think it's nice with just the right amount of milk so you still can taste a bit of the espresso. Maybe it's the help from the double espresso shots. 

Flat White (double shots)- RM10

A mocha for me because I love my chocolate fix! It was bittersweet and thanks to the added cocoa, the coffee flavour was enhanced. 

103 chocolate mocha- RM10

My late brunch that comes with a side salad with roasted sesame dressing! With that dressing I'll eat any salad.

Maneki Onigiri- RM14.90

Crispy nori sheets with salmon furikake onigiri that has some cooked salmon pieces as filling too! Really tasty and the rice was cooked nicely.

You get two tamago halves and a spoonful of pickles too.

Samantha's don looked and tasted yummy too! It comes with hot spring egg! The chicken was generously coated with teriyaki sauce and cooked just right so it is still juicy! 

Teriyaki Chicken Don- RM14.90

Now this is added into one of my favourite chicken wings list because it crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside with a slightly spicy kick! Generous sprinkle of chilli powder on every wing! Plus, it's great for people who only eats the mid wing! My mouth is watering even when I'm just typing it out!

Saku Saku Teba Karaage- RM12.90

The slightly spicy japanese yuzu sauce which you can dip you wings in or pour over to drown the wings, your choice! It's tangy and sweet, I think it has some teriyaki in it too, that's why it's awesome!

Samantha ordered the Rose latte since we had a long yumcha session. One of the signatures and it should be famous with the ladies, smell the roses as you sip the crema and coffee and, it comes with a biscotti. A light and floral cuppa for people who loves roses and not strong coffee.

Rose latte- RM10

This tea is really fragrant, it smells just like one of my all-time favourite teas, Nymph of the Nile from Gryphon Tea Company but the not too overly floral. Tea lovers should come here and have a taste of this! I love it because it's refreshing and the light floral scent!

103 signature tea- RM9

- Drinks start from RM5- RM18 while food starts from RM3.90- RM29.90.

I will come back to try their other dishes and drinks! Price is decent, food is good and service is good too! What's your favourite dish and drink from this cafe? :D

KL rates:

Food- 7/10

Price- Mid-range 

Service- 6/10 

Variety- 6/10

Boat noodles: Who's docking and sailing away?

The boat noodle rage is still ongoing but with so many restaurants popping up and selling the same dish, will this competition help them thrive or will they go out one by one? I think only a few can reign supreme in this battle.

Boat Noodle , Jaya One (I guess it is Malaysia's pioneer and the first branch was famous, located in Empire Damansara) 

It was my first time there and I'm sorry to say it will be my last. I also apologize but I forgot to take pictures of the noodles there! The good thing about this chain is that it is halal so many people can have a taste of boat noodles, service is good too!

But I think that if you are not going for the authentic route, you have make it taste just as good too but sadly, the soup base is really lacking of flavour like there's no depth or something's just missing. There are two kinds of broth where you can pick the normal or spicier base in either soup or dry form with but you won't be able to tell the difference between the non-spicy and spicy because both taste the same. I expected some tomyam soup for the spicy version but nope, it ain't tomyam.

The desserts were mediocre too, I remember I had the bite-sized kuihs and a fruit salad which was nothing special.

KL rates:

Food- 4/10

Price- RM1.90 per bowl 

Service- 6/10 

Variety- 5/10

Kuey Tiew Reua Authentic Thai Boat Noodles , Kuchai Lama (Non-halal)

This is where I had my first bowl of boat noodles and I wouldn't mind going back here if the service was better. Although the manager was there, he did not bother to come and greet his customers who were waiting to be seated. For me, that just shows how much he 'cares' for his business. Call me a critical person but I know they just opened and everything is still not well-prepared but giving a good first impression is key, in my books.

This is their menu. 

The fish sauce and salt, chilli powder and green chilli sambal sauce you can add to your noodles.

The beau and I had to wait for an hour just for these small bowls. We ordered 2 dry and 2 soup of thai kuey teow noodles.

I like the soup base, it was sweet and packed with flavour. I would add a bit of the green chilli sambal sauce to give it a kick!

I like that they gave a decent amount of pork meat. Would have ordered more but we couldn't wait another hour for more bowls to come so we left.

KL rates:

Food- 6/10

Price- RM1.90 per bowl 

Service- 3/10
Variety- 4/10

Zab Zab Boat Noodle , Kuchai Lama
My cousin told me about this other boat noodle restaurant that's in the same vicinity as Kuey Tiew Reua. First thing that's better? The prompt service! They were fast and polite. It's air-conditioned which is tres important on hot afternoons! You can choose to vermicelli or thai kuey teow with their two different broths:

Thai style pork soup. I like how it's not too rich and with additional condiments, it can be as spicy or more salty if you're into that. I wish the amount of crispy pork lard is more consistent though.

Tomyam soup. The first boat noodle place I found that has a tomyam based soup and I love it! It's not too spicy so you can still add more chilli powder to make the spiciness to your liking. Also, you can order a plate of pork chips to add more crunch to your meal!

I had 7 bowls of noodles which just fills me up nicely but I could eat more. :P

KL rates:

Food- 7/10

Price- RM1.90 per bowl 

Service- 7/10 

Variety- 7/10

Sawadee Boat Noodle , Sri Petaling
Yes, you can finally get boat noodles in Sri Petaling! It's about time too, with the new shop lots that's about to turn this area into a foodie destination. This recently opened establishment is located at the new shop lots opposite The Store, same row with a chicken restaurant.

Their old menu. The owner told us that they will start selling street food such as BBQ skewers, mango sticky rice and coconut jelly on the next day when we went last week so if you go now, you'll be able to try their new items!

The beau and I ordered 2 bowls for each category of noodles in the traditional boat noodles and the original boat noodles. This here is the original broth. Also my Samsung S3 camera went cray after I took this picture, hence, the distorted picture.

Kuey Tiew.

Thai instant noodles. The owner taught us to add a bit of chilli powder and red chilli sauce to eat boat noodles the right way. Be warned about the green chilli that's also on your table because that one is really spicy!

Vermicelli noodles. I think I prefer to have the original broth with this noodles. It absorbs more soup so there's more flavour!

Pork chips!!! Also RM1.90 per bowl for a decent amount.

In traditional boat noodle soup. The difference? The broth was made with coconut milk.

I think this version is not bad but not many people will be fans of the creamy and a little sweet aftertaste from the coconut milk, like the beau. But he loves the original soup and to him this place serves the best.

KL rates:

Food- 6/10

Price- RM1.90 per bowl 

Service- 6/10 

Variety- 6/10

Overall, I like Zab Zab Boat Noodle and Sawadee Boat Noodle. Both places offer different broths and the service is great. In Zab Zab's case, you have to go early to avoid the long queues while at Sawadee, you won't have queues. However, both places have parking issues so may the force be with you if you're planning to go during peak timings.

So which is your favourite boat noodles restaurant? Let me know in the comments below so I can check out the ones I have not tried! :)

illy Coffee Workshop and a clutch?

Surprisingly, coffee is still trending these days and after working on my coffee article for female Magazine Malaysia (September 2014 issue) which you can take a look below, I grew more interested about the beans. I worked hard researching and interviewing fellow coffee enthusiast which I think some of you might find familiar. :) To be honest, I'm more of a tea person but sometimes, you just need coffee to function.

 

 

 

So last month, I won a pair of invites to a illy Coffee Appreciation Workshop, thanks to TimeOut KL! I invited my dear friend, Shad to come along and we made our way to Università del caffè della Malesia , fancy schmancy name!

Each of us got a cup of coffee of our choice before the workshop started. I went for the latte which was really nice and smooth! Then, we were given a little intro about illy, coffee and how to distinguish good and bad coffee.

They made a couple of really bad espressos and good ones to let us guess which is good or bad. You'll know it's bad when you get a burned or a super sour taste and that taste will stay in your mouth for a long time unless, you brush your teeth or something. It won't even be drinkable because it was so bad but apparently, most cafes around here serve really bad coffee according to the experts. Also, Malaysian's palate prefers a bit of bitterness in our coffee too.

Then, it was our turn to make a latte. They showed us how to work the coffee grinder, espresso machine and how to froth the milk to form latte art! I was in charge of the espresso and Shad is in charge of frothing the milk. The machine was really intimidating and, the milk steamer scares me.

Our work! I did the leaf and Shad did the heart! Not bad for our first time, huh? I have a new found respect for baristas who are really passionate in their work, it's not easy juggling so many orders and trying to brew a perfect cuppa every time.

We also got an important warning from the experts, NEVER EVER ORDER COFFEE THAT COMES WITH 3D LATTE ART!!! I got told off by him because I asked if he could do 3D latte art. 

So why we shouldn't order that? Well, coffee is best taken hot so by the time, the coffee reaches your table with the pretty art on top, the coffee would have lost it's freshness and the crema would be dry, so basically, you're getting dry and cold coffee. If you want a cup of coffee that wouldn't go bad after sitting for too long then opt for the cold options.

He made these so fast! Super cute designs too!

Shad told me to pretend that I'm enjoying coffee in the highlands. 

While she drank to the hardworking coffee farmers!

Overall, it was an interesting workshop! I learned some really cool tips and tricks which I can't wait to test out when I'm checking out cafes!

Group shot with the other participants! Shad and I were the lucky ones to hold the empty coffee tins. :P

On another note, if you are looking simple and chic clutches that is just the perfect size, do check out Hashtag Malaysia ! I got this lovely clutch from them and I love it! I have my eye on the neon designs too! Better get a few before it's gone! ;)

It comes with a detachable chain strap too that's not too heavy too!