Ho's Birthday Tea

Ho celebrated her 41st birthday last Tuesday. As her birthday fell on a weekday, it was unlikely that she would celebrate it at home with her parents. Being the 'closest' person to her (sitting beside her in the common room), I tried by all means cheering her up on her big day and took her to Starbucks for a mini celebration. I even invited two favourite colleagues of hers to come along but only one had managed to make it while the other was feeling unwell on the same day.

Chocolate Eclairs @ RM3.80

Chocolate Banana Muffin @ RM5.90

Mocha Frappuccino @ RM14.00

Tuxedo Cake @ RM9.90

Ho's Birthday Tea for three

Justart @ Gurney Plaza

I have waited for a long time to the arrival of Justart in the Northern region since my first visit to their pioneer outlets in Johor Bahru. Just one bite and I was instantly hooked on their products - tarts of assorted flavours. This outlet at Gurney Plaza is their third outlet after Crystal Point and Persiaran Queensbay. Well, regardless of where their stall is, as long as it's in the Northern region, I will surely make a return for some delicious treats - TARTS~~~

Justart @ Gurney Plaza

Tarts on display

Select your preference from the colourful tarts in the shelves

The hazelnut coffee tart and almond chocolate tart @ RM1.90 each

JUSTART

Lower Ground Floor, Gurney Plaza,

Gurney Drive,

11300 Penang.

Malaysia.

Raisin Cream Cheese

Last weekend, somebody found Pam the lone ranger sitting at Starbucks Cafe, gently slicing a pastry into bite sizes, eating it so slowly with a smile on her face, as though she was Audrey Hepburn in 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'...

Weekend breakfast @ Starbucks

Americano (double shot) @ RM7.00

Raisin Cream Cheese @ RM6.00

Crispy and flaky pastry, smooth and cheesy filling. 

STARBUCKS CAFE

Taiping Sentral,

Swettenham Road,

34000 Taiping, Perak.

Malaysia.

The Little Things in Life

Almond Bar @ RM4.80

Light Pastry filled with sweet almond paste and topped with croquant

Today's breakfast: 

Americano (RM7.00) + Almond Bar (RM4.80)

Getting a simple yet satisfying breakfast can be hassle free, provided if you are willing to let tiny little things in your life to brighten up your day.

Canton-i, my second home...

Finally it has come to the last day of the year. We are about to say Goodbye to 2011 and welcome its successor 2012. Today is also a special day for my family as there will be a double celebration in the evening: 40th Wedding Anniversary and 70th Birthday. I am pretty sure that it will be a meaningful event for everyone including those who turn up to join in the celebration. Will take as many pictures as possible and share the moments of the event in my blog soon.

Can't remember how many times I have dined in this restaurant (Canton-i)  but I know that I will always come back for some extremely tantalising noodles and mouth-watering desserts.

Wonton Noodle @ RM12.80

Each plump wonton is filled with shrimp and lean pork.

The shredded black fungus gives the sui kow (dumpling) its crunchiness besides other similar ingredients as the wonton.

Molten custard lava buns @ RM5.80 per basket of 2 pcs.

The sweet and goey custard is sinfully good.

Honey glazed char siew puffs @ RM4.00 per plate of 2 pcs.

The amount of barbecued pork is just right as it does not overshadow the taste of the flaky pastry. 

Ginger milk with ginkgo @ RM8.00

Jasmine blooming flower tea @ RM5.00

Honolulu coffee @ RM5.00

CANTON-i

Queensbay Mall, Penang

Part of GF-12 & GF-13

(Part of GF-12 & GF-11),

Queensbay Mall, 100,

Persiaran Bayan Lepas,

Penang, Malaysia.

Tel: +604-6456688

Cafe Barbera @ Kuala Lumpur International Airport

The concept of dining in the airport has always been mistakenly labelled as food served and taken in a rush, grab n go, cold, tasteless etc. This misconception no longer fits the new generation of airports, especially the award-winning 4-star airport like Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) which has a world ranking of the fourth place after Hong Kong, Singapore and Incheon Airports.

With more world class cafes being opened in KLIA, you are strictly not allowed to force yourself to gobble whatever fast food you could grab in the airport and board the plane with severe bloatedness in the stomach. So when you step into the Departure Hall, you will be amazed by how the Italian coffee culture is being adopted into the hustle bustle situation of the airport, at the same time enabling the customers to enjoy themselves over a satisfying cup of coffee before they leave. The pleasure of dining in the airport is almost guaranteed with the cosiness and warmth ambience of Cafe Barbera.

Cafe Barbera @ KLIA (Departure Hall)

This present lot of Cafe Barbera was formerly occupied by Cafe Ritazza which has since moved to the Arrival Hall in the 3rd floor.

The wide range of coffee is featured on the wall to cater to the needs of customers who often find the Italian terms of coffee incomprehensible.

The pastry shelves

The sandwich shelf

 Cappuccino Italiano @ RM8.90

Cappuccino Shakerato @ RM10.90

(Note: Caffe Shakerato is made up of iced espresso shaken in a cocktail shaker and served in a wide mouth glass) 

Espresso Shakerato @ RM8.90 

The coffee barista must have a good skill in shaking the coffee in order to produce a nice cap of foam which is able to float the beans on top of the espresso.

Chicken wrap @ RM12.90

Tuna Croissant @ RM11.90

Custard Strudel @ RM8.90

Sardine Puff @ RM8.90

Affogato

Gently pour the hot espresso over the scoop of vanilla gelato to melt the gelato.

The melting of the gelato produces a creamy and tantalising taste of both coffee and ice cream.

Cafe Barbera @ KLIA

Main Terminal Building (Level 5) 

Departure Hall,

Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)

Malaysia.

Tel: 603-8776 6626

Website http://www.caffebarbera.com/

Email cafe@barberacoffee.com

Recalling Taste of Yesteryear

Taiping has never been famous for dim sum. However, there is a traditional dim sum restaurant in town which is still preserving its the tradition of making olden days Chinese pastries. The taste of these pastries may not be too impressive as compared to those made by more prominent dim sum places but it is definitely worth trying by merely paying a ringgit for the sake of recalling the taste of yesteryear.

Chinese Pastries

clockwise from top: Lotus Paste filled Glutinous Rice Ball, Butter Crust Egg Tart and Nam Yue Pork Pie 

@ RM1.10 each

 Steamed Egg Cake / Ma Lai Koh @ RM3.00

Anytime is breakfast time!

KUM LOONG DIM SUM RESTAURANT

45 - 47 Jalan Kota,

34000 Taiping, Perak.

Malaysia.

Black Pepper Lamb Pie

When is the best time to eat humble pie? Well, that's probably when one has committed a serious error and wishes to show humiliation for his wrongdoing in the form of an apology. 

But, what if the pie is not so humble after all? It weighs 180 gm, innocently stuffed with rich and heavy fillings sealed in a greasy and buttery twin crust pastry. Do you consider this calorie monster being humble? You need a minimum of one whole day to completely break down the whole of it and utilise the compound of it in order not to keep it overnight (may be longer) in your adipose tissue. 

So, back to the question. When is the best time to eat a not-so humble pie? The answer is: BREAKFAST TIME!

Black Pepper Lamb Pie

Each flavourful pie is filled with chunks of juicy and tender lamb cubes, sweet carrot and fragrant onion rings.

The twin crust is made of both puff pastry (the bottom) and the short crust type (the top).

A complete meal by itself.

Taiping Vegetarian Heong Peng

Taiping is a peaceful town. So quiet, so simple. Luxurious living, lavish spending and splendorous lifestyle are usually unheard of. Don't come here for expensive shellfish like oyster or abalone, because there is hardly any. Don't come here for extravagant outfits, because they don't sell any. Don't come here for fine dining, because high end restaurants do not exist in this quaint town. So, why do you still come to Taiping? Perhaps everyone comes here for one common reason - unusually attractive and old-fashioned confectionery.

Freshly baked Kaya Puff @ RM0.80 each

Heong Peng @ RM0.40 each

Aulong Confectionery Shop
768, Lrg 29,

Aulong Baru,
34000 Taiping, 

Perak, Malaysia.
Tel: 605-808 7608.