LOVE LIFE, CHERISH MOMENTS

Tiger Prawn Spaghetti--RM 26.50 Aglio Olio with tiger prawns, baby spinach, garlic, lemon crumbs and chili.

Sally & Chives--RM 25.50 Scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, chives and tobiko caviar served with buttery toasted brioche.

Flat White--RM 11.80

Watermelon Lychee Cake Sponge cake layered with watermelon, lychee cream filling, topped with fresh strawberries and assorted fruits,

Rose Lychee Almond Crumbs Rose and almond roll cake filled with cream and blueberry jam, topped with buttery crumbs.

#flatlay #desserts

   Let's begin with our mains. There were some hits and misses. The tiger prawn spaghetti was well cooked, very al dente, but was flavoured too heavily on salt and oil. This aglio olio lacked of spices, depth of flavour and i wasn't impressed with the rubbery prawns as well. On the other hand, our salmon scrambled egg topped with salmon roe was a fresh creation in the brunch scene. However, i didn't enjoy the fishy salmon and soggy toast. Thank goodness for the desserts which saved the day. My favourite was the watermelon lychee cake. The entire item was light and fresh, with the juiciness from the watermelon, light rose flavoured sponge cake and lychee cream filling. This masterpiece is to die for. Mr. J preferred the Rose Lychee Almond Crumb which tasted amazing as well.

   Overall, i kinda appreciate the creativity behind the cake bar of Naj & Belle. They fully utilized their baking strength in creating various mouth watering cakes. However, i hope the same can be reflected from their mains as well, perhaps more fine tuning and improvement of execution is needed. That's all for today! xoxo

More Information~
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/najnbelle/

   Malaysia is ever changing, from its weather to anything beyond. However, i find one thing is certain throughout the seasons, there will always be a scorching hot day that one would hope to stay indoor, grab a cup of iced cold drink and have a cold shower to chase off the immense heat away. In days like this, i would love to have a bowl of cendol and sometimes, a fancier option--a bowl of Korean bingsu. Hence, today i'm going to introduce to you guys, a personal favourite of mine--OW:L Espresso.

   Located right beside Inti College, within Menara Rajawali's first floor, OW:L Espresso is pretty much very accessible and easily recognised. I believe bingsu doesn't need much introduction since it is already a huge hit since few years back when it was first introduced to the nation. Since then, i've tried a lot of these from various outlets but was never satisfied until Mr. J brought me to this cafe. I was recommended to try out their best sellers--Mango Cheese and Chocolate Brownie on my first visit. Subsequently, i returned with friends to try out their Instagram-worthy Panda and Green Tea Bingsu as well.

Mango Cheese--RM 23 Milk based bingsu topped with fresh water lily mango cubes, cheese cake slices,  biscuit crumbs, a scoop of mango ice-cream and drizzled with mango syrup.

Chocolate Brownie--RM 18 Chocolate milk based bingsu topped with pieces of brownies, almond flakes, oreo cookie crumbs, a scoop of chocolate ice-cream and drizzled with chocolate syrup.

Panda Mocha based bingsu, topped with chocolate ice-cream, oreo cookie crumbs, almond flakes, chocolate syrup, crowned with cotton candy with oreo cookies.

Green Tea Milk based bingsu, topped with matcha milk syrup, green tea ice-cream, red bean mochi, red bean paste and almond flakes.

   As you can tell, i am a fervent supporter of OW:L Espresso's bingsu, because i'm simply in love with the incredibly soft and fluffy ice flakes present in all of the bingsu above. The mild but milky flavour of bingsu, paired with several different sets of unique texture and combination of flavour made all of the desserts so irresistible and delicious. My personal favourite goes to Mango Cheese, because i love the fact they use fresh mangoes and real cheese cake pieces. The whole item screams summer with its vibrant colour and refreshing flavours. If you are up to something fun, you could also try out their dry ice cookies and macarons, which will definitely earns you much likes on social media.

   I hope you enjoy my belated post today. My apology for being late for this entry as i was feeling under the weather and was recovering from my illness. Nevertheless, i promise to bring forth more interesting updates and adventures in my next post. Stay tuned! xoxo

More Information:
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/owlespresso/?fref=ts

   Everybody needs some indulgence once in a while, just to keep their sanity. Be it retail therapy, short getaway, alcohol, food; for me, it has got to be desserts. After a long day of work, errands and boring routine, sometimes you just have to get out and grab something sweet to brighten up your day. Today's post is all about this new found cafe that serves some really out-of-the-box desserts. Introducing the Fluffed Cafe and Dessert Bar at Taman Paramount, Petaling Jaya.

Pooh Bear's Favourite--RM 18 Crispy waffle topped with fresh strawberries, blueberries, banana, honey ice-cream, honey combs and drizzled with salted caramel sauce.

Look at that gorgeous and fluffy texture of the waffle!

Rose Lychee Cloudcake--RM 11Layers of rose flavoured cake, with lychee cream and strawberries.

   By the look of these photos, i hope you could tell how wonderful they look and taste in real life. The waffle itself had the perfect texture, crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy inside. The accompanying components were all on point, i wish that there was more! Salted caramel and honey combination was so perfect, complementing each other well. My personal favourite goes to the rose lychee cloudcake, simply because the light and airy texture of the rose cake, along with the sweet lychee cream and tangy strawberry, creating the perfect summer dessert. Everything was spot on! It is rare to see such creativity in combining feminine flavours such as rose, lychee and strawberry in one single cake. This cake definitely did it and brought a whole new level to KL's dessert game.

More cake selection

   Overall, Mr. J and i really enjoyed ourselves here in Fluffed. Not only we gotten some unique and well done dessert, we also enjoyed the fun crowd, friendly service and relaxing ambiance dining in Fluffed. I would totally recommend dessert lovers out there to give it a try! Hope you like it! xoxo.

   The British are known for their elegant language and manner, polished etiquette and most importantly, scones and afternoon tea. Hence, when i visited London during my spring trip, of course i gotta have some of that before returning. Ms Zheng and i met up with our old buddy Jasper, who is currently based in London for a quick catch up over some tea and pastries. He recommended this humble tea house called Maison Bertaux, right behind the busy London Soho, located off The Greek Street.

Delicious pastries and cakes!

     Maison Bertaux is the oldest French patisserie (French pastry house) in London, established since the year 1871, by Mr. Bertaux himself. Throughout the years, this pastry house remains standing in the evolving metropolitan with its traditional French pastries and a wide selection of warm tea. We were welcomed by an array of pastries as we stepped into this old and humble double storeys hut. Next, we were required to make our order at the counter before proceeding to our tables on first floor. As you can see from the photos above, every corner of this tea house screams classic, elegant and warmth, so welcoming and comfortable for a relaxing afternoon tea.

   I was hoping for some warm scones and tea, so we went for 2 traditional English scones, accompanied by cream and strawberry jam, a Strawberry Tart and a slice of Chocolate Cheese Cake for sharing. Our tea selection would be the classical Earl Grey and Chamomile Tea.

Traditional English Scones, served with whipped cream and strawberry jam.

Strawberry Tart

Chocolate Cheesecake

Earl Grey Tea

#flatlays

   I guess some of you might have noticed, i have a certain standard when it comes to scones, as mentioned in a few of my previous entries. I'm glad to say the scones here were up to par, with its crumbly texture and buttery flavour. The only thing i hope to alter, would be the addition of clotted cream because that lovely thing is essential! Strawberry tart were tangy and fresh; while our chocolate cheesecake was a huge let down. The cheesecake had too much solidifying agent within, causing it to be too jelly-like. Nevertheless, our tea was amazing! I adore the strong alkaline after taste we got from the Earl Grey, giving us extra caffeine kick.

Missing you both!

   Overall, it was quite interesting experience, sipping tea accompanied by wonderful desserts, overlooking the busy street of London, spiced up by never-ending conversation with my dearest buddies. London truly has its own unique charm, with captivating vibes and surprises. I can't wait to be back in this metropolitan, explore more cuisine and finds to share with you guys. Stay tuned for more updates! xoxo

More Information~
Address: 28, Greek Street, London W1D 5DQ, United Kingdom.
Website: http://www.maisonbertaux.com/maisonbertaux.com/Maison_Bertaux.html

   As we stepped into this warm and welcoming space, we were greeted by the friendly lady owner. She swiftly guided us to our table and handed their simple menu to us. I was fascinated by the amazing art work exhibited in this space. We were able to learn and embrace the incredible culture and history behind this Dayak family. They inherited these recipes from their tribe's princess, portrait in one of the few photos above. The grey background of the walls complemented the intriguing artworks like paintings, musical instruments and photos so perfectly.

Tuak Laki Stambak Ulu (Full-bodied Table Wine)--RM 16+

Three layered milk tea

   To start off our lunch, we ordered a glass of tuak and 3 layered milk tea. Tuak is essentially an alcoholic beverage made by the indigenous people of Borneo, usually made out of nira (palm sap) or fermented rice. Here in The Dyak, we ordered the tuak beras (rice wine) named Tuak Laki Stambak Ulu or Full-bodied Table Wine to experience the wonders of local alcoholic beverage. It tasted exactly like its description, smelling fresh and spring like, with the taste of green apple and pear, along with the after taste of walnut and clove. It was similar to white wine but definitely stronger and possessed more earthiness within.

Ulam Raja--RM 15+ A salad of finely sliced shallots, wild ginger flowers, ginger, lemongrass, chilies, herbs, spices, drizzled with generous squeeze of lime.

Paku Kubok--RM 10+ Giant jungle ferns stir fried with fragrant wild ginger flowers, anchovies and chilies.

Ubi Randau--RM 15+ Sweet potato leaves stir fried with garlic, desiccated coconut and sun dried shrimps.

Local brown rice

Manok Lulun--RM 25+ Chicken stewed in bamboo with tapioca leaves; a salty and soupy dish commonly known as pansoh, traditionally served at Dayak feast.

Tilapia Gulai Terung Dayak Asam Terjun--RM 35+ Clear, tangy and mildly spicy soup of Tilapia with succulent Dayak Borneo Aubergine (Brinjal/eggplant)

Jani Tunu--RM 25+ Grilled three layers pork (skin, fat and lean meat), served with Chef's secret spicy sauces, garnished with lime and cucumber.

   Such a long list of dishes right? The serving here is rather small, only sufficient for 2-3 people. Hence, we ordered a set of two for the crowd. We began our feast with a simple Dayak salad. It was refreshing and full of texture. It was my personal favourite as it was something unique and refreshing that i seldom have. Next up, the paku pakis dish and stir-fried sweet potato leaves were something common that we used to have in Kuching and elsewhere, but was executed flawlessly indeed. Meat dishes had some hits and misses. I especially love their interpretation of 'siew yuk' which they called Jani Tunu, essentially a roasted three layered pork that was explosive with tonnes of flavours. The winning cause for this dish has to be the amazingly spicy and sour sauces that accompanied the pork perfectly. However, both the chicken and tilapia dish was quite bland and lack of significant flavours that i would expect from local Dayak cuisine. Mr. J said these probably had some Bidayuh influence behind. Nevertheless, it was such a wonderful experience dining here in The Dyak.

Dessert--The Special--RM 13+ A combination of Tuak ice-cream and vanilla ice cream, drizzled with tuak and crushed pistachio.

   Like i always say, no meal is complete without desserts. We had two house special desserts, they were Tuak ice-cream and the Tuak Special. Both of these were screaming tuak in each part of the items. We had tuak ice cream, tuak wine and even fermented glutinous rice within. The flavours were strong and pungent, some may not fancy the fermented acidity within but i was quite happy with this one-of-a-kind dessert that can only be found in The Dyak.

   Overall, i had an amazing dining experience in The Dyak. It was my first time trying out Dayak cuisine and i have to say, i'm loving the authenticity, diversity of flavours and cooking styles, along with their utmost respect and tribute to their culture, identity and heritage. Although this meal is the most expensive one that we had in Kuching, but i would recommend visitors and travelers to give it a try when you visit the cat city for a memorable meal. Till next time, xoxo.

More Information~
Address: Sub Lot 29, Ground Floor, Panovel Commercial Complex, Jalan Simpang Tiga, Kuching.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/the.Dyak/?fref=ts