Charming Desserts Meet Hearty Mains At This Hipster Café In Taman Mayang

“THERE’S A CAT?!” my colleague exclaimed in pure delight when I jio’ed her for a DiscoverKL review at Milligram, Taman Mayang recently.
“Okay, I’m in” came her response moments later.
Image Credit: Milligram
At Milligram, we were greeted by Gram, the resident cat that playfully lingered around the restaurant or waited right outside, with eager eyes.
We noticed how those who entered the restaurant after us gave their expected “awws“, some even stopping to pet the friendly feline.
“He looks like an Oscar, somehow has an intelligent look to him”, I thought aloud.

That’s how Milligram quickly earned a cuteness score of 11/10 within the first couple of minutes. Their interior ain’t too shabby either. In fact, minimalist hipster is what I would call it.
You’ve got the Tiffany Blue splashes of colour across the wall and lots of minimalist white all around. “My partner designed it,” Trincy of Milligram told us.

We liked how Milligram had long communal tables for larger groups and slightly more intimate corners round the back where you could lounge with a book on the couch.
And for a Friday night, business was good. Trincy nodded in agreement to this remark but she also offered how “F&B is unpredictable, you can’t tell which days would be packed and which days wouldn’t be.”

I’d say they’re doing pretty good still. And that would largely be attributed to their food.
Portions tend to be on the larger side and even if they aren’t, the ingredients on your platter are generally of the filling sort—think potatoes, pasta, gnocchi. It’s the sort of comforting meals you’d like to have, but without the uncomfortable jelak feeling after.

The Lazy Pig is a pork cutlet topped with tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and served with sauteed vegetables.
Under a thick coat of cheese, you’d find a juicy pork shoulder and some surprise wedges so when you least expect it, bam—you’ve got extra wedges. We liked how it came with 2 halfs of a bread too, so you could mop up all the yummy sauce after.

The Mother-Porker Burger consists of a pork patty, cheddar cheese, bacon, caramelised onions, gherkin, sriracha, mayo and zucchini-carrot fries.
The zucchini-carrot fries are a healthier approach to the traditional fries. They were thinly sliced and slightly crispy—the best way to enjoy fries, in my opinion.

The Chicken with Cilantro Lime Rice is a flavourful cilantro lime rice served with pan-seared chicken strips and topped off with a scrambled egg.
Personally, this one’s a winner. It’s hard to find good flavourful rice in a hipster café but this one hits the spot. The cilantro lime rice stood out for its tangy flavour that went surprisingly well with the cuts of chicken.

The Gnocchi is topped with cheese sauce and pork bacon strips, as well as sage and drizzled with bacon oil. It is similar to the Hakka abacus seeds whereby the exterior is crispy and once you bite into it, you’ll find that it has a tender soft inside.
The gnocchi paired with a creamy sauce might sound a little too much but thankfully, the sauce wasn’t too creamy and the sage leaves might be a tiny addition to the meal but it helped to cut through the richness.
By the time we finished our meal, the thought of desserts was met with a mix of delight and worry. The ol’ saying of “there’s always room for desserts” is hard to apply at Milligram, simply because the meals left us full to the brim. No complaints whatsoever though as the food we had was good. But that also meant that the desserts are strictly for sharing.

We had the Slowpoke Waffle, which is a Waffle with Salted Caramel Ice Cream and Honeycomb.
It was topped off with a surprising amount of fruits (bananas and strawberries) and pretty edible flowers. The waffle itself was soft and fluffy and while good on its own, was no match for the high standards of the dessert we were to have next. We did enjoy the addition of the honeycomb though which was sweet but not so much that it becomes off putting. It also had a fragrant flavour and added a nice touch to the waffle.

The Churro Boru is a Churro Bowl (Boru stands for Bowl in Japanese), stuffed with fresh strawberries and blueberries, drizzled with yoghurt and topped off with a scoop of Earl Grey ice cream. It’s also served along with white chocolate sauce, mixed with Famous Amos crumbs and bacon chips.
The bacon did not sit well with us and we found it to be a pretty odd flavour companion to the churro. What we did enjoy though was the churro and ice cream combination—dessert heaven.
A word of caution: if you’re planning to snap a couple of pics before enjoying this, you had better be quick as the ice cream, understandably, melts quick.
Collectively, we agreed that Milligram’s a cool place to head to for some hearty meals and ultra pretty desserts. Our personal recommendations would be the Chicken with Cilantro Lime Rice, The Lazy Pig and Churro Boru.
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This Spooky Speakeasy Is Not For The Weak—Its Tagline Is "Step In If You Dare"

Speakeasies are not exactly lacking in the heart of KL, but there’s not exactly an abundance of them either. And with the speakeasies that there are, we can see that they have incorporated different concepts to bring out their specialties and emphasise the mystery of it all.
There’s the Blue Elephant Bar, which is perfect for movie junkies with the walls adorned by classic movie screen captures and large-scaled Oscar statues sitting in different corners. There’s the Anno Domini Bar that has become a faux medieval tavern in modern times. There’s the PS150, where visitors will find themselves transported to Shanghai in the olden days.
Image Credit: TripAdvisor/Jiggee
So many speakeasies, so many different concepts. But I bet you’ve never seen one that has been daring enough to actually utilise the concept of death, especially in the Chinese culture, because we’re all superstitious like that.
Well, now there’s one in Chinatown, and they have aptly named themselves The Deceased.
The entry itself will give you the goosebumps – you climb up a staircase that is lit by Taoist-talisman-wrapped bulbs, while serenaded with the Ghost Bride Prelude, the soundtrack of the infamous Hong Kong horror movie, Rigor Mortis.

Image Credit: TripAdvisor
Inside, you’ll literally see an altar attached to the wall, a black and white photo of a stranger with a knowing yet enigmatic smile on her face, just the way the Chinese do it to pay respects to deceased ancestors. During our recent visit to The Deceased, we learnt that the photo in mention is actually of a a Hong Kong artist who passed away when she was 25.
Image Credit: Mo K
In the spirit – no pun intended – of the vibe, the speakeasy is set in what used to be a Chinese drugstore, in which there will be rows and columns of cabinets that are used to store herbs by the bar. There are also tools and materials used to measure, collect, and assemble herbs present around the area.
Image Credit: TripAdvisor/Jiggee
Their drinks are also exotic and creative. You can get a teapot blend of gin and tea. Chinese and Malaysian tastes can be found in abundance or hints in various drinks across their menu, some of them even served in goblets used back in the day.
The Deceased is most certainly one of the most interesting speakeasy bars in KL to date. Now the question is, do you dare to pay this place a visit? 😉
Find it: You have to make a reservation and acquire a passcode to enter the staircase next to Leaf & Co Café, then just climb to the rooftop.
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 6pm-2am.
Address: 55, Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Website: The Deceased
Tel: 018-200 0262
Featured Image Credit: Mo K, Veloorian


10 Bandar Utama Restaurants & The Signature Dishes You Should Order

In Klang Valley, there are places that we just naturally know are the most popular among the citizens, such as Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya, Bangsar, and, of course, Bandar Utama. In Bandar Utama, you’ll find that there are plenty of eateries, so much so that you might find it hard to decide on where exactly to eat. So, we’ve rounded up the best places to makan at in Bandar Utama, and what exactly to order when you’re here.
1. Zam Zam Café & Satay Club
Located at the edge of Lebuh Bandar Utama, Zam Zam Café & Satay Club is a hidden gem. Still, it is a pretty large complex with both air conditioned and non-air conditioned areas. They specialise in satay, while also offering other foods from both Asia and the West.
Signature dishes: Murtabak, Briyani, Satay
Image Credit: Zam Zam Café & Satay Club
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 10am-12am, Friday-Sunday: 10am-1am.
Address: Lot 51555, Lebuh Bandar Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Website: Zam Zam Café & Satay Club

Tel: 03-7722 3871
2. SALTed
To all Sarawakians who have decided to uproot their lives and make a living here, if you miss home a little and you failed to discover anything that even reminds you a little of home, maybe this place can be your refuge? SALTed has been lauded as the restaurant that has a Sarawak laksa that tastes the closest to the original ones back in Sarawak. But of course, that’s also because the owners are both from Kuching, Sarawak. But hey, it’s still a piece of home, right?
Signature dish: Sarawak Laksa
Image Credit: SALTed Facebook
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 10am-3.30pm.
Address: 30-1, Jln PJU7/16A, Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Website: SALTed
Tel: 03-7733 4566
3. Green Dot Stables
Jacques Driscoll opened up Green Dot Stables in Detroit back in 2012, a horse race-themed restaurant that offers slider-esque food for the customers. Their success has gained a lot of attention, and after one email from a Malaysian came the emergence of a Green Dot Stables branch right here in Malaysia. Their sliders come in small but filling portions, allowing customers to afford it while also be able to have enough to fill up their stomachs.
Signature dishes: Slider Burgers
Image Credit: Green Dot Stables Facebook
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 7am-3am.
Address: G10, Lebuh Bandar Utama Centre Point, Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Website: Green Dot Stables
Tel: 03-7731 6536
4. Bosko
No, not the Hong Kong actor, Bosco Wong. This is Bosko—a play on the phrase ‘boss code’—a restaurant cum bar that is cheerfully decorated, colourful, and staffed with the friendliest of people. They have an extensive menu that mainly caters to the Western spectrum of food items. And if you’re looking for fine wine, they have a wall of Sauvignon Blancs for you to choose from, along with blackboards scribbled with wine pairing tips. You can tell that they take their wine seriously.
Signature dishes: Crispy Duck Platter, Bos Double Cheeseburger
Image Credit: Bosko Facebook
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 10am-2am.
Address: Jalan BU 1/11, Lebuh Bandar Utama, 1st floor, Centrepoint Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Website: Bosko
Tel: 03-7733 2511
5. J&D Espresso
You’d think that with a weird combination like pork and coffee, J&D Espresso probably wouldn’t be able to do well, but they did. Since their conception in 2012, they’ve been conquering the taste buds of visitors. Using the tagline ‘Bloody good coffee’, you can be certain that they’ve definitely made good on that promise, along with scrumptious pork stuff that will get any pork lovers drooling.
Signature dishes: Gourmet Pork Burger, Fried Breaded Chicken Parma
Image Credit: J&D Espresso Facebook
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 11.30am-9.30pm.
Address: Oasis Business Centre BU11, Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Website: J&D Espresso
Tel: 017-313 3931
6. Roast Factor Glee
With the usage of micro roaster, this café has an array of delightful brews for your choosing, whether hot or cold. In addition, if you’re there for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, they have light eats like brioche buns to heavy stuff like roasted pork. As an artisan café, you have a chance to taste their specialty coffee every day, each day a different coffee.
Signature dishes: Caffe Latte, Brioche
Image Credit: Roast Factor Glee Facebook
Hours: Wednesday-Monday: 8am-6pm.
Address: G06 Village Shops @ The Club, 9 Bukit Utama, No. 9 Persiaran Bukit Utama, Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Website: Roast Factor Glee
Tel: 03-7732 2893
7. Granite Kitchen & Lounge Bar
When you see the tagline “Heaven is upstairs if pigs could fly”, you already know that you’ve arrived to what can only be pork heaven. Fusing foods from the East and the West, their menu does not remain the same, because that would be boring and they would lose their appeal. So it is possible that the food you’ve tasted the first time you’re here won’t be available in a couple of months time. The food they have had in the past include Balinese roasted babi guling and roasted pork belly spaetzle pasta.
Signature dishes: Balinese roasted babi guling and roasted pork belly spaetzle pasta
Image Credit: Granite Kitchen & Lounge Bar Facebook
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 8am-2am.
Address: Jalan BU 1/11, Lebuh Bandar Utama, 1st floor Centrepoint Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Website: Granite Kitchen & Lounge Bar
Tel: 03-7733 5571
8. Marco’s Creative Cuisine
At Marco’s Creative Cuisine, you do not just eat the food one by one. Instead, you will be brought on a journey of discovery, just like how Marco Polo discovered lands and cultures during his adventures, only you will be discovering fresh and new kinds of flavours.
Signature dishes: Deconstructed Black Forest, Aromatic Chicken Consommé
Image Credit: Marco’s Creative Cuisine
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 11am-10.30pm.
Address: Lot G146, Ground Floor (Old Wing) 1Utama Shopping Centre, No. 1 Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama, 47800 PJ, Selangor, Malaysia
Website: Marco’s Creative Cuisine
Tel: 03-7731 8923
9. Mak’s Chee
Wonton noodles are so important to the Chinese community – one of the “fast” food if we’re rushing somewhere and it’s utterly tantalising to the tongue. Mak’s Chee has been a long purveyor of wonton noodles in Hong Kong, emerging in Malaysia with its first outpost two years ago. With its new emergence, people have crowded over and left with only compliments at the tips of their tongues.
Signature dish: Wonton Noodles
Image Credit: Mak’s Chee Facebook
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 10am-10pm.
Address: Lot LG311D, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Website: Mak’s Chee
Tel: 03-7722 2788
10. Betjeman & Barton
The history of Betjeman & Barton spans back almost 100 years ago, when Arthur Betjeman opened the first tea house in Paris in 1919. His success brought the tea house from the oceans of Europe to Malaysia, garnering similar popularity among our local tea enthusiasts. They also serve some small sweet eats to go along with tea, because that’s just the right way of having tea.
Signature dishes: Betjleman & Barton: English tea
Image Credit: Betjeman & Barton Facebook
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 10am-10.30pm.
Address: Lot G220, Ground Floor, 1, Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama City Centre Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Website: Betjeman & Barton
Tel: 03-7731 5433


These Lego Figurines Of Tun Mahathir And His Wife Are Far Too Adorable!

Creativity runs in the veins of Malaysian artist Vincent Kiew and he’s recently made the news for it.
It’s not the first time he’s gone viral because of his Lego block creations.
Whether it’s a whole building or iconic transportation in Malaysia, Vincent has attempted it before and the outcome is stunning.
Image Credit: Vincent Kiew
Recently, the artist made news again with his adorable figurines of Tun Mahathir and Tun Siti Hasmah. Vincent has so much attention to detail that he’s even included a pair of glasses for both his figurines and a pearl necklace for Tun Siti Hasmah!
Vincent has definitely gotten Tun Mahathir and Tun Siti Hasmah’s outfit down to a tee.
Often seen sporting a gray suit and with his arms casually behind his back, Tun Mahathir now has his signature pose forever immortalised in the form of a Lego figurine.
Image Credit: Vincent Kiew
Now while it is highly unlikely that Tun M might chance upon images of these Lego figurines of himself and his wife, we’d figure that he’d definitely approve of them!
Check out Vincent Kiew’s body of work here:
Vincent Kiew’s Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/people/vincentkiew/
All Image Credit: Vincent Kiew


What To Do This Week: Happening Events In Klang Valley From February 27–March 5

KL is full of exciting activities that one should not miss out on, and it is in fact a great excuse to have a get-together with friends. Best part is, you get to enjoy the activities with one another, whether it’s a performance or a party. Here are 10 events happening this week, from February 27–March 5, that you should consider heading out for!
1. K-Street Carnival
Image Credit: 1’ Mont Kiara
To all those who are obsessed with everything Korean, from the food to the dramas, this Korean Street Carnival will take place throughout the entire week, so make sure to drop by. Not only will you be able to get your favourite Korean food and snacks from this carnival, there will also be other activities planned for you to enjoy such as the K-Pop recital, Korean Mask Painting, and plenty more.
When: February 28–March 5: 6pm–9pm
Where: 1 Mont Kiara Mall, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Info: K-Street Carnival

2. Modern Latin Free Trial Class
Image Credit: Ritmo Latino Dance School, Wisma Cosway
Sorry guys, it’s time to give the ladies the dance floor. At this dance course, it’s dedicated to any lady who wants to learn how to dance and feel sexy at the same time while they learn a mix of Salsa, Jazz, Reggaeton and Hip-Hop under the choreographed guidance of Pat Calzadilla. This is a free trial class and if you enjoyed the class, feel free to sign up for a full course.
When: February 27: 9:15pm – 10:15pm
Where: 3-01, Level 3, Wisma Cosway, Jalan Raja Chulan, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Info: Modern Latin Free Trial Class
3. Tuesday Meng Thai Cycle Night Ride
Image Credit: Meng Thai Cycle Sdn Bhd
Biking in the hot afternoon sun may not appeal to everyone, but biking during the night might change your mind. Those who are interested can join a night biking session as the group plans to cycle from Kota Kemuning to Bandar Botanic and then back again—at night. The best thing is, you don’t have to pay a dime. All you need is to bring yourself, a bike, and a helmet.
When: February 28: 8:10pm – 10:30pm
Where: 11, Jalan Anggerik Vanilla P 31/P, 40460 Shah Alam, Malaysia
Info: Tuesday: Meng Thai Cycle Night Ride
4. Pub Quiz Night
Image Credit: The Sticky Wicket
This one’s not for those who are still under the legal age of drinking. But for those who aren’t, you’d be happy to know that The Sticky Wicket’s pub quiz is back. Participants will stand a chance to win some free drinks and a bottle on the house. There will be instant discounts on food and drinks for participants as well.
When: February 28: 8:30pm – 11:00pm
Where: 34, Plaza Damansara, Jalan Medan Setia 2, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur
Info: Pub Quiz Night
5. The Good Workshop Series: Secrets To A Healthy Weight
Image Credit: Petrosains – The Discovery Centre
If you think the best way to lose weight is to diet, you’ll be able to learn more than that through a workshop at Petrosains. At this workshop, you will discover about the myths of weight loss, understand the science behind weight management, and how to keep a healthy weight without going overboard on dieting or over-exercising. Other learning outcomes include delicious healthy low-fat recipes and basic calorie counting.
When: March 1: 6:30pm – 9pm
Where: Petronas Twin Towers, Level 4, Suria KLCC 50088 Kuala Lumpur
Info: The Good Workshop Series: Secrets To A Healthy Weight
6. Activ Studio Booty Bar
Image Credit:Activ Studio
Join LA-based trainer and fitness guru, Tracey Mallet as she guides you through a session that will work your body but also put your mind at ease. Combining the grace of ballet, the fluidity of yoga and the strength of pilates, BootyBarre’s workout will introduce many health benefits such as improving of posture, body awareness, flexibility and cardiovascular endurance.
When: March 2: 9:30am – 7:30pm
Where: 90A, Lorong Maarof Bangsar, Wilayah Persekutuan, 59000 Kuala Lumpur
Info: Activ Studio Booty Bar
7. Candlelight Yoga To Wind Down At Gato Café
Image Credit: Cynthia Active Yogi
A yoga session can be pretty relaxing and very peaceful for the mind, body and soul. A yoga session in a café provides an extra benefit of being close to good food and refreshing drinks as well. At the Candlelight Yoga, you can take a session and then enjoy some light snacks after.
When: March 1: 9:45pm – 10:45pm
Where: Unit 1-8, No.7, Jalan Kerinchi, Nexus, Level 1, Bangsar South, 59200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Info: Candlelight Yoga To Wind Down At Gato Café
8. Write Club’s Meet Up
Image Credit:Write Club
A good story takes time and you will need a good idea and a proper understanding of what you really want to write in the first place. Well, at this story writing session, Write Club challenges all writers or those who are interested, to come and learn the basics of writing in 30 minutes. The best part is, when all the participants finish, they will have to read aloud what they have come up with during the short period of time.
When: March 1: 8pm–10pm
Where: 11, Jalan 20/13 Paramount Garden, 46300 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Info: Write Club’s Meet-Up
9. How To Be Photogenic Workshop
Image Credit: MEGA MUSIC WORLD
Renowned for his photography, particularly on emotional moments during events, join Mark Vong and other collaborators such as Mega Music World and SCCA (Snips College of Creative Arts) as they bring vital knowledge to anyone who wish to take up any creative skills in photography. At the same time, you can also learn how to look good in photographs too.
When: March 4, 8pm–9pm
Where: 187-3, 3rd Floor, Wisma TT, Jalan Lanchang, Taman Sri Bahtera, 56100 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur
Info: How To Be Photogenic Workshop
10. Artist Talk: Taring Padi
Image Credit:Ilham Gallery
During this session, Taring Padi, a community of underground artists that were formed during the days of social upheaval following the fall of Suharto in 1988, will share how they use art as a tool for information to highlight social, political, and economic concerns faced by Indonesians. They will also provide an education platform to raise more awareness about the issues faced.
When: March 4: 3pm–5pm
Where: No. 8 Jalan Binjai, Off Persiaran KLCC, 50450 Kuala Lumpur
Info: Artist Talk: Taring Padi
Feature Image Credit: The Star Online & Dance Pot


This KL Bookstore Will Remain Open Permanently And It Houses 500,000+ Books!

The next time you find yourself in a bout of sleeplessness in the middle of the night, you could actually drive down to the first 24-hour bookstore in Malaysia.

The 37,000 square foot space officially opened its doors in late May and has already attracted plenty of KL-ites due to its unique concept.

Bookxcess is known for offering titles at a much cheaper rate both online and at its physical store, with 50%-80% off its original price.

You’d find yourself spoilt for choice as there are more than 500,000 titles in the outlet but the fact that the doors will remain open permanently definitely helps. 😉

You can go ahead and take your time looking through the books and other literary-related items like comic book posters.

Currently, Bookxcess Tamarind Square only houses English books but those who are looking for Chinese titles can opt to pay their Starling Mall outlet a visit.

There’s even a spacious and comfortable reading corner for those who want to read the first few chapters of a book prior to deciding whether or not they should add it to their bookshelf at home.

It’s best to spend an entire afternoon at Bookxcess so be sure to free up a couple of hours of your day and enjoy it at Bookxcess.
Bookxcess
Hours: 24 hours/daily
Address: Tamarind Square, Cyberjaya
Website: Bookxcess
Tel: 03-2726 2438
All Image Credit: Bookxcess


Fairytale Characters Come To Life At KL's First Storybook-Themed Event Space

With an entrance that opens just like a storybook, it’s easy for this newly-launched event space in Desa Park City to spark curiosity amongst passersby.

The Story Book is KL’s first storybook-themed event space and it’s a place where stories from books come alive by way of activities, workshops, performances, audio books, movies and more.

Their aim is for Malaysians to discover stories from books through interactive events and performing arts.
During their soft launch, The Story Book has hosted events such as a Beauty And The Beast storytelling event for kids and Reading Romeo and Juliet which caters to the older crowd.
An event to look forward to in the coming month is the Alice In Wonderland tea party which is a 90-minute mosaic workshop + a game of charades catered specifically for little ones.
J.R.R. Tolkien fans can also drop by for The Story Book’s upcoming Tolkien Reading Day event where fans of the author can read popular books and poetry, roleplay or simply enjoy the fellowship of fellow Tolkien fans.

Other than events, The Story Book also retails books from the Bookalicious bookstore. Jeanisha of The Story Book shared that new books are introduced on average of twice a month.

Guests can also pick up some fresh bread from The Story Book’s Bake Plan bakery corner or some ice cream from The Last Polka.
For those who are looking for an event space to rent, The Story Book’s space can be used for corporate events, product launches, press conferences and private talks.
The Story Book KL
Hours: Mondays-Fridays: 11am-7pm, Saturdays: 1pm-6pm. (Closed on Sundays).
Address: E-1-13, Block Eaton, Plaza Arkadia, Desa ParkCity, 52200 Kuala Lumpur
Website: The Story Book KL
Tel: 018-2294361, 03-64113817
All Image Credit: The Story Book


Shopee’s “Wang With Shopee” Campaign Lets Us Shop Items For As Low As RM1!

The Chinese New Year mood is officially upon us, what with businesses around Klang Valley swapping Christmas trees for red lanterns, and Lunar New Year tunes blaring over the speakers.

Shopee is joining in the festive celebration with their very own Wang with Shopee campaign, commencing from January 15 – February 25.
The Shopee CNY 2018 campaign consists of 5 different highlights:

1. Fortune Ang Pao
Date: Feb 15 – 23

Play the Wang with Shopee Fortune Ang Pao game and stand a chance to win prizes such as site-wide promo codes, Golden Tickets, Vouchers and Shopee coins! Keep an eye out for the Golden Tickets because you’d be guaranteed a chance to win daily prizes and weekly prizes which includes gold bars, power banks, computer accessories, home appliances and a chance to win the grand prize of RM8,888 cash — there’re Ang Pao worth up to RM1 million in total up for grabs.
Get 1 free token daily and earn 1 bonus token for every paid order with a minimum spend of RM50.
2. Zodiac Forecast with Dato’ Joey Yap

Dato’ Joey Yap is one of the more renowned feng shui masters in Malaysia and he has opened his first official online store on Shopee. Click here to head to Joey Yap’s Shopee e-store.
3. Prosperity Box
Date: January 22-24

Shopee’s Prosperity Box lets us purchase a box filled with plenty of goodies worth up to RM200—for only RM8. Some of the brands participating in the Prosperity Box campaign include Petronas, Boozeat, Photobook, Redbull, Fave, Nivea, Beautystall, Unilever, Clinelle and Reckitt Benckiser. The RM8 prosperity box can be purchased during the golden hours of 12pm-2pm on January 22-24. Do note that there’ll be a limited quantity of 600 Prosperity Boxes sold at RM8, throughout the campaign.
4. CNY Shocking Sale
Date: January 22-24

Shopee’s CNY Shocking Sale will feature traditional CNY costumes, CNY cookies, home decor items, kid’s CNY-wear and much more at exclusive prices. The Shocking Sale will be ongoing throughout the 2-day campaign, at 12am, 9am, 12pm, 4pm and 8pm.
5. Shopee Bundle Deals
Date: January 15 – February 25

Score exclusive deals up to 70 leading brands at Shopee Mall, including Unilever, Super, Senheng, ALX Malaysia, Xixili, Hi Style, Tommee Tippee, Deerma, Monobo Malaysia, Blisshome and more.
Exclusive Promo Codes For DiscoverKL Readers
On top of the 5 campaign highlights for Shopee CNY 2018, Shopee is giving DiscoverKL readers a head start on their shopping spree with 2 specific promo codes:
Promo Code: KLBUY
– This code allows you to get RM7 off your purchase with a minimum spend of RM50. The code is applicable to preferred sellers and official shops on Shopee.

Promo Code: DKL1
– This code allows newly registered Shopee users a chance to purchase best-selling deals for RM1 only.

Head on over to Shopee’s official website, or alternatively download the Shopee app to begin your shopping spree with Shopee’s #WangWithShopee campaign.
This article was written in collaboration with Shopee.

Feature Image Adapted: Taylor Swift VEVO


Here's A Round Up Of 10 Boba Pearl Cakes You Should Hunt Down In Klang Valley

I’m a firm believer of how boba pearls should remain where they belong: in a cup of bubble tea.
As of late though, numerous KL eateries have challenged that idea and incorporated their own spin on the classic boba pearls. You’ll find it in cheese pizzas, toasts and now, on cakes too.
1. The Baker Ministry
Image Credit: The Baker Ministry
The Baker Ministry is a home-based baker in Klang which specialises in Nutella cheese tarts, salted caramel brownies, pavlovas and churros. Now, you can even order your own boba cake to indulge in at the comfort of your own home. The Baker Ministry’s version of a boba cake is a matcha chiffon cake topped with green tea-flavoured Diplomat Cream and topped with large boba pearls.
Dictionary Time: Diplomat Cream is a form of pastry cream which holds its form and won’t turn into a watery mess as it uses cornstarch and gelatin (two binding agents that helps to hold its shape)
Address: Bandar Bukit Tinggi 2, Klang

Website: The Baker Ministry
Tel: 011-3515 9257
2. TinyBaker In PINK
Image Credit: TinyBaker In PINK
Stepping inside TinyBaker In PINK is akin to stepping into a girly, whimsical space with Tumblr-worthy food and drinks. Although there aren’t plenty of choices available, what’s certain is that the dishes available are all worthy of your ‘gram feed. TinyBaker In PINK (which also doubles as an event space for rent) allows you to either enjoy their boba cake in the cafe itself or have it as a takeaway. The dish is priced at RM49 for the entire cake or RM10 per slice. The cake has an earl grey milk tea flavour and is accompanied by a generous helping of pearls.
Hours: Thursdays-Tuesdays: 11am-7pm. (Closed on Wednesdays).
Address: 58-2, Jalan PJU 5/21, Kuala Lumpur
Website: TinyBaker In PINK
Tel: 010-565 7152
3. Sweeto
Image Credit: Sweeto
Sweeto, like its name suggests, is a restaurant with an emphasis on sweet treats. Using family recipes, the team crafts comforting Western, Italian and Chinese desserts. Their latest addition is the boba dessert which comes in numerous flavours like matcha, strawberry, chocolate and milk tea. You’ll find the boba pearls scattered across the top of the whipped cream layer or hidden within the cake, lava cake-style. We like how there’s a variety of flavours available at Sweeto and our pick would be the milk tea flavour.
Hours: Sundays-Wednesdays: 12pm-12am, Thursdays-Saturdays: 12pm-1.30am
Address: 39, 1, Jalan Kuchai Maju 8, Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park, 58200 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Website: Sweeto
Tel: 03-7980 0021
4. TeaCottage
Image Credit: TeaCottage
TeaCottage is a quaint little tea room and cafe located in Kajang. It first opened in the middle of 2018 and one of the tea room’s specialty is their homemade milk tea jam. Recently, they’ve included the milk tea waffle on their menu. It is a waffle made with mocha ice cream, osmanthus and signature pearl toppings. Alternatively, there’s their chiffon cake topped with black sugar boba pearls and osmanthus. The cakes are available in 3 different sizes and the largest one is only available via pre-order.
Hours: Mondays-Fridays: 11am-6pm, Saturdays: 10am-6pm. (Closed on Sundays).
Address: No 17A, Bukit Mewah 10A,Taman Bukit Mewah, Kajang, Selangor, Kajang
Website: TeaCottage
Tel: 03-8740 5325
5. The Platform Cafe
Image Credit: The Platform Cafe
When it comes to boba cakes, you either go big or go home and The Platform Cafe has decided to go big with their cheesecake version of a boba dessert. It’s served on an extra large serving spoon! The dish is pretty much like a monstrous boba mountain overflowing with molasses sugar goodness. In fact, you can barely see the creamy cheesecake beneath the  boba layer. For special occasions, you can opt to place a booking for a large size signature black pearl cheesecake.
Hours: Mondays-Sundays: 10am-3am
Address: Cheras Leisure Mall, L1.25, Jalan Manis 6, Taman Gemilang, Kuala Lumpur
Website: The Platform Cafe
Tel: 011-2618 8547
6. Cemento Cafe & Bistro
Image Credit: Cemento Cafe & Bistro
Cemento Cafe & Bistro’s version of a boba cake is a mini one called The Pearl Of Summer. The serving size is just right for one person and it comes in an Earl Grey flavour. A handful of berries is served on the side. We would recommend having this as a dessert after enjoying one of the pastas or Big Breakfasts.
Hours: Mondays-Fridays: 8.30am-6pm, Saturdays-Sundays: 9.30am-6pm
Address: H-1-13, Plaza Arkadia. No3, Jalan Intisari Perdana, Desa Park City, 52200, Kuala Lumpur
Website: Cemento Cafe & Bistro
Tel: 016-505 9891
7. The Baking Trip
Image Credit: The Baking Trip
To experience the ultimate food envy, try scrolling through online baker The Baking Trip’s Instagram page. Each dessert has been meticulously prepared and has a minimalist vibe to it. During last year’s Artbox season, The Baking Trip introduced its bubble milk tea bundt cake which might I add, looks like it belongs on every Christmas dinner table. Besides the wildly popular bubble milk tea bundt cake, The Baking Trip also has Moist Chocolate Banana Cake and Victoria Blueberry Cake available to order.
Website: The Baking Trip
8. Thurs2.0

It’s clear that this newly-opened eatery is all for experimenting with trendy foods. Take for instance their sapphire blue drink or their signature boba toast. Thurs2.0 recently introduced the French Earl Grey-flavoured milk tea cake which is topped with a layer of cream and boba pearls. Have this with a side of coffee or tea. The cafe bakes 60 pieces of Earl Grey Custard Bubble Milk Tea cakes a day and they come in 2 sizes: 4 inches (small) and 5 inches (medium). However, you can opt to reserve their large cakes (7 inches) through WhatsApp.
Hours: 11am-11pm, daily
Address: 270, Jalan Cheras, Taman Miharja, 56100 Kuala Lumpur
Website: Thurs2.0
Tel: 010 829 2700
9. Chin Chin Cakes & Flower
Image Credit: Chin Chin Cakes & Flower
Chin Chin Cakes & Flower is a bakery and florist with gorgeous cakes and their chiffon cake with boba pearls is their standout product. The cake is wrapped with a plastic wrap and a ribbon but upon untying the ribbon, the contents will flow like a rushing river. While Chin Chin Cakes & Flower does not have a physical outlet, you can order this dessert via WhatsApp.
Hours: Mondays-Saturdays: 10am-6pm
Website: Chin Chin Cakes & Flower
Tel: 010 9122040
BONUS
10. Moge Tee Malaysia
Image Credit: Moge Tee Malaysia
Moge Tee Malaysia is another newly launched cafe on this list. Focusing on teas and souffles, they marry both perfectly in their latest creation: the boba souffle which is aptly named the Bubble Flow Souffle.
Dictionary Time: A souffle is a baked dish made primarily of egg yolks and beaten egg whites and can be enjoyed either sweet or savoury.
Slice right down the middle and you will have a Boomerang-worthy fountain of boba. The Bubble Flow Souffle is a brown sugar-flavoured souffle and it’s served with a side of ice cream. You can also order up a brown sugar bubble milk tea to enjoy on the side for the ultimate brown sugar milk tea experience.
Hours: 12pm-1am, daily
Address: 52, Jalan SS2/61, Petaling Jaya
Website: Moge Tee Malaysia
Tel: 03-7865 6757
Feature Image Credit: Moge Tee Malaysia, Platform Cafe


We Got To Spend A Night Glamping Under The Stars At An Actual Theme Park!

Glamping is probably one word that you might have come across recently. Though its not a new trend per se, it’s definitely on the rise, especially for locals who are being more selective with their mode of accommodation these days. For those who are uninitiated, it is basically camping done luxuriously. We got to experience that first hand at Sunway Lost World Of Tambun and our glamp tent was big enough to fit actual queen-sized beds and other furniture.

A hidden gem within Malaysia, Sunway Lost World of Tambun allow its guests to camp without the discomforts of being outdoors. With a stunning backdrop of limestone rocks and other natural rock formations, this is not one to miss. If you have a friend or two who are down to camp in style, this could be one to consider for your bucket list.

Our hosts, Bella and Firdaus, escorted us to a glam tent as soon as we arrived. We rode a private buggy to the accommodation area and from the viewpoint of the buggy, we got to marvel at the beauty of nature. The park gave us major Jurassic Park feels and we were stoked to see what’s next.
The glamping area is situated at one end of the theme park (at the Adventure Park) and is conveniently quite a distance away from all the noise and commotion. Thank goodness for the buggy because I would imagine it to be quite a distance on foot.

As soon as we arrived, the breathtaking lush greenery is what took our breath away and without a question, this beats any view from a hotel window. Of all the limestone formations, The “Pencil Rock” pinnacle in all its majesty was the one that got us ooh-ing and aah-ing.

Once we checked in, the receptionist handed us 2 sets of padlocks so we could lock up our tent whenever we are not in it. We were initially worried about leaving our personal belongings behind but were assured that it’s quite safe to do so. This gave us a peace of mind as we could head to the theme park and leave our laptops and mobile devices behind. There are also plenty of rangers patrolling the area to ensure the guests’ safety.

That being said, we wouldn’t advise leaving the tent unzipped during the night (even with the spectacular view of lit fairy lights and the calm blue lake outdoors) as there might be mosquitoes lurking around the area, what with the glamping area being situated right next to a lake.
Tip: Bring along a mosquito repellent just in case. We did not get bitten (thankfully!) but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
As we explored what other facilities the tent had to offer, we found 2 stand fans that would be useful if you’re planning to take naps during the day. There were also electrical points within the tent that allowed us to charge our phone and camera batteries.
When we were there, we could listen to the sound of crickets throughout the night but that did not disturb our night’s rest as it also drizzled slightly, making it the perfect environment to sleep in.
There’s a shower room and toilet located just 1-2 minutes away from the glamping site and we were pleased to find that basic toiletries are provided, and this includes shampoo and shower gel.
Each cubicle came with a built-in heater and there’s nothing quite like a warm shower after a full day at the park, sweating while we waited in queues and getting drenched, what with the unpredictable Malaysian weather. Hair dryers are provided as well.

The next morning, we woke up to sound of monkeys chattering away. We were pre-warned that there are wild monkeys on the campsite but we certainly did not expect what’s to come.
The monkeys had approached our campsite and being the curious creatures that they are, one of them went through our toiletry bags (which we placed outside of our tent) and stole our toothpaste. Thank goodness we had back up!
You’d find these monkeys while en route to the shower room. Don’t worry though. As the saying goes, “if you don’t kacau them, they won’t kacau you”.
After freshening up, the buggy service took us to the Garden Terrace for breakfast.
We enjoyed a buffet breakfast privilege which is included in the glamping package. Meals ranged from local delights to Western cuisine. And trust me, we went full on with breakfast as it was pretty good.
After a sumptuous and filling breakfast, we went on to enjoy the theme park for the rest of the day (theme park tickets are also included in the glamping package).
As this was collectively our team’s first experience glamping, it definitely sets the standard for our future staycations. What we’ll remember for sure is the breathtaking view (and getting robbed by monkeys for the first time). 😛
If you’re looking to experience glamping at Sunway Lost World Of Tambun, do note that prices for 4 pax (2 adults and 2 children) is set at RM588 and it is inclusive of a tent with beds and the facilities for 2 days 1 night. Buffet breakfast will be provided for 4 pax at the Garden Terrace as well and it’s also inclusive of Theme Park Entrance for 4 persons for 2 days (worth RM452). Alternatively, for 2 pax (2 adults), the cost is RM438 with an option to add-on for a 3rd person (child RM105, adult RM120).


Fill Your Empty Stomach & Your Pokédex: 9 Eateries Near Pokéstops In Pokémon GO!

After a long day of hunting for Pokémon in Pokémon GO, all you’ll need is a real-life Pokéstop to chill out at. Thankfully, loads of eateries that are within range of Pokéstops in the game have been jumping on the Pokémon hype train and putting out lure modules near their premises.
This is not just to attract Pokémon, but also us Pokémon trainers who want to refuel both our energy and our Pokéballs. If you don’t live in café-heavy areas, just head on down to popular places like TTDI and Bangsar that have cool places to eat on every street corner for your Pokéstop fix.
Check out the following cafes/Pokéstops so you can grab a cuppa and catch your fair share of Pokémon at the same time!
Grind 22, Bangsar

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This ‘hipster’ café at the heart of Bangsar is lured and ready for Pokémon-hunting. With three Pokéstops within 100 meters of the café, you can milk those Pokéballs to death (because in case you didn’t know, Pokéstops refresh every 5 minutes!). The baristas have found all kinds of Pokémon within their store, including Staryu, Tangela, and Poliwag! Lots more to be found, especially when the nearby Pokéstops are lured! (Also, get 10% off your drink when you catch a Pokémon nearby their store. Even more incentive to fire up your Pokémon GO app!).
Address: No. 22, Lorong Maarof, 59000 Kuala Lumpur

Hours: 12pm-10pm on Sun-Thurs, 12pm-1am on Fri & Sat
Tel: 03-2202 0422
Website: http://www.grind22.com
Tiny Temptress Artisan Patisserie, Sri Petaling
Image Credit: Tiny Temptress
Besides being an adorable little cafe selling the cutest macarons ever, Tiny Temptress have a Pokéstop and a gym within 100 meters of their store! Time to fill up your bag with Pokégear and get ready to conquer the gym! They also held a Pokémon GO promotion over the weekend, but even though it’s over they might bring it back in the future, who knows! Try asking nicely, you might get some Pokégoodies out of it 😉
Address: No 8-1, Jalan Radin Bagus 8, Bandar Baru Sri Petaling, 57000 Kuala Lumpur
Hours: 1pm-11pm on Sun-Thurs, 1pm-12am on Fri-Sat, closed on Mondays
Tel: 03-9054 3716
Website: http://www.thetinytemptress.com/
Soft Launch Café, Sri Petaling
Image Credit: Soft Launch Cafe
Located within the same area as Tiny Temptress, here’s an alternative for you if you still want to grab a bite to eat but also want to fill up your Pokédex! Soft Launch Café have a few Pokéstops surrounding it too, including one right across the street! And if you’re feeling tired from walking around trying to find that elusive Charmander, Soft Launch have special Pokémon sodas to quench your thirst, or even awesome Pokéball waffles to satisfy that rumbling stomach! Perfect snacks for budding Pokémon trainers like us.
Address: 101-1, Jln Radin Bagus, Sri Petaling, 57000 Kuala Lumpur
Hours: 12pm-11pm on Mon-Fri, 11pm-11am on weekends, closed on Tuesdays
Tel: 03-9054 8686
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Soft-Launch-Cafe-1694363934112750/
KulCats Barrio, TTDI

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Here’s one of the few cafes that actually have a Pokéstop inside their premises. And not only do they have one, there’s two! KulCats’ signature graffiti-ed walls have been turned into Pokéstops, which means it’s now the perfect place to set up lures and casually catch some Pokémon while sipping on your drink. Or if you’re feeling extra hungry, don’t miss out on their famous pizzas or monster burgers!
Address: 35 Lorong Rahim Kajai 13, Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur
Hours: 12pm-11pm on Sat-Thurs, 3pm-12am on Fri, closed on Tuesdays
Tel: 03-7733 3420
Website: https://www.facebook.com/kulcats/
Pan & Tamper, Publika
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIwuHPjAYLm/?taken-at=1031762752
Even though Publika is full to the brim with Pokéstops (you can’t walk a few meters without passing by a few), Pan & Tamper houses one of the two gyms in the mall. The Red Man Statue gym is right by the café, and if you want to catch stronger Pokémon to defeat the current gym owner, just take a quick stroll around the mall, stock up on Pokéballs, and stop by lured Pokéstops to see what the catch of the day will be. You can probably spend hours walking around and collecting Pokégear while the Pokéstops keep refreshing!
Address: Block D1, Level G3, Unit 9, Solaris Dutamas (Publika), No. 1 Jalan Dutamas 1, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Hours: 10.30am-9pm daily
Tel: 03-6206 2929
Website: https://www.facebook.com/panandtamper/
Koffee:diem, Shah Alam
Image Credit: Koffee:diem
Koffee:diem have introduced Safarizone Saturday, where they’ll drop lures at their café all Saturday long! All Pokémon trainers are welcome to stop by and use their wifi to catch Pokémon, and they’re even nice enough to provide drinking water for players! Let’s hope they do Safarizone Saturdays every week, I’m sure tons of trainers will appreciate the gesture!
Address: No.5 Jalan Tengku Ampuan Zabedah J9/J, Section 9, 40100 Shah Alam
Hours: 12pm-12am daily, closed on Fridays
Website: https://www.facebook.com/koffeediemkl/
Thursdvys, TTDI
Image credit: Thursdvys
Seeing as Thursdvys is right next to TTDI Gospel Centre (and we all know that religious institutions are more than likely to be Pokéstops), you can easily spin the Pokéstop wheel even if you’re within the café itself. And as a bonus, the Pokéstop is almost always lured too, so you won’t even have to move out of your seat to attract some good Pokémon!
Address: 22 Lorong Datuk Sulaiman 1, Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, 60000, Kuala Lumpur
Hours: 8am-11pm daily, closed on Thursdays
Tel: 03-7733 6722
Website: https://www.facebook.com/thursdvys/
MyBurgerLab, Seapark

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MyBurgerLab is another eatery that was honoured with the title of ‘Pokéstop’ (at least their outlet in Seapark, PJ is). Their other outlets may not have Pokéstops within them, but most of them are still really close to at least one or two Pokéstops. And to top it all off, they’re offering sodas for only RM1 to make sure all you Pokémon trainers out there stay nice and hydrated while you’re off adventuring for Pokémon! Isn’t that nice of them? This offer applies to all their outlets except Cyberjaya.
Address: No. 14, Jalan 21/22, Seapark, 46300 Petaling Jaya
Hours: 5pm-10.15pm daily
Tel: 010-369 5275
Website: http://myburgerlab.com
Softsrve, Damansara Uptown
Image Credit: Softsrve
Nothing could possibly be better than an ice-cold, creamy soft serve cone to cool yourself down after a long day catching Pokémon. Softsrve understands you, so they’ve come up with four Pokemon-inspired ice cream creations that you can chow down on in between throwing Pokéballs. Their outlet in Damansara is surrounded by loads and loads of Pokéstops, so you can take a walk around the block, refill your Potions, maybe hatch an egg or two, and come back for more ice cream!
Address: 31, Jalan SS 21/1a, Damansara Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Hours: 12pm-11pm daily
Tel: 03-7733 9515
Website: https://www.facebook.com/softsrve/
Now go forth and hunt for Pokémon; but always remember to stay safe when playing, and keep yourself alert and hydrated. Know of any other cafes in the city that also double as Pokéstops in Pokémon GO? Let us know down below!
Featured Image Credit: shiwdecor.blogspot.com


Why I Think KL's Curry Laksa Shouldn't Be On Lonely Planet's Ultimate Eatlist

Earlier this week, Lonely Planet released their latest Ultimate Eatlist book—a compilation of 500 of the best dishes to eat on the planet.
Malaysia not only made it on the list. We’re number freaking 2 on it.
The dish that put us on the map is none other than a humble bowl of curry laksa that can be found at the hawker stalls along Madras Lane, near Petaling Street.
While locals might feel an overwhelming sense of Malaysian pride that we’re featured in the Ultimate Eatlist, I question how this particular bowl of curry laksa even made it on the list in the first place.

In case you didn’t know, the compilation of best eats are done by top chefs, food writers and authors around the world. Some notable names include Aussie chef Curtis Stone and Ipoh-born Masterchef champ Ping Coombes. Another Malaysian name who has given his two cents worth on the dish included is Masterchef Australia winner Adam Liaw who was born in Malaysia.
Image Credit: 9Kitchen
In other words, these aren’t folks who have had their fair share of curry laksa growing up. Nor do they have a large pool of other amazing curry laksa dishes in their mind as a form of comparison. In fact, if you were to ask these folks to name a handful of top curry laksas throughout the country, they’d probably be stumped.
I’m not bashing Madras Lane’s well-loved laksa by any means. I’ve not even tasted the dish and it might very well be top notch curry laksa with the creamiest broth and juiciest tau pok.
But I’m not taking a foreign chef’s word for it, not even a world traveler or some fancy schmancy Masterchef champ.
Why not the Tuai Pui Curry Mee in Lebuh Kimberley? Or the one in Cecil Street Market?
Image Credit: Trip Advisor user Crystalism
Chances are, the food critics who formulated the assumption that Madras Lane has the best curry laksa in Malaysia have probably never even tried Penang laksa in the first place, which is arguably the birthplace of curry laksa.
The same goes with the Hong Kong dim sums which are ranked 10th on the Ultimate Eatlist. Some of the places mentioned in the list as worth visiting include Michelin-starred restaurants like Fook Lam Moon and Duddell’s.
And for the best crayfish experience? It’s apparently at New Zealand’s Nin Bin’s.
Image Credit: prapass / Shutterstock
Want some melt-in-the-mouth sushi? According to Lonely Planet, it’s at Sukiyabashi Jiro in Tokyo—the same place where the ex POTUS and Japanese prime minister dined at, the same place where you’ll likely require a reservation in order to enter.
My point is, a Lonely Planet endorsement means absolutely peanuts and I wouldn’t necessarily use it as my compass for the best makans around the globe.
Sure, to a certain extent the dishes on the list might be superb but I honestly believe that it can’t be the absolute best, not in the way that Lonely Planet has hyped it up to be at least.
I’d much rather take my recommendations from word of mouth of peers who’ve traveled to these places before, or a food vlogger whose sole mission is to hunt down the best street eats. Mark Wiens, anyone?
Then again, that’s just me, and as my favourite saying goes, Suum Cuique. To each their own.
So go ahead and hunt down the famed Madras Lane curry laksa. Or not.
Feature Image Credit: AS Food studio / Shutterstock / Lonely Planet


Grand Hyatt KL Has Created A Dining Experience That Feeds Our Wanderlust

It’s been a while since many of us have heard the familiar chime in the airport that plays before announcements. But as we were waiting to “board” the plane for The Grand Getaway dining experience in Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, hearing it brought up a surge of memories and reminded us of the joy of travelling.
Complete with a check-in counterThe entrance of the boarding gateStepping onto the “plane”While waiting for take-off!
Combining fine dining with an “in-flight” simulation, we can see the effort the team has put into the little details to heighten the experience. The walkway to the Grand Ballroom now has a check-in airport counter, walkalators and going further in, there’s even the boarding gate. The familiar airport announcements are playing, the servers wear the fictional uniforms of “Go Grand Airways”, the entry ticket for your dinner is also in the form of a boarding pass.
Small tip: we were also told to come in earlier to wait at the gate, like a real flight and enjoy some pre-flight drinks. We didn’t read the invite properly and were almost late for the take-off! So do go in earlier, or you’ll miss the first part of the show.
Walking into the ballroom, the chairs we’re seated on are actually real airplane seats from a decommissioned Malaysia Airlines record-breaking craft. Authentic, but TBH, the airplanes are not known for comfortable seats so they did provide a pillow per seat (which Sarah ended up removing altogether, oops).
Our friendly crew member showing us the in-flight shopping listPart of the show
Throughout the immersive dinner, which comes with 360° visuals, lights, and sound show, we got to taste dishes inspired by places all over the world. As we tasted each course, the screens surrounding us played videos exploring the locations and also displayed fun facts. There’s even in-flight entertainment in the form of a special magic show.
The waiters and waitresses also do slight changes in their uniform to reflect the country that we’re stopping at. For example, in Russia, they donned the ushanka, the winter fur hat with ear flaps. On top of that, there was fake snow that rained down, shimmering in the lights and gave us a cold winter vibe.
TOKYO: Japanese scallop, wakame, shoyu, radish, sesame dressing

This light and tasty dish lets you enjoy the natural and sweet flavour of the scallop coupled with the crisp wakame (marinated seaweed). It was so easy to eat and a great start to the dinner! Sarah wanted to ask for more of this dish to dapao back ?
SAN FRANCISCO: California clam chowder

We didn’t even know San Fran was famous for clam chowder (VX admits that her knowledge of SF is limited to 3 facts: Silicon Valley is there, it’s hilly, there are trams). Although the soup was quite tasty,  it is a LOT of bread to the soup amount. We were too busy eating and didn’t look at our fellow diners, but neither of us were able to finish up most of the bread-bowl.
MOSCOW: Forest berry sorbet

Another assumption challenged, VX thought Russia was too cold to have a regular supply of berries, but turns out, Russians regularly use berries in their dishes (especially in their infused vodka).
This is the most Instagrammable dish thanks to the smoky mist that swirls around the sorbet as you eat. It works well as a palate cleanser, with very strong raspberry notes.
?FAVOURITE | VENICE: Oven baked lamb rack, lemon, herb, sauteed garden greens, truffle mash, thyme jus

Can we say Venice had the BEST visuals on screen, because the introduction video for this course was actually shot in Grand Hyatt KL itself, starring the chef as he made this very dish.
We enjoyed this dish so much we turned it into a commemorative snapshot
The lamb was soooooo tender, it was easy to slice and chew, and the truffle mash that accompanied the vegetables was really yummy too. We ate and finished everything on the plate happily which might explain why we had trouble with the last course…
Kuala Lumpur: Mochi, sundae, pavlova, tiramisu, sago gula melaka

With 5 desserts on 1 plate, this dish led to a dilemma: which to start with first? We ended up loving the pandan mochi the most, but we had to skip on the sundae because both of us don’t like anything with bananas.
We had a really fun night, and we love how this gave us a tiny taste of travelling again, in a year where we weren’t able to do just that.
Prices start at MYR 450 nett per person for the Premium Economy Class. You can get 20% off bookings from Jan 1, 2021 to Mar 31, 2021 with the promo code “FLY20” upon check-out on the website. Dinner starts at 7pm sharp daily, but do get there early! This will run until June 30, 2021 so you have a few months to catch it!
Book your flight on the website.


We tried a fast food spot specialising in pitas & brioche at LaLaport, here are our thoughts

While scrolling through Brickhouse’s Instagram page to learn more about Popsicola, another F&B outlet that they’re running, we chanced upon another of Brickhouse’s restaurants called ELLO! KL, a fast-food restaurant specialising in brioches, pitas, and more.
Based on the pictures we saw, the outlet looks quite Instagrammable as it’s filled with bright lights and pastel colours, which make an excellent backdrop for taking OOTD shots.
As suckers for aesthetic posts on the ‘Gram, we had to check it out, plus the food looked good too.
Located at LaLaport Bukit Bintang City Centre, ELLO! KL is relatively small, but has sufficient space for intimate groups of up to 8 pax.

Booth seating and round tables aside, there’s also a bar table facing the window where you can have your meal while staring at people walking past outside (totally not what I would do…). Meanwhile, those who actually enjoy Malaysia’s weather can go for the outdoor seating area.
Their menu is split into several categories, like the All-Day Brekkie, where you can get food items ranging from the Morning Sunshine (scrambled egg with cheese) at RM13, to The OMG (scrambled egg with beef bacon, turkey ham, and beef bacon) at RM18.

You can also turn your meal into a set by adding an extra RM4 to get tea or black coffee, and hashbrowns.
The next category is the Pita and Brioche menu, where you can find food items that are more filling, like the Big Beef Burta (RM20), Classic Cheese Burger (RM18), Avo Chick (RM18), The Fish Pocket (RM16), and Shroom Party (RM16).
Similar to the All-Day Brekkie set, you can top up RM10 to add a serving of french fries and a canned drink.
I opted for a set of The OMG with tea and hashbrowns for a total of RM22, while my colleague, Zhareef, opted for Avo Chick Set, which is basically grilled chicken thigh, sliced avocado, and garlic aioli guacamole priced at RM28.
We also ordered a Lotus Biscoff (RM10) and Raspberry White Choc (RM10) bomboloni to end our meals with.

When I took a bite of The OMG, the molten cheese and scrambled eggs was a burst of flavours in my mouth, while the beef bacon and turkey ham provided the much-needed protein, leaving me feeling quite full while I was done.
Zhareef shared the same sentiment, finding his Avo Chick quite filling, and relatively healthy since it includes ingredients like sliced avocado, eggs, tomatoes, and mesclun salad.
He noted that there was a hint of sweet, savoury, and creaminess from the avocado slices, too.

Once we were done with our meals, we moved on to the bomboloni for dessert. While they were quite sweet and tasty, we wished ELLO! KL was a tad bit more generous with the fillings.
As for the drinks in our set, we got ourselves a cup of tea and a can of Coca-Cola. In addition to that, we also bought a small bottle of orange juice, which we felt was a little on the expensive side at RM13.
There are other drinks on their menu too, such as milkshakes (RM15), Kombucha (RM15), Batch Brew Coffee (RM6), house-made Ice Tea (RM8), and canned drinks (RM3.90).
Overall, we felt that most of the food we ordered not only looked good, but they tasted about as good, too! If we had to nitpick, we would say that perhaps just come here for the main meals, as the bomboloni and some of their drinks were a little on the pricier side.
ELLO! KL
Location: G-91, Ground Floor, Mitsui Shopping Park Lalaport, BBCC, 2, Jalan Hang Tuah, Bukit Bintang, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating Hour: 10AM to 8PM daily
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ello.kl/?hl=en
Contact: 016-406 5218


Do It For The 'Gram: 10 Places In Klang Valley To Get Gorgeous Acai Bowls

An acai bowl resembles a smoothie bowl and tastes like smoothie, only thicker, making it a breakfast meal that you won’t feel guilty about.
If you are wondering where you can acai bowls here in KL, we’ve compiled 10 places that serve acai bowls:
1. Acai Lab
Image Credit: Acai Lab Facebook
While Acai Lab has a small menu, the five items on there are enticing enough. There’s the best-selling Rio Bowl, the Muscle Up Bowl, the Harimau Malaysia Bowl, the Pineapple Break Smoothie, and the Acai Cooler Smoothie. All of them consists of 100g of acai berries, and then each of them are mixed with their individual ingredients.
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday: 10am-10p.m.
Address: No. 17, Lorong Datuk Sulaiman 7, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 60000

Website: Acai Lab
Tel: 017-376 2520
2. Pickle & Fig TTDI
Image Credit: Pickle & Fig TTDI Facebook
Look no further than Pickle & Fig TTDI for an Instagram-able and perfect comfort breakfast food. Their acai bowls are smooth, creamy, and thick, but also won’t add on so much calories that you feel the need to hit the gym right after.
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 9am-11pm.
Address: 26, Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 2, Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 60000
Website: Pickle & Fig TTDI
Tel: 03-2858 9960
3. Ola Bowls
Image Credit: Ola Bowls Facebook
It’s kind of apt that a healthy food place like Ola Bowls is located right between Puma and Under Armour. Wellness and a healthier you is what Ola Bowls champions for, thus the bowls they serve are heavy with fresh fruit and superfood like acai berries, goji berries, bananas, and chia seeds.
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 10am-10pm.
Address: Pavilion KL, Level 5, Connection, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Website: Ola Bowls
Tel: 03-2856 7141
4. Rubberduck Café
Image Credit: Go Asia Plus
Tropical is key here, hence the moment you enter, you will be entering an atmosphere with neon signs, palm tree décors and the like. Not only so, their bowls are also tropical-based, all of them vibrant and laden with superfood like fresh berries, granola, flaxseed, and banana.
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 9am-6pm.
Address: LOT K-08N, Plaza Damas, 60, Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel: 03-6206 1832
5. Cabana Acai Bar
Image Credit: Cabana Acai Bar Facebook
Acai bowls at Cabana Acai Bar come in three sizes: small, medium, and large. You have the full liberty to customise your acai bowls with the array of superfood and different fruits available. If not, they also have pre-set bowls for your choosing, which are guaranteed to taste as good as perhaps what you would choose for yourself.
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 10am-10pm.
Address: Lot 63, Level UG, Publika Shopping Gallery, Jalan Dutamas 1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Website: Cabana Acai Bar
6. Impressed
Image Credit: Impressed Facebook
And you should be. Impressed is essentially a juice bar, but they also serve astoundingly delicious acai bowls as well. What’s more impressive is that they offer delivery service or pick-up service at the mall’s entrance if you find it inconvenient to drop by. How cool is that!
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 10am-10pm.
Address: NU Sentral, Lower Ground, Jalan Stesen Sentral 5 50470
Website: Impressed
Tel: 03-2276 1290
7. Goodness Greens Café
Image Credit: Goodness Greens Cafe
A usual café serves coffee, cakes and pastries, but this café serves acai bowls, cold pressed juices and salads. A healthy café that serves breakfast that won’t make you feel guilty, what are you waiting for?
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 8am-10pm.
Address: No 32, Jalan Datuk Sulaiman, Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur
Website: Goodness Greens Café
Tel: 03-7732 0235
8. Seoul Bing PV128
Image Credit: HungryGoWhere
Amidst the Korean bingsu and toast, an acai bowl seems out of place, and yet people still love it. It has its own Korean twist to its appearance, and does not look like the usual acai bowl we see out there.
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 12pm-12am.
Address: Platinum Victory 128 . No: G-46, PV128 Jalan Genting Kelang, 53300 Kelang, Kuala Lumpur
Website: Seoul Bing PV128
Tel: 03-4131 4228
9. La Juiceria
Image Credit: La Juiceria Facebook
They call themselves a detox bar, because everything on their menu is on the healthy side. Juices are their main products, but they also serve acai bowls, though there are limited options to the bowls. La Juiceria can be found in Sri Hartamas and Mid Valley.
Website: La Juiceria
Tel: 03-2035 5911
10. The Good Co
Image Credit: The Good Co Facebook
At The Good Co, they promote meatless and healthy dining, which is further enforced by their healthy menu and the lack of meat anywhere. Plus, if you are not in the mood for healthy dining, you sure will be once you’ve immersed yourself into the place. Recently, they’ve even released soba bowls, so go check it out!
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 9am-6pm.
Address: The Good Co., Bon Estates, 184 Jalan Maarof, Bangsar 59100 Malaysia
Website: The Good Co
Tel: 03-2202 6536
Featured Image Credit: Huffington Post


#RM5Challenge：9 个雪隆区美食地点让你享受RM5以内的一餐

大家都知道在吉隆坡吃东西超贵的。尤其对于打工族来说，每天吃一餐就要消费RM20以上，一个月就就要RM400以上，还没算上周末聚餐和公司同事偶尔聚餐呢！这些对于打工族来说都是一种隐形的负担。
不过别担心啦，小编现在就介绍大家RM5以内就可以吃到一餐的餐厅。保证让你以最低消费吃饱饱！

1. The Humble Chef

Image Credit: Vkeong

The Humble Chef 不但提供各式的西餐如：意大利面，还有仅仅RM5的 炒Asam Laksa。你可能会奇怪，这叻沙怎么跟平时吃的不太一样，它是以粗面然后搭配各式酱料来炒的，味道有点像炒果条，但是面条非常有嚼劲。
地点: 54-G, Jalan Medan Setia 2, Bukit Damansara, 50490 KL
2. Little Fat Duck

Image Credit: Asia Web Direct
The Little Fat Duck 快餐车以他们每日的意大利面食谱而闻名。只需RM5，你就可以享受一盘美味的西餐。他们不但提高各种意大利面，份量也超大。他们的意大利面吃起来不但不油腻，反而还很够味。
地点：雪隆区多个地方，不固定，需留意他们的官方网站哦。
3.  Taman Dato Ahmad Razali

Image Credit: D Dapur Corner
位于安邦街头的Taman Dato Ahmad Razali，有一家你绝对不可错过的美食档-  Nasi Bajet /Budget meal。 这档口所卖的食物虽然卖相简单，但好吃又便宜。他们的鸡饭和椰浆鸡肉饭才大约RM4-RM5之间，绝对能够让你吃饱饱。所以，这档口的生意在每天午餐时间都是非常多人的哦！
地点: Taman Dato Ahmad Razali, Ampang
4. Restaurant Garlic Roasted Chicken Rice

Image Credit: Aclan Tan
这家的鸡饭非常受学生的欢迎，因为地点很靠近大学，当然最重要的是食物价钱十分便宜啦！每次午餐时间都人潮特别多，尤其是他们的鸡腿饭才RM5而已！鸡饭不但有浓郁的油香味，鸡腿也非常滑嫩，再搭配一碗好喝的汤非常开胃呢！
地点: Bandar Sunway
5. Restoran Kim Seng

Image Credit: Foursquare user Maloney R.
吉隆坡的经济饭价钱越来越贵了，也不再像以前所谓的那么‘经济’。 但是，这家杂饭档绝对是你的最佳选择。他们的价钱不但合理，可以选择菜和肉，才大约RM5。非常适合那些想省钱又要吃饱饱的打工族哦！
地点: Seksyen 17, Petaling Jaya.
6. Bangsar Fish Head Corner

Image Credit: The Malay Mail Online
如果你喜欢吃nasi kandar, 那一定要来Bangsar Fish Head Corner 试试他们的咖喱鱼头饭啦！辛辣的咖喱搭配脆口的羊角豆，可以让你吃下一大碗的白饭。 而且，价钱才RM3，也太便宜了吧！
地点: Wilayah Persekutuan., 2, Lorong Ara Kiri 3, Lucky Garden, 59100 Kuala Lumpur
7. Loke Tin Mix Rice

Image Credit: The Malay Mail Online
这家Loke Tin杂饭档的菜式不但选择繁多，有超过30种菜肴让你选择哦！而且选3菜1肉才RM5而已，是不是超便宜的！
地点: Restoran Sin Lai Ping, 16, Lorong Ara Kiri 3, Taman Lucky, 59100 Kuala Lumpur
8. Nasi Lemak Bumbung

Image Credit: Jiaaqieats
想要便宜又大盘的椰浆饭? 那别错过这家Nasi Lemak Bumbung 吧！一盘椰浆饭不但有超大滑嫩的鸡腿，半生熟鸡蛋，还有花生和Sambal呢！这样好吃的椰浆饭才只需RM5而已。 当成晚餐或宵夜绝对超划算！
地点: Nasi Lemak Bumbung, Jalan 21/11B, 46300 Petaling Jaya
9. Nasi Beringin

Image Credit: The Malay Mail Online
Nasi Beringin 的地点位于 Menara Mutiara, Bangsar的第二楼。来到这里，你会看到一对马来情侣在用心准备香喷喷的椰浆饭。一盘椰浆饭才RM3, 如果你选择牛肉饭，也才只需RM4。 加饭才RM1， 不但好吃味道也够辣。喜欢椰浆饭的朋友千万别错过啦～
地点: Stall No. 20, Menara Mutiara Bangsar, Jalan Liku, Bangsar, KL
Feature Image Credit: Jiaaqieats, The Malay Mail Online, D Dapur Corner, Asia Web Direct


We Can't Get Over How Real These Floral Cakes Look—Here's How They're Made

During a recent hankering for cakes, I was scrolling through my feed, salivating over magnificent buttercream cakes.
One thing that stood out to me was how these cakes, with its minimalist aesthetics, can soar up to hundreds of ringgit a pop.
Of course, the simple reasoning behind its price tag is the amount of work being put in, but I was curious as to the exact process behind the making of floral buttercream cakes.

I spoke to Swee San of The Sweet Spot to find out.
She begun her professional baking career back in 2006, making this her 13th year in the F&B scene.

However, it wasn’t always flour and eggs for Swee San, as much as it was buildings and sketches.
Initially, the chef pursued an architecture diploma but after a single internship period in the field, she realised that it was not what she was cut out to do.
“I’ve always liked to create things and was good in craft hence I started with architecture. But it somehow led me to baking to de-stress. Having much interest in it, I then decided to pursue it further by taking the French Pastry course in Le Cordon Bleu, Sydney,” Swee San noted.

Today, the baker pursues all forms of customised cakes.
“About 4 years ago, I came across floral buttercream cakes on Instagram. I was quite intrigued by it, hence I went to Bangkok and Jakarta to learn from a few Korean instructors. Then, I started to focus on floral buttercream flower cakes. As I’m always drawn to floral things, I learnt sugar flowers in these couple of years as they can create more “movement” on the cake,” Swee San shared.

This movement Swee San speaks of is the fluidity and grace that several sugar flowers can add, much like a river of flowers cascading down the side of a cake.
To date, Swee San fulfills up to 15 orders per month on the floral buttercream cake which is essentially made of butter, sugar, eggs, flour and milk, among other ingredients.
To create these masterpieces, Swee San shared the 10-step process:
Bake the cake.Make the filling or ganache (if applicable to the cake flavour).Make an Italian meringue buttercream.Mix the colours and pipe them into flowers.Store these in the fridge.Spread buttercream or fillings in between the cake. Crumb the coat and cover the cake with buttercream. Arrange the buttercream flowers on the cake.Add some finishing touches. Keep the cake in the fridge till it sets.
While it does sound like a long and tedious process, Swee San admits that she doesn’t set a timer and knows instinctively when each process begins and ends. End to end, it takes her 2-3 hours each time to create a single order.

Swee San shares that most days, she isn’t in the kitchen for long amounts of time, as is the misconception for bakers.
That’s because it varies from kitchen to kitchen.
For Swee San, she only enters the kitchen when she has orders to fulfill or when she is practicing on her sugar flowers.
Swee San’s cakes have the added edge to them due to her edible sugar flowers.
“They are made from gumpaste, a type of sugar paste. They are great because you could keep them as a memento (after the cake is cut) in a glass box, for a very, very long time,” Swee San added.
These delicate gems take Swee San a relatively short amount of time to make.
“If you have the buttercream made, coloured, mixed into the right consistency, filled in a piping bag with the correct tip and have the other utensils ready, it only takes less than 30 seconds to pipe a buttercream flower. Sometimes, it might only take 5 seconds. However, one shouldn’t say “Oh, that’s easy because it only takes seconds”. It took years of practice and experience to do it as fast as possible,” Swee San shared.
There are many factors leading to a good buttercream flower and Swee San pointed out that the buttercream consistency, angle and piping tip and movement of one’s hand all factors into how the petals are formed.
Basic baking knowledge will help beginner bakers rectify the buttercream consistency to be able to create better buttercream flowers each time.

Besides floral buttercream cakes, Swee San also bakes novelty cakes for special occasions. She notes how it’s important to stay in tip top condition in this tough industry. Hence, whenever she feels stuck, she signs up for baking workshops to remind herself why she’s chosen to pursue this particular field.
“I just do what I do. With social media, everyone is always up to something new, or learning something new, and there’s just so much influence. I just do what I like to create, and create a competition with myself, my old self. Everyone has their own uniqueness and style and credibility and it’s hard to please every single person. Stay true to yourself and never stop learning,” the chef shared.
Swee San’s floral buttercream cakes are priced from RM260 (6″ diameter cake) and sugar flower creations start from RM500. Orders are to be made at least a week in advance for the floral buttercream cakes, whereas the sugar flower cakes require 3 weeks of advance booking.
All Image Credit: Swee San


Give Your Smartphone A Break And Head To The First Ever Board Game Convention In M’sia

So what exactly is Kotakcon? Interestingly, Kotakcon is actually a Malaysian board games convention. This is their 2nd year in Malaysia and it just goes to show that there is a huge board game community who is interested in this. As most of us are glued to our smartphones nowadays, it would be great to just put social media aside and enjoy some board games with the company of friends.
Some board games certainly challenge our minds and even our social skills so what better way to spend our downtime than with some good ol’ board games?
Image Credit: All Aboard Gaming Community
If you are a board game fanatic, head over to Publika on December 26-27 from 11am-1opm. This 2-day event is filled with board game designer meet and greet sessions as well as a chance to purchase pre-loved board games at a reasonable price.
Image Credit: All Aboard Gaming Community
When it comes to board games, some of the popular ones include Warhammer 40,000, Warhammer Age of Sigmar, Star Wars X-Wing Miniatures Game),Dungeons & Dragons, and other RPGs brought to you by the RolePlaying Gamers Union of Malaysia.
Image Credit: All Aboard Gaming Community
Not only that, you can grab a stampede card to obtain stamps from local vendors and board game activities to stand a chance to win RM2,000 worth of prizes! Besides that, they will be donating some of the funds to Malaysian Care, a charity cause to help people in need. Head over to Publika and let’s have fun while being charitable during this season of giving!
Kotakcon 2016
When: December 26-17, 11am-10pm
Where: Publika
Info: Kotakcon 2016
Feature Image Credit: All Board Gaming Community


Feel Like You're Brunching In An Aussie Café At This Bangsar Eatery

A warm summer’s day spent brunching at an Aussie café.
That briefly summarises our recent experience at Upperhouse Kitchen And Bar in Bangsar when we dropped by for a review of their plated desserts, lattes, kombucha mocktails, hot meals and more.
Arguably, plenty of cafés around Klang Valley strive to evoke that quintessential Aussie vibe but not many succeed in doing it quite as well as Upperhouse does.
And that extends to their meals too.

Knowing that we first savour meals with our sight, Upperhouse makes it a priority to plate dishes that are easy on the eyes and are equally well-loved by the camera.

Take for instance the Mille Feuille (RM24). It’s a total crowd pleaser and if it were a pageant contestant, it would likely be crowned as champ. I mean, it even has a red edible flower “crown” on.
Made of orange milk chocolate mousse, pineapple, almond, Hay ice cream and puff pastry, this dessert gives a satisfying crack when you break the delicate pastry into bite-sized servings.
The mix of textures is interesting and you get the melt-in-the-mouth element from the ice cream and the crunch from the bed of chocolate soil.

Next is the Carrot plated dessert (RM20). Equally a stunner, it comprises of walnut, greek yoghurt, honeycomb and burnt honey ice cream.
The deconstructed carrot cake dessert is perhaps something you would see featured on an episode of Masterchef.
There’s the spongey carrot cake and the dab of cream cheese on the side and of course, pretty edible flowers scattered all around—Gordon Ramsay would likely approve.

The Panna Cotta (RM25) reminds me of a porcelain egg lying atop a nest of twigs that a mother has lovingly built its child.
That precious element makes it heartbreaking to deconstruct the dessert with a spoon but within the first mouthful, you would find that it’s worth the heartbreak.
The Vanilla Panna Cotta comes with passionfruit mango, cacao nibs, caramelised chocolate and miso ice cream which gives it a hint of umami.
It has a citrus kick to it and my initial impression of the noodles was how it wasn’t going to gel well with the other elements. I’m glad to find out that I was wrong.

In line with Upperhouse’s first-year anniversary, we can now enjoy the H&G experience (RM65) from March 28 till May 2018.
Good for 2-3 pax, you’ll have to pre-order a day in advance to enjoy the dessert. The exclusivity means that you’re one of the first few privileged folks to be able to savour it.
What this H&G experience entails is a chocolate and berry symphony consisting of more than 10 different elements, including an orange chocolate mousse, chantilly raspberry, passionfruit coulis, sliced strawberries, a chocolate cake crumble and more.
Warning: this is a messy experience but one for the books, what with the dry ice adding an ethereal effect.
With a mahjong paper covering the entirety of the table, the elements are scattered all across the table and you are advised to take your time to savour everything, from the fruity berry coulis to the chocolatey mousse.

Lattes are what Upperhouse has been synonymous with in their past year at Bangsar and unlike regular coffees, these have a character of their own.
The Bridestowe Latte (RM11) and Earl Grey Rose Latte (RM11) are blue and pink respectively and its fun colours total up to 50% of its appeal.
Too beautiful to drink, the beverages are like flowers in a mug. While the Earl Grey Rose Latte is milder and is akin to the soft-spoken sister to the Bridestowe, the blue butterfly pea flower latte has an unmistakeable butterfly pea flower note.
Out of the two, my personal preference is the striking blue latte, but rose lovers would adore the Earl Grey Rose Latte.

Upperhouse’s Sao Thome 70% Hot Chocolate (RM10) is made with rich tasting chocolate of red and flower fruit flavour peaks.
I could not taste the fruity notes at first but I found that it lies in the aftertaste. Plus point for it being mild in sweetness, thus making it great for those who are watching their sugar intake.
Being not much of a coffee drinker, I’m glad that Upperhouse’s bestselling beverages extends to kombucha mocktails too. These fermented beverages are a great source of probiotics and are made of black tea and sugar among other ingredients.

We had the Fuzzy Passion mocktail (RM11) which is a passion fruit and mint kombucha and the Sangria mocktail (RM11) which is an apple, strawberry and blueberry mocktail. Both kombuchas lean towards the sour end as kombuchas typically are. The former has a strong citrus flavour whilst the latter has notes of blueberry to it.

Onto the restaurant’s hot meals, we tucked into the Aglio Olio with Chicken (RM26).
It is an al dente aglio olio paired with deep fried chicken. Gerard of Upperhouse shared that the restaurant first introduced a vegetarian aglio olio but upon requests from guests, has since introduced the pasta with fried chicken.
It is simple flavours bolstered by the sun-dried tomatoes and a drizzle of fragrant olive oil.
What this is: classic aglio done right.

The Chicken L’Orange (RM28) is next. It is a roasted chicken paired with orange confit and a gastrique sauce. Ideal for those who wish to go carb-free, the chicken has a tender texture and the light, aromatic orange dressing cuts through the richness of the chicken.
For those who can’t go without their rice, they can then opt to have a side order of rice which has been infused with chicken stock.

Guests with a smaller appetite and would prefer sharing, should go for Upperhouse’s Savoury Toast Set (RM27 for 3 or RM10 each). It is designed for just that and comes in a trio of a Prawn Open Sandwich, a Mushroom Bruschetta and a Scorched Tomato Bruschetta.
The Prawn Sandwich comes with prawn tempura, lime and pepper aioli and a generous amount of rocket greens. We liked how the breaded crust isn’t too thick, so you can still taste the distinct seafood flavours.
The Mushroom Bruschetta is served with mushroom crisps and though a tad bit too savoury for my liking, is enjoyable, what with the soft textures from the mushroom and the crunchy textures of the mushroom crisps.
The Tomato Bruschetta comes with scorched roma tomato and mozzarella. Now this is in a class of its own and received oohs and ahs around the table. It is tomato which has a Japanese mentai-like flavour to it and is creamy, rich and oh-so flavourful.

Ending our meal on the best note possible, we had the Cacao Ravioli (RM30).
By appearances alone, it could be aptly labelled the dark horse. It’s nowhere near as beautiful as the Mille Feuille or the Panna Cotta but has a charm of its own and comes out winning because it was our favourite dish from the review.
The platter comprises of cacao pasta, forest mushroom, cheese and roasted capsicum sauce.
It has an Asian xiao long bao-like texture but biting into it, you would taste a bold mushroom flavour. With just a hint of cheese, it isn’t too overwhelming and pairs well with the flavourful capsicum sauce.
Price:
Quality:
Upperhouse Kitchen & Dessert Bar
Hours: Sundays-Tuesdays, Thursdays: 11am-10pm, Fridays-Saturdays: 11am-11.30pm. (Closed on Wednesdays).
Address: 27-A Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar
Website: Upperhouse Kitchen & Dessert Bar
Tel: 011-2872 0083


We’re convinced Macao is a must-visit after its fashion, food & culture showcase in S’pore

The easiest way to describe The Macao Showcase would be “a whirlwind of fashion, food, and culture”.
Organised by Sands China Ltd., the largest operator of integrated resorts in Macao, along with its sister property, Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, it was a three-day extravaganza to showcase Macao’s best and up its tourism appeal.
Let’s just say, it worked.
We were convinced then and there that we had to book a vacay to Macao ASAP (but the realities of budgeting reined us back in).

While we may not be finding ourselves in Macao so soon, the extravaganza at least satisfied our curiosity about the city’s charms for now.
A number of local Macao SMEs were spotlighted during the event, and here are most of the names we saw.
Food
Grand Plaza Cookies

First starting out in the mooncakes market in 1994, the Grand Plaza brand eventually expanded to make cookies too.
Its Grand Plaza Cookies were introduced in 2011 with four flavours: nuts, raisins, almonds, and original, and are said to have become some of the hottest souvenirs for visitors to Macao.
Choi Heong Yuen Bakery
Choi Heong Yuen Bakery is one of Macao’s biggest bakeries, and it’s been around for over 80 years, if the records found online are to be trusted.
It’s best known for its traditional Macao-style almond cookies, which are meant to be tender and crumbly, sweet and with a hint of savouriness.
Yeng Kee Bakery

An even older brand with 90 years of history under its belt, Yeng Kee Bakery was also at the showcase proudly displaying its almond cookies (or cakes, as some might call them).
Macau Beer

In 1996, at a time when Macau was undergoing its transformation to become the “Las Vegas of the Orient”, a young American brewer started his own small brewery in Macao.
It would come to be known as Macau Beer, a name that leaves no room for doubt about its offerings, which are malt craft beers.
Owl Man

Macao’s first gin distillery bottled its first commercial batch of gin as recently as October 2022. Called Owl Man, it was founded in 2019 by a husband-and-wife duo with a passion for brewing spirits.
Although they started out right before the pandemic, their brand has grown so quickly that one can confidently call it a pandemic-born success story.
Churchill’s Table
Churchill’s Table is a four-meal restaurant inspired by Sir Winston Churchill, located at The Londoner Macao, a new integrated resort in Macao.
Over there, it serves everything from an international breakfast to a Mediterranean lunch and dinner, along with English afternoon tea.

At the showcase though, its chocolatiers were making slabs of white chocolate decorated as intricate Portuguese tiles to celebrate Macao’s rich Portuguese heritage.
828 Cafe
828 Cafe is styled as a classic Hong Kong/Macao teahouse, also known as a cha chaan teng, and it can be found at The Venetian in Macao.

Its famed pork chop buns, made with a well-marinated and seasoned tender pork chop in between baguette slices, were the highlight of its event booth in Singapore.
Sally’s
Saving perhaps the best treat for last, we still can’t get the taste of Sally’s Portuguese egg tarts out of our minds.
With a flaky, buttery crust enveloping a soft, creamy, and rich egg custard centre, these egg tarts were worth every calorie. We returned not only for seconds, but for thirds!

Alas, the only way we’ll ever be able to taste them again would be by travelling to Macao and dropping by The Parisian.
Lifestyle
The Moss Natural Life
The Moss Natural Life is a Macanese shop carrying eco-friendly beauty and lifestyle products like handmade soaps and natural candles.

Well-being seems to be a notable part of the Macao experience package, and this SME has found its spot in that area.
Jewellery
There were quite a few jewellery brands on display at the showcase, including:

Earlyink, which makes elegant accessories using marble composite materials
MJade, which specialises in silver jewellery
Mildly-oil, which plays around with different media like beads, threads, silver, and Swarovski crystals for its accessories
Kiwieate, which has a variety of cute and quirky everyday accessories, including diffuser jewellery

Fashion
Nuno Lopes
Nuno Lopes is a celebrated Macanese clothing brand for men and women started by fashion entrepreneur, Nuno Lopes de Oliveira.

With fits that don’t shy away from sparkles, Nuno became the first-ever Macao designer to be featured in British Vogue and Vogue Italia, and the first from Macao to showcase his designs at London Fashion Week.
Giorostan Sapataria
Established in 1994, Giorostan Sapataria was formerly known as Xindu Shoe Store, which operated and represented well-known European leather shoe brands.

However, when business later declined, the brand pivoted to original leather shoe craftsmanship, gathering skilled shoemakers and adapting to the times to establish an independent shoemaking brand.
Some other fashion brands we saw at the showcase included:

Salut, ça va?, which has a made-to-measure line that’s highly feminine and influenced by retro and romantic elements
No.42, which describes its designs as being for those who seek “freedom from restraints and life with an attitude”, using differently-textured fabrics and asymmetrical tailoring
ella épeler, which has everyday looks, and more adventurous, layered designs using bright, vivid colours
Lexx Moda, which wants to prove that women’s footwear can be comfortable yet stylish through its casual and personalised slippers and flats

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Other than the SMEs, The Macao Showcase also lent its stage to the Macau Youth Art Association for its “Between Migrations” art exhibition on the connection between Macao and Singapore, and Macao artist, Ally Li, who shared the art of Kunqu Opera.

The pride that Macao has in its artisans, businesses, and culture was almost tangible, and every time we managed to pull our eyes away from the booths and displays, we had to appreciate the detail that went into the sets.

From a large model of The Ruins of Saint Paul’s, Macao’s most famous landmark, to mockups of Macao’s cobblestone paths and trishaw props to emulate its streets, we can confidently say that we truly had views and a taste of the region.
And now, we’re hoping to experience the real thing someday.


【MyBurgerLab】 超邪恶又美味的Ultraman 咸蛋酱 现在开放售卖啦！

大家都知道一份好吃的汉堡包少不了美味的酱料。最近，高人气的MyBurgerLab 推出了他们店里超受欢迎的Ultraman Sauce 让顾客购买哦。
有去过MyBurgerLab的朋友一定都知道，他们的Ultraman Sauce -咸蛋黄酱 有多美味吧！超浓郁的口感，吃起来满口都咸蛋香，让人实在很过瘾。
现在，大家也可以解馋啦，不用再特地去到MyBurgerLab才能品尝到咸蛋酱汁哦！ 只要你通过这里网购，你就可以随时拿到你的一大罐咸蛋酱汁。一罐420ml的咸蛋酱汁才只需RM35，只要在食用前加热，你就可以淋在各种食物上来享受咯。
如果你趁现在订购，还可以获得10%折扣，只需付RM31.50罢了。
天啦，小编一定要购买一罐，因为小编实在太爱咸蛋酱汁了！

Feature Image Credit: Wee Kiat Teoh/MyBurgerLab


Fan-Favourite Grilled Butter Chicken Returns To The Chicken Rice Shop From A Limited Time Only!

Brands should know when to listen to their customers, so after a year, The Chicken Rice Shop is bringing back customer-favourite, the Grilled Butter Chicken.
?FAVOURITE | Grilled Butter Chicken (RM18.90): Tasty, thick sauce that we wish there were heaps more of, to sop up with the add-on fried mantous (RM3.90 for 2). Chicken was well-seasoned and juicy!

If you’re looking for some staples, there’s also the familiar 1/4 Chicken (RM16.45-wing / RM17.45-drumstick) which you can get roasted, steamed or with soy sauce. The large Penang Rojak (RM12.85) has generous portions and is very spicy (maybe even a little too spicy). We also really enjoyed the crispy shells on the Nyonya Pai Tee (RM11.85), it was packed separately for us so we could assemble them together without any sogginess.

Another take on a Penang favourite, the Penang Famous Chicken Rolls (RM11.85) taste very strongly of 5-spice, which might not be everyone’s cup of tea. The Spicy Savoury Ladies’ Fingers (RM13.85) are well-cooked, but we did push aside a lot of the dried shrimp topping.
Moving to the drinks, the Famous Kuching 3 Layer Tea with Boba (RM15.90) was a standout with strong sweet flavours that held up even with a delivery and further dilution with the ice melting. The White Coffee with Boba (RM13.90) made for a fragrant mouthful, whereas the Hainan Kopi with Boba (RM13.90) and Teh Tarik with Boba (RM13.90) were the more standard kopitiam-level drinks.
Available For Online Orders On: Grab, foodpanda, Delivereat, Halo & Food Valet
Website: https://www.thechickenriceshop.com/


Sugar and I puts the bomb in bomboloni & more, here’s what they have to offer

When our sister brand, Vulcan Post, covered Sugar and I a while back, we saw that their desserts and pastries looked quite appetising.
They’re best known for their bomboloni, an Italian-style filled doughnut that’s oftentimes consumed as a snack or a dessert. On top of that, they also offer other kinds of pastries ranging from Japanese cream puffs, cinnamon rolls, to an assortment of cookies.
Since their SS14 outlet is quite close to us, which is about a 10-minute drive away from our office in Taipan USJ, we set aside a bit of time one day to give them a visit and see what they have to offer.

Sugar & I has quite a few bomboloni flavours to choose from, with more being developed periodically. This is done by allowing employees to run their own R&D efforts to come up with new flavours that they think might attract customers.
In fact, they’ve even turned the entire process into a competition where they pit one bomboloni flavour against another, and by the process of elimination, determine which flavour comes out the winner. The employee with the winning flavour bags RM200.

Doing this not only benefits Sugar and I, but it also serves as a motivation for their employees to constantly come up with new flavours.

During our time there, Ilyas, one of the two founders of Sugar and I, hosted us and provided quite a few bomboloni and mini-bomboloni for us to try, which include flavours like Nutella, Lotus Biscoff, Homemade Mixed Berry Jam, Raspberry Cheese, and Niko Neko Matcha that are made fresh daily.
The mini-bomboloni are exactly the same, flavour-wise, as a bombolone, except they’re much smaller in size.
On top of that, they served us a couple of Japanese Cream Puffs, and a cinnamon roll. Here are our thoughts about all the desserts that we tried.

We first tried the Niko Neko Matcha bombolone, which tasted as if we were having the actual Niko Neko Matcha Drink.
On another note, one thing that was immediately apparent upon having a bite is that Sugar and I is not stingy when it comes to their fillings. If I had to give a ratio of how much filling there is pastry, I’d say it’s about 50:50.

Onto the Nutella bombolone, Ilyas was proud to let us know that he used authentic Nutella spread instead of cheaper alternatives, and it shows because we were able to taste Nutella’s signature nuttiness and texture as we bit down into it.
As for the Raspberry Cheese and Homemade Mixed Berry Jam, we liked how fragrant they were, and the small chunks of berries were a nice surprise because they added a bit of excitement to the eating experience.
When it came to the Lotus Biscoff flavoured bombolone, there were crumbs of Lotus Biscoff biscuits in the filling, and it was quite sweet in the typical Lotus Biscoff way.
Before we moved on to the other food items, Ilyas brought out a new bomboloni flavour that he was experimenting with, a Homemade Kaya Butter-flavoured bombolone. The first thing that we noticed about this bombolone in particular was that it had a stick of butter protruding from it.

We were told that everything (except for the butter) was made inhouse from scratch, including the kaya.
As we took a bite, we noted that the kaya was definitely not something that tasted store-bought. The texture is also different, as it had a slightly powdery mouthfeel.
After we were done with the bomboloni, we tried out their Japanese Cream Puffs. We liked how crunchy and crackly the puffs were, and the sweet Chantilly cream kept oozing out with every bite.

Ilyas also brought us a Cinnamon roll, which tasted somewhat similar to those that you could get from Cinnabon, and it was large enough to share amongst two people.
All-in-all, if we had to pick which bomboloni flavour was our favourite, we would have to go for the Niko Neko Matcha, Nutella, and their new Homemade Kaya Butter flavoured bomboloni.
Other than the desserts mentioned above, Sugar and I also does wedding cakes and provides catering services.
Sugar and I
Location: 110, Jalan SS14/1, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor
Website: https://sugarandi.oddle.me/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sugarandi/
Operating hours: 11AM to 7PM
Contact: 011-1142 2597