My new toy from Belgium

No, I wasn't talking about a toy boy. It's actually my first Nespresso machine. Instead of shopping for clothes and bags from Europe on this trip (which I did in every trip), I decided to get something useful. Well, getting a coffee machine isn't like the greatest achievement but it's something special for me because I've always wanted a nice coffee machine which I can make an espresso and also a cup of coffee with milk in the morning for myself.

Nespresso Pixie seems to be the perfect one for me due to its size which is small and space saving and also the ease of use. My mom can't really adapt to advance technology and thus this is perfect because all you need to do is to switch on, put in the capsule and press one of the two buttons indicating the amount of the coffee that you want.

When I was in the Nespresso boutique in Antwerp, I was recommended to take this set - a beginner set for 1st time buyers where it comes with a Pixie machine, 200 capsules (I think) and a presentation box together with a Nespresso Club membership for only EUR 240 which is so much cheaper than getting the machine separately and then the capsules.

 

But if you want to only get this machine, it comes with 16 different coffee capsules for EUR 149. I think in Singapore, this retails at SGD 388 and the capsules are at $1 each. I'm not sure how much it costs here in KL as I heard that they are selling this at BIG in Publika.

There are so many reasons why I love the Nespresso machine. Firstly, they have a very smart packaging where the box opens up totally for easy removal of the machine! Then the water compartment can be easily removed to fill water. All you need to do is to switch on the machine, pull up the silver lever, slot in the capsule, pull down the lever and press a button and let the water boil for 25 seconds before the cuppa is made. And then the empty capsule will fall into the compartment below the nozzle. It can also accommodate tall mugs by just lifting up the bottom holder.

I also like the cool led lights that lit the empty capsules storage compartment. Cool eh? I made myself an Arpeggio described by Nespresso as INTENSE and CREAMY. It's a dark roast of pure South and Central American Arabicas and I have more than 16 types of coffee in my drawer now and I even have 2 limited edition ones - COCONUT & HAZELNUT which was released last year and sadly they are no longer available.

I can foresee myself drowning in caffeine addiction. Please help me!!!

This is also what I brought home from Belgium. Who goes home from Belgium without a bottle of Trappist beer right? Sadly, one of the bottles broke in my luggage and it made my luggage smelled like beer during the journey way home! But I was lucky that my whiskies didn't break.. phewwww...

But of course this is not all. I had with me a pack of white asparagus, Belgian endives, portobello mushrooms and parma ham. I shall write about my cooking adventures soon! Cheers...

*Btw this is not a Nespresso ad. It's entirely my own experience funded by myself*

Coffee Time @ Pastry House KL

 

I like searching for places to have a cuppa. Although I am not a coffee addict, it does not stop me from enjoying a shot or two of caffeine anytime. I drink coffee for 2 reasons - I like the taste and the other is that it makes me go to the toilet when I have constipation problems. However, the only coffee that ever worked for constipation for me is Nescafe! Haha...

Anyways, my friend found me a place to explore near Imbi where we can have a cuppa while he have a smoke. The PH (Pastry House) is located in a quaint bungalow in Imbi where it's near all the Chocolate Boutiques for tourists. It's located on the same street as Levain if I"m not wrong.

   

When I walked through that door, I instantly fell in love with the interior. It was simple, spacious and it has a rustic charm to it. I like the clever use of mirrors to give an illusion that this place is bigger than what it seemed to be. We sat outside, near the garden area and I must have thought that I would probably melt out there with such heat. Surprisingly, I didn't melt because it was airy and cool.

  Caffe Latte RM6.90

The coffee selection is quite limited to Espresso, Double Espresso, Americano, Cappucino, Caffe Latte, Mocha and a Caffe Gelato. Prices starts from 5.90++ to RM9.90++. They are using Bristot, which is Italian coffee. There are also other drinks available such as juices, tea, house specialties and beers.

 

Caffe Gelato RM9.90

Nice to see that they combined a cup of coffee with a scoop of gelato. It's like a version of affogato with cafe latte instead of a shot of espresso.

 Tiramisu RM8.90

My friend suggested that I should give their cakes a try. I don't really like cakes in general but I guess I can give the Tiramisu a try. I hate it when I asked any staff at any outlets to recommend which is their best-seller or what they think is the best, they always tell me "everything is good". Sigh... then why did I bother to even ask?!! Unfortunately the tiramisu did not meet my expectations. It lacked textures from the ladyfingers (italian: savoiardi) and I like a tiramisu with rum. Since this place is halal, there is no rum allowed in the food.

 

 I love the fact that these tables have hangers for your bags!

That's so thoughtful!

 While this place has really nice ambiance, it lacked a few things. The staff wasn't exactly giving the best service. Since we were sitted outside, it was difficult to get their attention. The cake disappoints and the fresh pastries and bread that was displayed did not tempt me at all. I have to return to try their food as they do serve breakfast, lunch and dinner such as sandwiches, pasta and steaks.
 

This place made me felt like I'm in Singapore. During my coffee time, 90% of the patrons are actually caucasions and they all sat in the al fresco dining area. Sometimes I think they're crazy to love the sun and heat so much. I would have chosen the air-conditioned area for lunch anytime! Not a perfect place but I don't mind coming here for a cuppa.

PH Pastry House

54 Jalan Utara, Off Jalan Imbi

55100 KL

Tel: +603-21411228

Open Daily 7am-9pm

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La Maison Kopi Luwak @ Plaza Indonesia, Jakarta

I was preparing to leave Plaza Indonesia to head back to Four Seasons Hotel to check out when I caught a glimpse of this cafe at the corner diagonally opposite Mango. I knew I wanted to try this at least once and thus I asked Hue Gee to give this cafe a try. What attracted me was the name of this cafe - "La Maison Kopi Luwak" because I haven't really given a chance to savour one of the most expensive coffee in the world.

Back in 2009, I wrote about this coffee called Kopi Luwak here and I cringed at the thought of forking a small fortune for just a cup of coffee. Afterall, why are we paying gold to drink shit right? That's right, the coffee is really made from coffee berries which have been eaten by the Asian Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) or other civets and then the beans inside pass through their system undigested. While the bean is in its stomach, it undergoes chemical treatments and fermentations. The bean finishes its journey through the digestive system, and exits. The still-intact beans are collected and cleaned, then roasted and grounded just like any other coffee.

One small cafe, the Heritage Tea Rooms, in the hills outside Townsville in Australia, has Kopi Luwak coffee on the menu at US$33.00 per cup, selling approximately four cups a week, which has gained nationwide Australian press. However, I spotted this one here in Jakarta selling at USD$8 a cup or Rp 82,500 in their local currency. That is just about RM24 a cup and it's definitely worth a try. Afterall, RM24 would just get you 2 tall coffee at Starbucks.



The coffee powder comes in individual packs and they each comes with a nice cloth bag. A porcelain cup with gold rims and cover is used to depict its luxurious experience and the waitress makes the coffee right before your eyes. She first opens the pack and passes on for me to have a nose of the aroma. It's aromatic, nutty and earthy. Then she pours the coffee powder into the porcelain cup, adds 150ml water and then covers it for 2 minutes to brew.

As you can see, the colour is not really black or the darkest brown. It's brownish and thick. Mine has quite some amount of sediments and I think the 150ml water was a bit too little because I feel that it's too overwhelming in its taste and texture. I wasn't sure if all Kopi Luwak tastes like that but I certainly felt that USD$8 a cup won't get you good Kopi Luwak. The taste is earthy and bitter, almost like ginseng but with coffee aromas.

I don't believe that this is authentic Kopi Luwak as I know that nowadays the coffee beans are from civets that are kept and fed with berries instead of collecting the beans from the wild civets that fed on wild berries. Isn't it true that only the wild civets would be able to choose the berries they would want to consume and thus producing a better quality of beans?

Anyways, Hue Gee wasn't interested with coffee. She had a Rum & Raisin instead but I suspect there wasn't any much rum in that drink. All I can taste is caramel and sweetness. She had a taste of my Kopi Luwak but ended up having a stomach upset. I guess afterall, it's still an acquired taste.

But still, I think the person who came out with this way of appreciating coffee was brilliant. I can't believe someone out there would actually pick up the animal's feces and made good money with it! Cherry popped for Kopi Luwak!

La Maison Kopi Luwak
Lot E11, Level 2,
Plaza Indonesia
Tel: +6221- 299 23548

Breakfast all day at Brew & Bread @ Kota Kemuning

There's a new breakfast place in town, and it's in my neighbourhood. Need to do a hip, hip, hooray for that as the dining scene in Kota Kemuning is indeed getting a little boring. Yiling discovered this place and she has been there before and in fact she has been going back to this place numerous times already. I personally have been there twice so far.'

Taking over the previous Klafz restaurant, Brew & Bread is the brainchild of a newphew and aunt whom also started Kheng's Kopitiam, which is just a few outlets away. I must say that it's a brave move for them to start such a concept in this neighbourhood as I find that people living here likes to venture out for food rather than eating in.



Besides specialising in coffee, which the name suggests, they do serve a reasonable variety of breakfast dishes which can be ordered all day long as well as the pasta dishes. I had a Cappucino (RM7) on my first visit. Here, they use only illy coffee and it's one of my favourites. However, the barista was very busy and didn't manage to create a coffee art for me :(

This is the Truffle Mushroom (RM9) under the Sandwiches menu. It's stuffed with sauteed shitake, Swiss brown and button mushrooms seasoned with truffle oil. The sandwich came hot and the portion is just right for 1 person.

The only fresh juice that they are selling is called OJ which simply means Orange Juice (RM7). I felt that the OJ is really worth the price as what you get is pure orange juice squeezed freshly with adding any sugar or water. This is a refreshing drink after a morning run! I wished they would include more fruits into their fresh juice section and it'll be perfect!



Or if you don't feel like having a heavy breakfast, you could always order a Petit Four (RM10) which consists of 4 pastry selection according to your preference. The chocolate pastry and the apple filling pastry is quite nice.

One of the dishes that caught my eyes was this Eggs Waldorf (RM18). It has poached eggs, cherry tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms, potato salad and focaccia. The nice touch of this dish is actually the grapes. The grapes gave a interesting sweetness to the dish after all the savoury tastes. The eggs were poached well, giving the egg yolk a runny texture when I cut across it. A very nice dish to start the day!

The Eggs Benedict (RM18) is also another popular dish. My sister likes this one. The poached eggs, the chicken ham and the hollandaise sauce all blends in very well. However, I think it would be much better if the portion of the Hollandaise sauce wasn't that generous.

If one doesn't like eggs or bread. There's always a choice of pasta. I had a Fettucine Basil (RM15) which consists of spinach, prawns, parmesan, and basil. Lucky the Fettucine wasn't overcooked and I can taste the basil in the pasta. A very nice dish indeed at a reasonable price.

The last time I came here was after a morning run with my sisters. Since it's just located at the shops opposite the lake, it makes it a convenient place for some satisfying wholesome breakfast!

Brew & Bread
No. 10, Jalan Anggerik Vanilla M31/M,
Kota Kemuning, Seksyen 31,
Shah Alam, Selangor,
40460

Operating hours: 0800 - 1900 (hrs)
Off day: Thursday
Email: info@brewnbread.com

Bistro du Vin @ Shaw Centre Singapore

It was a trip to Vinum at Shaw Centre to collect a bottle of champagne on a holiday afternoon. And as we walked down the road, we saw someone familiar. We met Philippe, whom is one of the four brainchilds of Absinthe (which I've dined there the previous trip), is now with Bistro du Vin, a part of the Les Amis Group in Singapore.

When I walked past Bistro du Vin enroute to collecting the bottle, I told Ervin that this place reminds me of cafes in Paris and this place gives me a very warm & cosy feeling. It was really a coincidence that we bumped into Philippe and he invited us to have a cuppa before heading off.



Established in July 2009, this place is delivering an experience of a true French brasserie with the perfect setting, decor and ambiance besides the wonderful menu that was created by Chef Dalton Fong whom has experience working with a 2-star Michelin and some other celebrity chefs. It's a pity that we just had lunch and had no space left for a meal here at Bistro Du Vin. I would really love to come back next time for a light lunch and a good cuppa.

The coffees here does smell lovely and I couldn't resist ordering a cup for myself although I'm not really a big caffeine fan. I wanted a cup of double ristretto latte and wasn't sure if they can do something like that but Philippe says, "no worries, we will make something for you". Hmm.. a very charming guy.

Although it wasn't the double ristretto latte that I expected, they did make me a wonderful cuppa. The aroma and taste of the coffee was robust and strong. It's just the way I love my coffees to be. I didn't add any sugar to it but I added something better. Philippe knew that I love the Valrhona chocolates and thus he gave me a few sticks of Valrhona Guanaja to go with the coffee.


The chocolate added a cocoa and slightly bitter taste to the coffee. It's rich and satisfying!



Just when I thought I have finished my coffee and we're ready to go, he came back with two whisky tasting glasses filled with an amber coloured liquour. "Try and guess what's in the glass", he said. I nose it, sip it and I couldn't tell what it was.

To me, it's aroma is something like an armagnac, and it tasted a bit sweet, very smooth and rich. After a round of guesses, it turns out to be a RUM! Huh? Since when rum can taste so good? It's actually a Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva from Venezuela. Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva is blended exclusively from potstill rums aged an average of twelve years and takes the brand’s characteristic sweet, fruity flavours to an even higher level of concentration and flavour intensity. This is really a damn good nice sipping rum!

Bistro du Vin
1, Scotts Road,
#02-12 Shaw Centre
228208 Singapore
Tel: +65 6733-7763
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Belanga Cafe @ Empire Gallery Subang

I was recently invited for a "Minum Petang" (afternoon tea) together with some bloggers at Belanga Cafe in Empire Gallery Subang. When they send me the invitation, what attracted me most was the coffee because I'm really into coffee now. And so together with my two sisters, we went there and have a look and a drink!

The lady behind the success of this cafe, Pn Zainab (but she wasn't there that day) wanted to transform Belanga from a local coffee hub to an international cafe with the combination of local favourites and western coffee such as espresso, capuccino and many more. In other words, you can have a plate of roti jala here with a cup of double ristretto latte. How's the sound of that?!! Cool uh...

Some of the delicacies that were served that day were their signature dishes such as the Anak Dara Dua Sebilik, Satar, Pulut Panggang, Sardine Rollen, Samosa, Tahi Itik Ball, Keropok Lekor and Royal Murtabak (if you're familiar with the Malay delicacies). I was making fun of the names to my sis telling her that this is the place where you can find virgins and poo delicacies (after translation).

While some of the delicacies was nice like the Roti Jala but some were disappointing because when it was served, it was already cold. It would have been better if it comes warm and fresh. Basically, there were some hits and misses. The service has ought to improve too because the whole event wasn't really well-planned.

I was given a chance to try making my own roti jala and after watching the lady do it, I gave it a go and looks like I have a natural talent in making this malay delicacy! It was very well done and I might just be able to get a part time job as the Roti Jala maker! It doesn't take a rocket scientist to do this but....

Yiling had a go at it and she failed. She made a pancake instead of a spider web! Lol.. Hers was too thick that we had to call it Roti Pancake! And Ziling is practically the "tai-tai" whom just sit there and enjoy her food and drinks.

After that, we were asked if we want some coffee. I ordered a double Ristretto Latte but they got me wrong and gave me 2 shots of ristretto which I drank it and it was nice. It wasn't as bitter as I thought it would be and it was full of flavour. Then, I still get my double Ristretto Latte which I happily drank it. The beans that they used was good and it's Bristot, distributed by Coffex. They had also invested in a good coffee machine to make good coffee which I do not doubt.

I felt it was a good afternoon spent. At least now I know where I can have a good Roti Jala with a cup of Ristretto Latte under one roof. I think this is really a good concept and they should further improve this place in terms of service and create more awareness to make this concept a success.

Belanga
Empire Shopping Gallery
Jalan SS16/1, 47500 Subang Jaya.
Tel: +603-5631 2780

Other outlets: The Gardens (LG 230b) and SSTwo Mall (G-48)

Ristretto @ 10 Mont Kiara KL

Ever since my sister got me started on coffee, I know it's the beginning of a long coffee journey. Just over the last weekend, Kelvin asked if I would be free to have a cuppa at a new coffee joint in Mont Kiara where he found out about it in a coffee forum. And I thought to myself, "why not?!!"

Ristretto is just barely a month old. Julian Koh, the head barista whom has been making coffee in Sydney for years, is here to get the coffee right for you! The place is really new and the building (10 Mont Kiara) which is a condominium still looked like it's unoccupied yet. This coffee place is really simple and very minimal in design and don't expect it to look like a Starbucks or Coffee Bean outlet. Wooden chairs and foldaway tables are used instead of designer chairs or coffee tables. If you're looking for a cozy ambiance, this might not be it.

And according to them, the tastiest way to drink coffee is of course in a ristretto, made with an espresso machine!

Ristretto is actually a "short" shot of an espresso coffee. In layman terms, this meant pulling a hand press espresso machine faster than usual and using the same amount of water as a regular shot of espresso. Since the water came in contact with the grinds for a much shorter time the caffeine is less but the coffee maintains its flavour. This shot could be described as bolder, fuller, with more body and less bitterness. Because of this exaggerated flavour, ristretto is often preferred by espresso coffee cognoscenti. They called this a purist pour.

But then if you asked my coffee friends, why would someone want less caffeine?!! The reason why they are drinking coffee is because of the caffeine! Hmm... (I haven't figured that out yet)

My Double Ristretto Latte

There is an interesting theory about ristretto. People will order a shot of espresso this way for two reasons: they know what they are drinking or they want to appear as if they know their coffee! For me, I ordered this because I read about it and I want to know what is it all about! Sorry, I am no coffee cognoscenti. Fyi, a double espresso shot is typically around 60 ml, while a double ristretto is typically 45 ml. Thus, this double ristretto is having more flavour but less caffeine, less dilute than a double espresso.

Here, they encourage you to be bold! Order any coffee styles you want if you don't see it on their menu. Even the double ristretto latte was not in the menu but they will still make it for you. My customised coffee was very good. I have not learnt to study the flavours and provide you with the history of beans but I did enjoy my creamy cuppa.

Cappuccino and cafe latte with Ham & Cheese Panini Sandwich

Feeling that one cup wasn't enough since I've driven all the way here, I had another cappuccino and Kelvin had a cafe latte. I've always enjoyed a good cup of cappuccino where I don't even need to add any sugar. In that way, I can taste the aroma and the wonderful flavours of both the combination of coffee and milk. The sandwich is a nice snack to have since I did not have my lunch that day.

Cappuccino with Latte Art

The latte art is created simply by frothing some milk to create the foam/bubbles. Then a shot of espresso is poured in by creating a pattern on the milk bubbles. You'll get a different art here with every latte. We had 3 different arts that day.

While we were talking to Julian, he asked if we have tried this Sparkling coffee? Hmm... I know about sparkling wine but sparkling coffee? No. Thus, we asked him to make us a cup. It was actually brewing coffee using the sparkling water instead of the normal water. It was bitter and had lots of crema. To me, it tastes like the chinese bitter herbal drink and it comes cold. Well, it's indeed something special and I'm glad I get to try it here.

To savour the coffee, take your time. Don't be a big gulper because I believe coffee can be a good stress reliever whenever you're having a cuppa with a friend or two. And I can't believe I had 3 cuppa that day. I managed to sleep very well. No, I didn't die from caffeine overdose.

Check out this place. It's really new and 10 Mont Kiara is located at the end of Jalan Kiara 1. At the small roundabout in front of this building, take 3 o'clock and drive into the carpark. You can get to the cafe through the car park.

Prices are reasonable. We had coffees for RM5-7 and special coffees at RM10. For the 5 cups of coffee and sandwich, the bill comes up to a little less than RM50.

Ristretto
Unit 3A @ 10 Mont Kiara,
Jalan Kiara 1, Mont Kiara,
50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel: +6017-313 3931
my.ristretto@gmail.com
website

Open from 9.30am to 11.00pm daily Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Coffee Ritual @ Seksyen 14, PJ

Coffee might not be everyone's cup of tea. Mine included but for the past few days, my sis has been consistently influencing me to drink coffee for breakfast. When I asked her where to eat, it'll definitely be another coffee outlet. In the span of 3 days, we went to two gourmet coffee outlets. The first one was Departure Lounge at Damansara Uptown and now here, at Coffee Ritual.

"Behind every successful woman...is a substantial amount of coffee"

Even on a weekend, I'm actually making a trip to Seksyen 14, which is just opposite my office for a cup of coffee! However, since a friend is providing a chauffeuring service and I get to ride in the all new Golf GTI, which me & sis has the privilege to experience the "GTI-ness" of the car, I'm certainly not complaining at all!

Coffee Ritual is run by YC Chung and his wife, Ee Mei. The kitchen is headed by Chin’s sister, Esther, who had previously worked for Marché in Singapore and later the Swiss Garden Hotel, KL. This outlet has been a round for sometime but despite walking pass it to the nearby coffeeshop for lunch, I have not really walked in here and try their coffee until my sister suggested it last weekend.

Nasi Lemak with Curry Chicken Set (RM18.60)

Besides the ala carte items such as pasta, local favourites, western food and crepes, they have combos and sets to choose from. I chose the above set and in order to get a Caffe Latte instead of the normal coffee, I had to add RM2. For dessert, I wanted a combination of crepe with ice cream and thus I added another RM5. In total, the set I had was more than RM25. It was a hearty meal as the portions are really big! The nasi lemak was not bad but it wasn't fantastic either. I felt that the whole set was rather too filling.

Colombian Special (Single Origin Coffee) RM6.00

Sis had the chef's recommendation which was the colombian coffee from the single origin range and she told me she had to add sugar. I think it must have been too bitter for her as we are no coffee connoisseurs. This coffee is vacuum-brewed which is also called siphon coffee-making where it works on the principle of expansion and contraction of gases - actually one gas, water vapour - is what allows the device to brew a full infusion style of coffee and filter the grounds efficiently, leaving a generally clean, pristine cup.

Mushroom & Turkey Toast Crepe (Set- RM20.20)

Sis had the crepe with turkey and mushroom stuffing. This is one of their signature dishes. It reminds me of the food at Paddington Pancakes. This dish would make a very nice breakfast/brunch as it is not too heavy.

Chicken Mushroom Pasta Set (RM21.20)

My friend ordered the pasta set and he preferred a salad instead of a soup. The salad portion is indeed quite huge. I think if you're on a diet, you might just want the salad and skip the mains!

Caffe Latte (RM6.80)

I really like the Caffe Latte. Not only the presentation looks appealing, the milk froth was beautifully steamed to enhance and elevate the sensory experience of my coffee. I don't even need any sugar for this cuppa. It's good to be taken au naturel.. and may the froth be with you!

Crepe with Berkeley Farms Ice Cream

No, this is not the ice-cream from the Berkeley garden in Klang. Berkeley Farms is Northen California's most popular dairy brand and the barnd has been making dairy products for more than a 100 years. I didn't find the ice-cream special but at least the combination is nice. I'm stuffed and I even ask sis to help me to finish the dessert.

This is indeed a nice place for a cuppa and a meal. Most coffee places don't serve much food but this place does have a good selection on its menu.

After these few days, I've learnt that Caffeine isn’t a drug, it’s a Vitamin! As I'm writing this, I'm sipping on a cup of Mocha Blend Cappuccino from Flavia, one of the MARS brands.

Coffee Ritual

35 Jalan 14/20,
46100 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
Tel: 012-2960251 / 012- 2019935
Opens Mon-Sat 10am-11pm & weekends/public holidays 9am-10pm.
Pork free & no alcohol.
Website

Departure Lounge @ Damansara Uptown PJ

Me and Yiling woke up at noon on a Friday (public holiday due to Raya) and suddenly she went, "I wanna have a coffee" while sitting in front of the computer monitor! Huh?!! Since when this sis of mine has a craving for coffees?

[The morning cup of coffee has an exhilaration about it which the cheering influence of the afternoon or evening cup of tea cannot be expected to reproduce.]

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., "Over the Teacups," 1891

So I asked her, "where to?" She told me that there is this place whom one of her friends recommended and she said the coffee was awesome! And this place is in Damansara Uptown, just opposite Uptown 3 Tower. This is the power of coffee, the power to move one's lazy butt to the extend of driving more than 30 mins journey for a cuppa.

A library of travelogue.

This is not a lounge at the airport. The Departure Lounge is an espresso bar, all day breakfast and travel library. When you walked into the outlet, strong aroma of coffee waffed through your nostrils and luring the even non-caffeine addict to stop by for a fix. There is some light food served such as salads, bagels, 1 or two variations of pasta and some vegetarian wraps. Place your order at the counter, pay, then wait for your drink at the end of the counter, collect and walk to your seat. To sum it all, self-service please.



However, the winner is that this place serves breakfast all day long! All you need to do is to get the Breakfast Order Chit from the counter and follow the instructions. If you would like to have 5 items for breakfast like me, just tick 5 items you'll prefer and place the order at the counter.

You can even opt for fresh button mushrooms by paying an additional RM1.50, which I did!

If you have to ask me, I think the "Do It My Way Breakfast" is indeed a little pricey because the portions are not that big. The items available is pretty much the standard like eggs, baked beans, turkey ham, beef/turkey bacon and also hash brown. As we know, these are all pretty cheap ingredients and paying RM13.40 for a platter like that seemed to be a lottle too expensive because the way it is prepared is also nothing special.

I think if they want to do it successfully, they should emulate something like Wild Honey in Singapore where their breakfast menu is really a feast for the eyes, palate and soul.

Capuccino (RM8.50 regular) & Mocha (RM10)

I think they serve better coffee. From what I have gathered, they have partnered Five Senses Coffee, one of the premium coffee roasters in Australia. The baristas are also committed to making your coffee experience an enriching one by making sure that each latte comes hand-crafted with art.

I'm not an expert in coffee-appreciation and let alone comment on the beans, but I do enjoy my capuccino here. The aroma is befitting the committment of this outlet - Café Departure Lounge is committed to serving the best tasting coffee consistently, striving to become Malaysia's best espresso bar.

This coffee falls into your stomach, and straightway there is a general commotion. Ideas begin to move like the battalions of the Grand Army of the battlefield, and the battle takes place. Things remembered arrive at full gallop, ensuing to the wind. The light cavalry of comparisons deliver a magnificent deploying charge, the artillery of logic hurry up with their train and ammunition, the shafts of with start up like sharpshooters. Similes arise, the paper is covered with ink; for the struggle commences and is concluded with torrents of black water, just as a battle with powder.

~Honore de Balzac, "The Pleasures and Pains of Coffee"

I wished that I knew more about coffee like how I would with my wines. Maybe it takes passion to pick up coffee and I'll definitely have to come here more!

Departure Lounge

10 Jalan SS 21/39
Damansara Utama
47400 Petaling Jaya
Malaysia
Tel: +6 03 7725 1682

Business Hours: Monday – Saturday 8am – 7pm, Public Holiday 8am – 5pm

Close on Sundays and major holidays.