Pickle & Fig, TTDI

From Bangsar, we venture into Taman Tun Dr. Ismail (TTDI), Petaling Jaya this week for some healthy smoothies and coffee. That is none other than Pickle & Fig, the latest smoothie joint in town. Located opposite of Mc'Donalds, TTDI; this small little joint opened last year serving customers with healthy panini sandwiches, salads, smoothies and coffee. You can eat without worrying about your waistline. Through a friend's instagram, we decided to give this place a try. 

The cafe's interior is rather simple. No big fancy wall paper or deco only cemented floor, walls furnished with hanging lamps, wooden tables and chairs. Different variety of tables are available for big or small groups and there is even a smoking area. I personally felt the chairs and tables are rather uncomfortable. 

I love the menu because it is written on a huge black board which enable you to take your time to pick what you want. 

Dangerously Red (Strawberry, raspberry, yogurt & apple): This smoothie taste a little like cough syrup. Perhaps it is because of the 'berries' ingredient. If you berries lover, you will definitely love this because it is very refreshing. 

Bananalicks (Banana & Horlicks): It has been ages since I last had Horlicks. This is one of the perfect combination smoothie. It is sooooooooooo yummy! A must try. 

Passion (Strawberry, passion fruit, pineapple, milk & yogurt): I find this a little too sour to my liking. It is very refreshing. The proportion of the ingredients are just right and it's not too milky. 

Flat white: Even though Pickle & Fig are known for its smoothie, sandwiches and salads, I am quite surprise that they serve a decent cup of coffee. My cup of flat white smells really good. The beans are roasted really well, not too acidic and it was smooth. 

Well, PJ peeps, whether you are into healthy food or just looking for a place to hangout with some friends, give this place a try. 

26, Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 2,
Taman Tun Dr. Ismail
60000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Milk and Butter, Bangsar

Koffie Avontuur is back after 4 weeks! We apologize for the long hiatus as most of us were busy (yes, sometimes we have to give way to our jobs and other things other than coffee adventure). This week, we venture out to Telawi 2, Bangsar for some Milk and Butter (opposite of La Bodega and Antipodean).

No no no. We did not change from being coffee lovers to milk lovers. This post is definitely about coffee. Do not be deceived by the name of this place. Do not click the 'x' button on the top right of your page. Stay where you are and continue reading.

Ok?

Great! Now, as I was saying, Milk and Butter is a cozy casual dining place that serves coffee (told ya so), dessert and surprisingly, FOOD! They serve a wide range of breakfast (big breakfast with eggs, hash brown, sausages, sauteed mushrooms, egg benedict...you get the idea), pasta and mains (pan grilled salmon, crispy chicken fingers and so on). Unfortunately we had our dinner before we pop by here, so we did not manage to try any of their food. But we love the interior of this place. It is spacious, comfy table and chairs with couches here and there, an open display of their desserts for you to choose and a counter filled with magazines (just in case you need something to keep you entertain while you are waiting for a friend or getting bored listening to some boring conversations :P)

Irish Cream Latte: This is not too bad but this lacks the coffee aroma and it is relatively sweet for me. 

Hazelnut Latte: Since I've had 2 cups of Flat White prior to this, I've decided to try something different and this is a big disappointment. The milk has overpowered the coffee, it was way too sweet and I do not like the Hazelnut syrup. There is a type of taste that just gives me goosebumps all over. The whole combination is just wrong. A big disappointment on this coffee.

Vanilla Creme Brulee: I am a big fan of creme brulee and I got a wee bit excited when I saw it on the menu. It looks yummy but the taste is just so-so. The layer of hard caramel lacks its crispiness while the custard is too sweet for my liking. 

Profiteroles with Vanilla ice cream: First time trying Profiteroles and it wasn't that bad. The downside of this particular dessert is the pastry. If the pastry is fresh, it would taste really good. 

Warm Chocolate Cake with Vanilla ice cream: The usual loves chocolate therefore they love this. I on the other hand is not a chocolate fan, so this is not my kinda dessert. Served with banana, ice cream and coco crunch on the side, this warm chocolate cake is perhaps one of the good dessert for the night. The cake texture could be better if it is more moist and it goes very well with the condiments.

Overall, the only thing I like about this place is the ambiance. The dessert was alright and personally, the coffee was a big disappointment for me. I shall stick to my usual Flat White or just black coffee from this day on (or maybe not?). We shall see.

Bagels & Beans @ Apeldoorn, The Netherlands

Established in 1995, Bagels and Beans is the first company in the Netherlands that serves a wide variety of bagels similar to the ones from the United States. Since bread is one of the staple food in The Netherlands (beside potatoes), bagels has become very popular among the Dutch. Now, Bagels and Beans have more than 50 branches throughout the whole country. 

The thing I love most in Europe is the service that you get. The waiter in this particular Bagels and Beans outlet in Apeldoorn, never heard of Flat White but he insist that I tell him how it is made. He paid carefully attention to my instructions and tried his very best to make one for me. There are not many cafes that I've been to that would offer such friendly and services to their customers. He even asked me if I like my coffee when I was about to leave. I am definitely amazed! 

Flat White: The body is thin and light. With the milk overpowering the coffee, it tasted more milky than the normal flat white that I usually have. But kudos to the barista that make an effort to make a Flat White for the first time. 

Black Coffee: Based on my observation, Dutch people seem to enjoy black coffee. Most of the coffee I've tried in The Netherlands so far are light and thin. It is somewhat like a cup of Americano but still maintains its aroma and strong. This particular cup is the same. Light and thin, low in acidity. 

For me personally, black coffee is definitely the best option here in Bagels and Beans. Throughout my trip, I have yet to find a place that serves a decent cup of Flat White / Latte (sorry Dutch friends). But if you are interested in black coffee or some of their bagels, this is best place to be. 

Bagels & Beans

Hoofdstraat 143

7311 AT Apeldoorn

Typica Cafe 豆原 @ Shaw Parade

Who would have thought there is a tiny little cafe in Shaw Parade that serves coffee; I am not talking about normal Nescafe, Kopi-O or some sort. I am talking about real coffee! Established in 2009, this little cafe specializes in handmade coffee. Their passion is to educate coffee lovers the origin of the coffee beans, how each cup of coffee is made using the more traditional brewing (siphon or ice drip) methods unlike the Italian or American way that uses conventional coffee machines.

 

Even the coffee beans are roasted personally by the owner. This tiny little cafe offers a wide variety of coffee beans that are not commonly found in most coffee places in Malaysia - thanks to the owner who make trips to overseas frequently to find them. 

I am amazed by the people that are so passionate about coffee and would take the extra mile to educate coffee lovers the different ways of making a perfect cup of coffee. Through this experience that I had in Typica Cafe, I can say that I am not a fan of siphon or ice drip coffee. 

Our experience:- 

Ice Honey Coffee: I was expecting it to be really sweet since it is meant to be an ice "HONEY" coffee, I was proven wrong. It was very light and it brings out the flavor of the coffee. I love the smoothness of the coffee. The only thing that I dislike is that the whole drink is sour. It was getting more and more sour towards the end. 

Ethiopia Coffee: This was on the "Today's Recommendation." Another sour tasted coffee because this blend tends to be on the fruitty side. The sourness of this particular coffee is much more better than the Ice Honey Coffee. Though this one is more enjoyable and the body is smooth. A shot glass of the remaining coffee from the drip were given to us. We were informed that different temperature of the coffee brings out different flavor of the coffee. 

The thing that I really like about Typica Cafe are the baristas. When this particular bean was chosen, the lovely barista came to our table with a bottle of the bean so that we can smell the aroma of the beans and to eat one of the beans (if we want to). She gave us a very detailed information of where the beans come from, what sort of beans they are and what sort of flavor we should be expecting from it. We were offered to grind the beans ourselves (which we didn't). After the grinding process is done, we were asked to smell the aroma to compare the before-after. I just love the fact that she take time to share with us what we are ordering. Not many cafes does that. 

Blueberry Ice Coffee: This is the best among all the drinks that we've ordered. The way to enjoy this is by taking a spoon of ice cream + a few drip of the coffee on it. Ice cream is yummy and it brings out the flavor of the coffee. It was delicious. 

Red Dates Milk Coffee: One word, milky. It feels like drinking milk tea but the aroma of the red dates is strong. The sweetness comes from the foam rather than the coffee. 

Unbaked Cherry Cheesecake: First time trying fresh cherries like these in a cake. This is rather buttery but the taste is rather bland. 

Chocolate Souffle: Delicious! This souffle was very well done. Not a chocolate fan like me finds this just beyond words. It wasn't too sweet. Eating this with ice cream is just amazing! Just can't get enough of it. 

Overall, I love the service here. They are friendly, they know what they are selling and taking the time to explain to their customers. Even though the coffee and dessert here cost us about RM150, however it was a rather unique experience. Give it a try if you are interested to try out what siphon or ice drip coffee is like but if you already find other coffee in Starbucks, Coffee Bean and other coffee places expensive, you can forego this place. At the end of the day, you will either love it or dislike it. 

Typica Cafe

GL-08, Ground Floor, Shaw Parade

Jalan Thambi Dollah 55100 KL

Mojo Coffee | The Factory @ Tai Chung, Taiwan

Mojo Coffee is a very famous boutique cafe in Tai Chung, Taiwan. Established in 2003 by Anastasia and Scott, they believe that coffee beans should be perfectly roasted in order to bring out the sweetness and the flavor of the beans than just being bitter. Beside serving a good cup of coffee, Mojo Coffee offers a comfortable, relax and happy atmosphere that takes you away from the hustle and bustle of the city life. In here, you can make new friends by sitting at the long table in which you need to share with other people or you can pick a cozy corner to de-stress after a long day of work or simply move to the bar and have a chat with the baristas. Whatever you fancy, there is definitely the perfect spot for you sit in this cafe.

Latte: serve in a big glass. If you are not a big fan of milk, you will find this a bit too milky for your liking. 

Affogato al Caffee: Espresso served with their own made ice cream. Presentation is not that great but it tastes really nice. Coffee is smooth, bitter but not over-roasted. 

Baileys Cafe Latte: Tasted Baileys on the first sip and it wasn't strong. Probably because this is a cold drink therefore the aroma for both ingredient is not there. You have to drink fast or else the ice will dilute the taste of the whole drink. 

THE FACTORY / Mojocafe

TEL:(04)2328-9448
台中市精誠六街22號
週一到週日: 9:00am- 6:00pm

This review is written by Walker 

Starbucks @ Duddell Street, Hong Kong

Introducing my favorite Starbucks store of all time - Starbucks @ Duddell Street, Central in Hong Kong. This particular store features mainly the classic Hong Kong tea restaurant or known as 茶餐厅 (cha chaan teng) interior which serves famous classic milk tea and cakes during the good old days. On the other part of the outlet is the standard Starbucks interior. You get to experience the best of both world right here. 

The Classic Hong Kong

The modern Starbucks

The service here is really good. The baristas are friendly and very accommodating to enjoy that customers get what they want. There is a wide range of merchandise to be purchased (which I am extremely thrilled about). In Starbucks Hong Kong, you get to try coffee egg tart which you can't get in other countries. I've tasted it and sadly to say there is nothing to shout about. But since Hong Kong is famous for its egg tart, just give it a tried. Up to this day, I have yet to find a Starbucks outlet as unique as this that carries the culture of its own country.

So if you are in Hong Kong, please remember to pay this Starbucks a visit. 

Le Pain Quotidien @ Amsterdam

On my trip to Amsterdam for the second time to meet up with a friend that I've met in Malaysia last year, we stop by at Le Pain Quotidien, a little organic bakery cafe for coffee and lunch. Not knowing what to expect as the menu was in Dutch (well, my friend knows what we were gonna eat) and we were pretty hungry so we decided to give this cafe a try. 

Le pain Quotidien's philosophy is to source out fresh and high quality organic ingredients for their food and through that they can build partnerships and friendship with the organic farmers. Reclaimed wood, recycled mineral, energy efficient lamps, environmentally friendly cleaning supplies and packaging are used by this cafe. Each bread are kneaded, shaped and made under the supervision of their artisan bakers using stone-ground flour, salt and water. They are specially crafted so that customers would get to experience the finest bread. 

Both of us tried their Tartine. Tart what?! 

Tartine is...

- a French open-faced sandwich with a rich or fancy spread. 

My friend had a very simple Tartine. It was ham with cheese because he can't take fish nor peanuts due to allergies. He seem please with it since he finish everything!!!
 

I, on the other hand had the "Caesar salad" Tartine that came with chicken ham, Parmesan cheese topped with pesto and some tomato salsa together with a side salad and sweet melon. It was delicious especially the bread. One of the major points that I love about sandwiches in the Western or European countries is their fresh ingredients that brings out the real flavor of the whole thing. 

Coffee on the other hand was rather strange. First of all, it was served in a soup bowl (I kid you not). Secondly, it wasn't warm enough. Unlike the fancy coffee art that we get in KL, there are no such thing here (so far). There was too much milk in my latte that overpowers the coffee. All in all, I feel like I'm drinking a bowl of warm milk with a teeny weeny bit of coffee flavor. 

For good and tasty Tartine, this would be the place but definitely NOT coffee.

Le Pain Quotidien

Beethovenstraat 56

1077 JK Amsterdam

Nespresso @ Alkmaar, The Netherlands

So here I am in The Netherlands, approximately 6360 miles (12 hours flight) away from Kuala Lumpur for a short holiday, catching up with friends and also attending a wedding. First stop is Alkmaar, a municipality and city located in the province of Noord Holland. This small little town is really famous for its traditional cheese market which I don't get to see because I am here on the wrong day of the week (Cheese market only happens on Friday). Boo hoo! Nevertheless, wherever I am, hunting for a good cup of coffee is a must. 

I was introduced to a very nice lady, Anna whom my friend is staying with (coz he works here). We had a good time chatting over a cup of coffee and she introduces me to Nespresso. I've heard of Nespresso before but I never paid any attention to it. I thought it was a 3 in 1 coffee that Nescafe came up with. I was indeed wrong when I saw a huge store in London. After much research, I found out that Nespresso is a brand name of Nestle Nespresso which is based in Switzerland. They have their own machines to brew espresso from cofffee capsules and boy, they have tons of different genre and flavor.

Coffee are divided into 5 categories:-

a. Pure Origin

b. Espresso range

c. Lungo range

d. Decaf

e. Variation

Each coffee capsule contains 5 - 6 grams of coffee which makes one cup of coffee. Different coffee capsules contain different intensity. So, the first thing you need is this coffee machine especially from Nespresso. You fill water in the container located at the back of the machine, pop the capsule in the compartment at the front and then you get your cup ready. 

Since it's going to be a long day, I settled of Arpeggio with the intensity of 9/10 under the Espresso range. This particular blend is Arabica beans from South and Central America. It has a strong character and intense body to it. This strong roasted coffee makes each cup of coffee well for it has an intense aroma of roasted nuts and cocoa.  

You can taste the strong and bitterness from the coffee on your first sip. Surprisingly, there weren't much bitterness in the aftertaste. Whenever I have my flat white, some have the bitterness aftertaste but since I am enjoying an espresso, you truly get to taste the real flavor of the beans. For a home made coffee from a capsule, the coffee is smooth and very aromatic. No wonder it is such an expensive coffee. The machine itself cost about 150 to 170 euro and there are some which is much more expensive. While 10 capsule of coffee cost about 3.50 euro.

This particular experience is priceless. In my hand was a nice cup of coffee with the view of the greenery and beautiful garden is truly amazing. Coffee + great view, is fantastic. I am truly grateful to the host for such a nice coffee treat. 

Tompouce - Dutch Dessert

Introducing a typical Dutch sweet (Dutch Dessert) known as Tompouce (Pronounce as Tum - pus). We bought in a Watson look alike pharmacy. I AM NOT KIDDING! There is a section in the store that sells all kinds of pastries, cakes and tarts. I had to asked my friend if he took me to the right place.

According to Wikipedia:-

Tompouce must be rectangular, with two layers of puff pastry. The icing is smooth and pink or occasionally white. For many years however, the top layer has been orange on Koninginnedag (Queen's Day), and a few days before. It may also be orange-coloured when the national football team plays in large international tournaments; this dates from about 1990. The filling is invariably very sweet, yellow pastry cream. Tompouce are sometimes topped with whipped cream. Variations with different fillings or with jelly are comparatively rare and are not called tompoes. 

I was told that Tompouce are usually served with tea or coffee. Being a coffee lover, I opted for coffee (it's a no brainer choice). Not quite sure what coffee my friends make for me, it was delicious (trust me, it's definitely not Nescafe). Taking my coffee pure black together with Tompouce, is just perfect. I love the fresh cream in between the thin pastry which tasted very much like custard. It wasn't too sweet at all. If you are ever in The Netherlands, this is a must try! 

Big thanks to Janneke & Martijn that introduced this to me :)

Dank je wel! 

J&D Espresso

This week, Koffie Avontuur brings all of you to a place that serves pork & coffee! It is none other than J&D Espresso in Oasis, Bandar Utama 11, a rather quiet location I would say. My friend and I didn't expect to find a cafe in such a quiet place. It was rather unusual for us.

I love the simple interior, it was spacious, cozy and comfortable. Window seats are catered for party of 2; there are also tables outdoor for those who smokes.

My friend and I were quite disappointed with the menu; there aren't that much to choose from. They definitely need to work on the variety of food and even snacks.

Spaghetti Carbonara (egg, bacon, pasta and olive oil): Love the flavor and the texture. It is different from the common ones that uses cream. I love the crispy bacon that makes the whole thing work. BUT the portion is really small and for the price that I am paying for (RM20), I don't think it is worth it at all. 

Pork Burger): My friend had this. The portion again is rather small. It was pretty ordinary. Nothing much to shout about.  

Tiramisu: We shared a tiramisu for dessert and I love it. I love it because it wasn't too sweet (though my friend begs to differ). The cream is fresh, and layering the cake and the cream is just right. Enjoying this together with a cup of coffee makes it even more perfect. 

Flat White: The Flat White here is not bad at all. I think they uses skim milk rather than full cream milk which give the coffee a lighter texture compared to the other ones that I've tasted before. Temperature and the coffee is roasted just nice.

Overall, the coffee is not bad (though my friend didn't like it probably because of the milk they uses), the food tasted OK. The two things they need to work on is the value of the food they are serving because I definitely ain't gonna pay that much for that small plate of pasta and secondly is more variety of food.
J&D Espresso
Oasis Business Center BU11
Lebuh Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya.
Open 1130am-930pm, closed Mondays.
Tel: 03-7886-9693

Caffea Coffee @ Telawi

For all my coffee lovers friends, there is a must place to go. Located a few shops away from Antipodean in Jalan Telawi 2, Caffea Coffee is becoming one of the most talk about café in Bangsar (and even in the Klang Valley). This multi-award winning establishment specializes in making the best coffee by bringing in beans from seven top producing farms from Brazil, Guatemala, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sumatra, Colombia and Costa Rica. Caffea Coffee is famous for their two signature roasting and blending styles.  

Maestro

Strong full bodied with dark chocolate undertones, classic American style roasted blend.

Madonna

Sweet European style roasted blend that has fruity aroma with a dash of acidity.  

Madonna - Flat White is perfectly crafted to my liking. It is delicious! It taste very different from any other coffee that I've had before. I love the fruity aroma and the aftertaste that makes it so enjoyable.

Maestro - Cappuccino. If you love your cappuccino slightly stronger, this is the perfect blend for you. 

Peanut Butter Latte. Don't worry about your waist line because this is a must try drink. This particular latte doesn't give me the impression that you are drinking a whole cup of peanut butter. Duh! So give it a go! I like this coffee because it wasn't too sweet for me (which is great); the texture is smooth and the peanut butter aroma gives this cuppa a kick to it. It smells so good that you just can't stop drinking it. I must say that peanut butter and coffee goes hand in hand well. I'm impressed!

Caffea Coffee also serves a variety of cakes and they happened to serve my favorite Red Velvet. It is good but I think it will taste better if it is warm. The cake texture is rich while the cream cheese is a bit hard. It is much better than the Red Velvet that I've tried in Coffee Societe. If you happen to be here, ask them to warm it up for you.

Coffea Roast Malaysia,

8, Jalan Telawi 2, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.

Open 8am-11pm. 

Upcoming Outlets: KLCC, Mid Valley & Mont Kiara

Geeky Caffè Latte Art Goes 3D

Just yesterday a friend of mine was telling me about 3D printing. Who would have thought that coffee art can be in 3D as well? Right? Take a look at this article by kotaku.com. I am completely in awe!

Coffee Personality

Came across this on Facebook lately, I'm not 100% sure how accurate this is. Mine is somewhat accurate (if you know me well enough). So what does yours says about you? 

Coffee Société @ Publika

Coffee Société caught my friend’s attention while we were on our way to Coffee Stain by Joseph at Publika 2 weeks ago. We decided then that this will be our next destination for my Koffie Avontuur.

Located just a few shops away from Coffee Stain, this warm, cozy café will catch your attention (it definitely caught ours if not there would not be stories from me about this place right?). This simple café uses wood as their interior which gives me a rather vintage kinda vibe. Decorations are minimal which is good as it makes the place look spacious and comfortable. If you intend to spend some time here reading or doing some work, the couch area is highly recommended as it is comfortable.

Service is good here as they pay attention to their customers. Two things I like about their service is:-

• Customers were given the time to decide what they want to order. Knowing me, I really dislike it when you were given the menu and they would just stand there, tapping their pen or feet while waiting for you to decide.
• Water being served. Almost all the café that I have been to, you would either have to ask for glasses of water OR they would provide you with a bottle with some glasses. However, in Coffee Société the guy that serves us was a pure gentleman. I thought he would just put it on the table, how wrong was I. He poured water to us ladies first then only to the guys. You hardly experience anything like this in any café (unless you go to some high class places). I was impressed!
• Is everything ok? Yup! I like it when that question is asked. It shows that customers comment and feedback are appreciated.  

We had

Ice Chocolate: I’m not a fan of chocolate so this is definitely not my kinda drink. Chocolaty but it was too sweet for my liking (I don’t have a sweet tooth, so you have to try it yourself to determine whether it is too sweet for you).

Cappuccino: Coffee is smooth. It tasted a bit like mocca (minus the sweetness) due to the cocoa powder on top of the foam that leaves a pinch of bitterness for your taste bud.  

Affogato: Nicely served in a Martini glass. Ice cream is yummy, mixing together with a shot of espresso is rather perfect.

Flat White (my usual): Coffee is smooth but it was a little bit too light for my usual taste. But it was just nice for a post dinner coffee.  

Red Velvet cake: As a Red Velvet lover, I will never give up any chance to try a slice. It surprises me that this place actually does serve Red Velvet. Do you think I will say no to that? Never! The first impression when I saw the slice of Red Velvet is “Uh oh! It’s gonna be really sweet.” I thought icing is used instead of cream cheese (like the Red Velvet from Whisk which uses icing to replace the cream cheese) but I was wrong; it was indeed cream cheese. I like this particular Red Velvet is because of the texture. It was very moist that it melts in your mouth. However, I don’t like the taste at all. I wasn’t very sure whether it was rose essence that was put in the cake or something else, I just didn’t like it.

Overall, it’s a pretty nice place to hang out. Coffee is pretty good, service is awesome, place is cozy. Currently on every Thursday from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. is "Ladies Night" where ladies drink for free (for ladies who come in 3 or more). Too bad this does not benefit me as I do not have that many girl friends that enjoy coffee as much as I do. On the other hand, I will have to pay this cafe another visit to try out their breakfast and dinner one of these days. Any takers wanna join me on another adventure to Coffee Société?

Location:
Solaris Dutamas, Block D4, Level G3, Unit 3A
Jalan Dutamas 1, Solaris Dutamas.
50480, Kuala Lumpur.
Contact: 03-6211 5523