Eat Drink KL

Beautiful layer cakes, painstakingly baked & freshly delivered to your doorstep? Now possible in KL, courtesy of Micheele, an Indonesian food lover who has lived in Malaysia for nearly 15 years & is studying hospitality management at Taylor's University.

Micheele, who's enjoyed baking since childhood, has taken a step toward entrepreneurship by starting Vanity Kitchen, an online business that focuses on Indonesian desserts, particularly "lapis legit," a heritage recipe that harkens to the traditions Micheele learned from her mom, who credits Micheele's grandmother for handing down that culinary knowledge through the generations.

Micheele's layer cakes can come in the 'original' preparation, boasting a bit more than 20 layers, or for a special touch, be enhanced with prunes. Thanks to Micheele for presenting us with these samples. Her full-sized layer cakes, which weigh two kilograms & measure 22 centimetres by 22 centimetres, cost RM160 for the originals & RM170 for the prune versions.

See http://pastryenthusiast.blogspot.com/2013/09/indonesian-thousand-layer-cake-lapis.html for ordering instructions. Home & office delivery is possible for the KL city centre & Ampang.

Steamed brownies, a familiar favourite in Indonesia's city of Bandung, are also available for purchase (each kilogram costs RM65). Micheele says these contain less butter & sugar compared to baked brownies, but they still remain moist & creamy.

These treats go well with coffee or tea; we might try smuggling them to, say, The Food Store at DoubleTree by Hilton ...

... where the latte tastes better than expected, rich & robust enough to satisfy.

Main entry on The Food Store: Sept. 2, 2010.

Vanity Kitchen by Micheele Teo

Kuala Lumpur

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As a separate initiative, the latest edition of Eat Drink KL: 100 Favorites for January-March 2014 is now online, featuring 100 pretty nice eateries, including more than 20 new entries for this quarter. This eBook of restaurant recommendations is available for free, convenient reading on computers, tablets & smartphones at this link: http://eatdrinkkl.publ.com/Eat-Drink-KL-100-Favorites-Jan-March-2014 (This link expires March 31, 2014; see blog entries after that date for new link).

Thirdwave is set to spark a sea change for caffeine lovers in Bangsar South, helping to turn the tide against mediocre coffee as part of 2014's first wave of fresh faces in Kuala Lumpur's cafe scene.

The outlet, owned by three brothers & their sister, boasts a nice brew bar. Thirdwave has multiple explanations for its name; it's an unmistakable reference to the international movement to produce top-flight coffee, but it's also a sly nod to the heritage of the friendly Beh siblings _ they're from Pangkor Island & they're third-generation Malaysians.

Like many of today's coffee bars, Thirdwave's super-serious about what it serves, ensuring its Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, Kenyan AA & Tanzanian single-origin beans receive nothing short of tender, loving treatment from a Chemex coffee-maker, Coffega cold-drip system & Kalita 102 ceramic dripper.

We blacked out for our coffee choices this time. Nice, nutty nuances.

Cold brew coffee? Check; that's available here too.

Something strange: Kopi Kola, delicately fizzy, doubly caffeinated (maybe). For fans of Coca-Cola.

Thirdwave operates on the first floor of the obscure-for-now Nexus complex, which isn't luring many visitors so far (indoor parking's still free). Expect to hear much more about Nexus in the year ahead, but since it's still crowd-free for now, Thirdwave's owners have time to stroll around & hand out cute samples of their coffee in test tubes.

Not an affogato admirer? Thirdwave might make you see the error of your ways.

Fans of tea won't be left out here, not with Dilmah varieties like single-estate Oolong & rose with French vanilla.

Savoury food will be available soon after Chinese New Year. For now, Thirdwave offers distinctive desserts from indie bakers: Love how Cake Jalan Tiung makes a Root Beer Float cupcake that tastes remarkably like a carbonated beverage dessert ...

... plus a passion fruit & mango cupcake that's pleasantly tangy.

Multiply.f also supplies cakes here: The jackfruit cheesecake tastes perfect for what it is, rich in flavour & texture.

Thirdwave's own banana cream pie, pulpy & full of fruity sweetness.

All in all, Thirdwave is first-rate by nearly every measure. Except its choice of Lana Del Rey for its speakers.

Thirdwave
1-11, Level 1, Nexus, Bangsar South, Kuala Lumpur. Kinda opposite The Sphere.
Currently 10am-10pm daily (will be closed for Chinese New Year)

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Meeting up with Rondaevoo, a new cafe at Bandar Sri Damansara's Ativo Plaza, a promising complex where interesting eateries have sprouted in recent weeks. It's probably only a 15-minute drive in off-peak traffic from Bandar Utama & Taman Tun Dr Ismail.

Rondaevoo stresses wholesome, nutritious recipes; its 'burger' comes in the form of a house-made prawn patty with chopped avocados, crisp veggies & roasted potatoes at a wallet-pleasing price of RM14.80 before taxes. Rondaevoo's pastas comprise whole-wheat spaghetti, while its Malaysian-style 'bee hoon' vermicelli is built with red rice.

The all-day breakfast (RM17.80) is also well-executed; have your eggs either poached, scrambled, sunny-side-up or as an omelette, partnered with accompaniments like Rondaevoo's own chicken meatloaf (made with herb-laced thigh & breast meat) ...

... plus baked pinto & broad beans that feature a firmer bite & fresher, more natural flavour than canned varieties.

Rondaevoo's pumpkin soup (RM14.80) is exemplary. Beautifully creamy, with terrific texture from finely cut carrots within. The combination of pumpkin & carrots makes this a delectably sweet beta-carotene powerhouse. Served with wholemeal garlic bread

Rondaevoo serves Puro fair-trade coffee; the soy latte (RM10.80+) is not bad. All in all, this is a nice venue with twists in its food that we're thankful for & an enjoyably casual, relaxed vibe.

Ativo Plaza still has shop-lots to fill, but there are sufficient attractions here already, ranging from Mello Yello, a bakery-cafe operated by Hero Market that offers roast beef sandwiches, scones & illy coffee, & Cafe D'Fong, an offshoot of Damansara Utama's Chinese restaurant D'Fong that serves the likes of freshwater prawn noodles ...

... to Brewery Tap, an alfresco bar with a balcony view that extends many miles into Petaling Jaya, & BMS, the organic restaurant chain.

Rondaevoo

Block A, Ativo Plaza, Jalan PJU 9/1, Damansara Avenue, Bandar Sri Damansara

Daily, 930am-10pm

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Bird-watchers can consider fluttering over to Kakatoo, a parrot's paradise of a restaurant with a colourfully feathered setting at Bandar Sri Damansara's Ativo Plaza.

Creatively conceived crepes might make some customers coo here: We rather like the signature one (RM16+), well-stuffed with a fried egg, chicken ham & mushrooms.

No-fuss comfort food; adventurous diners can also order a Malaysian-influenced crepe that's filled with a fish fillet, mango kerabu & Nyonya gravy. Maybe we'll try that one next time.

What we like about Kakatoo is that it's confident enough to be transparent about its inspirations. Kakatoo's owner freely acknowledges that the idea for this charcoal-coloured Moo Moo Crepe (RM20.90+) stuffed with a beef patty, cheese, pickles & aioli dressing comes from MyBurgerLab's signature burgers.

Naturally, sweet crepes are on the menu too. No regrets gobbling up this sugar-packed one, elegantly plated & generously laden with apple compote, oatmeal crumble, salted caramel sauce & vanilla ice cream. RM14+. Cool prices here.

The rest of the menu is somewhat something-for-everyone: smoked salmon fettuccine & lamb shanks for fans of Western fare, alongside cencaru fish with stuffed sambal, curry fish head & otak-otak for local cuisine lovers.

Surprise! Wine's available; the red turns out to be a sweet Lambrusco (RM80+).

Ativo Plaza's kinda nice, a family-friendly complex with outdoor playgrounds, fountains & plenty of space for strolling.

Kakatoo

Block B, Ativo Plaza, Jalan PJU 9/1, Damansara Avenue, Bandar Sri Damansara

Daily, 1130am-10pm

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Returning for some more unique Filipino fare at Laguna Mabuhay. Earlier entry: August 20, 2013.

Meaty soul food: Bicol Express, a simple but satisfyingly comforting combo of spicy pork with chilies & coconut milk. Tastes like pleasant home-cooked fare.

Bistek Tagalog, fried beef with onions & soy sauce. Not mind-blowing, but palate-pleasing.

Pork Menudo, a stew flavoured with pig liver (tasty!), made wholesome with tomatoes & other veggies.

Need more liver? Try the Kalderata chicken (RM15), the epitome of home-made stew, featuring fowl cooked with carrots, potatoes & hot peppers in tomato sauce laced with a lovable liver spread.

Something simpler but still satisfying: Halabos na hipon (RM30), fresh prawns sauteed with salt, oil & a splash of soda.

Tinolang Manok, a gingery chicken soup, light & a little peppery, fairly mild-tasting.

Leche Flan, essentially creme caramel. Sweet & custard-smooth, an enjoyable finish.

Laguna Mabuhay,

3, Jalan Gereja, Kuala Lumpur.

Open daily through 9:30pm

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Getting to some of the good stuff for this Lunar New Year ...

... with a salmon-prosperous yee sang (RM60) from Puchong's Tak Fok Hong Kong Seafood ...

... plus poon choi (RM398 for a serving for eight people, two-day advance order necessary), slightly less wallet-crippling compared to what many other outlets charge but still satisfying & very filling ...

... laden with 12-head abalone, flower mushrooms, mussels, Japanese scallops, fish maw, prawns, prosperity bags, pi-pa tofu, fatt choy, kampung chicken, roasted duck, pork spare ribs, bean curd, yam, broccoli, Chinese cabbage & white radish ...

... & from Moon Palace nearby ...

... lap mei fan that clocks in at RM50, with liver sausages that unfortunately are less than a knock-out.

Tak Fok Hong Kong Seafood

23, Jalan Puteri 2/5, Bandar Puteri, Puchong. Tel: 03-8060-6994

Moon Palace

Puchong Financial Corporate Centre. Tel: 03-8063-8122

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One of the current charms of visiting Ipoh might be café-hopping, checking out venues that have begun cropping up in captivating shop-houses & bungalows richly endowed with decades of history.

Patisserie Boutique is a fresh entry on the row that now contains what looks like the highest concentration of hipster cafés in Ipoh's Old Town; it tries to bring a feel of Paris to this former tin-mining city, with walls that bear meticulously created images of the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe.

The menu's not exactly a Francophile's fantasy though; lunch specials cross into the Italian border, comprising the likes of spaghetti tossed with raisins & pine nuts (RM16) ...

... & another with smoked duck (RM18) as well as minestrone soup & lasagna. Well-executed enough, though the setting might be the real star, not the cuisine.

True to the outlet's name, desserts & pastries are prominently showcased; the choc meringue cake is enjoyably light & airy ...

... while the crème brûlée is undistinguished. It's nevertheless fun to eat this here while instrumental versions of La Vie En Rose & La Mer play in the background.

What we've gleaned from our tour of Ipoh's new cafés is that the food isn't the reason for KL's inhabitants to make a two-hour drive here; from an outsider's point of view, very few menus here showcase distinctive fare. But Ipoh is still absolutely worth an overnight stay for its atmospheric allure.

Patisserie Boutique

103 Jalan Sultan Yussuf, Ipoh, Perak

Open 11am-6pm, except Tuesdays. Tel: 05-241-1385

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Seeking Chinese eateries that refrain from charging extravagant prices for this festive fortnight, we hopped over to Hau Gang & Hock Kee, both of which basically fit our needs.

Hau Gang's setting feels fully familiar, replicating the look of hundreds of Chinese restaurants across the Klang Valley & sparking the sensation of "wait, have we been here before?"

Thankfully, the menu holds a few surprises: We like this 'Teochew-style charcoal-fire fish broth' (RM26), similar to steamboat, featuring fresh chunks of fish, bean curd, veggies & refillable soup. Nutritious-tasting.

Mantis prawns, a little less memorable, but tasty enough for what it is.

Bean curd with spinach & mushrooms. Good one; nice ingredients.

Pork comes in many of the expected forms, sweet & sour, crispy with honey, in claypot with salted fish or cooked with yam.

Eat your veggies: Bitter gourd fried with salted egg yolk straddles the line between wholesome & worrisome for health watchers.

Next up, Hock Kee, a breezier outlet with a greener view & brisker business.

Hock Kee's specialty: Ulu Yam loh mee. A bit bland but not a rip-off, considering the low RM6 price tag for a single portion.

So much starchy, steaming-hot soul food, suitable for cold, wet evenings, from mun fun (RM6), also in need of more flavour, & claypot noodles with yam (RM11, we love yam, so no complaints for this one).

Wok-fried kampung chicken in Hakka wine (RM23), bony & saucy, for better or worse.

Salted egg yolk mantis prawns are available too, as are Marmite chicken wings.

Green with enjoyment: Claypot kangkung (RM10) & complimentary jelly.

Hau Gang
85, Jalan Kenari 20, Jalan Puchong Jaya
Hock Kee Ulu Yam Loh Mee
27, Jalan Kenari 22, Bandar Puchong Jaya

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Who says the sleepy city of Ipoh can't sustain the semblance of a cultural nightlife? El Negra Distro, recently launched in Ipoh's Old Town neighbourhood, is determined to prove otherwise.

El Negra rises only a few hours before sunset & stays open till midnight, enabling indie musicians to find their late-hours groove in casual, improvised performances that feel like an initiative to bring busking indoors.

Battle drowsiness with coffee: unfortunately, the latte is too weak & bland to recommend (truth be told, it's terrible), while the affogato could benefit from softer ice cream.

El Negra considers itself a 'distro,' a cross between a deli & a bistro; the menu's a mishmash of chicken-&-egg sandwiches, bread-&-butter puddings, roast chicken, meatball spaghetti & tiramisu. Service can be a mixed bag; there are several friendly staff members here, but a few behind the counter are smiles-free and bored-looking.

Still, this venue is blessed with potential; the first-floor, shop-house ambiance is winsome. With some fine-tuning of everything else, El Negra could someday become an Ipoh success story.

El Negra Distro

121 First Floor, Jalan Sultan Idris Shah, Ipoh, Perak

Open 4pm through midnight, except Tuesdays. Tel: 03-241-2544

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This blog truly is going to the dogs: Who knew that one of our most memorably enjoyable snacks this past month could have been cuisine for canines? Pet Daddy, purveyors of healthy, home-cooked dog food, proves that what's great for pooches can taste good for people too.

Pet Daddy, formed by a group of pet lovers, deals in vet-approved recipes assembled with human-grade ingredients (including meat & veggies hand-selected from Taman Tun's market), freshly & hygienically prepared, supplemented with natural nutrients. Thanks to Pet Daddy's top dog, Prakash, for letting us try some. We liked it!

Servings are customized for each dog's caloric needs; our furry friends will likely give a two-paws-up rating for recipes like the Chicken Cluck Cluck (a tender fowl-based concoction with a pleasing balance of mild, meaty flavours), Minted Lamb Casserole, The Caribbean (pork & liver with coconut, lentils, plantains & pineapple cubes) ...

... Bella Notte (named for the spaghetti-scene love song from 'Lady & The Tramp,' this one has beef, liver & fusilli _ more fulfilling & wholesome than most pastas we eat), & Asian Delight (mixed meat with brown rice).

Prakash's wonderful dogs, Copper & Teak, who've been with him for over eight years, underscore how much he cares about canine nutrition. For more details, follow Pet Daddy at https://www.facebook.com/mypetdaddy ... Delivery is complimentary at Damansara Heights. As an estimate, one week's meals can cost RM58 for a 25-kilogram dog.

Pet Daddy

https://www.facebook.com/mypetdaddy

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It's time to meat up: Samba is a carnivore's paradise, one of 2014's most worthwhile openings so far.

Newly launched on Avenue K's third floor, Samba revives churrascaria-style dining in KL's city centre; for RM89++ each evening, feast to your stomach's content on grilled meat served by waiters who move from table to table ...

... slicing enormous slabs of beef, lamb, chicken & seafood from skewers & piling them onto your plate the Brazilian way.

Beef admirers can indulge in cuts of sirloin steak & rump, tender & flavoursome ...

... while lamb lovers can gnaw on an entire leg if they want to.

Ribs are offered medium or well-done at Samba, the first Malaysian outpost of a restaurant brand whose original outlet is in Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh.

Plump, juicy sausages are worth having here (no pork is served), as is the shrimp wrapped in beef pepperoni.

All the makings of a protein-powerhouse meal: Chicken hearts, calamari rings, grilled dory fish & chicken wings ...

... plus chicken liver in onions (our favourite), corn & pineapple.

Be sure to come here hungry enough to eat a cow.

It's nice to see a churrascaria in the heart of KL again; it's been nearly four years since the last one, Bom Brazil, closed at Changkat Bukit Bintang.

Note that the meat is only available during dinnertime; for lunch, Samba serves a pizza buffet for RM29+.

What makes dinner here even more enjoyable is the wider-than-expected table buffet spread that's included in the price.

The salad selection is sweeping, from beetroot to coleslaw to rocket leaves.

Seafood's available too: Flower crabs on ice, salmon sashimi, oysters, mussels & prawns.

Hot food includes a succulent slab of salmon, plus plenty of stews ...

... as well as the traditional Brazilian cheese-stuffed bread alongside other carb-filled pleasures like sushi rolls, onion rings & fried rice.

Desserts & cheese to wrap up a dinner that left us feeling five kilograms heavier.

And of course, wine can be savoured by both the bottle & the glass here.

Eat in air-conditioned comfort (the restaurant is pretty spacious) or dine alfresco with a view of Suria KLCC.

Samba Brazilian Steakhouse
Level 3, Avenue K, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2181-8601

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Feline frenzy is flourishing in Subang, where the Klang Valley now has another cat cafe ...

... this one combined with a full-blown coffee bar. As Coffee Cottage's tagline proclaims, get cat-feinated!

First up, the beverages: Coffee Cottage's friendly owners are still working out what their house blend will be, but they're off to a satisfying start. No complaints about the espresso & the soy milk latte.

The cakes showcase a welcome push for distinctiveness; temptations include a salted caramel banana cake & raspberry-tinged red velvet. Our slices came out over-chilled though.

Ultimately, Coffee Cottage's biggest attractions are its furry ones _ Alvin, Trixie, LC, Ayumi & Yoshi _ three of them rescue cats.

The cafe has two sections for customers to choose from: the cat room & the no-cat exterior. Food can be consumed anywhere. There's currently no extra fee or time limit for folks who opt for the cat room.

It's pleasant enough to spend an hour in these cats' company. We're not really sure we want to see more cat cafes open (though it might be inevitable), but for now, it's nice to have both Coffee Cottage in Subang & The Country Cat Cafe in Setapak.

Coffee Cottage Cat Cafe

1-1, First Floor, Jalan SS15/8A, Subang Jaya

Daily, 1pm-11pm. Tel: 03-5613-0078

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From Harrods Food Hall to Bangsar Shopping Centre: Malaysia can now welcome this country's first outpost of Morelli's, the British-based ice cream chain whose franchise operations encompass London to Libreville, Monaco to Manila, Dallas to Dubai.

Morelli's is proud of its heritage that dates back five generations to Giuseppe Morelli, an Italian emigrant who reputedly began selling ice cream from his bicycle in the county of Kent in the early 20th century. The brand has come a long way since then. Its Malaysian franchise is operated by a subsidiary of Naza Corp.

High marks for presentation here: Love how the fresh fruits make each flavour look even more enticing.

We purchased a three-scoop cup comprising Sri Lankan coconut, Brazilian coffee & Nutella flavours for RM20 after savouring small samples of some of the other stand-out options (the pistachio's lovely, supposedly made with culinary nuts from Sicily).

The verdict: Sumptuously milky-smooth, with deliciously defined flavours. The coconut creation has a nice flakiness while the Nutella is pleasantly sticky. Ideal for those dog days when we need a cool pick-me-up.

Sundaes are available too; pricey but probably worthwhile. Service here is friendly. All in all, Morelli's in Kuala Lumpur seems to be off to a strong start, doing justice to this family name.

Morelli's Gelato

Ground Floor Kiosk, Bangsar Shopping Centre, Kuala Lumpur

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Another cafe in Ipoh's Old Town that's scaling the popularity stakes.

Roquette is not only an F&B business; it doubles as a community service centre where a state opposition lawmaker from the Democratic Action Party _ whose well-known symbol is a rocket _ is reputedly available to meet his constituents once a week.

Roquette feels bright & cheerful on weekend mornings, comfy & casual, a nice venue for a fuss-free brunch.

The shop-house setting has a simple charm, bolstered by black-&-white photographs that supply a strong sense of history here, even though this cafe is scarcely months old.

The food menu features sandwiches aplenty, with the likes of tuna, turkey ham or cheese stuffed in baguettes & laugen rolls. We weren't particularly peckish though, so we settled for coffee only.

Roquette takes its coffee more seriously than expected; there's no lack of Colombian, Brazilian & Ethiopian options, all thoughtfully tackled ...

... to produce pleasurable cups of wake-me-up wonderment.

Travel tip: Roquette is less than a two-minute stroll from Sekeping Kong Heng ...

... one of Ipoh's most evocative retreats & an excellent base from which to plot a cafe-hopping expedition.

Roquette Cafe

101 Jalan Sultan Yusuff, Ipoh, Perak. Same street as Patisserie Boutique

Tues-Sun, 10am-6pm. Tel: 05-241-2616

Roquette Cafe

101 Jalan Sultan Yusuff, Ipoh, Perak. Same street as Patisserie Boutique

Tues-Sun, 10am-6pm. Tel: 05-241-2616

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Way: Round Two. Earlier entry on Way: Nov. 28, 2013.

This contemporary Chinese restaurant's creativity drew us back for signature recipes like Way's interpretation of 'chik kut teh' (RM26 before taxes), herb-laced chicken that's pan-fried & partnered with bean curd strips, meant to be evocative of bak kut teh.

Love Way's "Red Duck," expensive at RM60 for half a duck, but irreproachably crisp-skinned & succulent-fleshed.

Presentation-wise, this "Crispy Lion Fish" is certainly an eye-grabber.

Basically battered grouper, very meaty & expertly executed.

Ultimately, it's tough to find fault with how the food here is prepared: all things considered, Way's basmati rice stir-fried with bits of scallops, abalone & crab roe is probably worth the steep-looking RM42 price tag.

For fiber: Sauteed dragon leaves with garlic (RM26).

Desserts are fun to check out too: Musang King durian pancakes with cream (RM14).

Grapefruit & sago topped with mango mousse (RM16), a chilled refreshment to combat the heat outside.

Opt for tea ...

... or choose cocktails: The Scarlet Phoenix (RM45), with tanqueray gin, rose-infused vodka, grenadine, elderflower syrup, egg white & rose flower ...

... & The First Emperor, with cilantro, jalapeno, mint, reposado tequila, cointreau & lime juice.

Way Modern Chinois

G-1, Work@Clearwater, Jalan Changkat Semantan, Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur
Currently open for lunch & dinner, except Sundays. Tel: 03-2095-1118

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Food, Innovation, Quality: FIQ's Gastronomy lives up to its acronym; this cheerfully friendly cafe, which opened this month in a relatively less familiar section of Subang Jaya, looks poised to become a big, irrepressible hit.

Innovation truly is FIQ's middle name: The team that toils in its open kitchen strives to present recipes that transcend regular cafe fare while still preserving suburb-suitable prices. This spinach risotto with carrot puree, crispy brined chicken & fried onions (RM22+) succeeds on both of those ambitious fronts.

Roasted potato gnocchi with mushrooms, herb-tinged walnuts & caper-raisin emulsion (RM18+ for a starter-sized serving). To be clear, FIQ's members haven't sprung out of nowhere; they've worked at various Malaysian hotels in the past, honing their craft & building their confidence to run their own restaurant.

Pasta is made from scratch here, Tuesdays through Sundays; temptations include tagliatelle with duck confit, basil-laced melted butter & veggies (RM24+). The food looks so vibrantly alluring, we wanted to order everything on the one-page menu.

Creamy carrot soup with beef bacon, fried shallots & extra virgin olive oil (RM12). And there's still more to indulge in, from salted beef sandwiches with miso mustard to a mac-&-cheese that sounds like pure comfort food.

FIQ's desserts feel like an addiction, not an afterthought. The best bet: S'mores (RM10+), the calorie-intensive camp-fire favourite of marshmallows, crackers, hazelnuts & gooey chocolate ganache. There are also brownies, baked alaska, raspberry granita & pumpkin bread pudding here.

We'd love to have paired this meal with a Merlot, but FIQ's isn't that sort of venue. Still, this Snickers-&-peanut-butter shake ensured there was no space for complaints. The soundtrack's fine here too, with mid-tempo John Legend, Mariah & Alicia tunes for lunchtime.

The coffee's very much worthwhile too; single-origin Ethiopian, if we correctly remember what amiable restaurant manager Shahaman said.

All in all, we like FIQ's. The food is well-prepared & it's clear that tons of thought, love & energy went into making this place. Expect to hear more about FIQ's Gastronomy in the months ahead.

FIQS Gastronomy Subang

34 Jalan SS19/1D, Subang Jaya

Tues-Sun, 12pm-1030pm. Tel: 03-5613-0473

FIQS Gastronomy Subang
34 Jalan SS19/1D, Subang Jaya
Tues-Sun, 12pm-1030pm. Tel: 03-5613-0473

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Subang's residents are flocking to USJ's One City mall, specifically to visit the 10th-floor 'skypark' that now features rooftop restaurants with a wide-open, bird's-eye panorama of the suburban landscape.

Shutterbugs will have a field day here; there's plenty of space for strolling amid these leafy trees, perched over a view that's well worth admiring, even if it's not as majestic as the skyline in KL's city centre.

Enjoy the evening breeze while nibbling on fun tidbits at one of the skypark's restaurants; a popular choice is Master Room, which serves delightfully inventive treats like nasi lemak, complete with hard-boiled egg, sambal, ikan bilis, peanuts & cucumber, stuffed in Nyonya pai tee cups (RM9 before taxes).

Master Room is billed as a 'sports bar,' but its menu goes a bit beyond ordinary pub grub. Whoever came up with these petite chicken burgers (RM13 for three), featuring sliced barbecued chicken in mantao buns, should be commended. Nice finger food.

Maybe we could try making this at home: Tomyam-flavoured beehoon topped with prawns in crispy tart cups (RM11). Deliciously addictive, making vermicelli more memorable than ever.

Alas, Master Room hasn't secured a liquor license, so patrons can only have beer for now.

Caution: If the restaurant is crowded, customers might need to wait more than 30 minutes for their food.

For folks who aren't afraid of heights, check out the rooftop's centre; a glass floor supplies a dizzying sight of a ten-storey drop.

Master Room

Sky Park, One City, Jalan USJ 25/1, Subang Jaya, Selangor

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Even Melbourne's most obscure laneway might hide a cafe like Krimper, a warehouse-like venue with exposed brick walls & a darkened, industrial-edged decor that betrays the building’s former use decades ago as a saw-mill.

Krimper, named for a 20th-century Melbourne furniture maker whose sideboard forms this cafe’s centerpiece, is the brainchild of Malaysian-born architect Mun Soon, who has lived in Melbourne for nearly four decades and immersed himself completely in this city’s passion for palate-pleasuring.

“This is my dream,” Soon said in an interview with this writer, watching customers dig into brunches of Eggs Benedict with pulled smoked ham hock, basil pesto & avocado ...

... as well as scrumptious-looking pork belly burgers ...

... while drinking the Australian state of Victoria’s own Proud Mary coffee.

“For a long time, I imagined opening a cafe like this," Soon said. "It took two years just for me to salvage some of the furnishing, including the lighting and even the tables that we constructed out of old elevator doors."

Krimper Cafe
20 Guildford Lane, Melbourne, Australia
Open daily, 7am through 5pm weekdays, 4pm weekends

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GRaB has a few interesting ideas, though this suburban burger outpost can't completely be extolled as a champion of originality. Still, it's probably worth checking out for enthusiasts in Petaling Jaya.

The big attraction here: Braised beef rib burgers, made distinctive with tender chunks of meat still on the bone. The flavoursome flesh falls off with ease; it's a fun alternative to processed-patty burgers.

Price-wise, it's more reasonable than expected: A rib burger with a moreish Indonesian-style sambal sauce costs RM16 before taxes (add RM3 for hand-cut fries & a side salad).

Also very hearty: "Lamb Bizkit" (RM16), with a lamb patty that's perhaps overwhelmed by toppings of onion rings, a hash brown, cheddar cheese, sauteed mushrooms, gherkin pickles & minted mayo (phew!).

For vegetarians: A falafel burger with garlic mayo sauce. The patty's pretty dense, for better or worse.

The remainder of the menu feels derivative; there's a been-there, gobbled-that quality to something like this "Bull Going Nuts" ...

... its beef patty (nondescript-tasting) partnered with peanut butter & jelly, beef bacon & onion rings. At this point, newcomers to the hipster-burger party really need to raise the bar & make their flavours stand out better.

Service is polite but somewhat sluggish here: The wait for "Egg Crush" (panko-fried chicken, portobello mushroom, sunny-side-up egg, caramelised onions & smoked BBQ sauce) can take more than 15 minutes even when the cafe is nearly empty. On the bright side, the ingredients taste respectably fresh. This one is overkill though; far too hefty to comfortably fit into the mouth.

Parting shot: Another vegetarian burger, pairing portobello mushroom with hash brown. Patrons can also customise their burgers, using components like wild arugula, Japanese cucumbers & guacamole (note: not all ingredients are always available).

The fries? Well, it would be churlish to totally dismiss them, but they're not unmissable.

GRaB Gourmet Ribs & Burgers
7 Jalan SS22/11 Damansara Jaya, Petaling Jaya
Lunch & dinner, except Mondays

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New management took over The Ganga Cafe recently, introducing what could soon become a Sunday staple for fans of fulfilling weekend feasts: A buffet brunch that celebrates interesting vegetarian Gujarati fare.

Owners Meeta & Prabodh Sheth hold court in a cafe that stirs vibrantly to life with families & friends spurning Eggs Benedict & French toast for cooking that's wholly different but wholesomely delicious nonetheless. Plus, at only RM16 per adult & teenager, this might work well for customers torn between wanting to binge & needing to tighten their belts (economically speaking).

Ganga's nutrition-packed Sunday brunch offerings change weekly, so there's always something special to sample, such as these 'hara bhara kabab,' crispy patties of spinach & potatoes ...

... 'khandvi,' scrolls made with gram flour & yoghurt, tasting like a cross between Italian fettuccine & Chinese chee cheong fun but lighter than both ...

... trays of freshly prepared, crispy-colourful salads alongside fried fare that tastes healthier than the norm ...

... onion-&-banana pakoras & fermented rice-&-chickpea batter dhoklas ...

... 'aloo methi,' potatoes with fenugreek leaves, & 'palak manchurian,' veggie fritters in creamy spinach gravy ...

... 'dudhi chana,' a mild squash curry with chickpeas ...

... a surprisingly spicy carrot-tomato soup, plus tamarind & mint chutneys ...

... as well as dal galore, thick with chickpeas, & onion curry ...

... paired nicely with the fluffiest 'bhatoora' bread ...

... & excellent for soaking up with an assortment of chapatis.

Magnificently hearty, making meat seem completely redundant for this one meal.

Have a grandparent or a young child with a fabulous appetite? The buffet costs only RM7 for anyone 3-11 years old or above 75.

Note that this all-you-can-eat spread is offered only on Sundays, 11am-3pm. At other times, Ganga serves an a la carte menu of fairly wide-ranging south Indian cuisine, including banana leaf rice.

Finish up if there's still stomach space with a fudgy sweet treat like 'mohanthal,' tinged with cardamom & sliced almonds.

The buffet price includes a free flow of masala chai & Indian bru coffee, but it's worth paying extra on a hot, humid afternoon to order Ganga's non-alcoholic, refreshingly icy interpretations of the Margarita & Mojito; both taste as unexpectedly good as they can be without tequila & rum.

The Ganga Cafe
19 Lorong Kurau, Bangsar
Tel: 03-2284-2119
Open Mon-Sat, 830am-930pm. Sundays for brunch.

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Vanity Kitchen Layer Cakes

Thirdwave @ Nexus Bangsar South

Rondaevoo @ Ativo Plaza, Bandar Sri Damansara

Kakatoo @ Ativo Plaza, Bandar Sri Damansara

Laguna Mabuhay Philippine Restaurant

Tak Fok & Moon Palace @ Puchong

Patisserie Boutique @ Ipoh

Hau Gang & Hock Kee @ Puchong

El Negra Distro @ Ipoh

Pet Daddy

Samba Brazilian Steakhouse Churrascaria @ Avenue K

Coffee Cottage Cat Cafe @ SS15 Subang

Morelli's Gelato @ Bangsar

Roquette @ Ipoh

Way Modern Chinoise @ Changkat Semantan, Damansara Heights

FIQ's Gastronomy @ Subang Jaya

Master Room @ One City USJ Subang Skypark

Krimper @ Melbourne

GRaB Gourmet Ribs & Burgers @ Damansara Jaya

Sunday Brunch @ The Ganga Cafe, Bangsar