Japanese Cheese Cake @ Miki Ojisan No Mise, Bangsar Village

Price Range : Mid-range 

Cuisine : Desserts 

Recommended For : The best Japanese cheese cake in town! 

Catphobia-Friendly? : Yes 

This little place in Bangsar Village has always been our trusted go-to bakery whenever a (rather specific) craving for Japanese cheese cake hits! 

The thing about Japanese cheese cake is that it is arrestingly divine and perfectly embodies all that is right in the cake world: soft and creamy, smooth and pillowy, dense yet airy... The fact that it is very light makes it a great choice when you're steering away from full-on rich and/or fudge-laden desserts. 

Joe's Kitchen & Barber Shop @ SS15 Subang

Price Range : Mid-range 

Cuisine : Pizza, pasta and hot dogs     

Recommended For : A multi-tasking meal

Catphobia-Friendly? : Yes

This simplistic, straight-forward pizzeria was just what we needed for a hassle-free dinner! After having our energy completely drained from just an hour’s trip to the H&M HQ (between the endless stream of determined shoppers and the mindnumbingly vast array of clothing displays in the behemoth complex, we surrendered in defeat and crawled out croaking for food), the scent of baking dough and cheese invited us through the door of Joe’s Kitchen.

Free Flow Coffee Every Friday & Saturday @ Coffee Societe, Publika

One cup of coffee is always a welcomed accompaniment to dinner. Unlimited cups of coffee is... too good to be true? 

Yes, you read that right! Coffee Societe, possibly the most interesting coffee house in super-happening Publika at the moment, treats true coffee lovers with a quirky promotion. At a rate of RM10 nett, drink all the coffee you want every Friday and Saturday night, from 6 p.m. until about 11.30 p.m.  

Read on for Top 5 Reasons Why We Absolutely Adore Coffee Societe!

Vegan Eggplant Pumpkin Pie

Mention the word ‘vegan’ to us a few years back, and the only response we could elicit would be a carnivorous roar. Somehow, along the way, we were lucky enough to be gradually introduced to the wonderful plant-based world (in the form of excellent lunches at Living Food, followed by visits to engaging vegan blogs and IGs) and we realized just how delicious and interesting a meatless meal can be!

Peruvie Chicken @ Taman Tun Dr Ismail

Price Range : Mid-range 

Cuisine : Peruvian    

Recommended For : An exotic spin to a routine dinner   

Catphobia-Friendly? : Yes

This eye-catching restaurant has been gracing the increasingly interesting foodscapes of Taman Tun for a few months now, and certainly brings an exotic twist to the current dining options.

Stepping into the vibrantly colourful restaurant, and being greeted by lively Latin music that tempted us to sashay our way to the table, our first impression of Peruvie Chicken was highly positive.

Set Lunch @ Little Taiwan, One Utama

Price Range : Mid-range 

Cuisine : Taiwanese   

Recommended For : When you’re super hungry!  

Catphobia-Friendly? : Yes

A walk around One Utama in determination to find exciting lunch sets to add to our list ended deliciously at Little Taiwan. The set menu can get quite confusing, as there were a few different types of sets on offer, but at least there’s a huge selection to choose from!

Recipe: Yoğurtlu Havuç (Yoghurt Carrot)

Hi guys! 

Quite a hiatus we had there! Life's been pretty hectic as of late, but nevertheless, here we are again, and this time we'd like to share a slightly unusual recipe with you: stir-fried grated carrot with yoghurt. Yoğurtlu Havuç is more of a side dish or appetizer, and makes for a great accompaniment to meaty mains.

Turkish food has always been on the high side of our favourite cuisines list, and it is such a shame that KL doesn't have too many Turkish eateries around. There used to be a really good one at Asian Heritage Row, but it closed down much too soon =( 

The closest we get to enjoying the culinary gems of Turkey is through our own interpretations at home.  You know us and our affection for simple, minimum-preparation-time-required recipes by now, and this is one of them. The ingredients and steps may sound absurdly simple, but we assure you, it is one genius creation by the Turks! 

Malaysia Barista Championship 2013

Take note, fellow coffeeheads! 

It's going to be a great caffeine-fueled weekend! Watch as 16 of the best baristas in the country battle it out to win the coveted championship. To celebrate and learn the delicate art of coffee-making, the public can also visit the exhibition held as part of this event; check out the showcase of all things coffee (including wide array of beans, machinery and brewing methods) by industry leaders and your favourite coffee vendors! 

Stay tuned on updates for MBC 2013 via the Malaysia Barista Championship Facebook page.

See you there, loves? =) 

Recipe: Tofu-Stuffed Eggplants

Another one of our let's-throw-together-random-ingredients-from-the-fridge-and-see-what-transpires sessions, which gave birth to our current go-to vegetarian choice: 

Homst Restaurant @ Persiaran Zaaba, Taman Tun Dr Ismail

Price : Mid-range

Cuisine : Chinese Muslim  

Recommended For : Eating with family and/or friends; dishes good for sharing

Catphobia-Friendly? : Yes

The last time we dined here, which was ages ago, we remember having a very forgettable meal. However, we were recently convinced to give this place a second chance (we were told Homst has been taken over by different owners quite some time back?) and were stunned to be met by a packed-to-the-brim full house!

“Is it always this busy?” we asked one of the smiley waiters, as he was setting up a table for us at the far end of the sidewalk. He replied earnestly, “Busy? No, no, this is not even considered busy yet…”

Despite the mad crowd, the service was highly efficient. We received our first dish less than 10 minutes from ordering. The main reason we were sold on giving Homst a retry was this:

Recipe: Tex-Mex Ratatouille

What may sound like a well-thought-out exotic dish, combining well-loved Mexican and French flavours, is actually the result of a dwindling pantry and an urgent pang of hunger. The amazing thing about the ingredients used, however, is how well they actually complement each other! You've got the sweet-crunchiness of zucchini and bell peppers, slight meatiness of eggplants, rounded off with the wholesomeness of mixed beans in a hearty tomato base. 

Kedai Makan New Eastern @ Jalan Abdullah, Muar

Price Range: Budget 
Cuisine: Kopitiam 
Recommended For: A trip down memory lane 
Catphobia-Friendly: Yep! 

Ever watched a P. Ramlee film and crave that beef steak he's having in one of those restaurants with them private booths? Well, we've found just the place for you! 

 

Kopi 434 @ Jalan Maharani, Muar

Price Range : Budget

Cuisine : Coffee   

Recommended For : A taste of Muar's famous coffee    

Catphobia-Friendly? : Yes

Came across this little nook on one of our random Sunday daytrips, this time to this rather bustling Johorean town. After a nostalgic lunch and mini tour around town, only one thing could complete our day. If you guessed coffee, you know us too well =)

One of the best moments in life is, undeniably, stepping into a coffee house and having that waft of roasting coffee just hit you! When in Muar, Kopi 434 is the place to have your caffeine fix. It is easily noticeable along Jalan Maharani with its bright yellow façade. What’s great about this place is that you can choose to have your drinks ‘espresso style’ or ‘local style’.

Charms Cafe @ One Utama

Price Range : Mid-range

Cuisine : Asian & Western   

Recommended For : Great for a pre/post-movie meal; just steps away from TGV

Catphobia-Friendly? : Yes

The beautifully-decorated Charms has always stood out among the electronics and clothing stores that mostly occupy that old wing/new wing limbo on the top floor of OU. To say that it’s unnoticeable would be a complete lie, but the truth behind our avoidance of the restaurant stems from the fact that Julie used to work there after Form 5, while waiting for college to start. Not that there was anything wrong with the food, but it’s just awkward to have your colleagues suddenly serve you food, isn’t it? You’d feel like you should take the plates back to the kitchen after your meal or something (which, of course, you won’t be doing because you’re now a customer).

Ayam Pop @ Puti Bungsu Batam, Lorong Yap Kwan Seng

Price Range : Mid-range

Cuisine : Indonesian (Padang)   

Recommended For : A meal out with family and / or friends; lots of lauk - great for sharing

Catphobia-Friendly? : Yes

Our visit to Puti Bungsu Batam a while back introduced us to a wonderful dish called Ayam Pop. Apparently, it’s quite a popular dish in most Padang restaurants. What makes the dish special is in its unique preparation. The chicken is first boiled with onion, garlic and lemon grass, among other ingredients, in a broth flavoured with lime juice or vinegar. Once it is cooked, the chicken is then fried lightly to give it a slight crisp.

Kokopelli Travellers Bistro @ Section 14, PJ

Price Range : Mid-range

Cuisine : Asian and Western 

Recommended For : A cosy date

Catphobia-Friendly? : Yes

We used to visit Kokopelli quite frequently back when it was located near University Hospital, long ago. One of the times that we had a hankering for their superb lasagne, our visit to the restaurant was met with severe disappointment when we learned that they had closed down.

It was only last year that we found out that actually they had moved to Section 14, PJ, in the row of houses right opposite Dataran 3 Two. Walking up the jungle-y driveway and through the glass doors, we were pleased to find that the restaurant had still retained its intimate, homey charm. Beautiful in its simplicity, with white being the primary colour of the interior, it conjures memories of a cosy cafe dined at on rainy Parisian nights.

Durian Desserts @ Kafe Happy Meal, Jalan Tun HS Lee

Price Range : Budget 
Cuisine : Desserts
Recommended For : To-go durian fix 
Catphobia-Friendly? : Not too many cats in these streets, thankfully 

And suddenly, durian crepes seem to have risen over to claim the title of the fad food of the moment (remember the cupcakes and macaroons obsession?) and is now being sold on every other online bakery. The thing about fad foods is, well, how would you know which ones are really good and which ones are just riding along on the dessert's sudden fame? 

Arumugam's Naan & Tandoori @ Ampang Point

Price Range : Budget

Cuisine : Naan & Tandoori  

Recommended For : A simple dinner out 

Catphobia-Friendly? : No! There’s a chief cat amongst the cat clan here about the size of Richard Parker  

We’re pretty sure this naan place, despite its immense fame for reputably having the Best Naans in Town, is actually nameless. Some call it ‘that naan place opposite Ampang Point’, some ‘naan sebelah Galeri Guitar’, and some fondly refer to it as Uncle Aru’s. The lack of an official name does nothing to deter its steady flow of customers: mention ‘naan in Ampang’ and undoubtedly this is the first place that will pop to mind.

Restoran ZZ Sup Tulang @ Jalan Petri, Johor Bahru

Price Range : Budget

Cuisine : Malay (Johorean)

Recommended For : A sampling of one of Johor’s greatest culinary treasures

Catphobia-Friendly? : No. If you’re afraid of cats, better to sit at shacks with chairs rather than at the shacks where you have to sit cross-legged on the floor

Mee rebus tulang is synonymous with the southern state of Johor, and we took advantage of our quick stop in JB by sampling a bowl (or two). Yes, you can find places that sell mee rebus tulang in KL, but nothing comes close to what we had at Restoran ZZ Sup Tulang.

LOKL Coffee Co @ Jalan Tun HS Lee

Price Range : Mid-range

Cuisine : Cafe fares, with a focus on sandwiches and coffee 

Recommended For : A coffee stop while traipsing around KL

Catphobia-Friendly?: Yes

LOKL Coffee Co has been taunting us on our To-Eat list for a few months now, but with its weekdays-only opening hours, there was not much chance of us dropping by. Were we excited to hear that LOKL is now open on Saturdays!