Coffeeboy Club @ The Campus Ampang

Coffeeboy @ The Campus, Ampang was a cafe my friend brought me to when she wanted to drop off her daughter (and her friend) there.

It's a community hub featuring retail stores, F & B restaurants & cafes, sports facilities, education, art, music, a grocery store and a kids' zone.  Well, basically it's a place to shop, dine and engage in various recreational activities, so it's pretty popular with the youngsters.

So, my friend's daugher (and her friend) joined us for lunch before heading off on their own.  It was already past lunch time (and my friend wasn't very hungry), so I ordered a few light dishes for the three of us to share starting with the B-fast Sandwich @ RM18.

It's a milk bun served with scrambled eggs and torched cheddar cheese @ RM11.  Can't fault a simple dish of fluffy scrambled eggs with a soft milk bun.

Next was the Sauteed Mushroom & Eggplant @ RM16 on a piece of sourdough with torched cheddar cheese.

Again, can't go wrong with juicy, sauteed button mushrooms that's always a delight to eat though I don't remember it having much sauteed eggplant.

Our final dish was the Seabass Mayo Sandwich @ RM25 featuring housemade seabass with mayo and tomatoes in a sourdough-filled sandwich served with a refreshing salad of cruncy lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes with sesame dressing.

This was my favourite sandwich of the day as a filling of seabass isn't something commonly found on cafes' menus.  I liked the taste of the small chunks of seabass in between the well toasted and crisp sourdough...yumsss! ;)

My friend's daughter's friend chose the Fried Chicken Garlic Rice @ RM20, a dish of butter garlic fried rice with buttermilk fried chicken, fried egg, bok choy and (what looks like) a sambal (or kuah kacang) to me.

I didn't taste the dish (obviously) but seeing that she polished off everything was probably an indication she enjoyed the dish.  It looked appetising and the portion seemed very filling.

Of course, coffee is a must and I was pleasantly surprised just how decent...and (more importantly) cheap the Iced Latte was (RM8 + RM1 with ice).  You can hardly get an iced milk coffee for under RM10 these days in a cafe.

And it was these very affordably-priced coffees that brought us (me and my friend) back here again two weeks later.  I've got to say for an Iced Latte that costs only RM9, there are (and should be) no complaints whatsoever. ^_~

Seeing that my friend enjoyed this dish of Sauteed Mushroom & Eggplant @ RM16 the last time round, I ordered this again for our shared first dish.  This time the cheddar was better torched and it was served with some chilli sauce (very Malaysian-like...lol....but it wasn't needed really).

Next on my radar was the Grilled Salmon @ RM32 in a lemon butter sauce served with sauteed french beans, cherry tomatoes and roasted potatoes.  When the dish arrived at the table, I was surprised it was not served skin side up (in fact, I think it was skinless if I remember correctly) but that didn't matter one bit coz it looked super inviting with the seasoning contributing to a fantastically seared crust.

The lemon butter sauce was also very tasty with its citrusy tang and not too harsh sourness making it absolutely amazing to eat.  Loved the simple accompaniments of lightly roasted smashed potatoes, french beans and cherry tomatoes done right too.  I was quite taken aback but its deliciousness as it was one of the better grilled salmon I've had in a while.

The only setback was that the salmon dish portion was rather small (and we were still hungry), so I went to the counter and ordered another two dishes to share.  One of them was this Fried Fish Fingers @ RM18.

The fish fingers were made in-house with battered seabass fried to crispy perfection.  I usually don't expect much from fried fish fingers but these freshly made ones took me by surprise just how wonderful they were. Served with a chunky tartar sauce that looked housemade as well.

I also got us a plate of Not So Chunky Chips @ RM12.  Nothing to complain about these French Fries as they were well seasoned (salted with a sprinkling of chilli powder and fresh parsley).  In the end, we couldn't quite finish these two extra plates of food, so the balance went into my trusted container that I so happened to have in my bag.

My Personal Opinion

The place is quite small (especially the indoor space with air-conditioning) but their menu is pretty extensive for such a small cafe with the majority of their menu focussed on sandwiches and burgers.

What surprised me was the quality and affordability of their food (with most priced between RM10 - RM30) with coffees as cheap as RM8 (and black coffee at just RM6) + RM1 if you want it with ice (crafted lattes cost between RM10 - RM15).  My favourite dishes from here were the Grilled Salmon and Fried Fish Fingers.

Imagine getting a quick sandwich and coffee for breakfast or a simple lunch for around RM20, so there's really no cause for complaint based on the very reasonable prices that's matched with quality too.  Well, I'm certainly up for that! ^_~

Coffeeboy

L1-6 The Campus

Batu 5 Jalan Kerja Ayer Lama

Ampang Jaya

68000 Selangor

CoffeeLicious (Lunch Options) @ Pandan Indah

CoffeeLicious @ Pandan Indah has been a regular haunt of mine (since discovering its existence months back) for a good western breakfast and a cup of coffee in the mornings to kickstart my day right (and I'm there on a regular basis).

I enjoy the tranquility of a quiet morning while sipping on my cup of coffee.  But CoffeeLicious isn't just about breakfasts, they have lunch options too.

And seeing how much I did enjoy their breakfast items, I came with a friend for lunch one day.  She chose the Spaghetti Carbonara Lunch Set @ RM25 inclusive of a drink.

The moment the spaghetti arrived, we were bowled over by just how large the portion was.  It came generously filled with chicken ham and fresh shiitake mushrooms (button mushrooms would have been better, of course) topped with cheese and a sprinkling of dried parsley served with a piece of crunchy sourdough toast with garlic spread.

I had the Spaghette Bolognese Lunch Set @ RM23 (which also includes a free drink) and served with the same garlic-infused sourdough toast as above.  You can again see how plentiful the meat sauce was...and they were not kedekut (stingy) with the minced chicken either.

I found myself enjoying this bolognese more than I thought I would as the tomato sauce was just nicely balanced, not too acidic like many I've had before.  Of course, I told them to hold the cheese in my spaghetti.  Again, it was a very big portion and you'll definitely come away feeling full.

Our drink of choice was of course Iced Latte....which is my friend's favourite choice of coffee and mine too, a firm favourite when I'm here.

Besides these pastas set, they've also introduced a couple of new sandwiches that are heartier (and probably more suitable for lunch though they can also be for breakfast if you're extra hungry or have a bigger appetite) and they include the Chicky Chick Sandwich, Avo Prawn Sandwich and AvoWhole Sandwich.

As you can see, many of their dishes are avocado-focussed, so if you're fan of avocado you know where you can get your fix....and I'm a fan! ;)  So I started with this Egg & Avocado Toast @ RM20 comprising of scrambled eggs and avocado over a piece of sourdough toast (with coffee, of course, a Hot Long Black @ RM9).

The scrambled eggs are as per usual, nice and fluffy, with slices of fresh, creamy avocado.  If you're a fan of avocado, you'd know that avocado and eggs is a perfect combo! ;)

Although I love eggs and avocado together, I would have liked it better if the avocado was mashed for that creamier texture instead of just sliced.  I made a special request the next time I had this and was happy they obliged and agreed to make it into an avocado mash for me...yumzzz! ^o^

On one of my visits here, I tried something from their new sandwich menu, the Avo Prawn Sandwich @ RM28 paired with an Iced Latte @ RM12.  I was a bit taken aback when the dish arrived as it looked nothing like the pic in the menu...it was served more like a Japanese-style sando sandwich.

Releasing the sandwich from its packaging, I could see that it was filled wth prawns, scrambled eggs, mashed avocado and cherry tomatoes.  I'm afraid I didn't like the prawns as they were those frozen, translucent-looking prawns with an overly crunchy texture.

Needless to say, this was the least favourite thing I ate from here.  I would have preferred if it was served exactly like the one shown in their menu or, even better, an open-faced sandwich coz wrapping it up made the sourdough soft (like those soft, fluffy milk bread used in a sando sandwich)...but I want that nicely toasted, crisp, crusty texture of sourdough as it's supposed to be.

My Personal Opinion

A convenient and pleasant stop for me in the mornings to get my fix of coffee, breakfast and (sometimes) lunch on days when I'm hankering for a western meal.

If you're a lover of avocado (like I am), they have quite a few options on their menu for you to sink your teeth into like the Mushroom Egg & Cheese Bagel + Avocado and Avocado Beet Hummus Toast besides the two newly launched sourdough sandwiches...but their Egg & Avocado Toast is still my favourite (and I make a special request for the avocado to be mashed). ^.^

CoffeeLicious

3G Jalan Pandan Indah 4/33

Pandan Indah

55100 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-4288 3387

Kenny Hills Bistro @ Shoppes at Four Seasons Place

I've been to Kenny Hills Bakers and absolutely love their food (especially the desserts) and coffees there...but this time we decided to try out one of their sister restaurants, Kenny Hills Bistro @ Shoppes at Four Seasons Place.

While Kenny Hills Bakers is more known for its artisan breads and pastries, Kenny Hills Bistro offers a slightly different dining experience, focusing on casual fine dining European cuisine, although some similarities can be found in some of their dishes and desserts.

I had totally forgotten to take photos of the restaurant and its interior as I was fully engrossed in conversation with my friend/dining companion.  We were there for a late brunch and since I miss eating a good western breakfast lately, we started off with an order of the Bistro Big Breakfast @ RM45 (and yes, it's a little pricier than usual but know that it's compensated with quality, fresh, inhouse made ingredients).

But first things first, we must have our coffee fix to start...and that would be two Iced Lattes @ RM14 each, me and my friend's favourite coffee drink.

Back to the big breakfast, it features two eggs done your way (we went with scrambled), an option of beef bacon or smoked salmon (we chose beef), chicken sausage, homemade baked beans, grilled button mushrooms, homemade hashbrown and a tomato compote served with toasted organic white country bread and butter.  That's what a hearty, big breakfast platter should look like...filled with lots of ingredients and mostly housemade.

Everything on the plate was done right, the eggs were fluffy, the mushrooms juicy, the quality beef bacon (and they were quite generous with it too, there were 4-5 good slices) savoury and delicious and so were the sausage and baked beans.  I particularly enjoyed the thick homemade hashbrown with its crispy edges (nothing like those frozen crap) and a tomato compote with the sweetness of the roasted tomatoes coming through.  This is one big breakfast I would gladly have again. ^.^

Our other breakfast dish was The Lafayatte @ RM32 with two poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, smoked salmon and wilted spinach on a croissant served with homemade fries and a side salad.

The poached eggs were perfectly cooked to a runny consistency sitting on a bed of wilted spinach that was sauteed in some cream sauce.  I especially liked the crisp, thick-cut fries...but between this dish and the big breakfast, it's quite obvious which one I preferred.

Did I mention the coffees were really good?  We enjoyed it so much that we just had to have another glass...and more so when we know we were going to need it to pair with our dessert.

Our dessert of choice was this Yuzu Citrus Tart @ RM25 that was so elegantly presented that it was as pretty as a flower...well, quite literally! :D  We stared at it for a while not wanting to violate something so pretty. It has a buttery vanilla crisp crust filled with yuzu curd, almond cream, cream chantilly and topped with yuzu jelly, grated lime zest and a hint of luxury, a bit of edible gold leaf.

The yuzu curd had such a prominent floral aroma and bright flavours while the yuzu jelly had an intense tartness to it but yet so refreshing and tangy against the sweetness of the curd and cream.  The yuzu jelly on its own is highly acidic, so cut just a tiny piece and eat it together with the rest of the tart and it offers a sweet and tangy bite.  It was a zesty symphony of flavours and one that was absolutely delightful.  When I ordered this, the server informed me (proudly) that this yuzu citrus tart is a Kenny Hills Bistro exclusive (meaning you can't get this at Kenny Hills Bakers!)...and for this very reason it's a tart you must order here coz it's unbelievably good! ^o^

My Personal Opinion

Kenny Hills Bistro, like Kenny Hills Bakers, is yet another winner!  I'd call it a slightly more "atas" version of Kenny Hills Bakers...but serving the same good food.

Their Bistro Big Breakfast though I've to admit is priced slightly higher than most cafes offering such a dish but the portion is substantial and it comes with more quality and housemade ingredients that sets it apart from the norm.  This big breakfast is guaranteed to kickstart your day right.

As for the Bistro's exclusive Yuzu Citrus Tart, you have to so get this if you're a fan of all things sour, this dessert gives you that intense, fragrant flavour with bright acidity that you'll completely adore.  Certainly one of the best desserts I've had this year.

Although I've only tried a limited no. of dishes, I'm already confident that the food here is good from just a small sampling of 3 dishes...and would certainly like to return to try more...perhaps for dinner the next time round! ^_~

Kenny Hills Bistro

G-07 Ground Floor

Shoppes at Four Seasons Place

145 Jalan Ampang

50450 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-8953 8985

CoffeeLicious @ Pandan Indah

My neighbourhood is now home to a quaint little new cafe, CoffeeLicious @ Pandan Indah, that's been around a little over a year ago...and I only just discovered it recently, some 3 months back actually.  That's because it's located in the quieter part of the neighbourhood which I seldom venture out to.

I bumped into the place when trying out a new mamak restaurant on the same row.  After my breakfast of roti canai, while walking back to my car, I chanced upon the cafe...and was eager to try it out as there's a lack of such cafes (that's any good) in my neighbourhood.

I came back immediately the same week to explore.  The inside of the cafe is small with a simple decor but certainly cosy and comfortable, even a little posh for a residential cafe.  You don't need a big space (really) for a neighbourhood cafe as most of the clientele would probably come from the residents staying here.

I'm always on the lookout for a good western breakfast and coffee to start my mornings, so I started my taste test with one of their breakfast sets (that's available between 8 - 10 am)....the Egg Sourdough Toast @ RM18.

You get some fluffy scrambled eggs on a piece of crispy sourdough toast accompanied by some baked beans and a simple salad of lettuce and cherry tomatoes lightly tossed in roasted sesame dressing.  For those who enjoy their scrambled eggs a little bit more cooked (and less watery) like I do, you'll be pleased with the rendition here.

But what's great with getting the breakfast set is that it comes along with a free drink...coffee or tea (hot/cold)....and I chose a Hot Cappuccino (which otherwise would have cost RM11 separately).

On another morning, I tried another of their breakfast set, the Tuna Croissant @ RM25 which came abundantly filled with tuna flakes well dressed in mayo for a creamy bite.  It came with the same sides of baked beans and salad.  This time I had an Iced Latte.

The croissant was utterly flaky and crisp...and buttery enough, which are the very hallmarks of a good croissant.  There's no way of eating this other then to make a mess as the super flaky croissant crumbles into tiny little pieces easily (all over the table) as you cut/bite into them...lol!

There's only 4 breakfast set choices and the other sets was between a choice of Plain Croissant/Bagel (RM15) or a Salad (RM20)...now who wants a salad for breakfast! :D  So, this was followed by an a la carte order of the Big Breakfast @ RM25 one morning.  Since this was not a breakfast set, I had to pay for the Iced Latte @ RM12 separately.

No false advertising of the Big Breakfast...it was indeed big!  It proved too big/heavy for breakfast and I had to tapau some of the items home.  It arrived at the table comprising of ham, sausage, scrambled eggs, hashbrown, sourdough toast, baked beans and a salad.  Although most of the items on the plate are ready-made, store-bought items, it's still nice to have someone cook it for you once in a while instead of making it yourself at home. 

Next I had the Egg Mayo Croissant (or Bagel) @ RM15 with chopped hard-boiled egg mixed with mayo served with the same sides as the earlier breakfast sets with my favourite Iced Latte.

I found myself enjoying this simple egg with mayo filling quite a bit as the mayo brought a little sweetness to the chopped egg.  If you're one who loves an egg + mayo sandwich (like I do), this is certain to give you pleasure.

Then there's also the Ham & Egg Croissant @ RM16 with scrambled eggs and ham (which you can't really see coz it's hidden beneath the scrambled eggs).  I had this with a Long Black (Hot) @ RM9.

Just be forewarned that the scrambled eggs here are cooked a little bit more.  In fact, this one (I've to admit) was a little overdone that day.  Consistency in cooking eggs (like steak) to the right doneness is always tricky.

My Personal Opinion

They're open only for breakfast and lunch which is perfect for me as I've been looking for a nice, quiet place to sit down and enjoy a good cup of coffee to start off my day...and if it comes with some good bread and eggs, even better!  Recently they've introduced a couple of new menu items, so I'm sure I'll be checking those out pretty soon. ^_~

Even though they don't make their own bread inhouse, both their supplied croissant and sourdough are of a very decent quality.  The croissant (especially) stayed extremely flaky, light and crisp even after reheating.  I liked that they pay attention even to the smallest of details as the lettuce leaves are always fresh and crisp, even the baked beans served are warmed up.

I'm happy that I've this little cafe in my neighbourhood...and I've been coming here on a weekly basis ever since to get my coffee fix as well as a good breakfast to kickstart my day.  Of course, the standard can't be compared to the many well-known, good cafes out there...but for a neighbourhood cafe, this will do just fine.

CoffeeLicious

3G Jalan Pandan Indah 4/33

Pandan Indah

55100 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-4288 3387