Get cosy & comfortable @ Upstairs Cafe, Subang SS12

After some pestering, I bowed to the pressure and joined my new housemates for some Friday tea. The weather was perfect with the sun failing to pierce the clouds but providing just enough brightness.

The time called for something comfortable. Somewhere you can just sit and watch the world pass by. Come upstairs then, because Upstairs Cafe is a more than ideal place to relax and unwind with your friends.

Located opposite Subang Jaya Medical Center (SJMC), Upstairs Cafe is supposedly run by the son of the owner of the establishment downstairs; Kafe Bawang Merah which according to a lot of reviews, serves one of the best home-cooked Malay cuisine in town! Then I guess I have to try that one of these days ;)







Back upstairs, Upstairs Cafe offers great ambiance and comfort inside and also 3 tables on its balcony for those who prefer the fresh air and outside view. If I had to compare it to something more known, Upstairs would be like Secret Recipe dining meet Starbucks interior design.












Upstairs serves a variety of items to munch on including fruit and nut cakes, cheese cakes, pies, and pastries. To go with them; a selection of coffees, teas, hot and cold beverages with most of them unique and not the standard brands you see at other coffee shops. Cakes, pies and pastries range anywhere between RM3 and RM8. Not the cheapest, but definitely taste good and authentic.

Fluffy Carrot Cake with assortment of fresh and crunchy nuts

Moist traditional-styled Chicken Pie

This was basically what we had for tea. But during lunch and dinner, you may order from the chef's personal range of pasta dishes which are priced very reasonably.

Kafe Bawang and Upstairs Cafe are a unique father-son business establishment which seems to be striking silver. Traditional Malay cuisine meets modern contemporary cafe.

Upstairs Cafe

1st Flr, 12A, Jalan SS12/18

Subang Jaya, Selangor

Opening Hours: 3:00pm-11:00pm, Mon-Sat

Closed: Sun

Tel: 03-5611 9171

Ice Room @ Bandar Baru Bangi

Bangi is currently developing well with new shop lots opening in every corner. And with new shop lots, you get new eating places! And among the newest are PappaRich and Ice Room.

Decided to give Ice Room a try since the weather was hot and I've heard quite a bit of their desserts. Located on the same row as PappaRich and a few other modern cafe-like outlets, Ice Room stands out with their green exterior. If I'm not mistaken, this same outlet can be found at Lot 10's Hutong, which means it had to be something special. There's also a frame commemorating a visit from the local food show; Jalan-jalan Cari Makan. And check out the interior art; aren't those the cutest ants you have ever seen?

Well, lets see how they fare in terms of food. Ice Room serves nearly similar types of dishes you can find at places such as Old Town, PappaRich, and Uncle John's. Nasi Lemak (RM7.90), Tomyam (RM8.90), Spaghetti (RM8.90), Fried Rice, and Toasts are your standard fare, nothing to shout and nothing to complain about. But price wise, there are about a ringgit cheaper than the previously mentioned outlets.

Besides these, they also have a wide variety of other dishes to choose from; western and Asian included. But there's one thing that separates Ice Room from the rest...

Shaved flavored ice topped with fruity toppings and served extremely cold! This thing right here challenges Malacca Jonker 88's cendol for the trophy of best dessert! Its that good! There's loads of flavors to choose from and we opted for the Passion Fruit & Mango Snow Ice (RM7.90). It was de-wait for it-lightful! Yes, too much of Barney Stinson for me ;) If you want winter heaven with each scoop, this is the gateway there. I'm not sure how the other flavors fare, but reviews from my friends tend to lean on Passion Fruit & Mango and Mango Pamelo Snow Ice as the best on offer.

Reminds me of that famous 90s hit; Ice Ice Baby!

Ice Room Bangi

45, Jalan Medan Pusat 2D

Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor

KK - Bubble Tea

Its the equilavent to mamak shops..

Its the equilavent to milo ais..

Its where young Sabahans go to chill out after school or tuition classes..

Bubble tea is weaven into the childhoods and lifestlye of Sabahan's young as good as how it taste, which is quite good ;) Easyway, Frenz Cafe, and household name Yoyo Cafe are bubble tea outlets that stay alive till the wee hours of the morning serving those drinking delights with other snacks and desserts. Its the "in" place to hang out and meet your friends. Peak hours at Yoyo Cafe for example includes a non-stop bubble tea-making production chain for lines of customers up till the point they run out of pearls!

Its quite surprising how a simple milky drink with chewy pearls and fruits could create a subculture around it as how bubble tea has done with Kota Kinabalu..

Swensen's Revisited @ SS2, PJ

I know its been ages since my last post. Am I really flogger material? Am I just too lazy? Haha.. Anyway, this post dates back to end of March.. The revisit of Swensen's..

Whenever I and SS are in this part of town, its hard to resist the temptation that is Swensen's. What to do.. SS is kinda hooked on their mint ice cream.. Like seriously hooked on it :p

Anyhow, Swensen's lunch offer is still quite an attractive, affordable, and satisfying one. This time I opted for something that resembled chicken chop and SS delved into her macaroni with cheese. This post has been delayed so long that I have forgotten the original name of the dishes :p Sadly I was unlucky this time around to have gotten my chicken undercooked. And when they took it away, I knew they were going to fry the same piece again, ruining my day :) And so I patiently ate my piece of rubber meat and stole some of SS' average macaroni.

Luckily what Swensen's is really good for, they remain really good for; ICE CREAM :)

With a small add-on, we both had to ourselves a pair of sundaes. Mine was butterscotch and SS' was mint flavored, but both excellent to the last slurp! Swensen's is still an excellent destination for those with a sweet tooth, but they have to do better with their entrees and main courses if they are to do attract more of them. 

Swensen's
22 Jalan SS2/67, Petaling Jaya
47300 Selangor

Swensen's @ SS2, PJ

Believe it or not, it is my first visit to Swensen's. I've heard so much about this place and its ice creams. But today shall just be a lunch stopover. Ice cream madness shall have to wait for another day :)


Malaysia does not seem to have a Swensen's website. So you can check out the quite polished up Singapore version; Swensen's Singapore. To my surprise, Swensen's has a lot more going on than just ice cream. From caesar salads, soups, pastas and sandwiches to burgers, pizzas, seafoods and steaks, you would forget Swensen's roots started from ice cream.


Although many outlets have closed down in Malaysia over the years, lets hope the ones remaining like this in SS2 stays open for the foreseeable future.


Fish & Chips; crispy deep fried fillet served with generous amount of fries, coleslaw, and tartar sauce. I wouldn't say its the best Fish & Chips you'll find, but its ok for a sub-RM15 dish.


Grilled Fish Sambal; this time the fillet is baked and served with mashed potatoes and a sambal dipping sauce. Again, good but not great.


SS would not leave the place without an ice cream, hence the Mint Chocolate Sundae. When it comes to ice cream, I wonder how girls can continue eating and eating. I think they have a special mechanism to chow down on all those creamy sugar. Well, I know I still owe her an Earthquake. So another visit to Swensen's is still on the cards *sweat* :p

Swensen's
22 Jalan SS2/67, Petaling Jaya
47300 Selangor

Tenji @ SohoKL - Part V - Dessert Corner

Last and most importantly; dessert. A place that serves unlimited amounts of Haagen-Dazs ice cream surely earns extra points, although the limited amount of flavors available. Tenji's Dessert Corner is not as extensive as one would imagine, but its not a total disaster.


Clockwise from top left : Tiramisu, Chocolate Ball, Chocolate Moose, Coffee Cheesecake, and Mango Mochi. Average and nothing much to shout about.



Fresh Young Coconut and Chocolate Fondue counter.

Chocolate Fondue - 4/5

Mouthwatering chocolate goodness!

Freshly skewered fruits. Addictive!


Bread sticks to add a crunchy flavor to the mix!



Popcorn machine!

Tenji Japanese Buffet Restaurant
Lot L-01-01 SohoKL
Solaris Mont Kiara
No 2, Jalan Solaris
50480 Kuala Lumpur
1700-80-1818


Lunch 11.30am-4.00pm
Dinner 5.30pm-9.30pm
Supper 9.30pm-12.30am

Kuching Part VI : Metahon

Another killer Sarawak dessert !! Metahon !!


Reminiscence of the peninsula's cendol but you'll find that the coconut milk, 'kacang merah', corn, and 'gula melaka' has been replaced with lime, slices of pineapple and lycee, and a generous amount of sweet and sour concoction of shaven ice. The green jelly although similar to the peninsula's version actually looks and taste more artificial, but has a chewy zing to it.


Kuching's version of ABC also has its own twists of lime and jello. Sarawak desserts seem to have SOUR as their middle name =)

Anyways..

On any hot and humid day..

One metahon saves the day..

Man its a lifesaver!

Kuching Part V : White Lady

Okay..its no foreigner aite.. But its a superb combo of a drink and a dessert. Shaved ice with evaporated milk and syrup, loaded with fresh fruits comprising of watermelon, peach, lychee, and longan. Jelly and sago completes this one hell of a hot white chick! Ingredients may vary according to their makers =)

When you are in need

It was a day I needed answers, clarity, judgment, reason, and a sense of peace. I got it all in a bite of Secret Recipe's New York Cheese Cake. Yes...I've been dying to have it for the whole week. I finally got it on one of the most 'happening' days of my life. Imagine..I woke up at 4AM and played basketball at 8AM. For those who know me, thats not the normal me :p


NYCC needs no introduction I suppose. Its a classic. Too bad recent price hikes has been reflected even here with cakes being raised from RM5.50 to RM6.30. Plus tax its a whooping Rm7.20 for a slice of cake. Well, nothing is cheap these days. But worth every cent if it helps you solving a problem.