Espressolab - Gardens

Another place worth noting back in Kuala Lumpur:

So there's this place (which debuted in Solaris Dutamas, but it ain't the one I went to!) at the Gardens, Kuala Lumpur that serves some mean dessert and coffee. 

Actually, I'm not too sure at all if it's at the Gardens, or at MidValley Megamall for this one reason - it's somewhat on the interlinking bridge between the two malls. But then again, the easiest way to find it is to head to level 1. It's right outside the TGIF. 

Again, the coffee surprised me. I'm used to having some pretty sub-standard quality coffee when I return to KL for my breaks, but this sure ain't sub-standard. It's really good (though not as good as RaW!) and really rich. The milk is frothed well and the coffee art (which is really important) looks great! I didn't really manage to get a picture here. I didn't bring my phone, nor did I bring a camera of any sort.

The dessert here? Simply to die for!

While it's really good on those fronts, I must say that I wouldn't really feel like coming back here again because of the atmosphere and the layout. 

The benches for dine in customers are really limited. I would say that they could serve about 10 customers at most, for the tables and chairs are situated just below the escalators that go up to the second floor of Gardens. Besides that, there is the constant human traffic passing by you at such close proximity, you'd kind of feel like your personal space is being invaded - not to mention that you'd also feel like your belongings will get stolen any second. KL is quite prone to petty theft. 

But even if that doesn't bother you, you'd have to (and I invoke my inner chinese Malaysian slang) ask the 'aunties and uncles' to please move (because they didn't buy anything and are just sitting there) so that you can sit down with your coffee and cake. It's pretty ridiculous, holding your coffee and cake in your hands, wanting to sit down to eat, for grumpy people who didn't even buy anything so give you a face when you want to sit at the tables provided for customers. Aunties and uncles can be really difficult sometimes. 

Unless Espressolab has a real store somewhere, instead of a simple coffee stand by a busy link bridge, I don't think I'll be coming back to this place. It's too much of a hassle, and I feel quite suffocated. Nevermind that a cup of coffee costs me RM12. I'd rather go to my regular 'kopitiam' for some 'Kopi ping' at RM2something than to completely hate my surroundings. 

Ok, scratch that. I'd come back if I want good coffee - but I'll only have it for take-away. 

Food Foundry, and RaW Coffee

So while I was home, Sam brought me round to really nice places for food and drinks. One day, after we picked her sister up from work, we headed to this new place called 'Food Foundry' (Happy Mansion, Section 17 (Jalan 17), Petaling Jaya, Selangor)

My brownie at Food Foundry

One thing I gotta say about this place. The coffee ain't fantastic (yes, sometimes this really is all I'm looking for), but the CAKES and the FOOD are really quite worth the trip. 

It's funny though. I never would have thought that there was a cafe in the area it is situated in to begin with. We were driving round a housing estate, getting a little lost, and then we turned in to this block of apartments. The cafe at that particular block of apartments, next to some sundry shops and other food places. Turn the corner and bam! You find a nice little cafe that serves good food.

The prices are fairly reasonable. The brownie you see in the picture? It was SO DENSE! Ended up sharing it with Sam (and not being able to finish it even after that). 

Food Foundry - layout. 

The place is nice and quaint - there's one section with air-conditioning and the other without. I think they're working on that issue for now (I'm not sure, so don't take my word for it). But the seatings are nice and spaced out, and they definitely have got the deco right. It's something like what the Gardens cafe looks like (but not as extravagant) mixed with Muji.  

But one other place that I've absolutely come to love - R.A.W (Real and Wholesome) Coffee at 150 Jalan Ampang, KL. 

R.A.W. Coffee

Apparently this place has been getting a lot of reviews - something I'm oblivious to. But I'm glad to have been brought here. 

Counter on the left, seating area in the corner

It's a little awkward cafe that is situated at the lobby of this office tower. Not exactly the most cosy of places, but at least the seating area has been separated from the 'openness' of the lobby by the wide counter. The cakes and all look a little unappetising from the inside of the glass refrigerator.. But they're pleasant enough. 

THE COFFEE WAS EXCELLENT THOUGH. REMINDED ME OF LONDON! And that's a celebration in itself! I would come all the way to KL (I live in PJ) to get coffee. I'm that much of a nut!

So where Food Foundry lacks in coffee, R.A.W. makes up for it. And where R.A.W. lacks in cakes and dessert, Food Foundry takes the trophy in this little battle. 

Sam obviously gets happy whenever she manages to satisfy my fussiness. Here's her smiling. 

Win!

You don't say.

Changes

And so when I went home this time round, I noticed quite a lot of changes. 

First of all, greeting me at the airport was WHSmith. I'm used to only seeing this at British airports (or train stations and the like), and I must admit that that was pretty strange. 

Then, heading on to MidValley, and I noted that RadioShack will be opening there soon as well. Not to mention that H&M has sprung up at Jalan Bukit Bintang, and that every single person I know is flocking there for goods that are not exactly worth the money if you ask me. It's more expensive than how much it would be in the UK, and the material ain't exactly great. At the end of the day, we're paying for a brand and fashion. 

Not bad for a store that's lower on the food chain. 

But one thing I'm actually quite glad for are the cafes that have been springing up just about everywhere. 

FInally! Good coffee in Malaysia!

More on that soon - I'm actually already back in London. The only problem is that my free time is being sucked away by work. 

Now that's another thing that's changed. I'm actively doing work every second of the day.