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.

Broga Hill

Going on a journey?

How does going to Broga sound?

Being back home feels really good. And one of the first few things I did (besides eating all that food!) is to go trekking with a good friend of mine. We went to Broga Hill at Semenyih.

We left the house really early hoping to see the sunrise (thus, preparing to trek in the dark). The funny part was that we got lost on the way to the hill itself, and ended up driving around quite aimlessly. The GPS that we had didn't help much. Lol. When we finally got there, the sun had actually risen quite a bit. There goes the 'watching the sunrise' plan. But we continued on anyway. :)

There were so many people going up, there were times when we actually had to form a line as we went up the hill. It's kinda funny. Like a pilgrimage of sorts.

And when you get to the top, you'll see lots of people just chilling and hanging out and talking. Like the people below.

I suppose that if you want to come up here to pray and meditate, that might possibly be a good idea as well. But then again, if it's just for fun, to pose for the camera, you might want to watch out for people like me with a camera. You might just be caught doing something rather funny. ^_^

Anyway, the view from up there is really nice. There is a lot of open space, and the sights that you see would not be obstructed by tall trees. In fact, the hill is actually nick-named 'Bukit Lalang', which is Malay for 'Thatch Hill'. It'll be good for photography buffs who want to take some good shots as well. The trek to the top isn't that bad. It's quite easy actually. A beginner's hill. And even at the slightly more challenging parts (challenging for beginners that is), there are ropes and stuff to help you go up and down. 

So when you get to the peak... What a sight you'll see!

Looking through the thatches, on the way up. 

Some scene from a movie of a lonely hill top maybe?

So yes. Broga Hill. One of the small pleasures of my country. Bigger trekking/hiking buffs would go for Gunung Kinabalu or Gunung Tahan. But for a weekend trip? this would be good for the soul. Kudos to Eu Jhin who brought me here on a lazy Sunday morning (dragging me out of bed! D:)

T'was really good though.