Jam & Kaya brings the Klang Valley's best year yet for independent cafes to a triumphant close; visiting this winsome venue is a potent reminder to value the people who pour their hearts into creating these places. Dismissing these cafes without knowing their stories is blatant disrespect.Brunches are a treat here; the Eggs Royale (RM21) feature irresistibly delicious poached eggs, resting atop thick slices of smoked salmon & crisp leaves in a croissant.Available through 5pm, so late risers like us can mercifully still have breakfast for lunch.The menu remains a work in progress, but it's excellent to see these baked eggs that borrow inspiration from the Tunisian-origin recipe of 'shakshouka' ...... creamy with a thick, tomato-rich base that conceals soft chunks of eggplant. RM18.90. Dinner specials include chicken ballotine, beef stew with potatoes & salmon with couscous.Pancakes are a pleasure here: try the one with salted caramel & macadamia nuts (RM16.50). Other varieties come with caramelized bananas & yes, even jam & kaya.Save space for dessert; these babies are a star attraction in their own right.Praline cheesecake, very rich, sumptuously smooth. Gotta try the tarts next time.Coffee's constructed with Colombian beans; not a bad latte, definitely.Love the hot chocolate here, mixed with tiny, crispy chocolate balls for extra enjoyment.

KL's former High Street won't run low on caffeine, thanks to Lucy In The Sky, a newbie on the fringe of Chinatown that's set to soar in the popularity stakesBreakfast is served: Lucy is the latest place where people can customize their brunch platters, choosing three items for RM12.90 & adding RM3 for every extra selection.Lucy In The Sky promises relatively healthy cooking, relying on organic ingredients whenever possible. But that's not necessarily meant to provide customers with carte blanche to overdose on four preparations of eggs in one sitting: poached, scrambled, sunny-side-up & over-easy ...... even if the eggs are partnered with deliciously nutritious lentils & buttered corn. Other possibilities for this plate include chicken sausages, sauteed mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, onions & hash browns.Other options: French toast made with Hailam bread (RM10), pancakes paired with raw honey (RM8.90), plus cream of cauliflower, pumpkin or mushroom soup with muesli bread (RM10.90).Other options: French toast made with Hailam bread (RM10), pancakes paired with raw honey (RM8.90), plus cream of cauliflower, pumpkin or mushroom soup with muesli bread (RM10.90).Lucy's coffee, constructed with Arabica beans, should please. Praise outpaces complaints here.

Ideal for this Instagram age, Chaiwalla & Co could be the Klang Valley's first "container cafe" _ an eye-catching construct of converted cargo containers, plopped into The CurveSaffron-&-rose-flavored milk tea with yogurt pops & zero added sugar (RM5.80 nett). Enjoyably mild-tasting, without the curse of cloying artifice, & sufficiently thick, though filled with a bit more ice than expected.Coffee with honey & coffee jelly. Ultimately satisfying for a refreshment on a hot afternoon; worth the price. Service is fast & fairly friendly.Pastries & brownies are also available; expect to see more photos of Chaiwalla pepper KL's social media networks for months to come.

Another cafe for brunch enthusiasts surfaced this week, seeking success in Damansara Utama, the increasingly noteworthy F&B hub that welcomed a parade of standouts like Obanhmi, Capital Nasi Dagang, The Good Batch & Ecole P this year.Epicuro scores points for its feel-good casualness & for keeping its recipes relatively interesting. The presence of pork is welcome; the star attraction so far is undoubtedly the sandwich of savory pulled pork crowned with a sunny-side-up (RM18 nett).Not into pork? Try the juicy turkey ham sandwich, bolstered with handmade nutty-peppery, garlicky-tomatoey romesco sauce (RM15 nett). Not into meat at all? No fear, Epicuro has got you covered, with a croissant filled with creamy eggs, buna-shimeji mushrooms & rocket leaves.Come in, the coffee's fine: Sumatra Mandheling single-origin French-press (RM8).

This Penang-based porridge specialist, which runs multiple branches in Georgetown, has expanded south to the Klang Valley, opening outlets at Scott Garden & SS2 in recent weeks.laksa-paste porridge with beef & egg (RM10.80). These prices are reasonable, considering each bowl is pretty big, & the soft, smooth texture should satisfy fans of congee. But the flavors seem too weak & bland to leave a lingering impression.herbal porridge with raw salmon (RM11.80)Zhou's calling card: the creativity channeled through its congee. Here's where patrons can have piping-hot pumpkin porridge with frog legs (RM11.80 before taxes)