ttdi.

hipster. but in a good way, of course.

it has become a trendy and popular rendezvous for new cafes to prove themselves with their brunch offerings and coffee.

in fact, the ideal hunting ground for a caffeine lover such as myself in search for THE perfect brunch.

let's call this mission o1.

quar/tet.

 

you might have guessed the reason behind the name but interestingly it represents four friends from different indie bands who came together to play a different kind of song - a quaint, charming cafe that serves brunch classics.

however, it was a challenge to find the cafe without a proper signboard to exclaim "you are here!" since i had to guess where it was based on gps. (please put one up - it will be good for the directionally-challenged)

perhaps the best clues to help with locating the cafe are:

one - look out for a black canopy; and
two - it is behind the row that faces the main road.

hopefully it will help you find the place a little easier....that and good luck! ;)in spirit of its name and true to its hipster neighborhood, the vintage-like contemporary and minimalist decor houses a collection of vinyl records and the record player spinning some almost forgotten tunes. in fact, the music corner was probably my favorite spot of the cafe that suggests a laid back ambiance that is suggested throughout the rest of the space with their choices of comfy furniture.

quar/tet manual: useful food purchasing tips.o1. the menu: its on every table - limited selection of the usual brunch suspects as well as some sandwiches. oh and bagel too.

o2. food and drinks are ordered at the counter and pre-paid (the sign asks nicely enough ;) ) and cash terms ONLY.o3. semi-self service. the drinks should be collected around the corner at the drink station where you have the power to choooooseee! sugar syrup, honey, vanilla sugar, cocoa! take your pick! and you can get complimentary water here too.

btw, food is delivered to your table....hence the semi-self service. drink - counter. food - table.o4. check out dessert on the way to your table so you would know if you should save some tummy space for some sweet endings after the meal.

the menu is limited that the handful of food offerings and drinks could all fit in a single page but there was a mix of sweet and savory brunch options.

the coffee department :: latte (rm 9)commonly this was my measuring stick to test the skills of the barista with the coffee. not bad but not my favorite. mainly overcame by bitterness. off to the next latte.

other beverages department :: iced chocolate (rm 10){mh}'s insight: very similar to local's cocoa drink - the milo and she would have preferred more richness in the chocolate.

the food department :: french toast | soaky eggy bread served with golden syrup and berries compote (rm 12)two pieces of white toasts in thick cut triangles, basked in the pool of golden sweetness and punctuations of red and deep blue hues from the berry mix of blueberries, raspberries and strawberries reduced in a sweet and tart compote and finished with the mandatory sprinkle of powdered sugar. the serving size was huge considering the price which is a plus point. it was as tempting as i remembered from my friend's instagram of the same french toast that induced immediate cravings - i just couldn't wait to dig into it.while some crispiness bordered the rest of the soft toast, as i cut into one of the edges revealed white insides of the bread. i was anticipating for an almost-bread pudding-like consistency in the middle so perhaps a longer soak in the sweetened egg mixture jacuzzi could have done a lot of good! the berry compote was borderline cloyingly sweet on its own but was a great accompaniment with the french toasts. even so, it was almost monotone that it left me seeking for the occasional contrasting exclamation in both flavor and texture. two triangles in and i was done - granted that the serving size was huge.

the food department :: eggs ben | turkey ham, poached eggs & hollandaise sauce (rm 15)presentation was simplistic..minimalist, if you will. it looked rather drab but sloppy on the huge, bare white plate, somewhat clunky. definitely could have used a side salad to bring some color and brightness to the dish to elevate the dish further with an injection of freshness. the under-seasoned eggs benedict was served in the most literal sense to its description on the menu on the too lightly toasted english muffin halves.the positive, the poached eggs were done beautifully with its rich bright yellow yolk
streaming down the layers of turkey ham and english muffin in the sexiest way. all the
ingredients were there but the dish itself was just mediocre.

quartet's comfortable, laid back ambiance and friendly staff stole the limelight at this brunch establishment. while it is awesome that the price tags are in the lower end compared to similar brunch counterparts, it was reflected in the basic and very classic intepretation of their menu items where a few tweaks in flavors profiling and execution could elevate the flavors to another level.

" burps & giggles"hmm. an intriguing name for a restaurant/cafe.

well, its whimsical name was what initially captured my attention but it was the other blog reviews that brought me there.there was a wait list when we arrived but managed to get a table in 5 minutes because we agreed to squeeze in a small table. i savored the artistic, bright and disjointed art murals that crossed the three petite old school shops. a collection of vintage rustic decor pieces gave the restaurant character that revolved around childhood nostalgia. my sisters, on the other hand, had a different views on the decor and wasn't too fond of it.

the pork free menu can be found all around the shop on chalk boards but it irks me that they didn't have printed menus. since there was a lack of manpower due to cny celebration, the restaurant served only a limited menu of gourmet burgers and i was slightly disappointed since i was looking forward to taste some savory crepes. good thing they still offered the other item i came here for - the prized wagyu burger!

burger :: bam-bam burger | wagyu pattie, egg, cheese, tomato, beetroot, carrot, horseradish, onion (rm 28 )prized wagyu patty for under rm 30 is considered a steal. the tower of sunny side up egg, slice of slightly melted cheese, wagyu patty, a thick slice of tomato and beetroot with a slather of horseradish sandwiched between the slightly toasted burger bun with carrot slaw.

just listing out the ingredients itself is quite the mouthful, so needless to say, trying to wrap my mouth around the burger was definitely a challenge that i had to resort to knife and fork to devour this (i'm probably getting a disapproving look from burger connoisseurs - sorry!)let's begin with the star of the burger - the patty. since the meat was finely minced, it was difficult for me to discern if it was truly wagyu. cooked medium well, the well seasoned beef patty was moist and juicy to the point it falls apart but i would have preferred a better crust on the meat. the burger was over-sauced from the carrot slaw made it very rich on top of the sunny side up egg. in the midst of the different flavors, the cheese and beetroot faded into the background, almost unnoticed. a solid burger but would have definitely preferred less sauce on this burger that over powered everything else.

chicken sausage & cherry tomato quiche | soft baked eggs in puff pastry (rm 10)burps & giggles calls it egg tart but it resembled more of a quiche to me. this breakfast favorite can be found in the pastry display by the counter.

encased in a buttery and flaky puff pastry, the chicken sausage pieces and eggs were soft baked where the undercooked yolk oozed its golden love over the dish to give some nice richness, which is makes it lovely.while it was tasty and my sisters actually chose this as a favorite over the burger for the simple pleasures of breakfast elements, it could have shone brighter with a sprinkle of seasoning, more cherry tomatoes for a tart freshness and fresh herb to just bring the whole dish to a home run.

coffee :: latte (rm 10)i was first greeted by lovely coffee foam art. call me a picky coffee drinker, this latte was overbrewed, proven by its over-bitterness. (btw, i know coffee is supposed to be bitter but good coffee has a great balance of bitterness and tartness) so i wasn't a huge fan of this glass of latte.

cake 10 | cheesecake (rm 10)the dessert choices of the day were also as limited as their entree menu. my sister picked out a cheesecake, which had a base that i'd venture a guess was oreo crumb crust. perhaps an oreo cheesecake? sadly, there was something slightly off putting about the flavors, which was also too sweet for me. there was the occasional punch of mint, which i am not a fan of and neither is the edible confetti on the cake.

burps & giggles has a promising menu with a huge selection that could make boys burp and girls giggle except it didn't really happen for us. with a some finesse in the execution of food, it could leave us in stitches.

for more photos and full review, check it out at http://sians.blogspot.com/2014/02/ipoh-burps-giggle.html

being a coffee junkie, searching for the best coffee in town is inevitable.

found a favorite in kl (and that is illy) and it is the foodie's job to not settle and find for one that tops the best! my visit to whisk was spurred by a newspaper article, detailing how the petite shop started and the person behind it. i wanted to try it simply because it was coffee and it sounded promising!a petite cafe just a couple of shops away from jaya grocer in empire shopping gallery, whisk was set up in the simplest, rustic way that can only be described homemade but in a nice way, clad in a theme of black and white. the space was small and the seats limited. the cakes proudly presents themselves on a pedestal of glass cake stands while beckoning you to take a bite into a slice of your favorite dessert choice(s) with a cup of warm coffee.

espresso bar :: caffe latte (rm 11)my yard stick for all espresso based drinks - the latte. the simplicity of espresso and milk is not a mere task but requires finesse and mastery to produce a good quality cup of latte. oh and the mood of the barista helps too so be nice to them

the big question comes with the first sip of latte that i took. did that cup of latte take over the throne of yumminess from illy's? not quite but it's very close. whisk's caffe latte now reigns as one of the my other favorite cuppa joes which is stole my heart in a different way than illy's did. whisk's latte took of a more full bodied, creamy, smooth approach that complimented the coffee/espresso itself. the bitter note that ends with every sip of the latte was mellowed by the lovely milk creating a delicate balance between the two. yum!

the desserts enticed and i responded by giving in. a slice of red velvet cake makes it to our table with some expectations of what it will taste like. it was slightly overly sweet and i thought the cocoa was masked by the other ingredients of the cream cheese frosting. it was alright but doesn't give my favorite red velvet cupcake a run for its money.

where there is good lattes and coffee, you know you'd see me there and whisk is one that i wouldn't mind returning for more.

located in troika, acme bar & coffee (abbreviated to abc) is just a couple of blocks away from ampang park lrt station. as i entered the cafe (which btw has a splendid outdoor patio - sadly, not ideal with the noise and dust from the kl traffic), i was awed by the high ceiling, the essence of a rustic industrial decor approach peppered with vintage chic accents. to top it off, ceiling high windows all around the cafe where the natural lighting filled the room entirely in a grandoise manner.utterly and completely right up my alley...

needless to say, i fell in love with the place.

i've been meaning to come here since i first heard about the cafe like months ago. i was so excited that i did some research on what the other foodies had to say about their food - i even had a dish in mind before i even entered the cafe.

as luck would have it, the dish that i wanted was no longer offered on the menu.

bummer.it then took me twice as long to order since i was still trying getting over my disappointment of my disappearing dish that i wanted from the menu that i had to triple check to make sure i was certain that i didn't miss it.

tea :: honey yuzu | natural renewal green tea. bright, exotic citron flavor of yuzu and special reserve green tea sweetened with full blossom bee pollen (rm 15)as the menu aptly described it, the tea was light with a mild citrus flavor which was sweetened slightly from the honey. my first whiff of the tea highlighted the yuzu in a gentle manner and it was a refreshing warm tea, perfect for a rainy afternoon.

tea :: coco truffle | a deeply rich chocolate brew, airy with fennel, licorice and cardamom to produce a soothing, guilt-free indulgence. seductively delicious that delights the palate and treats the soul (rm 17)i definitely had tea envy and vowed to get this brew for my next visit to acme. a steep price for a cuppa tea but it's just so yummy! (yes, the pun was intended.. hehe ;) )

pots & pans :: root vegetable truffled fries | mix of sweet potato, lotus root & yam fries lightly drizzled with truffle oil (rm 13)it is because i missed truffle so much i was willing to try my luck with this one. a colorful mix of thick cut starches with the offerings of purple and regular yam in addition to slices of lotus roots and sweet potato. it was so greasy that even the bowl was coated in oil. and unfortunately, they weren't crispy as i would have expected BUT it was completely cooked through. on another positive note, the touch of truffle flavor was sufficient to affirm its presence but not overwhelmingly so.

my favorite was the lotus root which was crispier than the rest followed by the purple yam with its natural sweetness that contrasted the sprinkle of salt in a very delicious way.

main :: mushroom pot quiche | vegetarian - creamy mushroom chunks, leek in semolina crust pot (rm 27)

served with a side salad of mixed greens and red & yellow bell peppers slices tossed in a light and citrus-y vinaigrette, topped with fried little drops of dough spiced with cumin for textural difference but the spice threw the flavor combinations a little off balance.the pot quiche in general was disappointing. the bottom crust which was nutty and crumbly was alright but the top crust with cheese baked on the quiche was slightly off putting texturally and in taste. the generous serving of mushrooms were cooked and seasoned beautifully, weaved in the egg "filling" but the quiche as a whole was not agreeable with me. just not a fan.we saved room for dessert from the beginning and despite their tantalizing selection of cakes, our final pick was acme's signature cake which was given the thumbs up by a couple of food bloggers.

desserts :: jackfruit cake | depends on availability (rm 15)

a signature creation of the cafe, probably because of its novel and interesting choice of flavor of jackfruit. crusted with chopped pistachios on the sides, the sponge cake was layered with this local tropical fruit frosting.perhaps it was an off day for the pastry chef, but while the cake was airy, it definitely required the frosting to compensate for the slightly dry texture of the cake. the cake tasted vanilla and the jackfruit flavor was too mild that it lacked that floral fruity sweetness you'd expect. to top it off, it was too sweet for my liking. this spelled a second strike for acme :/

acme bar & coffee's ambiance and decor and its amazing selection of tea is sufficient to entice me to return for a second time, perhaps with an interesting story book in hand. its lackluster food, however cannot justify the price it asks for although it could be the choice of dishes i picked may not have worked for my taste.

but i believe in second chances and the other selections acme has to offer since i wanna love this place not just for the ambiance but for its food as well. and after all, acme is defined "the point at which someone or something is best, perfect, or most successful" and i hope it lives up to its name.

namoo {나무} translates to tree in korean.

namoo also happens to brand a korean dessert cafe and bistro.

quite an intriguing name for a korean restaurant, if you asked me. located in publika, mont kiara, the minds behind this restaurant explained that tree conveys the feelings of warmth, comfort and naturalness.the creators of this restaurant definitely enlivened those feelings through their cozy decor. they hit the right chords (with me, at least) when they picked the concept of vintage flair nestled within modern contemporary - a apt representation of their korean food approach.

the front as you enter the entrance through the mall

there is also outdoor dining available which also houses live performances in the evenings occasionally.one cool thing that i don't see at a lot restaurants is the hook under the table to accommodate bags, which is rather convenient. i didn't even notice until i looked at the 'note' printed on the napkin.

i was curious to see what kind of twists they would bring to the "authentic" korean classics so {wy} and i ordered a noodle and rice dish to give a bit of a variety.

rice :: garlic bulgogi rice | korean marinated beef and fried garlic served on top of rice (rm19.90)i was thrilled when they served a small serving of kimchi as a side. the soy marinated beef had the usual suspects that gave it its savory, very subtle hint of sweetness but overall, it was mediocre. the sliced onions could have used a but more caramelization.the beef was moist but the dish was lacking something that i can't quite pinpoint - the overall dish was almost monotonous. however, the saving grace was when i had bites with the caramelized garlic that gave another flavor dimension to each bite which perhaps was their twist to the classic.
oh and the kimchi? it wasn't bad but it wasn't the best that i've had. tart, slightly spicy and fermented. hehe.

noodles :: spicy seafood ramen | korean ramen noodles with prawn, mussel, seaweed and hard boiled egg in our chef's special soup (rm18.90)

at first sniff, the aroma reminded me of the korean instant noodles, shin ramyun that i love.. the soup submersed the treasures that were soon revealed with a scoop of a pair of chopsticks.the noodles were cooked to perfection with the right amount of chew. the seafood included a generous portion of two large shrimp and two mussels which were fresh and cooked just enough to enhance its natural sweetness. the flavor of the soup was actually akin to shin ramyun that i am very much familiar with - warm in a comforting manner, salty (in a good way) and mildly spicy with the flavor of seafood highlighted in the clarity and fullness of the soup. i think {wy} and i agreed that this was the better of the two entrees we had.did it cross the line into modern interpretation of a classic? not quite.

{wy} and i thought for a moment whether to end the meal with a dessert here or somewhere else. our resolves were weakened at the selections of dessert that sounded tempting.

korean specialty dessert {warm} :: hottuk pancake | your choice of berries, banana or chocolate peanut butter (rm12.90)we were in the mood for some decadence and satisfaction so we decided to go for the chocolate peanut butter. i was actually excited to try their updated version featuring one of the popular and favorite street food snacks in south korea, the korean pancake. the traditional rendition of hotteok (namoo calls it hottuk) usually filled with brown sugar, peanuts and cinnamon.the huge disc of dough was slathered generously with peanut butter coupled with finishes of chocolate syrup and finally topped with assorted nuts. the hotteok on its own was cripsy shell encasing the warm, soft but at the same time chewy and inching a lil bit into the realm of being too sweet. the peanuts contributed a textural difference while the cinnamon was a strong feature, which oddly went well with the peanut butter and the dark chocolate syrup.

however, the amount of the peanut butter was too much that it drowned the potential awesomeness from the combination of the different flavor profiles into one. in fact, all i could really remember was the flavors of peanut butter and cinnamon.

the dessert also came with vanilla ice cream, which surprisingly managed to mellow all the loudness that was happening with the peanut butter, chocolate syrup and the cinnamon sugar. don't get me wrong, i love the pop of the flavors but i'd appreciate a lil restrain to strike the right balance. the ice cream is key to complete and balance the dish, and i could say that it was almost the hero of the dessert that managed to save the day.

was their interpretation managed bring this dessert "out of the box" of norm? i'd say so.

when i asked my friends about the other dishes here at namoo, two of them have tried what people usually flock to the restaurant for - the rice burger where the patty is sandwiched in between rice "buns". both of them responded with an unsatisfactory due to the dryness of the burger overall. but general consensus was that sweet potato cake was not to be missed and i should probably heed that advise if i returned to namoo for a second time.

namoo had a couple of hits and misses but with some finesse in execution could lead it in the right direction. unlike my other korean food experiences thus far, namoo openly celebrates the modern flair they bring to the classic favorites - some in a more obvious way than others, which i had fun tasting what these differences could give to tradition that has been tested and adored over generations.

more photos can be found on sians.blogspot.com