it is very natural to want to fit in.

in fact, garage51 seemed to have taken the notion of fitting in the neighborhood to another level - down to its very name. located in bandar sunway, this cafe under coffee societe's repertoire, drew whimsy decor inspiration from its car workshops/garages neighbors. hence, the name garage and 51 is simply the building number.

firstly, finding a parking space here is almost just as bad as trying to find a parking spot in midvalley on the weekends :: CHALLENGINGLY DIFFICULT just like finding one of the golden tickets to willy wonka's factory. i'd say it's a good idea to bring a leprechaun or a rabbit's foot with you for luck or simply have a ton of patience.the line out the door and extensive waiting list as we requested for a table for two, confirmed the cafe's popularity. the space was petite with a quarter of a second floor to accommodate more tables. the hues were kept to the basic black & white, echo-ing the whimsical industrial approach with its smooth concrete floor, while being the ideal background for some bright colored oil barrels, converted into seats. these were complimented by the rustic tables and metal chairs.with publika's coffee societe's grabbing the coveted award by time out kl for the best place for coffee 2o13 and my love for coffee, i had to get me one of those.

white coffee :: latte (rm 8.9o)

soy latte - my usual go-to cuppa joe for new cafes to confirm the skills of the barista.

the good: a perfect ratio of foam to coffee for latte.the lacking: unfortunately, the espresso was overbrewed, leaving an unpleasant bitter aftertaste and dominating my palate that i was completely distracted, followed by distraught that i didn't notice the other elements of milk and temperature of the drink. the coffee beans were so blatantly over brewed, noticeable via observation when i compared my glass of late to {owy}'s regular latte - the shade of my latte closely resembled a mocha instead.

oh, the inconsistencies :/

to be fair, {owy}'s latte displayed a better balance of bitterness mellowed by the creaminess of the milk. however, not enough to displace my top favorite from its pedestal.

weekend's brunch :: roll-with-a-hole | smashed avocado on bagel with salsa, sliced salmon, cream cheese (rm 18)
the bagel was somewhat fresh with a nice chewy softness but surprisingly the upper half displayed a different texture that was a tad dense. a thin slather of cream cheese spread (wished for slightly more) to impart a creamy tanginess to counter the sweetness of the diced tomatoes, and the mild saltiness of the thin, raw salmon slices. the dish worked as a whole but a few more slices of the salmon would have bring a balanced ratio of fish to bagel.the side salad was a mix of greens and cherry tomatoes tossed in a garlic-y sweet vinaigrette which did not connect with the flavors the bagel had to offer.

tldr: the dish as a whole was okay.
room for improvement: a better salmon/avocado/tomato ratio to bagel and perhaps a pinch of salt.


weekend's brunch :: kipferl jr | croissant with egg mayo (rm 12)

{owy} was craving for buttery and flaky croissant. i had a bite of the egg mayo and was taken aback by the taste. two words: mayo overload!the mayo was overused that it felt it was mayo with a side of smashed eggs combined together. mayo was all i could taste and the richness of the mayo becomes too much very quickly. not something either {owy} or myself would order again.

garage 51 has left us a little disappointed with the food and my coffee (well, {owy}'s latte was miles better than mine) considering the trouble we took with the parking. in fact, this experience has left me wondering if i'd return for a second visit anytime soon

for full review and more photos: http://sians.blogspot.com

like with every story, it always begins with the introduction..

...followed by getting to know each other....

yeast and i didn't start out awesome. in fact, yeast kinda played hard to get...

the first time i was looking forward to its brunch, i was greeted by closed doors because they decided to take the day off on a public holiday.even so, i didn't call it quits with yeast. instead, it made me want to eat there more. my determination did not waver and i had dinner plans there set in stone the week after even though my original intention was brunch. and boy, oh boy, was i so happy when they were opened for business.as the sun was setting for the evening, the petite cafe that predominantly shone in bright mustard yellow that matched the evening atmosphere was tastefully paired with chess tiled floor while the decor comprised of vintage paintings and chalkboards with daily specials. the yellow walls were complemented by the maroon furniture and light fixtures that were dimmed to create a cozy ambiance. in fact, it was reminiscent of what i'd imagine a french cafe in paris would be.the dinner menu selections, with their names in french (which i will probably never attempt to say them cos that would force me to butcher the beautiful language) offer from entrees to pastas. thank goodness for their translation to english so i could comfortably order my meal without having to guess what the french word means... 'parfait'!

since yeast is an apt name for a lovely french boulangerie, we were so happy to be served freshly baked, warm french baguette with a side of soft butter especially when two starving people are sitting by the counter where the chefs were creating yummy smells. i am not sure if it is a good thing that i could watch how many spatula-full of butter that goes into each dish even though butter makes everything better.the rustic bread had the crispy shell that encased the chewy soft bread insides that describes the plain original baguette, served with rich, creamy butter was the wonderful introduction to what yeast does best. the other variation of the baguette had a nuttier flavor from the seeds and grains which also gave an additional textural difference.

pasta :: spaghetti de fruits de mer "en mariniere" | seafood spaghetti, garlic, shallots, white wine parsley sauce (rm 40)pride fills me up when i could still remember that fruits de mer translates to seafood from french. adorned with two butterflied, shell-on shrimps, the pasta is tossed in a light white wine sauce with a generous serving of clams and squid subsequently garnished with chopped parsley.imparting a strong seafood flavor to capture the essence of the dish, the fresh shrimps and clams were cooked to perfection, parading its natural sweetness in the white wine sauce that whispered flavors of garlic and shallots. however, the calamari was slightly overdone (very slightly) making them a little bit chewy. the pasta was cooked al dente and seasoned wonderfully all around. surprisingly, the parsley was not as pronounced which i would have prefer since it could have brought a freshness and on top of that, it could have probably used a splash of fresh lemon juice or a sprinkle of lemon zest.

tldr version: good but it wasn't outstanding.

pasta :: risotto de courge et confit de canard copeaux de parmesan | butternut squash & duck confit risotto, shaved parmesan cheese (rm 42){owy} offered a taste of her risotto which i was very excited when she did. the dish represented such beautiful colors that mimicked the colors of my favorite-est season, romantic fall.

the tender and flavorful savory, gamey duck confit that was further accentuated by the flavorful stock the creamy but undercooked risotto. the butternut squash lent a lovely sweetness that was contrasted by the stock and the sharpness of the parmesan. the flavor profile represented a delicate yumminess and could have been something really stunning if not for the slightly crunchy risotto.

post-entree, they presented us with the dessert menu and it was a challenge to say no. it was just easier for me to give in and just pick one to share to officially complete the whole dining experience.

it came down to madeleines chaudes, profiteroles or the souffle but after discussions with the waitstaff, souffle was our pick.

cheese & desserts :: souffle au chocolat, glace noisette | valrhona chocolate souffle, hazelnut ice cream (rm 22)
the dessert menu warned that the souffle would take an additional 15 minutes to bake.we asked the waitstaff if we really had to wait for 15 minutes but he promised it would be done 10 minutes..lol (not that we were pressed for time, we were just wondering) when it was served, i was ecstatic to see how high the souffle puffed & rose where a hazelnut ice cream quenelle pierced the soft, airy, pudding-like chocolate delight, gradually melting in the warm nest of chocolate. funnily, souffle actually means puff in french.

checking off all the criteria that makes an ideal souffle, this chocolate souffle had a melting texture, with a barely cooked and soft, creamy center hidden within the light and high dessert although there were occasional crunch from the sugar. rich on the chocolate creaminess which was great but unfortunately, it was cloyingly sweet that took away what was right about the dessert. the hazelnut ice cream added to the sweetness too which didn't help in this case.

one guy whom i can only guess is the owner of the restaurant came up to us and asked us if we enjoyed the meal to which we responded that the dessert was too sweet in our opinion for our liking. it was very proactive of the restaurant owner to collect feedback from his diners, and return to the back of the kitchen to try out the batter to reconfirm with our comments to share with their pastry chef to see if they could further improve their quality.


yeast bistronomy (bistronomy is coined from the combination of bistro and gastronomy) featured the makings of yummy plats français (french dishes) where the classics shine through the skills of the people behind the stove albeit the pricing is a little steep. i know i'd love to go back for the risotto but this time it will be all mine!

even after our dinner experience, i still had intense cravings to get back to yeast for brunch which was the story for the weekend that followed. so wait for it in the next entry for yeast at brunch

find more photos and original post at http://sians.blogspot.com/2013/10/yeast-bistronomy-at-night.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.

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

since i am a creature of habit, i enjoy the warm coffee offerings immensely even though the weather here is hot & humid... so evidently, i tend to gravitate to things that i know are awesomely yummylicious.

that's probably also the reason behind the inevitable sighting of me making a beeline towards espressamente illy so often for a glass of addictive caffeine loaded creaminess it's currently reigning as my favorite coffee place to go. caffeine cravings? give espressamente illy a shot and maybe you'd find your favorite cuppa joe here

read more about it here :: http://sians.blogspot.com/2013/01/espressamente-illy.html