Krcma v Satlavaske, or Tavern on Satlavaske Street in Cesky Krumlov is where we had one of the best meals during our time in Europe.  The restaurant is set up in a stony, narrow dungeon with a low ceiling, exuding an ancient aura, mimicking an unique medieval dining experience.

The interior is rustic with wooden furnishing and knick knacks on display,

while dim lighting and flickering candles and a sense of mystery.

To start off the meal, we had mead, or honey wine.  Mead is a popular drink in Cesky Krumlov and the flavors from different restaurant can vary drastically.  The mead from Krcma v Satlavske is warm without any spices.  The punch from the alcohol is light and it is the sweetest amongst a few I’ve tried, tasting quite similar to dessert wine.

The pork knuckle here is AMAZING ! It even beats the ones we’ve tried in Germany, the land of all things pork.  It’s an enormous piece sufficient for sharing for two and it’s just under 10 Euros !

The pork knuckle has a superb crisp skin with basic seasoning of salt, black pepper and a bit of herbs.  It came with purple sauerkraut, mustard (the smooth suace on the left bottom corner) and the textured white horseradish next to it.  I like the pork knuckle the best when paired with the fresh horseradish, which has a similar punch and texture to freshly ground wasabi.

The skin layer is usually the fattest part of the pork knuckle, but surprisingly this one is hardly oily.

The meat is cured with just the right amount of salt to give it a beautiful pink hue without being harshyly salty.

We didn’t see our pork knuckle being grilled on the open fire grill as we were sitting outside, but the grill is one fine piece of beauty, adjoined to the ceiling with heavy-duty metal grill pans.

I did catch a bunch of other meats sizzling in action, where an alluring aroma of barbecue permeates the air.

Just in case you don’t want to get that same aroma on your clothing, the tavern has an outdoor terrace seating area, decorated with paintings on wooden panels, with bunch of happily feasting people the subject of painting.

As for service, we had interacted with various staffs at the restaurant and found that the male staffs were the ones that were totally affable, patient while the female staffs were not too passionate and even a bit sulky.

The restaurant is very popular and I would recommend to make a reservation before going.  The only reason that we got a table was because we were there early at 5 pm and by then most of the tables already had a “reserved” on them.

More Info
Address : Horní 157, entrance from v Šatlavské Ul, 38101 Český Krumlov
Opening Hours : Daily 11 am – 12 pm.
Tel: 380 713344

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So another coffee specialist cafe – The Ficca’s Cafe, has opened in Ipoh.  The vast range of coffees such as balancing coffee, liqueur coffee, single origin coffee and Turkish coffee should satisfy any coffee aficionado. 

The nifty balancing coffee is from Belgium, where the swift mechanism of coffee brewing is an art in itself (RM 20, portion for 2 persons). The brewing process starts off with a balanced apparatus, i.e. the metal vacuum flask with water and the glass flask with coffee are balanced. The burner is set on flame to boil the water in the metal flask.

Once the water is boiled, it gets pushed up in the metal flask and it is siphoned through the tube into the glass flask on the left, and in a split second, the balanced apparatus becomes lopsided and the burner cap closes automatically.

When the metal flask cools, the coffee crawls back again to the metal flask again via suction – what an amazing automated system ! The brewing process is repeated again by flaming the burner.

At the end of the second brew, pressure is released from the metal flask and coffee is drained into our dainty cups. The coffee is light, fragrant and subtly bitter.  Not overwhelmingly strong though I am not sure if this could be the culprit of my sleepless night on the particular day I drank it.

The last balancing act is when the last sip of coffee is drained out, the apparatus becomes lopsided on the other side and completes the drinking cycle.

There are a few liqueur coffees available at Ficca’s – Irish, Rum Correto, Whiskey Corretto, Kahlua Corretto, Irish Corretto and Brandy Corretto.

This one is Irish coffee (RM 20) – with a captivating scent of whisky and a dash of cream falling like snow.

To go with our coffee, we had ham sandwich and bacon sandwich which were a tad heavy on the dressing. Nothing too surprising about the sandwiches (RM 8.90 each).

At the moment, there aren’t too many choices for food except for sandwiches and desserts.  But if you love coffee, this would be the place for you

More Info : Non Halal
Ficca’s Cafe Facebook
Address : 15, Jalan Bharu, Ipoh, Perak
Opening Hours : 11 am to 11 pm

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Johnny Rockets serves timeless American dishes like nachos, Philly cheese steaks, hot dogs, burgers and milkshakes while reliving the good old American Diners’ atmosphere where classic checkered floor in black and white and the red interior make a striking visual statement.    

The drinks at Johnny Rockets are very old schooled like the strawberry shake (RM 15.90), which is quite frozen to start off but becomes mushy and creamy later on.  I haven’t had milkshakes in a long time and it brings back childhood memories of drinking milkshakes (at McDonald’s) only during special occasions.

The diet coke float (RM 9.90) is a fizzy delight.

The burgers have very iconic names, such as the Route 66 (RM 24.90) and the Houston (RM 25.90).  The burgers are available in both beef and chicken.

The Route 66 is an appetizing giant with chicken patty, a pile of grilled mushroom, grilled onions and Swiss cheese, though the onions could have been grilled longer for a softer texture.

The Houston is actually more or less the same as the above, but it has jalapeno peppers instead of mushrooms and onions.

Kinda wished the patties were a little more gourmet but the entertaining atmosphere with a jiving bunch of staff makes up for it.

More Info: Halal
Johnny Rockets Malaysia Facebook
Address : various outlets in Avenue K KL, The Curve PJ, Paviliion KL, Sunway Pyramid PJ and KLIA 2 Sepang.

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Every time we drive past Sae Ma Eul Korean BBQ restaurant in Solaris Mont Kiara, it’s always brimming with people, to the extent that patrons are spilled over to the Korean cafe next door.  During peak hours, the place is packed and the BBQ fires generate enough smoke to escape this semi-open outlet to create a light layer of smoky veil.   

Barbecuing at Sae Ma Eul is quite different from the typical Korean restaurants.  The BBQ method is very rustic and outdoors where you barbecue atop an open fire pit.

The spicy riceballs (RM 20) comes in a seemingly shocking portion with a big bunch of rice, seaweed and a pair of gloves.  It’s a win-win for both the patron and the restaurateur because we get to have some fun, mixing up ingredients and making little rice balls ourselves, while the restaurateur saves the labor of preparing for the patrons !

Now the portion looks much more reasonable after compacting them into 7 firey rice-balls with chili flakes, chili paste and seaweed.

It’s tempting to grab one rice-ball and chow it down right away as they already look so tempting, especially when I put in the effort to make it, but it’s even better to grill the rice-balls for an enhanced aroma.

We had two meats – pork ribs marinated in special soy sauce (RM27) and spicy belly (RM 23), which we had to grill for ourselves; or you may request the staff to grill for you.

While I attempted the barbecuing, there were a few awkward moments of trying to pick up the meat with my right hand and scissoring with the left, then figured it was better vice versa.  It actually takes some time to get used to, unless you are ambidextrous.

Barbecuing on top of direct fire has its beauty where meat is cooked super fast and sizzles even more when fats or oils are dripped onto the fire.

The downside is, meat burns super fast too so you gotta watch them diligently and move them quickly away from the fire source.  Wasted a few pieces of good meat there as I was not careful !

There’s a comic strip on the wall of “How to Enjoy Sae Ma Eul BBQ”.  Browse it quickly to save the sorrow.

More Info
Sae Ma Eul BBQ Facebook
Address : 1-G JALAN SOLARIS 4 MONT KIARA 50480, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Opening Hours : 6 pm – 11pm.

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Well known for their unique levitation pre-wedding photography, Valentino Bridal House has also ventured into cafe business.  Glamorous in seductive red and opulent black, the candle-lit cafe with its lovey dovey music in the background and the occasional live piano music will undoubtedly bring two hearts closer.  There aren’t a whole lot of items on the menu but food is exquisite with contemporary plating.  If you happen to be doing a bridal shoot there, visit the cafe afterwards and not before, or otherwise you won’t be able to “levitate” !

Drinking one of the signature drinks – the citrus-y, pinkish, blood orange “zero-gravity” drink  was like drinking out of a dangling crystal ball (RM 12.80).  It would have been fun to try the other signature drink – the “fish bowl”, drinking a blue juice from a fish-bowl-look-alike glass.

The simple camomile tea (RM9.80).

Smashing chicken chop is always a good reason to come back for more (RM 19.80).

The St Peter’s Fish is aptly pan-fried with golden edges and topped with a creamy sauce (RM 31.80).  The salad on the side is interesting with onions and pomegranate bits, though the mint sauce may not be the best dressing to go with it.

The mismatched macarons adorned with a few splashes of colors are fabulous where fillings of rich chocolate and subtle raspberry are sure palate pleasers (RM 18 for 4 pieces).

The cafe has a basic menu of a few items – chicken chop, lamb chop, beef, fish and pasta.  Lunch and dinner sets are available with add ons of drink and dessert to the main course.  The lunch sets are decently priced while dinner sets seem a bit exorbitant it’s almost the same as ordering a la carte.

More Info : Non Halal
Valentino Bridal Cafe Facebook
Address: 54 Jalan Raja Musa Aziz, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Opening Hours : 12 pm – 10.30 pm

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The Trade Museum ( or C. K. Kupecký krám a Muzeum Ochodu) in Cesky Krumlov is a tiny museum that entails a history of trade, showcasing items from the 19th century. I thought it was a boutique store selling some vintage stuff at first because I didn’t see the museum sign.  I only realized that it was museum when I saw most of the things were displayed with a glass shield.

A 19th century grocery store probably looks like this.

The three exhibition themes in the museum include : Advertising Materials,

2.  Antique Cash Registers,

and 3. Containers & Packaging.  The containers were commonly used in grocery stores back then for goods batching.

I spotted the Nivea Creme containers and thought that its present logo didn’t vary too much from its predecessor.

The museum is really small it probably won’t take you more than 10 minutes to look around, but I enjoyed checking it out.

More Information
Museum Obchodu Official Website
Entrance Fee : Free
Address : Near the vicinity of the old town square.

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O Cafe (2号小厨) is located in Canning Garden, featuring Hakka cuisine that has captured our hearts.  It has a signboard, but not exactly strategically placed as it is placed on the floor.  The only thing prominent about the cafe is the big “2” on the facade, which would be the best thing to note if you are looking for the cafe. 

The cafe is delightful in sunny colors while old match boxes and paper baskets exude a hint of nostalgia.

I used to make these paper baskets when I was like 8 years old ! Not sure if people still make these anymore !

The cuisine is full of warmth; prepared with affection and somewhat old fashioned too. Everything plays a prominent role in this chicken rice wine mee sua – the generous splash of rice wine, the crisp wood ear fungus, the punchy ginger, the succulent chicken, the mee sua mopping up the soup and with a dash of sweetness, it’s fantastic and full of character (RM 14.90).

The bowlful of braised pork in crimson red is luscious and paired with thinly shredded wood ear fungus to create a texture contrast.

The vegetarian curry is light on the flavor of curry and has a heavy dose of santan, which we not only ate everything but slurped everything too (RM 8.90).

Floral tea at RM 4.50.

Other items on the menu include stir-fry noodles, braised tofu + egg, steamed pomfret, three cups chicken, vegetables and more.

More Info : Non Halal
O Cafe Facebook
Address : No 2, Jalan Raja Kam, canning garden, Ipoh, Perak
Opening Hours : 11 am – 8 pm.

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Browns Cafe has been operating for the past few years in the clubbing strip of Ipoh Garden East, also observing night opening hours from 6 pm – 1 am.  It has recently gone through a facelift, jiving with the glittering clubbing scene, while also maintaining a whimsical charm. 

Beneath the mirror lies a row of stones.  Not any stones, but stones you can write well wishes on, or basically anything you feel like writing in that particular moment.

This one is totally abstract that says “elephant leg with hippo head” !

Charming murals all over the cafe.

You can have some fun with board games too if you wish.

Since the mini burgers on the menu is chef’s recommendation, I gave it a go.  While the chicken patty used isn’t the gourmet kind, the details put into assembling the burger deserves some kudos for a fulfilling dish at only RM 10.50.  Each of the little buns are buttered, grilled, and each burger has shreds of carrots, cabbages and lettuce, topped with mayonnaise and barbecue sauce.  A generous bunch of lanky French fries gives you enough carbohydrates to go clubbing until 3 am.

Orange juice for RM 8.50.

Browns Cafe’s ,menu is rather old-school with some “char chaan teng” kind of food.  Chicken chop, lamb chop all have 4 kinds of sauces or more to choose from, while Nissin noodles, ramen, sandwiches, spaghetti, coffee, beer and mocktails are not lacking. The flower pot dessert looks good but I didn’t get a chance to try.

Enjoy a few more photos below

More Information : Non Halal
Browns Cafe Facebook
Address :38 Jalan Medan Ipoh 4, Bandar Baru Medan Ipoh, 31400 Ipoh, Perak.
Opening Hours : 6 pm – 1 am

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Cafe De Casalingo is a bit in the middle of nowhere.  If you are on the way to KL via the Simpang Pulai toll, the Cafe might be a good pit stop as it’s on the way.  Precisely that too, the cafe offers some of the most affordable dishes in town, with set lunches in the range of RM 14.90 – RM 16.90, inclusive of starter, main course and a drink.  In fact, nothing is over RM 20 here.

Pork chop is one of the easiest thing to make and it would easily please anyone as it is comfort food.  Surprisingly it’s not present in most of the cafes in Ipoh.  Now I’ve found it at De Casalingo, I know where to go when I have craving for pork chop ! The three slices of pork chops are pan-fried, drizzled with an onion-based red wine sauce and accompanied by buttery mashed potatoes, a small salad and fruits (RM 14.90).

The hot chocolate is so-so though (RM 5.90).

Other items on De Casalingo’s menu include beer, snacks, spaghetti, panini, mini burgers and a good range of charcoal burgers with fish, chicken, bacon or pork chop to choose from.  Items like grilled chicken, lamb chop are available in both East and West style – either with mashed potatoes or with rice.

More Info : Non Halal
De Casalingo Facebook
Address : 10 Lebuh Papangan Siber 2, Bandar Cyber Ipoh
Opening Hours : 12 pm – 10 pm.  Closed on Thursdays.

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With name like “Little Korea” it’s pretty easy to conjure up images of classic Korean dishes like samgyetang and barbecue.  Barbecue may be more or less similar in Korean restaurants, but depending on the way it’s cut, the taste and texture is highly variable and I did find one type of barbecue pork “dae pae samgeopsal” that has just become my favorite barbecue dish.

Nine different appetizers to start off the meal.

“Samgeopsal” is basically pork belly, and “dae pae samgeopsal” (RM 29) is the thinly shaved version of it.  Because it is so thin, the meat browns very quickly and evenly with crisp edges, making it rather chewy to the bite. It’s sort of like jerky but not as tough.

“Samgeopsal Gochujang” (RM 29) is another version of pork belly; this time in chunky form and mildly seasoned with chili powder.

Although “samgyetang” or ginseng chicken is not the usual dish we order, the young chicken is super tender and the medium-bodied soup is laced with flavors of ginseng and glutinous rice.

Lastly, the rice drink dessert always marks a sweet ending.

More Info :
Address : Jalan Solaris 1, Solaris Mont Kira, 50480 KL, Malaysia
Opening Hours : Daily 12 pm to 11 pm.

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Head over to The Sandwich – Calorie Reckoner for a healthy meal that’s fulfilling yet guilt-free.  No kidding about the “calorie reckoner” part because all the sandwiches are calculated with the value of calories, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins indicated.  Simply pick the sandwich with the lowest calories and fats if you are on a diet.

We took the chicken teriyaki sandwich (RM 6.80) and the snow crab stick sandwich (RM 9.80).

The snow crab stick sandwich is uncommon where an ensemble of whole wheat bread, vegetables and plenty of snow crab sticks create a curious sensation.  The chicken teriyaki sandwich is alright but it doesn’t stand out in particular.

I wanted to try the prosciutto with green beans soup but it wasn’t available so I went with the pumpkin soup, an unpretentious and delectable soup with natural flavors of pumpkin (RM 3.50 as an add on to the sandwich, RM 5.80 as a la carte).

Other sandwich choices include smoked duck, chicken breast mayo, golden prawn, chicken ham and more; mostly under RM 10.

More Info : Non Halal
The Sandwich – Calorie Reckoner Facebook
Address : 9 Jalan Medan Ipoh 1E, Bandar Baru Medan Ipoh, 31400 Perak, Malaysia.
Opening Hours : 10 am – 6 pm.

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There’s something bubbly about the earth-toned Foods Project Cafe at Sunway Ipoh where wooden facade embellished with multi-colored lettering initiates a prelude to the cafe experience.   

The cafe has a harmonious blend of both cool and warm palette in blue, brown and white.

It’s crafty with many DIY elements where tables and chairs are created out of pallets and random wood pieces.  Plenty of tiny wooden squares are put to good use, making a nice center piece with a clock hidden among them; and the swing with a monkey hanging from the tree is a nice touch.

Malay Chatime (RM 3.90)  – the name is self explanatory which is basically milk tea with cincau.

The apple asam boi (or apple juice with sour plum) is not fully sieved so you still get a bit of texture from the mushy fruity flesh (RM 3.90).

The Mee Rebus Mama (RM 7.90) cooked by the owner’s mother is smothered in an orang-y, tantalizing gravy with a flavorsome medley of of sweetness and various spices.

We ordered the “Laksa Penang” as stated on the menu and assumed we would be getting asam laksa.  The laksa here is not as expected as it doesn’t have the sourish flavor from the asam, but still as hearty with a bit of fishiness, topped with chili padi, chopped onions, egg and a whiff of spices.

The cafe has a characteristic veranda that would be just the place to chillax while enjoying toe scenery of the green field and the mountains afar, especially when dusk falls and the temperature becomes cooler.

The cafe serves a mix of Malay and Western dishes such as nasi kerabu, nasi dagang, pasta, burgers and cakes.  There weren’t a whole lot of cakes left on the shelf, but they do have a few selections that look interesting on the menu such as the daim slice, the pavlova and the batik cake – the more reason to come back for.

More Info : Halal
Foods Project Cafe Facebook
Address :No. 1, Jalan SCI 1/7, Sunway City, Ipoh, Perak, Malasia
Opening Hours : 4 pm to 12 am.  Closed on Mondays.

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Vegan Life Restaurant in Ipoh Garden advocates for not just only vegetarian, but also healthy eating using less oil, less salt and less sugar.  The interior is literally green too and resonates with the ideology.  I was dumbfounded when I was looking through the menu because everything looks so good, so natural and I had a hard time choosing – should I take the mee hoon made with brown rice? Or the konjac/konnyaku rice with minimal calories? Or the 10 grain porridge which really should be the way to obtain your essential nutrients ? Or the vegetarian fish topped with herbal toona sinensis sauce – a sauce that’s popular in Taiwan but not too commonly seen in Malaysia ?

After all that pondering, I went with the vegan tomato seaweed porridge with 10 grains, which came piping hot in a claypot (RM 7.99).  At first glace, the unexpected reddish color surprised me because I was expecting something white as usual.  One sip of the porridge solves the mystery as the red color comes from the copious amount of tomatoes used, stewed to mushy, and rendering the natural sweetness of the fruit into the porridge.

The porridge is textured with different grains such as red beans, barley and brown rice.  And with plenty of mushrooms, seaweed and goji berries, the porridge is a hearty meal bursting with wholesome flavors.

Vegan Life Restaurant serves  a good variety of both Asian and Western food, many in the range of RM 10 or less.  I am definitely going to come back here again

More Info : Vegetarian
Vegan Life Ipoh Facebook
Address :  25 Jalan Medan Ipoh 7, Bandar Medan Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

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The gorgeous Petit Mary Patisserie has got to be Ipoh’s most beautiful pastry house with a European flair in the color combination of the clouds and the sky.  

The charming pastel colors just make you want to grab anything you see in the store and bring them home with you .

Take your pick – be it cookies in pink, marshmallows or strawberry-topped pastry.  The pastries are baked in the see through kitchen that’s located at the rear of the store.

The dining area is yet another comfortable space that’s bright and welcoming.

The desserts here are fabulous !

My favorite one is the Mont Blanc (RM 12).  The hemispherical dessert is composed of alternating layers of butter sponge cake and custard, coated with chestnut cream and finally topped off with a whole chestnut and a thin stick of chocolate.  It’s easy to fall in love with this dessert that’s adequately sweet with the elegant flavor of chestnut.

Eating the Belgian chocolate dome (RM 15)  would be like death by triple dose of chocolate .  The extremely rich dessert is in alternating layers of chocolate cake and chocolate mousse, smothered with a layer of chocolate ganache and adorned with halved macarons and a wavy chocolate stick;  though it’s a tad too sweet for me.

Here are a few more desserts from the display shelf.

Our two coffees – the tiramisu coffee (RM 10.50) and Americano (RM 8.50).

Two pieces of pastries were on the house – the chicken curry puff and the creamy hot dog puff.

Both pastries are delectable with the puff pastry  – the chicken curry is scrumptious, though the hot dog puff has a bit of lumpy cream.

The upstairs dining area is classy with chandeliers, a color play of sofas and a high ceiling with wooden frames.

Don’t miss out the pretty gardens too.

Currently the cafe has mostly pastries, desserts and drinks but they will be expanding the menu for more dining options.

More Info
Petit Mary Patisserie Facebook
Address : No 83,Jalan Tasek,Taman Teh Teng Seng,31400 Ipoh,Perak

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Full of energetic vibe, the exuberant Cafe 1961 at Station 18 serves delectable food with an artsy charm.   

The chalk arts on the black walls are really awesome; sitting under any of them would  immediately create a hip and chic backdrop for a selfie.

This time, my sister happened to be cafe-hopping with me and she was my model for the day .  Totally love the vibrant peacock, the pink little elephant and of course my sister too !

Here are a few more art works with sheep, unicorn and a “hello there”.

The mint hot chocolate (RM 9) is just ok, but it did make me laugh with its “Drink Me Lah !”   (You don’t worry lah, I will sure drink you !)

The mushroom soup in a cup  (RM 7) is viscous, creamy, yet lightly textured with mushroom bits.

The baked Portuguese rice (RM 15) is a carbohydrate-rich dish, where a bed of succulent chicken with curry and melted cheese blanket an aromatic portion of egg fried rice.  The Portuguese flavor reminds me of Japanese curry rice, but only this one has a more noticeable flavor of tumeric.

The peppery pan fried chicken (RM 17)  is a generous portion and extremely tender, paired with chewy spaghetti marinara and crisp salad.

The cafe doesn’t have a lot of things on the menu (as usual) – other items include croissants, burgers and spaghetti.

But then you don’t need too many choices when the cafe is good at making the few things they have.  And all you really need, is love and a good cup of coffee

More Info : Non Halal
Cafe 1961 Facebook
Address: 35, Medan Stesen 19, Station 18, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Opening Hours : 10.30 am – 5 pm.

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The vintage-inspired Purple Moon Valley (紫月坊) is a popular pastry house among Ipohrians with its cakes, pastries and fondant cakes made to order.  

The lofty cake house has just made enough space for a mini-cafe at the mezzanine that allows a small seating area for 3 tables with an old TV.

This section is quite Japanese with its low tables, floral cushions and manga.

The view from the mezzanine is actually quite nice which  gives you a panoramic view of the cake house and a closer look at the coke bottle collections.

The pastries here are pretty fantastic.

The Vienna roll (RM 3.50) is flaky and chewy with a sprinkle of nuts – quite like a giant croissant really.

The fluffy baby mouse in diapers (RM 2.00) with chocolate eyes and whiskers is absolutely adorable.  Just in case you don’t like  mouse, panda is available since they are so hot right now, especially with the 1600 of them touring around Malaysia.

The scone (RM 2.50) is lightly crusty while remaining moist at the same time and it’s good as a stand alone on without butter or jam.  The chocolate tart (RM 2.50) is made of silky custard on a crusty base.  Both elements are good but the base might have taken up an excess proportion.

The nut tart (RM 3.50) would be a favorite for the sweet-toothed where a happy nut medley of almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts are drizzled with glorious caramel.

Our two drinks – the hot chocolate (RM 8.80) and tiramisu coffee (RM 9.80) were just so-so though.

Check out a few more cakes from their display shelf below

More Info :
Purple Moon Valley Facebook
Address : No. 317,Jalan Bercham, Taman Desa Kencana, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
Opening Hours : 8 am – 5 pm.

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After trying a number of cafes in Ipoh, De Dine’s menu may not look any different from the usual chicken chop and spaghetti.  But then, we did discover the unexpected hidden among the expected and that’s the beauty of cafe hopping.  

The salad (RM 16.90) consists of a generous topping of smoked salmon on a bed of greens with a sprinkle of crunchy almond slices and raisins.  What makes this salad memorable is the medium-bodied, piquant citrus dressing, balanced with the sweetness from the raisins.

The signature dish is the De Dine pasta (RM 20.90) that’s so fit for a king.  The prawns are lightly chargrilled to perfection and tossed with spaghetti in a heavenly prawn bisque. That charred flavor has also infused into the spaghetti and with onions as aromatics, an intoxicating flavor is born.

The dinner set is jaw-droppingly affordable with mushroom soup, a drink, main course (in our case, the lamb chop) and a dessert at only RM 22.90.  The mushroom soup is hearty and creamy, accompanied by crisp toasted bread.

The lamb chop is well-executed.

Artistic plating is factored in despite the dessert being just bite-sized,

The ice lemon tea drink is part of the set (on the left); the apple & black currant drink (on the right) is  RM 7.90.

The fish & chips in a basket (RM 19.90) is not too surprising but no faults.  It’s the mashed potatoes that’s addictive because they are mashed so fine with a buttery flavor.  Your brains will be telling you to stop eating because the portion provided was huge, but your hands and mouth just won’t listen to your brain.

Other items on the menu include salads, pastas, Western food, burgers (the lamb burger might be interesting), Asian and snacks. 

More Info : Non Halal
De Dine Facebook
Address : No. 24, Jalan Medan Ipoh 3, Bandar Baru Medan, 31400, Ipoh, Perak
Opening Hours : 11 am – 3 pm.  5 pm – 10 pm.  Closed on Mondays.

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The convivial Cafe de Flore serveing mouth-watering Hakka cuisine is spicing up Canning Garden’s neighborhood with its glittering lights. Not too much resemblance with the famed Cafe de Flore in Paris, but it’s a pretty name to turn heads in Ipoh.  

The cafe is set up in a single storey bungalow with a homey ambiance it was more like visiting a friend’s house instead of a cafe.  The porch definitely looks like the place to chill over a cuppa.

The cafe is run by two friendly sisters who also have an obvious passion for fashion, so you not only get a taste of Hakka cuisine but a taste of fashion too.

I took the set meal which consists of braised pork + soup + floral tea (RM 19.90).  The floral tea has a generous mix of few types of flowers with lavender being the dominant flavor, while the others I am just going to call them yellow flowers and red flowers (saffron perhaps?)

Braised pork is a classic dish that pretty much any Chinese household would have made this with their own interpretations and variations.  At Cafe de Flore – the dish is cooked with seaweed which is a nice touch, making the sauce a tad gooey with flavors from the sea.   A spoonful of vegetables would make this a smashing set.

Pretty in rose, the rossell tea (RM 5.90) in crimson red tastes rather similar to Ribena and at the same time it brings back memories of Cameron Highlands because the rossell flower is commonly seen there usually in the form of pickles.

There weren’t a lot of choices for foor on that day – Hakka style braised pork and chicken curry only, but I think they have a few more items on the menu by now such as vinegar pork knuckle, lotus soup, pork chop and pork belly + yam.

More Info : Non Halal
Cafe de Flore Facebook
Address: 14 Jalan Canning Estate Canning Garden, 31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

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PT Grande is an Italian Cafe with a focus on pasta and rissoto.  The signature dish from PT Grande is the squid ink pasta (RM 23) which is noteworthy as the contrasting red prawns against a garlic-y black pasta taste as good as they look; it’s also not a common item on a cafe menu as you hardly see this dish in Ipoh.

 The giant prawns are lightly salted and uber fresh with crackling shells and bouncy flesh.

I was really looking forward to the Pinky Fusion (RM 16) as I was explained that it’s a mix of carbonara and marinara sauce and perhaps resulting in a pink sauce.  It’s a nicely done carbonara with red capsicums, green capsicums and mushrooms, but it does not have the unique fusion chemistry that I was anticipating.

The pumpkin soup (RM 6) could do better as this one is quite watery.

The French rose tea (RM 4.80) is pretty but faint in flavor.

Other items on the menu include salad, rissoto (but not available when we visited), grills and a variety of simple teas and coffees.

More Info : non Halal
PT Grande Facebook
Address: 37,lorong Taman Ipoh 1, Taman Ipoh Selatan, Ipoh, Perak
Opening Hours :  11 am – 9 pm

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When a cafe has been around for more than 20 years, you know there’s something done right about the cafe; and Bacon Point is such a cafe located in Ipoh Garden East.  

The family-oriented cafe does not look any different to other old timers cafe in Ipoh, except that the vintage broadway posters and movie posters may have revealed its true age.

A few long-time hot sellers in Beacon Point include nasi ulum (RM 8.70), chicken pie (RM 6.90), laksa lemak (RM 9.80) and roast beef (RM 17.90, only available on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday).

We were there for breakfast and we ordered from the specific breakfast menu which consists of simple items like toast, sandwiches and noodles.  We took the laksa lemak + coffee set (RM 12), which is not a common item in Ipoh. It’ a curry laksa with tuna that’s rich, creamy and infused with the splendid flavors of multiple spices.

The American breakfast (RM 10.90) is standard without much surprises but you can’t go wrong with it.

Other food items on the menu include a variety of noodles, snacks, vegetarian and the Western menu is available from 3 pm onward.

More Info : Pork Free
Beacon Point Official Website
Address: Lintasan Perajurit 6, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Opening Hours : Mon – Thurs 9.30 am – 6 pm, Fri – Sun 9.30 – 10 pm

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