It was the eve of hubby’s birthday, and he decided to treat us to a lovely brunch at Bröom @ Bukit Bintang. Six of us were present, including his aunt Susan from Ipoh, who was visiting. Only Cass wasn’t able to join us, as she was busy at the skating rink.
Cass has become very dedicated to her figure skating routine, spending her Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays on the ice. She’s also built a close-knit group of friends from her skating community. They sometimes have lunch together after practice and go on outings. During the recent school holidays, they visited a cat cafe and the Farm Fresh farm in Seri Kembangan, creating wonderful memories outside the rink.
Back to our brunch at Broom—hubby, as usual, went all out with his orders. We had a delightful spread of main meals, desserts, and aromatic coffee. The food was fantastic, and we thoroughly enjoyed the time spent together, chatting and savoring every bite.
After brunch, hubby made a stop at Petaling Street to pick up some dried food stuff for his kitchen. While browsing the shop, I stumbled upon my favorite Choy Heong Yuen almond cookies from Macau. They were priced at only RM51 a tin, a fantastic deal compared to RM60 on Shopee and RM69 on Lazada. Without hesitation, I grabbed two tins—one for us and another for my parents in Ipoh. I was so happy to replenish my favorite treat at such a good price!
Sherilyn who was on a short year-end break was finally able to join us for brunch, after a long hiatus as she’s been perpetually swamped with back-to-back assignments.All of hubby’s favorite pastries and tarts. I’m not a big fan of these sweet desserts though.The fish & chips were served in a cute little basket.Hubby’s all-time favorite breakfast – something as simple as toasted sourdough with butter and two sunny side up eggs.Sarawak curry laksa.Seafood pasta.Some Malay rice served with chicken rendang and acar.Housed in a pre-war building and aesthetically renovated. If you look carefully, there’s a digital water curtain waterfall hanging on the wall on the left.Something that every architecture student does – taking photos of aesthetically designed buildings for reference.My favorite almond cookies from Choy Heong Yuen, Macau.
Last Sunday, we had a simple yet satisfying food escapade that started with brunch at the Ring Road Restaurant, a corner-lot coffee shop located off Loke Yew Road. This spot has become a favorite of my hubby, who loves their delicious steamed village chicken and fresh seafood noodles.
The seafood noodles at Ring Road Restaurant boast fresh seafood and frogs cooked in a rich, flavorful broth reminiscent of the popular Hai Kah Lang seafood noodles, which earned the Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2022. While Ring Road’s selection isn’t as extensive as Hai Kah Lang’s, the taste is spot on—and the best part? There’s no long queue, and the prices are friendlier on the wallet. The steamed village chicken was tender and succulent, complementing the seafood noodles perfectly.
After our hearty brunch, we headed to OUG to pick up some kitchen supplies for my hubby’s shop. Along the way, we realized we all needed a bathroom break. We stopped by Venus Bistro (formerly Steven’s Corner), a large, airy eatery known for its variety of Indian and mamak delights. Feeling a bit guilty about just using their facilities, we decided to order something small.
I couldn’t resist my favorite, Tosei Rava, which turned out to be one of the best I’ve ever had! The crispy texture was perfect, and the flavor wasn’t overly spicy, making it a delight to enjoy. My hubby opted for a Roti Canai, which was equally satisfying. The attentive and friendly staff made the experience even better. Venus Bistro impressed us with its cleanliness and spaciousness—rare qualities in a mamak restaurant. I’m already thinking of planning our next visit to try their banana leaf rice and other Roti dishes.
After our unexpected detour to Venus Bistro, we continued with our shopping and eventually headed home. As usual, Sherilyn stayed home, working diligently on her never-ending architecture assignments. We made sure to grab some takeaway food for her to enjoy later.
My ‘kon lo maifun’ with a big bowl of fresh garoupa fish fillet and fish paste. The portion of noodles was too big for me and I only managed to eat a quarter of it.My favorite crispy Tosei Rava from Venus Bistro.
Yesterday was a quiet Sunday morning for my hubby and me. With his mom off to Ipoh for a fun trip with friends, and our girls each caught up in their own routines, it was just the two of us. Alycia was working her part-time job, Sherilyn was home finishing yet another assignment before heading to the dance studio, and Cass, as always, was practicing at the skating rink.
My husband suggested brunch at O&S coffee shop in Paramount Garden, PJ. This bustling spot is packed with all our favorite hawker dishes, and it was perfect for a morning just to savor good food and conversation without the usual family commotion. After filling up, we indulged a bit further and stepped next door to Nareo Donut for coffee and a donut treat. It was impossible for hubby to leave without picking up some extras, so he bought four donuts for the girls – a little splurge at RM55 for four!
After brunch, we made our way to Pavilion Bukit Jalil to pick up Cass. She wasn’t thrilled to see me at first – she’d been cheering for her skating friends who were undergoing tests that day and wasn’t ready to go home. So, hubby parked, and I waited inside the rink to watch her for a bit. Watching Cass glide, jump, and spin on the ice always amazes me; her grace and dedication are inspiring. Reaching this level in skating is no small feat, considering that she started late and has only been skating for two years, and I can see all the hours of training and practice in her every move. She’s still got many levels to master, and each step forward is a testament to her determination. Of course, skating comes with a very hefty price tag, but seeing her joy and progress makes it worthwhile. Cass will be sitting for her skating test this coming Sunday and she’s been going to the skating rink more times this week to practise.
As we headed toward the supermarket, we noticed a Michael Kors roadshow with an offer for a complimentary gourmet coffee if you signed up as a member. Cass didn’t waste a second – she’s always been one for freebies and quickly scanned the code to claim her coffee. Over time, she’s managed to snag a fair share of free goodies from the shops in the mall. It’s a small joy but so much fun to see her so excited about these little perks!
In all, it was a laid-back Sunday but full of those simple moments that make life feel just right. Family, good food, watching our kids in their element.
At Food Merchant, I picked up this wagyu beef patties as I couldn’t resist the buy 1 free 1 promotion! I also bought the usual 50% discounted triple washed salads and blueberries.
The last two Sundays have had a different vibe to our usual family lunches, with Cass busy practicing at the skating rink, Sherilyn swamped with assignments, and Alycia off enjoying Korea last Saturday. Last Sunday, lunch was with hubby, MIL and Alycia while this Sunday, it was just me, my husband, and my MIL.
Craving Pastries at Croisserie Artisan Bakery Last Sunday, hubby’s choice was Croisserie Artisan Bakery in Damansara Heights, hubby’s favorite bakery. My hubby had been craving pastries, so this was his perfect pick. This bakery never disappoints him with its spread of buttery croissants, fancy danishes and tarts, quiches, tartines and all things indulgent. He’s a pastry guy but the girls and I are not really fans of it. We shared a selection that was savoury and not too overly sweet. It’s a cozy place that feels worlds away, perfect for a relaxed Sunday lunch.
Pastries and tartines at Croisserie Artisan Bakery @ Damansara Heights.Drinks from Croisserie.
A Taste of Europe at Alta Café, Bangsar This Sunday, hubby took us to Alta Café in Bangsar, a gem inspired by the simplicity and charm of European cafés from Copenhagen, Paris, and Rome. Alta’s menu emphasizes locally sourced ingredients, which are transformed into dishes that celebrate the beauty of good cheese, eggs, and toast. My husband took charge of ordering, as usual, picking three delicious dishes and one dessert for us to share:
Alta Burger: A double Angus beef patty with cheddar, fresh onion rings, pickles, a special sauce, all sandwiched in a soft burger bun. Each bite was juicy and packed with flavor — a real treat.
Mushroom Rosti: Potato rösti topped with creamy house-made stracciatella, roasted mushrooms, and a perfectly fried egg. The textures and flavors were simple yet comforting.
Orecchiette: Anchovy, lemon, chili, and fresh herbs brought a bright, punchy flavor to this pasta. It was light, flavorful, and beautifully balanced.
We capped off the meal with a French Toast Brûlée drizzled with Lyle’s golden syrup and beurre noisette. Every bite was decadently crispy and caramelized on the outside and soft within.
Dessert Stroll and Thoughtful Takeaways After our meal, we took a short stroll to another nearby café to indulge in cakes: a moist banana and pecan cake and a lemon custard cake, paired with piccolo coffee and tea.
Of course, my husband couldn’t leave Cass and Sherilyn out, so he ordered two Alta Angus beef burgers from Alta and some desserts as takeaways for them at the dessert place, ensuring they didn’t miss out on the treat.
But that wasn’t the end of our food journey. My MIL had a sudden craving for Nutmeg Cafe’s flourless whole orange and almond cake, so we headed to Bangsar Village to grab it along with a chocolate fudge cake and onde-onde cake. Then, we made a quick stop at Ted Boy Bakery to grab a loaf of bread and an avocado egg sandwich for the girls.
Alta burger with Angus beef, RM26 Anchovy and lemon Orechiette, RM32 Mushroom rostiFrench Toast Brulee, RM24 Desserts after lunch at Alta
Sundays are a cherished time for our family, marked by moments of togetherness and indulgence in good food. Last Sunday was no exception, as hubby treated us to a surprise family lunch that took us on a journey down memory lane and tantalized our taste buds in equal measure.
This time, we embarked on our usual Sunday lunch with no clue as to our destination. It wasn’t until we arrived at Concorde Hotel that the mystery unfolded, evoking fond memories of our wedding day almost 24 years ago, when we celebrated our union at this very hotel in May 2000. I thought that hubby was pulling my leg when he told me that he was bringing us to Concorde Hotel for Dim Sum. We have not gone to a hotel for lunch for eons and in recent years, we hardly dine in hotels.
Stepping into Xin Cuisine, the Chinese restaurant nestled in the lobby of Concorde Hotel, we were greeted by the familiar sights and smells of dim sum – a nod to our wedding dinner held in the same venue.
True to form, the dim sum at Xin Cuisine proved to be a feast for the senses, with each bite bursting with flavor and tradition. From delicate dumplings to crispy spring rolls, the quality of the food remained as impeccable as ever. This is the reason why we chose to have our wedding at Xin Cuisine because of the quality of the food served.
These look like any other dim sum but they taste superb, one of the best dim sums that we’ve eaten.Dim sum still served on push carts. Yummy desserts. The tau fu far is silky smooth.Fried prawn fitters with big chunky prawns inside. Full house.
After savoring our dim sum goodness, hubby surprised us once again by whisking us off to Three Years Old for coffee and cake. As we lounged in the cozy ambiance of the café, the girls indulged in a trio of sliced cakes, accompanied by steaming cups of gourmet coffee.
Sherilyn & her dad
Our joyous afternoon took an unexpected turn when Sherilyn experienced an allergic reaction, reminiscent of a previous bout of hives that landed her in the hospital in June last year. She was at her dance studio for class when this happened, so she walked to a nearby pharmacy to get medicine to tame the allergy. We realized that the culprit may have been the prawns consumed during our dim sum earlier.
Reflecting on Sherilyn’s allergy history, we came to the sobering realization that while she may not have a direct allergy to prawns, certain chemicals used in their processing could trigger adverse reactions. Most of the time, eating prawns would cause no allergy but sometimes, she would get an itch in her mouth and lips and the worst case was a full-blown hives attack requiring hospitalization in June last year. Thankfully, with swift intervention, the medication managed to stave off a full-blown hives attack, sparing Sherilyn from further discomfort.
Today is the last Sunday of February 2024. And just in the blink of an eye, Chinese New Year is over and February is coming to an end. February has always been an eventful month with Chinese New Year and my dreaded yearly medical check-up and pap smear procedure. Tomorrow will be my appointment at my gynae’s clinic for pap smear, ultrasound and transvaginal scan. Never liked these scans and test 🤪. I still have some issues that need monitoring.
Lunch today is at Wai Kee, our favorite Hakka tai chow style restaurant. The chef is a lady in her 70s, helming the kitchen for decades. I’m always amazed with her grit, stamina and vitality for shouldering the challenging job of being the head chef in the super hot kitchen.
Our favorite Hakka dishes ~ braised pork belly with yam, Hakka yong liu, stir-fried choy sum and half a steamed village chicken with ginger sauce.Everyone’s favorite – crispy skin deep fried threadfin fish with soy sauce.After lunch, we went to Red Kettle, our favorite cafe for coffee and the best Portuguese egg tart in the world. Also bought a loaf of walnut sourdough bread.
My latest fitness tracker ~ a new Xiaomi Mibro C2 smart watch from Shopee. Love this watch with plenty of cool & cute watch faces to choose from. The battery (magnetic charging) is very long lasting too. It comes with many functions but I only track my steps and heart rate. It’s a great smart watch for someone who is obsessed with counting their daily steps 🏃♀️ The best part is it only costs RM129 with free shipping and a RM10 shop voucher. I hope I will remember to remove it from my shorts pocket before putting my shorts into the washer. My Fitbit conked out as it went into the washer several times 🤪
The watch comes with two straps – a black by default and another color of your choice.
The only day that hubby has the time to have lunch with us is on Sundays. Sometimes though, he has to work on weekends, so I will settle lunch with the girls. Since Sunday is the only day that we get to eat with the girls, we usually eat at a nice cafe or restaurant to chill and enjoy our lunch together before a new hectic week begins and busyness fills our lives again.
Below was our lunch three Sundays ago at Seoul Korea, our top favorite Korean restaurant. Everyone was present for the lunch, which is really hard these days as the girls are all grown up and have their own activities.
The best Banchan in terms of variety, taste and quality. These are replenishable.
Seoul Korea is an authentic Korean restaurant run by a Korean family. Our family has been patronizing this restaurant for over a decade and have celebrated countless birthdays and anniversaries here.
Assorted BBQ meat. We love the melt-in-the-mouth and flavorful boiled pork belly (top left photo).Kimchi soup (filled with loads of ingredients) and ox tail soup.By far the best seafood kimchi pancake. Every mouthful is seafood and kimchi with very little flour.
Two Sundays ago, my lunch was with hubby alone. Cass was in school to sit for the UEC exam, Alycia was at her part-time job at the cafe and Sherilyn decided to sleep in to catch up on her sleep after a week of sleepless nights completing assignments. Hubs and I couldn’t decide what to eat and finally settled for North Indian food at Lion of Punjab. I can hardly say no to cuisine from this part of India.
Paneer Naan, Naan stuffed with minced chicken, Tandoori Roti and Palak Paneer. Palak Paneer is a classic curried dish from North Indian cuisine made with fresh spinach, onions, spices, paneer and herbs. ‘Palak’ is a Hindi word for ‘Spinach’ and ‘Paneer’ is ‘Indian cottage cheese’. This is our family’s favorite North Indian dish.Mutton Briyani, which was very flavorful.Butter chicken, another favorite dish of the girls.Bhindi Masala, which is another super delicious dish. It’s bursting with aromatic Indian spices and herbs. Even Cass who dislikes lady’s fingers devoured this dish.
I wonder why the dishes are filled to the brim and piled on top of a super tiny bowl, making it so difficult for us to scoop the dishes without dropping bits of it on the table 🧐
Our usual Sunday routine involves Cass going to Pavillion Bukit Jalil early in the morning for figure skating practice. Her classes are on Friday but she goes to the skating rink on Sunday to practise. We then fetch her back at noon. Next, hubs will go on a food hunt to explore new cafes and restaurants. This past Sunday, we discovered a hidden gem that left our taste buds dancing with delight – Ah Ma Jia Café.
Nestled next to Pavillion Bukit Jalil, Ah Ma Jia, which translates to “grandma’s house” in Mandarin, promises to serve up traditional dishes reminiscent of the comforting meals your grandma would lovingly prepare.
Ah Ma Jia is a new cafe with double-decked seats, similar to Lhong Tou Café in Yaowarat, Bangkok that’s famed for their double-decker seating.
Photo credit – Ah Ma Jia FacebookPhoto credit – Ah Ma Jia Facebook
One of the things that immediately won us over was the extensive menu. From the moment we perused the choices, we knew we were in for a treat. The dishes spanned a wide array of flavors, each with a hint of nostalgia and a dash of authenticity. And the best part was the prices were all very reasonable.
For our Sunday lunch, we decided to indulge in a feast of our favorite dishes:
Bubur Cha Cha: This delightful dessert, made with thick coconut milk and a variety of sweet potatoes and tapioca, was an absolute hit. It was a bowl of creamy heaven that left me craving for more; I ordered two bowls! This is my favorite ‘tong sui’ as I am a sucker for anything with coconut milk.
Curry Laksa: Ah Ma Jia’s curry laksa was a flavor explosion. The curry broth was rich and intense, and each bite was a symphony of spices and flavors.
Chinese Sausage and Pork Lard Rice: Topped with a perfectly fried egg, this dish offered a tantalizing combination of yumminess from the fried Chinese sausage and crispy pork lard. A must-have dish for pork lovers.
Siam Laksa: The Siam laksa was a fragrant and spicy delight with lip-smacking thick broth.
Yam Cake: The yam cake was a savory indulgence, with a generous amount of aromatic ingredients within.
The adults shared a pot of refreshing flower tea, which comprised of chrysanthemum flowers, lemon and stalks of lemongrass.
Stir-fried Rolled Up Chee Cheong Fun: This dish is a unique twist to the traditional CCF, where the chef stir-fried the rolled noodles with cabbage, eggs, carrots, etc. It was very flavorful and surprisingly, we finished the entire plate.
Cantonese Fried Mee Sua: Cass chose this noodle dish. It’s a comforting noodle dish with smooth egg sauce and a variety of ingredients such as prawns, fish cake, ham slices, cabbage and carrot strips.
Coconut Milk Shake: Cassandra’s choice, this refreshing drink was a delightful blend of creamy coconut goodness, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Snow Fungus Tong Sui: Hubby’s choice. A sweet and soothing dessert that provided a sweet ending to his meal.
While Alycia and Sherilyn couldn’t join us for lunch, we got them takeaway spaghetti with grilled chicken and braised pork belly rice, ensuring that they too could savor the delicious food of Ah Ma Jia. The braised pork belly dish was superb, just the way I like it with tender pork in a flavorful sauce. The spaghetti noodles were a tad dry though, according to Alycia but the grilled chicken was delicious.
Ah Ma Jia Café truly captures the essence of home-cooked nostalgia. The affordable prices and prompt service were the icing on the cake. This café is a culinary gem that we will cherish and definitely revisit to explore the rest of the menu. I’ll order Bubur Cha Cha again, for sure 😋
Ah Ma Jia
Address: * within walking distance from Pavilion Bukit Jalil N-13-1 , Jalan Persiaran Jalil 3 , Bukit Jalil City, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur. Opening hours: 11AM – 7PM (closed on Mondays)
On a serene and gloomy Sunday afternoon, my family and I had a delightful lunch at Kayra Restaurant, Bangsar Village. With its promise of authentic Kerala cuisine, we were eager to indulge in the rich flavors and aromatic spices of India. As we entered the restaurant, we were immediately captivated by the leafy terrace adorned with a mural of Kerala’s backwaters, setting the tone for a truly immersive dining experience. Every dish that we ordered was truly a masterpiece of taste and tradition.
We ordered a roast chicken dish cooked with aromatic spices and onions, mango and prawn curry, mutton stew, spinach and dhal curry (my top favorite), ghee roast Paneer (cottage cheese) with onions curry, appam, chapati, Neer dosa, puffed roti, Khameer roti, Masala chai, biryani rice, and okra Poriyal.
Spinach and dhall curry. One of the best dhall curries that I’ve tasted. Rich, thick and flavorsome. I love the crispy fried spinach sprinkled on top.Biryani rice.Ghee roast paneer – one of the tastiest paneer that we’ve tasted.Chicken roast. The rich flavors of this dish are quite similar to the Ayam Kuzi dish from hubby’s central kitchen.Everyone loved their range of rotis! Clockwise from top: puffed bread (hollow inside), Khameer roti, apam, and chapati.
The roast chicken, cooked with a melange of aromatic spices and caramelized onions, left us wanting more with its tender and succulent meat. The mango prawn curry infused a perfect balance of tangy and spicy notes, a delightful combination that had us craving for extra helpings.
Mutton stewPrawn and mango curry.
The mutton stew, immersed in a rich and savory gravy, showcased the finesse of Kerala’s culinary heritage. The true star of the meal for me was the spinach and dhal curry, an exquisite concoction that won my heart with its comforting and wholesome taste. Paired with various bread options like chapati, dosa, puffed roti, and Khameer roti, each bite was a delightful dance of flavors and textures.
We liked the ghee roast Paneer and spinach and dhal curry so much that we ordered a portion for takeaway, along with chapatis for Alycia and Sherilyn who didn’t join us for lunch.
For our vegetarian choices, we were delighted by the ghee roast Paneer (cottage cheese), which was a delightful contrast of soft mild cheese and robust spices. The okra (lady’s fingers) Poriyal provided a unique twist to a commonly used vegetable, elevating it to a whole new level of delectability. Cass who doesn’t like okra surprisingly helped herself umpteen times to the okra dish.
To accompany our meal, we enjoyed aromatic biryani rice, perfectly cooked to enhance the already flavorful dishes. And no meal is complete without a cup of Masala chai, its warmth, and spices creating a harmonious ending to a soulful feast.
The ambiance at Kayra further heightened our dining pleasure. The moment we walked into the terrace, the feeling was one of stepping into a holiday resort with cool breeze blowing in. The leafy terrace, adorned with its picturesque mural, exuded the essence of Kerala’s landscape, while the rattan furnishings and lush greenery created a tranquil oasis in the heart of the bustling city. It was a perfect respite, allowing us to immerse ourselves fully in the flavors and atmosphere of the restaurant.
Kayra’s inclusion in the Michelin Guide 2023 and its accolade in the top 20 restaurants of the Tatler Dining Awards are well-deserved honors. The restaurant’s dedication to preserving and presenting the essence of Kerala cuisine shines through in every dish.
Our Sunday lunch at Kayra Restaurant was a beautiful experience, where the flavors of Kerala’s cuisine painted a vivid picture of its cultural richness. From the perfectly spiced dishes to the inviting ambience, Kayra delivered a culinary journey like no other. While the prices may be slightly higher than other Indian restaurants, the quality, taste, and ambiance are well worth it. As we bid adieu to Kayra, we left with hearts full of contentment and a resolve to return soon to explore more treasures from their extensive and intriguing menu.
KAYRA, BANGSAR VILLAGE F08, 1st Floor, Bangsar Village 1, Jalan Telawi 1, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur +60 (17) 215 7382
This past Sunday, our family had a unique and eventful day with each member engaged in their own activities. While Cass immersed herself in the thrilling world of anime at an anime fest in IOI City Mall at Putrajaya, Alycia, dedicated her time to her weekend part-time work. Meanwhile, my MIL embarked on an exciting trip to Ipoh with her erstwhile schoolmates. Amidst these diverse activities, Sherilyn, hubs and I enjoyed a delightful lunch experience at Haidilao.
After recalling our enjoyable visit to Haidilao in April, where we celebrated Cass’s birthday, hubs and I decided to revisit this delightful establishment for a satisfying hotpot lunch.
Sherilyn ordering the ingredients for the hotpot using the restaurant’s iPad.Our order delivered to us in a robot server.
Haidilao’s reputation for excellent service and mouth-watering hotpot options made it an obvious choice. As we settled into our cozy table, reminiscing about our previous experience, we couldn’t help but wished that Alycia and Cass could join us.
Assorted thinly sliced meats. The pale colored meat on the right is pig’s aorta 😲. Not my kind of meat 🤐
With bubbling pots in front of us, we immersed various ingredients, ranging from thinly sliced meats to an assortment of seafood and vegetables, into the flavorful broth. We ordered the yellow fish maw and Japanese dashi broth. Both the broths were very flavorful and thick, especially the yellow fish maw. Each morsel was carefully cooked to perfection, creating a symphony of flavors that tantalized our taste buds.
Fresh prawn paste in a piping bag.Raw fish slices and baby octopus.Cooked garoupa fish slice and baby octopus.Fish maw from the yellow fish maw soup. Yummeh!Thinly sliced rib eye. All you need is about 5 seconds of immersing the meat into the hot soup to get super tender meat that melts in the mouth.Very yummy fried mochi dessert with Gula Melaka filling.The iconic HDL’s Noodle Dancing Man churning out fresh noodles for our hotpot.Complimentary ice-cream.
While we were savoring our hotpot lunch, Cass, embarked on her own adventure at IOI City Mall for half a day. She and her high school classmates attended an anime fest, immersing themselves in the vibrant and imaginative world of Japanese animation. Even though we couldn’t physically be there with her, the Life360 app provided me with a sense of reassurance and peace of mind as I tracked her whereabouts throughout the time she was away.
The bill. I only realized today that condiments and sauces are chargeable at RM8 per pax and flavored drinks at RM5 per pax when the waiting staff informed us when she took our orders after we were seated. All these while, I thought they were complimentary. However, the condiments and flavored drinks are refillable.Tracking Cass’s whereabouts using the Life360 app on my android phone. In order for this to work efficiently, there must be Wifi / mobile data and strong signal from both sides.
If you’re looking for a place to enjoy a scrumptious weekend brunch, Strangers at 47 Café @ Section 17 PJ is definitely worth checking out. Located in PJ, this cozy cafe occupying three shop lots is one cafe that won’t be a stranger to success with its striking selection of fanciful & flamboyant crepes, some lip-smackingly savory, and others magically sweet. Even the ordinary-sounding components here are top-notch.
We started with the Lethal Shrooms Crepe and Uncle Salmon Crepe, both of which were perfectly cooked and complemented the filling ingredients perfectly. We wanted to try the crepes with sweet fillings but by the end of our meal, we were too stuffed to try them. We even had to doggy-bag some of the cakes and savory crepes home.
Next came the big breakfast set, which was a hearty combination of eggs, ham, sausage, sauteed spinach and mushrooms, hashbrowns, baked beans and a fluffy crepe that was sure to fill us up for the day. The food was brought to the tables by a robot.
Big Breakfast with crepe.Toasts with scrambled eggs.The Lethal Shrooms crepe has fillings of portobello, shimeji, baby king oyster mushrooms, soft and flavorful spinach, caramelized onions, tomato relish and poached egg.The Uncle Salmon crepe is delightfully filled with pan-seared salmon fillet, sweet potato fries, sautéed cream mushroom & spinach, and miso cream.
Next, we tried the Tomato Chicken Linguine and the Roast Chicken Cajun. The linguine was cooked al dente and had a rich and thick tomato sauce with a generous serving of minced chicken.
The roast chicken was cooked to a T and accompanied by fried potato rings and a cucumber and pineapple salad. It was succulent and packed with flavorful spices. Tomato Chicken Linguine
For desserts, we indulged in the Cendolier Cendol Cake, Pandan Mochi Swiss Roll, Chocolate Brownie, and Moist Chocolate Cake. Each dessert was a work of art in itself and tasted as good as it looked.
Chocolate brownie, Pandan Mochi Swiss Roll, Pandamic (pandan, lemongrass and ginger drink) and apple juice.
The Cendolier Cendol Cake was a cheesecake with a refreshing and unique twist on a classic Malaysian dessert. The cendol jelly added a fun, chewy element that was a delight to bite into.
The Pandan Mochi Swiss Roll was a delightful combination of chewy and fluffy textures. This unique swiss roll cake featured pandan-flavored sponge cake with a pandan mochi right smack in the middle. This cake had a very aromatic pandan flavor that was simply irresistible. The pandan sponge cake was light and fluffy, and the mochi filling added a wonderful chewiness that contrasted beautifully with the softness of the cake. Overall, this cake was a winner in our books.
The Moist Chocolate Cake, on the other hand, was very rich, moist, and decadent and was simply heavenly. The chocolate flavor was intense and we loved how the cake practically melted in our mouths.
Each cake had its own unique flavor and texture, but all of them were delicious in their own way.
This cafe is pet-friendly and if you’re planning on bringing your pet, you can dine outdoor (right outside the cafe). We waited for about 15 minutes for a table outside the cafe.
Overall, our experience at Strangers at 47 was fantastic. The food was superb, the staff were friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was cozy and inviting. We’re already planning our next visit and can’t wait to try more of their dishes and cakes.
Strangers at 47
47, Jalan 17/45, Section 17, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
This is our typical Sunday now, after hubs sends Cass to the skating rink for figure skating practice on Sunday morning – we have brunch together. Sometimes Alycia and Sherilyn join us, sometimes only the mil joins us, sometimes it’s the five of us, sometimes it’s only the two of us and sometimes we have full attendance at the dining table, which is rare now as the girls have their own activities respectively.
Two Sundays ago, hubs and I had brunch at the famous O&S Restaurant (coffee shop) at Paramount Garden PJ. We tucked into our favorite Yong Tau Fu, char koay teow, crispy apam balik, prawn paste Chee Cheong Fun, and prawn noodles.
Getting a table is always a daunting task as the coffee shop is perpetually packed with patrons, no matter what time you’re there. To get a table, you have to stand shamelessly next to tables where people are still eating but look like they’re about to finish their meal.
When you stand next to a table with people still enjoying their food, it’s a non-verbal sign to tell them “hey, I’m waiting for your table. Pretty please hurry up” 😆. But so far, we’ve met only kind and really nice people. They hurriedly gobbled down their food so that they can let us have the table. Likewise, we do the same when we see people standing next to our table when we’re still eating. At this coffee shop, you cannot sit and enjoy your milk tea for hours on end. Everyone is considerate and we eat and leave. And adjourned to a cafe for dessert and coffee and chit chat.
A couple of times, when there were one or two available seats at a table that was already occupied, the strangers offered us the available seats. They then chatted up with us while they quickly finished their food. One time, when hubs didn’t have coins to pay a server, the stranger seated next to us offered to pay for us. Eating at O&S is always heartwarming as we always chance upon really nice strangers.
Ok, coming back to our brunch two Sundays ago.
After our heartwarming breakkie at O&S, we segued into Bröom Artisan Bakery & Kitchen for coffee and desserts and to get something for Cass and Sherilyn. Actually the main reason why we went to the cafe was because I had to pee and I didn’t want to use the wet and stinky loos at O&S coffee shop, thus hubs brought me to Bröom 🤭
We love the wide inventory of artisan sourdough breads at Bröom. This time I chose a loaf of jalapeno and cheese for Sherilyn & Cass who both know how to appreciate sourdough bread. Sourdough bread and products are a tad sour and to be able to appreciate this unique flavor and texture often requires an acquired taste.I also chose a Portobello Cheese Croissant for Cass’ lunch.Artisan lemon meringue tart and latte. The lemon meringue tart has a very buttery, firm and crisply crust that crumbles in my mouth creating a perfect foundation for the tangy lemon filling. The filling itself is bursting with bright and zesty lemon flavor, with just the right amount of sweetness to balance it out. The meringue topping is light and airy, with a melt-in-your-mouth texture that contrasts beautifully with the lemon filling.
Bröom Artisan Bakery & Kitchen
27, Jalan 20/13, Taman Paramount, 46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
My Sundays for the past one month has been like this – lunch with hubs and Alycia, just the three of us while Cass attended her figure skating lessons at the skating rink, the mil has her own activities on Sundays and the SPM girl stayed home to study. Our life was pretty much like this about 20 years ago when Alycia was just a baby and there was only the three of us, with a live-in maid. Everywhere that we went, it was just the three of us and the live-in maid.
Now our big baby girl is an adult and will turn 20 in December. But she’s still very much like a little girl in our eyes and still behaves like one 😁.
We first had a light lunch at Dai Cha Dim, a Chinese restaurant that serves a variety of delicious cha-chaan-teng (or Hong Kong style café) delights. Hubs wanted to eat sushi and sashimi but I want Dai Cha Dim (again). So we had lunch at both a Chinese restaurant, and then later at Koi Sushi.Alycia sipping on watermelon juice.
After lunch at Dai Cha Dim, we went shopping at Uniqlo. Both mom and daughter bought cropped bra tops coz cropped tops are in vogue now.
After shopping at Uniqlo, we had our second round of lunch at Sushi Koi.
Very fresh sashimi – hubs was very pleased and satisfied. He commented that this is even better than the sashimi at Rakuzen.Chawan Mushi and tamago sushiTempuraDelish spider roll sushi (soft shell crabs).Grilled teriyaki squid.Someone caught her paparazzi mom stealing a snapshot of her at the skating rink and wasn’t too pleased.Cass’ coach.
This week will be Cass’ last lesson on a Sunday. Effective next week, her figure skating class will be on a Friday night. It’s going to be a new routine for us, more hectic for Cass when she returns to school with CoCo activities back in full swing this year and a UEC exam to sit for this year. She still wants to compete in figure skating competitions this year but I told her that she’ll have to wait until next year.
We were at Pavillion Bukit Jalil again today as Cass wanted to practise skating. Her figure skating coach is on a holiday and classes will only resume in January 2023.
When we reached the skating rink, there was an on-going figure skating performance in conjunction with the holiday season. Cass didn’t check if the skating rink was available prior to asking her dad to bring her to the mall, thus she couldn’t skate in the session that she wanted. But all was not futile as we both watched a spectacular performance by figure skaters, both amateurs and professional. Cass’ dream is to one day be on that rink doing a dazzling performance too, and even more. With her perfervid passion in figure skating, it’s not impossible to achieve her dreams. I will have to sacrifice all my Sundays to bring her to the skating rink for classes and practice sessions 😳. I’m not sure how long my patience will last though 😐
Photo taken after the performance ended.Lunch was at Tokyo Teppan @ Tokyo Town, Pavillion Bukit Jalil.After we left the mall, hubs stopped by at our neighborhood supermarket to grab some stuff for his kitchen. Just as we were about to leave the supermarket, rain bucketed down the sky and we had to wait for it to stop. To kill time, we tucked into some croffles and coffee at a cafe.
Sherilyn woke up at 5 a.m. today to say goodbye to her aunt Sarah who had to take the early morning Grab ride to the airport for her flight back to Hawaii. Sarah stayed with us for 10 days to celebrate her mom’s birthday. The eldest SIL from the UK and second SIL from Hong Kong were also in KL to celebrate their mom’s 77th birthday.
After her aunt Sarah left, Sherilyn couldn’t go back to sleep. As she had so much time in the morning, she whipped up a batch of fluffy blueberry pancakes for brekkie for everyone. The pancakes were perfect – super fluffy, soft and addictive!
The blueish hues were from blue pea flowers flour and fresh blueberries, mixed into the batter. These were so good that someone chomped down five pieces in one sitting 🤢. Not me!We had lunch at Kimchitiam, one of our favorite Korean eateries at our hood. The restaurant is run by a Korean dude. The grilled saba fish (almost zero carbs) is mine.Beef stew for Sherilyn and Bibimbap for Alycia. Cass didn’t follow us out as she’d already completed her 3 meals for the day. This girl only eats once a day.Potato pancake for the K-food fans.
Cass and I spent our Sunday today at Pavillion Bukit Jalil again. While she went for figure skating class, I had lunch alone at Sushi Zanmai.
After lunch, I sauntered around the mall aimlessly, with nothing in mind to buy. Most of my purchases are now made online, which are cheaper. I recently started shopping for clothes online at Shein and am now hooked 😬. Shein is a reputable fast fashion company based in China and is the world’s largest fashion retailer. I received my first order of clothes from Shein last week, was very pleased with the quality and have just made another order yesterday 😊
When I go shopping at the mall now, I can’t help but compare the prices of clothes, shoes and bags with Shein’s and other online shopping platforms which I usually shop at. The price difference is often vast, which is why I hardly buy from a physical shopping mall anymore, except for shoes. I am very finicky with my shoes as I want to try them on and make sure that they’re comfortable and fit my feet well before purchasing.
After Cass’ class was over, we ambled around the mall’s Centre Court (where the Spanish Steps and the Golden Rooster are). Pavilion Bukit Jalil has launched an exciting Disney-themed festive celebration titled “From Our Family To Yours” until 26 December 2022. There will be ample of photo opportunities for visitors with all the Disney-themed displays inspired by the enchanting worlds of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars.
Cass was so excited when she found out that Malaysia’s Olympic figure skater Julian Yee will be performing at the Festive Ice Skating Show at the Blue Ice Snow Park on Christmas Eve at 2.30pm followed by a meet-and-greet at 3pm. If we’re in KL on 24th December and have nothing to do, we’ll bring her to meet the awe-inspiring Julian Yee.
My delightful low-carb lunch of grilled Teriyaki saba and chuka wakame salad. My refreshing avocado + banana smoothie from JUICY, Korea’s no.1 juice brand
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