Brunching in Bali - Part 3: Betelnut Cafe

Our final foodie stop in Bali was Betelnut Cafe, another popular Canggu hangout.  It serves healthy but attractive and pretty delicious meals.

Spot our new furry friend on the left!

Brunching in Bali - Part 2: Milk & Madu

Milk & Madu is something of a Canggu institution.  It serves hearty all-day breakfasts, lunches and dinners and is helmed by friendly and welcoming staff.

So naturally Deena and I made it a point to pay them a visit when we were in Bali this past October.

We started off with some delicious smoothies:

Brunching in Bali - Part 1: Monsieur Spoon

I holidayed in Bali over the weekend.  It was as idyllic as it sounds - I attended a friend's beautiful wedding on Saturday and the rest of the time was spent on the beach, in the spa and of course working our way through the wonderful restaurants & cafes Bali has to offer.

Monsieur Spoon stands out as probably the best brunch we had during our time there.  It's run by two Parisian cousins, and you can tell: the dishes on offer are simple but made with such skill and finesse.

Yes, that was for 2 people - don't judge!

Breakfast Thieves

I've been to Breakfast Thieves twice in the past week - once at 9am on Sunday, and once in the early afternoon on a weekday.  The fact that it was jam packed with excited customers on both occasions is a testament to its status as one of the hottest new brunch places in town.

Accordingly, I had high expectations going in.  

On my first visit, we shared three dishes between us: My French Lady, The Breakfast Chain and simple eggs on toast.

My French Lady

Recipe book review: Tanya Bakes

So I thought I would try out a new type of blog post here on FeasToWest: where I give you my first impressions on recipe books and my experience of a few of the recipes. I thought I would start with 'Tanya Bakes'. As a big Tanya Burr fan, I pre-ordered this when I heard she was releasing a baking book, and it arrived on my doorstep a couple of months ago. I didn't waste any time in trying out a few of the recipes!

The book itself is honestly absolutely beautiful. The recipes are laid out so that they are really easy to navigate and very relatable. The book is split into a number of sections: Cookies & Biscuits; Muffins, Cupcakes & Traybakes; Cakes & Loaves; Puddings; Pastry; Bread; Brunch and Special Occasions - so there is definitely something for everyone. What struck me straight away is the stunning photography throughout the book: each recipe has a picture next to it, and I can promise you that every single one makes the bake look irresistible. Tanya has also added a personal touch to each recipe: there is a little paragraph at the top of each recipe explaining how it relates to her life, which I think makes the book unique.

Mercat Barcelona Gastrobar

So a little while back I headed over to Mercat for Sunday lunch.  I'd been hearing a lot about it, and as I am a huge fan of Catalan cooking, I was determined to try some of their most talked-about dishes.

Weekend Brunchin' in KL - Part 4: VCR Cafe

Happy Labour Day everyone!  

Hope everyone's having a well-earned break and finding some time to try out new brunch spots :)  If you're looking for a recommendation, I may have just the thing for you!

Springtime in Cambridge

This post is going to be a little different to our usual posts. I'm going to take you along with me to Cambridge on a sunny Saturday.

Cambridge makes the perfect day trip if you live in London and you get that feeling where you just need to escape for a little while. Just hop on the tube up to King's Cross, then get on a train - 50 minutes later you'll be in beautiful Cambridge.

The Grumpy Cyclist

Last Sunday I decided to go for breakfast at The Grumpy Cyclist in TTDI.

The first question I'm sure you are going to ask is - does it live up to its name?  Well, partly.  The cafe is certainly cycling-themed (bicycles and all sorts of biking gear line the walls) but the mood certainly is as far from grumpy as can be - friendly baristas and upbeat music make the whole experience very welcoming.

My dad went for the Gran Fondo, which is basically a big breakfast, whereas I chose the Crespella (chocolate chip pancakes with cream, strawberries and honey).

Spot the signed jersey!

Mei by Fat Spoon

Mei by Fat Spoon, run by the same people behind the very popular Fat Spoon in Damansara Uptown, is essentially a fusion-y Japanese Restaurant in Desa Sri Hartamas.  I've been there for lunch on a couple of occasions and this is what I had:

Hokkaido Scallop & Lychee Carpaccio

Weekend Brunchin' In KL - Part 3: Antipodean Bangsar

I'll come right out and say it: Antipodean in Bangsar is one of my favourite breakfast/brunch places.  Its food is unpretentious (and "hits the spot", as they say) and the service is quick and friendly.  What more could a hungry customer want?!

Scrambled eggs with feta & spinach on toast

Weekend Brunchin' in KL - Part 2: Acme Bar & Coffee

So a couple of months ago a friend and I decided to try Acme (or ABC, as it is sometimes called) at The Troika.  A lot of people had been telling me about it, and I knew it is a very popular place, so I made sure to make a booking.  We got there at 12.30 (the time of my reservation), only to be told that our table was not quite ready yet.  So we waited…and waited…and waited.  The couple in front of us (who had also made a booking) were also waiting.  We ended up waiting for a good 20 minutes before we were taken to our table.  Not a good start at all.

Anyway, we got down to ordering the food and decided to share a couple of starters.

From L-R: fried prawns; salted egg yolk chicken strips and a variety of bruschetta.

Weekend Brunchin' in KL - Part 1: Yellow Brick Road

Hi guys!  So, welcome to the "Weekend Brunchin' in KL" series :)  I'm super excited to do this because it's the first series we've done here at fEasToWest, and, well, I just adore brunch!!  So, every couple of weeks (or weekly, if I have the time!) I'll blog about a brunch place (or two) I've been to recently, and today I'll start with Yellow Brick Road. 

Yellow Brick Road (or Jalan Batu Kuning, as a friend of mine likes to call it) is a new all-day dining outlet in Damansara Heights owned and run by the same team in charge of Red Bean Bag.  As such, I had pretty high expectations when I first went, and I'm pleased to say that it's become one of my favourite brunch places.  

Here are some of the dishes I've tried:

The Big Breakfast Bash

Jackson + Rye

I went for brunch with some good friends I hadn't seen in a while. I decided on Jackson + Rye because the menu was wide enough to appeal to everyone and brunch is served until 4.30pm on weekends! The restaurant is elegantly decorated and reminded me of a luxe French brasserie, despite its American diner menu. The low lighting made for a nice relaxed ambiance, but not so great photographs (apologies in advance)!

We ordered and shared arancini while we pondered over the wide menu. They went down a treat. The arancini were flavoured with truffle, rather than truffle oil and were not overpoweringly cheesy or overwhelming doused in truffle. They were crisp and light and were accompanied with a light Parmesan sauce. The sauce was slightly tangy which balanced well with the decadent and cheesy rice balls. 

The Good Life Eatery

Hi guys!  Sorry it's been a while since our last post.  All four of us have been so incredibly busy with work that it's been impossible to find time to blog.  Fortunately it's a long weekend (Friday-Monday for us here in Malaysia!) so I've finally been able to sit down and get a review done of one of my all-time favourite cafes: The Good Life Eatery.

Now, those of you who know me will be well aware that I am not a particularly healthy eater.  I love fried foods (with a particular weakness for fries) and desserts and burgers and all those bad things.  That said, I also realise that a balanced diet is a good idea, so when I find a place that does healthy AND yummy food ALL DAY ERRDAY it's like I've hit the jackpot!  And when I discover that this place delivers as well, I just cannot contain my excitement.

The Good Life Eatery serves an array of dishes to suit individual needs - gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan…you name it, they've got it.  Their menu is written on a large blackboard above the till - I've pretty much tried everything on it but haven't photographed everything (sorry) so this blog post will only feature a sprinkling of what's on offer.  Also note that some of the dishes below may no longer be on offer as I had them a while ago (I left London last year), but I'll still include them as they give you a pretty good idea of the type of stuff available at this wonderful place.

Skinny Benedict: Poached Eggs on Wheat Free Bread with Avocado, Cherry Tomatoes and Hollandaise Sauce

Pulp by Papa Palheta

So I stumbled upon a new coffee place this sunny Sunday morning.  Ok well, I didn't stumble upon it exactly - my dad introduced me to it - but let's keep that quiet because it suggests my middle-aged father is way cooler than I am (true though it may be).  Anyway, the reason I said stumble upon in the first place is that Pulp isn't your usual run-of-the-middle cafe situated in a mainstream shopping mall, nor is it nestled amongst a series of shoplots (as so many so-called hipster cafes are these days).  Instead, it's right next to the Balai Berita building - which houses the NSTP - and calls on old Printing Works factory its home.  Obviously, Pulp has spruced the place up quite a bit, though it has kept the integrity of the original structure.  The result is pretty cool: a light, airy, large space with high ceilings and plenty of beams & woodwork which give it a slightly earthy feel.

Ravi's Banana Leaf

Ravi's Banana Leaf in Solaris Mont Kiara is one of my favourite places for breakfast: the service is quick and friendly, the surroundings are pretty clean, and the food isn't too expensive given the quality.

My usual order is roti canai, which, for those of you who aren't Malaysian, is a type of bread made out of clarified butter, flour and water (sounds healthy, I know!) and looks a bit like naan.  At Ravi's, the roti canai is crispy on the outside but softer on the inside, and is served hot and fluffy - perfect!

Tom's Kitchen

As I'm sure my working friends will tell you, the phrases 'Monday morning' and 'dreading it' are generally known to go hand in hand.  The scene is a familiar one: crowded tube, train and bus stations; delays due to signal failures; people rushing along pavements as they try desperately to reach their offices on time.  I, however, currently have the luxury of avoiding such chaos, and so today went for a leisurely breakfast with a friend from college.

Tom's Kitchen in Cale Street is well-known for its breakfasts (and weekend brunches).  Its menu comprises a raft of familiar and comforting dishes ranging from waffles to a full English.  I decided to have the smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel, and was not disappointed: the portion was generous but not overly large, and the condiments the perfect accompaniment.  As you can see below, the entire dish was very aesthetically pleasing!

Berners Tavern at The London Edition Hotel

Having heard amazing things about Berners Tavern, I desperately wanted to check it out, so Hannah and I decided to head there for breakfast one Sunday morning. 

First of all just look at the room! It's gorgeous. With retro booths, amazing (almost) floor to ceiling windows, huge chandeliers and hundreds of framed pictures lining the walls, this was just our sort of place.

The Riding House Cafe

We've been meaning to get to the Riding House Cafe for the past 4 years, and we finally made it on this slightly chilly Saturday morning.  We'd heard such good things about it, and it didn't disappoint!  

I was typically greedy and HAD to try both the lobster benedict and the buttermilk pancakes.  The former was pretty close to perfect - a generous helping of lobster, a runny poached egg, and a lovely dollop of caviar on top.  The pancakes were also yum: slightly crispy on the outside and fluffy inside, although if I was being picky the berries were a tad sour for my liking.  All in all, however, I was very satisfied with my meal(s)!