Our final foodie stop in Bali was Betelnut Cafe, another popular Canggu hangout. It serves healthy but attractive and pretty delicious meals.
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| Spot our new furry friend on the left! |
Showing posts with label Afternoon Tea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Afternoon Tea. Show all posts
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:
We started off with some delicious smoothies:
My parents live in Sussex, and we have often passed the turning to the Bluebell Railway and commented that we really should go and have a look one day! So we decided to do just that on my Dad's birthday this year.
The Bluebell Railway runs a number of steam trains between East and West Sussex. Just look at how majestic these things are. A far cry from the trains we frequently use nowadays.
My dad and I stood there and admired the engines for a while, asking questions about how it works (coal is burnt, which heats water, which turns into steam, which turns a motor - FYI), and watching the conductor and engineers at work. It's really heavy and very dirty work, and watching them frankly made me quite exhausted and very hungry.
Which was just as well, because we had booked Afternoon Tea on the Wealdon Rambler - an old fashioned dining car, which looks like this:
It had an old world charm, which I soaked up whilst perusing the menu.
Afternoon tea was served as we whizzed through the beautiful Sussex countryside, choo-choo-ing (and chewing!) away happily.
Lots of sandwiches...
Lots of cakes...
And more cakes! In honesty, it wasn't the best afternoon tea I've had. The sandwiches were nice enough, but the fillings were pretty unimaginative, and the cakes were definitely not homemade. I guess this is all you can expect on a train like this, but worth bearing in mind...
Overall though, it was a really good experience, and a lovely family day out. We gobbled and chattered away for a couple of hours, looking out at the fields and watching smoke of the engine shoot out. An absolute must if you have a train or engineering fan that you're looking to treat.
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.
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| Yes, that was for 2 people - don't judge! |
A few weekends ago I went along to a Primrose Bakery Cupcake Decorating Masterclass. My boyfriend bought me a voucher for the class as part of my birthday present - he knows how much I love baking!
So one Sunday afternoon I pottered along to the Primrose Bakery store in Covent Garden. As you can see above, everything is pretty and pastel, and let's be honest, really easy to photograph!
During the class, the Head Chef teaches you how to make really good icing that is exactly the right consistency (the key is in beating the butter and sugar for a good 10-15 minutes - don't give up before then, which is what I usually do), how to do the Primrose signature swirl design, how to decorate cupcakes, and also how to ice a big layer cake.
Once you've mastered the swirl, you'll then be taught about the flat top design, which is best when you want to then ice with a name and put sprinkles around the edge.
So one Sunday afternoon I pottered along to the Primrose Bakery store in Covent Garden. As you can see above, everything is pretty and pastel, and let's be honest, really easy to photograph!
During the class, the Head Chef teaches you how to make really good icing that is exactly the right consistency (the key is in beating the butter and sugar for a good 10-15 minutes - don't give up before then, which is what I usually do), how to do the Primrose signature swirl design, how to decorate cupcakes, and also how to ice a big layer cake.
When you go in, to start with you'll be given two big and two mini vanilla cupcakes, a selection of coloured vanilla icing and an array of colourful toppings. After the Head Chef has shown you how to do the signature swirl (it's much tricker that it sounds!) you'll then practice this on your own. You're given as many hot drinks as you want during the class, and encouraged to ask whatever questions you have about baking.
Once you've mastered the swirl, you'll then be taught about the flat top design, which is best when you want to then ice with a name and put sprinkles around the edge.
And here are the finished products!
(Just look at that swirl!)
I think they came out pretty well - and you get to take them home with you afterwards. Needless to say, they didn't last long in my house.
All in all, I thought it was a really nice thing to do, and an especially good present idea for people that love baking. It's relaxing, really satisfying, obviously delicious, and I learnt some new skills and met some really nice people too!
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
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
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?!
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| Scrambled eggs with feta & spinach on toast |
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.
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| From L-R: fried prawns; salted egg yolk chicken strips and a variety of bruschetta. |
I am a self-proclaimed chocoholic. I am also a cake-lover. When it comes to combining the two, I've got a fair bit of experience. So I thought I'd share my pretty fail-safe recipe with you - and a quick and easy way of making it a bit of a showstopper.
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
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.
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They are delicious and fun to make - your kitchen will turn into a chocolate factory for at least an hour so it's worth making two batches and sharing the surplus with friends. If you've been thinking about bringing something homemade to the office but haven't had the chance to run a SurveyMonkey and figure out what your boss and colleagues like, look no further than this recipe which has been successfully tested (across all sectors and industries!). In fact, many brownies recipes trace their origin to that special place in every office
where people leave birthday and holiday treats.
Hannah made a fleeting trip back to London. We only had a couple of days to spend together, but top of Hannah's list of things to do was to visit the Godiva Cafe on the second floor of Harrods. Obviously I didn't want to ruin her trip, so I begrudgingly agreed to go with her - I know, I'm such a good friend.
There was a bit of a queue when we went as the cafe is right next to the Christmas shop, which was absolutely heaving, but it didn't take long for us to be seated. We were then confronted with a huge menu of chocolate deliciousness. Frankly, I didn't know where to begin.
After much to-ing and fro-ing, I chose the Godiva Chocolate Brownie, an 'indulgent brownie, baked with milk, dark and white chocolate, served warm with vanilla ice cream'. I know this was a safe choice, but it really was one of the best brownies I've had - and I've had my fair share. It was gooey but also crunchy, and incredibly rich. Basically, it was right up my street, and just look at the presentation!
The day after Halloween I took a friend to one of my favourite pubs. The Lighthouse has always had an artistic feel to it but this time the people in charge of the decor had surpassed themselves. Every little detail from the ghostly portraits with moving images on the walls to the pumpkin on the haunted piano screamed for attention and made our afternoon tea feel like a mini Halloween party.
A while ago Hannah and I wanted to take a friend out for afternoon tea for a birthday treat (we're totally selfless - honest!). We had a little look on the internet for something a bit different and came across this one at The Sanderson. Set just North of Oxford Street, The Sanderson is an ultra-modern, glitzy hotel, with an amazing long bar which I'll definitely be heading back to - word on the street is the cocktails are to die for.
But I digress - back to afternoon tea. The theme is that of the mad hatter's tea party: diners are invited to 'tumble down the rabbit hole' and be immersed in the utter magic that is Alice in Wonderland. The menus are hidden inside vintage books, the tea sets are specially designed for the theme with kings, queens, animals and clocks painted onto them, and the napkins are held together by little quotations.
As indicated in my bio, I am Malaysian by birth and nationality, so I thought it would be fun to share some of the food I grew up with. I'd like to start with something rather exotic - Nyonya kuih. Since most people outside Malaysia will not be familiar with this term, here is some background:
My mum is of Peranakan/Baba Nyonya/Straits Chinese descent, which means that her ancestors came from China and settled in the southern Malaysian state of Malacca approximately 600 years ago. Over time, their culture and practices were merged with those of the local Malays, creating a unique and distinctive culinary tradition.
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