Guylian Belgian Chocolate Café @ Darling Quarter

Since Guylian opened a branch at Darling Quarter, we have made it our dessert place in addition to Lindt. Each visit would see one of us placing an order for a Guylian Hot Chocolate ($7.50), which is a special blend chocolate drink with a choice of milk, dark or praline. 

For those who enjoy their drinks cold, the Guylian Iced Chocolate ($8.50) is a satisfying choice. I have always found the cold version not as sweet as the hot version.

On special occasions, we would order cakes, too. We have tried the 100% Pleasure ($16.00), Belgian chocolate mousse with almond panna cotta and Guylian shiny icing. To me, this does not have the wow factor but perhaps not being a big fan of panna cotta did not help, either.

However, I really enjoyed the Guylian Dark Baked Chocolate Cake ($16.00), a rich Belgian chocolate cake with signature ganache and a scoop of white chocolate and raspberry ice cream. The cake was really rich and the sour taste in the ice cream helped to balance the flavours.

On one occasion, I tried the Tiramisu ($15.50), mascarpone sabayon cream with chocolate sponge fingers and dark chocolate paillete feuilletine. I thought it could do with just that bit more of alcohol...

Service is normally quick but be strategic with which day and time you choose to visit. Weekends are normally very crowded.



Guylian Belgian Chocolate Café @ Darling Quarter

TR5/TR6 1-25 Harbour Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.

Tel: +61 2 9283 1947, Fax: +61 2 9283 2398

E-mail: darlingquarter@guyliancafe.com.au

Open daily 8:00am till late

Flying Teapot Cafe

Recently, a friend has been frequenting a cafe, apparently new in our hood. The photos she shared showed a place in a lot of pink and with a unique name, Flying Teapot. One night, we chose this cafe as our catch up venue.

Just like in the photos, the main theme colour of this cafe was pink. Different shades of pink were presented in the paint, decor and furniture.

However, the main theme was, as you could assume from the name of the cafe, teapots. As such, the place was decorated with many teapot fixtures, such as teapot lampshades, teapot lighting, teapot telephone, teapot clock and teapot holders to name a few.

In addition to their main product of tea (they serve a variety of different black, green, flower and fruit tea), they are also a vegetarian cafe.

If we arrived earlier, we would have tried their selection of cakes, too.

We were reminded that each person would have to order at least one drink. Payment here is still cash only.

Seems like the open kitchen concept is catching on back here, too. Like many places in Sydney, the trend is to allow diners a chance to watch the kitchen in action. 

They also had this in one corner:

Perfect place to goof around and take photos for people like my crazy friends...

They even had a portion of the shop set up as a clothes boutique. This part of the shop carried a sailor theme. In case you are wondering, it was Korean fashion with pricing comparable to some more well-known brands sold in our shopping malls.

I found their menu creatively designed. It was in a newspaper format and did not have too many things to look at. Sometimes, less is more, as the more choices we consumers are given, the more confused we become.

Diners have the option of having tea for one (ranging from RM8.90-RM12.90/AUD3.05-AUD4.40) or tea for two (ranging from RM15.00-RM19.00/AUD5.10-AUD6.50).

Our orders of tea came accompanied by a teapot-shaped bickie served on a teapot-shaped saucer.

Just look at the adorable teapot!

As I was the only person who had not had dinner, I ordered a plate of Toona Spaghetti (RM16.90/AUD5.80), which I enjoyed. Although light, fragrant with herbs and sufficient in portion.

Perhaps as early childhood educators, we pay attention to artsy and adorable details - we noticed that our plates had different fruit motives.

Friendly service, inviting ambience, clean environment and ample parking available. The best part was that they made eating vegetarian food less boring. Would definitely visit again!

Flying Teapot Cafe
9-1 Ground Floor, Jalan SP 2/7, Taman Serdang Perdana, Sek 2, 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia.
Tel: +60 3 8940 9168
E-mail: flyingteapotcafe@gmail.com
Monday to Saturday 12:00pm to 10:00pm
*Cash transactions only

Antipodean Cafe @ Bangsar

"We go to Antipodean, want?" What, you have to ask me that? Of course I want! And so bestie, his wife and I met there for brunch.

Famous for their Australian-style brekkie and coffee, I opted for a lighter meal of French Toast with Berry Compote (RM14.00/AUD4.80) instead of a heavy big breakfast. I should have asked for the toast to be wholemeal instead of white bread. Berry compote was delectable, I finished it all.

All cakes here are sold at RM8.00/AUD2.75 a serve. We shared a slice of Lemon Meringue Pie, which in my opinion was too egg-y (maybe too much egg white?) but was tangy in just the right way. Enjoyed it, nevertheless.

Lovely ambience with friendly service. Outdoor seating available for smokers. And best of all, it reminded me of my cafe-hopping times in Sydney. One day, I will pay a visit to their branch in Sydney :)



Antipodean Cafe @ Bangsar
20 Jalan Telawi 2, Bangsar, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel: +60 3 2282 0411
E-mail: bangsar@antipodeancafe.com
Sunday to Thursday 8:00am to 10:00am
Friday & Saturday 8:00am to 11:00pm

Happy Chinese New Year!

This year's Chinese New Year is harder for me because I managed to celebrate it with family last year. In addition, it is also Dad's birthday today. However, I am grateful for the friends I have here in Sydney who I refer to as my Sydney family, who are here to celebrate with me. Although a little watered down compared to celebrations back home, the Year of the Horse is going to be yet another amazing year Down Under.

Here is to wishing family and friends around the world a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous Chinese New Year of the Horse!

Pizza San Francisco @ The Mines Shopping Fair

This lunch was a special lunch in two ways. First, I was introduced to a calzone by Ray and second, it was my last lunch with him.

He asked if I have ever tried it and when I shook my head, he decided that I should give it a try. "A calzone is like a pizza, but like a folded up version," he explained. "I've had it a few times with my brother. It's not too bad. Eat it with the sauce, it's nice."

So, I later found out that a calzone is a folded pizza typically stuffed with tomato, mozzarella and sauce and may include other ingredients that are normally associated with pizza toppings. Here at Pizza San Francisco, the calzone is stuffed with mozzarella and turkey salami.

If you are a small eater like me, ordering one of these will see you packing half of it to bring home. I was stuff by the time I finished the second piece. To share with one or two other persons would be best.

Pizza San Francisco @ The Mines Shopping Fair
L1-65, L1, Mines Shopping Fair, Jalan Dulang, Mines Resort City, 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia.
Tel: +60 16 262 1051
Open daily from 10:00am to 10:00pm

Penang hawker fare @ New Lane

Normally, we non-locals would head straight to Gurney Drive but locals recommend New Lane for better Penang hawker fare. And so, New Lane it was for us.

There were many stalls hawking a variety of local fare. There was a continuous stream of diners from all walks of life, too.

We found a table and then took turns to order food. We stopped at every stall to order one serve of every thing.

The system here is that you place your order at the stall, they will give you a number and when your food arrives, you pay for the food and return the number to them.

And boy, did we just order non-stop!

If you are feeling a little hungry and it is late at night now, please do not scroll down any further. You will regret it.

From here onwards, I shall let the photos do more of the describing...

Char kway kak (Fried radish cake)

Ikan bakar (Grilled fish)

Deep fried chicken

Sotong kangkung (Cuttlefish salad)

Char kway teow

Popiah with century egg (recommended)

Heko (shrimp paste sauce) chee cheong fun (highly recommended!)

Prawn noodles

Pork and pig intestines satay

O-jian or oyster omelette

Curry laksa with pig's blood jelly

Ais kacang with a dollop of optional strawberry ice-cream

New Lane Hawker Street
Lorong Baru (New Lane), Off Jalan Macalister (Macalister Road), 10040 Georgetown, Penang. 
*Look for Sunway Hotel
Daily 5:00pm to 11:00pm
**Cash only (duh)