Indulgence Restaurant & Living, Ipoh - Teatime on a Lazy Saturday Afternoon

It's been some time since I've dined at Indulgence (click HERE for previous instalment), hands down THE most exclusive, opulent, one of a kind restaurant in Ipoh. Wait, the term 'restaurant' alone just won't do. Truth is, Indulgence is a Restaurant, & Living (A complete experience, referring to their boutique hotel), and has been performing outstandingly in the F& B scene, garnering various accolades from time to time.

Indulgence Restaurant & Living in Ipoh

For your information, the suites at Indulgence are elegantly designed with motives and influences from all over the world (think Moroccan, Thai and Shanghai). Different themes to suit different palates, so to speak. From RM420 ++ per night, it's probably a once in a lifetime experience, given the posh location and painstakingly imagined, crafted and designed rooms.

From the exterior, resembles a bungalow more than a restaurant, is it not?

But of course, Julie Song (the proprietress since day one) excels in cooking up a storm, from the previous location of an unassuming half shoplot cafe in Canning Garden since 1996, until Indulgence moved to this grand structure in 2005. What drives her to achieve greater heights? In her own words, it's PASSION. For food, for living, and for success.

The selection of desserts from the counter

A luncheon, dinner, or even a leisurely break for tea at Indulgence never ceases to please. Specializing in Modern European cuisine, the food at Indulgence can be described as fusion, at best. Browsing through the menu may take forever, hence you'll feel much relieved to just listen to their recommendations. Specials of the Day are written in chalk on the blackboard, and your waiter may (or may not, it depends on the waitering staff) carry the blackboard to your table and point out the current specials. A unique touch nonetheless.

Pot for Two - Floral/Fruity Tea @ RM8 per pot

It was teatime on a Saturday, thus we chose to mingle around for tea and cakes at Indulgence, after a rather heavy Japanese meal. As many have thrown positive comments on Indulgence's desserts, especially the tiramisu, I was harbouring high hopes to be amazed by the sweet delights.

Rhubarb Cheese Cake @ RM9

If there's one word to describe Indulgence's offerings, it has to be UNIQUE. If you've grown weary from the usual cheesecakes, tiramisu and chocolate brownies from some other outlets, rest assured you'll be spoilt for choice at Indulgence.

The Rhubarb Cheese Cake was delectably creamy, not overly cloying, with a light tarty flavour from the rhubarb stalks and finished off with a dusting of cocoa powder (or was it coffee? darn, this has been so long).

Fudgy Brownie @ RM7

Even the brownies come in various forms, from the usual chocolate to other uncommon ones with nuts, dates etc. The fudgy brownie was as sinful as a brownie should be, dense and rich, with chocolate sauce to heighten the experience. An ode to the sweet tooth ....

Creme Brulee @ RM9

Sadly, the creme brulee was below par. Rather than being flamed on the spot before serving, the egg custard with caramelized sugar was prepared beforehand, and left standing in the display cabinet. Definitely way past its prime, the custard was not velvety smooth, with minor coagulated parts, and the layer of burnt sugar on top was almost non-existent.

The much-hyped about Tiramisu @ RM14

Indulgence's intepretation of the tiramisu was a non-alcoholic one, spongy, moist (almost soggy), but a lighter version of the famous Italian dessert. There's no trouble walloping a piece by yourself, even though you're a light eater. The texture of the cake was almost airy-like, without a substantial bite. Honestly, I still prefer my tiramisu richer, and creamier, preferably with a subtle nuance of alcohol.

Miss Fig @ RM30 - Salad with smoked duck, tangy/citrus dressing and dried fruits.

To avoid over-bingeing on the sweets, we attempted to counter with some fibres. Or so we thought. But keep in mind that whatever you order at Indulgence, you can be assured 90% of the time you've never seen the exact same dish served elsewhere. Yup, even the salad.

Miss Fig's their signature salad, with slices of smoked duck meat, sweet dried figs, various greens (including rocket leaves, if my memory serves me right), enveloped in a crispy pastry layer, and served with a fruity, tangy dressing. The combination of ingredients was a little awkward, with an indescribable sweet/salty/sour amalgam of flavours. The serving was barely enough for one, yet alone to be shared.

Promising ambience, lacklustre service?

Another major gripe I've been noticing since my first visit to Indulgence, is the service. This time around things got from bad to worse, with young waiters running around committing silly mistakes such as sending the wrong bill to the wrong patrons. I was presented with the bill for the next table, and wondered were they 'ushering' us away after a lengthy chatting session. When the waiter realised his mistake, not even ONE word of apology escaped his mouth. To face such level of service at an outlet like this is plain atrocious. And let's not mention about the attentiveness (or rather, lack thereof) of the waitering staff, requiring us to raise our hands in order to get our glassed filled. They really should dwell deeper into the public relations department, and not risk losing customers over such paltry matter.

Location : Indulgence Restaurant & Living @ 14, Jalan Raja Di Hilir, 30350 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. Tel No : 605-255 7051. Hotel Tel/Fax : 605-242 7055. Here's a MAP.

Website : http://www.indulgencerestaurant.com.

Opening hours : Wednesday to Sunday, from 9.00am until 11.30pm.

Melaka - Thousand Layers Cake?! (Nadeje Patisserie) & Popiah (With Lard!)

After the carnivorous meal at Jalan Bunga Raya, we (pathetically) tried to shave off the pounds and calories (as well as guilt!) by strolling around, amidst the rather sunny weather. Melaka is a small town, perfect for walking around leisurely, appreciating the nostalgic ambience of the classical town. Penang's Georgetown's the other classified World Heritage site, bearing a striking resemblance in terms of architecture and influences.

The battered and rebuilt fortress of A Famosa - THE epitome of Melaka

Random shots of the town and the river

This time around we skipped most of the tourist spots, as our main aim was to eat and shop. OK, more to the former than the latter. :)

The much-hyped about Nadeje Patisserie @ Plaza Mahkota

If you google Mille Crepe, either the name Nadeje, or Food Foundry (in Section 17, PJ) would appear. Mille Crepe is a type of French cake, made from many layers of crepe, intermittently spread with fresh cream, or any of the other flavours available.

At RM8.50 per piece, the slice of cake may look like nothing much, but the thin layers after layers of crepe, stacking atop one another, and manages to hold the cake in place was a rather astounding feat. Tastewise? The Original Mille Crepe tasted simple, fresh and clean, but lacking in terms of oomph. The Chocolate Banana Mille Crepe had an awkward 'rum-like' flavour, which was not entirely bad, but the alcoholic nuance may be due to the (over)ripen bananas used. The other flavours include Strawberry, Cheese, Chocolate etc.

Location : NADEJE PATISSERIE @ G-23 & 25, Jalan PM4, Plaza Mahkota, 75000 Melaka. Tel No : 606-283 8750. Another branch in Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall, which is situated on the other side of the main road. Got MAP !!!

Forms of transportation .... over the ages

After tea break, we walked some more, as driving around in Melaka requires much patience and self-control. So many one-way roads, plus the abundance of vehicles on the road, equals flaring tempers, honk-a-mania, and unleashing chapters after chapters of the almighty "3 Ji King" aka 3-Words-Bible.

Newton Hawker Centre on Jalan Mahkota, within the vicinity of Dataran Pahlawan

Passing by the rather newly-built Newton Hawker Centre (Perkampungan Makanan Tradisional Newton) on Jalan Merdeka, a short distance from Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall and Menara Taming Sari, we took a peek and found quite a number of stalls.

Naturally we were skeptical, memories of unpleasant experiences at such tourist-traps/food courts came washing over me. But the sight of the Popiah stall, manned by a rather, erm, "round" man caught my attention. Still remembered some popiah stall around Jalan Bunga Raya owned by a fat man that's supposed to be popular, because the incorporation of PORK LARD in the roll.

The Popiah and Chee Cheong Fun stalls, side by side in Newton

A roll at RM2.50, not cheap by hawker's standards. But bearable seeing the 'explicitly' renovated premise, exuding a very village-like atmosphere. The portion was rather generous, with lots of shredded yambeans, and those crunchy bits (or rather, chunks) of fried pork lards. But the Chee Cheong Fun (rolled rice noodles) was surprisingly, the better choice. Served with some curry, and shrimp paste, with fillings of prawns and char siew, the plate of CCF reminded me of Hong Kong CCF commonly served in dim sum outlets, albeit with a spicier and sweeter twist. Not bad. Only RM2.80 for a regular serving.

The relocated Eye On Malaysia

Menara Taming Sari - 360 degrees view of Melaka at RM20 per ride

(30% discount promotion available though)

Dataran Pahlawan Megamall on Jalan Merdeka

And Malaysian's favourite pastime (aside from eating!) ensued .... SHOPPING lor !!! (what else can girls do anyway?! =P) We guys went around in circles though, unsure of what's for dinner ....

Guess what's for dinner? :)

Cameron Highlands - Scones, Apple Pies and More @ T Cafe

After the strawberry feast at the Strawberry Farm @ Taman Agro Tourism/Cactus Valley, we moved down to Tanah Rata, for lunch. Yeah, desserts before the mains ...

The main bus terminal at Tanah Rata

T Cafe - Warmly Welcomes You? During daytime, this may NOT be what you desire as the hot and humid weather (yup, even in Cameron) is slightly forbidding ...

I was introduced to this cafe by TallGal during the previous visit. Supposedly popular for their scones, and apple pies, I found the Western and Asian fare they served were not up to par. But the strawberry scone was pretty good. That was 8 months ago.

The Eastern influence in the food, as well as the ambience was evident

After Googling around for good food BEFORE we set foot at Cameron Highlands, surprisingly, the unanimous votes go to T Cafe. Yup, it's THAT popular. Or over-rated. Depending on how you see it, and your experience at the place.

"Gee, how do I arrange 6 chairs to seat 10 ppl?"

No doubt the place is exuding a warmth and homely ambience, cozy enough for a satisfying meal, and bright enough for a good read while sipping on a cuppa. The seating capacity may be lacking, as the cafe occupies only the second floor, while Marrybrown is situated downstairs.

Aaahhh .... What better way to warm your hands than with a cup of CHINESE tea ... Huh?

The menu is quite impressive, serving Western and Asian food, from soups, sandwiches and chops to your everyday fried rice, noodles, and pasta. But their main selling point is their desserts, and they even cater to vegans, with a section of the menu tailored to their needs.

Claypot Chicken Rice

Sorry I could not remember the prices for most of the dishes, as the payment system is particularly interesting. You line up at the counter and pay before you leave, no receipts issued. Talk about self-service. Anyway, most of the Asian fare are below RM10, with most claypot noodles and rice around RM4.90 only.

The Claypot Chicken Rice was unlike your average serving, as the dish resembles fried rice in claypot, more than anything else. Still, it was satisfactory, with ample amount of chicken cubes, fried shallots, vegetables and egg. The claypot does impart a smoky aroma to the rice, while preserving the warmth of the grains.

Claypot Yee Mee (RM4.90)

Boiling in a claypot, the yee mee (Egg Noodles) arrived piping hot, perfect to warm the body in the cold weather. But as stated earlier, the weather just ain't what it was years ago. But still, sitting right by the windows did allow the breeze to reach us, else those indulging in their claypot meals would be sweating, a rare scenario at the highlands, no?

Fried Rice

I took a close up shot of the fried rice, but the portion was barely sufficient to feed a hungry ghost. I mean, human. And no, my itchy fingers did not pry the dish, as the rest were already eyeing my actions, hunger pangs screaming and all. But the response was positive, or was it?

Spaghetti Bolognese with Chicken

It struck me while I was browsing the menu, the Western fare is pricier, with chicken chops priced at around RM14.50, and the pasta selection at around RM9 each. I still remembered their lasagne was an abysmal affair, with tasteless, dilute tomato paste, and miniscule amount of beef, and cheese.

Mr Po ordered the fusilli (not spiralli as he had me believed ... hmmm) cooked with chicken bolognese, and the pasta came out disappointing. Again, the tomato paste was tasteless, too diluted, and spoiled what could have been a delicious meal.

Curry Chicken Rice

Dr ordered the curry chicken rice, an awkward choice, but rather befitting, as Cameron Highlands is also well-known for its Indian food. Probably the Indian community is aplenty, or curry does work its magic in the chilling weather.

Chicken Sandwich (RM3)

Still mighty bloated from the desserts, I ordered a simple chicken sandwich, and pleasantly surprised that the chicken is not your run-of-the-mill cold cuts, overnight, stripped (of its dignity) and shredded, but instead chicken cubes lightly pan-fried and served sandwiched between 2 slices of white bread, and partnered with the usual suspects of cucumber and lettuce. Quite tasty, but bear in mind eating the sandwich with bare hands may be a challenge, as the chicken pieces fell off and had to be 're-inserted' between the bread.

Hmm, strange that Motormouth can survive on sandwiches for lunch? .... Oh, that was not all !!

Moist Chocolate Cake (RM3.80)

Strawberry Scones (RM2.90)

Apple Pie with Vanilla Ice-Cream (RM5)

Yup, their desserts DID fare better, much better than the mains, scoring brownie points with the chocolate cake, and their ultra-famous scones and apple pies.

Topped with a dollop of fresh cream, the chocolate cake was moist, slightly decadent, but not too rich. Not to mention reasonably-priced as well. The strawberry scones are their forte, with dried strawberry bits, and served with cream. Sweet, crumbly, and with a hint of cinnamon (or at least that was what I think that flavour was), the scone is a must-try if you happen to drop by.

The apple pie with vanilla ice cream (RM3.60 for pie alone, but WHY?) scored well in my books, the crumbly pastry pairing well with the apple slices sandwiched between. Served warm, with dustings of sugar, the pie went really well with the vanilla ice-cream which though was frozen, but not to the point of freezing cold. A match made in heaven. Or in this case, made in the Highlands. ;)

Location : T Cafe on the upstairs of Marrybrown Restaurant, on the main road of Tanah Rata. You'll have to walk to the side of Marrybrown, and go up the stairs at the side. The extensive menu is printed on the white board downstairs, so you can make your decisions BEFORE entering the cafe, for fear of embarassing yourself if suddenly you decide to order banana leaf curry rice. Or something.

After the reasonably 'light' lunch, we were off to our next destination. It was already 2.30 pm, guess where we headed to? ....

A perfect way to end the meal?

to be continued ....

Kissaten @ Jaya One, Petaling Jaya

Kissaten ~ Translated to Cafe, in Japanese

Wanna know my current feeling? One word, hot ... sorry, I meant HOT !!! Yup, the endless durians assault, tomyam at the border town, and digesting wild boar curry for lunch this afternoon somehow proved the existence of additive/synergistic effects of heaty food on the body's metabolism. Not to mention the desert-like, breeze-less weather in Ipoh today. Phew ...

Ho-mu Menyu- .... (Gee, the basic lesson in katakana* [thanks, Camemberu!] kinda helped)

Putting aside my Johor experience (food-wise, mostly), let me skip forward to a cafe situated in Jaya One (a commercial centre, but populated with so many food outlets, the place is a foodie's wet dream come true, really); Kissaten Coffee and Restaurant.

Either embrace the zen-like modern ambience, tailored for yuppies (and youngsters, obviously)

OR bask in the sunlight, and immense heat, while dining al fresco ... oh, you can puff away, suicidal one!!!

Various bloggers' reviews on this outlet had an agreeable outcome; the desserts are must-tries, while the food may fall into either one of two categories, HIT, or MISS.

Cucumber Lychee (RM9.90)

Amnesiac ol' me, had no recollection of recommended beverages. The only lady waitressing on that afternoon did not provide much assistance either, heavily pushing for the yoghurt drinks, and nothing else. Simple query from yours truly on the difference between Milk Tea (RM5.90) and ROYAL Milk Tea (RM6.90) subsequently led to the aforementioned waitress scratching her head, and mumbling of nothings. Obviously, staff training is still lacking, and creates room for improvement. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed on this one.

Btw, the cucumber lychee drink is a BIG no-no. Diluted cucumber juice, too much ice, and none of the supposedly present lychee flavour (completely destroyed my hope for a bite of a lychee fruit or two ...). At RM9.90 per glass, I paid premium price for a meagre thirst-quencher. Gimme good old Milk Tea anyday !!! :)

Char Siew Pizza (RM24.90)

The Char Siew Pizza (BBQ Pork Pizza) on the other hand, exceeded all of my expectations! Highly raved and commended by floggers alike, the pizza reminded me of Japanese pizza (Okonomiyaki), albeit with a twist. The presence of PORK!!! (oh, completely awaken the porky beast in me ... muahahha)

Generously baked with cheese, and garnished with scallions, the combination of mayonaisse and sweet, okonomiyaki sauce (not sure of the REAL name for this, but there is a picture of the sauce HERE, in my Korean pancake post, in the last photo) works wonders. I was practically tearing away at the pizza, oblivious to my surroundings, and threw my table etiquette out the window for this one. Yup, trust me, this is THAT good !!!! The Char Siew is nothing like the Chinese Wantan Mee or Char Siew Rice type, but instead devoid of fatty portion, and less fragrant/decadent.

Cheesy, savoury goodness. Beats Pizza Hut's best offering on anyday!!!

Ume Chicken Roll Set (RM15 - Promo price)

Currently, Kissaten is running a promotion for certain set lunches. Did I mention they serve various Japanese rice and noodles dishes, as well as bento sets? Most set lunches are in the realm of RM20+, and they're holding special discount for certain sets. Do ask for assistance (though from the same "reliable" lady I mentioned earlier ... hehe =P)

Ume Chicken Roll set came with white rice, miso soup, chawan mushi, and pickled Japanese cucumbers. The rolls may look small on the menu, or from my pic, but trust me, the batter-fried rolls of chicken thighs are very filling in their own rights. But wait, NO sauce provided??!!! Fortunately, the meat is tender and juicy, although fried until golden brown. But a plate of mayo, or katsu sauce would suffice, in my opinion. The steamed egg (Chawan mushi) was very, very smooth, until the point of slightly watery. But I like mine this way, so no qualms.

Pumpkin Cream and Vanilla Ice Cream (Rm9.90)

Desserts galore!!!! Limited choices, and again, the untrained mind (the waitress) continuously denied me of my initial plan to order the highly prized Rich Choco Pudding (RM7.90), purpotedly sinful, and velvety-goodness (according to various floggers). She kept questioning our picks, and recommended the cheese cake and cheese pudding instead. OK, fine.

The Pumpkin Cream + Vanilla Ice Cream was creamy and smooth. No strong pumpkin flavour, but a rather bland, and mild sweet broth, when combined with the vanilla ice-cream, made a lasting impression on our sweet palate. Just remember to finish this quick, before the whole dollop of ice cream melts and turns into a mash of diluted, sweet tong-sui.

Cheese Cake (RM7.90)

Since she insisted on the cake, we obliged. But regretted soon after. Don't get me wrong. The texture was nice, not too soft or spongy (unlike Secret Recipe's current offerings). But our only gripe was the somewhat mild cheese flavour. Not as cheesy as I'd prefer.

Location : Kissaten Coffee and Restaurant, L12A-1-1, Palm Square, Jaya One, Jalan Universiti, Petaling Jaya. Tel : 03-79541990.

For second opinions, hop over to :

masak-masak, Sweets for my Sweet Tooth, Shell Food Station, ling239, Kissaten's own blog

The Loaf "U hu! hu!" Cheesecakes @ Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur

Decided to do a DOUBLE posts today, trying to forget the disastrous outing at Alexis (refer previous post HERE).

Funny name for some fancy cheese cakes?

Since reading various posts by other floggers on The Loaf's amazing Japanese-style cheese-cupcakes, I knew I had to try them someday. Ladies & gentlemen, D-Day has arrived, in style.

??? Orange - Forgot the full name, but citrus-y, tangy, and sweet. (3.5/5)

Durian Obsession - Probably the most obnoxious/smelly/fragrant/flavourful of the lot, sure to attract durian-lovers. The soft, crumbly layer on top has an uncanny resemblance to pavlova/meringue texture. (4/5)

Tangy Lemon - The plain Jane of the pack. Slight hint of lemon aftertaste. (3/5)

Refreshing Longan - Bland, with a pair of longan fruits embedded underneath, but the crunchy almond flakes save the day. (3.5/5)

Glitzy Strawberries - Presentable, dazzling, albeit stingy pistachio bits, no doubt the superstar of the lot, stealing the limelight from the otherwise dark/gloomy/pale colours of the others. Sweet, typical strawberry jam flavour. (4/5)

Luxurious Chocolate - Luscious, decadent, not run-of-the-mill type of cocoa powder. Possible best of the lot. Simple, but got the job done. (4.5/5)

The whole half dozen of fluffy goodness (RM25)

A saving grace, after the Alexis episode. RM5 per piece, but BUY 5 FREE 1 promotion. Get them while they're still around. Various flavours available for picking. Sweet tooth FINALLY satisfied. Time to move on to some meatier deals in following posts .... G'nite. v_v

Location : The Loaf @ Lot 3.13.00 on 3rd floor of Pavilion, 168, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.