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Motormouth From Ipoh

Monday, June 29, 2009

Ye Olde Smokehouse @ Cameron Highlands - Of Scones, Tea & Life on the Slow Lane

Continuation from the first part : Cameron Highlands - OK Tuck & Strawberry Park Resort ....

The simple 2 pages-Tea Menu from The Smokehouse .....

I've been to Cameron for a good many times over the course of my life. Yet the thought of spending hours appreciating a good cup of tea, paired with fresh warm scones did not cross my mind, as opposed to the more prominent steamboat meal, or DIY BBQ dinner.

Sip on your cup of English tea amidst the lush, green garden .....


Since this visit to Cameron was solely for work (initially, of course), we skipped all of the tourist destinations, namely Cactus/Rose/Flowers/Butterfly/etc Farms, the night market at Brinchang, and even the perennial favourite spot of many; the Tea plantations.

Classic, charming Tudor design dominated the cottage-like settlement, exuding such warmth and cozy feeling you'll feel as though you're transported to 60 years ago (the Hotel opened in 1937) !!!

Hence we dropped the thought of scuffling with the crowd, but instead indulge in a leisurely session of tete-a-tete over high tea, at The Smokehouse Hotel & Restaurant at Tanah Rata.

One can even choose to sit beside the fireplace ....

The Smokehouse Hotel & Restaurant (www) overlooks the golf course, and right along the main road between Tanah Rata and Brinchang towns.

Ornaments, chandelier, candle stands and blowing yer own trumpet? :)


The restaurant is divided into several sections, each with its own theme & design, from a candle-lit dining area to lounge area with plush sofas & fireplace.


Hot Chocolate (RM14.50) - Very thick & rich, and English Tea (RM8.90) - Complete with filter!


Cappucino (RM14.50) and Cafe Latte (RM15)


Devonshire Cream Tea - Pot of Tea & Two Warm Scones with Homemade Strawberry Preserve and Cream (RM25)

It was drizzling slightly that evening. The cool climate, accentuated with droplets of water painted an idyllic & soothing picture of the classic cottage, from the exterior. And to cap the experience off, we proceeded indoors, and were courteously ushered to our seats at the verandah, with natural sunlight over our heads, merely barricaded by the glass ceiling.

The warm, crumbly scones were indeed magnificient stuff. Soft, moist and crumbly, with a moderately rich, buttery accent. The base of the scones was slightly crisp, and the accompanying homemade strawberry preserve complemented the scones almost to a tee. Not cloyingly sweet, with real strawberries, they sell the jam at RM19.80 per jar as well.

Of course, paying a premium price for the set which nets you 2 scones and a pot of tea may be more of a luxury than a routine tea time.


Nostalgic influences at large. Reminiscence of the ancient British era.

Aside from their scones, they serve various cakes, sandwiches, and savouries for tea time as well. For main meals, they dish out various delightful dishes, from steaks to pies, as well as salads and soups. But bear in mind, a complete meal (with appetizers, main, desserts and wine) may set you back for more than RM100 per person!

The lush gardens - where else can one embrace the fresh, cool air while sipping on a cup of tea, with a good book at hand?

Since the rain got heavier by the minutes, we stayed as long as possible, soaking in the ambience, and taking life a step at a time.

I REALLY would treasure any form of rest and relaxation as of now ......

Location : The Smokehouse Hotel & Restaurant @ PO Box 77, Tanah Rata, 39000 Cameron Highlands. Tel No : 605-491 1215.

28 comments:

Sugar Bean said...

Looks like Smokehouse haven't change much. My last visit to Cameron Highland was a few years back. Haven't been to their restaurant before, looks nice, and very English. Hehe!

Saw their rooms before, looks a little spooky to me when I was young...

allie said...

Hot chocolate and latte! I want those...
Smokehouse is a great place for photography :)

Little Inbox said...

Used to pass by this area when holiday in Cameron, never know they have such nice environment.

foodbin said...

a nice place to relax.

Selba said...

Whoaaaa... this place is not in Europe? So European style and beautiful!

minchow said...

That hot chocolate looks like liquid GOLD! Chocolate, dark, rich gold that is... I don't mind a cuppa right now in nutty office A/C temperature!

HairyBerry said...

the scone set quite expensive hor? but i must say that the ambiance is pretty good la. i can imagine spending hours there taking pictures..hehe

worldwindows said...

Scones here, I thought may be the best around but they do run out of fresh strawberry jam and my hostess was jumping mad the last we were there, maybe 7 years. Its like Lone Ranger without Tonto.

Elin Chia said...

typical English set up....nice place to relax..the scones and the english tea..mmmm let's exchange places ;p

ahlock said...

With the calming ambiance and cool fresh air, the swing looked great to be sat on whilst reminishing the good ole days where having a job was a distance future away ... where our only worries were exams and homework...and maybe a perverted teacher or two.

Hey, if you're still in Cameron, you should drop by Restaurant Tringkap for its exclusive super yummy deep fried black pepper fish. Introduced to me by Ipoh Road runners members, hey, you can't find it anywhere else! Unless lah someone copy it elsewhere...

ahlock said...

Hey guys, found a blog about this Restoran Tringkap where the black pepper fish was featured.

http://www.flsam.blogspot.com/2007/12/restoran-tringkap-tringkap-cameron.html

Babe_KL said...

how sad we found out that the ori owner sold of this place, now retaining the new outlet in bangsar

Nic Da Nic said...

i was there last thursday
Yeah.in Cameron
I visited on this Smoke House
The hotel there is no tv nothing..And i heard it is Rm 600++ per night u know
erm..i did take some picures there

Haha...nice..too bad..i only took it with handphone.going to blog later after i got my pictures..

Anonymous said...

They should at least invest in nicer teapots and cups at the prices they are charging for the drinks.

Btw was that cream thing next to the strawberry jam... thats not clotted cream though is it?

J2Kfm said...

Sugar Bean : spooky when you were young? geez ... I'm sure its even spookier now!

allie : yeah, true. if only it didnt rain the evening we went. the garden was all wet.

Little Inbox : it's really cool. there's another cottage style chalet called Bala somewhere between Brinchang and Tanah Rata as well.

foodbin : how true. and that's all we need right?

Selba : plus the cool weather, it's almost too perfect.

550ml jar of faith : it's darn cold in the office now as well.

Nic : i can almost imagine spending a whole day doing nothing there! drinking tea, reading papers, and just chat away.

worldwindows : wow, ran out of jam?!! thats new! hahahah ... but probbaly cz of the exclusive homemade tag.

Elin : hehe, really? it's tough also our work. i merely show the easy part.

ahlock : you've a perverted teacher in school?!!! hahaha ... how cool. ;)
thanks for the Tringkap introduction. never knew bout this.

babe_kl : oh they've an outlet in Bangsar? but the experience should be diff, sans the cool air.

Nic Da Nic : cant wait to see your experience there. yeah, verypricey rooms. who needs TV in Cameron? :)

genuiness : initially I thought its clotted cream, but even in their menu, it's written as cream only. and it's not thick but very spreadable. hmmm ...

www.pakejwang.co.cc said...

beautiful scenery

Shell (貝殼) said...

European style restaurant + English high tea , so enjoy and u really hv a wonderful vacation this time.

Ciki said...

that hot choc does look really thick! man, you could stand a spoon in it! love the tudor exterior. always looks so grand. Timeless is the word, i believe;)

Big Boys Oven said...

this is so English! so nice :)

ai wei said...

i wanna come here! this place so classy and soooo english!

and that big pot of hot choc is jz RM 14.50??? it looks so creamy and rich!

Lyrical Lemongrass said...

How very da english! No need to travel so far for a holiday next time, hor.

J2Kfm said...

pakejwang : yeah, the place was beautiful.

Shell : it was not a vacation, actually. :)

Cumi & Ciki : can foresee more and more outlets like this elsewhere, IF the concept's well received. but preferably, somewhere as cool as the highlands.

BBO : since cannot travel to the REAL country, might as well re-enact the same ambience here.

ai wei : best of all, it wasnt sickeningly sweet. that's the feedback.

LL : true. Malaysia has so many destinations, it's almost sinful to spend in other countries. hehehe ...

email2me said...

OMG! This place is so nice! Must drop by the next time I go to Cameron Highlands.

PureGlutton said...

This place's always so charming, so english but darn blardy expensive! Tea and scones, cool weather - can almost imagine oneself in an english garden!

J2Kfm said...

email2me : i'll be sure to drop by if I go again. maybe Bala's Chalet this time, depends.

Pureglutton : darn pricey somewhat true, but paying for the experience ma ...

sf said...

WOW WOW you take great pictures. i am also a regular to camerons. but had never taken tea at this smokehouse. been to bala chalet though.

cariso said...

You are evil! Always post such super ho liao place! :p

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