Beans N Beans, Uptown Damansara

Hello!

Last weekend was super fun because my family came up to KL! But of course, the actual fun comes when all three sisters go out late at night for supper! Reb is a big Korean fan so every time she comes up to KL we will make it a point to try out new Korean cafe. Mostly for the bingsu, Korean ice dessert.

Ice ice baby

We have been to Dal Komm, Bingsu Cafe, and of course Cafe Bene who started off this Korean bingsu craze. This time, I came across this newly opened Korean cafe at Uptown Damansara on Facebook. Their official FB page was somehow on my news feed wall so off we go to try it out!

Beans N Beans

Uptown Damansara

Facebook

Welcome to Beans N beans, Uptown Damansara! I don't think they have their signboard up yet because they seem very very new. Step into the shop and you still can smell the newly renovated smell haha

Some loose ends being tied up, prolly that explains the ladder LOL

To find Beans N Beans, they are on the same row was Wondermilk, the opposite end of Texas Chicken. We reached there about 11.30pm that day which pretty late, almost reaching their closing time but we were given first class service! Something that I have a weak spot for so I decided to jot it down in my food blog despite the very limited time I have.

First up, their menu. Thought that readers who want to check out the price of the items they offer. They have drinks, bingsu and food as well. I wanted to try their waffle with maple syrup but that's only offered during the day for breakfast. 

Have a look at the bingsu on display! Looks really appetising! Also, they have dessert toast as seen on the last row in the picture but we decided to just go with bingsu since we weren't too hungry. I asked the cashier which bingsu would she recommend and she told me that the green tea and the chocolate one is a favourite! Wanted to go for green tea but they were sold out. 

So we had Red Bean bingsu, RM15.90 because I asked for something not too sweet. Red bean bingsu was pretty good. The shaved ice was made up of milk! Love the milky taste, though subtle. A generous amount of red bean on the top with three bits of sesame glutanious rice balls which was my favourite!!!

The lady boss (I assume?) was really nice to bring us free chrysanthemum tea to try. It is actually a good idea to call for something hot to drink after having your bingsu, somehow the balance makes the bingsu experience even better! But even if you don't want to order any drinks, free water on the house!

Since this chrysanthemum tea was given to us free for sampling, we had a peek at the price. OMG RM9!!! That's pretty pricey for a flower tea I think because I usually make my own tea at home- buy a packet of Chysanthemum tea for RM2.50 from the chinese medicinal shop to boil one big pot of tea. But then again, may be different flower quality? LOL That's why I took a picture of the tea bag brand.

Anyway, I was impressed by the generosity of Beans N Beans even at almost midnight. Thank you for the free tea to warm our belly!

Beans N Beans is a really nice and cosy place to chill out with friends and family, during the time we were there (night time LOL). I might think twice of going there during the day because parking at Uptown Damansara during the day is just crazy. Maybe it's just me but I don't like having the stress of locating for parking and maybe having to resort to illegal parking just to hang out. So yeah, I'll most definitely return. At night. Unless... I decide that I want to try out their breakfast menu.

Since we enjoyed ourselves there, we decided to return to Beans N Beans on the following day! This time we were there earlier, around 9pm maybe? And yes! They have Green Tea bingsu this time!!!

Green Tea bingsu RM17.80. OH MY GOSH, green tea bingsu was DA BOMB! All of us thought that this was definately yummier than the Red Bean one that we had the day before. And to think that we thought that the red bean one was already pretty good.

The soft shaved green tea ice topped with this very smooth green tea ice- cream served with my favoruite sesame glutanious rice balls! And what makes it even more crazily addictive is the green tea powder that they sprinkle on top of the bingsu as a finishing touch. OMG, holy cow super delicious!!!

Delicious. Truly, delicious!

I like that the ice was flavoured and that it was so soft and smooth. Probably not a traditional bingsu, as Beans N Beans' reminds me more of a Hong Kong ice dessert but who cares? It's so good! LOL Bingsu here at Beans N Beans has pretty subtle taste, nothing too empowering, nothing too sweet! Eat two bowls also don't feel fat! Maybe wallet becomes thinner only la lmao

Oh ya, second time we were there the lady boss gave us a new drink to try for FREE again!!! This time it's apple cider banana drink. While Naomi can't stand the apple cider smell, hence she couldn't enjoy the drink without cringing, Reb and I totally loved it!

This apple cider banana drink is priced at RM10.90 if Im not mistaken and I would fork out that money willingly because this drink gave me such a surprise! 

When it was served to us hot, all you could smell was apple cider vinegar. For those who haven't smelt that before, well it smells like rotten apples. Look inside and you can see sliced banana at the bottom of the glass. The thought of banana in hot water can be scary I know LOL But when you take a sip, it will blow your mind!

Somehow, the pungent apple cider taste was masked by a sweet banana flavour! Not sure if the sweetness came entirely from the banana or was there added sugar but the sweet banana flavour lightly washing over the slightly sour apple cider, just warmly rolling over your tongue... Yup, nuff' said. Take my money pleaseeeeeee!

Thank you Beans N Beans for the very welcoming service! I'm leaving you with some pictures of the interior of the cafe. Have a good week ahead!

Till later :)

Cempedak Cake @ Swich Cafe, Uptown Damansara

Hello!

Just noticed that I have not blogged for about a month. Initially it was because I was busy then my Samsung Note 4 got stolen so I was demotivated to take pictures with my Redmi 2 which has good enough camera but obviously that can't beat my Note:(

A kiamsiap (miser) IMU prof pisses me off :

Anyway, I'm selling my Redmi 2 now for RM445 because after all it's only my temporary phone till I had time to decide on which phone I really want to use for longer period of time. I think RM445 is fair considering I bought it lesser than 3 weeks ago so its pretty much new. It comes with a phone casing which I bought for like RM25 and free gifts too!

Now the story that made me damn geram. Yesterday, this buyer, a prof from IMU called me asking if I could sell my Redmi 2 for RM360. I was reluctant because price offered was a rip off! But later agreed thinking that I bought my phone for RM460 (I miscalculated, forgot the GST). 

When I came home, he text me asking for the original receipt and a phone casing as well. That's when I realised my mistake. So I replied informing him about the miscalculation and made a new offer RM400 for phone, phone casing, free gifts AND Poslaju. He said NO.

So okay la, I find other buyer no problem because my phone is considered new and looking at all the free gifts and postage I'm throwing in this is a steal deal! 

See see earlier this morning he text me telling me that I'm unethical because an agreement was reached and if I agreed to RM360 he would proceed with the payment. Woke up to a busy day and first thing I saw was someone calling me unethical really pisses me off. So I'm here ranting!

Prof, number 1. There are 4 elements to a contract (If I have not forgotten from my law major). My Mudah ad was an invitation to treat. You offered RM360, I verbally accepted but there was no consideration involved i.e. you did not pay me any deposit etc. Then I raised a counter offer. A counter offer means no deal is done yet till you agree. Since you decline my offer, no agreement is reached since I don't have the intention of selling it to you. So how is this unethical?

Number 2. Being unethical would be me taking agreeing to your RM360 and then telling you that I want RM40 more when you have transferred the money to me. I have experienced this when I was purchasing a blanket from UK.

Number 3. My ad says Whatsapp or SMS only. Considering you're a prof, I assumed you understand terms and condition stated but you called anyway. But the thing that pisses me off is that someone who is earning big bucks is being so kiamsiap ( he wanted free postage too! wtf) and when refuse to buy from me, can call me unethical somemore?!!!

Okay, end of juicy gossip. Now check out my cakes I had for my birthday! 

Swich

SS21/ 58, Uptown Damansara

Facebook

Swich Cafe located opossite the new Texas Chicken at Uptown Damansara

So Nit and I went there for our birthday cakes. I wanted to buy a birthday cake from here for my sis's birthday but I was in a hurry and it was just scorching hot that day so I just got her a cake from the mall that we were going to.

Back in March when we had our cakes at Swich, it was still a newly opened cake shop! If I've not mistaken the set up of this shop was pretty quick. The owner got it all ready to rambo within a week I think! So I was very excited to try it out. Here are some pictures of how Swich looks like on the inside:

It's half a shop so the shop is quite narrow but we easily found a seat

Menu of the day at the ordering counter

Not sure if it's a self service shop or not because I dont see them coming to customers to take orders. I had to go over to the counter to tell them which cake I want. Get seated and wait for the cake. I didn't know whether I should pay for my cakes before or after having them but I did it later. Didn't get scolded so okay la I was right. HAHA.

Check out their cakes:

You have the ones refrigerated 

And the ones outside at room temperature

Cempedak cake with toasted coconut, RM12.00

I chose their famous cempedak cake with toasted coconut! Been wanting to try this ever since I knew this shop existed!! While the cempedak cream is really good, the cake was too dry. Anyway, they are really generous with the cempedak fruit so the cream was really lovely!! Strong cempedak flavour is yums!

Toasted coconut tasted a bit burnt. Not sure if its suppose to be that way or what? I really love the cempedak cream but I don't think I'll return for this cake because it's just too dry for my liking. With cream also can taste the dryness:S

Belgian chocolate cempedak cream cake, RM12.90

Nit ordered this chocolate cempedak cake and her cake was more moist! But the sad thing was that the chocolate was just too overpowering so I was tasting more chocolate than cempedak. Compared to my cake where the cempedak cream really stood out!

Okay last picture taken by my Samsung Note that got stolen :|

The end. 

I'll be back for more updates since I bought a new phone with better camera HAHA

BingSu Cafe @ Uptown Damansara

A quick post before I go for dinner. Been very hungry and very tired lately, thanks to the unproductive half of the month. The last few days especially really takes the toll on me so after doing my work i.e. writing out my thesis, I would have zero energy for anything else but sleep. That explains my neglect of this blog of mine:(

Oh, today Malaysia just implemented GST! So how are things working for you? 

Keep calm and pay on

LOL

Anyway, this was about a month back when Rebecca came up and we tried a new bingsu cafe! Not very long ago, this rave for bingsu started when Cafe Bene came over from Korea if I've not mistaken. Then this Korean cafe, Dal Komm Coffee at Uptown Damansara continued the bingsu hype. 

Not long after, about a month or two ago I noticed another new bingsu cafe in Uptown Damansara!

BingSu Cafe

SS21/35 Uptown Damansara

Facebook

Outside Bingsu Cafe

Self service so you will need to place your order at the counter

The place was empty when we stepped in. We went there on a Tuesday evening around 8pm and the place was empty, well except for us and a couple that came in with us. Somehow an empty shop gives me the impression that the place serves lousy food:S

Anyway, the couple went ahead placing their orders while Reb and I stood next to the ice- cream fridge, contemplating which bingsu to get. While we were standing there, there was this worker who took out a fly beater and started smacking around!

Guess what happened next? I think she managed to smack the fly and the dead fly somehow fell into the ice- cream area. OH MY GOSH. My mouth dropped wide open when I saw her laughing it off while cheekily telling her friend.

Wanted to exit right away but didn't want to disappoint Reb who came all the way from JB, so I just hoped that our bingsu wouldn't be contaminated:S

Placed order and was given a buzzer to notify when our orders are ready for pick up.

I was so hard deciding what to get because firstly I was rather turn off by what I saw prior to ordering. Secondly, the prices were rather expensive if compared to Dal Komm. Somehow the likely choices were prices too high, around RM18?

I didn't want to pay that much for a likely contaminated dessert so I went with the cheaper range bingsu. I think it was about RM15.90.

Mango Cheese Bingsu, RM15.90 if I've not mistaken.

The first thing I said to Reb was...

"OMG, is that the ice- cream from the ice- cream fridge that a dead fly just landed in???"

Reb was so chill and answered, "Ya la" HAHAHHA

Despite all that hoo-haa, I actually liked Bingsu Cafe's bingsu! The ice was shredded really finely and it was alternated with layers of cheese powder inside! The mangoes were very sweet and fresh so that deserved a thumbs up! Overall, it wasn't too sweet so it went well with my palate.

The cheesecake was a little too frozen though and it has this rather cheesy rotten smell. Not too sure if it's because its the type of cheese that they use for the cake (certain cheese does smell rotten) or because it was getting stale. 

Reb still prefered Dal Komm's bingsu but I think this place is worth the try if you have extra cash to spend and if you can't take overly sweet things like me. 

Easily missed signboard, at least for me HAHA

Weng Kee Ais Kacang, PJ Old Town

Today is yet another public holiday because it's Deepavali Day!!! Yes, another reason to love my country is for our abundance of festivals hence the abundance of holiday to keep everyone happy. Of course, you would still see some infamous grumpy ones on the media:X

So the other day, I was helping my sis to move house for the second time. It wasn't as crazy as it was the other time (where we had to carry stuff out from hostel, up to my place for temp storage, down again to move it up to her new place).

But nevertheless, it was tiring. And hot. And so I itched like some red scratchy baboon.

On the flip side, my sis treated me to some Ais Kacang! Yums! 

It's quite difficult to hunt for authentic ais kacang these days. By authentic I mean red beans, corn and maybe peanuts topped with shaved ice drizzled with syrup and milk. Anything over the top would be less authentic.

 I heard of this Ais Kacang aka ABC place at PJ Old Town Market that is rather authentic so I decided to try it out!

Weng Kee Ais Kacang

Stall #46, PJ Old Town Market Food Court 

(Next to Bus Station)

Weng Kee shop

When I was googling about this ais kacang, it's odd that I have never come across a picture of the stall. Yes, there were many pictures of the ais kacang but how would I know which stall to look for right? So there you go, a picture of Weng Kee stall. 

Oh, yes you could identify a stall/ shop by it's name (obviously) but I find that it always help to know the shop's colour/ signboard/ deco. Helps in locating the shop/stall quicker.

Entrance to market food court

If you are scouting for this place, it is best that you find this entrance because once you enter, turn right and you will see Weng Kee stall a few stalls away. Easy. But if you're entering from the other entrance (the one nearer to the wet market) then you might need to walk further in to find Weng Kee.

View from entrance

I took a shot from the closer entrance that I used so it's easier for people to find this entrance LOL I find it very convenient, I parked right outside the entrance somemore! So you will see the junction from the 'correct' entrance. Bus station and Public Bank is visible.

Ais Kacang RM2.80

The ais kacang was very pleasant especially on a hot day. Really like it that the ice is shaved very finely! It's a very basic ais kacang of which makes it very authentic like how all ais kacang used to be till people started over doing it.

The serving is just nice for a person. If you're intending to share, I would advise otherwise because it is quite small. Like the size of a tiny soup bowl, not rice bowl.

Below the ice

There you have it, simple refreshing dessert! I still prefer the ais kacang at Kayu's though even if it's expensive (RM5 I think) because the ones there are drizzled with red syrup that has this very yummy rose fragrant! 

But, this one at Weng Kee would still do:)

One more shot of Weng Kee ais kacang

Chicken rice from a shop few stalls away

Chicken rice has really yummy sauce!!! Salty and nice, best with cucumber hehe Quite cheap, RM4 for really meaty chicken!

The Harvest, Bandung

This is the post that I've been waiting for!! Been wanting to write this post first but decided to go by chronology (Well, I skipped lunch place because I'm still looking for the lost receipt).

Bandung is a place that amaze me even till now when I'm writing about it. Thanks to Gaya, she brought me to one of the prettiest looking bakery I've ever seen! Really classy looking, rather big and it had a variety of desserts!

If there is a pastry shop like this here in Malaysia I would expect a donut to cost at least RM5. But, Bandung can really shock you- in a good way I mean.

The Harvest Patissier & Chocolatier 

Jl. Ir. H. Juanda, Dago, Bandung

More info

Initially I wasn't expecting much of the shops (i.e. restaurants/ cafe/ bakery) because there were lots of less fortunate people there so I was very, very surprise when I arrived at Harvest. The entrance looks like an entrance to a 5- star hotel maybe!

Gaya was very excited to bring me to Harvest, I couldn't really understand why till I arrived LOL They had stairs leading up to the main store! It's no wonder that she was excited, I was at awe. And mind you, this was merely at the entrance.

Harvest entrance

Have a look at their interior, very pretty place! This place is awesome for tai tai (rich, usually older women) to hang out with her rich buddies lolol But of course, it works well for us (students/ tourist) too! 

View from my seat

Interior deco

Serviette

I probably need not say much about the variety of pasties and chocolates they offer. I'm letting the pictures speak for themselves:

A variety of cakes (whole and slice)

More cakes, cupcakes, mini cake slice and 3D cakes at the bottom right

Chocolates (small ones that goes by weight and larger ones like the heart shaped ones) and macaroons 

Closer shot of macaroons

More chocolates- truffles and what not

Chocolate bar

Ice- cream

Hampers

Pastries and take- away gifts/ souvenirs

More souvenirs like cookies in cans etc. Rather pricey though, about RM90 and above.

How?

Crazy right! I think I was gawking at the choice that I had there!

If I had the tummy space and more sweet tooth I would have bought one of everything that is displayed because their price is still considered reasonable. Their cakes (slice) were around the price range of Secret Recipe here in Malaysia (i.e. RM7- 10).

Despite that, we had lunch before coming to Harvest, so the food wasn't fully settled yet and I only had limited tummy space. Throughout my trip, my lovely host Gaya ensured that I actually maximised my time and tummy for as much food as possible. 

So even when I said I was still full, we headed to Harvest anyway HAHA. My initial plan was for us to share a slice of cake but when I reached the shop and had this explosive view of crazy lots of desserts I just HAD to order two cakes and a drink!

Strawberry Curd IDR 25,455 (apprx. RM7.70)

When Gaya asked me to pick my cake I immediately knew that this one of my MUST HAVE! 

Reasons?

1. Strawberry curd sounds like nothing too sweet, good deal.
2. Had too much sweet food in Bandung, more than my usual preference
3. It's strawberry! A safe choice I would say
4. It's the new product! I love trying out new stuffs!!
5. It has nuts as toppings too! I'm fan of nuts:D

Oh I love, love, love the strawberry cake!! Nothing too sweet that I can't handle! Very fresh strawberry flavour, nothing like some other artificial flavouring cake.

Then, we also had the red velvet cake. I can't remember if this was strongly recommended by Gaya or was it a best seller? I think either one. Or was it me who was strongly enthusiastic about getting it? LOL

Red velvet, IDR 30,000 (apprx. RM9)

The red velvet cake is a denser cake compared to my favourite light and fluffy Strawberry Curd cake. It was real rich, they didn't scrooge in the cream cheese either. 

But I'm still in favour of Secret Recipe's red velvet mostly because I love how the appricot spread goes so well with the cake!

So, usually when having desserts in Malaysia (or any meal in fact) I'd order just plain water because I've already spent on food. Desserts especially, because desserts aren't 'real' food. I consider them as luxurious add ons. To decrease the damage to my very tight monthly expenditure budget, plain water is my way to counter that off. Well, at least the guilt.

But!

This time, I had two cakes and a non plain water drink!!!!

Cranberry Breeze, IDR 16,364 (apprx. RM4.90)

This beverage is new and if I've not mistaken it wasn't on the menu yet. However, the waiter recommended this drink and I agreed! 

I didn't even get the ingredients that he was muttering about, I was just very excited about the fact that I'm probably one of the few that got to drink something that is 'not on the menu yet'. Made me feel special, like a VVVIP, teehee.

Oh, I like the drink a lot because it's sour, HAHA! Yes, you read right it's a sour drink that goes really well with all the sweets on your plate. Balance things out much- especially if you don't really have a sweet tooth.

So if you're in Bandung, make sure you head over to Harvest! It's definitely a worthy pit shop especially after you've been shopping like mad at factory outlets. 

Take a picture, it last longer (than the cake, lol)

My noms guide!

I'm ending this post with a picture that Gaya took. She said that it might come in handy if I want to use the quote in my blog post, haha. It basically tells you why Harvest's products are high in quality and most importantly affordable!

p.s. Tax is 15%

Quote on wall

Btw, I noticed that Indonesians allow you to take as much picture as you want. No problem! But some shops in Malaysia are just too wary of cameras