Mugshot Cafe @ Chulia Street, Penang

Haven't been doing much work this week even if I'm back and ready for action. I guess everyone else is still in their holiday mood. So I here I am blogging, at least it's something productive or else I feel guilty:X 

But before that, a quick note about what happened today. 

Today, I waited 7 hours at Perodua's Car Service Centre. This is the longest I've ever waited. Called the centre at 9am to see if today is full and make an appointment but the lady told me that today it's on walk- in basis so I walked in at about 10am (I got lost finding the place). 

Saw the scheduled time printed on the invoice (12.30pm, okayyy I had to wait for at least 2 hours I thought). Since I had to change the timing belt (whatever that is), the guy told me it would take a longer time and the car will be ready at 4 plus. In the end, I was the last customer to retrieved my car at 5.20pm:O

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining just that I'm amazed at how patient I am LOL. I finally found my strength. So next time when potential employers ask me that question, my answer would be "extreme high tolerance towards anything including bullshit" :D

Talking about sh*t, when we were back in Penang somehow my bowels knew that it was not home so I couldn't go to toilet for 2 days. On the last day before heading back to KL, we had yogurt for breakfast and WALA!! Bowel started working efficiently within an hour!

Mugshot Cafe

302 Chulia Street, Penang

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Mugshot Cafe from the outside

Interior; Mugshot 302 Chulia Street

Making full use of the space

Counter to place your orders and high chairs along the counter

I've heard of this cafe and have read blogs about it but if not for my sis, I would have given the place a pass and regret it for the rest of my life! The reason why I initially thought of giving it a pass is that this cafe serves very limited food i.e. bagels, yogurt and coffee. That was about it. None of the items stood out to me but there was always a large crowd whenever I passby.

At mugshot, it's partially self service. 

You gotta place your order and pay for it first then wait for them to send you your stuffs. So that morning, after walking back from breakfast, all hot and sweaty we decided to chill at Mugshot cafe. Thank God for the aircon! 

As mentioned, usually there are a lot of people flocking the cafe so I wasn't sure if we could find a seat but we did instantly! The seat was very strategic too because it had a mirror on my right hand side like such...

... and a stone oven on my left hand side as such...

If you're thinking why is it good to sit next to the oven? Well, because we get to see all the action! Mugshot cafe bakes their bagels in the stone oven so it's very cool to see! Also, I managed to capture pictures of different types of bagels of which was ordered by other people as well! HAHA

Guy making salmon bagel

Bagels sliced in half, spread with butter or cream cheese depending on the order, popped into the oven!

Check out the firewoods. REAL firewoods to run the oven! Impressive!

This was our order: Cream Cheese Bagel (Forgot the price, something like RM5 I think)

Very generous amount of cream cheese

Mugshot definitely did not scrooge with the quality or quantity of cream cheese! One huge slab of thick creamy cream cheese in between your bagel. The only thing is it's rather tasteless LOL So if you prefer something more flavourful maybe you should try their bacon and egg bagel or Salmon bagel.

Bacon and Egg Bagel (Forgot the price, about RM10 I think)

The bacon is not pork. It's turkey bacon. I overheard the counter guy clarifying the issue to two muslim ladies who were deciding on their bagels. I love the customer service there because they are all very polite and considerate. The said customer didn't even have to ask to know what kind of bacon is served.

Btw, I'm deviating from Mugshot for a bit since I'm talking about bacon. 

There was once where I saw a comment, a question actually, from a Muslim customer enquiring about the type of ham being used. I forgot which cafe was that on Facebook. It seem like a sensible question to me since there are many types of ham and obviously they are prohibited to consume pork.

Then came a nasty comment by this guy who is not of the same religion. Being very rude, he laughed it (the question regarding type of ham) off in his comment and said something implying that the Muslim customer was stupid because ham is pork.

Well hello smarty pants! "Ham" could also be chicken, turkey or beef. Was so angry with this fella's stupidity, to think that he thought someone else is the stupid one. Pfff, obtuse asshole.

Okay, coming back to mugshot. Here is a picture of their Salmon bagel! It's someone else's order but since I was sitting next to the oven I managed to get free picture without having to order it hehe

Smoked salmon bagel (Approximately RM10 I think)

Iced Cappucino (Approximately RM10 I think)

I'm not a big fan of their coffee because it was so dang bitter!!! I had to put like 5- 8 spoonful of sugar to make it drinkable. For that price, I'll opt for Starbucks instead. That being said, their ultimate product that you got to, have to, must buy is Mugshot's... 

Jackfruit & Gula Melaka Yogurt!

Jackfruit slices and Gula Melaka yogurt RM10

This was my holy grail, thanks to my bowel who stubbornly insisted that it's not home

This is real homemade yogurt! Nothing like those sold in supermarket!! This was so thick and rather sour so the jackfruit and gula melaka toppings was a perfect fit! I shared one jar of yogurt with my sis and thought nothing of it till about an hour later.

An hour later, my stubborn bowels started working it's ass off and I couldn't wait till home so I had to use the R&R's toilet along the highway LOL This is how effective their yogurt is! It is so authentic and natural and concentrated that it works magic! Very suitable for people who have a stubborn bowel when travelling!

To think half a jar could help me so well, it slide right through! (Okay, too much details but I am realy IMPRESSED by their yogurt!!!) Imagine having one whole jar to yourself! You probably wouldn't get fat after your food hunt trip in Penang :D

Okay, one nice food picture to make you forget about the gross detail I've just written LOL

The back area of Mugshot cafe, bigger tables for bigger groups of people

They have an upstairs too but I think it was closed that day

Doorway to the kitchen

The place where they produce my favourite homemade yogurt! Seriously, I have never ever come across such effective product before. Not even bananas could come close!

A mint making machine, RM2 per mint I think.

Select your design then turn the wheels. Wheel get heavier as it was being crafted. There you go!

Also, they provide you with chalks for... 

A must have MUGSHOT picture!!!

Mugshot pose, hehe

I would definately return to Mugshot cafe when I'm back in Penang!!! Super good service, unlike the ones that we got in China House. People at Mugshot Cafe makes you feel so welcomed and happy despite them being very busy zooming here and there fulfilling orders. 

If you ever go there, you MUST try their yogurt okay! It comes in many different flavours too other than jackfruit & gula melaka. It's seriously the BEST product that I have ever eaten! Even till today, my sis and I often gushed about how awesome their yogurt was for our bowel!

Japan Boat Takoyaki @ IOI City Mall Putrajaya

So today is 1 Jan 2015 and to celebrate the new year, my sis and I decided that we would splurge a little on lunch then go back eating home cooked budget food. The plan was for us to have sushi at Sushi Zanmai at One Utama, but decided that we stand a higher chance to find parking in Sunway Pyramid. 

However when we reached Sunway, it was all jam up till the highway so I suggested we go check out the new IOI City Mall in Putrajaya thinking that they wouldn't be much people there since it's so far away. Boy, was I so wrong!

It was jam up as well in Putrajaya wanting to turn into the parking area. The parking area of the new mall is humongous yet it was so packed!! Luckily we found a parking that didn't look like a parking unless you look hard enough.

Went up to the mall and... holy cow! The number of people there in that huge as mall made me a bit dizzy. It was worse than Midvalley during peak hours. As expected, we had to queue for almost an hour for Sushi Zanmai (yes, we stubbornly still wanted sushi) and customer service there was so bad prolly because of the heavy traffic. 

Before heading home immediately after lunch (because the place was so packed that if it was a zombie appocalyse I'm so dead), we decided to drop by a new store to pack back some snack!

Japan Boat Takoyaki

Lower Ground, IOI City Mall Putrajaya

Website

Japan Boat Takoyaki at LG

According to the ad, this store originated from Osaka, Japan back in 1955 if I've not mistaken and it finally came to Malaysia! Googled a bit about it and found out that it has a 60 years old history producing "octopus balls" or "burnt octopus" and was popularised in Taiwan and later expanded to Hong Kong and China.

Making octopus balls

I noticed the process of making takoyaki is similar to what other stores have been doing here in Malaysia.However, they do have this additional equipment to clean the takoyaki pans! I'm not sure if it's a vacuum that sucks up bits and pieces of remnants or a blower to blow the remnants out of the way. Prolly the former LOL 

Octopus ball being glazed, topped with mayo and Katsuobushi (Takoyaki flakes)!!

The lady asked what flavour I wanted so I told her I wanted the original without the wasabi. Not too sure what flavours they have because it was a long queue and I just wanted to get in and get out as soon as possible. Waited in the line till I got sleepy:S

Packing octopus ball in a paper boat

There you have it! Japan Boat Takoyaki! Love the design of the paper boat, check out the lock that they created. Such a smart move without incurring addition cost!

One boat (three octopus balls) cost RM3.90. 

Currenly, they have two promotional sets: 

• Set A: One Tako boat + One drink RM5
• Set B: Three Tako boat RM10

I thought that this Takoyaki store sells really cheap Tako because usually elsewhere it's sold for about RM6 for 4 octopus balls. It's even cheaper if you buy Set B! Do the math:)

Sneak peak of the insides

I like that they are very generous with the glaze, mayo and tako flakes! The octopus balls do not have too much flour so it was very pleasing to have as snacks, appetizers or in this case dessert LOL I would like it better if they are more generous with their octopus though. I could only chew on two tiny pieces of octopus in each ball. 

But all in all, it's one of my favourite snack and I'd come back for it again if I'm ever in Putrajaya! Okay, till the next post. Goodnight:)

Maliia Bakery Penang Famous Roti Benggali, PJ

Happy New Year everyone!!!

It's 1 Jan 2015 already! Gotta get used to writing "2015" instead of "2014" on forms. This year, I'll be turning 25 and many of my friends are getting hitched so I guess it's time for me to let the wedding bells ring! LOL joking (Unless within this year I get a job, a car, my own place and a willing partner without me putting a gun to his temple, which still sound impossible so no bells afterall lolol).

I don't usually have a new year resolution because I don't believe in that crap. But if I were to have one, it would be to lose weight of which I'd never lose (I was born heavy boned and thick flesh!). So knowing that it would never work out, I have a more realistic resolution- To save more money for holidays!!

*Can't wait for 1 Jan 2016! TEEHEE

Talking about holidays, Penang is one of my all time favourite budget holiday destination because it's just 45 mins flight away and it homes the apple of my eyes! So much food that I'll be so happy munching non stop for breakfast, snacks, lunch, teatime, dinner, and supper. And occasionally wake up nap snacks.

Though budget, I'll have to spend about RM300 (all- in) when I'm there so I can't do it so often also la. But guess what? I found the famous bakery from Penang here in Petaling Jaya!!!

Maliia Bakery Penang Famous Roti Benggali

Section 14 PJ

(Right outside Jaya Shopping Centre)

The Breaman Truck!

Menu for you to have a look before deciding to pay them a visit

I haven't had this Benggali bread from this particular shop in Penang before but I've had tried other Benggali bread there so I kinda know what to expect. Apparently it's very famous in Penang according to my friend from there so I got so hyped up when I saw this food truck!

Roti Benggali Original with Butter and Kaya RM4.50 per set (I think)

There are a few breads for you to choose from. I got the original roti benggali but you can opt for wholemeal, charcoal, chocolate or those big buns type. There are also a variety of fillings (see menu picture above) but I stuck to the authentic kaya butter.

The amount of butter they slap on was decent though having more butter would be a bonus. It's nearly impossible to expect the same amount of butter like what you sandwich between your bread at home though, they would go on bankrupt if they did so LOL

But they are indeed very generous with the kaya! Kaya tasted very homemade though it is not as good as the ones that I had in Penang which has more lemak taste. Nevertheless, still quite good!

The oozing kaya

Oh, by the way you can choose to toast your bread for an additional surchare of RM0.50 (I think I saw this somewhere). I had my bread untoasted though. Love the fluff of the centre but I ditched the skin of the bread- Never been a fan LOL

Here's to your New Year treat all the way from Penang!

Read the bag and realised that they have a factory somewhere in USJ I think

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

May money keep rollin' rollin' rollin' in

Penyet World Express, Setia Tropika JB

A quick post on our second meet up (Second meet up with Simren, first with Joyce LOL). Initially, I wanted to combine this post with the previous post on Batu Berendam Coconut Shake because both post are mainly about coconut shake but since I have pictures of ayam penyet, I decided to just seperate them. Also, Johor Bahru and Melaka is 2 hours drive apart so this deserves a separate post. 

*OMG why do I sound like I'm not making sense?

Penyet World Express

Jalan Setia Tropika 1/1

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Picture of Penyet World Express taken from their Facebook page

I totally forgot to take a picture of the shop so I had to go find a picture from their Facebook because I'm usually high when Simren's around HAHAHA. The initial plan was for all of us to meet up at G Cafe, Mount Austin but because the rest couldn't make it and since Simren and I had to go to our grandmother's place we decided somewhere closer.

Penyet World Express is located at the row of shops opposite Kementerian Dalam Negeri (Where you all dmake your passports). It's easily spotted because its one huge green shop.

Feel a little apologetic to Joyce because we were all suppose to meet up at somewhere nicer and then go for a karaoke session or something but the plan had to change so we only had quick lunch. Sorry Joyce, if you're reading! Maybe next time!

Ayam Penyet (Puyuh) set, RM7.90

Ikan Lele set, RM7.90

I took the set meal where you can choose a penyet item and then choose two sides. This set is the non- rice set so:

• I choose Puyuh as my penyet item and wedges and tauhu tempeh as my sides. 
• Simren chose Ikan Lele as her penyet item and fries and tauhu tempeh as her sides.

Both sets come with keropok, raw vegetables, a bowl of soup, chilli sauce and sambal belacan as dips! Not the best sambal belacan I've tasted but it was edible.

Joyce's mee soto

While lunch didn't wow me, our drinks did!! Since I've read that they are famous for their coconut shake, I decided to give it a shot. The weird thing is that I don't think I saw it on their menu. I asked them anyway and yes, they do serve coconut shakes!

Coconut shake, topped with vanilla ice- cream RM4.50

The coconut shake was really good!! Actually I think it tasted better than the ones in Malacca, except for the fact that it is double the price of the ones in Malacca. The coconut shake is so thick yet not too sweet. The ice- cream and the coconut juice blended very well together, making it creamy yet refreshing. It has very nice texture to it too i.e. tiny coconut flesh bits inside so you can chew on the bits after each slurp! 

So there you have it Johoreans! We have awesome coconut shake too! So we don't have to travel all the way to Malacca for Coconut Shake anymore! Well, actually I still would because road trips are FUN! Teehee

Batu Berendam Coconut Shake, Melaka

It's the last day of year 2014!!! Tomorrow marks a new year and I thought that I should blog about something nice instead of an angry post about yucky food that I'm suppose to write about LOL So the other day when we drove back to JB for Christmas, we stopped by Malacca for a pit stop.

Since mum wasn't with us, we could go wherever we wanted whenever we wanted HAHA Decided to try out the Coconut Shake Batu Berendam that is apparently better than the Original Klebang Coconut Shake. 

I've tried the Klebang shake and I thought that it was very good and cheap! So naturally my expectations for Batu Berendam's shake was high too. I'm not too sure about the location exactly because we used Waze GPS so I googled for address.

Batu Berendam Coconut Shake
Jalan Batu Berendam

The coconut shake stalls can be seen easily from the main road, if you miss it just keep right and make a U-turn.

It was about 12pm when we arrived and it was drizzling so I stayed in the car and let my sisters jump down to pack us some coconut shake. She told me that you would need to place your order in the shop opposite the tent. 

I read somewhere that Batu Berendam Coconut Shake opens daily from noon onward (except Sundays).

This is the shop that you place your order for coconut shake

I found that a little weird because in other blogs, I saw pictures of the coconut shake being blended at the tent area. I was (and am still) suspicious about if I got the right Batu Berendam coconut shake:S This is the only coconut shake in Batu Berendam right, Malacca people? 

Anyway, we all got the Coconut Shake Special, RM2.80 if I've not mistaken. Special means coconut shake topped with addition vanilla ice- cream on top.

Batu Berendam Coconut Shake, RM2.80

Coconut shake, topped with vanilla ice- cream and chocolate spinkles

Batu Berendam Coconut Shake tasted quite yummy too but I'm still in favour of the Original Klebang Shake. Somehow personally, this shake tasted a little too sweet, as if their proportion of ice- cream to coconut juice was larger. The sprinkles weren't necessary for me too, maybe because I'm not too fancy of sweet stuff.

All in all, it's still a good coconut shake with good differences if compared to Klebang's. It's like comparing KFC to Popeyes, both is equally good in their own ways. That being said, I think I'll go back to Klebang if I'm craving for coconut shake.

"Why so Ugly?" #insidejoke

Cheers! Happy New Year

Oh, I might as well write about a very yummy, comparable Coconut Shake that I discovered in JB!

Tampoi Laksa Shangrila, Johor Bahru

Still very much in the holiday mood but my sister's exam has just started so she's practically on lockdown LOL In which leaves me without a shopping partner. Feel like going malling today and to watch Night in the Museum but scared to disturb her:( Hoping she reads this post then ask me out instead hehehe

So back in JB, I met up with Wawa and Simren. Two of my very close buddies! This time Simren suggested for us to have lunch at this rather new shop in Taman Tun Aminah, very close to The Store. 

I was okay with whatever place that she recommends because the last time I recommended Bob's Kitchen it was so expensive yet food was not up to par.

Tampoi Laksa Shangrila

95G Jalan Pendekar 2, Taman Tun Aminah

Johor Bahru

07- 5628629

Tampoi Laksa Shangrila

Something good about meeting up somewhere outside town is that you are guranteed a parking most of the times and it's much more peaceful too. No need rush and fight with people who are also rushing for God knows what reason.

Oh talking about rush, I realised that JB has really rude drivers! I was actually shocked at how many JB drivers were rudely cutting in lanes, not giving chance for people to switch lanes, how they purposely accelerate when they obviously saw you coming out of a junction etc. What happened to my state men?!

Back to Tampoi Laksa Shangrila, they have sufficient variety on their menu so they would be suitable food for all! People like me would obviously jump for their signature laksa and health conscious people like Joyce would opt for their noodle soup kot? Lol

Menu

Interior of Tampoi Laksa Shangrila, simple and neat

Took a picture of their original shop's signboard!

Chee Cheong Fun (Big) RM5.90

Since Simen had already tried and tested this food place before recommending it to us, she was probably sick and tired of the noodles HAHAHA (Thank you Simren!) So she ordered Chee Cheong Fun! Was so glad that she did because I wanted to eat everything on the menu!!

Chee cheong fun is one of my favourite food because it's steam flour topped with sweet sauce! Takes off the guilt a little. But I'll usually eat it with side dishes like fried wanton, fishcakes and whatnot :P

Tampoi Laksa's chee cheong fun was good! The sweet sauce was thick and nice also! 

Ice water RM0.60 | Ice Cincau RM2.50

I scrooge a bit by ordering ice water. I wanted cincau like what they ordered but I was thinking RM2.50 can buy me one big block of uncut cincau d! So I stucked with ice water:S

Tampoi Laksa (Small) RM5.50

Wala! This was my lunch that day! Tampoi Laksa!! The laksa gravy was so fragrant and flavourful, it tasted exactly like the back lane one off Jalan Harimau at Century Garden there! Very generous with their ingrediants also like egg, fishcake, tofu and fishball. Love the sambal!!!!

But the small was small la, I think the amount of noodles given was whacked by me in about 5- 6 spoonful only. I finished my meal rather quickly, regretted a bit for not ordering big but if order big, later sure too full. Sigh, food dilemma.

Rojak (Large) RM10

Lastly, we ordered a BIG rojak to share! This was really good as well. The prawn paste was thick and generously given. You can witness their generousity looking at the amount of peanuts they sprinkle on the rojak too! The only downfall is that they didn't give as much Yu Char Kuey as I would like, but still very yummy!

I'm so hungry now. I gotta find food, most probably biscuit:| Ughhh, the torture. Should I go back JB again this weekend? Hehe