Barn 81 Cafe Taman Melodies JB. Tasty Savouries, Great Desserts, Good Coffee

Daniel invited me to visit his Barn 81 Cafe in Taman Melodies in Johor Bahru. I enjoyed the food, desserts and coffee here.

By Grace Sweet Treats Galaxy Dessert Johor Bahru Pelangi

Here's a little secret for Singapore day trippers on food and shopping trails in JB - you can cool your heels, get WiFi and enjoy this gorgeous dessert for around RM80 for 3 to 4 persons at By Grace Sweet Treats in Taman Pelangi.

Cakes and Desserts at Lemon Tree Restaurant in Johor Bahru

Jeffrey, the boss of Lemon Tree restaurant, invited me to try their new cakes and dessert menu.



Kevin is Jeffrey's partner running the cakes and desserts side of Lemon Tree.

Kevin and Jeffrey go back a long way - they were school mates :D 

After school, Kevin went to work with Lavender Bakery (a big, established chain in Johor), Angel Cakes and in Pan Pacific Hotel, Singapore where Kevin worked on Japanese desserts.



Lemon Tree's chocolate Volcano Lava Cake (RM15.90) served with a scoop of ice cream.

I love Kevin's artistic flare that went into the beautiful plating and presentation of all his cakes and desserts.



Rich with 81% chocolate, the thick warm molten dark indulgence inside doesn't ooze and flow like liquid lava but it sure made our saliva gush when the luscious bitter-sweetness hit our taste buds.



Lemon Tree's Mousse Au Chocolat (RM14.90).

Rich, dense, creamy chocolate mousse on an airy, crumbly, buttery biscuit served with nutty crushed walnuts and a scoop of ice cream.

Exquisite, fine classic French dessert becomes an affordable luxury at Lemon Tree everyone can enjoy, everyday :D



Lemon Tree's Matcha Tiramisu (RM13.90).



The Matcha Tiramisu reflected the Japanese side of Kevin's journey in cakes and desserts.

Fragrant matcha green tea and creamy mascarpone cheese enveloping spongy lady fingers infused with Japanese sweet liquor. 

An interesting, delightful Japanese twist to the classic Italian dessert.

Remember to ask for the cakes and dessert menu when you are at Lemon Tree restaurant.

Disclaimer: Johor Kaki is not responsible for any weight gain from Lemon Tree cakes and desserts. 

For that, you can look for Jeffery and Kevin :D



Restaurant name: Lemon Tree Restaurant
Address: 18, Jalan Bedara, Taman Melodies, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/XvJ25
GPS: 1.491372,103.761965
Hours: 12:00 noon to 11:00pm (Closed on Monday)
No pork, no lard, no Halal cert, alcohol served

Date visited: 26 Feb 2014, 14 May 2014

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Vivo Pizza & Panini at Setia Tropika, Johor Bahru

Johor Kaki was invited to lunch at the newly opened Vivo Pizza & Panini outlet at Setia Tropika Welcome Centre.



Inside, Vivo at Setia Tropika is spacious, neatly laid out, clean, bright and very comfortable with air con and soft plush sofa seats.



We started off with the Vivo salad (RM8.90). Cherry tomatoes, lettuce, and crispy oven baked croutons dressed in Thousand Island sauce. Very simple, very fresh and very clean. 

Excellent.



I ordered the Norwegian Salmon Steak (RM22.90) because I wanted a tasty yet healthful choice :D  



The large slab of salmon steak was nicely done. Tender and moist, the signature salmon flavour was complemented by savouriness from the large chunk of garlic herb butter.



The French fries were not greasy and went well with the warm tomato salsa sauce.



I tried the Beef Lasagna (RM17.90). Layers of pasta sandwiching layers of minced beef and tomato stew, and then topped with melted Mozzarella cheese.

Creamy, tangy, savoury and beefy. Layers of different types of softness from the melted cheese, minced beef and pasta.



We had the classic Hawaiian Pizza (RM13.90). It's topped with chicken bologna slices, chicken chunks, pineapple chunks and onion rings held together by melted Mozzarella cheese,



At Vivo, the crispy pizza crust is made at the shop using flour, water and yeast - something not done even at some well appointed restaurants who buy their crusts "OEM" i.e. generic, factory made and frozen.



Every time I am in Vivo, I will order their Volcano Chocolate Lava Cake with Ice Cream (RM15.90). One of the best lava cakes in town, I must say. 

Always enjoyed it.



My cup of cappuccino. Nowadays, with so many trendy specialty coffee bars sprouting up all over JB, coffee must not only have good body, taste great and smells nice, it must also look pretty with nice latte art.

Vivo's cappuccino has good body, tastes good, has nice aroma and latte art that looked better than those at some of the specialty coffee bars that I have been to.



Vivo restaurants are comfortable, family friendly places to chill with good food and drinks at reasonable prices.

Restaurant name: Vivo Pizza & Panini at Setia Tropika (Vivo has 13 branches in Johor, Malacca and KL)
Address: GF2, Tropika Welcome Centre, Setia Tropika, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/cWFQ3
GPS: 1.548800,103.718061
Hours: 11:30am to 10:00pm (extends to 10:30pm on weekends)
Certified Halal

Date visited: 21 Mar 2014

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Dessert and Tea at Moshi Moshi in Taman Mount Austin, Johor Bahru

Elaine, one of the owners at Moshi Moshi Dessert and Tea invited me to try out their new menu items. I am a regular here at Moshi Moshi, bringing friends here to try their hand made ice creams which I feel are the best in JB, at the moment. So far, everyone I brought here had nothing but praise for Moshi Moshi's ice creams and specialty ice teas.

Customers coming in to enjoy Moshi Moshi's ice creams and teas have often also asked Elaine for something with more bite, something closer to a light meal. After months of research, experimentation and also study trips to Taiwan, Moshi Moshi launched their series of snacks/ light meals on 23 Dec 2013.

Again, like their ice creams and teas, the same signature creativity and dedication went into making Moshi Moshi's snacks/ light meals.


Sesame Q-Rice Ball RM6.90



Fried sesame seed and glutinous rice ball with gula Melaka filling inside. The skin has a thin crispy layer while the inside is moist and chewy soft. Deep fried but there was not a trace of oil at all. I can eat many of these in one sitting.


Peanut Mochi Cake RM8.90



Mochi (glutinous rice cake) waffle with peanut butter spread, honey and dairy butter. I like this simple snack/ light meal. The mochi waffle is crispy outside, chewy inside. The topping is a blend of savoury nuttiness, honey sweetness and buttery smoothness.


Smoked Chicken Koshi Cake RM11.90



If you like something more filling, you can opt for koshi waffle with smoked chicken, cheese and mayonnaise topping.


Black Pepper Sausage Koshi Cake RM10.90



Koshi waffle with black pepper sausage, mildly spicy Thai style sauce, mayonnaise and cheese. Quite interesting mix of flavours and textures.


Coffee Ice Cream and Guava Bum Ice RM15.90

Two types of ice creams with cut fresh fruits with freshly whipped cream and chocolate dip. Ideal for two persons to share.



Made with ground coffee beans and fresh milk, I am sure the robust coffee aroma of the coffee ice cream will be a hit with coffee lovers.


Coconut Ice Cream Parfait RM15.90

This coconut ice cream is another example of the extra mile Moshi Moshi goes to, to make a good product. This ice cream is made with both young and old coconuts. The juice comes from young coconuts as young juice is sweeter and more fragrant. The coconut flesh is from old coconuts because old flesh is nuttier and has more bite. So Moshi Moshi's coconut ice cream has the best of young and old coconuts :D

Beneath the coconut ice cream is a mix of cut fresh fruits smothered in freshly whipped cream.



Moshi Moshi is a good place to chill out with friends. Quality freshly hand made ice creams, teas, and snacks. Friendly staff, clean and neat environment. Plentiful free parking. And, of course, free wifi.

Restaurant name: Moshi Moshi Dessert and Tea
Address: 19, Jalan Mutiara Emas 10/19, Taman Mount Austin, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/qIHvc
GPS: 1.551693,103.785181
Hours: 11:30am to 11:30pm
No pork, no lard, no Halal cert

Date visited: 26 Mar 2013, 29 Mar 2013, 21 May 2013, 14 Jun 2013, 23 Dec 2013

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Old School Time Desserts @ Happy Land Café in Kulai (near Johor Premium Outlets) 欢乐园饮冰室.

Happy Land Café serving old school desserts and hasn't changed much since 1976 has a special place among Kulai people.

Johor Best Cakes - The Sugar Pantry in Permas Jaya, JB

Good words about Sugar Pantry in Permas Mall (near JUSCO Permas) has been spreading fast, though the cake shop is less than a year old. I visited Sugar Pantry at the invitation of the owners, Heng and Yen.

Restaurant: The Sugar Pantry

Address: G-03, Blk B, Permas Mall, 03 Jalan Permas Utara, Permas Jaya, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/riT6h
GPS: 1.497335,103.817393
Hours: 12:00 noon to 10:00pm
Non Halal

Sugar pantry is a small, simply laid out shop. Air conditioned, bright, very clean and neat. The decor is minimalist yet cosy. It has a few very inviting, dark blue velvet high back arm chairs which I forgot to take photos of :P



Sugar pantry is like a cake showroom. Their cakes are very appealing visually. You could tell they are premium cakes just by looking at their vibrant colours, carefully sculpted designs and the pride in displaying them in the best light. Clearly a lot of heart and soul as well as hard work have gone into creating these works of art. The best thing is, Sugar Pantry's premium cakes are also reasonably priced.



Yen is the artist behind these works of art. Yen is a Le Cordon Bleu Paris trained pastry chef.



She was the chef in charge of Les Amis' pastry section and a partner in Pavé Chocolates and Confections in Katong (Singapore) before returning to JB to open Sugar Pantry with her husband Heng.

To me, sugar pantry is like a jewelry shop with beautiful handcrafted trinkets on display. The owner is like an artist making the pieces of art. Only difference is Sugar Pantry's artwork is edible, wrong, they are delicious. The thing is, they look so beautiful I did feel a tinge of heartache when I stabbed the cake with my fork.

Yen takes great pride in her cakes. Everything is made at the shop from scratch even the Blueberry and Strawberry jam. This is possible only when there is passion.



Yen uses only natural ingredients like their vanilla which she makes from vanilla pods from Madagascar.

We tried a few of Yen's cakes. They were just the right sweetness and not sugary.




I love tea scones, that quintessentially English pastry because I like the blend of sweet homemade jam and savoury butter flavours as well as the warmness and soft graininess of the pastry.



Éclair au Confiture de Fraise. Don't worry, that whipped cream has body without being heavy and greasy.



Yen is proud of this Nutty Putty (RM11.90) made with milk chocolate and coconut topped with peanut.



Miso, Blueberry and Matcha flavoured macaroons. Yen is a big macaroon fan. She used to eat macaroons for her main meal when she was in Le Cordon Bleu Paris.

We have no more stomach space left to try the following but take a look at Yen's art. Don't they look like jewels?


Bundle of Sunshine RM9.90


Claire RM9.90


Mont Blanc RM14.90


Paris Brest RM11.90




Ichigo RM11.90


Mille crepe

We shall definitely be back to sample these.


Cappuccino RM7.90

I always love a robust Cappuccino with my sweet cakes.



Sugar Pantry also serves fresh juices and cocktails to go with their cakes. This one named Kiwi Bird and Pandan Bear (RM11.90) is made with Kiwi fruit, lime, Pandan syrup and fizzy (no alcohol).

The Sugar Pantry is a nice place to chill out with good cakes and coffee.

Date visited: 16 Oct 2013