Johor Best Cakes - Patisserie Love Café and Bakery in Bukit Indah, Johor Bahru

I love chilling out with friends over a nice hot cappa coffee and cool cakes in air con comfort, away from our tropical heat and humidity.

Passionfood Cafe in Taman Pelangi is one of my favourite places in Johor Bahru to enjoy coffee and cakes. So I am happy when Chi Ling (Passionfood's boss) told me that she has opened a Passionfood sister cafe in Bukit Indah known as Patisserie Love. Yesterday, I was at Patisserie Love at Chi Ling's invitation.



I like Patisserie Love/ Passionfood for their thoughtfulness.



The set up at Patisserie Love is simple and nice - it makes me feel relaxed and comfortable the moment I stepped in. Nothing pretentious. Just inviting and easy going.

The cakes are the same as at Passionfood as they are made at the same Passionfood bakery. For Passionfood fans, quality and consistency are assured.

Chi Ling, Tyng and I shared the following cakes.


Green Tea Tiramisu RM8.50


Trio Cheese Cake is RM8.50


Chocolate Oreo Tart  RM7.90


Strawberry Souffle Cheese RM8.90


Strawberry Garden RM8.50



All the cakes were fresh and of just the right sweetness. I complemented them with this smooth bitter sweet latte.

If you haven't tried Passionfood/ Patisserie Love's cakes, now you have two locations to enjoy it :)



So if you are around the Bukit Indah area, swing by for a cosy coffee break at Patisserie Love with Passionfood's famous cakes and coffee.

It's a lovely little oasis.



Restaurant name: Patisserie Love Café and Bakery
Address: 28, Jalan Indah 15/3, Taman Bukit Indah, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/YtiR0
GPS: 1.480715,103.657926
Hours: 12:00 noon to 10:00pm
No pork, no lard, no Halal cert

Date visited: 17 Sep 2013

Pontian Wholesale Fish Market Update 2018

I am fascinated with seafood markets and the most accessible one in Johor from Singapore or JB is Pontian Wholesale Fish Market.

Johor Steamboat - Sedapnya Steamboat 好食火涡 in Taman Impian Emas, Skudai, Johor

Ck Pang, the boss of Sedapnya Steamboat  好食火涡 in Taman Impian Emas invited me to visit his restaurant.

I've known Ck as a fellow foodie who is active in Johor foodie social media circles. Ck and his wife, Joyce, are in the clothing retail business and they like to combine their food hunt with their overseas business trips.

Last year, Ck started to help his father-in-law run Sedapnya Steamboat  好食火涡.

Harbour 3 Hong Kong Steamboat 海港火锅 in Batu Pahat, Johor

Hong Kong style steamboat restaurants that emphasise MSG-free soup base and premium ingredients are sprouting up in Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru.

Andy, the boss of Harbour 3 Hong Kong Steamboat 海港火锅 in Batu Pahat invited me to visit his restaurant.

Fried Durian Puffs in Johor Bahru

Fresh durians are available only when they are in season. So, in between durian seasons what are durian lovers to do? Fortunately for people in JB, there is a delicious alternative - the freshly fried durian puff.

Nasi Lemak Kak Zai (Low Piak) Batu Pahat, Johor

This delicious nasi lemak with teh tarik all for a grand total of RM6.80.

I have to thank reader Hippototomos Miaw who suggested that I should try her favourite nasi lemak stall in Taman Nira, better known as Low Piak to locals in Batu Pahat. There are several warungs around here at Low Piak where many gather for their meals.

Stall name: Warung Zai (Kak Zai) Nasi Lemak

Address: Taman Nira, 83000 Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia

Tel: +6012 757 0548

Hours: 7:00am - 12:00 noon (Tues off)

Jessica Chong, Certified Sommelier at Gastrolution

Photo Credit: Stephanie Choy

I've been a casual wine drinker for a long, long time but never really knew how to appreciate it correctly. Of course, I picked up some tips here and there from drinking kakis but it just got me more confused.


Photo Credit: Jessica Chong

So, I recently signed up for the introductory Wine Appreciation Workshop conducted in JB by Jessica, who is a Certified Sommelier of the Court of Master Sommelier and a partner at Gastrolution.

Jessica and I are good friends now. I am fascinated by her passion and knowledge about wines.

 

 

Jessica's expertise and international experience is much sought after by hotels, wineries, wine suppliers and related industries. So, I am curious why she left her well paying job at her prime to become a wine appreciation teacher in JB, especially at a time when wine drinking is booming in Asian countries like China.

Over coffee (not wine LOL :) ), I found that Jessica chose this path because she has made it her mission to promote the budding wine culture in Johor Bahru.

Born and bred in Johor Bahru, Jessica has come full circle after a career that has taken her around the world.

It all start quite by accident back in 1999.



Fresh out of SHATEC (Singapore Hotel and Tourism Education Centre), Jessica was working in Four Seasons Hotel Singapore. Two of her customers celebrating clinching a big deal, ordered a bottle French Chateau Margaux 82. At that time, a bottle of Chateau Margaux 82 retails at over SGD5,000. "Three times my salary then!" Jessica exclaimed, still incredulous about that episode. 

The jubilant gentlemen offered Jessica a generous glass of Chateau Margaux 82. One sip of this heaven's nectar got Jessica smitten for life. "How could something tastes so good?" From that moment on, Jessica began her lifelong journey to find out all about wines. That journey that has taken her on adventures in many countries and today, Jessica is back in JB doing what she loves most - to share her passion.

After Four Seasons Singapore, Jessica went into the wine supply business, organising wine events and providing wine consultancy services in Singapore.


Photo Credit: Jessica Chong

During this time, Jessica did a stint in the vineyards of Adelaide, South Australia. Starting with the back breaking work of a grape picker, this first hand, on the ground experience gave Jessica insights into wines that could not be gotten any other way.

Jessica's next stop was Beijing and Shanghai where she stayed for 3 years in wine retail and as a Sommelier before coming back to Singapore wine retail again.

From Singapore, Jessica moved to be the Sommelier at Ritz Carlton's luxurious Al Bustan Palace in Oman.


Photo Credit: Wikipedia

After Oman, Jessica returned as the Chief Sommelier in the newly opened Hilton Hotel Kuala Lumpur and then the Resident Sommelier at Renoma Café Gallery in KL.



And, now Jessica is back in her hometown JB to make a difference.


Photo Credit: Jessica Chong

Jessica agrees with people who say that there is no wine culture in Johor Bahru yet. Big difference is, she takes it upon herself to change that. Jessica envisions a vibrant wine culture in JB and people whom she has taught thriving in this emerging industry here. 

When I asked Jessica what is in the future, she said she sees herself running her own wine bar to share her passion with wine lovers.


Photo Credit: Jessica Chong

Wine culture is bound to grow in JB. If you like to be at the head of the trend and want to learn from the best, Jessica's coming wine appreciation workshops (in English) are on:

28 Sep 2013 (Saturday, 4:00pm to 7:00pm, RM190 fee with dinner included) at Menu Please restaurant.

If you are interested to attend these wine appreciation workshops by Jessica, send a private message to Jessica's Facebook account.

Note: Johor Kaki has no affiliation with Gastrolution and did not receive any fees for this post (or for that matter, any post in this blog).

Closed: Charcoal Burgers at Johor Bahru City Square Mall Pizza Box

Charcoal burgers fascinate me and so when I realised that my friend Alan's new restaurant, Pizza Box in Johor Bahru City Square serves charcoal burgers, I quickly make a trip there. Alan invited me to try both his pizzas and charcoal burgers.

I tried both Pizza Box's pizzas and charcoal burgers but this post is dedicated to the charcoal burgers. (Another post will be on the pizzas :) )

After trying Pizza Box's charcoal burgers which sells for RM9.90 to RM19.90 nett, I am finding it much harder for me to go back to those giant franchise burger chains :P

Take a look with me at how each one of Pizza Box's "gourmet" burger is individually made, to see why they are different. 



The process starts with grilling the patty and charcoal buns on the griddle. See how thick that minced pork patty is? There are other flavours like chicken, egg and tuna, beef, bacon and salmon.



The chunky pork patty is grilled till it is slightly charred outside. Slices of Cheddar cheese are then laid on top of the sizzling pork patty.



Slices of fresh unions on the griddle. I love those caramelised, charred rings :)



The Cheddar cheese melts on the griddle, flows down and envelopes the sizzling, chunky patty.



Look at that molten cheese lava smothering the pork patty.



The ingredients at Pizza Box are of good quality, like these fresh tomatoes.



A slice of fresh juicy tomato goes on top of the cheese blanketed pork patty.



Raining ketchup from a squeeze bottle onto the burger.



The tower drenched in ketchup.



Spooning in generous dollops of Mozzarella cheese sauce.



Capping the patty, cheese and vege tower with a charcoal sesame bun.



Adding a heap of freshly fried potato fries.



Squeeze in a dash of ketchup.



Voila!! The completed 6-inch Volcano Cheesy Pork Burger at RM19.90 nett. I thought this is really value for money.



Juicy blend of savoury, sweet, tangy flavours in a bouncy slightly sweet charcoal sesame bun. Interesting mix of textures of tender minced meat, crunchy lettuce and onion, pulpy tomato and soft pillow-like bun. Nice!



There was no charcoal taste at all. Actually, the soft and bouncy charcoal bun was so goood, I can just happily eat it on it's own.



Pizza Box's charcoal burgers are definitely worth a try :)

Restaurant name: Pizza Box
Address: City Square Mall (Level 3, Inner City), Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/Ex0Mz
GPS: 1.461570,103.763519
Hours: 10:00am to 10:00pm (last order 9:30pm)
Non Halal

Date visited: 4 Sep 2013

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Teochew Kway Teow Soup at 锦都茶室 in Johor Bahru

Johor Yummy member Charles Tan recommended 锦都茶室 and many other members like Candle Tay and Kumes quickly chipped in suggesting that we should all go and give the shop a try.

锦都茶室 is one of the shops at a quiet corner of Taman Century along Jalan Dato Sulaiman, just a few doors from the popular Poh Kee 宝记 Teochew Kway Teow Soup.



The large yellow banner says 锦都茶室 serves Teochew kway teow soup, fish bee hoon soup, curry laksa, wanton mee, and bitter gourd soup.



The friendly boss, Mr. Tan used to work in a roast meat shop in Singapore. He moved back to Johor Bahru after his marriage and has been a kway teow soup hawker for 32 years. Today, Mr. Tan runs 锦都茶室 with his daughter and son.

We ordered a Teochew soup with mee pok and a fish soup with kway teow (dry). Don't ask me why I ordered such a combination. Perhaps, I was still jet lagged from a longish trip to Australia .... It turned out to be an excellent breakfast despite my odd orders :P



The mee pok still has a slight spring despite soaking in the soup for quite a while, while I took photos. I expect the dry version to be even better.



The dry kway teow - the soy based sauce with a little lard is gummy and gooey. I asked for chili, hence that glob of maroon in the picture. When tossed and stirred, the kway teow became like a dark starchy ball of yarn. The chili is heavy with dried shrimps (hae bee).



The fresh slice of fish is so tender that they kept breaking apart when I tried to take this picture. Mr. Tan goes to the market to buy fish in the morning of every business day, so we are assured of it's freshness. This also explains why 锦都茶室 is closed on Mondays, as the wet markets are also closed on that day. 



This humble piece of unphotogenic pork liver tastes superb. It is fresh and cooked in a way that reflects Mr. Tan's over 30 years of experience. Perfect mouth feel and taste.



I was surprised to find a slice of shell fish in a RM5 soup. Not of exquisite quality (it would be unfair to expect more) but it was quite a nice touch, really.



锦都's soup made with pork bones and anchovies is full bodied. Mr. Tan adds in slivers of fresh ginger to cook and dashes of white pepper before serving. So, 锦都's soup is slightly peppery. I like this variation and differentiation from the numerous Teochew kway teow soup stalls in JB.



The humble cut chili and soy sauce dip. Simple and nice.



Another customer's fish bee hoon soup which I want to come back for. This is actually 锦都茶室's signature dish.



The fish head bee hoon soup - another must try for me.

I need to come back also for their bitter gourd soup as I am a fan of this soup :)

锦都茶室 is yet another old school Teochew kway teow soup shop worth visiting.



Restaurant name: 锦都茶室
Address: 87, Jalan Dato Suleiman, Taman Century/ Abad, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/Uz9Qf
GPS: 1.480886,103.756985
Hours: 7:30am to 3:00pm (closed on Monday)
Non Halal

Date visited: 3 Sep 2013

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