cafe review – Eris Goes To

Review: Luckee Canteen, Puchong

December 11, 2021December 11, 2021Posted in FoodTagged cafe, cafe review, cafes in Puchong, coffee, dining, eating, Featured, food, food blog, food photography, fusion food, Kuala Lumpur, Luckee Canteen, Malaysia, Puchong, restaurant review, rice bowlsLeave a comment

One thing about living in Puchong? The food scene is never dull – and even as a Puchong-ite I’m always finding new spots to discover. In fact, if it wasn’t for a lifestyle article I read recently, I wouldn’t even have known about Luckee Canteen.

Opened earlier this year, this charming fusion cafe is tucked in a relatively quiet corner of Pusat Bandar Puchong (behind Lotus hypermarket) – which is probably why it doesn’t get as much traffic as the more commercial areas of Bandar Puteri and Puchong Jaya.

The cafe isn’t difficult to spot: just look for a bright red food stand outside, where one of the chefs serves up toasty ciabattas.

The outdoor seating area is cosy, and accommodates six to eight people. Bikes seem to be a theme here, as there’s one on the wall outside, and one inside. There are also a couple of mannequins and some skeleton(s) that make up part of the decor – it may sound odd, but the overall aesthetics go pretty well together.

On the outside, the cafe looks like a single-storey building, but it actually slants to the back, so you get a very lofty ceiling. They’ve designed it in such a way to allow for plenty of natural sunlight to filter in, making the place bright and cheerful looking.

20211209_121710 — Feeling ravenous? Luckee Canteen offers a brunch buffet for RM88 per pax, where you can get free flow of items such as salad, ciabatta sandwiches, meat and dessert.

Luckee Canteen offers a modest selection of fusion cuisine, including Asian-style rice bowls (like Minced Pork in Tomato Sauce rice, Teriyaki Salmon Rice), ciabatta sandwiches, and pastas. There’s also coffee and tea from Harney & Sons to go along with your meal.

20211209_122419 — Iced lemon tea and Matcha Latte

The rice bowl portions here are very generous. Moo ordered the Luncheon Meat with egg rice bowl, which came with a side of sweet and juicy cherry tomatoes and pickled cucumber, as well as a fluffy omelette atop a bed of rice. If you’re a small eater, I think this can even be shared among two people.

Pops had one of the cafe’s signatures, namely the fried chicken rice bowl. The sides were similar to Moo’s order, except that the main protein was tender, juicy pieces of deep fried chicken. They were very flavourful, although Moo and Pops felt like it was a tad too salty for them.

I had the Fish Ciabbata, which was served with a side of chips. Again, the portion was quite generous; the fish fillet was sizable and cooked perfectly, the vegetables were fresh, and the melted cheese complemented the natural sweetness of the seafood well. The fish was moist enough on its own that no sauces were needed, and the ciabatta was soft and fluffy, with a crisp shell. Solid dish!

Our meal for three came up to about RM70. Most of the regular mains go for about RM18 – RM20++, but they also have pricier dishes like lamb and what not.

Luckee Canteen has pretty limited seating (about 30). I think it’s still relatively ‘hidden’ for now, but you might have to queue up if the place gets busier. Service is friendly.

LUCKEE CANTEEN

6, Jalan Bandar 13, Pusat Bandar Puchong, 47100 Puchong, Selangor

Opening hours: 11AM – 10PM (closed Mondays)

https://www.facebook.com/luckeecanteen

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Irresistibly Fluffy Bomboloni — Sugar and I, Subang Jaya

November 23, 2021September 19, 2022Posted in FoodTagged bakery, bomboloni, cafe, cafe review, cakes, dessert, dining, eating, Featured, food, Italian cuisine, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, restaurant review, Subang Jaya, Sugar and I, sweetsLeave a comment

To the uninitiated, bombolonis are Italian stuffed doughnuts, bursting with filling and fried to golden perfection. The outside is usually dusted with granulated sugar, giving them the appearance of a soft, powdery ball. It may sound simple, but I can assure you that they taste absolutely divine — at least to anyone with a sweet tooth.

Sugar and I was founded by a pair of siblings, who started baking as a hobby before pursuing it full time. Bombolonis are their signature, but they carry all sorts of desserts, from swirly cinnamon rolls and mouthwatering cakes, to airy Japanese cream puffs.

20211119_135948 — Cakes in a myriad of flavours, including Vanilla Burnt Cheesecake, Ferrero Roche, Walnut Carrot and Salted Caramel Burnt Cheesecake. Each slice goes for between RM10 to RM14.90.

Sugar and I boasts a brightly lit space with a cheerful, whimsical interior. I especially like the floor tiles!

At the moment, Sugar and I only does takeaways and delivery.

Moo loves cinnamon rolls, so I got one for her and stole a bite. The texture is a bit firmer than the ones you get from Cinnabon, but it tastes good all the same.

Of course, the stars of the show were the bombolonis. They’re fluffy, and when you press them they kind of ‘bounce’ back like a baby’s cheek. Cue cute aggression!

I got a box of 10 — six which I gave to my aunt, and four we kept for ourselves. The doughnuts come in five flavours: Nutella, Niko Neko Matcha, Cookie Monster, Lotus Biscoff and Strawberry Custard. The Nutella is their signature, but I didn’t get that for my own box because I’m not a big fan of Nutella (blasphemy, I know!)

20211119_150606 — If you don’t pinch your bomboloni, are you even eating it right? jk.

I ended up trying two flavours; the Cookie Monster and the Strawberry Custard. If you like gooey, chocolatey goodness, I recommend the former. I was surprised at the sheer amount of filling in the doughnut. I come from the JCo / Big Apple doughnut generation (back in the late 2000s to early 2010s, when there was a doughnut craze in Malaysia), and I’ve seen how the fillings became less and less through the years — so it was nice to finally sink my teeth into a real stuffed doughnut that isn’t 3/4 bread.

I made the mistake of putting the bombolonis in the fridge for after-dinner dessert. The Strawberry Custard hardened a little lol. The taste was still superb though — not too sweet, with just the right amount of milky and eggy — and again, lots and lots of filling. Since the pastries are freshly baked, I think it’s best if they’re enjoyed on the day itself (easy to do coz you won’t be able to stop at just one. lol).

20211119_145837 — Got coffee as well. I like the glass bottle, very decanter-esque.

Overall, I was thrilled with my bombolonis — and will definitely make a return visit when I’m able to (Subang isn’t that far from Puchong, but yours truly is an old lady and doesn’t have much energy to travel these days). If you want to get them delivered, they’re available on beepit. Prices are reasonable.

SUGAR AND I

110, Jalan SS14/1, Ss 14, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor

Open Tuesdays to Sundays, 11AM – 7PM. Closed Mondays.

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Tau Foo Fah & Soyamilk @ Dao, Puchong Jaya

March 15, 2021March 15, 2021Posted in FoodTagged cafe review, Chinese dessert, Dao Puchong, dessert, eats, Featured, food review, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Puchong, sweets, taufoofahLeave a comment

Back when I was still working at the newspaper, I did a business story on the gentrification of street food; ie, well-loved local hawker favourites such as popiah, oh-chien and nasi lemak being repackaged and sold in a ‘nicer’ setting (comfortable, with air conditioning), to serve a younger crowd. This was back in 2014, when the trend was just starting to emerge.

Fast forward seven years later, and such establishments are now the norm rather than the exception. Some of these, like Dao, are generational businesses, updated to suit modern times and palates. Founded by three siblings from Ipoh (their father is the owner of Woong Kee Dessert, a famous traditional tau foo fah shop in Ipoh), Dao draws from the siblings’ family recipes to bring soymilk-based desserts — with a twist — to KL’s urban folk.

The Puchong branch is not their first; they also have outlets in SS15 Subang, Damansara Jaya and Kuchai Lama. S and I were in the neighbourhood recently when we walked past so we got some items to go.

Of course, given the setting, the prices are slightly higher than what you get from the usual roadside stalls/ tau foo fah vans. A regular bowl of tao foo fah (Dao spells it as ‘dao fu fah‘) will set you back RM4.20, with a choice of ginger, brown or white sugar syrup. Aside from beancurd and soymilk, they also serve dao bing (shaved ice) and soymilk-based ice cream.

20210227_162319 — Ready-to-eat gelato tubs.

20210227_162325 — Dao uses Canadian soybeans, which are sourced locally from wholesalers, according to an article by Discover KL.

20210227_162334 — The cafe’s interior features nostalgic elements and murals, with a modern touch.

S got the tau foo fah. I was still feeling full from our yumcha session, so I bought a 500ml bottle of soymilk with white sugar. It comes in a slim bottle with minimal packaging. At RM5.30, it’s almost double of what you can get from roadside stalls, but this is to be expected. Tastewise, it was good — not too sweet, and the ground soybeans had a great fragrance — but I probably won’t get it to go next time. If I’m paying a premium, I want to enjoy the environment as much as the food.

DAO DESSERTS (PUCHONG)

4-G, Jalan Kenari 18, Bandar Puchong Jaya, 47170 Puchong, Selangor

Opening hours: 10AM – 10PM (closed Wednesdays)

facebook.com/dao.desserts/

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C’est La Vie – CLV Cafe Puchong

March 3, 2021March 3, 2021Posted in FoodTagged cafe, cafe design, cafe hopping, cafe review, cest la vie, eats, Featured, food photography, food review, interior design, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, puchong cafe2 Comments

One of the newer kids on the block, C’est La Vie in Bandar Puchong Jaya is the latest to join Puchong’s list of Instagrammable cafes. It’s also pet-friendly, so patrons can enjoy good food and the cafe’s relaxing ambience with their fur babies.

Polished concrete seems to be the in-thing these days, as can be seen from C’est La Vie’s statement wall, which is accentuated by warm yellow lights. There is a small open kitchen where diners can watch the chefs in action, as well as a bar area with elevated stools.

20210227_154024 — The plants are a nice touch, giving the space a cooling pop of green

20210227_154036 — An Instagrammable corner

20210227_154118 — You can buy handmade accessories and other trinkets at the counter as well

The menu offers typical cafe fare, the likes of burgers and pasta. A signature here is the Dutch Baby, which has a big breakfast vibe: featuring beans, sausage, mushrooms and bacon.

S and I were here for a tea break, so we only got drinks and snacks to share. I recommend the Lavender Milk, which is served warm. Frothy, light and just slightly sweet with a heady lavender fragrance, it’s perfect for afternoon tea. Better yet, pair it with cake and scones for the ultimate afternoon tea indulgence.

20210227_154809 — S had the Rose Mocha (RM14 – iced)

The Owls Cafe is my usual go-to place for waffle fries, but C’est La Vie’s version is a good alternative (RM10). Fried to golden brown perfection with nice crispy edges, the fries come in generous portions, with chilli and tomato dip. You can add on other sauces too, like cheese, Mongolian and black pepper.

Service is fast and friendly. Just a personal observation on something that happened while we were at the cafe: some patrons brought their dog, which is fine since the place is pet-friendly. The problem was that the dog ran to the middle of the cafe and did a no.1 on the floor. Then he circled around and did a No.2 — in full view of S who promptly lost his appetite lol. Pet owners were not apologetic and all and did not offer to clean up the mess, so the staff members were left having to clean the pee and poop after.

Usually, when my friend C brings her pet chihuahua Genie out, she’d put diapers on Genie. So perhaps this is something that the cafe can implement? Like have a ‘booth’ where they sell diapers for dogs at the entrance. That way you won’t have to turn away customers who don’t wear diapers for their dogs, and your staff won’t have to clean up the mess + it provides a more comfortable dining environment for other customers.

C’EST LA VIE PUCHONG

9-1, Jalan Kenari 17F, Bandar Puchong Jaya, 47100 Puchong, Selangor

Opening hours: Thurs (12pm-10pm), Fri-Sun (10am – 10pm), Mon-Tues (12pm -10pm). Closed Wednesdays

clvcafebar.wordpress.com

*This is not a paid review. Views here are entirely my own.