Category Archives: LOCATION: KUALA LUMPUR

Just Heavenly Pleasures

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just heavenly

How To Spot a Fake Louis Vuitton (Tip No. 47)

Bite it.

If you taste cake, it’s a fake.

From the LV Stephen Sprouse collection, cake made by Just Heavenly bakers, for fun, of course.  They ate it all up.  Not even a slice left for me.

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just heavenly

I am always thrilled when Nigel of Just Heavenly announces that he wants to experiment with something new.  You see, the wonderful thing about being friends with bakers is that I get to be their guinea pig.  It’s an added bonus that the Just Heavenly duo are such warm, exuberant people who light up just about any room they walk into.

At a recent gathering to celebrate the 300th member of the Fatboybakes Fan Club (in honour of another amazing baker), Allan and Nigel brought two special cakes.  One was a pavlova, a favourite, which Allan had perfected.  Soft and marshmallowy on the inside, it was an experiment to demonstrate that the cake would not collapse despite keeping it overnight (without the cream and fruits, of course).  Sure enough, it stood tall.  And this was in spite of the fact that the waiters at the restaurant forgot to refrigerate the cake.

The other was a butter cake.  Not just any ordinary butter cake, but THE most delicious butter cake, aptly called Vanilla Dream.  Nigel was experimenting with a silk butter cream recipe made with creme anglaise, an Italian Meringue and whipped butter.  The cake was not too dense, not too fluffy, moist and absolutely perfect, and the cream….oh my God….it was so silky smooth and buttery.  I kid you not.  Unlike other experiences where only the initial time is the most memorable, this one continues to amaze the senses.  I call this the “happy cake”.  

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Easter Cookie

For Easter this year, Just Heavenly came up with their version of the easter cookie. A delicious egg-shaped buttery shortbread biscuit in psychedelic colours.  RM4.90 each.  Fall in love with it the way we did.

(Credits:  Picture of LV bag and shortbread cookies courtesy of Nigel Skelchy)

Just Heavenly Pleasures

G1.05 and 1.06, Epicure, 1 Jalan Medan Setia 1, Damansara Heights.

Tel: 03-22879866

Departure Lounge, Solaris Mont Kiara

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Spotted – Liverpool fan the morning after bloodbath at Old Trafford

Random Thought #1

Our TV stopped working a week ago and we haven’t got it fixed yet. We used to proclaim that we weren’t TV addicts.   Then why is it that when I am face-to-face with the love of my life, the following conversation happens:

Bald Eagle (without TV): Do I know you?
Me: I’m your wife.
Bald Eagle (without TV): When did you grow so old?

We’re getting our TV fixed tomorrow.

Random Thought #2

Never tell your mother-in-law that you work late hours.  She’ll ask you to tell your boss that your MIL said that you should go home before midnight (death wish No. 1).  And she’ll also instruct you to tell him that he should put you and your colleagues up at the Hilton for the night (death wish No. 2).

Random Thought #3

I need an iPhone.

Random Thought #4

Is there a Lost-And-Found for missing SMSes?

Random Thought #5

With all the 10 cents I’ve been saving on toll everyday*, I can soon fly to Cambodia.

* 10% discount on toll for travel between 12 midnight and 7am.

Cue Departure Lounge.

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There’s something about Departure Lounge that lifts the spirits, from the heady aroma of freshly brewed coffee to the warm greetings (very un-fastfood like) as you enter the place.  The decor is simple, not pretentious, mostly functional.  Travel books are placed on bookshelves in a cheerfully lit corner; you can help yourself to these books while you enjoy a cuppa, and return them when you’re done.  The menu is extensive, but mostly consisting of breads, pancakes, salads – typical western fare.  Not that I’m complaining because sometimes, it is nice to have something other than curry chee cheong fun for breakfast.

Departure Lounge 4

Today, I spent a good 10 minutes going through the menu, flipping back and forth, back and forth, and finally decided on an All Day Brekkie which is essentially a flaky croissant filled with chicken sausage, turkey ham, fried egg, tomatoes and cheese.  Corn chips and salsa are served on the side.  All very good, and I shan’t complain about the turkey and beef substitutes for ham and bacon.  The melted cheese and the fried egg with the almost runny yolk sealed the deal for me.

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Bald Eagle went for one of their popular breakfasts, the Do-It-My-Way (DIMW).  You basically pick up a card and tick either 3, 5 or 7 items that you wish to have on your plate, depending on how ravenous you are, and give it to the staff at the counter.  In Bald Eagle’s case, he was feeling rather pleased about the events the night before, primarily made up of a football field, two teams, and a 4-1 victory, so going all out for 7 items seemed appropriate.  The boy sure has a big appetite – turkey ham, beef bacon, mushrooms, fish fingers, pancake, scrambled eggs and chicken sausages. Oh, and bread. All for RM12.90 only.

Departure Lounge 5

The coffees are all very reasonably priced.   Small drinks are approximately RM5 each, while a mug of latte comes at RM7.50.   Bald Eagle’s Espresso Con Panna was priced at RM6.  Ice-blended beverages are approximately RM10 for the larger of two sizes.  We also got ourselves a macadamia and chocolate chip cookie (RM2.50) which was bursting in nuts and chocolate – so delicious!

I’ve fallen in love with this place.  It’s not because the food is mind-blowingly amazing, because really, it is just good, wholesome fare.  Some restaurants make you feel uneasy and self-conscious, while others make you smile.  This one makes me feel happy.   I like.

Departure Lounge,
No. 10, Jalan Solaris 4,
Solaris Mont’ Kiara, 50480, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel:03-6203 0362
Business Hours: 8am – 7pm (Monday-Saturday) and 10am-5pm (Sunday and public holidays).

Also check out Small Time Traveller’s thoughts on Departure Lounge.

Schokolart, Soho KL @ Solaris Mont Kiara

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Put “eat chocolate” at the top of your list of things to do today. That way, at least you’ll get one thing done.

Author Unknown

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Which is precisely what I intend to do. Because, like it or not, there are days when everything seems to go wrong.

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When work pushes you beyond frustration, and all you want to do is look heavenward and ask, “Why me?”

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But all things happen for a reason. For now, let me eat chocolate.

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I first chanced upon Schokolart when I was walking around the shops at Soho KL (checking out Tenji and a couple of other places) with Boolicious and Unkaleong. It wasn’t officially open then, but I was attracted to the quirkiness of the decor (predominantly polka dots in various shades of blue, white and black) and resolved to visit later. After all, as often as I say chocolate’s not my thing, I still find myself gravitating to it occasionally. A case of multiple personalities perhaps.

I eventually found the perfect occasion when my friend, Gard, visited from Norway. After a pleasant lunch on a lazy Sunday afternoon, we hopped over to Schokolart for desserts. Had I known that they served more than desserts at Schokolart (like the unique chocolate chicken satay which comes highly recommended), I’d have skipped lunch at the other eatery. Anyhow, we got ourselves a few drinks including the signature Temptation, an oblong cup filled with thick, rich hot chocolate (62%) with a piece of cinnamon marshmallow. I thought it was very good. The Bull’s Eye was a shot glass filled with white and brown Cacao liqueur. Very sweet with a hint of alcohol that breezed down the throat. The Choc-Cheez cake didn’t impress as I found it a bit too dry. The highlight was, of course, the itty bits of chocolates in pretty names like Wasabi Raspberry and Sweet Spice. The designs are appealing; the dainty pieces are generally decorated with motifs that reflect the ingredients. Gard found some of these chocolates lacking in intensity of flavour, for example, he’d have preferred a stronger supplementary taste instead of allowing the flavour of the chocolate to dominate completely. I get what he means, but again, it is a matter of personal taste. I love white chocolate, and so enjoyed the Mango Passionfruit chocolate very much.

The bill came up to approximately RM94 for two people – not cheap at all. A better bet would be to go for their hi-tea (3-5pm on weekends) priced at RM35+ per person, or the Chocs-To-Die-For Soiree (every first Saturday of the month – next one on 7 March 2009) from 9pm to 12 midnight priced at 78+/98+ (with dinner) which includes free flow of 48 different concoctions of chocolate cocktails. Wow, I’m getting dizzy already!

Espresso Double Shot RM10.00
The Temptation (Hot chocolate) RM12.00
Choc-Cheez RM9.50
Bull’s Eye RM18.00
Chocolates 100grams (9 pieces) (dine-in) RM36.00
(service tax applies)

Schokolart (website HERE) (located opposite Tenji)
Block K-01-05, Soho KL @ Solaris Mont Kiara
2 Jalan Solaris
50480 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-62030968

Also check out:  Masak-Masak (review of the first Chocs-To-Die-For Soiree), Lingzie and vkeong.