Bistro 42, Bangsar Village II, Malaysia

This is a very quick post on Bistro 42 as I'm yet to eat an entire meal here, just desserts. As with the rest of the Big Group restaurants the setting is well designed and a delight to wile away a few hours. This post though is principally about the passionfruit cheesecake (white rounds in the middle of the above pic). They are just heavenly. I can't imagine a better combination of flavours and texture - smooth, perfectly blended cream cheese with sweet but slightly tangy passionfruit. Yum!

Bistro 42
1F28 First Floor
Bangsar Village 2
Jalan Telawi 1
Bangsar Baru
59100 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
+6 03 2287 6566

Nonna's, Harbour Town, Gold Coast, Australia

Nonna's at Harbour Town (outlet mall) on the Gold Coast offers uncomplicated fare for refuelling for an industrious day of shopping. The indoor/ outdoor setting with large fans and potted plants is ideal for recharging and taking a break to plan your afternoon's acquisition strategy. This Italian, Steak and Seafood restaurant serves generous portions so do consider sharing. Meals are well cooked and hearty and there are enough options for everyone to be happy (actually it might take you a while to sort through the four! menus - one for Italian, one for steak, one for seafood and one for drinks and desserts). Service was fast and friendly on the day we dined and all six of us were satisfied with what we ordered - pastas, pizza, toasties and a salad.

Nonna's

Italian, Steakhouse, Seafood

Shops B10, 11, 12 Harbour Town

Gold Coast, Australia

+61 07 5529 2000

nonnarestaurants.com.au

Dive - Living Off America's Waste

Recently I watched the thought provoking film, Dive - Living Off America's Waste, by Jeremy Seifert. At only 53 minutes it is chock full of facts about food production and waste in the USA. Mind boggling figures and comparisons made me rethink everything I consume and waste personally and left me wondering what are the figures like for the rest of the world. The documentary follows a group of dumpster divers in Los Angeles. These are educated men, not bums on the street, who get the majority of food for themselves and their families from the trash bins of supermarkets. The tremendous amount of food wastage blew my mind and left me feeling sick thinking of the millions of needy people in the world and knowing that most of the excess ends up in landfills (another problem altogether). Does anyone know what food wastage in like in Malaysia? What happens to food from supermarkets when it's close to the expiry date? Does it get thrown out or is it donated to shelters or non-profit organizations to feed the homeless or others in need?

www.divethefilm.com

http://www.facebook.com/divethefilm

Anyone for Coffee, Mt. Tamborine, Gold Coast, Australia

A year after our last visit, we checked back in to Anyone for Coffee and found more of what we liked originally (regionally grown organic coffee made well) and a few new features too. Menu expansion includes some light meals as well as weekend BBQs on the deck. Hubby loved the fluffy white pancakes and the Mars Bar latte - caramel, chocolate, coffee - just like the bar :-) This spot still seems to be the pick of locals for coffee with a steady stream of both fellow shop owners, residents and tourists getting their daily caffeine fix. If you have time you can join Barry and Nerida for a barista course too - whether you're thinking of making coffee professionally or just want to work that machine you have at home with a little more expertise a few hours of instruction might be just what you need. More info on last year's post too. 

Anyone for Coffee

159 Long Road, Gallery Walk,

Mt. Tamborine,

Queensland, 4217

Australia

+61 07 5545 2939

info@anyoneforcoffee.com

www.anyoneforcoffee.com

Fudge Heaven, Mt. Tamborine, Gold Coast, Australia

A revisit to Fudge Heaven on Tamborine Mountain confirmed my opinion that fudge is a gift from the gods. A few new awards on the wall and a caramelized nut stand are recent additions but the primary reason for coming remains the same - splendiferous confection. See last year's post for more info.

Fudge Heaven

130 Long Road

EAGLE HEIGHTS 

Mt. Tamborine

QLD 4271 

Australia

Ph: 07 5545 1074

http://www.fudgeheaven.com.au

Black Coffee Lyrics, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Australia

As usual a trip home to the Gold Coast is filled with the great outdoors, plenty of wine quaffing and fabulous food. On the 'good things to eat' side Black Coffee Lyrics was recommended by a number of locals. A funky cafe, located upstairs in a run down arcade, it seems to be one of the few spots with a bit of intelligent life left in Surfers. They serve strong coffee which was a winning start for me. But their specialty is cold pressed coffee where the grounds are left to steep through a contraption (pictured above) for 24 hours making a wonderfully strong brew. It is refreshing served over ice with a drop of maple syrup but also worth trying with a dash of milk. I think it tastes a little sweeter than a hot brew. They are currently using a blend of beans from around the world that is roasted in Byron Bay but will soon move to a mix that is all local. 

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner some of the menu highlights are: Breakfast Roll with poached egg, basil cream, bacon and cheese served on Turkish bread; Vege Stack with basil cream; Avocado and Chicken Salad with sun dried tomatoes, mixed greens, granny smith apples, red onion, feta, pumpkin and a sesame dressing; Beef Burger with mushrooms, pumpkin, cheese, greens and relish (try anything with relish - it's something special); Frutti di Mare Pizza topped with calamari and octopus with lemon, garlic and basil; Shawster's Own Pizza with olives, semi dried tomatoes, mushrooms, bocconcini & chilly RELISH. There are plenty of vegetarian options and a new tapas menu that looks worth trying too. 

Black Coffee Lyrics just got their liquor license and will soon feature local and national wines plus their very own beer on tap. With a hip atmosphere, affable (and handsome ;-) service, and gratifying grub I'll be sure to revisit on the next trip home.

Black Coffee Lyrics

Shop 40 3131 Surfers Paradise Blvd

Gold Coast, Queensland, 4217

Australia

+ 61 0402 189 437

blackcoffeelyrics@gmail.com

A Slice of Heaven, Terrace @ Hock Choon, Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Lady Gaga cake - just an inkling into the creative genius of owners Nigel and Allan.

Take your taste buds on a wild adventure with this seemingly innocent cocoa lump - smooth chocolate coating with a hint of chili hiding one of their best sellers - durian cake.

 Chocolate cheese - another best seller.

Death by chocolate - yes please!

And... the cake they are best known for - red velvet.

Expats and locals alike will delight in knowing that there is a bakery in Ampang producing fabulously handsome cakes that taste heavenly too. A Slice of Heaven, run by the talented team of Nigel Skelchy and Allan Yap and recently opened in Terrace @ Hock Choon, has an indulgent selection of goodies. The four best sellers, all pictured above are, Red Velvet, Choc & Cheese, Durian and Death by Chocolate. The cupcakes are worth every calorie, but can be beaten only with a slice from the larger cakes. The Red Velvet cupcake, for example, is awesome on its own, but a slice of the whole cake is sinfully better with cream cheese infused throughout the layers not just on top. Your treats should be stored in the refrigerator but letting them stand at room temperature for 60 - 90 minutes before serving gives them just enough time to develop the gooeyness factor - where chocolate, cheese and toppings slightly melt infusing themselves into the cake layers taking your dessert to a whole new level of drooling moistness. One thing I appreciate about this crew is their high standards - if they're not happy with particular ingredients they simply will not make that treat until what they expect does become available - no settling for less or substituting substandard fare. Working together with the neighbouring Illy coffee shop means you can enjoy a gem onsite in cool air conditioned comfort or in the peaceful outdoors. 

Cakes can also be made to order and design is only limited by your imagination. Both children's and naughtier 'adults' only' interpretations will leave your mind spinning. Be specific or give them a theme and let this passionate pair dream up the masterpiece. Lady Gaga, above, is just a sneak peak of what these two are capable of. As if baking and decorating where not enough, this clever couple happily share their talents at bigger events too, by catering for conferences, workshops and special parties. If you give this create duo enough notice they can perform just about any act from table decorations to floral arrangements to taking over the planning of your event completely. A Slice of Heaven is more than just a tasty destination but a propitious resource to store in your smartphone.

A Slice of Heaven
Terrace @ Hock Choon
Lorong Nibong (off Jalan Ampang, behind Hock Choon Supermarket)
Ampang, Malaysia
+6 03 4251 7866
www.asliceofheaven.my