Mr & Ms Cafe, Oasis Ara Damansara

 Mr. & Ms. Cafe is a cosy place which is perfect for a lazy weekend breakfast or brunch. The interior is pretty cosy and the staffs are very friendly. The breakfast menu offers a huge selection of western breakfast choices while the lunch menu which is available from 12pm onwards. I can' t comment for lunch because I did not try it. 

It was pretty crowded on the day that I went there, and I am sure this is the normal weekend crowd. Looking at the blogs, it seem to be one of the hottest breakfast or brunch spots. 

The decor was nice and had an urban touch, despite the dark wooden shelves and the traditional red brick walls. Added on with beautifully lit  filament bulbs, it creates a cozy ambiance. You can see along dainty little decorations such as flower pots and photo frames.

Enough said about the decor, let' s talk about the food. I had to have caffeine fix so I went along with my cappuccino while Joshua wanted his hot chocolate. Both added on to the comfy feeling that we 
already felt in the cafe. 

I ordered the eggs portobello, which fitted well, for me, as I love my mushrooms. to came with poached eggs on top two juicy portobello mushrooms. Served with feta, nuts lentis and grapes, I was surprised that the combination of textures and the sweet grapes just fitted so well. Imagine grapes, nuts and poached eggs, but yeah it worked ! Thick, tender and hearty, these meaty portobello mushrooms can replace your meat anytime.

My boy, however, ordered the Big Breakfast. It is complete with everything that you need,from toast, eggs, ham, herb chicken sausages, bacon, mushrooms & baked beans and not to forget tomatoes. You can choose you eggs  to be poached, scrambled or fried. The only sad thing, it was too big for him. I wish his dad was there to help him finish it up.

Definitely a brunch-tastic place to go after a very late morning. Try it ! 

Lunch at Pantrie, Oasis Ara Damansara

Pantrie serves international western cuisine, and has a menu that showcases the best of Italian, English, French and American dishes. I would say this is one of the better places that I have dined and enjoyed.

It was a Saturday noon, and we arrived there at 12 noon. The place was empty and that immediately made us doubt about the food there. The waiter arrived with the menu and it looked interesting so why not !

I ordered creamed escargot, shelled escargot baked over spinach, topped with mozzarella and crusty breadcrumbs. What a divine tasting dish to start with . Just scoop the delightful cheesy escargot with just enough spinach and cheesy cream into your mouth and enjoy.

My son had the wild mushroom soup. It was good, light, though it was not my favorite. But there wad nothing to complain.

However, my son simply loved the braised lamb shank that was served on top of a blob of creamy mash potato. Tender to the bones and simply flavourful, a he kept raving over it.

But the star of the day was the vanilla creme brulee. Its silky smooth texture simply melts in your mouth.

Pantrie is a good place to head if you want to experience delicious western cuisine, nothing too fancy or over the top, but just hearty, wholesome food. And I should say the service is fairly good too.

Simple, fulfilling lunch : Ayam Masak Merah Malay Style

Lunch today was an accomplishment, with satisfied customers, both hubby and son. The menu: Ayam Masak Merah( Red Chilli Chicken) ,  Acar (;Cucumber and Pineapple Pickle) with 2 choices of rice : Nasi Lemak ( Rice in Coconut Milk) & Carrot Rice.
For the Ayam Masak Merah, grind the below into a paste :
1. Red Chillies
2. Garlic
3. Ginger
4. Scallion
5. Tomatoes
6. Belacan( Shrimp paste)
7. Lemongrass
8. Candlenuts

Marinate the chicken pieces with a tumeric and salt.
Cut and prepare some potatoes, carrots and also can of peas to be added later.

Heat up your wok, fry in some onions and cinnamon sticks until fragrant. Then put in the paste and cook about 15mins. At this point, your kitchen would be filled by the aroma of spices of lemongrass and all.

Add the potatoes and carrots and cook them until half cooked, and then add the chicken in, and let it simmer for about 40mins. Simmering allows the flavours to seep through the chicken. Then add in the peas and  cook for about 5mins ( note I used caned peas). Pour in coconut milk and stir for a couple of minutes. And, voila the dish is ready, easy peasy.

I matched this with Ghee Rice with Shredded Carrots and Pickled Cucumber and Pineapple.

Couscous with grilled salmon

This is a tasty, wholesome dinner recipe for anyone who wants a change in their daily food menu.A quick to make and hassle free dinner for busy moms.

Simply put the couscous in a bowl and pour in boiling water. Stir it and then cover it with a lid. Uncover and fluff it with a pork. I added a little salt and lots of  finely chopped mints, cherry tomatoes and grilled zuchini.

As for the salmon, I marinated it with a little honey and soy sauce, tiny bit of salt and pepper. Then I used the microwave to grill it. When it was done, I used a fork to break them into smaller pieces.

Assemble the slices of grilled salmon onto your pre- prepared couscous and there you have a fantastic, complete and wholesome meal.

That night I paired it with home-made Sangria.

Simply add lemon and orange wedges into water melon juice and keep it in the fridge.When serving, add ice, vodka and the juice.