More than just coffee at Black Canyon Coffee

Black Canyon Coffee is a place easily mistaken for one that serves coffee and tea along with light snacks as the name suggests at a glance as one takes a walk down the outer boulevard where it is located in Gurney Plaza.
There is no way one could have associated the place with main courses or even Asian food dining, simply due to the sound of the name itself, let alone think of proper course set meals or spicy food; unless of course, one has actually heard or been to the cafe itself.
It does not help with the clarification of their identity with their location along/beside cafes such as Starbucks and Dome either.

Originating from our neighboring country, Thailand, Black Canyon Coffee is indeed a cafe that specializes in their own local style coffee designed to their business's identity.
From iced coffee, lattes and tea, Black Canyon Coffee is just that kind of cafe for one to enjoy a good chilled drink and just well, chill.
Its roots from a land famed for exotic tasting food particularly in the hot and spicy department is just justification enough for them to include their local cuisine food; the pride of their cultural origins even in a cafe themed environment and that was how Black Canyon Coffee revolved into also a cafe-restaurant, serving more than just your regular dose of caffeine fix.

It is a little unusual and tad a bit weird (perhaps it's psychological) to imagine a menu bursting with full-fledged main course meals of an Asian origin in a place which is associated with coffee.
At least it is to me.
As I say, it must be psychological for I had made up my mind that this was no more than a coffee place and I dare say it must have also slipped past the mind of the many who have just walked past the place with a mere glance casted in their direction.
I think something has got to be done with the naming of the place, perhaps locally here?

I was surprised with the variety of meals and dishes offered on their menu and even set lunches designed to cater specific numbers are available (two pax, 4 pax, 6 pax).
They are just eager to attract their own share of diners who are on the hunt of set meals which come with recommended and pre-set courses which saves the trouble of deciding on what to eat from the menu itself.
It is a wise idea.

When you are in a place which started off as a cafe, you must pay homage by ordering drinks with a caffeine-theme.
It is an unspoken rule, and while I am not a caffeine person, I am glad my other half is.

Iced Matcha Green Tea Latte (MYR7.90)
It was tad a little diluted in its taste though the ice and chilled part of the drink came in useful when the food arrives...

Spicy Seafood Tom Yum (MYR16.90)



Well, the name says it all, and it was truly spicy that one could break into sweat within the first few spoonfuls (not that there is much to begin with). Of course our hot weather could be the reason for the perspiration but this is truly one spicy tom yum.



Portions were moderately sized and I would say it fits the serving size of a cafe themed restaurant, offering just that right amount to tempt your appetite but not leaving you stuffed with no room to breathe, if you get my meaning.

The seafood tom yum came with quite a generous amount of fish fillets, prawns, squids, mushrooms and tomatoes swimming in the flavorful soup spiced with lemongrass, tamarind pulps, coriander leaves and tomatoes.
It was quite addictive with that exotic taste, not to mention appetizing despite the 30 degrees Celsius temperature out there.





I was delighted to see that they have this, Pad Kee Mao, which was Spicy Stir Fried Seafood with Hot Basil (MYR13.90)



I used to enjoy this at one of my regular Thai restaurants that I haunt, but since they have ceased operations, I could hardly find this in most of the places I went despite this being a relatively simple and regular Thai dish. It is one of the most basic and probably one of the common street style dishes even.
This was again another spicy dish and while it is not too bad, with the generous amount of seafood (prawns, fish fillets, squids) along with an assortment of long breaks, button mushrooms and of course, wickedly fat slices of red chilies where the seeds were tossed all over the dish for that tantalizing taste, I would say I have tasted better.




Surprisingly, the salad which was supposed to be the appetizing start to my meal came to the table the last.

This, I must say, is the star dish of my entire meal.
If the theme of the Spicy Tom Yum and Pad Kee Mao did not do enough to stir up that sweat glands and trigger that excitement on the taste buds, this, just kicked it up a notch to remind one that they are truly at a Thai restaurant.

I mean, this is kicking spicy.

Spicy Salmon Salad (MYR10.90)

Who would have thought that the salad, which was supposed to be one to balance and even out the tastes turned out to be the main killer of the entire meal?
I have truly underestimated you.
It did well, and it really pushed up that adrenaline and sweat glands and I was just panting and the ice in the drink, that was the savior.

I was enticed by the name and theme of the salad which uses salmon and at such a reasonable price that the salmon-crazed me just have to have this.
The colors were just brightly appealing and drawing one to just enjoy the dish.
Deep fried salmon chunks tossed with largely diced tomatoes, cashew nuts, onion slices, stalks of spring onions and coriander leaves drenched with a sweet and sourish tasting sauce on a bed of lettuce leaves were just luring one into its colorful lair.
Those evil bird's eye chili did all they could to just numb your senses and just sends that hot sensation down your tongue, throat and straight into your tummies to just give them that surge of warmth.



Salad as an appetizer or a safe choice?
This is definitely not and is all about spunky attitude.
I have underestimated the power of the salad.
I have learnt my lesson and I will never do that again.

The food is truly a mind-blowing feast and if that is not enough, the presentation of their rice here could be something to draw your attention to.



I just love the creativity and this "square box" of rice is just too cute to be eaten, but is necessary to help cushion the effect of the spices on the lining of the stomach.
Can I have a "Square box of rice"?
It is just too adorable.
I love it when people get creative with their food presentation.


Black Canyon Coffee is definitely more than just plain coffee and tea and their move with set meals and even the affordable prices of their food and drinks at a well-sized portion could be attracting more to their turf soon.
They have definitely brought along the alluring tastes of their homeland to warm the hearts and of course stomachs of the local Malaysians, or rather, Penangites where they are currently based.




I know I am definitely pumped up, not to mention spiced up on my first visit!




Disclaimer: 
All the experiences are based on my personal tastes and are in no way representing the general.
This is not a sponsored post by the restaurant, and is purely based on my personal opinions.



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Meals made more affordable at Eld’s 22 Pasta & Grill

Set lunches and dinners, waived GST and service tax charges along with reasonably priced food and beverages are the main marketing tools for this quaint little diner-style restaurant located on the 5^th floor of one of Penang’s upscale and most happening shopping mall, Gurney Paragon.

It is a wise move, with such offering to attract the budget-savvy local folks and even tourists especially with the recent changes in the nation’s economy.

Additional taxes imposed are additional deduction from one’s monthly allowance accumulatively and this could be a burden for those in the lower and medium income earners, who are already faced with the rising costs of living. It is just a perplexing situation when the existing income or earning is not in the growth quadrant but the costs of the basic necessities and amenities take the opposite direction and pose that additional stress in the financial management.

Dining out is now a luxury more than ever, especially for those with multiple headcounts in the families depending on sole breadwinners and even for the singles who would need to manage their living expenses.

Eld’s 22 is quick to hop onto the bandwagon to seize the attention of the population waning in the current situation and offering that glimmer of hope to enjoy that option to dine out while keeping a conscious tab on their expenses.

It is an initiative much welcomed by many, I am sure as their weekend outings with families and friends need not be compromised with the many attractive courses offered by Eld’s 22 menu.

I was drawn to their advertising and being a visitor to the mall, I have often passed by the place though I have never really tried any of their offerings.

Well, mainly because I am usually a comfort diner and I tend to stick to my own preferred places and then there’s just that usual routine craving that I simply must satisfy.

On days when I am adventurous and wanting something different, that’s where you spot posts like these much to the delight of the places I decided to try.

Eld’s 22 Pasta and Grill just happened on one of my weekends in Gurney Paragon and I was quite impressed with the attentive servers who quickly ushered me to my table in no time and took my orders.

That is one important criterion to capture a new customer’s heart, I must say and I was pleasantly surprised though happy about it at the same time.

I was early but business was brisk and it did not take long for the place to be filled with the ardent weekend crowd of lunch hunters while on their shopping spree. It is proof of the popularity of the place as a choice for lunch among the locals; and the crowd comprises of a combination of both the young, old, and even families.

That is what reasonable costs and waivers do to people. It is all about the dollars and cents.

Set Lunches are available on weekends, unlike most restaurants or cafes and that is another winning factor.

The set lunches are designed especially for the sets available on a separate menu, and are priced at a reasonable range from MYR15.00 onwards, inclusive of a soup, drink and dessert.

Grilled Saba Fish with Tropicana Salsa Set Lunch (MYR18.90)

I was a little disappointed with the portion though I know there is not much to ask for when it is a set to begin with. I was expecting the portion to be petite and well, it was as expected.

For the price and the overall package of the set, I guess it is reasonably designed?

I just could not help comparing to my other set lunch which caught me off guard at Blackwood, but then again, they are two different entities. Still…

The Saba, pretty much mackerel, was quite minute in its size served along with thin angel hair spaghetti spruced up with the Tropicana salsa sauce.

It would be a sufficient portion for a decisive and conscious eater definitely, but I would recommend ala carte orders or additional side dishes if one is on the higher metabolism side.

Taste wise, the saba was done quite well, depending on one’s taste, but it was not too bad for me.

I don’t usually order the saba fish but this was quite appetizing, though it was a tad bit oily as well.

The Tropicana salsa added flavor (and colors) to this dish, and just created that wholesome balance of the tastes with its exciting and mildly exotic combination of sweet and sour in just that appropriate amount to spice up the plain grill of the fish packed with nutrients and the ordinary spaghetti.

The drink which accompanied the set came in the form of a glass of cordial fruit punch.

The soup of the day, is their Homemade Pumpkin Soup with Dried Shrimps (priced at MYR7.80 ala carte)

Grilled Seasonal Fish with Honey Mustard Sauce was ordered ala carte (MYR17.80)

Served with purple sweet potatoes, carrots, pickles, roast tomatoes and nachos chips, this was quite pleasant to taste, in my opinion.

Portion was average but it was more than enough for me, and it was not too bad where the flesh of the fish was maintained in its tenderness and the honey mustard sauce, of course, honey mustard sauce is always a good complement to almost everything.

Dessert for the set lunch is a scoop of ice-cream presented nicely on a plate, and I must say, this is an appreciated effort for I have seen places where the dessert is just a slab on the plate, since it is just part of the set.

The attitude is set right by Eld’s 22 in their presentation of their set meals, and I applaud that.

My first impression of Eld’s 22 was not too bad and their menu does attract me with a few things that I would love to try, maybe on my next visit, hopefully?

Now, if I can step out of my comfort zone more often when it comes to eating….

                                                                                                                                                                       

For more information, check out their Facebook Page here

Address:
163D-Level 5-16, 18 & 19, Gurney Paragon Mall, Persiaran Gurney, Pulau Pinang



Disclaimer: 
All the experiences are based on my personal tastes and are in no way representing the general.
This is not a sponsored post by the restaurant, and is purely based on my personal opinions.



To Follow my posts and my daily life:

LIKE my Facebook Page

Follow Me on Twitter @Angelstar

Follow my Google+

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Eating one's soul out at Souled Out, Sri Hartamas

It has been a long time since I have been back to this restaurant, which has been and still is one of the most happening eatery in the heart of the upscale Desa Sri Hartamas.

Souled Out Sri Harts, as they are fondly referred to (pet reference to their first and flagship outlet here) remains steady as one of the pulse for the hip night life in the area for more than a decade now, and they have recently expanded their business with their latest outlet in Ampang.

I have yet to visit their new outlet, and it is still to the original outlet that I return (possibly for that dear sense of familiarity?)
The place was clearly decked in the recent fervor of the ongoing World Cup 2014 with the different country flags waving from the ceilings and attires of the servers.








Dragonfly is the pride here; and I remembered myself ordering this exact same drink on my first visit here.
The bold combination of mixing red dragon fruit, watermelon, strawberry puree, lychee syrup, and fresh lemon juice gives the drink a rather revitalizing fruity taste with a slight chill as one takes a sip of this vibrant juice. It can appear to be a little sweet at first, followed by the thrilling sensation as the variety of the fruits takes charge of the taste buds, sending signals of uniqueness from their individual tastes yet stirring that imagination of the drinker in figuring out the types of fruits involved in the making of this drink. It indeed sends one on an enjoyable ride, and it is fitting that the menu describes it as one that will send one 'flitting' happily like a dragonfly

Sizzling Chicken Chop (MYR25) is a new item on their menu.
Served on a sizzling hot plate; hence the name, the chicken fillet is grilled with mushrooms, roast potatoes, sautéed panache vegetables, and slightly grilled romaine lettuce.




Pan Seared Grouper (MYR28) 
Grilled grouper fish fillet over mixed Cajun pasta, topped with roasted sliced cherry tomato, zucchini ribbons and pepper remains my personal favorite every time I am here, and it is no surprise this is the exact same item I ordered on my last visit. (I will give it up to try others, someday)


However, I was a little disappointed this round, as the grouper fillet spent a longer time over the grill than intended, and was slightly amiss in the tender department in its usually smooth flesh.
I missed that taste from my first visit; whereby the grouper fillet was just lightly heated on the grill, and the juicy flesh was just temptingly luscious with every bite; a sensation that one is treated with a fresh catch directly from the sea and cooked almost instantly.
I am sure this is just a mild inconsistency, and I am sure this will be fixed, for I still look forward to having this on my next visit.



The restaurant is heading for renovation and it was a good time for me to drop by to relive the old face of Souled Out before it goes under the drill, and I am guessing that by the time I return for the next visit, it will be an all brand-new Souled Out.

Looking forward to more goodies and eating our souls out again, real soon~

 

A Taste of Ampang Yong Tau Foo At Foong Foong

Growing up in the big city of KL, there are a few things that we knew (and are proud of) to introduce to our visiting friends and relatives when they are in town.
I remembered my parents would always be planning these itineraries for our visiting relatives; of which includes a trip to Genting Highlands (definitely, even though it is technically in the state of Pahang), the National Monument, Chinatown and shopping malls.
Yes, if there's one thing that KL is known for, it is the huge malls that we have here that boasts of all the brands not found in other states and we are proud of these icons of the city.

When relatives come to visit, food is definitely part of the itinerary and one of the most prominent food that KL calls its own is the Yong Tau Foo, and when one speaks of Yong Tau Foo, the only place that comes to mind is Ampang; from it originated from.
We made a road trip to Ampang, having recalled these memories to hunt for the famous place where we used to frequent, as dad guided us to the name of the outlet.

Foong Foong Yong Tau Foo, a name which had been in business for the past four decades, still stood proud in the busy town of the Ampang Village, ushering the crowds during its peak hours into its humble shop.



The place is buzzing with the enthusiastic city dwellers and local residents in the neighborhood during the peak hours of lunch and it can be really challenging to find a place if you are caught in those hours. It would be best to be there early if you would prefer to avoid all the hassle, and especially if you are going there in a large group.



The place is not air-conditioned, and like the old school shops, it is installed with ceiling fans and fluorescent lights and with the crowds, it can get really hot and stuffy at times.
They have a lot of workers, especially senior citizens who would help to usher and find a place for you, and perhaps gather chairs for your table.

Then you would head to the main counter to place your order, as there will not be anyone coming over to take your order; except for the drinks which will be ordered by the workers once you are seated at your table.
Place your order at the counter and watch as your orders are repeated over a hailer; yes, amplified as the guy at the counter sends the orders to the kitchen immediately.
(Pretty much the whole restaurant would be able to hear, but no one would actually bother as it is all the same thing anyway, when it comes to Yong Tau Foo, where only the quantity differs. Furthermore, with all that buzz and chattering going on all over the restaurant, the amplified orders are just merely part of the noise).



Sauce is an important part in enjoying the Yong Tau Foo; and these old-timers knew the secret to their success besides their skills in perfecting the tastes of their Yong Tau Foo.
Homemade sweet sauce and chili sauce (though I am not sure if it is really homemade) makes all the difference.
The Sweet sauce here had that old school taste in it; a rather traditional styled sauce which is becoming rare these days.



Mix them together if you want to, and they should be a good combination to complement all that yong tau foo on their way.


Deep fried Sui Kow and Bean Curd Skin Roll
These are the two famous items they are famous for, especially the bean curd skin roll, and they are served piping hot straight from the wok.
Be cautious or you might just burn your tongue from that hot stuffs!~ :-)




The deep fried sui low were stuffed with a mixture of minced meat and fish paste, while the bean curd skin roll is purely fish paste based.


A bowl of soup was sent over which is meant to complement the deep fried items (perhaps too dry?)


Sui kow in soup

If you are not a fan of the deep fried Sui Kow (dumplings), then the soup version might be your choice, or you could just try both.






Mixed Yong Tau Foo
An assortment of Red Chilies with fish paste, Lady Fingers, White Tofu, Bitter Gourd, Brinjals and their homemade fish balls.







The Yong Tau Foo each costs MYR1 per piece, which was reasonably priced for the serving size per piece.
The crowds here are probably made up of their regulars and perhaps tourists too, who have definitely heard of their fame.

This is not just a taste of the famed Yong Tau Foo, for me, as this is, as taste of childhood.... :-)