Smitten is another of the hip Singaporean cafes to open recently. They do it right - good, rich coffee, nice cakes and snacks, cool contemporary interior. There's just one problem.... price. When they handed me the bill I almost had a heart attack.
Showing posts with label tea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tea. Show all posts
Monday, October 31, 2011
Smitten Coffee and Tea Bar - Singapore
I Thought I Was Having the "Big One"
Smitten is another of the hip Singaporean cafes to open recently. They do it right - good, rich coffee, nice cakes and snacks, cool contemporary interior. There's just one problem.... price. When they handed me the bill I almost had a heart attack.
Smitten is another of the hip Singaporean cafes to open recently. They do it right - good, rich coffee, nice cakes and snacks, cool contemporary interior. There's just one problem.... price. When they handed me the bill I almost had a heart attack.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Transfer Rd Roti Canai - Penang, Malaysia
The Revered Roti Canai in this Town
I really wanted to try out Roti Canai in Penang and asked around for a good one. Every taxi driver, hotel worker and random person told me to go to Transfer Street. We went by in the evening once but it was closed and I began to worry that it wouldn't reopen until after Ramadan. I'd all but given up. Luckily, as we were flagging a cabbie this morning we happened to be standing half a block from it and it was open. As she pointed down the block, Puffin asked the cabbie "is this Transfer Street? Roti Canai?" He smiled widely. "Yes, yes, yes, the best. Take your time, I'll wait for you."
I really wanted to try out Roti Canai in Penang and asked around for a good one. Every taxi driver, hotel worker and random person told me to go to Transfer Street. We went by in the evening once but it was closed and I began to worry that it wouldn't reopen until after Ramadan. I'd all but given up. Luckily, as we were flagging a cabbie this morning we happened to be standing half a block from it and it was open. As she pointed down the block, Puffin asked the cabbie "is this Transfer Street? Roti Canai?" He smiled widely. "Yes, yes, yes, the best. Take your time, I'll wait for you."
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Eastern & Oriental Hotel - Penang, Malaysia
How Do You Say "Sucked" in Malay?
These scones look great, right? They weren't and neither was anything else at the E&O high tea. It sounded like a good idea but with 20/20 hindsight it was foolish. Who travels to Penang, surrounded by some of the best street food and goes to some froofy high tea and an old, colonial hotel? (I'm raising my hand now....) Idiot!
These scones look great, right? They weren't and neither was anything else at the E&O high tea. It sounded like a good idea but with 20/20 hindsight it was foolish. Who travels to Penang, surrounded by some of the best street food and goes to some froofy high tea and an old, colonial hotel? (I'm raising my hand now....) Idiot!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Lan Fong Yuen - Hong Kong
Birthplace of Pantyhose Milk Tea
We didn't intend to come here but the "racist chinese toast man" was closed due to holiday. More on him in a coming post. So, what's pantyhose milk tea? Well, the tea is strained through a long sock-like netting and mixed with milk. I'm a coffee guy so I didn't order one but I had a sip of Puffin's and it was pretty good. This place supposedly invented this way of brewing the tea, but I'm not sure how accurate that is. Pesky Lil Sis's GF is giving the HK-style peace sign photo pose next to the bo lo yau (buttered pineapple bun.)
We didn't intend to come here but the "racist chinese toast man" was closed due to holiday. More on him in a coming post. So, what's pantyhose milk tea? Well, the tea is strained through a long sock-like netting and mixed with milk. I'm a coffee guy so I didn't order one but I had a sip of Puffin's and it was pretty good. This place supposedly invented this way of brewing the tea, but I'm not sure how accurate that is. Pesky Lil Sis's GF is giving the HK-style peace sign photo pose next to the bo lo yau (buttered pineapple bun.)
Thursday, January 14, 2010
L.A. Burdick - Manhattan
Chocolate Infestation
I'm always happy to welcome a new chocolate spot, you can never have enough of those. I learned about L.A. Burdick from Dessertbuzz a while back and ventured over there today to give it a spin. They're definitely shooting for a high-end clientele. Question is - am I high-end?
I'm always happy to welcome a new chocolate spot, you can never have enough of those. I learned about L.A. Burdick from Dessertbuzz a while back and ventured over there today to give it a spin. They're definitely shooting for a high-end clientele. Question is - am I high-end?
Monday, December 14, 2009
Zen Zoo - Paris
Black Pearls - Also Known as Bubbles
I've tried bubble tea a few times in NY and I usually just kinda like it. It never really knocks me off my feet. However, I keep trying, most recently yesterday at Zen Zoo. I really went all out, ordering a hot almond-flavored version. I didn't even know you could get hot bubble tea, I'd only tried cold ones. Thank goodness you can, it's been really cold lately. This is the "after" shot.
I've tried bubble tea a few times in NY and I usually just kinda like it. It never really knocks me off my feet. However, I keep trying, most recently yesterday at Zen Zoo. I really went all out, ordering a hot almond-flavored version. I didn't even know you could get hot bubble tea, I'd only tried cold ones. Thank goodness you can, it's been really cold lately. This is the "after" shot.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
L'Oisive Thé - Paris
A Better Scone than Rose Bakery?
I wasn't looking to replace my favorite scone in Paris, honest, I wasn't. Before writing this post I even went back to Rose to make sure - and I am - Rose's scone is no longer number one. This L'Oisive Thé cranberry scone is moister, tastier and has that "hard to eat because it was falling apart" tenderness.
I wasn't looking to replace my favorite scone in Paris, honest, I wasn't. Before writing this post I even went back to Rose to make sure - and I am - Rose's scone is no longer number one. This L'Oisive Thé cranberry scone is moister, tastier and has that "hard to eat because it was falling apart" tenderness.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Jean-Paul Hevin - Paris
Heaven's Got a Steep Cover Charge...
If you're ever shopping on rue St. Honore, make this your final visit. It ain't cheap by any means, so consider it a splurge. Jean-Paul Hevin is a master chocolate-maker who slings his creations in Paris, Tokyo and Hong Kong. I'd been a few times to buy chocolate and macarons but this time I took the old lady upstairs for "tea." I mean, ok, they serve tea - but who cares about that, as I climbed the stairs to the tearoom I was humming the song "me and my sweet tooth."
If you're ever shopping on rue St. Honore, make this your final visit. It ain't cheap by any means, so consider it a splurge. Jean-Paul Hevin is a master chocolate-maker who slings his creations in Paris, Tokyo and Hong Kong. I'd been a few times to buy chocolate and macarons but this time I took the old lady upstairs for "tea." I mean, ok, they serve tea - but who cares about that, as I climbed the stairs to the tearoom I was humming the song "me and my sweet tooth."
Monday, October 12, 2009
Mariage Freres - Paris
Poker Face? No Way....
As Pingles and I waited in a long line at the venerable Parisian tea house I had a bad feeling. I've been to far too many places that, after building a rep, coast lazily on it. The international tourist mix of those on line with us didn't offer much hope. I expected to be disappointed - these "must go" places tend to be the opposite. To my surprise, it was Pingles who seemed to have a greater let down. The first clue was how hot it was once we were seated. I decided not to order tea as a result - and this is a tea house! Pingles dealt with the heat by ordering a selection of sorbets with her pot of tea. After a few bites, she went into arm-folded mode. I tried all three and I honestly cannot tell you what they were supposed to be. Pumpkin seed dirt? Sidewalk gum heel? Embarrasingly bad. The tea was good but the mood was set and it wasn't going to recover.
As Pingles and I waited in a long line at the venerable Parisian tea house I had a bad feeling. I've been to far too many places that, after building a rep, coast lazily on it. The international tourist mix of those on line with us didn't offer much hope. I expected to be disappointed - these "must go" places tend to be the opposite. To my surprise, it was Pingles who seemed to have a greater let down. The first clue was how hot it was once we were seated. I decided not to order tea as a result - and this is a tea house! Pingles dealt with the heat by ordering a selection of sorbets with her pot of tea. After a few bites, she went into arm-folded mode. I tried all three and I honestly cannot tell you what they were supposed to be. Pumpkin seed dirt? Sidewalk gum heel? Embarrasingly bad. The tea was good but the mood was set and it wasn't going to recover.
Monday, October 5, 2009
La Bague de Kenza - Paris
Tea and Cookies, Anyone?
Not just regular old tea and cookies but the North African sort for a change of pace. One foot inside La Bague de Kenza this is what you see - a tidal wave of unfamiliar sweets and cookies (unfamiliar to me at least.)
Not just regular old tea and cookies but the North African sort for a change of pace. One foot inside La Bague de Kenza this is what you see - a tidal wave of unfamiliar sweets and cookies (unfamiliar to me at least.)
Friday, March 13, 2009
Le Cafe Chinois - Paris
Place des Vosges Tea House
This is the perfect place to decamp and unwind after exploring Place des Vosges or shopping along rue des Francs Bourgeois. The name, "The Chinese Cafe", doesn't quite explain this pleasant tea house. First, it is decorated with what appears to be vietnamese furniture (though I am no expert in such things.)
This is the perfect place to decamp and unwind after exploring Place des Vosges or shopping along rue des Francs Bourgeois. The name, "The Chinese Cafe", doesn't quite explain this pleasant tea house. First, it is decorated with what appears to be vietnamese furniture (though I am no expert in such things.)
Monday, September 29, 2008
Subtletea
Just Plain Tired of Coffee?
Fancy a cup of tea, love? Why not change it up every once in a while? This Madison Ave tea house may just be what you are looking for, Puff.
It looks like an ideal place to work. The space is clean and bright, spa music plays almost imperceptibly in the background. There is a long work table with electrical outlets and free wi-fi. Plant yourself here and get a lot of work done. When not working, peer out the window and do some people-watching.
There are myriad teas and coffees offered as well as other goodies baked by International Delights. I chose a blueberry scone, which was shaped like a boomerang. It was alright, nothing special. You should check out the teas - you know more about that than I do.
Fancy a cup of tea, love? Why not change it up every once in a while? This Madison Ave tea house may just be what you are looking for, Puff.
It looks like an ideal place to work. The space is clean and bright, spa music plays almost imperceptibly in the background. There is a long work table with electrical outlets and free wi-fi. Plant yourself here and get a lot of work done. When not working, peer out the window and do some people-watching.
There are myriad teas and coffees offered as well as other goodies baked by International Delights. I chose a blueberry scone, which was shaped like a boomerang. It was alright, nothing special. You should check out the teas - you know more about that than I do.
121 Madison Ave
Manhattan
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