CỘNG CAPHE @ Nu Sentral, KL

Stop and smell the coffee

December 3, 2019

The wood-panelled walls and a bright orange settee catch my eye. Then I see quirky chairs and tables, with customers seated at a wooden balcony over the kitchen area. I look up and see a huge toy propeller plane hanging from the ceiling. 

This is Cộng Caphe (pronounced Kerb Café in Hanoi), styled after the original cafe in Hanoi, the undisputed home of coffee culture in Vietnam. Cong Caphe was started by singer and entrepreneur Nguyen Ha Linh, who wanted it to stand out among the numerous cafes in the city. So she decided to bring memories of her childhood into the café; it was an instant hit. Today, there are 62 outlets in Vietnam alone and the Cong Caphe in Nu Sentral is the first in Malaysia. We’re told that the furnishings are all sourced from Hanoi and closely resemble those in Cong Caphe there.

Old books line the shelves but unfortunately, these are written in Vietnamese, so we can’t read them. There are more books upstairs where the ambience is snug and cosy.   

A row of shining coffee filters 

But My Best Friend and I are here for the drip coffee. Vietnamese coffee is thick, strong and unapologetic… and it’s almost always served with condensed milk, though black is available. 

 We start with Phin Brew, made with a drip filter. Cong Caphe’s Jaemie Lew and Peter Tan tell us that the coffee is made fresh daily with Vietnamese metal coffee filters. You can see a row of these on the bar counter.  

Iced and hot Vietnamese coffee

The Nau-Da (RM10.90/hot) makes a perfect morning pick-me-up for those on their way to work. It’s creamy and strong with an irresistible fragrance.

I had expected it to be sweet, given the 1.5cm thick layer of condensed milk at the bottom, so I take a cautious sip, but to my surprise, the level of sweetness is just right. Perhaps this is because the café uses condensed milk that’s imported from Hanoi which probably has a lower sugar content.

iced Coconut Milk Coffee Smoothie

We sigh with contentment until Bac-Xiu or Coconut Milk With Coffee (RM12.90/hot; RM13.90/iced) is served. The combination may sound a little strange (but hey, Malaysia has durian coffee), yet the mild coconut aroma proves extremely congenial with the coffee flavour, resulting in a creamilicious treat, whether hot or cold.

Iced Coffee and lime juice

Peter tells us the café signature drink is actually Coconut Milk Coffee Smoothie (RM14.90-RM16.90) and we waste no time trying it. One sip and we can see why it’s so popular. To say it’s delicious does not quite do it justice. Whether stirred up and sipped or scooped up teaspoonful by teaspoonful, this is my coffee dreams come to life. I am already making plans for a second visit. Soon.

Cong Caphe also offers Western-style brews such as Americano, cappuccino, espresso and latte. 

Pretty as a picture: Passionfruit tea and a plate of roasted sunflower kernels

 But after a few rounds of Vietnamese coffee, these taste somewhat flat. If you’re not a coffee drinker, the café offers teas and juices. There’s lime and passionfruit juice as well as Iced Honey Kumquat (RM14.90) and Peach Tea with Passionfruit (RM13.90/hot).

Cong Caphe is not just about drinks but the food menu is rather limited for now. Sunflower kernels (RM4.90/plate) and cakes are available, together with a buttery croissant, served with a saucer of condensed milk (RM6.90). 

Snacks: Croissant with condensed milk, chocolate brownie and poppy seed cake

Banh mi will be a better choice for the hungry. The baguette for the banh mi is one of the best I’ve had. Although we are taking our own sweet time to snap pictures, it stays crisp and crusty. There is nothing more depressing than a banh mi turned soft and soggy. 

Really scrumptious and flavoursome vegetarian tofu banh mi

There are three varieties of this Vietnamese baguette sandwich, including a delectable vegetarian Tofu Banh Mi (RM11.90). The tofu, marinated with soya sauce and sesame oil, is panfried and sliced thickly. It makes interesting filling when combined with shredded lettuce, cucumber, carrot and coriander.

Chicken Ham Banh Mi with house-made ham

Beef Ham Banh Mi

I actually prefer this to the Chicken Ham Banh Mi (RM13.90). My Best Friend, though, is thoroughly enjoying the Beef Ham Banh Mi (RM15.90), pausing in between bites to give it the thumbs-up. The meat banh mi filling also includes pate, shredded vegetables, onion and coriander. Peter says the ham patties and pate are made in-house.

Cong Caphe also sells coffee beans, paper products (notebooks, envelopes, postcards), clothing and ceramic pottery.

phoenixbee@gmail.com

CONG CAPHE (pork-free)

LG19, Nu Sentral 

201 Jalan Tun Sambanthan

Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/congcaphe.my/

Telephone

+603-2276 3135

Opening Hours

Daily, 10am to 10pm

CHECKERS CAFÉ @ Dorsett KL

Ringing in the good cheer

November 28, 2019

Myanmar children from the Shalom Education Centre singing carols after the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

Walk into the Dorsett Kuala Lumpur and your eyes will land on the colourful tinsel Christmas tree in the lobby lighted up in rainbow hues of green, red, orange, purple and blue. 

Dessert corner near the entrance to Checkers Cafe

One floor up, at Checkers Café, the mood is equally buzzing. We’re here for a preview of the Christmas buffet. Near the entrance at the dessert counter, watermelon carvings of Santa and Rudolph take centrestage.

And these are just some of the appetisers

Poached prawn and mussel on ice

The temptation to stop here is strong but there’s plenty more inside the café, from assorted appetisers, beef cold cuts, sliced rolls and salad to poached prawns and mussels on ice. There’s a good selection of dressings such as blood orange, berries, French, Italian olive and Thousand Island.

I see dainty tea cups of apple salad, macaroni salad and metal spoons filled with pear and pate while colourful sliders in Christmassy colours of green and red beckon.

Lamb Navarin

Shepherd's Pie

Beef Goulash

But I am a sucker for hot foods and I am torn between two choices of soup: Roasted pumpkin soup with roasted almond and crab-sweet corn soup. Both prove to be equally creamy and fragrant, a delightful way to whet the appetite.

I fill my plate with Lyonnais potato and honey glazed carrots, pairing these with Shepherd’s pie and lamb navarin. My Best Friend gives the thumbs-up to the beef goulash. 

Deboned Grilled Fish with lemon butter sauce

Tomato Seafood Ragout

Jamaican Jerk Chicken is full of spicy aroma

On the other side of the island table are tomato seafood ragout, eggplant moussaka, a delightful grilled fish (deboned) with lemon butter sauce and Jamaican jerk chicken that’s aromatic from the spices. There’s pilaf rice for those who must have their rice. 

Baked Salt-Crusted Salmon

Traditional Roasted Turkey with stuffing and roasted vegetables

At the carving station, baked salt-crusted salmon with mustard dill cream sauce proves popular. I’m happy to note that the salmon stays moist, not dry. So is the traditional roasted turkey with stuffing, roasted vegetables such as pumpkin and brussel sprouts. You get a choice of sauces too, such as black pepper, giblet and mushroom.

Prefer your food cooked to order? Chefs are on standby to dish up pasta as well as sausages, chicken and beef grilled a la minute.

There's not one but two cheese platters

I wander over to the cheese platters, loaded with cheddar, aged cheddar, camembert, brie, blue as well as fresh grapes, strawberries and dried apricots, prunes and mango.

Sticky caramel banana pudding

Christmas stollen with soft marzipan centre

Festive cupcakes, pies and jelly

For dessert, there’s fresh fruit and ice cream with toppings as well as marshmallows to dip in the chocolate fountain. Or pick from cookies and star-shaped ginger breads, log cakes, cinnamon apple pie and cupcakes decorated with cute snowmen and Christmas trees. Crème brulee and mousses topped with berries are a treat.

Oh, look there’s Christmas stollen with a soft marzipan centre and sticky caramel banana pudding, to which I add a dollop of vanilla ice cream on top.

phoenixbee@gmail.com

Chocolate log cake, gingerbread house and macaron tower

CHECKERS CAFÉ 

(no pork served)

Dorsett Kuala Lumpur

172 Jalan Imbi, KL

Malaysia

Telephone

+603-2716 1010

Opening Hours

All-day dining

Promotion

* Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner, 7.30pm: RM118 nett, including 2 drinks and canapes at Windows Lounge (from 6.30pm)

* New Year’s Eve Buffet Dinner, 7pm: RM118 nett, including 2 Countdown drinks to watch fireworks at Level 30 rooftop of Dorsett Residences in Bukit Bintang, KL.