[FOOD REVIEW] Union Fashion Bar (UFB) @Taman Sutera Utama, JB

At the flourishing area of Taman Sutera Utama, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to meeting up with old friends over a good brew, or brunching during laidback weekends. However, the moment I stepped into Union Fashion Bar (UFB), I know this is not the kind of usual cafes I've been to. 

''I believe culinary is like an art,'' said Mr Yap, the executive chef and the mastermind behind UFB. It is where fashion meets culinary, combining Bakery Cafe, Full Dining and Bar perfectly. There is a seasonal theme to make sure customer always get different and exciting feel. From a great feast to some delicious desserts or good wine, UFB provides the best of it to satisfy your cravings for delicacies.

Union Fashion Bar

Passionate Dining in Fashion Style

Ma Cherie girls were honored to be invited over to UFB for food tasting on one fine afternoon. Greeting us at the entrance was Mr Yap with a big smile on his face. We had the opportunity to chat with Mr Yap while waiting for the food to be served. From our brief interaction, I sensed that Mr Yap is very ambitious and courageous in pursuing his dream. He had a dream back from his days in Indonesia to own his own cafe. And now, UFB is the fulfillment of his dream. But this doesn't stop him from exploring new menu and being creative in the presentation of food.

That's how that saying goes. In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.

Cold Pressed Juice RM11.90-RM13.90

From left: 

Dragon on The Sky, Classic Orange, Veggie Booster, 

Apple Magic, Strawberry Paradise

The latest in-vogue way of drinking juice - cold pressed it is! By cold-pressing the fruit and vegetables, the highest amount of nutrients possible is retained, giving an overall better and tastier juice. I really love Apple Magic, which is a combination of two of my favourite fruits - apples and grapes.

Mojito RM20.80, Lychee Martini RM15.00

What's the perfect way to capture summer all year long? A well-mixed Mojito, of course. Or a glass of lychee martini.

Healthy Choice - Salad

Smoked Duck Salad RM10.90

Prawn Pesto Salad RM12.90

A salad does not have to be just lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers. At UFB, you can either enjoy your salad with thinly sliced smoked duck or pan seared basil pesto prawn.

Mama Crispy Waffle Chicken Sandwich RM14.90

THIS. Just look at this.

The combination of salty, crispy chicken with sweet, crispy waffle is seriously one of the best combinations in the world. I have never had such evenly cooked, mega crispy waffles in my life. It's one of those things that's hard to describe... But just trust me. It's very good.

Main Course

Grilled Butter Fish RM22.90

Grilled Chicken RM17.90

For main course, there are plenty of choices. Here I would like to highlight the two that I like the most. Grilled butter fish is smooth and buttery, the homemade tomato sauce has a tinge of spiciness in it, which I really love. The second is Grilled Chicken with my favourite reduction balsamic dressing. The chicken is tender and juicy!

Pasta

Vongole Pasta RM18.90, Salmon Pink Penne RM23.90,

Duck Confit Pasta RM21.90, Tuna Pasta RM16.90

Even more choices for pasta! Vongole pasta has white clam in white wine butter sauce. The amount of seafood in it is generous! No kidding. Salmon Pink Penne has pan seared salmon steak serve with tomato cream sauce. Duck Confit Pasta has spaghetti tossed in duck fat, looks tempting just from the presentation don't you think? :) The crispy ebi on top of Tuna Pasta gives that irresistible fragrance and Asian touch to the pasta.

Asian Menu - Fried Rice

Salmon Fried Rice RM21.90

Classic Indonesian Fried Rice RM16.90

I don't eat black olive, but this black olive pesto fried rice with pan-seared salmon steak totally won my heart over. Every grain of rice is fragrant and chewy, I just couldn't resist to have one spoon after another. The bottom picture is the Classic Indonesian Fried Rice. The chicken satay is well seasoned but it seems a bit over-grilled. Both fried rice are served with a pretty sunny side up.

Tortilla Pizzas

Tuna Pizza RM16.90

UFB Chicken Pizza RM16.90

Egg on top of pizza? Yes, only in UFB! You can enjoy dipping your pizza in the yolk of a half baked egg. Talk about creativity!

Valrhona Chocolate Soufflé RM15.90

It's time for the highly anticipated dessert time. Soufflé is a famous French dessert and the way to describe it? Sugar crusted and crunchy on the outside, soft and airy in the middle. The moment I had my first bite, I felt like a woman happily in love. Oh. My. God. It was so fluffy it just melted in my mouth! Ah pure happiness :D

Valrhona Chocolate Lava Cake RM16.90

This chocolate lava cake looks simple on the outside, but when you dig into the center, the richness of the Valrhona chocolate is extremely satisfying. Served with vanilla icecream, orange confit and seasonal mixed berries.

The perfect indulgence to conclude our dinner at UFB.

And don't miss out these edible works of art ❤

Thank you Mr Yap for the great feast for the Ma Cherie girls!

I am definitely going back for more, how about you? :)

Union Fashion Bar (UFB)

24, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/4,

Taman Sutera Utama,

81300 Johor Bahru.

(next to Papa Rich)

Tel: 016-719-9809 

Email: unionfashionbar@gmail.com

Opening Hours: 

Sunday - Thursday: 12pm - 12.30am  

Friday - Saturday: 12pm - 1.30am

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/UFB-Union-Fashion-Bar-629727313794241/timeline/

Instagram page: https://instagram.com/unionfashionbar/

[FOOD REVIEW] Dream Cafe @ Taman Mount Austin, JB

Do you ever feel like you are too afraid to live your dream? We would all love to live our dream but sometimes we allow our fear of failure to limit our ability to achieve them. But there's this one young man who follows his heart and strives to make his culinary dream into reality. He owns a cafe of his own only at the age of 28, and what's a better name for the cafe other than ''Dream Cafe''?

Patrick is the proud owner and chef of Dream Cafe. His passion for cooking has taken him to work in kitchens at hotels in Singapore and also restaurants in JB before starting his own business. Starting a cafe from scratch is not easy, especially with so much competition these days. He shared with us his determination to change the cafe atmosphere in Malaysia where there are not many cafes serving good and authentic western food.

''I put in effort in every food I serve to ensure the quality.'' Patrick said, with determined look in his eyes.

It must be a wonderful feeling to see how your cooking made people happy.

Thai Style Salmon Salad RM15.90

A colourful and healthy start for the night. Bits of almonds were sprinkled on top to add crunchy taste to the salad. Be surprised by the chunks of salmon you will find in between the greens.

Cauliflower with Spicy Sour Cream RM8.90

I love cauliflower, but have never eaten cauliflower soup - I know I must give this a try. At first glance I thought it was a pumpkin soup, but it was actually the carrots which give it a bright orange colour. The sweet taste of the carrots and creamy texture of the cooked cauliflower, I swear there's nothing more comforting than this.

Fried Oyster with Homemade Tartar Sauce RM 13.90

Dream Cafe's fried oyster is crispy outside and tender inside. A great starter with homemade tartar sauce for dipping. The sauce had a tinge of spiciness to it which totally spiced up the dish. My favourite of the night!

Herb Butter Dory with Raisin Rice RM15.90

The main courses Dream Cafe served were equally impressive as well. Herb Butter Dory with Raisin Rice has dory fillet which was drizzled with melted butter and a squeeze of lemon juice before serving. The fragrant rice was sure to please the tastebuds and leave you yearning for more.

Beef Bolognaise Pasta RM22.90

Patrick proudly recommended his Beef Bolognaise Pasta, in which he spends four and a half hour daily to make the sauce all by himself. He revealed to us his recipe which contains onion, celery, carrot and tomatoes. I am not a big meat lover, but I love every bit of it because it was a dish cooked with sincerity.

Salmon Steak with Herb Crush RM32.90

Who doesn't love salmon? Rich in omega-3 fatty acids and protein, salmon is a healthy option for many people nowadays. This salmon steak was cooked to perfection with fresh herb and bread crumbs on top to add extra flavour to it.

Milk Pudding with a Scoop of Ice Cream RM11.90

..........not forgetting a perfect dessert to end the night. :)

Patrick reminded me of my dream. I always find it hard to free myself from destructive fears and doubts about my ability to achieve my dream. But you know what, life starts with a dream. Add faith, it becomes a belief. Add action, it becomes a part of life. Add patience, hope and time, it ends with a dream come true. Thank you Patrick, for showing me how lucky it is to live my dreams doing what I love and loving what I am doing. To waking up each day with excitement at what the day may bring. I will hold on to my dream.

''Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die. Life is a broken-winged bird. That cannot fly. 

Hold fast to dreams, for when they go. Life is a barren field, frozen with snow.'' 

Langston Hughes

What is your dream?

p/s: Check in on fb next time when you visit Dream Cafe to enjoy a 10 percent discount!
(promotion ends at the end of June)

Dream Cafe

Address: 

No.27, Jalan Austin Heights,

Taman Mount Austin,

81100 JB.

Tel: 07-3641052

Operating hours: 12pm - 11pm (Mon-Thurs)
                      12pm - 12am (Fri-Sun)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dreamcafeaustin

[FOOD REVIEW] B.E Cafe @ Taman Molek, JB - Part Three

I love indulging in lazy weekend evenings with a book in the hand and sipping a cup of cappuccino for hours. One of my favourite cafes in JB has got to be B.E Cafe, not only for the coffee but also the amazing atmosphere. (You can read about my previous experience here and here) This time round, Ma Cherie girls were invited to their old branch, also at Taman Molek. Let's see what they have for us this time!

1. Atlantic Salmon Salad RM 19.90

What's for appetizer? Here we have freshly cut atlantic salmon, lightly grilled, which then carefully laid onto fresh greens. The salmon was beautifully carved with simple yet exquisite details. Topped with their homemade lemon dill dressing, it is no ordinary salad. Tasty, nutritious and filling!

2. Creamy Pumpkin Soup RM 13.90

I love pumpkin. This beautiful soup is hearty and comforting, with fresh pumpkin softened in the chicken soup, which then puréed to perfection. It was so smooth and creamy that it will make you fall in love with pumpkin, too!

3. Classic Eggs Benedict RM 20.90

I love eggs - I don't know what I would do without them! They are delicious any way you cook them. So needless to say, I love egg benedict. B.E Cafe's poached eggs were tender on the outside and creamy inside, topped with the buttery hollandaise sauce. The egg was then served on daily baked muffin and ham. 

4. Wild Mushroom Rosti RM 18.90

Not many cafes in Malaysia serve rosti, so this makes B.E Cafe stand out. A simple rosti has well-seasoned grated potato, fried until golden and crunchy on the outside and remains soft on the inside. Best to eat with the homemade sour cream at the side. As always, I love B.E Cafe's mushrooms!

5. Club Sandwich RM 15.90

Also called a clubhouse sandwich, B.E Cafe ensures the quality of their sandwich by using only daily baked and toasted bread. The delicious combination of ham, tomato, cheese, lettuce, cucumber and scrambled egg is hard to resist. Sided with fat fries to satisfy you even more!

6. Triple Royale Cake RM 9.90

A delicious dinner is great, but dessert makes it better. With the combination of chocolate cheese, creamy mascarpone cheese and soft chocolate cake, this triple royale cake is as pleasing to the eye as it is to the sweet tooth. Sweet, rich and sinful.

7. Carrot Cake RM 9.90

This carrot cake was moist and delicious - often carrot cakes are dry. The addition of coconut adds a sweet and delicate flavour that you are going to love. Cream cheese frosting elevate this carrot cake from ordinary to extraordinary. Totally to die for!

8. Granola RM 12.90

I love how B.E Cafe present granola in this small, little cup. Contains yogurt, walnuts, berries and crunchy cereal. The sourness of the yogurt goes well with the sweetness of the berries.

9. Cold Brew RM 12.90

Before ending the night, we had this cold brew. It is light, refreshing and incredibly smooth, definitely an appealing alternative to hot coffee. And the best part is it captures the essence of coffee. 

Time flies when you are having plenty of good fun. Thank you B.E Cafe for the awesome service, and Jack who invited us over and being so helpful and understanding all these while. Here's a picture of Ma Cherie girls to express our gratitude to our fellow readers. We hope to produce more good food reviews for you in the future! Hope you find my reviews helpful. Thanks for reading! :)

Click on the link below to read more about B.E Cafe! :)

B.E Cafe #1 New Branch - Drinks

B.E Cafe #2 New Branch - Food

B.E Cafe #3 Old Branch - Food and Drinks

B.E Cafe

(New Branch):

2, Jalan Molek 1/5C,

Taman Molek,

81100 JB.

*Below Molek Garden Hotel*

Tel: 07-3503128

Operating Hours: 8.00am - 11.30pm

B.E Cafe Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/becoffeetmnmolek

B.E Cafe Instagram: http://instagram.com/b.e.cafe

[FOOD REVIEW] Moonlight Cake House @ Taman Sutera Utama, JB - PART 2

Welcome back to my blog! Have you been anticipating for my second post on my dining experience at Moonlight Cake House? In my previous post (click to read if you haven't!), together we explored Moonlight's cheesy yummy finger-licking potato wedges and the fresh-from-the-sea fish slice bee hoon soup and so many more. Wondering what we had afterwards?

And yesss! We had cakesss. I still remember when I first heard about Moonlight it was about how good their cakes were. And given a sweet tooth like me, how could I miss this? :D

Rainbow Cheese Cake RM12.90

Brighten up your day with a slice of rainbow! This colourful, cheerful-looking cake immediately caught my attention the moment I walked into Moonlight. It usually comes in six layers of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. What I liked was that Moonlight's Rainbow Cake came in pretty pastel shades which mean less coloring! The cream cheese frosting had a subtle but pleasant tinge of lemon that offset the richness of the cake. I had the urge to happily sing ''Somewhere over the rainbow.....'' :D

Red Velvet Cake RM12.90

The Red Velvet cake is also one of Moonlight's signature cakes. At first bite, the cake was a little rough, but the moistness and the signature light chocolaty red velvet taste came through as I chewed. It was smooth and sweet but not so sweet that it overpowers the cake like some cream cheese frosting tend to do. If you are worrying about the artificial coloring, fret not! Edward, Moonlight's pastry chef behind all these beautiful cakes, told us that they replaced artificial coloring with natural food coloring called beetroot. A little pricey but worth it!

Brownie Cheese RM9.90

This Brownie Cheese tastes just as good as it looks! A delicious combination of two of my favourites - rich cheesecake and a dense chocolate brownie with almond bits. The cheesecake mixed perfectly with the brownie that when you're chewing, it just melted into one amazing flavour.

Peach Mille Crepe RM9.90

We all love crepe cakes. But do you know that each layer of a crepe cake is handmade, hand-layered? It's actually time-consuming! As you can see, there are peach slices in between, hence making this mille crepe more airy, lighter and less creamy. The overall result was very pleasant and light. We’d absolutely want to eat this again! However I was a little disappointed because they used canned peaches instead of fresh peaches.

Drinks of the day:

Top left: Hot White Coffee RM4.90

Moonlight special made 4 in 1 white coffee - Collagen (oh wow!), milk powder, coffee and sugar!

 Top right: Honey Wolfberry Tea RM6.90
Wolfberries, dates and honey - for the ladies :D

 Bottom left: Dragon Mango RM12.90
Refreshing and healthy!

Bottom right: Mangorange soda RM8.90
Perfect balance of fruity and fizzy.

Moonlight specializes in custom made cakes for any kinds of celebration, birthdays, anniversary, weddings and so on. You can even order beautiful 3D fondant cakes to make your celebration a memorable one! Do not hesitate to contact them for more details. It is very convenient as they have branches in Sutera Utama, Pelangi, Johor Jaya, Permas Jaya, Taman Gaya, Mount Austin and Bukit Indah.

Moonlight has always been one of my favourite choices of dining place and I am sure with the new menu, I will visit here more often! :)

Moonlight Cake House (6 branches)

HQ:

77B, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/3, 

Taman Sutera Utama, 

Skudai, Johor Bahru.

Google map: click here

Tel: 07-558 3322

Operating Hours: 

9:00am to 2:00am

Email: info@moonlightcake.com

Moonlight's Official Webpage: http://moonlightcake.com/

Moonlight's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/moonlight-cake-house/211583785762?sk=timeline

Tell me what you think of my review as I am still learning and improving! 

Your comment will make my day. :D

Thanks for your time!

Love,

Eunice.