We found a fabulous new place for Cendol!

James Cendol on Old Klang Road does some great Cendol indeed!

This spanking new cendol joint (only 6 months old) is situated next to Lee Chong Wei Sri Sentosa Sports Complex (map attached at the end of post), on Old Klang Road. Cumi stumbled upon it, as usual, on one of his drives around town. The good thing about the location of James Cendol, is that there is ample free carpark and you can sit for as long as you like, in comfortable, breezy surroundings, unlike some cendol stalls where you have to squeeze into parking and stand around in the heat, eating and sweating into your cendol.

Lee Chong Wei Sri Sentosa Sports Complex

striking venue.. you can’t miss it

This cendol originates in Sitiawan, and if you ask the Sitiawan folk they will probably tell you that Sitiawan cendol is the best.. ever. And if you keep prodding, they will tell you that James Cendol is the best in Sitiawan;) The original James Cendol stall from Sitiawan is situated right at the entrance to a Hindu temple on Jalan Lumut – within a walking distance from The Store supermarket or Uncle John Cafe in Sitiawan, if you ever go there and want to visit the original shop.

soft, fluffy green stands of cendol

James himself is an amicable fellow. He was patient and all smiles as I asked him to pause this way, and that way, and ‘show me all his apparatus’ so I could take a good photo. A very cool guy, all decked out for the part too, I must say. I’ve never seen a more smartly dressed cendol man. Ever.

James, the man!

Green, fluffy and soft strands of pandan infused cendol that is served up nice and icy cold in fresh coconut santan(milk). The coconut is so fresh, you can see them grating it, old school style, at James Cendol.

the grater

the coconut

the coconut gets the grater

The cendol strands themselves are made fresh everyday and do not contain any preservatives, and that’s why the texture is so great. I love my cendol with pulut and red bean.. tastes heavenly! At RM3.00 per bowl, it’s obviously not the cheapest of Cendol in the Klang Valley, but the quality and flavour is totally worth the money. They add just enough salt to their cendol which really enhances the flavour of the coconut milk. They also do goreng pisang and rojak here. And oh, some rather tasty ice cream potong too. Perfect in this sweltering heat!

my favourite way of eating cendol – cendol, pulut and red bean

goreng pisang (banana fritters)

ice-cream potong .. cendol flavour

Verdict? A terrific place for Cendol. We will be back with friends and family in tow, the next time. For the lucky folk of Bangsar, James Cendol will be opening a new branch soon in that area.  The owners will be starting up a restaurant called SIMPLY SPICE opposite the new UOA building at Dataran Maybank in Bangsar starting on the 16th of February. James Cendol will be served here.

 MAP TO JAMES CENDOL, OLD KLANG ROAD:

Tie back your hair, slip into a pair of comfortable Marc Jacobs ballet flats and grab your favorite Chanel bag, because you’re coming with me, to visit my favourite French Pâtisserie, Les Deux Garcons, on Jalan Telawi, Bangsar.

Oh.., I do like this place.. very much.

What I die for every time is the silky smooth ganache in their macaron and their exquisite flavours. None can come close.

The prices are not cheap, but they are pretty standard for what’s on offer in Kuala Lumpur at the moment. The quality of the cakes at Les deux Garcons, Jalan Telawi are fabulous – do yourself a favour and have tea there one day. You won’t be disappointed.

Oh, and don’t forget to invite me along. I can never get enough;)

Passion – Joconde base, silky passion fruit mousse, mango coulis – RM13

Eclaire – pate a choux, traditional French premium vanilla/rum creme patissier – RM10

Le Palladio – crispy almond tart, layered joconde, vanilla ganache, white truffle mascarpone – RM22

Congratulations to Just Heavenly, for opening their latest, spanking new outlet at TERRACE @ Hock Choon!

That’s right, A Slice of heaven is now open for business and check out the photos from the launch, held mid week – it was a tres tres chi chi event, with fabulous food, wine and cakes too of course. As a matter of fact, cakes, were the main show – I loved the bite sized red velvet – so sexy and delectable! There was also some amazingly decadent Japanese finger food that was served during the party that was courtesy of Fukuharu, my favourite being the Mentai Sushi (codfish roe sushi), which was just too damn unctuous and tasty for words.

Though there’s no shortage of world-class bakers in this town, A Slice of Heaven’s cakes are another story entirely. So far, I find that many cake shops and bakers in Kuala Lumpur, generally fall into two camps: prettily sculpted confections that taste like cardboard or perfectly delicious creations with the personality of a doorstop. The cakes crafted by A Slice of Heaven, manage to hit the aesthetic-culinary sweet spot. And I’m not just saying this because one of the partners is my cousin (hah!) but their cakes, baked from scratch are festive without looking garish and most important, taste as good as they look!

In the cutthroat world of Kuala Lumpur confectionery, A Slice of Heaven has a devout following, and with good reason. Though these bakers, Nigel Skelchy and Allan Yap excel at classic/modern, home-style wedding cakes, they’ve been known to create deliciously colorful, dainty and whimsical confections as well, that are to die for. My vote goes to them every time. If you have not tried their cakes, you’re missing out;)

Allan Yap gives a short brief on what the new shop is all about

I love the design of A slice of Heaven – floor to ceiling glass panes that let in tons of natural light and the chandeliers add some classy bling

Spoilt for choice.. my sweet tooth is overwhelmed!

too gorgeous for words

Justin Liang of Fukuharu and Caroline Lee

Nigel Skelchy mingles with the guests.. Isn’t the baby cute!

Me and my cousin. See the resemblance.. ? It’s uncanny huh?:P

L-R: Puan Sri Fauzah Abdullah, Nigel Skelchy and Cik Puan Nur Yvonne

me, Uncle Tony Skelchy and Nigel

L-R: Henry Koh, Allan Yap and Uncle Tony Skelchy. Uncle Tony is a darling.. he chats with everyone! 

Kenny Mah, CK and Nigel

Goodie Bags.. so pretty..

Japanese finger food – totally to die for, courtesy of Fukuharu

This was by far my favourite.. the mentaiko was creamy and rich. Terrific sushi. Knocked my socks off.

Not enough to feed a big boy like Charles!

cakes by A slice of Heaven

Loved the chocolate cake and the Red Velvet

Sue Lynn shore loves her sweets..

Caroline Lee is the MC for the night. Nigel Skelchy, Allan Yap and Ann Lee .. a BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU on the successful launch of your latest baby, A Slice of Heaven at Terrace @ Hock Choon!

Camwhoring..

The beautiful people – Kenny Mah, CK, Chui Shia Chan, Cheryl Lum say.. good night!

because truffle anything is good.

But YOU.. put the trollop into truffle*tart, you do.

Outrageously slutty.

Outrageously decadent. 

You’re like the shameless hussy I keep sneaking back to see.

You’ll be the death of me.

*the tart in question - le pallagio.

ask for her smooth, svelte vanilla ganache

and white truffle mascarpone body. no other.

Pudu is one of my favourite wastes of time. Some people find it dodgy and a little too working class but I love it. Where else can you find cheap food, cheap and good massages, cheap Ahpro bibs and bobs for your car, cheap dodgy gold watches, cheap camera accessories etc etc, all within walking distance of each other. There’s also a fabulously stinky, wet and crowded market that has been around for yonks, the Pudu Market, which has everything you need from freshly butchered carcasses to slippery, glistening fish.

Walking around this area, though fun, can be pretty hard work in the heat. Well, for me anyway. Here are three great ways to cool down, via two iconic stalls in the Pudu area, that one should not miss. Presenting my favourite ways to cool down, in Pudu!

1. The Soya Bean Man

Located on Jalan Pasar, the soya bean man is quick to notice your distress in the noon day heat. Would you like to cool off with a sip of my milky drink?

For just RM1.20, feel the heat dissipate as you throw back the sweet, soya milk. Feel the energy return to your lethargic body.

Soya bean milk for sale by the drums, to the neighbouring areas

The pandan leaf cutter

Adding pandan to the soya bean gives the drink a terrific aroma. Normally these leaves are knotted and thrown into the soya bean to brew and the essence permeates the drink.

How you spot an aristocrat drinking soya milk amongst the commoners! 

 2. The Chendol Man

Venturing deeper into the slip roads and back alley ways of Pudu, alongside the beads and tailor shops, you will find the Chendol man. Plastic tables and chairs in all sorts of assorted colors line the back roads and you will see people sitting down and eating snacks such as rojak that go so well with the Chendol.

A happy worker, makes a good chendol

mountainous snowy ice

White, fluffy ice that looks like snow, is shaved off from the ice machine, and packed into the container until it resembles a mountain of ice. The Chendol man then ladles in a generous scoop of coconut milk with green strands of pandan-flavoured mung bean. He drizzles some Gula Melaka (coconut palm sugar syrup) right at the peak of the ice mountain and it’s good to go.

You can take it away, or eat it on the spot

Eat your Chendol.. it’s good for you!

A grumpy boss is a rich boss!

The fabulous Chendol for just RM1.50. The green chendol strands are soft and springy with an intoxicating pandan aroma. If you add red bean, glutinous rice etc, the price can go up, but it is still pretty affordable. The green chendol strands go perfectly with the sweet and salty coconut milk – adding salt to the coconut is a must. It gives the dessert some dimension, and extra kick. This place does it just right!

 3. The Coconut Man

Under the same roof is the coconut man. For those who dislike all things too cloyingly sweet, God gave the coconut. The coconut has all the natural sugars and salts that make it the perfect drink if you have been sweating in the heat. It replenishes salts and minerals like no other drink can, whilst its sweet, white flesh gives you energy to carry on with whatever you’re doing. I love this drink even more than the Chendol. OK, maybe sometimes!

Using the cleaver to break into the coconut

Cumi digs in..

Hardly 5 star cutlery but it is enough to do the trick

 Ciki loves a goooood coconut, she does!!