Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Chan & Yupa Tearoom @ Soi Sukhumvit 10, Bangkok - ฉันท์ แอนด์ ยุพา ทีรูม @ ซอยสุขุมวิท 10 กรุงเทพฯ

Cuisine: International Food
Charged Price: THB400 per person without alcohol
Visited: 24 May 2015
Food: 6/10
Atmosphere: 8/10
Value for money: 7/10
Services: 6/10
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]

There may be hundreds of tearoom and restaurant kind of place around. However, there is hardly any place that really touches my heart in Bangkok. Chan & Yupa Tearoom in Soi Sukhumvit 10, on the other hand, has just been recently launched and it makes a lot of sense for me: nice atmosphere and decent food in brief. The venue is a house converted restaurant with lovely decoration in a comfy country style. As for location, it might be exactly convenient with some 5 minutes plus walk from BTS Asoke Station as the closest mass public transport. Driving here is a more convenient choice for me. If in doubt of its location, just find Chuvit Garden on Sukhumvit Road and the restaurant is just a few hundred metres in the alley next to the park. Please bear in mind that this place does not operate during dinner meal: i.e. breakfast and lunch only.

Chan & Yupa Tearoom @ Soi Sukhumvit 10, Bangkok

relaxing garden view

cosy home-like dining room

glasshouse corner perhaps

fancy low tea???

In term of menu, it ranges from Thai dishes to international variety. What really impressed me is the quality to price ratio. I think what customers get here comparing to what you will pay is conclusively reasonable: decent portion, tasty, quality ingredients, and not exaggerated price.

As for us, the savoury range we had was Rocket Salad with Sausage (6/10), Spicy Sausage Spaghetti (6/10), Carbonara Spaghetti (5/10), and Egg Benedict with Salmon (6/10). Rocket salad was enjoyable with a touch of fresh crispiness of radish to go with balsamic vinaigrette. Spicy sausage spaghetti was, in contrast, a pasta dish in a more local style. This kind of pasta is always pleasant as long as level of spiciness has been stated correctly and always always al dente. Carbonara, however, was less impressive. I just expected more of cheesiness and fattiness.....Opppsssss!!!!! Lastly, egg benedict with salmon was a well prepared classic dish. If I could get up very early, popping by this place for breakfast with egg benedict would indeed be fantastic. In addition, Strawberry, Banana, and Yoghurt Smoothie (7/10) was unexpectedly delicious: smooth and rich but not overly sweetened.

Rocket Salad with Sausage (THB155)

Spicy Sausage Spaghetti (THB185)

Carbonara Spaghetti (THB185)

Egg Benedict with Salmon (THB235)

Strawberry, Banana, and Yoghurt Smoothie (THB130)

Dessert range was as well in line with savoury dishes. Cakes are mostly priced at THB110 a piece. We had White Chocolate Cake (5/10) and Chocolate Truffle Cake (6/10). Both were delightful but chocolate truffle cake was more like my style with rich and flavourful character in overall. On the other hand, you may feel like having a sort of structured dessert, Yupa's Style Waffle (6/10) was awesome too. Classic quality waffle to go with slices of banana and maple syrup, what else would you request. For me, the one I like most amongst these desserts was Chocolate Lava with Ice-cream (7/10). Baked to the right point such that molten chocolate inside flow out nicely. Nice chocolate touch and balance. Only if the ice-cream possesses creamier texture, the overall picture of this dish would be tremendous.

These sweets were definitely sweet and rich. Cups of tea would be a perfect compliment and I did not hesitate to order one. Nymph of the Nile Gryphon Tea was the chosen one. It was white tea with aroma of floral. Light on the body and possesses notes of roses. It was such a perfect one to go with rich and creamy sweets. At Chan and Yupa, they operate in a traditional style still. Meaning, you may ask for hot water refill when your pot of tea runs out of water. Of course, as long as your tea is strong enough, refilling with hot water or diluting strong tea in the pot with hot water are standard practices (at least in my sense).

Well, this is a highly recommended tearoom and restaurant. A very good one to relax and chitchatting with friends or a comfy lunch with family. Try out yourself, I suggest.

White Chocolate Cake (THB110)

Chocolate Truffle Cake (THB110)

Yupa's Style Waffle (THB140)

Chocolate Lava with Ice-cream (THB180)

Nymph of the Nile Gryphon Tea (THB125)

Chan & Yupa Tearoom @ Soi Sukhumvit 10, Bangkok - ฉันท์ แอนด์ ยุพา ทีรูม @ ซอยสุขุมวิท 10 กรุงเทพฯ
12 Soi Sukhumvit 10
Sukhumvit Road
Khlong Toei
Bangkok 10110
Thailand

Open Hours: Tue - Sun from 08:00am - 06:00pm
Tel: +66 (0) 2252 6601
FBhttps://www.facebook.com/ChanYupa.Tearoom/

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Red Wine 2009

Date of Tasting: 25 March 2015
Wine Type: Red
Grape Varieties: 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec
Alcohol: 15.2%
Origin: Washington, USA
Appellation: Columbia Valley
Expect to Pay: ~ EUR60
Web: http://www.quilcedacreek.com/
Chubby Appreciation: 92/100
Critics' Opinion: WA - 94/100, ST - 91/100, CT - 92/100


Appearance: Deep crimson
Aroma: Herbs, smoke, cocoa, tobacco and black fruits
Palate: Full on the palate. Deep exotic spices. Sweet ripe berries, chocolate, graphite, and oakiness. Fine and smooth tannins.

Needless to say much. This second wine from Quilceda Creek is surely one of the top of New World wine from Washington. It is sexy and yet opulent. Ones will indeed enjoy a big punch of this bordeaux blend. It is ready now and should be fabulous at least 5 years ahead. Quilceda Creek Red Wine 2009 will surely be a perfect compliment with red meat and rich dishes. Raise the glass!!!!

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

2 East London Bakeries Within A Glab : Lily Vanilli and Violet

Returned to London for the first time after 7 years, we had a chance to visit a couple of bakery joints as well. Both of them are not quite in Zone 1 but still in an acceptable distance. One of them is lovely and adorable whilst the other one is nice but overrated in my opinion. It seems that there are certain trends going on in London either for local or for tourists. So I decided to hop by places with its own personality rather than typicity. Here are the two bakeries.


The Lily Vanilli Bakery and Flour Market @ Columbia Road Flower Market

Charged Price: GBP7 per person for a piece of cake and beverage
Visited: 21 June 2015
Food: 7/10
Atmosphere: 8/10
Value for money: 7/10
Services: n.m.
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]

Lily Vanilli Bakery is my very first stop during the trip to UK. It is just a little bakery hidden in a courtyard on Columbia Road. The most important thing to remember when visiting this lovely bakery is it only opens on Sunday: i.e. when Columbia Road Flower Market gets busy with its visitors. Coming to Lily Vanilli can be a little tedious but it's worthwhile. If you are taking tube, the shop is approx. 15 minutes walk from Bethnal Green Station.

As mentioned, Lily Vanilli might be just a small bakery but satisfaction is not small at all. The place is kept clean and tidy with minimal but lovely decoration. There are a few tables and benches for you to sit while sipping your coffee and eating your cake. I believe it is best to visit during nice summer days when you can enjoy outdoor weather (fingers crossed for rain). It is more like a half self-service here. You choose your interested cake at the counter, where there will be choices to be chosen but the range can alter each week, order your beverage, pay your bill, and enjoy. Range of cake here is interesting and pretty too. I promise they are not those weird combination that would make you think "Uhhh....what is this?".

Lily Vanilli Bakery hidden in a courtyard

variety of freshly baked cakes on store counter

It's tiny but comfy enough inside

What I had during the visit was Elderflower & Almond Layer Cake (8/10) and Banana Choc Rye Cakes with Tonka Beans, Banana, Cacao, & Toffee Shard (7/10). I, especially, fall in love with the elderflower cake one. The texture was nice and dense whilst the frosting added sweetness to balance. The aroma was as well wonderful. Cheers for this pretty cake. On the other hand, banana choc rye cake was enjoyable too. However, its stiffness was a little too much to my liking. Each component played its role harmoniously well.

Indeed a cup of coffee or tea would be nice with these rich cakes. I had cafe latte and it was decent. Not the best but decent. Lastly, I do recommend this little place to anyone who is fond for cakes and those who are visiting Columbia Road Flower Market. It would be wonderful to have half an hour relax before strolling around and shopping your favourite flowers.

Elderflower & Almond Layer Cake (GBP4.20)

Banana Choc Rye Cakes with Tonka Beans, Banana, Cacao, & Toffee Shard (GBP4.20)

nicely together with cafe latte

The Lily Vanilli Bakery and Flour Market @ Columbia Road Flower Market
6 The Courtyard
Erza Street
London, E2 7RH
United Kingdom

Open Hours: Sunday from 08:00am - 04:00pm
Webhttp://www.lilyvanilli.com/
FBhttps://www.facebook.com/lilyvanillicakes


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Violet @ Hackney

Charged Price: GBP7 per person for a piece of cake and beverage
Visited: 1 July 2015
Food: 6/10
Atmosphere: 6/10
Value for money: 4/10
Services: n.m.
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]

Violet is another interesting bakery. However, it is a little further from Lily Vanilli in Hackney area. The concept of Violet is chic bakery making american style cake. You can find those classic range of pastry here: cupcakes, loaf cakes, muffins, cookies, brownies, and etc. This place is kept in an even more plain style: hardly any decoration in a two storey house. Yes, it is small and there is no seat indoor. There are some seats in front of the bakery and a few more in the backyard.

Walking inside the store, you can find ranges of pastry in a window shelf on your right and on your left, you will find working space for staffs: i.e. open kitchen right there. To me, this place is enjoyable but not really kick my butt just yet. Things tend to be on the sweet side here but thanks to minimal amount of frosting that keep it alive. In term of pricing, it is expensive in my opinion, especially for a place outside centre of London.

the very local bakery but chic in Hackney

American style cake and bakery products


sliced cakes range

cupcakes of the day

For the day, we Chocolate Violet Cupcake (6/10) and Chocolate Caramel Rum Slice (6/10). Both are kind of similar for me. The chocolate violet cupcake has frosting with violet floral scent whilst chocolate caramel rum slice is topped with cream cheese frosting and is richer on the palate. The texture of both were decent with softness and moisture. To coupling with cakes, we had Iced Coffee: Salty vs. Sweet (5/10) to attack the heat of such a hot day in London. Both were brewed in the same way but one was stirred with a touch of salt and the other one was obviously sugar. They were different in contrast but were just similarly enjoyable. It was ok to drink this beverage. But GBP3.00 per small glass of coffee is just too much indeed.

If I have to choose to go back between the two places, Lily Vanilli indeed has won my heart. I would not hesitate at all to return to the place.

Chocolate Violet Cupcake (GBP2.90)

square cut view of Chocolate Violet Cupcake

Chocolate Caramel Rum Slice (GBP3.50)

Iced Coffee: Salty vs. Sweet (GBP3.00)

Violet @ Hackney
47 Wilton Way
London, E8 3ED
United Kingdom

Open Hours: Tue - Fri from 08:00am - 06:00pm, Sat from 09:30am - 06:00pm, and Sun from 09:30am - 05:00pm
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