Food makes us happy! :)
There’s a small, non-descript coffee shop named Hiap Yak Tea Shop, tucked somewhere in the alleys of Indian Street in Kuching, Sarawak, where the hot, steaming coffee is still served with a pat of butter. Of course, it makes for a creamy, buttery, if a bit strange, brew but there’s an interesting backstory (or tale, if you prefer to think it’s part-fiction) to why in this small shop, the coffee not the bread or biscuit is buttered.
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Happyfoodies had a blast covering the Kuching Waterfront Music Festival in Kuching, Sarawak in the eastern part of Malaysia. In between tasks and barring rain, we had occasions to wander off into the side streets and small alleys at the waterfront area leading to the bridge and parliament building. One of finds is this small coffee shop along Ewe Hai street, Black Bean Coffee and Tea shop while waiting for the sunset to shoot.
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Happyfoodies have always been Cartimar regulars long before the time when it became the go-to place for pet lovers and owners. Not really venturing far from the pet and plant supplies blocks, Blue Wonder Coffee & Bean Roastery has escaped our attention until recently. It seems like an anomaly of sorts, a warmly-lit, cool stopover place among stalls of PX and other goods, like an oasis for those who know a bit more about coffee beyond the big brand cafes.
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The old town of Ipoh is known as one of Malaysia’s best coffee producers. The “Old Town” coffee brand is a popular present for visitors coming from Malaysia. It is one of my favorite instant coffee due to its sharp strong yet rich flavor. Recently, I found myself back in Ipoh for a fam tour. While strolling through one of the famed concubine lanes in Ipoh, we chanced upon Panglima Dua Lima. A charming little cafe housed in an old shophouse serving freshly prepare Ipoh white coffee.
Amidst the small town of Anao, Tarlac, is Kape Agape, a small community cafe inspired by the highest form of love “agape” – the love of God for man and of man for God. Located at the heart of town abundant with ylang-ylang trees, the cafe not only serves nourishing food for the tummy but also for the soul.
Happyfoodies has been on the road recently and traveling through towns we normally pass through on the way to Bontoc and Sagada brought some surprises to us. One of these is finding a place to have good coffee in Abatan, some 80 or so kilometers away from Baguio. Billeted at Garden Breeze in Bangad, we wanted to find out what else is out there, attractions- and food-wise, so we walked along the town center. After a hearty lunch of beef broccoli and soup at Kadan-Tom, we decided to find out if there’s a place where we can grab a cup of coffee and some dessert. Maybe it was a stroke of serendipity that we found Cafe Lounge 85 at the fringe of the town center where the coffee along with the view gave us a pleasant surprise.
Living up to the town’s reputation, Art Capital Cafe, is a cozy little cafe right beside a Caltex station in Angono. It serves up more than the usual brews but also showcases inspiring art pieces from up and coming artist. Art Capital Cafe was the last stop in our tour of Angono sites and eats. May we have saved the best for last?
I have a friend who’s known as the “Sound Check Guy”. He’s musically inclined and decided to live in La Union for good, finding he felt more at home there. He worked as a barista for a small coffee shop for a while and that’s where I first heard about El Union Coffee. This small cafe ran by Kiddo and Sly sources locally grown coffee beans from around La Union. Their signature blend became a hit among the locals and tourists alike. The cafe quickly outgrew its original site and had to move to a new location along the MacArthur National Highway.