Happy Foodies

<div class="alignwide"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysFL1mbCZVTX6ajFB7qOffFZvZZL1r7zPh-C38qoF76ikWahxYUmxNMJbDMG3_v4Hmdo5K2PtKeBWXVgIyf7oGPIxHMI7NGv-GEjz40-l_ke2pMOtOI-IKO2icZuZfqanOTQhXuKyNIDJDSoZCcIUdkH13SwIh-IlVQ2a268e2jwyV9G9ljgY3Tw2fzk/s1280/kalugong-kape-an.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysFL1mbCZVTX6ajFB7qOffFZvZZL1r7zPh-C38qoF76ikWahxYUmxNMJbDMG3_v4Hmdo5K2PtKeBWXVgIyf7oGPIxHMI7NGv-GEjz40-l_ke2pMOtOI-IKO2icZuZfqanOTQhXuKyNIDJDSoZCcIUdkH13SwIh-IlVQ2a268e2jwyV9G9ljgY3Tw2fzk/s16000/kalugong-kape-an.jpg"></a></div></div></div> <p>A cafe found 1,400+ meters above sea level among the cliffs and the clouds? Now that’s an interesting prospect to climb up a mountain. <strong>Mt Kalugong Kape-an</strong> in La Trinidad, Benguet is nestled among the limestone outcrops at the peak of Mt Kalugong. The cafe has a magnificent view of La Trinidad valley and offers third-wave quality coffee utilizing high-altitude grown Benguet Arabica. Now that’s worth climbing up a mountain for is it?</p>

<div class="alignwide"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQi83duwW79gThIFqLHXMXXCZWNQqvtVck-HjJv-RhkXiDiLkEjcRdFrLM8L6tnm5qcSJ55bQTxLIgj03SWZ-OH6zEmLGgMvlvW5zwXQ2FyftTnC9MBXWwTlTUVIGxF0bxLoJWHiWFtlxIn0MpMJ7DkjEkIp7NegD0v5i7aM07a-g5QvKkyfg6BDJz_fo/s1024/hiap-yak-tea.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQi83duwW79gThIFqLHXMXXCZWNQqvtVck-HjJv-RhkXiDiLkEjcRdFrLM8L6tnm5qcSJ55bQTxLIgj03SWZ-OH6zEmLGgMvlvW5zwXQ2FyftTnC9MBXWwTlTUVIGxF0bxLoJWHiWFtlxIn0MpMJ7DkjEkIp7NegD0v5i7aM07a-g5QvKkyfg6BDJz_fo/s16000/hiap-yak-tea.jpg"></a></div></div></div> <p>There's a small, non-descript coffee shop named <strong>Hiap Yak Tea Shop</strong>, 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.</p>

<div class="alignwide"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6nMiU2q4_zPU-fGKK6BhrXZkjdbySggjt8GDvB7Wl4VLBdEWTrMx1bWU_Ls8C2Rb_HAyYywnSGJYJJ4LSHrCAwjAqncvrlk7BGVpWAGDhm1kjo6o_Lo4vOsKXE_HiOuyuMTvF_WaDOrmazZfgdQGQhAdwJLOGTACRJ4GXkTZ19N2nLzYUjg75XCsV0I/s1280/black-bean-coffee.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6nMiU2q4_zPU-fGKK6BhrXZkjdbySggjt8GDvB7Wl4VLBdEWTrMx1bWU_Ls8C2Rb_HAyYywnSGJYJJ4LSHrCAwjAqncvrlk7BGVpWAGDhm1kjo6o_Lo4vOsKXE_HiOuyuMTvF_WaDOrmazZfgdQGQhAdwJLOGTACRJ4GXkTZ19N2nLzYUjg75XCsV0I/s16000/black-bean-coffee.jpg"></a></div></div></div> <p>Happyfoodies had a blast covering the <a href="https://www.ironwulf.net/2019/10/3rd-kuching-waterfront-jazz-festival.html">Kuching Waterfront Music Festival</a> 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, <strong>Black Bean Coffee and Tea</strong> shop while waiting for the sunset to shoot.</p>

<div class="alignwide"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO09v0pVxJxpKXuhHR6DReDgJ-m1Qad-6yhXbIEzBGtwmKmX1vniMhqMON6k0GDazKmvtguFrNYx0Q8luod-1a13R5kLxu_oQiYZ7CSh78omBmmKHc_qyouHi7FHT69HpcczrGGOHADPklS-JYz63Laatkt7NgTMhW8KL0N6T31Hj1TIT4Gsxbk7ecL_A/s1280/blue-wonder.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO09v0pVxJxpKXuhHR6DReDgJ-m1Qad-6yhXbIEzBGtwmKmX1vniMhqMON6k0GDazKmvtguFrNYx0Q8luod-1a13R5kLxu_oQiYZ7CSh78omBmmKHc_qyouHi7FHT69HpcczrGGOHADPklS-JYz63Laatkt7NgTMhW8KL0N6T31Hj1TIT4Gsxbk7ecL_A/s16000/blue-wonder.jpg"></a></div></div></div> <p>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, <strong>Blue Wonder Coffee & Bean Roastery</strong> 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.</p>

<div class="alignwide"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAYb34kmAlbCQv4BkTuqIO2tsw2dWAhVFtbGSMr3XmvI2tIK7tJal5DBSOTR3zrG4Cor7DGQllvNZAOm_sCBhYdFrTohTmqK_m-sgivxybjQGWQHyGK6RY9sVvkmsNvifazX7CCGL1NARRIHfoB5_G3be05rGYmcDkb91RPOUpDnT9a0PxbtSy46YZQQ/s1280/sister-curry-mee.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAYb34kmAlbCQv4BkTuqIO2tsw2dWAhVFtbGSMr3XmvI2tIK7tJal5DBSOTR3zrG4Cor7DGQllvNZAOm_sCBhYdFrTohTmqK_m-sgivxybjQGWQHyGK6RY9sVvkmsNvifazX7CCGL1NARRIHfoB5_G3be05rGYmcDkb91RPOUpDnT9a0PxbtSy46YZQQ/s16000/sister-curry-mee.jpg"></a></div></div></div> <p>It took me a second visit to finally catch the <strong>Sister Curry Mee</strong> stall open at <strong>Air Itam, Penang</strong>. I wasn’t aware of their opening time before and visited late afternoon after my visit to Kek Lok Si temple. Now I wouldn’t want to leave Penang without tasting this Malaysian dish from a stall that has been serving them for at least 73 years already.</p>

<div class="alignwide"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7f8bGMvomxmH40HA6aMByqJEzGP0fhLY_lYq1gPD2MRurWofTJ0_11Z15iDQuBcrD2o20nbRCWwoE5uCxGww6E5fjM6G5vypnwZqp2D5MSb3U4AieAt8MBF6vF3u3ZX8yWFQF2diYi5Ekwzz1qT67uCuB70xeRe5XWT7tRBxN_7inOYhYnExTg8s9__4/s1024/onn-kee.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7f8bGMvomxmH40HA6aMByqJEzGP0fhLY_lYq1gPD2MRurWofTJ0_11Z15iDQuBcrD2o20nbRCWwoE5uCxGww6E5fjM6G5vypnwZqp2D5MSb3U4AieAt8MBF6vF3u3ZX8yWFQF2diYi5Ekwzz1qT67uCuB70xeRe5XWT7tRBxN_7inOYhYnExTg8s9__4/s16000/onn-kee.jpg"></a></div></div></div> <p>Ipoh is a popular day trip destination from Kuala Lumpur. This Old Town that flourished through mining is a two to three-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur. <a href="http://www.happyfoodies.com/kafe-panglima-dua-lima-old-town-ipoh-coffee/">Ipoh White Coffee</a> may be commercially known and widely available but it is only in the old town of Ipoh where one can take sample a favorite delicacy the local hor fun (kuey teow), taugeh (beansprouts) and Hainanese-style steamed chicken. There are a couple of restaurants to go to but a lot of locals pointed us to <strong>Onn Kee Restaurant</strong>.</p>

<div class="alignwide"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhs1BObjyi2b6B0wCrp9rLi6tahbfxrLZvDJhs0hzhYFrDcC4IiPYx7Ossn_EU_8ZOy6lG-KUPc3Ys7ZY0uXoOPYMTsH7m5RpXjHuB0ZqpPhQRHJjjQbjh-37QqsxGjOm1VZOuK4FyUkTcpA7tAmdAzOUXS_LPNk73aeWLBOzDnHm4AYXLaS4i-y5saOA/s1024/kafe-panglima-dua.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhs1BObjyi2b6B0wCrp9rLi6tahbfxrLZvDJhs0hzhYFrDcC4IiPYx7Ossn_EU_8ZOy6lG-KUPc3Ys7ZY0uXoOPYMTsH7m5RpXjHuB0ZqpPhQRHJjjQbjh-37QqsxGjOm1VZOuK4FyUkTcpA7tAmdAzOUXS_LPNk73aeWLBOzDnHm4AYXLaS4i-y5saOA/s16000/kafe-panglima-dua.jpg"></a></div></div></div> <p>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 <strong>Panglima Dua Lima</strong>. A charming little cafe housed in an old shophouse serving freshly prepared Ipoh white coffee.</p>