Brown Pocket ~ the hidden gem in Penang Gurney Paragon Mall (Coffee + Waffles)

Hidden away from plain sight in Gurney Paragon Mall is this beautiful gem ~ Brown Pocket. 

This really reminds me of the award winning movie of David Cameron - Avatar. (It's situated at the wing facing Kelawei Road, a level or 2 below the TGV ticketing counter. You'll need to get outside the mall's main building to reach it.)

Just when I step into the cafe, the wonderful coffee aroma filled my breath while the soothing background music usher me in. The ambiance is great and suitable for reading and hanging out with buddies or a romantic date.

This is their little library with quite a variety of books to read at.

I've ordered a cappuccino with double shots espresso, the taste came up to my expectation and ignited my senses :-D

I think the coffee beans is mid-dark roast, its subtle nutty flavour and dark chocolate bittersweet taste is really a blast! The milk is frothed at just nice temperature, giving the coffee a natural sweet touch.

They've recommended this Chocolate Banana waffles to go with my double shots cappuccino and I would recommend the same! This dish is moderate portion, so you won't feel bloated. The waffle's outer crust is a little crispy while the inner part is foamy soft, topped with a chocolate ice cream, it's a childhood dreams come true :-D it has also got a banana splits draped with chocolate syrup and some crunchy walnuts in the plate!

(Price: RM13.90 with 10% service tax)

They got quite a variety of food to choose from, either waffles or pancakes based.

This cafe is the most beautifully decorated one I've ever been to. Every different table has got their own unique enjoyable view, would recommend to try out their coffee at different table on other visits.

Here's some virtual tour of the cafe:

BROWN POCKET ~ 2013

COFFEE • CHOCOLATE • DESSERT

Level 6, Lot No.11, Gurney Paragon Mall, 10250 Penang.

04-2189668

www.facebook.com/brownpocket

一杯咖啡的享受

其实对于我个人来说，英文始终没有办法超越中文的细腻。很多感慨用英文来书写，它能诠释的还是没有中文来得仔细。或许有人会认为是我的英文水平不够好才无法表达，我倒觉得是因为我认识中文在先，对于我个人来说那是最熟悉的语言。

喝一杯咖啡，学问很深。对于咖啡师来说，喝咖啡不仅于品它的优劣，还要是对自己手艺的鉴定。对于爱咖啡的人来说，基于个人喜好来定好坏。对于需要提神的人来说，只要能让他龙马精神就是好咖啡。对于我来说，喝的不止是那咖啡独特的韵味，还有回忆。或许很多人认为回忆仅限于观感，其实我们的味觉记忆会比视觉和听觉更在脑里根生蒂固。

记忆中，第一次喝的咖啡是三合式即溶咖啡，当时第一口只感到满口苦涩不堪，基于不想浪费而勉为其难地喝完。当时真的不明白那么难喝的东西怎么我的父母总在点来喝，问了后，我妈只告诉我未来会学到如何去欣赏每个不同事物，我只是暂时被自己的习惯约束了。确实，回顾过去再观察现在的自己，确实很多过去不认为会欣赏的，已学着去欣赏；过去不能接受的，已学着去接受。从以前喝咖啡一定要加糖到现在学会欣赏无糖咖啡，甚至无奶咖啡，这些都是以前意想不到的转变。

在几年前，我喝咖啡最主要还是为了提神，后来渐转成是为了回味那股独特的咖啡香气…… 可说是已经爱上咖啡味了。还记得大学时期很多时候都跟一班同门苦读法律的朋友泡在咖啡馆读书，特别独爱一家咖啡连锁店的其中一间咖啡馆，就只因为它有悠闲海景和大得让阳光洒进来的玻璃窗、及那幽静似图书馆的环境。很可惜后来那间独有海景及晚霞的咖啡馆已被改装为服饰店，想再回到那里缅怀当时却已沧海桑田。那间充满回忆的咖啡馆，仅能留在回忆里。

有时候喝一杯咖啡，不仅仅是缅怀那挂齿的咖啡味，而是回味当时坐在你面前同样跟你捧着咖啡杯却只滔滔不绝的友人，那轻松自在畅谈的喜悦；又或者是回味当时为何犒赏自己而买了那杯咖啡；更或者当时喝咖啡时那般期待未来的心境。

今天你的咖啡伴有什么味了吗？

DIY cafe-like-coffee @ home

Initially, I did admire myself a little while thinking that I've been very innovative to sort of "invent" my own way to brew espresso-like coffee without the sophisticated espresso machine. (I've written all about it at RM10-for-cup-of-espresso-coffee-is-expensive?) But that didn't last long until I saw this page of a Coffee Book that my sister bought from Taiwan.

Basically the theory I've used is almost the same with what was described and depicted in this book, but the tools I've modified from is quite different from this one... but anyway, to cut to the chase, if it takes only an average mind like mine to thought of this way of brewing the espresso-like coffee, it really didn't take a genius to figure that out. Although feeling a little off the mood, I have to admit that I really do enjoy the process of discovery, the trials and errors, until finally manage to pull something in the form of espresso-like.

Other than getting the right taste to suit my own preference, the other part I enjoyed the most in DIY espresso coffee is the latte art.

It's not as easy as it seem. I used to thought that drawing latte art shouldn't be hard, until I got myself splashed with milk and having to clean the table and floor most of the time for spilling the milk, and still couldn't get a proper art done.

I've tried out a few types of "pitcher" because I didn't know where to get the proper latte art pitcher. So I've got my first "milk pitcher" from Daiso, which is actually a measuring cup...

Which I naively thought could do the same because it got a tip mouth (it took me a tiring way to find out this is very wrong concept).

Then I finally found my second "pitcher" which is actually a milk pitcher from Daiso as well, but didn't quite look like the average latte art pitcher with a nice sharp and long tip, it has instead a short-rounded mouth that slightly bent outward. This pitcher actually gives me a better control than the first one, but still, the milk is going everywhere and beyond my control... but also probably because I didn't know the right technique to pour the milk yet :-P

Having countless unsuccessful latte art attempt as my experience, I finally decided to move from consulting the Coffee Book to consulting the youtube, which is definitely much more illustrative and helpful aid for a latte art dummies like myself.

So I humbly share some of my progress of latte art practices here...

This is the first time I managed to pour a faint white dot then sink the point in to give it a bit of the heart shape head, unfortunately I wasn't fast enough to cut it through to complete the heart shape as I got nervous and lost control of the flow.

As to this art... actually I thought of shaking the pitcher a bit to draw the rosetta art, but unfortunately... it didn't go the way I've imagined it, so instead of the rosetta art, it looks like a christmas tree or a fish bone X-(

Then I've thought of using the remaining foam milk to make some 3D coffee art... so I've created something like a bear's paw and a crocodile... XP

Then I try to move back to pouring latte art, back to the basic heart shape art...

This art was rather unsuccessful because I've used too little milk, so by the time I wanted to cut it through, the milk is literally dripping... so loosing the velocity of the flow means loosing control of the art as well :-(

Then I struggled to finally draw something like heart shape but it's not very neat like I would want it to be :-/

So after some failure, I've decided to go back to the basic, to pour a clean white dot at the center before I attempt any art.

Then after I managed to control the dot at the center, I finally manage to pour a neat heart shape latte art!!! :-D

Then in the first attempt to pour rosetta art... I actually lost control of the milk and accidentally poured something like the totoro or chinchilla :-P

After some trial & error, I finally manage to pour my first rosetta art that at least look something like it. Although it's not very neat and clear, I still think it's some achievement given that I'm not a trained barista nor latte artist :-P

In short... it's really not easy to make your own espresso coffee at home without the sophisticated espresso machine and gadgets, it's even harder to get the milk froth correctly to get the right foam milk to pour the latte art. So I've concluded that paying a cafe for that nice cup of coffee is still really worth it as it will save me from a lot of trouble and effort.

Monkeycup Cafe @ jct ~ Revisit

When I published the first blog on monkeycup cafe a month ago, the kitchen is only at "coming soon" stage, so when I first saw the Menu board outside the cafe, my first thought is "Finally! Food in cafe!". I haven't get to taste all of them on the menu yet, but nonetheless, allow me to share what I've tasted and what mesmerised me this time ( n___n)~b

I have to say, I'm quite surprise to see Thai food on the menu of a cafe in Penang! It's not a common choice for a cafe, but again, like all great invention in the world, there's a first in everything.

When I compare the price of the food with other restaurant or cafe that offer affordable luxury environment, I'm of the opinion that the price is comparatively reasonable.

From personal experience, I used to fill my stomach elsewhere before going to Starbucks mainly because they do not offer meal in most of their store. Normally if I want to get a filling lunch, it would've cost me around RM10. Adding that to the cost of a cup of venti size ADL, it would cost me around RM25 for a meal and coffee. On top of that, I had to travel between the places for food and drinks. Now this package here at this cafe really satisfied my needs at one go.

It's not much variety if you were to compare it with the Startbucks' food display, but you'll need only one poison to be your excuse for revisiting... ;-)

And... I found mine! XD

CREME BRULEE!!!

I'm honestly excited to see so many of them lining up in the display unit :-D

And

These are all non-baked cheesecake... 

Watch out! Moose on the loose!

Just kidding... it's Mousse in the jar!

I really miss the aroma rich peaberry coffee...

So please forgive me for taking the sip before taking a picture of the beautiful latte art...

:-P

I requested for something special this time for my blog picture, and the barista is kind enough to serve this rose art for me :-)

Introducing... my favourite dessert:

Creme Brulee

The well-torched caramel top crust is clean without the burnt polka dots and when you hit it with your spoon, you can hear the caramel glass gives the real nice click sound, certifying its solidness. It's so fun to crack the caramel glass open ^_^

As to the brulee, it's with smooth and pudding-like texture. I'm totally amazed that a creme brulee this good is sold only at RM8.90! If you have read my other blog on creme brulee I found in Malacca, they were sold at RM15 and RM14.80 respectively. 

I would rate the creme brulee at 8.5 out of 10.

But if taking the price into the equation, I would give it a 9.5 out of 10!

Mango Mousse Cake               

This dessert is recommended as coffee-mate if you think the creme brulee is too creamy... well again, not everyone like the same thing, so give the fellas in the display unit a try to find out your own favourite dessert as coffee-mate :-)

You might be thinking "why dessert before meal??"

Well, they need some time to prepare the meal, so I decided to have some dessert first.

Of course, you may request them to serve the dessert after meal...

So now here's the meal:

Phat Thai

It is something like the Penang Char Koay Tiow, but it's actually a Thai style stir-fried rice noodles. You need to stir it up right before you eat so that the vegs is fresh when you eat it.

I would caution those afraid of spiciness to draw in the chilli powder gradually to make sure the taste suit you just the way you like it.

But if you dislike the fresh sprout taste, maybe you can try some other dish as it is part of the original recipe taste of Phat Thai. Or maybe to stir in less of the sprout before you eat if you're still interested to try it out.

Crab Fried Rice

I got to confess, this dish is awesome! The taste is balanced and with enough vegs as most of the time when we order for fried rice, there would either be very little vegs or no vegs at all...

Best thing of this dish is... they serve fresh crabmeat!!!

Som Tum

This is green papaya salad. Its taste is sourish spicy... So do let the chef know if you would like it to be less spicy so that they can tailor it to your spicy tolerance. 

But I would recommend to try it at its original taste, cause it's kinda exciting to feel the spiciness and then water the spicy feel with the green latte :-P (That's my personal preference)

Croissantism

 

So I heard that this is their best selling meal and I know why... it's because the croissant is crispy solid and when you bite into the fillings, the cheesy scrambled eggs will melt in your mouth, and you can feel it snuggle every single taste-buds.

The salad dressing is the secret weapon in this meal, as it stroke your taste-buds well to awaken them to the natural taste of the fruits (mini tomatoes) and the vegs.

Angelababie

The name of this dish is really causing a lot of speculation and imagination... XD

And yes, the dish taste just as sexy as its name. So get tangled with the thin spaghetti or the "angel hair", the mushrooms and chicken ham, and you'll find yourself dancing tango after you down it with a shot of coffee...

Personally I find it very authentic in the sense that the original spaghetti is serve with just enough sauce instead of serving the spaghetti submerged in the sauce like what we're getting from most restaurant these days. So if you would like it submerge in the creamy sauce, perhaps you can ask the chef to prepare it that way...

To put it simply, this cafe has become more welcoming to me. Personally I really enjoy the little corner in the cafe where I can enjoy some privacy and the comfortable coffee space with the soothing background music. So definitely I'll be coming back for more excellent coffee and the yummy creme brulee :-D

To read about their coffee, kindly refer to my previous blog on it:
coffee-experience-monkeycup-cafe