Ah Ma House (阿嬤的家) is a bakery at the outskirts of Sekinchan. The shop occupies a wooden house on the way to PLS Group’s rice mill. Arriving customers are greeted by a windmill at the store’s entrance.

The bakery evokes nostalgia of yesteryear with old-fashioned furniture, appliances and ornaments. There is even a firewood stove from the time before cooking gas became prevalent.

At Ah Ma House, customers can purchase classic Chinese biscuits such as bahulu (阿嬤鸡蛋糕), kuih kapit (椰奶酥), kuih bangkit (番婆饼) and pineapple tarts (凤梨酥).

From time to time, the staff demonstrates the traditional way of preparing kuih kapit (椰奶酥).

Batter is sandwiched between iron plates and cooked over burning charcoal. Once cooked, the crêpes are removed and folded while they are still soft.

Ah Ma House has a second outlet at Pasir Penambang. The shop is within walking distance of JT Seafood.

Address: Lot 10376, Jalan Tali Air 5, 45400 Sekinchan, Selangor
Contact: 014-230-5753
Business hours: 10:00am-6:00pm

As the administrative center of Cameron Highlands, Tanah Rata has a large number of restaurants. However, none is more hidden than The Lord’s Cafe. Situated opposite of Terminal Freesia (Tanah Rata Bus Terminal) and directly above Marrybrown, The Lord’s Cafe has no sign boards when viewed from the front.

The homely café can only be reached by a flight of stairs at the side of the building. The dining area is decorated with lots of Christian ornaments. To save manpower, customers are asked to place orders and collect food at the cash register.

The Lord’s Cafe mainly serves pastries like scones, pies and cakes. The café also has a variety of beverages like hot tea, milkshake and fruit juice.

Strawberry Fruity Scone (RM3.00) and Cream Scone (RM2.80) are served warm. The latter comes with strawberry jam and butter. We enjoy the scones’ crumbly texture and buttery taste.

We also ordered Apple Pie (RM3.80) and Lemon Cheesecake (RM4.60). The cakes are surprisingly delectable. We can certainly feel the taste of home baking!

Mango Lassi (RM5.50) is a yogurt-based drink prepared from actual mangoes. In fact, there is mango pulp in the drink.

In summary, The Lord’s Cafe serves reasonably good food. The pricing is also very affordable. The only downside is the shortage of dining tables. Customers may need to wait for a while during peak hours.

Address: 4-A, Jalan Besar, Tanah Rata, 39000 Cameron Highlands, Pahang
Contact: 019-572-2883
Business hours: 10:00am-6:00pm, closed on Sundays
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Adjacent to Pony Tale, this Bread History outlet has two floors. The upper floor provides extra dining space for dine-in customers. The ambience is relatively cozy but the wooden floor makes the place quite noisy especially when there is a large crowd.

The Garlic Chicken Burger (RM19.70) contains fried chicken fillet, cucumber, tomato, lettuce, cabbage and garlic sauce. The charcoal bun is reasonably soft while the dressing has a mildly spicy taste. However in my opinion, the chicken is too dry. The burger comes with curly fries and extra garlic sauce on the side.

As for coffee, the cup of Americano (RM5.60) has a pleasant bitter aftertaste. Sugar and creamer are provided but I think they are unnecessary.

Address: 180-B-01-10, Setia SPICE Canopy, Jalan Tun Dr. Awang, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-611-6008
Business hours: 9:30am-10:00pm
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Sin Eng Heong is renowned for its Tambun Biscuits (淡汶饼), Kaya Puffs (加央角), Heong Peng (香饼) and Egg Tarts (蛋挞). The pastries are continuously baked fresh from the oven. There is usually a sizable queue every day.

The shop also sells dry goods from other suppliers. These include Sweetheart Cake (老婆饼), Chicken Biscuit (鸡仔饼), Omelette Crisp (荷包饼), Achar (亚扎) and much more.

Address: 64, Jalan Mustapha Al-Bakri, 30300 Ipoh, Perak
Contact: 05-243-9659
Business hours: 9:00am-7:00pm
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Tong Heng is renowned for its Egg Tart (鸡蛋挞, SGD1.70). However, I feel that the egg custard is sweeter than my preference. I personally prefer the richness of eggs to take the center stage.

Meanwhile, Coconut Egg Tart (椰丝蛋挞, SGD1.90) has grated coconut added to the egg custard. I think it suits my palate better as it is not too sweet. Coconut also results in “wetter” sensation in the mouth.

Address: 285 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058833
Contact: +65-6223-3649
Business hours: 9:00am-9:00pm

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Update: This business has ceased its operations.

The Artisan Pâtisserie is a home-based bakery in Island Park that specializes in heavy cheesecake. Its unique recipe strikes a balance between New York-style cheesecake and Japanese-style cotton cheesecake. There are currently 4 flavors: Pure (RM55.00), Poppy Lemon (RM58.00), French Blue (RM65.00) and Golden Pumpkin (RM58.00).

The Artisan Pâtisserie spares no expense in food quality. 70% of the cheesecake is made from premium cream cheese from New Zealand. Egg is sourced from a local free range farm. The cheesecake does not contain any cream, butter or flour. Unlike most cheesecake, The Artisan Pâtisserie’s version does not have a biscuit base.

For the case of Golden Pumpkin Cheesecake, pumpkin seeds are scattered throughout the cake’s volume and its top surface. The cheesecake is reasonably rich but does not feel too surfeiting despite the unusually high proportion of cheese. The Artisan Pâtisserie suggests two ways to enjoy its cheesecake: chilled or in frozen form.

Customers can order from The Artisan Pâtisserie through its online portal or its Facebook page. As the cheesecake is made to order, 4 days advance order is recommended. The product is packaged in a special box (bamboo knife included) and tote bag, making it presentable as a gift. The Artisan Pâtisserie’s collection point is located at Island Park. Customers can also request for delivery to selected areas in Penang, Klang Valley and Johor Bahru. A flat RM10.00 shipping fee applies.

Name: The Artisan Pâtisserie
Address: 56, Lorong Gangsa, 11600 Jelutong, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 010-461-0517
Business hours: N/A
Website: http://theartisan.com.my
Coordinates: 5.39470 N, 100.29856 E
Directions: Driving northbound on Jalan Masjid Negeri, turn left to Jalan Tembaga just before Hospital Lam Wah Ee. Take the second right to Jalan Besi. At the next traffic rights, turn left to Jalan Gangsa and immediately right to Lintang Gangsa. Artisan Pâtisserie is located in the housing area after the security checkpoint. There is a parking lot near the food court next to the security checkpoint.

Update: This business has ceased its operations.

Ah Mah Traditional Homemade Egg Sponge Cake (阿嬷老字号古早味现烤鸡蛋糕) has taken Klang Valley’s F&B landscape by storm lately. Currently, there are nearly 30 outlets in Malaysia including the one at Sunway Giza Mall. Ah Mah’s cakes are inspired by Castella sponge cake from Tamsui (淡水) in Taiwan, which is in turn derived from a Castilian cake called Pão de Castela. This is not surprising as Tamsui was a former Spanish settlement in the 17th century.

Ah Mah’s recipe has been adapted to suit the local Malaysian palate. The bakery uses natural ingredients only; no coloring or artificial preservatives are added. Its main ingredients are eggs, milk, flour, canola oil and sugar. Water is not added to the batter, so the cake’s moisture comes from eggs and milk only. It is also interesting to note that no pork or lard is used. In fact, most cakes are suitable for ovo-lacto vegetarians.

As freshness is key to the cakes’ appeal, Ah Mah produces new batches throughout the day. The cakes are baked in a convection oven for around 90 minutes (depending on flavor). Once done, the parchment paper is removed and each batch is cut into 8 equal pieces.

The Original Egg Sponge Cake (原味鸡蛋糕, RM13.00) is very fluffy especially when the cake is fresh from the oven. Ah Mah’s cake is much lighter than regular sponge cake. In fact, its softness is very similar to that of chiffon cake. Sweetness is kept minimal in order to draw attention to the taste of eggs.

Next, the Cheese Egg Sponge Cake (起司鸡蛋糕, RM18.00) is similar to the Original version but has layers of molten cheddar cheese inside. In addition, the cake is showered with heavy sprinkles of parmesan cheese. Unlike the Original flavor, the Cheese version tastes better when chilled.

New and seasonal flavors are introduced from time to time. The Chocolate Egg Sponge Cake (巧克力鸡蛋糕, RM18.00) is the most recent addition to Ah Mah’s menu. Cocoa powder and dark chocolate provide this cake’s appealing color. The cake is also intermittently punctuated by chocolate chips. I feel that the cake’s chocolate aroma is at the zenith when it is still fresh from the oven.

Ah Mah Traditional Homemade Egg Sponge Cake has been selling like hot cakes (pun intended) recently. Not only are the cakes great as snacks, they also serve as presentable gifts. Most of Ah Mah’s outlets are concentrated in Klang Valley, but the brand has been expanding its presence in other cities nationwide.

Name: Ah Mah Traditional Homemade Egg Sponge Cake (阿嬷老字号古早味现烤鸡蛋糕)
Address: Sunway Giza Mall, 2, Jalan PJU 5/14, Kota Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Contact: 03-7620-1477
Business hours: 10:00am-10:00pm
Website: https://www.facebook.com/iloveahmah
Coordinates: 3.15091 N, 101.59130 E
Directions: Ah Mah is located at Sunway Giza Mall, right next to Baskin-Robbins. There are parking spaces at the Basement Level of the mall. In addition, there are also street parking spaces along nearby roads.

While visiting Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, it is impossible to overlook Rasa Deli at the Garden Wing. What used to be a mahjong gazebo has been repurposed as a kiosk for quick bites like sandwiches, muffins and cookies. In addition, Rasa Deli also offers pastries such as cakes and bread loaves.

Rasa Deli’s latest specialty, Durian Puff, is the brainchild of Executive Pastry Chef Dino Wan. Sandwiched between two halves of choux pastry is durian cream that contains equal proportion of genuine durian flesh and non-dairy cream. On the top is craquelin sweet crust made from brown sugar.

The choice of durian is Musang King (猫山王) cultivar from Balik Pulau, one of the most prized durian varieties that money can buy. In order to maintain the taste of durian, Durian Puff is prepared in a controlled temperature environment.

The icy cream presents immeasurable gratification as soon as it makes contact with my tongue. The cream is surprisingly light on the mouth as it has been whisked thoroughly. In terms of taste, the Durian Puff is not too sweet to the point of surfeit. I also notice that durian aroma is more subtle than I had expected. This is probably because the Durian Puff is served chilled.

Rasa Deli’s Durian Puff is priced at RM8.00 net per piece. 3 pieces go for RM20.00 net only. Considering the particularly large size of each puff and the use of premium ingredients, the Durian Puff is good value for money. Since its debut in early August 2017, the Durian Puff has been well-received by in-house guests and non-staying visitors alike.

Directly facing Rasa Deli is FIP Lounge. “FIP” stands for “Fun, Interactive, Play”. As the name implies, there are plenty of ways for customers to pass time here: pool billiards, electronic darts, board games and trick artworks.

FIP Lounge is also a great place for customers to mingle around and enjoy drinks. Comfortable sofa chairs and low coffee tables present a cozy ambience for casual gatherings.

The bar is where drinks like coffee, beer and cocktails are prepared. Rasa Deli’s drinks counter is unusually divided into indoor and outdoor sections. Bar stools line up neatly along both sides of the bar.

Afternoon Tea is presented on a 3-tier stand. The assortment of food includes croissants, sandwiches, cronuts, tartlets, muffins and scones. A pot of Earl Grey tea is included. Afternoon Tea is usually served at Spice Market Café.

Cappuccino (RM13.00) is a coffee drink made from equal proportions of espresso and steamed milk, plus a layer of milk foam on top. Coffee beans at Rasa Deli are roasted by illy.

Meanwhile, Arabic Coffee (قهوة عربية, RM19.00) is prepared from coffee mix with neither milk nor sugar. Made from dark roast coffee beans, Arabic Coffee carries reasonably bold taste with earthy notes. Also notable is the coffee’s strong aroma of cinnamon.

Macarons (RM73.00 per dozen) come in assorted flavors like pistachio, hazelnut and orange. I am particularly attracted by the blue-colored macaron that is flavored with Blue Curaçao.

Name: Rasa Deli
Address: Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, Jalan Batu Ferringhi, 11100 Batu Ferringhi, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-888-8788
Business hours: 11:00am-6:30pm
Website: http://www.shangri-la.com/penang/rasasayangresort
Coordinates: 5.47951 N, 100.25487 E
Directions: From Tanjung Bungah, travel west towards Batu Ferringhi. Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa is approximately 4.2 kilometers from Tanjung Bungah’s floating mosque, located on the right. Rasa Deli is an outdoors kiosk just outside FIP Lounge.