JB Trippin

Introducing some heat to the table, People & Places Cafe’s Quesadilla Brekkie (RM25) is a must-order there. Different from their more familiar Melbourne-inspired brunch staples, the Mexican-Thai plate bring the aesthetics and the flavours. It packs a punch with the creamy tom yum scrambled eggs and lip-smacking sriracha aioli, which are balanced by generous bits of chicken ham, sliced tomatoes, coriander and Belgium cheddar cheese sandwiched between the soft tortilla sheets. Then adding to the flavour bomb; the grated parmesan, sweet pomegranate, drizzle of pesto oil and squeeze of the lemon wedge didn’t hurt either. All tangy, spicy, sweet and savoury; it’s a dish I would go back for.

I have travelled across the border countless of times but only the recent visit brought me to Restoran Ya Wang 鸭皇药材烧腊大王. For those who don’t already know, the eatery specializes in herbal roasted duck and is situated just a short walking distance away from City Square Mall Johor Bahru.

Going straight for their signature, as we had plans to drop by several places for our day-trip, we got the Dang Gui Roast Duck (Half duck RM33) to share. Juicy and succulent, the cuts we got were pretty lean with most of the fats underneath the skin probably rendered off during roasting. The meat also packed a good flavour and those soaking in the tantalising sauce was able to capture more of the herbal taste, though I would prefer the glistening skin to be crispier. Great with a steaming bowl of white rice, the only right way to enjoy it in my opinion is to order more sauce and douse the pearly grains with it.

Drawn to the cute mascot, I have been meaning to visit Miyakori Coffee for some time and finally did last week. Decent beverages and unfortunately a lackluster selection of pastries. The Matcha Latte I ordered, had a good dose of green tea aroma. A smooth and creamy concoction, it was milky but not overly so or sweet. However, surprisingly good, their Kurogoma Latte/ Goma Kinako Latte (not featured) definitely fared better with a robust roasted nutty flavour.

Midnight cravings have me thinking about this massive pot of porridge at Matang Seafood in Taman Mount Austin! Served bubbling and pipping hot, I really enjoyed the savoury broth as it held the natural sweetness of all the crustaceans used and the fresh flavours just meld wonderfully together. Chock full of ingredients, the portion was also generous and particularly satisfying after the many sweets we had inhaled that

Priced by the number of pax, the hebal broth was pretty light but just as slurp-worthy. Not too herbal-ly, the hint of pepper in the pipping hot base helped to balance the porky flavours and also served to break the sweetness.

Just a stone’s throw away from City Square Mall, you can’t miss the snaking queue at Kam Long Curry Fish Head especially when walking toward the cafes at Jalan Dhoby and for (my favourite) banana cake. But not a fan of curry, I have never stepped in and was actually (believe it a not) my first time having Curry Fish Head of any kind during my last trip to JB. Setting the standards pretty high for me, Kam Long was definitely worth the half-hour wait. Lemak without feeling jelak, the spiced gravy packed a good depth of flavour and aroma. With just enough heat to tickle your taste buds, the curry sauce was also very palatable with the fragrance of coconut weaved subtly along with the freshness of the fish. Perfect with rice and a side of tau pok (deep-fried beancurd) that soaks up all that delicious gravy thoroughly!

Always my favourite buy from JB, Hiap Joo’s fresh malt-flavoured breads and aromatic, pillowy-soft banana cakes with that lingering smokiness just can’t go wrong.

[#ThrowbackTuesday] A stone’s throw away from the customs, I never managed to try their signature buns as they get sold out pretty quick so a big thank you to Wei Zhi for getting a bag for meeee~ Just as I can’t stop raving about Hiap Joo's moist and delicious Banana Cakes, I got my mind blown with their Coconut Buns (RM 3.70 / 5 buns).

Filled generously with grated coconut, the buns were so soft and fragrant - thoroughly loving that charred exterior. Not forgetting the amazing coconut shreds that were juicy (no better word to describe it) with a burst of sweetness in every bite. Mmm… the simple joy of having some good baked bread.

Moist, fluffy and oh-my-god delicious, the luscious cake is rich in banana flavour (like duh) but it is honestly one of the best banana cakes I have ever eaten. The aromatic, airy and bouncy soft sponge cake is pleasantly sweet not sugary and great after refrigeration. Mmmmmm so good!