Bo’ Cafe

This eatery is a bit special… it sells clothes, shoes and other fashion apparels at an industrial area and is beautifully renovated. There are two sections, the shop and the cafe. It also has a beautiful garden which really makes you feel good to dine there. And, they served vegetarian food, but not the usual type of vegetarian restaurants that you find in town. The food is prepared in a way like those found in bistros, for example Lavender or Yew’s Cafe, but minus the steaks.
Nice interior…when I was there, it was tea time, thus it’s not so crowded then. There are folks enjoying their tea and relaxing the afternoon away.

A place designed for nature lovers …there’s a small, shallow pond in front with koi fishes. Nice place to snap pictures.

At the side of the cafe, there was another garden and pond which was designed like a ‘pak kua’. Wonder if this is good ‘feng shui’?

Here’s a side view of  the cafe.

OK, here’s the food… Pesto Pasta. (RM8.80). It’s pasta but tasted differently from the typical italian pastas. They sprinkle some sort of herbs on it and it tastes good with the olive oil. Very healthy indeed!

‘Tempeh’ Cutlet (RM4.80) – This is very special and first time I ever tried it this way. ‘Tempeh’ is made from fermented soyabeans. Click here to find out more about tempeh. It was very delicious indeed when dipped into the sauce.

Mushroom soup – Rm6.80. This mushroom soup is no campbell’s tin product but it’s freshly made. You can ‘feel’ the freshness as it was not salty like those found in the tin.

Vegetable dumplings with Shanghai noodle soup – RM8.80.

Americano – Rm4.80 – Can’t end a meal without a coffee

Here’s a snap of the front of the cafe and shop. The entire building is call ‘Beethoven’ and thus, the big ‘B’ there!

Bo Cafe is located at – 8, Jalan Mutiara 7, Kawasan Perindustrian Plentong, JB

Toast ‘N’ Toast

If you are looking for good kaya, look no further. I think I tasted the best kaya in town, spread either in toasts or kuih or even dipped crackers in it. Too bad, they are not selling their kaya else can have it for breakfast with bread.

The place looks like any typical kopitiams, and usually crowded with coffee lovers or patrons who just want to chat and de-stress the afternoon away.

Here’s a good choice – spread the pandan kaya over a kuih ( I can’t remember the name of this kuih…dunno what ‘pulut’, but I love it)

Some other varities of nyonya kuih for the afternoon tea.

And, here’s the toasts. The kaya are so good that I ordered another plate of taosts. It’s also crunchy as it’s just came out fresh from the charcoal grilled pit. And, not forgetting the freshly brewed coffee!

It’s also kinda difficult to locate this kopitiam in Taman Perling which it can be easily go unnoticed, though it can be seen from the main road.

Toast ‘N’ Toast is located at – 619, Jalan Persiaran Perling Satu, JB

Kluang Railway Station Coffee

Here I am, back to Kluang for a visit since one year ago. Well, it’s still the same  peaceful town with its pre-war shop houses and the snail pace life. And, of course, when you’re in Kluang, never miss the Railway Station Coffee.

This kopitiam is quite well-known throughout Malaysia, probably thanks to the publicities of the press. When I was there at around tea time on a saturday afternoon, the place was very crowded. Anyway, we still managed to find some seats.

I think their nasi lemak is good and since I’m sort of hungry, I decided to order the plain nasi lemak. (Just sambal belacan, egg and ikan bilis). There are other varieties of nasi lemak, like those with fried chicken but I preferred the simple type. After all, I just want to taste the sambal.

When you’re in a kopitiam, never ever forget to order their toasts. At least, get 2 pieces of it to try. Their toasts were good and the bread was very crunchy! I love the kaya filling!

And, everything wouldn’t taste good without their famous Kluang Raiway coffee. This makes my afternoon at a peaceful little town!

Inspirational quotes

I used to receive daily postive notes from www.inspirationalpeak.com and I usually keep those good ones. Here’s some to share and hope it will lift up your spirits, stay positive and full of energy. Have a great weekend!

Any change, any loss, does not make us victims. Others can shake you, surprise you, disappoint you, but they can’t prevent you from acting, from taking the situation you’re presented with and moving on. No matter where you are in life, no matter what your situation, you can always do something. You always have a choice and the choice can be power.

Blaine Lee

Inspirational Author and Speaker

And I saw the river
over which every soul
must pass
to reach the kingdom
of heaven
and the name of that river
was suffering:
and I saw a boat
which carries souls
across the river
and the name of that boat
was love.

Saint John of the Cross, 1542-1591

Spanish Mystic, Priest and Poet

You don’t have to be great to start,
but you have to start to be great.

Joe Sabah

American Author and Publisher

We cannot give what we do not have. We cannot bring peace to the world if we ourselves are not peaceful. We cannot bring love to the world if we ourselves are not loving. Our true gift to ourselves and others lies not in what we have but in who we are.

Marianne Williamson

American Activist, Author and Lecturer

if I wait to be
perfect
before I love myself
I will always be
unsatisfied
and ungrateful

if I wait until
all the flaws, chips,
and cracks disappear
I will be the cup
that stands on the shelf
and is never used

Joyce Rupp

American Author, Poet and ‘Spiritual Midwife’
From her book: The Cup Of Our Life

If you want to make your dreams come true, wake up.
Wake up to your own strength. Wake up to the role you play in your own destiny. Wake up to the power you have to choose what you think, do, and say.

Keith Ellis

Inspirational Author and Speaker

Be master of your petty annoyances and conserve your energies for the big, worthwhile things. It isn’t the mountain ahead that wears you out – it’s the grain of sand in your shoe.

Robert Service, 1874-1958

Canadian Poet

Good food…

I realised most of the times, the good makan places always ‘hidden’ and they are difficult to locate until someone brought you there. Like this one, it was at the heart of JB city centre but was hidden away from the main streets.

Braised pork with ‘mui choy’- The dark ‘mui choy’ was sweet and the pork which contains 50% layer of fat in each pieces are so well-absorbed with the gravy. I can easily eat this with bowls of white rice. Very appetising!

Fried chicken with mango slices- Lots of meat in the chicken, and it’s so crunchy when you bit on the golden fried skin. The meat slowly melt into your mouth with the sweet and sour mango slices and gravy.  Another appetising dish and reminds me of the similar Thai dish.

The ‘Four Heavenly Kings’ - Brinjal, kankong, petai and ladies’ fingers. Not sure if other places recognised the name as this is what it’s typically called here in JB. I especially love the petai which was cooked without chilli where you feel the natural taste of the crunchy petai. I like the lady’s fingers too!

Claypot shark meat with ginger and white wine. OK, this dish tells all, it’s the main one! The shark meat are cooked in a claypot mixed with white wine and lots and lots of ginger. The white meat is not that hard as it’s used to be and it’s deliciously prepared in an healthy way!

Keong Kee seafood is located at – 52, Jalan Sultanah Aminah, Taman Iskandar, JB.