Breakfast at Fauchon

After months of idleness, I'm finally back. This post is regarding breakfast I had at Fauchon, a French establishment founded in 1886, known for their smoked salmon, macarons, chocolates and caviar - among other things.

Located on the Mezzanine Level of KLIA's Satellite Building, the establishment is a small one in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the airport. However, with that being said, its black and pink decor allows it to stand out from the rest.

Being one of the few establishments opened in the wee hours of the morning, I decided to try their breakfast, at a hefty price of RM48. Breakfast came with two pastries, butter and jam, a poached egg, some salad leaves, coffee and juice.

My cup of Brewed Coffee at Fauchon was truly pleasurable, as their nice strong brew awoken my mind and senses after having traveled throughout the night. A great brew to wake up any jet-lagged traveler.

Their juice, however, tasted average. I simply could not distinguish between a glass of Orange Juice at Fauchon to a bottle of Tropicana with orange pulp. I was a bit taken aback at the amount of ice present as well. I'd have expected much less. 

The pastries were very good. The croissant had a lovely flakey exterior and a fluffy interior - I dare not imagine the amount of butter used to have made it. The pastry was also very good, with a generous amount of what seemed to be vanilla custard. However, when you take into account the price of it all, some pastries at Delifrance could have left me just as satisfied.

The poached egg, however, was an absolute disappointment. I could still taste a hint of vinegar and the yolk at the centre was overcooked. I was sorely disappointed, but was too tired to complain.

Though the food was somewhat of a let-down, I must say that the service was absolutely impeccable, with very attentive staff who were very patient with me - having noticed my visibly frustrated face.

I guess, what you pay for when you order this expensive meal, was the small bottle of jam that came with it. It was good apricot jam, however not good enough to warrant the price that came with the breakfast. I suggest stay clear of breakfast at Fauchon, although do drop by for a coffee if you wish to awaken your sluggish selves.

Presentation: 5/10

Ambiance: 8/10

Service: 8/10

Overall Taste: 5/10

General Impression: 4/10

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Cheers,

BrianandRepublic

Risque@The Promenade, Pondicherry

My local relative and I headed over to Risque, at The Promenade  for some pre-dinner drinks and snacks. The Promenade is a relatively famous hotel, having been in Pondicherry for a few years now. It is located strategically on Goubert Avenue, opposite the Ghandi Statue on the beach.

I had myself a Mango Juice infused with Black Tea. The mango juice was certainly refreshing, and the black tea added an edge to it. But was it was slightly pricy, for the amount we paid for.

My relative had himself some Pineapple Juice worth around the same price. Seeing as any other fruit apart from mango is a rarity in India, the price was…justifiable - though still, quite steep for a measly glass of juice.

To munch on, we were served complimentary Peanuts roasted with Black Pepper, and puffy, crispy biscuit-things. Both of them were incredibly addictive, though there was too much pepper and salt on the peanuts - for me, at least.

We also ordered Calamari with an Aioli Dip. This was an absolute rip off, as the calamari was tough and tiny, and the dip was absolutely tasteless. This dish was an absolute rip off, and it was unbelievable how much we paid for shit on a plate.

In conclusion, maybe avoid Risque as there are plenty of more charming and cheaper alternatives which offer much higher quality food. Plus, I didn't get to absorb any of the atmosphere of the beach, due to their unbelievably high walls surrounding the hotel. Maybe try Le Cafe or something nearby, instead.

Presentation: 7/10

Ambiance: 8/10

Service: 6/10

Overall Taste: 5/10

General Impression: 6/10

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BrianandRepublic

Bakers Street, Pondicherry

Being a former French colony, Pondicherry is filled with bakeries - a majority of them clustered in and around the French quarter. One of my local relatives took me to Baker's Street, a modern yet chic bakery located in the nostalgic French area, on Rue de Bussy, before Ellaiaman koil Street.

I had myself an Eclair, worth Rs30 (RM2), which were as long as my (very long) hands! The cinnamon-flavored custard inside was nice and rich, and the spongy pastry was topped with a vanilla icing. Really good stuff.

There was also a selection of Macarons to choose from, each astonishingly priced at Rs20 (RM1.70), the cheapest macarons I've had to date. I cleared the entire stock, buying around 10 of them - and they tasted as good as they looked. Just as good as the ones you'd fine at Tea Forty Two or Whisk, but so much cheaper!

Lastly, I had myself a cup of Brewed Coffee to end it all with. A full-bodied cup that really hits all the right notes - my second decent cup of coffee in India, just as good as the one I had at Caravela in Vellankanni.

Definitely a place you should consider, if ever you do find yourself in the French Quarter of Pondicherry. They also serve a variety of good quality French breads, and sandwiches at unbelievably cheap prices. It's also a great place to escape the Indian heat, catch up with other tourists and share experiences.

Presentation: 7/10

Ambiance: 8/10

Service: 6/10

Overall Taste: 5/10

General Impression: 6/10

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BrianandRepublic

Le Cafe on Pondicherry Beach

I spent one of my lunchtimes in Pondicherry at Le Cafe. This quaint sea-side cafe exposes tourists and locals alike with cafe culture, a way of life that Pondicherry is synonymous for.

Neither one of my grandparents or my grand-aunt (who is a local) have experienced this before, and hence, they were quite eager to try it. Le Cafe's address is very prestigious as it is located along Goubert Avenue, right next to the Ghandi Statue.

In the summer weather, each of us ordered cold drinks.My grandmother ordered herself a cold Plain Lassi worth Rs50 (RM3.50). This chilled Indian yogurt drink was loved by my grandmother who drank every bit of it up.

I ordered my grand-aunt a Vanilla Milk Shake worth Rs65 (RM4). My grand-aunt, absolutely loved it, and so did I. The ice-cream, which was homemade, combined with the fresh cow's milk gave the shake more quality and taste than it was worth.

I ordered myself an Iced Latte worth Rs90 (RM6). To my surprise, it also came with a scoop of ice-cream, an interesting addition. The latte however, was a let-down. I could not taste the coffee at all, and it ended up tasting a lot like the milk shake we ordered. There's something about Indians and weak coffee I do not understand.

To eat, my grandfather ordered himself a Sauteed Mushroom Sandwich worth Rs105 (RM7). This sandwich was an interesting one, as it was filled with mushrooms and raw cucumbers - a combination of which I did not understand, but worked. Nothing big about this dish, but it was tasty nonetheless.

My grandmother and I shared a Grilled Chicken with Mustard Sauce worth Rs170 (RM11). A few problems with this dish: Firstly, there was no mustard sauce. Secondly, the chicken was rock-hard. The only thing I enjoyed were the fries and salad. The portion was quite small too.

My grand-aunt ordered the Chicken Salad with a Mayonnaise Dressing worth Rs105 (RM7). Again, there was no mayonnaise in sight, but there was quite a bit of chicken in the dish, which made it worth it's money. The dish was also cooling, with it's various different types of veg, making it an ideal dish for this weather.

For dessert, we ordered Madeleines priced at Rs30 (RM2) each, and Ice-Cream priced at Rs35 (RM2.50) for two scoops. The madeleines were delicious, with a subtle yet evident hint of cinnamon, and the ice-creams (homemade) were incredibly decadent and creamy. I absolutely loved it.

In conclusion, Le Cafe does not serve the best food, but they do serve greed drinks and pastries - some of which are on display (such as the croissants and pain du chocolat). If ever you decide to visit this small but bustling city, stop by this joint for some sea-breeze, a coffee and maybe a madeleine or two.

Presentation: 4/10

Ambiance: 7/10

Service: 6/10

Overall Taste: 4/10

General Impression: 6/10

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Cheers,

BrianandRepublic

Scrambled Eggs at Dome

Unlike most of my reviews, this review is about a single dish I had for breakfast one day at Dome Cafe. While waiting to be picked up, I decided to have an incredibly quick breakfast at the BSC's Dome branch. Dome Cafe is the first establishment you see to your left, when you arrive at the BSC main entrance. It is right opposite American Chili's.

I ordered the Scrambled Eggs with Toast worth about RM12.50, quite steep for a simple combination of eggs and toast. The dish took an unusually long time to arrive and I even had to remind the waiter that I was in a rush, though it finally came in the end.

The amount of eggs I was served was huge, though it only came with two half-pieces of toast which I deemed insufficient when compared to the serving of egg. The eggs looked appealing, though when I tasted it, I noticed that there was a little bit of inconsistency in the egg. Scrambled eggs should be of an even consistency - after all, they are meant to be scrambled.

The bread was toasted a bit too much for my liking, as I like my toast crispy outside and soft inside. This was crisp all the way through, and they didn't even provide jam - though I would imagine, if you asked for jam, they would give it to you. I didn't as I was in a hurry.

On the whole, my experience at Dome Cafe that day was an average one. The waiters were kind and I commend them for putting up with my frustration, with a smile. The dish on the other hand, seemed like a complete rip off for the price I paid. I could've made better eggs at home.

Presentation: 3/10

Ambiance: 6/10

Service: 7/10

Overall Taste: 4/10

General Impression: 5/10

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Cheers,

BrianandRepublic

Breakfast Promo at Delifrance

I love nothing more than a good breakfast to start off my day. When I was told by my mother that Delifrance was having a monthly promotion, I insisted on following her to work the very next day to try it. The outlet I went to is situated right next to McDonalds at Plaza Mont Kiara, along Jalan Kiara.

At first glance, the promotion seemed truly special. There were a good variety of breakfast sets, priced incredibly reasonably - which were available until 11am. After a bit of thought, I settled on the Le Sunrise Breakfast Set at RM4.50.

The Le Sunrise set consisted of a bullseye egg, two chicken sausages, a croissant and the most random item on the plate - a serving of mash potatoes. This was accompanied with a cup of tea, or long black coffee. I was hoping my bullseye had a runny yolk, but I was left disappointed as it was completely dry and cooked through. The sausages on the other hand, were actually amazing. They were juicy, succulent and flavorful - everything a good sausage should be.

The croissant was soft and warm, being freshly baked - but it did not come with jam!

They had served me butter with it, but not jam. This had taken me aback and when I had asked for some jam, I was not attended to at all. How disrespectful.

I do not know who gave Delifrance the idea to include mash and gravy for breakfast, but I feel Delifrance should remove this from their sets as soon as possible. The potatoes I had, together with the gravy, tasted unbearable as it was quite sour for me. What were they thinking, seriously?

On the whole, I must admit that the price offered for the set above is truly of great value, and I would highly recommend you give this promotion a try before it ends. This is the first time in ages that I've tried the food at Delifrance, as I would usually go there for drinks instead. After this visit, I shall continue to go there for drinks and avoid the food. Their coffees are especially great, maybe with a pastry or two, but I would refrain from ordering the main meals on the Delifrance menu.

Presentation: 3/10

Ambiance: 4/10

Service: 2/10

Overall Taste: 4/10

General Impression: 5/10

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Cheers,

BrianandRepublic