If you are not wet because of the rain, you probably will get wet because of the humidity. Malaysia, and countries around the region share a similar tropical climate. Whether it is hot or wet weather; there is humidity. Our humid weather causes us to perspire. That is not great. An example is when you have showered / had a bath and is getting ready for an official engagement. However, before you can even leave your house, you are perspiring. Your clothes may be drenched in your perspiration. Looking your best is no longer the preferred option.
The year started off with very hot days, the sun scorching, sparing nothing in its way. Though we, here in Malaysia; are accustomed to hot weather; long lengths of hot weather has become a concern as temperatures hit 38 deg Celsius.
Now, as we get closer to the middle of the year, we have been experiencing heavy rain… like nobody’s business. (1) There I said it – I wanted to use that idiom- an old one, not heard too often these days. Cities and towns are facing flash floods. Subang Jaya, a lightning city, is putting on one of its best lightning performances. We are fortunate not to be in an area commonly affected by floods.
This afternoon, the weather was fine, though rain clouds could be seen forming and gathering together in the distance, to create a big downpour. I managed to swing by to Good Ground Bakery for coffee, before heading off to pick Jeannie and Laura up from work.
As I walked in the door, I got the usual cheerful greeting from Monique, “Hi, Welcome!” Monique is the PR (Public Relations) person for the bakery. A waitress cum cashier, she’s perfect for the role of PR. “Would you like to try our latest pastry offering?” She promotes their pastries with pride. “Thank you, come again”, you can hear her voice as a customer leaves the bakery / cafe.
I ordered an americano hot, from Joanne, the up and coming barista. She takes great pride in making sure that each and every drink that she makes is the best. She is always striving to make them better.
The bakery / cafe was near seating capacity full, as usual. I managed to get a table at the corner in front, next to the door. I was in here yesterday, with my wife, Jeannie; for a short while. Jeannie and I love Joanne’s Calamansi Cooler drink. Monique had suggested we try their latest – pineapple scones. We said we will definitely try it the next time, we come.
The next time is today. The tray of pineapple scones on the shelf in the pastry cabinet looked so good. I had to have one, at least one. I asked Monique for a pineapple scone.
My americano coffee. Not just any americano. Americano crafted by Joanne.
I like Good Ground because I can work and I can relax and chill at the same time. I can get much done here. I see other people come here and work, too. Or simply, to read a book. I think it is because it offers a very pleasant experience. Nice.
The pineapple scone.
The evenly, golden-brown pastry encrusting the pineapple within.
The pineapple jam is freshly made. You can see the fibres from the pineapple jam.
My afternoon delight.
It is amazingly delicious!
The buttery scone – simply divine.
Absolutely delicious, to the last crumb!
The pineapple scone with Joanne’s crafted americano.
Sarah, the baker-in chief and owner of Good Ground Bakery, has done it again. Her cranberry scones put Good Ground Bakery as the place for the best scones in the city. The scone on its own, is fabulous. You have a choice of butter or jam or both, to add to the scones, if you like.
Now, the pineapple scones, definitely reaffirms that Good Ground Bakery, as always, is The place for scones, including the rest of the pastries they have and great beverages, both hot and cold.
It was soon time for me to be on my way to pick Jeannie and Laura up. I will be back again, soon, bringing Jeannie to try the pineapple scones and for me to have it again. 😋
It was a good afternoon for coffee.
NOTES: 1. idiom. informal. : very well or quickly or in very large amounts. She can design computer programs like nobody’s business. It’s been raining like nobody’s business.
Thursday, noon. The second day of Hari Raya (1) holidays here in Malaysia. Things were fairly quiet in Subang Jaya(S.J.) oldtown. Here when I talk about the old town, it is fair to say that SS15 is the “old town” and Taipan or USJ10 is S.J.’s new town. Taipan came about a decade after SS15. Both “towns” have run out of space to build. SS15 has resorted to tearing down older buildings (the oldest is less than or nearly 50 years old).
So, I got to SS15 for my tattoo touch up just before the scheduled appointment. Traffic was light. The touch up was done in a few minutes.
However, my appointment took a bit longer. I had another tattoo done. My third. I am proud of it.
After it was done, I suggested to Jeannie that we go to Good Ground Bakery for coffee. Their delicious, literally out-of-this-world scones was drawing me to their Bakery.
I picked (quite careful not to use that often used by many people, but wrong word, “fetched”) Jeannie up from home and headed to Good Ground. It was as expected – crowded. It did not really need a holiday to be so as it is almost always crowded. A good testimony to its always great cakes, pastries, coffee and other drinks and its dynamic group of employees. From what we see and know of Sarah, Good Ground Bakery’s owner; she is an exemplary person.
On the way to the cafe, Jeannie said that she was going to order their calamansi cooler. It is such a refreshing drink for the hot weather spell we have been experiencing over the past few months. So, we both had out taste buds set.
Jeannie, with her calamansi cooler drink.
Joanne took our order. Jeannie had the calamansi cooler; I, an iced americano; and a cranberry scone.
Monique delivered our order to us, soon after. We managed to get a table next to the counter. The calamansi cooler was superb as usual. It had that nice blend of lemon, lime, cucumbers and tonic water with a big cube of ice – the combination of the right quantity of each item to make this perfect drink.
My americano iced was the same, usual, standard, as can be expected – great. Lots of establishments offer americano iced on their menus. However, the right coffee from the beans and the right temperature (In this case, it was iced); puts it above all others.
And I am campaigning the idea that the temperature must be constant from the time you receive it, to the last drop, drank. The small ice cubes that many other cafes serve with their drinks, soon melts and dilutes the drink. The temperature of the drink becomes warmer, too. The large ice cube allows you to drink your drink at a slower pace, at your pace; and still maintain the temperature of the drink to the last drop.
The scone was simply, outrageously delicious; delicious enough to eat on its own, even though it came with butter and strawberry jam on the side. The texture of this pastry, the cranberries – Good Ground is the place where you can get the best, yes, the best; scones in Subang Jaya and P.J..
The scone did not stand a chance. There was no time to have a picture taken before it was eaten. It was amazing. The americano iced provided for the back drop on the left.
Jeannie and I enjoyed experiencing “the experience” of being here, away from our usual work and hurry burry. People come here to experience “that experience”, too. They can go back refreshed and recharged to carry on their life’s activities. For many of us, coming here often is testimony that this is the place to be, to relax and chill.
We left after an hour to carry on the rest of our day’s activities.
Saturday morning. A typical Saturday morning where we get up a bit later than the usual weekday (well, at least; for some of us). We’ve created a whole list of “to-dos” the night before, the “to-dos” that we ordinarily are not able to do on weekdays. This new phrase, “Work Life Balance”, is flaunted everywhere. Somehow, people seem to miss the point – they work more. Then, they have their family commitments, exercise and other things.
Made my bed. Check✓ Sent the car for a wash and vacuum. Went around to three different carwash services. Finally chose the one with the most number of cars. Makes sense. Means they must be good. Check✓
By the time they get a couple of things done on their to-do list, they are done with the list though they may have several other things left to check out before the list is complete. They will complain that the work stress has spilt over to Saturday, causing them to not having slept well the Friday night, which has led to a stiff neck on the right (Maybe, most of the thinking was done with the right side of the brain because they are more artistic or creative (1)). The real reason – They just want to chill / chill-lax / relax / relax-lah bro / hang loose… the descriptive explanation of not wanting to do anything. Little do they realize that not wanting to do anything is actually doing something. Now, who are the “they”?😂
Sounds geographic-ish.
By the time, we decide to do something, it is already past noon, more like after 3.00pm. As they say, “Time waits for no man”. Who are “they” again? They seem to have plentiful (2) influence in our lives as they seem to suggestively dictate how we spend our time.
It was more like nearing to 4.00pm. I needed my coffee fix. Thought we’d go to some place new. Jeannie said she recently came across on the internet, this place with a huge croissant hanging outside its premises. Its a cafe in P.J. (9) oldtown. What makes it stand out besides the huge croissant hanging outside its premises, is that the person who started this cafe is a three – time award winning best barista in Malaysia.
O.k. Nooo, I am not going to use that word…that word famous (it is!) in Malaysia; “Jom!” (3) Sounds so cliché. Neither will I use, “Let’s go for a spot of tea, wot? Wot?“ I think the low coffee levels in me is acting up.😉😂 And I don’t drink tea. More like rarely drink tea.
There is a reason the area is called “P.J. oldtown”. Yes, because it is really old. I think the suburbs started growing from this town or nucleus to what it, P.J. or Petaling Jaya is today. The bus station, cinema, Sun Wah Bar, the wet market, Gluttons’ Square was P.J. oldtown of the ’60s and ’70s. There was a large oblong-shaped round-a-bout that seemed to be the hallmark of the town back then.
I remember that big oblong round-a-bout in the centre of town. In the mid-1960s, Aunty Val (my dad’s youngest sister) and Uncle Jeff (her late husband); used to take us* for drives in the evenings after dinner, in their dark red and black top, little Mini 850 (Registration Number AD7367, if I remember correctly). One of the places we frequented was a drinks stall that sold “tou foo fah”, soya bean drink and “air mata kuching”) (5). I’d usually go for the soya bean drink – tasted really good.
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That giant croissant is sure to raise more than a few eyebrows.
We arrived at Contour. (there is a “.” on the signboard) slightly after 4.00pm. By the way, if you were to Google for Contour cafe, make sure you search Contour. Cafe, P.J. oldtown. Otherwise, you may be directed to Contour Cafe, Aberdeen, U.K..
P.J. oldtown still has its crowd appeal. The giant croissant hanging cafe is on one of the busiest streets, so if you are driving there, parking your vehicle can be challenging. The surroundings look very old small town.
The stairs leading up to the café didn’t seem too inviting, at first.
The stairs leading up to the café didn’t seem too inviting, at first. As we swung the door open and entered…
The menu written on the glass.
A display of a range of pastries greeted us. Very nice display. The place was a hive of activity. The first thing that got my attention was that they were many employees. Working behind the counter and around the dining area. Customers were continuously streaming in, ordering their coffees and teas (they have a good selection of teas) and pastries. The pastries were fast moving off the shelves.
There is a wide selection of pastries offered.
More of the delicious looking pastries.
I chose a scone and a cookie, and wanted an Americano-iced (It should be “iced-Americano”). Sporting a blue tee-shirt, I could have been mistaken for the Cookie Monster. Now, how does that song go again? “C is for cookie”…😁
Jeannie went for a scone, too; and ordered an Americano to go with it. Jeannie did the counter-ordering. No, it’s not that she ordered differently. She ordered at the counter.😅 She being in business development in the food industry; she is always on the lookout for new ideas and business growth possibilities.
In the meantime, I, inspired by Inspector Clouseau (6); went “snooping”😁around. Malaysians will say, “We go and see first”. It means that we will go and check it out.
There was a small table and two chairs tucked away in a corner, just after the counter. I thought this sitting space was a wee bit too cramped. It was next to a glass-walled room with a large, industrial size, cool looking machine, in it. It looked like a giant version of a home coffee maker. I assumed that that was used for roasting the coffee beans.
The glass room with the giant coffee maker.(7)
There was a long flight of stairs leading to the next level. No lay-bys or stopovers, just a straight flight of stairs.
Entering the room at the top of the stairs, was just a room. It was quite spartan in furnishing. with a few long tables and some tables-for-two. Probably, this area was a work-in-progress for this cafe as it had only opened its doors to customers just two weeks ago.
There was another door from the room that led out to a small balcony. Out there, there were a few tables – probably 1/2 a dozen people could sit there. Smokers’ area?
View from the top of the stairs. You can see Jeannie, sitting at our table; tucked away, right in a corner of the room.
The room at the top of the stairs. The door open, is the entry/exit.
Our order was served quite quickly. The more than two or three employees that you would usually find in a cafe, manning the counter and serving the people, is good. Quite unusual for a cafe. They were attentive to all their customers. I also noted that they had two employees just handling the cleanliness of the place.
The scones with actual strawberries in the strawberry jam, and the cookie.
I wanted to bite into the scone to see how it fared against what I considered the best scones around town. The scones came with a nicely baked light brown top crust. The rest of it was light yellow-brown. The size of these scones were slightly smaller and cheaper than the other scones. These scones came with strawberry jam. Get this: the strawberry jam had a generous serving of pieces of actual strawberries in it.
The pastries were served on decent size plates lined with Contour designed paper. A nice, classy touch. Saves on water when cleaning.
Now, for the taste. When I cut into the scone, it had a nice texture that did not crumble. I put that piece into my mouth and immediately had a distinct taste, something that was added in it to give it that unusual flavour. It was nice. I liked it. My first bite was without the strawberry jam.
The latte, with the cup; seems complete.
The strawberries in the strawberry jam took these scones to the next level. The jam was superb. It was thick as though strawberries were blended to become jam. When added to the scones, the scones were even more delicious. I loved every bit of it and the jam, too. You definitely have to come try this out for yourselves.
Jeannie found the scone a bit on the sweet side. She said it was still very nice.
Has this now beat the scones from Good Ground Bakery (G.G.B.) as the best scones in town? Let’s put it this way. It’s a close fight. I would have to have a go at G.G.B.’s scones again to come to that conclusion.
The chocolate chip cookie was pretty good. I guess I was more focused on the scones, to take much notice of the cookie.
From what I gathered, watching a bit of the operations here for a while, once the pastries on the tray were cleared, another tray of them will not be baked for the day. Unless, I guess; if the trays are cleared (all sold) very early in the day.
Not forgetting the coffee, the reason why we decided to come here in the first place; there was a choice of Brazilian or Ethiopian beans. The Brazilian beans offered a stronger coffee while the Ethiopian beans give a more sour or acidic taste. I had a very sour coffee which caught me of guard, a couple of weeks back; a first for me.
Both Jeannie’s latte and my Americano-iced; were from Brazilian beans. My Americano, iced; was nice and refreshing like all Americanos. This had a slightly stronger taste (some would describe it as “full bodied”). Jeannie’s latte was nice to the taste, too. When Jeannie made the coffee orders, she asked if the three time barista champion was in the house. The employee at the cash register (should it be called “cashless register” since payments made everywhere have gone cashless, well almost?) affirmed that he was. Jeannie then, asked if he could make our coffees for her. Our coffees came. Don’t think that he made them.
We saw him,, the three times Malaysian top barista champion; quietly sitting and texting on his phone in the glass room at first, and a while later, on one of the short side benches. A young guy, he was there if needed by his employees. However, they seemed to have had everything under control and all was going smoothly. Jeannie and I went up to meet him.
Jason Loo, the three time Malaysian award winning barista, seemed unassuming and quiet. He was very friendly. We had a good chat with him where we learnt that he is a pastry chef by qualification. However, he started the “Yellow Brick Road” restaurant in Damansara Heights 8 years ago; which he says is doing very well. He invited us to go over there for a meal.
At Yellow Brick Road, he never really got down to putting his pastry chef skills to work. With Contour., he now can do that. He came up with the name “Contour” based on topography (8). The croissant when looked from the top, has different levels and sizes of “rings” which forms its shape. Interesting idea.
As for the coffee, roasting can be considered a specialized art. The different degrees of temperature, the length of time for roasting – these are subjective “values”. It allows the roaster to be a “Picasso of coffee beans”. Then, when the coffee is in the cup, the cup should be of a certain size to get the right volume of coffee in it, temperature, if it is iced, the coffee has to be cold with ice added in it, to get that taste and aroma that the barista intends to create. All this before milk and / or sugar is added to it.
I posed the question to Jason on how he manages to wear many hats at the same time. Entrepreneur running a restaurant and cafe in different locations, a barista chef, a pastry chef, and manage many employees; all at the same time. He smiled (he smiles a lot) and said, “passion”.
Jason Loo, with Jeannie and me; standing by his trophy stand.
I could see in his employees (who did not seem to wear the invisible / unspoken tag: “I’m just an employee” on them) that Jason has inculcated in them a sense or responsibility, a sense of ownership, in all that they do at the cafe.
We wished Jason all the best in his endeavours and told him that we will be back again.
I thought the idea of him setting up a specialized cafe in P.J. oldtown was a great idea. This whole area is no longer just what it was 50 years or so ago. It is a thriving place with modern businesses, which means many coffee drinkers. Yet, there does not seem to be any cafes like this around the area. So, Contour. Cafe, P.J. oldtown; could be / is, the first of many to come.
NOTE: 1. If you’re mostly analytical and methodical in your thinking, the theory says that you’re left-brained. If you tend to be more creative or artistic, you’re right-brained. This theory is based on the fact that the brain’s two hemispheres function differently. http://www.healthline.com 2. My choice of word to give the sentence a sort of a twist; or “flavour” if you may; without losing much of the meaning. Plentiful means plentiful, ample, abundant, copious mean more than sufficient without being excessive. Plentiful implies a great or rich supply. Peaches are plentiful this summer. Ample implies a generous sufficiency to satisfy a particular requirement. Ample food to last the winter. 9 Oct 2023. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary 3. Jom: The word “jom” means the same as “let’s” in English. So, “jom” is a word that is used to invite other people to do something together. Commonly used among Malaysian Malays. 4. cliché: a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought. 5. Tow Foo Fah is a Chinese sweet or savoury dessert made with silken smooth tofu. This tofu pudding is a traditional and popular local dessert. Soya Bean drink is a healthy, plant-based milk that can fit into just about any diet. It’s naturally lower in fat and calories than dairy milk, but offers more protein than other popular plant-based milks. http://www.everydayhealth.com Air Mata Kuching is or Sweet Monk Fruit Longan Dessert is a popular thirst quencher in Malaysia. It’s a delicious dessert. 6. Jacques Clouseau, also known as Inspector Clouseau and the Pink Panther detective, is a fictional detective who made his debut appearance in the 1963 Pink Panther film. 7. Kenny Mah, MalayMail; October 12th, 2023. 8. The distinctive characteristic of a topographic map is the use of elevation contour lines to show the shape of the Earth’s surface. Elevation contours are imaginary lines connecting points having the same elevation on the surface of the land above or below a reference surface, which is usually mean sea level. 9. P. J. or Petaling Jaya, is a city in the state of Selangor, Malaysia.
*My late sister, Jennifer, my late brother, Nigel, my cousins Richard, Neil, Brendon and myself. Jennifer, Nigel and myself were staying with Aunty Val & Uncle Jeff at that time. We and our cousins were all young kids at that time.
