Makan-makan: Monsta Cafe

Hey! What's the buzz in town?!
The concept restaurants and cafes are gaining much popularity in Malaysia. Stated from Full House, Toilet Bowl, Maid Cafe, etc, we're having more and more.

While we are still in Skudai, Johor and we came across this interesting cafe named Monsta Cafe. Looks pretty gorgeous from the outside, very similar to the Johor version of Full House. The cafe looks fun and attractive to me. We hopped off the car and walked into the monsta place. It wasn't scary like its name, Monsta.

Anyway, Monsta Cafe is very much a combination of Full House's cute decoration, Starbucks' coffee selling and McDonalds' variety of ambiance.

Monsta Cafe is a friendly monsta. Waiters and waitress wears checked blouse and the ambiance is definitely interesting.

You may choose your tables. From the outdoor to indoor, then ground floor or first floor, and from sofa to dining tables. A variety of choices available. Take your time to walk around the restaurant before settling down at your best preferred table. Did I mentioned that they have a little playground too?

Monsta Cafe is children friendly too!

Carry-a-camera at the cafe seems to be normal. Everyone snaps pictures of their food and friends cause the ambiance is relaxing. Not sure if it is halal but from the menu, they serve no pork and lard. Ohh ya...wifi is available too! It was almost full-house when we arrive that day. We ended up settling down at a table with low lighting. We didnt have much choices as it was raining outside.

I can spend hours deciding what to have on the menu. Well, the description was very subjective which makes you imagine the food a little. Not sure if this is the good thing or the bad thing! Once you start to imagine, you get hungry! LOL

First on the table was the Italian Fried Chicken Strips @ RM6.90. 

The description on the menu: deep-fried chicken strips & serve with garlic mayo

Rachel Says: The description on the menu is incomplete. This finger food includes deep-fried chicken strips, french fries hidden under the chicken strips, garlic mayo sauce and chili sauce. XD As for the food, the chicken strips were so-so. Not those juicy tender chicken strips which you will ask for more. Just much plain chicken strips with no secret recipe nor special technique. However, the french fries turned out to be good! It was crispy outside, soft inside. They used the thicker potato cut (not sure if they have names for different fries), but if you tried Carls Jr's fries, it tastes and looks very much like those.

Second to arrive at the table was PLAYGROUND, from 'The Unique mix drinks created by Monsta Cafe' selections. I was very much attracted to the description which says 'a truly unique combination that bring you a sweet memory childhood. Must-try!' 

Rachel's first sip: Tasted like kids' flavoured medicine! Second sip: Tasted like tablet candies. Truly something from the childhood! LOL! Brilliant mixed drink they have here! Even the sugar level was very much suitable for kids; very sweet!!! Definitely from the childhood.

Ouhhh...hungry..hungry...finally, the main course arrived. This is 'Not Little Mermaid' @ RM14.90. What a name. Description: 'Pan grill spicy dorry serves with spicy cream sauce'

Hmmm...bad...no good...the dorry was sliced too thin! Pretty much about 5mm thick (thin?). They provide knife, but totally not necessary. A gentle touch with you fork is what it takes to cut them into pieces. I actually forgotten it was dorry fish until my friend told me at the end of the meal. Anyway, I believe the dorry was first marinated with spicies and then grilled as the fish itself has a little spiciness. The described spicy cream sauce was not spicy. It was creamy and only give a spicy after taste.

I ordered Fish & Cheese Spaghetti @ RM11.90. Description: 'spaghetti with breaded fish & parmesan in tomato sauce'

Really nothing to shout about. We were disappointed with the first dish. The second was equally disappointed. A very average dish just to fill up hunger.

Bill: RM 46.50

Honestly, if you are going for food, nothing much. You can get the same taste out of canned tomato paste and a little this and that. But if you go for birthday party, girls' outing or maybe a high school gathering, Monsta Cafe is good. Anyway, Monsta Cafe serves nice illy with beautiful coffee art. Check it out...

Information:

Monsta Cafe

157, Jalan Bestari 1/5

Taman Nusa Bestari

81300 Skudai

Johor

[GPS Coordinate: 1.495076,103.655083]

Business hours: 11.30am to 1am

Check out their Facebook page for more information, photos and menu: Monsta Cafe http://www.facebook.com/pages/Monsta-Cafe/147869941902550

It's Earth Day

Well, I do feel that we must not reuse and recycle only on Earth Day.
Although I agree that this is part of the awareness effort to make earth more hospitality to living creatures.

My brunch today, in biodegradable box. Interesting. Previously, we used polystyrene boxes (the white coffin) which is very very unhealthy to the environment. Later, the cafeterias in the campus were forced to use plastic containers (those microwave friendly ones). It wasnt a good choice too since students do not reuse those containers. Now, the latest friend in the campus, biodegradable lunch boxes.

On the boxes "Made in Malaysia - Biodegradable Compostable".

Didn't have time for nice food recently, due to the overload assignments for the semester. Anyway, the fried chicken in the lunch box is considered one of best fried chicken in the campus.

As for my comments about the biodegradable boxes:

Very interesting. But it made my brunch slightly more expensive as users need to pay for the boxes. Sort of a fine for not being environment friendly. Sometimes, we are more willing to pay for those boxes rather than to eat in the cafeteria because the environment is not clean, cutleries are not clean and pest running around. Anyway, we do not have much choices. Back to the topic, the box absorbs oil quickly, which made my brunch less oily. However, it cannot carry liquid too long. After a while, it'll start to degrade.

Whatever it is, the best is still BRING-UR-OWN-TUPPERWARE!

I LOVE EARTH!

Signing off. Bye

Makan-makan: Paddington House of Pancakes

Ding Dong...

A friend of mine posted on FB one day: "I miss paddington pan cake"

The next thing I did was googled for 'paddington pan cake' which appeared to be the Paddington House of Pancakes. My first thought was Paddington Bear, the bear with yellow raincoat from my childhood. Apparently, it is not related to the bear.

Anyway, some commented that it was good and claimed will change people's perception towards pancake. Ouhhhh....looks great! I bugged my friend to have pancakes and the next thing, we dined-in at the pancake house at MidValley on one fine day. It was tea-time and there was this Brunch & Tea promo in the house.

 RM8.50+ per set which include pancake and drinks!

Add-on: Garden salad/ Ice-cream...we ordered ice-cream! Slurps
Our choice of drinks: passion-fruit & mango + orange blossom

 This is English Pancake with hot banana & honey (comes with maple syrup)

Dutch Pannekoek with lemon, sugar & butter (comes with cinnamon syrup)

Total bill was RM26.
Paddington House of Pancake is definitely a great place for tea break after a day of shopping. However, the food wasn't much to shout about. I do love the ambiance. The service was good too.

They have outlets at 1-Utama, The Curve, Queensbay Mall and The Gardens. Check it out...

Popcorn: Rio (2011)

Hey, how bout movie tonight?? We decided to go for a movie. In fact, two movies in a row. We watched Singapore's "The ghost must be crazy" last night. It was terrible. A waste of time and money!

Today, we went for another movie.

Let me tell you bout the new movie Rio (2011). It was marvelous. I enjoyed it so much. We laughed and laughed and laughed. Not that it is stupid...but truly hilarious. It was worth every penny!

The graphic was beyond gorgeous and the storyline was terrific! Kids enjoy it, while adults dance along!! Love the songs, colour, graphic and everything!
[I love samba!Woohoo...]

If I have time, I will definitely pay for 3D. I believe I can fly in the theater. (Haha. I'm kidding. I'm not a bird, nor a turkey, and I have no wings.)

Rachel Says: Must watch! 5 shining stars for Rio. I'm truly in love with Rio, the movie. Come on, who says adults can't watch cartoon animation?