CONG CAPHE BREWS UP VIETNAMESE COFFEE CULTURE IN KL

“Coffee and love are best when they’re hot” goes a German saying. The same holds true when you sip Nau-Da (RM10.90), a cup of hot Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk, lounging in cosy Cong Caphe in Nu Sentral.

Established in 2007 by enterprising singer Nguyen Ha Linh in Hanoi, Cong Caphe has 62 cafes throughout Vietnam, six in Seoul and one in Malaysia. Jaemie Lew and Peter Tan who became smitten with Cong Caphe on a visit to Hanoi brought Cong Caphe (pronounced kerb cafe) to Malaysia in November this year.

According to the partners, Cong Caphe caught the imagination of Vietnamese coffee drinkers with its retro-inspired ambience of old Vietnam harking back to their childhood. Cong Caphe artfully combines the vintage, homey charms of mismatched and upcycled furniture, and old-school memorabilia with comfy reading nooks. 

 

The Nu Sentral outlet stays true to the original concept with almost everything displayed and used at Cong Caphe: stools, tables and chairs, collectibles and the wall-to-wall shelves of books on the upper level, shipped in from Hanoi. A propeller plane suspended at the heart of the rustic, wood-accentuated cafe space serves as a focal point.

We stopped to smell and savour the selection of Vietnamese coffee recently and came away impressed by the smooth brew and distinct variations available. Brewed in traditional metal coffee pots with drip filter, the Phin Brew – Vietnamese black coffee forms the main base for Cong Caphe’s signature drinks.

Although the inclusion of condensed milk of the Nau-Da was some cause for concern, we were instantly won over aftter the first sip. The milky, mildly sweet coffee hit the spot, leaving us with a nice buzz.

The laidback atmosphere spurred us to sit back and nibble on Sunflower Kernels (RM4.90 per plate) while chatting leisurely over cups of creamy Bac-Xiu, coffee with coconut milk (RM12.90 hot, RM13.90 cold). We enjoyed every drop of the creamy-sweet coffee with its enticing nutty aroma.

 

We sampled it with buttery, airy light Croissant (RM6.90) which came with a saucer of condensed milk for dipping it in. It was delightful as the imported condensed milk lacks the cloying sweetness of our local version.

If you are partial to chilled coffee drinks, the Coconut Milk Coffee Smoothie (RM14.90-RM16.90) is worth slurping up. Rest assured the blend of coffee and coconut milk is on-point without being overly cloying. 

Cappucino, latte, Americano and espresso are also served with the Cong Caphe coffee beans giving them a distinctive taste.

Aimed at the busy mall’s constant stream of grab and go crowd, Cong Caphe also offers banh mi, Vietnamese baguette sandwiches and some cakes like Banana Cake and Brownie. Jaemie explained the Tofu Banh Mi (RM11.90) is something created for the Malaysian market, in response to increasing demand for vegetarian options. 

Marinated with soya sauce and sesame oil then panfried and sliced, the subtly smoky beancurd held its own nestled within the shatter-crisp baguette filled with fresh coriander, and  cucumber and carrot pickles.

 

 

Likewise, we found the Beef Ham Banh Mi (RM15.90) and Chicken Ham Banh Mi (RM13.90) decent enough. More of the pate spread would have ramped up the sandwiches' overall appeal.

 

Should you have friends in tow who prefer non-coffee drinks, Cong Caphe serves a tantalising Iced Honey Kumquat (RM14.90) and hot Peach Tea with Passionfruit (RM13.90). These drinks are refreshing in their own way and will leave no room for complaint.

For more information, call CONG CAPHE, tel: 03-2276 3135. Address: LG19, Nu Sentral, Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.

GRAB GOOD BITES FOR LUNCH AT MARBLE 8

Now you can lunch like a boss at Marble 8. Meet your top dog match in a stellar main like Grilled Black Angus Fillet, one of the on-point Elite Gourmand Lunch options. Deftly cooked to medium rare doneness with a scattering of black and pink peppercorns, the scrumptious steak forms an enticing affinity with buttery cannelloni beans, spring onion and beef jus.

 

With an encompassing view of the city towering skyscrapers from inside Tower 3 on level 56, the resto's dark, austere atmosphere is evocative of an exclusive gentleman’s club. The main dining space anchors a long bar with tactile cow’s hide finish and a faux tree.  Groups of tufted, leather upholstered armchairs and dining tables, juxtaposed against marble and timber surfaces are parked throughout.

 

Make no bones about it, Marble 8 is an upscale culinary pedestal befitting the city’s captains of industry and ladies who lunch by day before the posh, see-and-be-seen set ascends by night. Stepping up to the power lunch plate, the resto has refreshed its weekday Elite Gourmand Lunch (RM78++ for 3 courses, RM118++ for 4 courses) and unveiled a new Grab & Bite deal.

Breaking bread goes up to a new level here. Only sheer willpower and good manners dictate one doesn’t overdo the stuffing down of those crackly sheets of lavosh, chewy sourdough slices, rustic sundried tomato buns, soft potato foccacia and crunchy taralli (Italian bread rings).

Like proverbial matches made in baking heaven, a quartet of alluring Italian dips: kalamata olive tapenade, sundried tomato & garlic, red capsicum and oregano-garlic vinaigrette stands ready to ramp up the appeal of that bready bunch.

 

A sobering choice of Virgin Mojito or Ice Lemon Tea helps to wet the Grab & Bite whistle while you weigh up the temptations available. Headline billing goes to the Wagyu Beef Burger — a no-contest choice for serious meat lovers who won’t have any beef with the hearty serving.

Switched up with melted vintage Cheddar cheese, caramelised onion, fresh rucola (rocket leaves) and sliced tomatoes, the delectable wagyu patty in pillowy sesame seed-flecked charcoal bun proves on-point. Unabashedly big, savoury flavours tinged with mildly sweet-peppery nuances burst through on each bite of the burger. By the time you make short work of the steak fries on the side, I guarantee you’d be grinning from ear to ear with gluttonous self-satisfaction.

Delicious alternatives from the Grab & Bite menu include Steak Sandwich with fresh rucola, mustard, parmesan and tomato confit; Crab Sandwich with Japanese momotaro tomatoes, fresh lettuce, truffle aioli and steak fries; or Polenta Fries with Truffle Butter with chicken financier and sour beetroot pesto.

Ambitious souls with loftier dining goals may do well to set their sights and palate on the Elite Gourmand Lunch. Get to grips with the 3-course appetiser, pasta and dessert deal or be a risk taker and roll with all 4 courses.

Depending on personal preferences, we reckon the ace appetiser is a tussle between Crab Salad and Burrata Cheese with Momotaro Tomatoes and Asparagus Salad. Prepped with fresh papaya and lemon mayonnaise, the former boasts lightly creamy sweet-tangy accents melding with winsome, whisper-light textures. Fresh, clean vegetal-fruity flavour and textural dimensions define the latter; paying homage to the ‘less is more’ maxim.

 

Pasta still has pride of place among lunchers here with four choices proffered, keto-diet be damned. The sublime Angel Hair Aglio Olio with Crabmeat is worth waxing lyrical over; the natural crabmeat sweetness is discernible when you bite into the endearing tangles. 

 

More downhome with countryside charm, the bankable Pappardelle with Mushroom and Capsicum Salsa underscore the timeless appeal of Italian food done right. Those broad pasta ribbons simply opens up to embrace the mushroom and capsicum’s lush, sweet earthiness.

 

 

The failsafe but no less delicious Chicken Leg Confit with sautéed mushroom and chicken jus, and Lemon Sole Milanese with sautéed vegetables and lemon rosemary sauce stand up to tasting scrunity too.

Sealing the gastronomic lunch deal is dessert of the day. It may range from the house signature of wobbly but divine Panna Cotta to an arty creation of Meringue with Yoghurt Gelato, Balsamic Reduction and Strawberries. Luscious, ephemeral textures and bright, pleasurable nuances that slip and slide across discerning palates — a nice curtain-call to galvanise the mind, body and spirit for the rest of the day.

For reservations, call Marble 8 on 56 Restaurant, tel: 03 2386 6030. Address: Level 56, Petronas Tower 3, KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Centre.