Showing posts with label smoothie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label smoothie. Show all posts

Friday, March 01, 2019

TIME FOR FINE COFFEE & FAB FOOD AT JAMAICA BLUE


 
A Blue Latte seems like a befitting drink to mark our visit to the cosy Jamaica Blue café at Setia City Mall in Setia Alam. Adorned with a delicate latte art ‘tree’, the pastel blue beverage tasted similar to warm vanilla-scented milk; its unique colour rendered by blue Curaçao (a type of bitter orange) syrup with white chocolate and frothy milk used to create the velvety, caffeine-free treat.
 
Established in 1992 by Foodco in Australia, Jamaica Blue was inspired by the majestic Blue Mountains of Jamaica — one of the best coffee producing regions in the world and home to Wallenford Estate® Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee. Todate, Jamaica Blue boasts an international network of more than 170 cafés in Australia, New Zealand, China, the United Arab Emirates, UK, Singapore and Malaysia.
 
In Malaysia, Jamaica Blue has 9 outlets; thriving on its ‘fine coffees and fabulous food’ concept. The Jamaica Blue café at Setia City Mall is one of the bigger outlets, cosily furnished with plenty of comfortable seating. True to its name, Jamaica Blue strives to evoke the laidback spirit of the Caribbean with an idyllic oasis-like setting complemented by the premium taste of award-winning coffee and seasonal fresh menus.
The ardent coffee lovers in our group had nothing but praises for the smooth medium roast Jamaica Blue Mountain Cappuccino (RM23.40). Made from 100% Arabica beans, the Jamaica Blue Signature Blend Cappuccino (RM11.70) held its own; its medium, well-balanced body proffering a creaminess with subtle chocolate aftertaste.
Even our choice of non-caffeine beverages such as the chocolatey Gone Banana Smoothie (RM14.50) and Mango Smoothie (RM14.50) came up trumps. Perfect pick-me-uppers to counter this sweltering hot weather!
Breakfast fare is now popular among city folks at all hours of the day. At Jamaica Blue, you can enjoy crowd-pleasing Eggs Florentine with Smoked Salmon (RM26.50) anytime you step in. If you’re a light-eater, a serving of the poached eggs, wilted spinach with smoked salmon and warm hollandaise sauce on toast is ample enough to feed two. We enjoyed every scrumptious mouthful of this offering.
 
A special handcrafted recipe from the Jamaica Blue kitchen that’s healthy and heartwarming we sampled is Warm Forest Mushroom, Feta & Spinach Bowl (RM20). Before you diss it as yet another boring salad, we can vouch for this unexpectedly good bowl of healthful eats. 
 
Who would have thought earthy mushrooms, feta crumbs, sunflower seeds and wilted spinach contrasted so well with quinoa and almond 'porridge', chickpeas and poached egg? Throw in a dusting of herbs and dukkah and presto! it was culinary magic made in heaven.
However, local tastebuds seeking more familiar fare may prefer the delectable Vintage Ground Beef Burger (RM28.90). Featuring Jamaica Blue's own housemade beef patty, the toasted burger is guaranteed to satisfy as it's packed with briny beef strips, cheddar cheese, pickles, aioli, fresh rocket leaves, tomato slices and caramelised onion. A fresh green salad is also served on the side.
Italian style ciabatta forms the basis for the Classic Steak Sandwich (RM28.60), another viable option to consider when you feel peckish. The moist, juicy filling comprises grilled scotch beef fillet with beef strips complemented by sliced tomato, rocket, caramelised onion, aioli and gherkins.

Non-beef eaters can take comfort in the Jerk Spiced Chicken, Avocado & Mozzarella Roll (RM20). Lean chicken breast meat tossed in creamy chipotle (Mexican-style spicy dressing) sauce and coriander.
Don’t be surprised to find no creamy sauce drowning the pasta when you order Jamaica Blue’s Traditional Pasta Carbonara (RM22.90). Here, it’s whipped up the trad Italian way with just egg, garlic, olive oil, turkey strips and parmesan cheese. We relished every forkful of the deliciously al dente, flavourful pasta down to the last strand.
Mindful of local preferences for robust tasting dishes, the Chicken Laksa Pasta (RM20.90) should prove bang on. Slathered in lush santan-rich and spice-enhanced sauce with a touch of coriander, the pasta with chicken pieces got enthusiastic thumbs up from us.
Sweet treats are aplenty here too. Two dessert we’d recommend are the Sticky Date Pudding (RM14) and the luscious, fudgy Dark Chocolate & Walnut Brownie (RM12).
 
The former proved its irresistibly factor when my partner — a non-dessert fan —sought repeat helpings of the date-studded pud with warm butterscotch sauce and vanilla ice cream. Other baked goods such as croissants, lemon yoghurt loaf and scones are also available daily.
 

For more information on Jamaica Blue, visit www.jamaicablue.com.my or Facebook: www.facebook.com/jamaicabluemy/

Thursday, August 10, 2017

NEW ON-THE-SPOT FITGO SMOOTHIE





Meet Malaysia’s first ProYo smoothie vending machine! Thanks to founder, Jess Lin who banked on her experience in health food production, FitGo Smoothie launched the revolutionary Made in Malaysia vending machine that dispenses blend-to-order healthy smoothies at Jaya33, Petaling Jaya recently.



It was the fruit of a two-year local collaboration with engineers and programmers. Lin’s company, Nuvend Sdn Bhd deployed the first Fitgo Smoothie vending machine in March this year at a leading university.


Lin said "FitGo Smoothies aims to promote healthy snacking with its state-of-the-art ProYo (protein + yoghurt) smoothie vending machine aptly called Fitgo Smoothie. The Fitgo Smoothie vending machine is a homegrown success, resulting from more than two years of engineering, R&D and testing efforts. Everything for the FitGo Smoothie vending machine is made locally, from the manufacturing and distribution to the marketing and operations in our factory in Puchong. We are in the process of getting it Halal and MeSTI certified."

Media members invited for the launch had a first-hand experience of how the FitGo Smoothie vending process works. It was simple once customers decide which variant of the smoothies they want from a banner listing the seven types. 
Besides fruit dices, the cups also contained frozen ProYo (soy protein + yoghurt) cubes for additional substance. Fresh supplies are replenished 2-3 days to ensure freshness. The container cups stored inside the machine are kept frozen until dispensed. Once money is paid into the machine, the selected ProYo fruit cup can be retrieved from the dispenser bin. Customers only need to remove the lid and sticker before placing their cup into the blending window.




It only takes a few minutes for the blended process to finish and a light will flash once the smoothie is ready. Lin told us the blender will undergo self-cleaning once the smoothie has been retrieved by customers in readiness for the next order.



Customers can find the six FitGo Smoothie vending machines at Jaya 33, D'Pulze Cyberjaya, Menara KH, Monash University, Etiqa Twins, and Menara Tokio Marine. For more information, visit www.fitgosmoothie.com 


Featured Post

EXPLOSIVE SURPRISE FROM CAKE RUSH

Whimsical. Fun. Impactful. Imagine a flock of butterflies fluttering up once you open Cake Rush’s latest Explosion Gift Box. We were thrille...