LonBay @ Paradigm Mall & Await @ Taman Desa

Two different cafes, one common purpose: Coffee, black and strong, is what keeps the crowds buzzing at both LonBay and Await.

First up, LonBay at Paradigm Mall distinguishes itself from other java joints by brewing its own exclusive brand of beans, organically cultivated at a Johor farm.

From what we understand, LonBay's 'kopi luwak' is Malaysian-produced, thanks to free-roaming civets in the peninsular's south.

A batch of three cups of civet coffee costs north of RM80. Not as expensive as what other outlets charge, but we're not enough of coffee connoisseurs to appreciate these aromas. An ideal accompaniment, nevertheless, to Cielo Dolci's awesome gelato, just a few steps away.

A cheaper choice: LonBay's Liberian-origin coal-roasted siphon-brew ice-drip coffee (about RM20 for 250ml), also grown and fermented in Johor. Lattes, cappuccinos and espressos are available at around RM10 each.

Customers seeking a more homey environment, instead of a sterile shopping mall setting, need not wait in vain, now that Await is open at Taman Desa.

It's a friendly neighborhood hangout that's suitable for leisurely Sunday afternoons, since parking might be a problem on weekdays.

Try the fairly flavorsome banana cheesecake, baked specially for Await. House-made sandwiches are also sold here, alongside breakfast sets on weekends.

Siphon house-blend, comprising Brazil Santos and Tanzanian beans.

Some like it cold: Guatemalan iced coffee.

What works well with coffee? Chocolate desserts! From Await, it's a relatively short drive to our current favorite Bangsar dining destination, Madisons at the Bangkung row.

Main entry on Madisons: June 4, 2012.

Madisons' chocolate and hazelnut dacquoise, constructed with choc mousse, hazelnut meringue and choc-coated salted caramel. Creamy and melt-in-the-mouth milky, with a flavor evocative of Ferrero Rocher.

Crema fritta, featuring fried custard cream pastry, chocolate sponge, strawberry syllabub and red wine and pepper jelly. Pretty rich, but delicious enough to devour without sharing.

Coffee lovers, take heart: there'll be even more outlets to get your fix at soon, including new branches of EspressoLab at The Gardens Mid Valley and Artisan Roast in Bangsar.

Lon Bay Coffee,
Lower Ground Floor, Paradigm Mall, Kelana Jaya.

Await Cafe (above Ceggo Boardroom),
9-1-5, Jalan 3/109F, Taman Danau Desa, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-7971-0978
Open through 8pm daily.

Madisons Restaurant,
Jalan Bangkung, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2092-1222
Closed Sundays.

Madisons @ Bangkung

Replacing Four Seas at Bangsar's Bangkung row, Madisons is the newborn member of the family of restaurants that comprises Opus Bistro, Leonardo's and Cava.

Madisons' menu bears an Australian influence, courtesy of Chef Kelly Delaney, who most recently headed the kitchen at Adelaide's award-winning Auge Italian restaurant.

Auge's menu kicks off with cured meat, so it's fitting that Madisons' does too. There's no resisting the fleshy, free-range chew of the Spanish Iberico lomo and chorizo, both seasoned with a blend of paprika, herbs, garlic and sea salt that complements the pork's nutty sweetness.

Potato gnocchi with candied pancetta, parmesan, white wine, black pepper, pecorino and yolk. Looks like comfort food, sounds like comfort food, so it must be comfort food.

Slow-cooked venison, lightly breaded and served atop carpaccio, garnished with walnut dust, blueberries, shaved green beans and goat's curd. We might prefer this stuffed with crab meat and accompanied by avocado, but that's an entire other recipe.

Pan-seared sea bass with speck ham, broad beans, olive dust, crispy potatoes and chervil oil. The juniper-tinged ham is a tasty touch that sets this apart from other fish preparations.

Sous vide pork belly, laced with aromatic herbs and served with organic de puy lentils. Cooked in a water bath for 24 hours to lock in the juicy, fatty flavor.

Sweet rice pudding, infused with vanilla and honey, topped with fig compote, cinnamon crumble and sherry cream. Madisons' desserts are as ambitiously intricate as its savory courses.

Even the "tiramisu" here offers more complexity than regular ones; it's a "deconstructed" interpretation, with mascarpone ice cream, chocolate earth, coffee pave and savoiardi fingers.

Heartland Stickleback (2009) seemed like an appropriately Australian order for this meal.

Frangelico and Baileys, for a fine finish to a fulfilling feast.

Madisons' prices are what must be expected on this row; a three-course meal without wine will cost north of RM100, including taxes.

The restaurant fits fewer than 50 customers, so be sure to make reservations; we expect a lot of things to be written and said about Madisons in the months ahead.

Madisons Restaurant,
Jalan Bangkung, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2092-1222
Open for lunch and dinner, except Sundays.

Cielo Dolci Gelato @ Paradigm Mall

We're swooning over Cielo Dolci, Paradigm Mall's purveyors of insanely creamy gelato that ranks among the Klang Valley's most heavenly.

Made in small batches daily by Italian-trained Malaysian gelato-lovers passionate about their craft, the magical flavors here include salted caramel with "fairy dust," green tea with azuki beans, coconut with gula melaka, Earl Grey, Belgian chocolate, peanut butter and pistachio.

Five scoops cost below RM30; the packed-to-bursting cup seems large enough for two to share, but we still devoured every dense, super-smooth spoonful, like starving cats savoring their milk.

Cielo Dolci's Facebook profile asserts: "We create our bases, prepare the fruits, melt the chocolate, infuse the herbs, grind the spices, roast the nuts and fine-tune the flavors ourselves." Their hard work is in full evidence, producing delicious results.

Wouldn't it be cool if gelato fever engulfs KL? Hell wouldn't freeze over before that happens.

Cielo Dolci,

LG 50, Paradigm Mall, Kelana Jaya.

Big Ray's Grill

This meat specialist in Sri Petaling's Endah Promenade should please the wallet but perhaps not the palate. Can't always have our roast chicken and eat it.

Carnivores will have a field day here; alas, the sirloin steak is tough and thin. Still, the grain-filled side dishes of buttered and tomato rice are generously portioned.

Overly charred chicken. Juicy and flavorful inside, but its looks are an undeniable turnoff. Raise the red flag for carcinogen concerns.

This burger is impressively tall, but at a time when other outlets put major effort into their burgers, it's not enough to slap together generic patties, buns, cheddar, veggies and ketchup.

Fish. Is it dory? Maybe. Meaty, but not enjoyable enough to salvage this meal.

Big Ray's serves no pork, but Endah Promenade also hosts an Overtime, where customers can snack on mini pork knuckles. Beware: there's more gelatinous fat than meat on these bones.

Overtime's beer cocktails include Go Naked, featuring beer with lemon juice, gin and grenadine. Customers can also just have plain ol', good ol' Starker Dunkel beer.

Lychee Slush and Carribean Night (beer with Bailey's Irish Cream).

Wine is also available at Overtime. Decent ones at surprisingly decent prices.

Big Ray's Grill and Overtime,

Endah Promenade, Sri Petaling.

Kungfu Paradise & Finest Bake @ Paradigm Mall

Calling itself "the cafe with a kick," Kungfu Paradise is one of Paradigm Mall's main magnets for youngsters seeking a casual meal that costs below RM20.

Comfort food that's as guilty as it gets: hot mozzarella-baked rice (about RM18, including taxes), topped with crisply juicy chicken chop and fish fillet with tomato and cream sauces. Note: this is also available at Kungfu Bake Rice at Suria KLCC's Signature Food Court.

Korean curly ramen with egg and chicken sausages (about RM12). Not exactly low-sodium, but that's precisely what some customers might enjoy about this.

Kungfu Paradise is the no-pork sister outlet of Paradise Dynasty and Paradise Inn, all from Singapore; unlike its siblings, it dabbles in Western-inspired fare such as this "Kungfu Bumger" _ a sandwich of chicken thigh with kung pao sauce (about RM8).

Salted egg custard buns (about RM10). There are better versions elsewhere with creamier, less artificial-tasting fillings, but they're probably pricier.

Kungfu Disciple Frappe, creatively blended with both peanuts and pineapple (!!!), alongside Kungfu Stylo Coffee, made with Arabica and Robusta beans.

Also worth checking out at this mall: a kiosk by cookie-maker Finest Bake.

Choices include cube-like pastries laced with everything from green tea to black tea ...

... as well as boxes of traditional cookies _ the perfect present for a mother-in-law.

The pastries we tried tasted reminiscent of pineapple tarts. Not bad at all.

As mentioned before, Paradigm Mall has barely a handful of booze-serving outlets ...

... so thank God for TGI Friday's margaritas, even though they're too sweet.

Kungfu Paradise,

Level Two, Paradigm Mall.
Finest Bake,
Lower Ground, Paradigm Mall.