Mon Café

28/01/2017

04/05/2016

KAOHSIUNG, TAIWAN: Pieffee

As I was looking for a nice café to chill out not too far from my hotel, Pieffee came up in my search. On my way there, I got a bit lost and accidently walked through a street wet market, which made the journey all the more interesting. I never mind getting lost during my travels because I usually end up with some unexpected and lucky surprises.

The café can be easily recognized from a block away, thanks to its big Noah’s ark mural. The theme also goes on with its wooden entrance and interior. Since the café specializes in homemade pies, both savory and sweet, the wonderful smell of butter floats in the air. Add to that the smell of freshly roasted coffee coming from their own roasting room, it is enough to make you want to stay the entire afternoon.

While the friendly staff was warming up my vegetable pie for me, I went on a little discovery of the place, taking in the sweet little details as well as the lovely upstairs space with a small tatami seating. With its tall ceiling and windows, the seating area has lots of light, is very spacious and comfortable; but since I was by myself, I opted for the small sofa seat downstairs, near the entrance, so that I could do some street and people watching.

Served with a side of salad, the pie – a quiche really, was not too heavy and had a flaky crust. The cappuccino was good and the latte art added an extra wow factor. Good thing that the portions weren’t too big because it left me room for dessert (and I’ve been eyeing the dessert pies since entering the café!). So I went on to order the caramel macchiato pie, which I’m real glad I did because it was definitely the highlight of the day. The pie consists of two layers of mousse, one of coffee and one of caramel. Both had distinct but subtle flavours, which complimented instead of overpowering each other. And the cookie crust was a thin layer of crunchy buttery goodness. There’s nothing better than a nice dessert together with a hot cup of coffee to chillax for a couple of hours.

No. 276, Jianguo 4th Rd
Yancheng District
Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

29/04/2016

KAOHSIUNG, TAIWAN: Now & Then by nybc

The Pier-2 Art Center (駁二藝術特區) is the first place I visited on my recent trip to Kaohsiung. By the time I landed, checked in at the hotel and took a walk over, I was pretty much starving and eager for a late lunch. I simply stumbled upon Now & Then because I found the interior interesting with its raw industrial loft feel.

Even though I was looking for lunch, I ended up ordering a sweet French toast because it just looked too tempting from the photo on the menu. And even though they had quite a nice list of single origin and other coffees, I decided to go for a lemon-star smoothie because I was sweating from the walk. Well, both items didn’t disappoint. The French toast took some time to arrive, or maybe I just wasn’t yet in synch with the more laidback rhythm of the city. While sipping on the sour enough (Yeah! Yum!) drink, I took the time to people watch, take photos, and flip through a magazine, which are the main purposes of a trip to Taiwan in the first place.

After a quick search, I found out that the café is actually a brand under N.Y. Bagels Café (i.e. nybc)! I guess it should be famous for their freshly delivered bagels then, though I didn’t see that highlighted on their menu. In any case, since I’m only fond of my dear Montreal bagels…

Pier-2 is definitely a place worth visiting, to witness the great upcycling of some formerly abandoned warehouses by local artists. There are galleries, shops, museums, murals… enough to do and see to spend a full day there, for a much more worthy time than walking inside yet another shopping mall.

No.1, Dayong Rd.
Yancheng Dist.
Kaohsiung City 803
Taiwan

19/04/2016

JAPAN: Doutor

Thanks to my Japan loving blogger friend, I discovered this local Japanese chain a few years back, and ever since then, there has been no turning back, having to revisit it every time I’m in Japan, be it in Hokkaido, Okinawa or anywhere in between. At the same time, I have recommended it to my friends, parents, and whoever visiting the country.

I love, admire and support little shops for their unique characteristics and story, but they usually involve a trial and error process that can be tiring. At times when you only want something foolproof that requires minimum effort, this chain café is most definitely a safe bet, as it is widely available, casual and affordable.

I’ve visited various locations for either breakfast, lunch or tea and have never been disappointed. Service is always efficient and quick, even during the rush lunch hour. I don’t know if it’s because of the bread, the spread or something else, but their sandwiches are always fresh and delicious. Add to that a cup of coffee and it’s just perfect. Personally, I highly recommend the matcha latte (hot or cold, both great)… which I’ve repeatedly tried at other places but never truly liked, until I tried the Doutor version that is.

NOTE: To prolong the memory of your Japan trip a little longer, grab a box of their drip coffee, which features a variety of grinds to suit your coffee preference, to be enjoyed in the comfort of your home.

15/04/2016

KYOTO, JAPAN: Shinshindo

This bakery café is located near the hotel I stayed at on my two most recent trips to Kyoto. The first time, the stay was brief and I had breakfast at the hotel so didn’t get to try it. The second time, I stayed consecutive nights, missed breakfast session (which ends at 9:30am!) one day and ventured out to find food for my empty stomach. I had passed by the place several times before, always tempted by its big windows and spacious interior and making note of the many locals going in and out to shop for bread.

The morning of my visit, there was light snow falling, painting a picturesque scene of the main street with its wide sidewalk. Unfortunately, by the time I placed my order at the counter and looked for a table, the few seats facing the street had been taken. Sipping on my coffee, I patiently waited for my Cheese Toast while watching the snow outside. When it finally came, it totally explained the wait, as I saw the heavenly melted cheese with bits of golden crusts. Served with some salad on the side, it was definitely a nice start to the day; not overly heavy but satisfying.

As the café is located on a somewhat less touristy area of town, it seems never crowded and customers, either single or in pairs, carry on with their business in a quiet hushed way, making the atmosphere very enjoyable, especially in the morning when you just want to ease into the day slowly and softly. For added comfort, you get a constant smell of the bread being freshly baked in the back kitchen.

A recent google of the bakery yielded a surprise, as it actually held quite a prestigious history! “Shinshindo was founded in 1913 in Kyoto, Japan. The founder, Hitoshi Tsuzuki, is known as the first Japanese baker to visit Paris and to learn authentic French baking. Arriving there in 1924, he also traveled around France and other European nations for about 2 years. He brought back authentic European recipes and tastes to Kyoto.”

Bonus: There is a lone sakura tree on the street corner, which mercifully grants the too early season tourists with a few early blooms of soft pink cherry blossoms.

Oike Yanaginobanba-dori , Nakagyo-ku
1F Kyoto Oike Sosei Hall
Kyoto 604-0954, Kyoto Prefecture
TEL 075-213-3033

13/04/2016

KYOTO, JAPAN: Kyoto Modern Terrace

Located above the newly opened Tsutaya Bookstore in a historic building, the Kyoto Modern Terrace is just steps away from the Heian Jingu Shrine. I discovered this place as I finished my morning visit to the shrine and was planning a stop at the Starbucks located on the ground floor, with its black and gold décor that nicely matches its literary surrounding. Though I was tempted to plop down incognito with a safe cup of coffee, I’m glad I decided to go for a sit down early lunch instead.

Obviously, pricing doesn’t compare to chain franchise but since I was getting full service on top of a super comfy environment, it was well worth it. I specifically asked for an outdoor table on the terrace, as the weather had finally become warmer and sunnier on that day. I opted for a table facing the sun and the park, and got to people watch – groups of small school children picnicking and dogs running around. As a tourist, there’s nothing better than watching people in their domestic lives to get a more in-depth connection with the place. To fight off the occasional chill, the always thoughtful Japanese even provided blankets and I’m sure I would have spent the whole day there with a good book if I didn’t already have other plans for the day. Food-wise, I ordered seafood au gratin and it was nice – rich, creamy, piping hot and just perfect on an early spring day outdoor. Portion was on the small side (or should I say standard for Japan) but it was good because it left space for coffee (and dessert later on).

Bonus: Tsutaya offers bike rental service, a great way to visit the neighborhood.

ROHM Theatre Kyoto
Park Plaza 2F
13 Okazaki Saishojicho
Sakyo-ku, KYOTO
TEL 075-754-0234

07/04/2016

Café for One

It might be a personality thing but I do, more often than not, enjoy being a loner. I think doing things alone brings lots of freedom, flexibility and sometimes surprises.

Most people I know don’t feel comfortable eating alone or going out to restaurants on their own. Afraid of what other patrons might think, afraid of being singled out, they’d rather eat at fast food chains for their impersonal environment, or simply would rather order take out and hide in the comfort of their lonely apartments.

As a first step into the realm of dining alone, I think the most appropriate place would be coffee shops. Not only is sipping on a cup of coffee much less involving than eating a full meal, it also requires much less attention, allowing you the freedom to people watch, rather than being concerned of being watched. Also, café staff are well used to patrons spending hours on end over a single cup of coffee, so you don’t need to feel pressured to hurry, leave or spend (some exceptions apply though, especially in cities where personal space is scarce). And if you feel you need props to help you distract nosy onlookers, bring along a laptop or a book and you’re set to be incognito.

In recent years, trying out and discovering new cafes has become an interest, if not a mission. Whether it is on my days off in town or during my overseas travels, whenever I long for some me-time, I would go in search of that perfect place to spend some quiet time. Obviously, different cafes have different vibes and some, more than others, are particularly suitable for drinking solo. Slowly, I am compiling a list of places that are particularly enjoyable to spend time at, whether it is for the food, the drink, the atmosphere, the location, the staff, or all of the above.

20/02/2016

May The Force Be With You...

28/01/2016

沒有夢屋的日子，不經不覺已經過了2星期。這段時間過得很休閒，好好享受著我的悠長假期。雖然Openrice已經好有效地刪除了小店的資料，近日還有繼續收到一些舊客人的留言，算是有點安慰。

雖然不打算再度開實店，但其實會繼續做甜品，煱蛋糕曲奇的，因為那是自己喜愛的事和興趣。喜歡的話，可以讚好Monique's Treats那個專頁，保持聯絡啊！

www.facebook.com/moniquestreats

少量出品，高質製品。用高質材料做出美味的糕餅，給品嚐的人帶來微笑和快樂。

15/01/2016

🌧The sky is doing the crying for me today...

11/01/2016

Self pick up @ Mon Café before Jan 14

10/01/2016

在夢屋的2年多，學了很多、試了很多、認識了很多新朋友新事物、也加深認識了自己。到了説再見的時候，當然有不捨，但得到的許多許多，會一直陪伴着我。

好友跟我說「你已經完成你既夢想」。對的！試問有多少人可以像我一樣幸運，得到家人和朋友的無限支持，做一些不太實際而吃力不討好的事？

夢想實現了，是時候醒過來，做應該做的事了。是向現實低頭嗎？不，只是長大了不想再任性，更不想令自己和身邊的人失望。

真的非常非常感謝大家，在這段日子的陪伴、支持同賞識。所有的美好回憶將會留在心中。