Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Charcoal Bread and Kaya @ Sbread, The Gardens, Mid Valley City, Kuala Lumpur


Kaya with Bamboo Charcoal Toast

Last weekend, it was retail therapy at the mall - kinda didn't help that the stores are all on sale. Anyway, I reckon I'm doing my part in boosting the economy. Who knows but I probably had a hand in the record breaking growth rate, they recently announced. I stumbled on this place, when we did a walkaround the lower ground level of The Gardens. Lots of new places now opened - Nyonya Colours, Yo! Sushi, Big Apple Donuts & Coffee, Shihlin Taiwan Snacks, I Love Yoo!, Jonker Street Desserts, Rak Thai and etc.


Peanut butter sesame toast

We were fascinated with the breads - a bamboo charcoal version that was grey black. I've eaten charcoal noodles before but first time, I came across, bread made from this type of charcoal. You often see this type of charcoal in organic shops (nope, it is not your ordinary charcoal or arang, you get from the sundry shop) and it's blardy expensive. The bamboo charcoal is popular in Japan, and is nicknamed the Black Diamond. Usually used as a detergent or to absorb nasty odours, research has shown it is also a good food additive - to help digestion and absorb unhealthy elements in your intestines. You can either get a loaf of bread (RM9) or just a slice, with various toppings.


Barley drink

This place is from Thailand. They use 3 types of bread - plain white, sesame studded and the grey bamboo charcoal version. Samples are laid out with various toppings for you to test out the breads. There is a special type of kaya - very runny and multi-coloured (green for normal kaya, yellow for vanilla flavoured and purple for taro flavoured). Really tasty, these go well with the kinda tasteless bamboo charcoal bread. You also have milo powder (with condensed milk of course), chicken floss and peanut butter.

We sampled one kaya bamboo charcoal toast (RM3.90) - not bad and I love the kaya. Very runny but delish. Didn't quite like the peanut butter with sesame toast (RM4.20) though - tasted very ordinary. Aside from toast bread, they have drinks - a pastel coloured barley drink (RM4.80) and Thai ice tea (RM6.80), with a strong aroma. Can't really describe the taste of it but it tasted quite artificial and can be quite overpowering after a while.

We both liked the kaya version with the charcoal bread. Not much aroma to the bread. Guess I'll know more about it, as I plan to eat it for breakfast, since I bought a loaf. Didn't think the peanut butter version was great and preferred the Toastbox version instead. Prices are a bit steep. Worth a try once but not sure this will be a thing to keep eating all the time. Maybe that is why, this place was super empty even it was a weekend.

Sbread
LG 232B,
Lower Ground Floor
The Gardens
Mid Valley City
Kuala Lumpur

Tel No: 03 - 2283 2929

(Pork free)

*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from the restaurant for writing this review.

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Other reviews:
P/s I just noticed yesterday that Shanghai 10 at Bangsar is no more. Anyone knows what happened to them? Closed down permanently or just that outlet has relocated?

P P/s, for those who want to stock up their bookshelves, Times at Bangsar Shopping Centre (BSC) is having a relocation sale (20% off) from Thursday onwards. Think it is for the whole weekend. Don't worry, they're just relocating to where Esquire Kitchen was i.e next to Alexis. I reckon, this must be part of BSC's renovation plans, as I also read that House is shifting within the shopping centre.

28 comments:

"Joe" who is constantly craving said...

the topping definitely generous at the very least for that kinda price..dis is the new walk thru to gardens from midvalley on gd flr isnt?..hmm must go there for a snack 1 day then..

boo_licious said...

Joe - yup but I reckon, people still prefer their kopitiam yin yong kaya toast instead.

sc said...

goodness, the toast with kaya looks delish! oozing baby, oozing!

Babe_KL said...

if u like yam, try the yam kaya next time. it's delish!!!

pinkpainter said...

I will try the Taro kaya!

JOjo said...

The topping is very thick and generous hoh? Looks absolutely delicious!
I Love Bread, couldn't live without it.Haha!
Never heard of Bamboo Charcoal before.A bit "Sua Gu" =p I thought you were saying that they use charcoal to toast the bread, haha.

Lyrical Lemongrass said...

They're starting their delivery service soon (for a small fee). But I can't imagine ordering out for a slice of bread!

Jun said...

er... pardon me but the kaya looks like the green muck that comes out from ur nose whenever u get a bacterial upper respiratory tract infection @_@ *bad jun! bad jun! med overdose!*

J2Kfm said...

kindly tag me? new blogger here, from Ipoh ...
charcoal bread? sounds awkward, but if i rmbr correctly there was an episode of Ho Chak on 8tv bout eating rice cooked with charcoal powder ... hmmm, just like swallowing charcoal tablets during stomach upset? ...

Rarebeet said...

Charcoal bread sounds like it might make one constipated. ?!? hahaha. At first I thought you meant grilled over charcoal fire but this is completely novel to me. I love that green goo oozing over the bread. Will give it a try when I'm there next. Want to see if its as nice as the one at Old Town.

Henry Yeo said...

Aiyoh! why everyone here never watch Yakitate Japan on Animax.

Here are the links to the episode from youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXqNxY80VYI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQHHelNPcXc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7pccCyh0g4

Simon Seow said...

The kaya is green because they put in Pandan juice?

daphne said...

darn! I was hoping that the sesame one will be nice. Nonetheless, the kaya toast looks good too.

choi yen said...

The barley drinks in pink colour.... special but y ler?

ai wei said...

shanghai 10 in bangsar no more?! i still have a piece to write about it and it is now no more?! sobz

Jason said...

A reader sent me an email on this place before. Shall try the yam kaya if I'm in Gardens. :)

ling239 said...

The Kaya with Bamboo Charcoal Toast looks tempting leh... ^_^

Unknown said...

You have to try the chicken floss sambal and the TAro Charcoal bread. Its my favourite! I have been eating it every weekend now since i discovered it. ALso, the barley drink is in pink because they add a kind of leaf to it that is good for your health (I forget the name.)
I think because of where it is located, not many people can see it yet, hence the lack of crowd. I'd rather eat this than J Co anytime.

FooDcrazEE said...

i better starts to really eat again . . . . . too bz with the 2 kids ler. . .

teckiee said...

errr.. i know you are going to kill me... but i really got to say this.. the kaya looks like mucus! whhahahaha ... (delete this la.. dont think I want to gross your readers ;p)

boo_licious said...

sc - it was yummy, can lick off the delish kaya.

babe - must give it a try next time. Thxs for the tip.

pinkpainter - better see if it passes yr test, since you're the guru of toast.

Jojo - new trend, seems it started in Japan.

LL - wow, you must be a regular?

Jun - LOL on yr descriptions. The green is too lurid, kinda reminds of the gunk u get for some scary movie.

j2kfm - interesting abt the rice with charcoal powder. I guess it's the same principle.

paprika - LOL, I guess a lot of people thot it was the old fahioned type. I was curious to try it out since something new.

Thanks Henry.

Simon - I think they put pandan juice and a lot of colouring hence the lurid green.

Daphne - didn't think it was that great, much preferred Toastbox.

Mimi - someone mentioned it is a herb added for some health reason.

ai wei - nope, gone already. Kinda weird as I thot they were doing ok.

Jason - hope u like it. Got other types of kaya also, vanilla and the highly recommended Taro.

ling239 - go try some?

marianne - wow, thxs for the recommendation. Yeah, I do prefer this versus doughnuts, kinda lost the loving feeling for them already.

foodcrazee - 2kids??? I thot one, that was quick of u.

teckiee - hahaha, never mind. Everyone has different opinions.

jackson - this whole area, not bad. must try the thai place next door, looks interesting also.

Unknown said...

Love the food, love the branding too!..."sbreading d love".. kekeke

can't wait for www.sbread.com to be completed.

meanwhile...check 'em out on facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9947580582

fan page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/SBREAD/21445808800

the pix look YUUUMMM!!!!

Anonymous said...

I did drop by today. I saw a bald fella standing in front of the shop.At 1st I was waiting how was the service because my friend was very particular about the service quality. He was really friendly and very generous to explain to us the charcoal bread (my eyes was at the bread all the time). He serve a few sample. Walla.. i decide to go for the yam with charcoal. Did get a few tips from the baldy when I bought the loaf. One thing suprise me, he even have the articles to support his story about the charcoal bread or in other name black diamond. nice going mr baldy. go check the black bread. Like he told me "black is beautiful" but now black taste good.

Ps: I did finish 2 slice of yam charcoal.

J2Kfm said...

Hey! passed by this outlet yday, but empty la! It's quite hidden, had i not cross to the Gardens from Midvalley old wing using the underground pass, I wouldn't have noticed. But sadly, did not try this as we were looking for more 'filling' stuff. Hmm ... maybe next time ...

pinkpainter said...

Hey! i had its Taro Kaya. It good and better taste than the Chicken Floss! Will proceed with other flavours too!

rokh said...

charcoal bread, seems very interesting :D

YJ said...

Hello- There's a Shanghai 10 which has opened in Avenue K for quite sometime back. Look for Kim Gary, it's directly opposite. :o)

Alejandra Ramos said...

Hi there! This looks so cool. I am also a girl who is obsessed with food. I have a question and maybe you can help me. I’ve just learned about charcoal bread and i would love to try and make some my own. I’ve been searching for a recipe, but can’t find any here in NY where I live. Do know of any recipes where you live? Or maybe know someone that I can ask? I know it’s a longshot, but I figured I’d try it out! You can email me at nanditablogs (at) gmail (dot) com

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