Johor Kaki was invited to visit the Vivo American Pizza & Panini outlet at Bukit Indah. I have seen Vivo outlets around JB but have never stepped in before because there are so many choices in town and I tend to go for local businesses.
I was happy and surprised to find out that Vivo is actually the brainchild of passionate Johoreans whose love for food led them to partner a Chicago (USA) traditional pizza house to bring specialty pizzas into our region.
A note: For my first visit, we focussed on Vivo's chicken dishes as we did not have sufficient stomach space for pizzas on that day. It was our third food tasting of the day. I make it a point to eat all the food served at the table and get a real feel for the food during invited food tastings. I actually eat all the food instead of just taste test a few sample pieces. The disadvantage of my approach is that I cannot review so many dishes in one sitting, and so would need to return for additional sessions.
These were the dishes we tried at Vivo.
Garlic Bread RM5.50
Vivo executed this basic item very well. The airy, fluffy bread had a good thickness and the garlic butter spread was savoury without being overly greasy. If you like garlic bread, you are likely to be pleased with Vivo's rendition.
Honey Baked Chicken Wings RM15.90
The honey baked chicken wings were well marinated with Vivo's house blend savoury sweetish sauce. Made with chilled chicken, the marinade penetrated right through the chicken fibres. Well done, every part was evenly cooked yet still fairy tender and slightly moist. This baked chicken wings will appeal to people who like deep strong flavours.
Baked Chicken Chop RM16.90
Vivo is proud of their baked chicken chop which has a crisp layer outside with the juicy more tender flesh inside. Deeply marinated with a mainly savoury, slightly sweet sauce.
The grilled chicken chop is served with this buttered rice with a nice savoury flavour and not overly greasy. The good quality grains were fluffy and separate easily.
Tropical BBQ Chicken Chop RM17.90
The chunky tropical BBQ chicken chop is also well marinated with Vivo's own BBQ sauce. Grilled till the savoury sweet outer layer is caramelised with some charred bits. Underneath that wrinkly caramelised skin was the still juicy tender chicken meat. The sweet and robust savoury flavour will appeal to people who like stronger flavours.
Seafood Spaghetti Aglio Olio RM19.80
This seafood spaghetti aglio olio actually wowed me and was my favourite of the evening. The well executed al dente pasta had good mouth feel and was infused with a rich seafood broth of distinct savoury flavour. Lightly stir fried in garlic and olive oil making the pasta fragrant and slick without tacky greasiness. It was lovely. And, it had a generous shower of spicy chili flakes that gave the whole dish an interesting zing. The NZ mussels, fresh shrimps and small cubes of salmon completed the whole dish.
The staff kept wanting to take away this plate of spaghetti to make room for other dishes which Vivo wanted to showcase. I kept holding onto this spaghetti until I ate it up all up completely. I love it.
If you like savoury and spicy seafood spaghetti, this is for you too. I certainly would be happy to eat this again and again.
I enjoyed the tasting at Vivo today and am looking forward to try out the other dishes, especially the pizzas in their menu.
Restaurant name: Vivo American Pizza & Panini (Bukit Indah outlet) Address: AEON JUSCO Bukit Indah, Johor Bahru (Vivo has a total of 12 outlets in Johor Bahru, Segamat, Malacca, KL and Singapore) Map: http://goo.gl/maps/1sXlc GPS: 1.480958,103.6545 Hours: 10:00am to 10:00pm Certified Halal
Johor Kaki was invited to visit the Vivo American Pizza & Panini outlet at Bukit Indah. I have seen Vivo outlets around JB but have never stepped in before because there are so many choices in town and I tend to go for local businesses.
I was happy and surprised to find out that Vivo is actually the brainchild of passionate Johoreans whose love for food led them to partner a Chicago (USA) traditional pizza house to bring specialty pizzas into our region.
A note: For my first visit, we focussed on Vivo's chicken dishes as we did not have sufficient stomach space for pizzas on that day. It was our third food tasting of the day. I make it a point to eat all the food served at the table and get a real feel for the food during invited food tastings. I actually eat all the food instead of just taste test a few sample pieces. The disadvantage of my approach is that I cannot review so many dishes in one sitting, and so would need to return for additional sessions.
These were the dishes we tried at Vivo.
Garlic Bread RM5.50
Vivo executed this basic item very well. The airy, fluffy bread had a good thickness and the garlic butter spread was savoury without being overly greasy. If you like garlic bread, you are likely to be pleased with Vivo's rendition.
Honey Baked Chicken Wings RM15.90
The honey baked chicken wings were well marinated with Vivo's house blend savoury sweetish sauce. Made with chilled chicken, the marinade penetrated right through the chicken fibres. Well done, every part was evenly cooked yet still fairy tender and slightly moist. This baked chicken wings will appeal to people who like deep strong flavours.
Baked Chicken Chop RM16.90
Vivo is proud of their baked chicken chop which has a crisp layer outside with the juicy more tender flesh inside. Deeply marinated with a mainly savoury, slightly sweet sauce.
The grilled chicken chop is served with this buttered rice with a nice savoury flavour and not overly greasy. The good quality grains were fluffy and separate easily.
Tropical BBQ Chicken Chop RM17.90
The chunky tropical BBQ chicken chop is also well marinated with Vivo's own BBQ sauce. Grilled till the savoury sweet outer layer is caramelised with some charred bits. Underneath that wrinkly caramelised skin was the still juicy tender chicken meat. The sweet and robust savoury flavour will appeal to people who like stronger flavours.
Seafood Spaghetti Aglio Olio RM19.80
This seafood spaghetti aglio olio actually wowed me and was my favourite of the evening. The well executed al dente pasta had good mouth feel and was infused with a rich seafood broth of distinct savoury flavour. Lightly stir fried in garlic and olive oil making the pasta fragrant and slick without tacky greasiness. It was lovely. And, it had a generous shower of spicy chili flakes that gave the whole dish an interesting zing. The NZ mussels, fresh shrimps and small cubes of salmon completed the whole dish.
The staff kept wanting to take away this plate of spaghetti to make room for other dishes which Vivo wanted to showcase. I kept holding onto this spaghetti until I ate it up all up completely. I love it.
If you like savoury and spicy seafood spaghetti, this is for you too. I certainly would be happy to eat this again and again.
I enjoyed the tasting at Vivo today and am looking forward to try out the other dishes, especially the pizzas in their menu.
Restaurant name: Vivo American Pizza & Panini (Bukit Indah outlet) Address: AEON JUSCO Bukit Indah, Johor Bahru (Vivo has a total of 12 outlets in Johor Bahru, Segamat, Malacca, KL and Singapore) Map: http://goo.gl/maps/1sXlc GPS: 1.480958,103.6545 Hours: 10:00am to 10:00pm Certified Halal
This is my second visit to Bluewave Bistro at the invitation of Sam the boss.
I like Bluewave Bistro because it is very clean and cosy inside, everything is very relaxed, and the food is simple and nice. Parking is free and often right at the doorstep or at worse very close by. It is just so easy to cool our heels in here in air con comfort after shopping in nearby AEON Jusco, Tesco or Giant.
We started off with the Pumpkin and Apple Cream Soup (RM8.90). I love the natural sweetness of pumpkins and anything sweetened with real apples - so, this soup is a sure hit for me. Sam made this soup very thick and creamy, almost like a gruel. Served with slices of savoury butter toasted garlic bread.
For main course, I ordered the French Chicken Cordon Bleu (RM22.00). Oh..., this is so rich and tender! This dish is made by deboning the chicken thigh and then stuffing the hollow with turkey ham and mozzarella cheese. The stuffed chicken thigh is then breaded and deep fried. It is then bathed in a creamy melted cheese sauce and served.
Tender, sweet, rich and savoury. Very smooth, very easy and relaxing meal to enjoy. Just nice for lunch - substantial and yet not overly filling.
To wash everything down, I had a Fresh Orange Papaya Honey Juice (RM9.90). Lovely, long cold drink.
During my previous visit to Bluewave (in Apr 2013), I enjoyed their signature Fried Chicken Platter, Seafood Aglio Olio Pasta and Cream of Mushroom Soup.
Bluewave's alcohol free tiramisu personally made by Sam is good too - smooth, creamy, soft, spongy, and not overly sweet.
Worthwhile dropping by if you are in the Bukit Indah/ Nusa Bestari area. Family friendly.
Restaurant name: Bluewave Bistro Address: 9, Jalan Indah 15/2, Taman Bukit Indah, Johor Bahru Map: http://goo.gl/maps/orxQA GPS: 1.481562,103.661724 Hours: 11:00am to 11:00pm (Sun to Thurs), 11:00am to midnight (Fri and Sat). Closed on alternate Thurs. No pork, no lard, no Halal cert
Date visited: 8 Apr 2013, 1 July 2013
This is my second visit to Bluewave Bistro at the invitation of Sam the boss.
I like Bluewave Bistro because it is very clean and cosy inside, everything is very relaxed, and the food is simple and nice. Parking is free and often right at the doorstep or at worse very close by. It is just so easy to cool our heels in here in air con comfort after shopping in nearby AEON Jusco, Tesco or Giant.
We started off with the Pumpkin and Apple Cream Soup (RM8.90). I love the natural sweetness of pumpkins and anything sweetened with real apples - so, this soup is a sure hit for me. Sam made this soup very thick and creamy, almost like a gruel. Served with slices of savoury butter toasted garlic bread.
For main course, I ordered the French Chicken Cordon Bleu (RM22.00). Oh..., this is so rich and tender! This dish is made by deboning the chicken thigh and then stuffing the hollow with turkey ham and mozzarella cheese. The stuffed chicken thigh is then breaded and deep fried. It is then bathed in a creamy melted cheese sauce and served.
Tender, sweet, rich and savoury. Very smooth, very easy and relaxing meal to enjoy. Just nice for lunch - substantial and yet not overly filling.
To wash everything down, I had a Fresh Orange Papaya Honey Juice (RM9.90). Lovely, long cold drink.
During my previous visit to Bluewave (in Apr 2013), I enjoyed their signature Fried Chicken Platter, Seafood Aglio Olio Pasta and Cream of Mushroom Soup.
Bluewave's alcohol free tiramisu personally made by Sam is good too - smooth, creamy, soft, spongy, and not overly sweet.
Worthwhile dropping by if you are in the Bukit Indah/ Nusa Bestari area. Family friendly.
Restaurant name: Bluewave Bistro Address: 9, Jalan Indah 15/2, Taman Bukit Indah, Johor Bahru Map: http://goo.gl/maps/orxQA GPS: 1.481562,103.661724 Hours: 11:00am to 11:00pm (Sun to Thurs), 11:00am to midnight (Fri and Sat). Closed on alternate Thurs. No pork, no lard, no Halal cert
I visited Moonlight Cake House at Taman Bukit Indah yesterday at the gracious invitation of Boon Lin, the branch manager.
I love chilling out at the contemporary coffee shops in Johor Bahru that are clean, spacious, serves a wide variety of good Asian and Western food and beverages at reasonable prices, have pleasant service staff and provide complimentary and fast wifi. Moonlight Cake House at Bukit Indah has all these features of a good modern Johor Bahru coffee shop.
I especially love Moonlight Cake House's very cosy al fresco dining area which is cooled by a dozen whirling ceiling fans and shielded from road dust and traffic by closely planted scrubs and cooling mist curtains.
My first dish was the Aglio Olio with Mushrooms at RM10.90.
The spaghetti was smooth and el dente - it had that pleasant slightly springy bite that makes a good spaghetti. The tender lightly fried mushrooms were fragrant and the whole dish was perfumed by cheese and olive oil.
We next had the Spaghetti Soup with Clams at RM12.90.
The el dente spaghetti was submerged in a light savoury soup with distinct touches of fried garlic.
These fresh and very well cleaned clams gave the soup and spaghetti a sweet seafood savouriness. A couple of chili paddies gave the soup hints of sharp spiciness that heightened the enjoyment by opening the taste buds.
Chef Surya Rumba whips up the spaghetti dishes with flare and gusto.
After enjoying the spaghetti dishes, it's time to pick some cakes and sweets for dessert :P That's a very pleasant but not too easy task given the whole parade of tempting choices at Moonlight Cake House. So many cakes and sweets but just one 3/4 full tank :P
Fortunately, the task is much simplified for me as whenever there are crepe cakes, it will be my default choice. This is my "Berry Berry Milk Crepe" at RM8.80. Yum yum.... not overly sweet, creamy and has that special delicate bite that only good crepe cakes have. I am a sucker for good crepe cakes :P
I also had a creamy rich, sweet and smooth Vanilla Crème Brûlée at RM7.50.
To go with my crème brûlée and crepe cake, I had a cappuccino. The cappuccino made with coffee beans from Argentina was full bodied, robust and smooth.
I enjoyed myself at Moonlight Cake House and look forward to trying out their other dishes and cakes.
Restaurant name: Moonlight Cake House (6 branches) Address: 1, Jalan Indah 16/12, Taman Bukit Indah, Johor Bahru Map: http://goo.gl/maps/BVJmT GPS: 1.480843,103.664631 Hours: 9:00am to 2:00am No pork, no lard, Halal cert in process
Date visited: 25 Apr 2013
I visited Moonlight Cake House at Taman Bukit Indah yesterday at the gracious invitation of Boon Lin, the branch manager.
I love chilling out at the contemporary coffee shops in Johor Bahru that are clean, spacious, serves a wide variety of good Asian and Western food and beverages at reasonable prices, have pleasant service staff and provide complimentary and fast wifi. Moonlight Cake House at Bukit Indah has all these features of a good modern Johor Bahru coffee shop.
I especially love Moonlight Cake House's very cosy al fresco dining area which is cooled by a dozen whirling ceiling fans and shielded from road dust and traffic by closely planted scrubs and cooling mist curtains.
My first dish was the Aglio Olio with Mushrooms at RM10.90.
The spaghetti was smooth and el dente - it had that pleasant slightly springy bite that makes a good spaghetti. The tender lightly fried mushrooms were fragrant and the whole dish was perfumed by cheese and olive oil.
We next had the Spaghetti Soup with Clams at RM12.90.
The el dente spaghetti was submerged in a light savoury soup with distinct touches of fried garlic.
These fresh and very well cleaned clams gave the soup and spaghetti a sweet seafood savouriness. A couple of chili paddies gave the soup hints of sharp spiciness that heightened the enjoyment by opening the taste buds.
Chef Surya Rumba whips up the spaghetti dishes with flare and gusto.
After enjoying the spaghetti dishes, it's time to pick some cakes and sweets for dessert :P That's a very pleasant but not too easy task given the whole parade of tempting choices at Moonlight Cake House. So many cakes and sweets but just one 3/4 full tank :P
Fortunately, the task is much simplified for me as whenever there are crepe cakes, it will be my default choice. This is my "Berry Berry Milk Crepe" at RM8.80. Yum yum.... not overly sweet, creamy and has that special delicate bite that only good crepe cakes have. I am a sucker for good crepe cakes :P
I also had a creamy rich, sweet and smooth Vanilla Crème Brûlée at RM7.50.
To go with my crème brûlée and crepe cake, I had a cappuccino. The cappuccino made with coffee beans from Argentina was full bodied, robust and smooth.
I enjoyed myself at Moonlight Cake House and look forward to trying out their other dishes and cakes.
Restaurant name: Moonlight Cake House (6 branches) Address: 1, Jalan Indah 16/12, Taman Bukit Indah, Johor Bahru Map: http://goo.gl/maps/BVJmT GPS: 1.480843,103.664631 Hours: 9:00am to 2:00am No pork, no lard, Halal cert in process
We visited Bluewave Bistro in Bukit Indah (near AEON Jusco and opposite TESCO mall) today at the invitation of Sam, one of the owners.
Sam is a multi-talented and passionate young businessman. Bluewave Bistro has a baking section serving cakes and breads. Bluewave Bistro also serves Western, Asian favourites, and even vegetarian dishes all personally whipped up by Sam in the kitchen. Sam's passion in cooking runs in the family as his elder brothers also run their own restaurants in Singapore and Johor Bahru.
The interior of the neat and simple restaurant was warm and these whimsical decor pieces set the light hearted and welcoming tone.
The earth toned wall and table cloth added warmth and comfort to the air conditioned interior.
Cream of Mushroom Soup RM8.90
We started our lunch with this cream of mushroom soup. Made with freshly chopped mushrooms, mixed with garlic and onions, the mixture was fried and then boiled to create this creamy, sweet and savoury broth.
Fried Chicken Platter RM15.90
Bluewave Bistro's Fried Chicken Platter is a Must Try. Sam said that his Fried Chicken Platter is winning a lot of regulars for Bluewave Bistro. After tasting it, I can appreciate why.
The attractive looking yellow coloured rice was surprisingly tasty. The nicely cooked rice was flavoured with cumin, lemon grass and pomelo leaf. The rice was pleasing to the eyes, and delightful to our taste buds and noses.
The chunky piece of fried chicken leg was huge and thick. Sam did a good job in the frying. The batter was thin but the outside was crispy while the thick flesh inside stayed tender and juicy. The fried chicken was not greasy at all.
The fried chicken platter came with a sambal egg, one of my favourite sides. The fried hard boiled egg was nicely done. Slight crispiness in the very thin crust while the whites and yolk were tender still. The not too spicy sambal made by Sam was fragrant and savoury.
Sam's passion about his food can be seen in the little touches in his dishes. This is actually tempeh (fried soy bean cake). Tempeh is normally served in strips, thrown in almost like an customary side deserving scan attention. But, at Bluewave Bistro, tempeh is treated with a bit more respect. Sam chops up the tempeh and fries the tiny bits in tangy and savoury tomyam sauce.
Bluewave's special tomyam tempeh added interesting flavours and bite to the already tasty cumin rice.
After trying Bluewave's Fried Chicken Platter, it is easy to see why this dish is so popular. I highly recommend this dish.
Seafood Aglio Olio Pasta RM17.90
Next, Sam let us try his Seafood Aglio Olio Pasta which is another of his hot sellers.
Bluewave Bistro's Aglio Olio is garnished with good sized shrimps, mussels and strips of squid. The whole dish was showered with a generous blanket of cheese powder.
Sam really knows his pasta as this spaghetti was perfectly al dente. I really enjoyed the bite and mouth feel of these pasta - each crunchy strand coated with a film of olive oil, seafood broth and bits of powdered cheese.
Bluewave Bistro has a wide range of cakes and desserts to cap our meals. The cakes and desserts were so colourful and enticing. Bluewave Bistro also offers made-to-order cakes for special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. I definitely want to come back to Bluewave Bistro just to try their cakes.
Tiramisu RM7.90.
For today, on Sam's suggestion, we topped off our not too heavy lunch, with Bluewave Bistro's popular tiramisu. The tiramisu was light and airy, not overly sweet - just the perfect after lunch dessert. (There is no alcohol in Bluewave's tiramisu.)
Miss Tan, Bluewave Bistro's service supervisor made a nice cappuccino for me.
Cappuccino RM7.80
My cappucinno was the perfect match for my tiramisu.
I enjoyed my lunch today and was impressed with Sam's culinary skills. I am curious and can't wait to come back to try Bluewave Bistro's other offerings such as their steaks, vegetarian dishes, and cakes and desserts.
Restaurant name: Bluewave Bistro Address: 9, Jalan Indah 15/2, Taman Bukit Indah, Johor Bahru Map: http://goo.gl/maps/orxQA GPS: 1.481562,103.661724 Hours: 11:00am to 11:00pm (Sun to Thurs), 11:00am to midnight (Fri and Sat). Closed on alternate Thurs. No pork, no lard, no Halal cert
Date visited: 8 Apr 2013
We visited Bluewave Bistro in Bukit Indah (near AEON Jusco and opposite TESCO mall) today at the invitation of Sam, one of the owners.
Sam is a multi-talented and passionate young businessman. Bluewave Bistro has a baking section serving cakes and breads. Bluewave Bistro also serves Western, Asian favourites, and even vegetarian dishes all personally whipped up by Sam in the kitchen. Sam's passion in cooking runs in the family as his elder brothers also run their own restaurants in Singapore and Johor Bahru.
The interior of the neat and simple restaurant was warm and these whimsical decor pieces set the light hearted and welcoming tone.
The earth toned wall and table cloth added warmth and comfort to the air conditioned interior.
Cream of Mushroom Soup RM8.90
We started our lunch with this cream of mushroom soup. Made with freshly chopped mushrooms, mixed with garlic and onions, the mixture was fried and then boiled to create this creamy, sweet and savoury broth.
Fried Chicken Platter RM15.90
Bluewave Bistro's Fried Chicken Platter is a Must Try. Sam said that his Fried Chicken Platter is winning a lot of regulars for Bluewave Bistro. After tasting it, I can appreciate why.
The attractive looking yellow coloured rice was surprisingly tasty. The nicely cooked rice was flavoured with cumin, lemon grass and pomelo leaf. The rice was pleasing to the eyes, and delightful to our taste buds and noses.
The chunky piece of fried chicken leg was huge and thick. Sam did a good job in the frying. The batter was thin but the outside was crispy while the thick flesh inside stayed tender and juicy. The fried chicken was not greasy at all.
The fried chicken platter came with a sambal egg, one of my favourite sides. The fried hard boiled egg was nicely done. Slight crispiness in the very thin crust while the whites and yolk were tender still. The not too spicy sambal made by Sam was fragrant and savoury.
Sam's passion about his food can be seen in the little touches in his dishes. This is actually tempeh (fried soy bean cake). Tempeh is normally served in strips, thrown in almost like an customary side deserving scan attention. But, at Bluewave Bistro, tempeh is treated with a bit more respect. Sam chops up the tempeh and fries the tiny bits in tangy and savoury tomyam sauce.
Bluewave's special tomyam tempeh added interesting flavours and bite to the already tasty cumin rice.
After trying Bluewave's Fried Chicken Platter, it is easy to see why this dish is so popular. I highly recommend this dish.
Seafood Aglio Olio Pasta RM17.90
Next, Sam let us try his Seafood Aglio Olio Pasta which is another of his hot sellers.
Bluewave Bistro's Aglio Olio is garnished with good sized shrimps, mussels and strips of squid. The whole dish was showered with a generous blanket of cheese powder.
Sam really knows his pasta as this spaghetti was perfectly al dente. I really enjoyed the bite and mouth feel of these pasta - each crunchy strand coated with a film of olive oil, seafood broth and bits of powdered cheese.
Bluewave Bistro has a wide range of cakes and desserts to cap our meals. The cakes and desserts were so colourful and enticing. Bluewave Bistro also offers made-to-order cakes for special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. I definitely want to come back to Bluewave Bistro just to try their cakes.
Tiramisu RM7.90.
For today, on Sam's suggestion, we topped off our not too heavy lunch, with Bluewave Bistro's popular tiramisu. The tiramisu was light and airy, not overly sweet - just the perfect after lunch dessert. (There is no alcohol in Bluewave's tiramisu.)
Miss Tan, Bluewave Bistro's service supervisor made a nice cappuccino for me.
Cappuccino RM7.80
My cappucinno was the perfect match for my tiramisu.
I enjoyed my lunch today and was impressed with Sam's culinary skills. I am curious and can't wait to come back to try Bluewave Bistro's other offerings such as their steaks, vegetarian dishes, and cakes and desserts.
Restaurant name: Bluewave Bistro Address: 9, Jalan Indah 15/2, Taman Bukit Indah, Johor Bahru Map: http://goo.gl/maps/orxQA GPS: 1.481562,103.661724 Hours: 11:00am to 11:00pm (Sun to Thurs), 11:00am to midnight (Fri and Sat). Closed on alternate Thurs. No pork, no lard, no Halal cert
