Coffee and Cakes at Cestino Bakery and Bistro near AEON Jusco Tebrau, Johor Bahru

This is my second visit to Cestino near AEON Jusco Tebrau Mall, invited by Ah Zai, Cestino's Asst Manager.



Cestino is just a short walk through the AEON Jusco Mall covered car park or if you drive, just a 2 minute swing around to the Tebrau City Residences apartment blocks adjacent to the Mall.



As always, I can't help but stop to marvel at this giant mural of Marilyn Monroe taking pride of place at Cestino.

Cestino is a good place to chill as it is comfortable, has a good range of coffees and other hot and cold drinks, lots of cakes and desserts as well as cafe dishes like fish and chips. There is free wifi and ample free parking right at Cestino's door step.

During our visit, had a couple of Cestino's house blended coffees and a riot of colourful cakes :P







The Double Chocolate Walnut Brownie was moist, buttery with crunchy walnuts, and not overly sweet (RM10.90).





Other cakes I didn't taste today but they certainly look enticing enough for me to come back for them soon.



Cestino's tiramisu with chocolate, espresso, cheese and liqueur is one cool cake and among Cestino's hottest sellers (RM10.90).



Cheesecakes are one of my favourite cakes.



Cestino's macaroons come in 15 flavours including their signature salted caramel (RM3.20 each). Not my type of biscuit but I acknowledge that there are lots of macaroon fans out there :P



Cestino's Vanilla Cream Brulee with a rich, sweet custard base (RM10.90)





Cestino's Cream Brulee comes with this roselle poached pear. Interesting slightly tangy, sweet taste and crunchy juicy texture. Beautiful to look at too :))





We also tried Cestino's popular fish and chips (RM17.90).



I like Cestino's homemade tartar sauce. Rich, creamy, tangy and savoury with interesting crunchy bits of pickled vegetables like cucumbers mixed in.



Cestino's full bodied house blend coffees and lattes are made with aromatic Arabica beans.



Cestino's signature mocha for the coffee drinkers who like chocolate and espresso blend.



I snapped a pic of Cestino's hot beverage menu :P



For obvious reason, this is my favourite coffee blend at Cestino ;))

The next time you are nearby or in AEON Jusco Tebrau, drop by Cestino and check out their cakes and coffees. Cestino also has set lunch and high tea deals - ask about these value combo deals when you are  there.



Restaurant name: Cestino Bakery and Bistro
Address: Blok F-01-07 and 08, Jalan Harmonium 24/2, Taman Desa Tebrau, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/cMEhd
GPS: 1.550760,103.795630
Hours: 12:00 noon to 11:00pm (Closed on Mondays)
Non Halal

This is my second visit to Cestino near AEON Jusco Tebrau Mall, invited by Ah Zai, Cestino's Asst Manager.



Cestino is just a short walk through the AEON Jusco Mall covered car park or if you drive, just a 2 minute swing around to the Tebrau City Residences apartment blocks adjacent to the Mall.



As always, I can't help but stop to marvel at this giant mural of Marilyn Monroe taking pride of place at Cestino.

Cestino is a good place to chill as it is comfortable, has a good range of coffees and other hot and cold drinks, lots of cakes and desserts as well as cafe dishes like fish and chips. There is free wifi and ample free parking right at Cestino's door step.

During our visit, had a couple of Cestino's house blended coffees and a riot of colourful cakes :P







The Double Chocolate Walnut Brownie was moist, buttery with crunchy walnuts, and not overly sweet (RM10.90).





Other cakes I didn't taste today but they certainly look enticing enough for me to come back for them soon.



Cestino's tiramisu with chocolate, espresso, cheese and liqueur is one cool cake and among Cestino's hottest sellers (RM10.90).



Cheesecakes are one of my favourite cakes.



Cestino's macaroons come in 15 flavours including their signature salted caramel (RM3.20 each). Not my type of biscuit but I acknowledge that there are lots of macaroon fans out there :P



Cestino's Vanilla Cream Brulee with a rich, sweet custard base (RM10.90)





Cestino's Cream Brulee comes with this roselle poached pear. Interesting slightly tangy, sweet taste and crunchy juicy texture. Beautiful to look at too :))





We also tried Cestino's popular fish and chips (RM17.90).



I like Cestino's homemade tartar sauce. Rich, creamy, tangy and savoury with interesting crunchy bits of pickled vegetables like cucumbers mixed in.



Cestino's full bodied house blend coffees and lattes are made with aromatic Arabica beans.



Cestino's signature mocha for the coffee drinkers who like chocolate and espresso blend.



I snapped a pic of Cestino's hot beverage menu :P



For obvious reason, this is my favourite coffee blend at Cestino ;))

The next time you are nearby or in AEON Jusco Tebrau, drop by Cestino and check out their cakes and coffees. Cestino also has set lunch and high tea deals - ask about these value combo deals when you are  there.



Restaurant name: Cestino Bakery and Bistro
Address: Blok F-01-07 and 08, Jalan Harmonium 24/2, Taman Desa Tebrau, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/cMEhd
GPS: 1.550760,103.795630
Hours: 12:00 noon to 11:00pm (Closed on Mondays)
Non Halal

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Thai Food at Bangkok Village 泰美味花園 in Taman Desa Tebrau, Johor Bahru

I've been to Bangkok Village twice at the invitation of owners Edwin and Thomas. I like Bangkok Village because of its ambiance and the good food. I also like Bangkok Village's easy accessibility via the EDL and ample fuss free, free parking.



Bangkok Village is set in a tropical garden with fish ponds, water features, mangrove and hanging vines.



It's like an idyllic oasis just off the busy Kota Tinggi highway.

Guess what's this?



This is actually the entrance to the toilets. So "back to nature" when answering nature's call.



And, this very interesting water feature is actually the wash basin.



As our visits were during the Chinese New Year period, we found Bangkok Village prettily decked out with red lanterns and festive decorations.

Bangkok Village scored high on it's environment and in my opinion was also good in the food department. Here's what we tried during our visits.

I am not a big fan of Ikan Siakap because of past encounters with muddy tasting fish, when it was not fresh. Recently, I changed my mind about IKan Siakap after I tried the Siakap Tiga Rasa at Sutera Village and now, at Bangkok Village.



Fresh Ikan Siakap when well prepared like this popular Thai Lemon Steamed Siakap at Bangkok Village was delicious (RM35).



The tangy, savoury sauce brought out the sweetness of the tender Siakap flesh. There was no hint of muddy taste at all as the fish was fresh. 



I actually prefer to eat my Siakap deep fried. So, I really enjoyed this crispy fried Siakap drenched in spicy Thai style gravy. The tangy, sweet and spicy gravy complemented well the crispy meat that still retained a little softness.



When I saw Stir Fried Sotong with Sambal and Petai (RM24.80) on the menu, I couldn't resist asking for it. The sambal and petai were great, and what impressed me most was the springy, "lively" soft sotong. The Chef did a good job in retaining the bounciness of the sotong flesh. This is one dish that I will definitely come back for.
 

I love glass noodles because it does such a good job of sponging up the tastes and flavours of the gravy that it is cooked in.





We had both the glass noodles cooked with crabs (RM95.00 per kilo) and with prawns (RM28.80) served in claypots. Both were yummy, especially the glass noodles which soaked up the savoury flavours of the crabs and prawns.



This delicious claw was a nice bonus.



Massaman Curry was ranked the most delicious food in the world by CNNGo in 2011. Bangkok Village serves this Massaman Curry Beef at RM20.80. The spicy curry was thick and grainy as it was full of ingredients and I remembered the unusual things like groundnuts and pamelo leaves.



Thai Green Curry Chicken, sweet and flavourful, very mild spiciness, easy to like. RM19.80 for a small serving. Creamy green curry is one of my favourite Thai dish.



Most people would want a Tom Yam Seafood Soup to go with their Thai meal. At Bangkok Village, it's served in a steamboat pot with burning charcoal at RM22.80. Got to scoop out the seafood fast as the hot charcoal overcooks the ingredients and dries out the bubbling spicy soup pretty quick. 



The tasty Pineapple Rice was nicely executed and would have been more charming had it been served in a hollowed out pineapple shell :P  RM7.80 for a small serving.



The sour and spicy Thai salad with mango was crunchy but a tad too salty for my liking. RM12.80 a serving.

If you are looking for Thai cuisine, and want to enjoy it in a garden ambiance, Bangkok Village is the best option that I know of in JB.

Bangkok Village is very accessible from downtown JB or JB Immigration via the EDL or Eastern Dispersal Link. It's less than 30 minutes of very leisurely driving once you clear JB Immigration. Parking is also easy - ample lots, free of charge with traffic marshals to guide you.



Restaurant name: Bangkok Village 泰美味花園主题餐馆
Address: Jalan Harmonium 3, Taman Desa Tebrau, Off Kota Tinggi highway
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/UvQHt
GPS: 1.555168,103.801188
Hours: 12:00 noon to 11:30pm
No pork no lard served, no Halal cert

Dates visited: 4 Feb 2013, 14 Feb 2013

I've been to Bangkok Village twice at the invitation of owners Edwin and Thomas. I like Bangkok Village because of its ambiance and the good food. I also like Bangkok Village's easy accessibility via the EDL and ample fuss free, free parking.



Bangkok Village is set in a tropical garden with fish ponds, water features, mangrove and hanging vines.



It's like an idyllic oasis just off the busy Kota Tinggi highway.

Guess what's this?



This is actually the entrance to the toilets. So "back to nature" when answering nature's call.



And, this very interesting water feature is actually the wash basin.



As our visits were during the Chinese New Year period, we found Bangkok Village prettily decked out with red lanterns and festive decorations.

Bangkok Village scored high on it's environment and in my opinion was also good in the food department. Here's what we tried during our visits.

I am not a big fan of Ikan Siakap because of past encounters with muddy tasting fish, when it was not fresh. Recently, I changed my mind about IKan Siakap after I tried the Siakap Tiga Rasa at Sutera Village and now, at Bangkok Village.



Fresh Ikan Siakap when well prepared like this popular Thai Lemon Steamed Siakap at Bangkok Village was delicious (RM35).



The tangy, savoury sauce brought out the sweetness of the tender Siakap flesh. There was no hint of muddy taste at all as the fish was fresh. 



I actually prefer to eat my Siakap deep fried. So, I really enjoyed this crispy fried Siakap drenched in spicy Thai style gravy. The tangy, sweet and spicy gravy complemented well the crispy meat that still retained a little softness.



When I saw Stir Fried Sotong with Sambal and Petai (RM24.80) on the menu, I couldn't resist asking for it. The sambal and petai were great, and what impressed me most was the springy, "lively" soft sotong. The Chef did a good job in retaining the bounciness of the sotong flesh. This is one dish that I will definitely come back for.
 

I love glass noodles because it does such a good job of sponging up the tastes and flavours of the gravy that it is cooked in.





We had both the glass noodles cooked with crabs (RM95.00 per kilo) and with prawns (RM28.80) served in claypots. Both were yummy, especially the glass noodles which soaked up the savoury flavours of the crabs and prawns.



This delicious claw was a nice bonus.



Massaman Curry was ranked the most delicious food in the world by CNNGo in 2011. Bangkok Village serves this Massaman Curry Beef at RM20.80. The spicy curry was thick and grainy as it was full of ingredients and I remembered the unusual things like groundnuts and pamelo leaves.



Thai Green Curry Chicken, sweet and flavourful, very mild spiciness, easy to like. RM19.80 for a small serving. Creamy green curry is one of my favourite Thai dish.



Most people would want a Tom Yam Seafood Soup to go with their Thai meal. At Bangkok Village, it's served in a steamboat pot with burning charcoal at RM22.80. Got to scoop out the seafood fast as the hot charcoal overcooks the ingredients and dries out the bubbling spicy soup pretty quick. 



The tasty Pineapple Rice was nicely executed and would have been more charming had it been served in a hollowed out pineapple shell :P  RM7.80 for a small serving.



The sour and spicy Thai salad with mango was crunchy but a tad too salty for my liking. RM12.80 a serving.

If you are looking for Thai cuisine, and want to enjoy it in a garden ambiance, Bangkok Village is the best option that I know of in JB.

Bangkok Village is very accessible from downtown JB or JB Immigration via the EDL or Eastern Dispersal Link. It's less than 30 minutes of very leisurely driving once you clear JB Immigration. Parking is also easy - ample lots, free of charge with traffic marshals to guide you.



Restaurant name: Bangkok Village 泰美味花園主题餐馆
Address: Jalan Harmonium 3, Taman Desa Tebrau, Off Kota Tinggi highway
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/UvQHt
GPS: 1.555168,103.801188
Hours: 12:00 noon to 11:30pm
No pork no lard served, no Halal cert

Dates visited: 4 Feb 2013, 14 Feb 2013

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Cestino Bakery and Bistro at Taman Desa Tebrau, Johor Bahru

 

After shopping in AEON Jusco Tebrau we swung around across the large car park towards the apartments in Tebrau City Residences (TCR). We found a nice place to cool our heels after a day of shopping in Cestino Bakery and Bistro, a fairly new (year old) coffee joint at the ground floor shoplots at TCR.

 

Stepping inside, I was surprised at the size of the café - it was huge as it was made up of two shoplots. Though simple, the décor was pleasant and the ambiance was comfortable and relaxing. I especially liked that centrepiece Marilyn Monroe mural.

We tried their tiramisu, chocolate walnut brownie and macaroons to go with our cappuccino and mocha.

 

I don't have a sweet tooth and so I was pleased that Cestino's tiramisu, brownie and macaroons were not overly sweet.

 

The cakes and pastries went very well with the smooth and aromatic house blend coffee of Arabica beans.

 

Overall, it was a pleasant afternoon. Cestino is a fairly quiet place which is comfortable for intimate conversations. There is also free WiFi for those who must stay connected.

 

Pricing was reasonable, the tiramisu was at RM10.90, brownie RM10.90, macaroons RM3.20 each, cappuccino RM7.90 and mocha RM8.90

 

The next time when I am at AEON Jusco Tebrau, I'll again chill at Cestino over cappuccino and tiramisu.

 

Cestino also has an extensive menu of Western cuisine like pastas, steaks, and chops for lunch and dinner. We shall be back to try these in the future.

 

Restaurant name: Cestino Bakery and Bistro
Address: Blok F-01-07 and 08, Jalan Harmonium 24/2, Taman Desa Tebrau, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/cMEhd
GPS: 1.550760,103.795630
Hours: 12:00 noon to 11:00pm (Closed on Mondays)
Non Halal

 

Date visited: 15 Jan 2013, 26 Mar 2013

 

After shopping in AEON Jusco Tebrau we swung around across the large car park towards the apartments in Tebrau City Residences (TCR). We found a nice place to cool our heels after a day of shopping in Cestino Bakery and Bistro, a fairly new (year old) coffee joint at the ground floor shoplots at TCR.

 

Stepping inside, I was surprised at the size of the café - it was huge as it was made up of two shoplots. Though simple, the décor was pleasant and the ambiance was comfortable and relaxing. I especially liked that centrepiece Marilyn Monroe mural.

We tried their tiramisu, chocolate walnut brownie and macaroons to go with our cappuccino and mocha.

 

I don't have a sweet tooth and so I was pleased that Cestino's tiramisu, brownie and macaroons were not overly sweet.

 

The cakes and pastries went very well with the smooth and aromatic house blend coffee of Arabica beans.

 

Overall, it was a pleasant afternoon. Cestino is a fairly quiet place which is comfortable for intimate conversations. There is also free WiFi for those who must stay connected.

 

Pricing was reasonable, the tiramisu was at RM10.90, brownie RM10.90, macaroons RM3.20 each, cappuccino RM7.90 and mocha RM8.90

 

The next time when I am at AEON Jusco Tebrau, I'll again chill at Cestino over cappuccino and tiramisu.

 

Cestino also has an extensive menu of Western cuisine like pastas, steaks, and chops for lunch and dinner. We shall be back to try these in the future.

 

Restaurant name: Cestino Bakery and Bistro
Address: Blok F-01-07 and 08, Jalan Harmonium 24/2, Taman Desa Tebrau, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/cMEhd
GPS: 1.550760,103.795630
Hours: 12:00 noon to 11:00pm (Closed on Mondays)
Non Halal

 

Date visited: 15 Jan 2013, 26 Mar 2013

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