CHASING FOOD DREAMS: Shah Alam

Showing posts with label Shah Alam. Show all posts

October 3, 2019

Best Western i-City Hotel Staycation with All You Can Eat Seafood BBQ

Stay & Relax, Enjoy Seafood BBQ and QR Code Room Service and Play at i-City Theme Park

A short weekend retreat, we found ourselves back at the Best Western i-City Hotel for some R&R time with the family. A great place for a simple and affordable Cuti Cuti Malaysia without having to burn a hole-in-the-pocket, Best Western I-City has all the great markings for a family retreat with its nearby i-City Theme Park and Central i-city Mall – the latest mall in Shah Alam.

Its been a year since our last visit and the hotel has certainly been well-kept at a glance. From the moment one walks in, the hotel staff greeted us with warm smiles. We quickly checked into our room but not before stopping to check out a quaint corner where kids can pay RM5 to take a fish to their room for the hotel stay.

We were debating as Crush here was so beautiful with its shiny glowing blue…

Jamaica Blue Fine Coffees @ Setia Alam City Mall

Keep Calm and Drink Jamaica Blue Coffee

When it comes to coffee, the coffee masters of Jamaica Blue Fine Coffee go all out to search for the very best beans to be pair with their café menu. Named after the Blue Mountain in Jamaica, the successful Caribbean themed café chain has been serving their award-winning Jamaica Signature Blend and Blue Mountain coffees in several strategic locations in our country.

We paid a visit to Jamaica Blue in Setia Alam City Mall for a brunch and was certainly pleased with our experience. The café was spacious and designed with a natural theme of earthy colours contrasted with blocks of black. Splashes of colours are subtly injected through banquette seats as well as small hanging lighting.

A huge bar is designed with open concept to allow customers to catch preparations of coffees and other beverages along with a baked goods counter. Chalkboards are placed behind the bar as informative as well as decorative touches to the café.

The café has a wonderful laid-back vibe, which is perfect for those seeking solace in a good cup of joe with some relaxation time. The ambiance is also in theme with its brand identity where one evokes the spirit of coffee while reflecting the essence of the easy-going vibe at the Caribbean. Customers are sure to experience the café’s values of rich, warm, vibrant, relaxed, authentic and even a little exotic.

With 8 outlets spread all over Malaysia, each outlet offers main master menu with some tweaks based on its geographical location and its produce. The menu has the typical café list of just as much food as there is on the beverage list. Besides coffee, there are plenty of non-caffeine drinks, juices, smoothies and even tea. The menu consists of all-day breakfast bites, pasta, pies, burgers and sandwiches.

Coffee lovers should try both their award-winning signature coffee beans. The Jamaica Blue Mountain Cappuccino (RM23.40) and Jamaica Blue Signature Blend Cappuccino (RM11.70), both have respective aroma and flavours with one more pronounced than the other.

For a cheeky note, Jamaica Blue has featured a monthly special of Blue Latte (RM11.00). The caffeine-free beverage has blue Curacao syrup to give it that pretty pastel blue. The white chocolate and milk concoction has a pretty tree art latte as a finishing. The Pomegranate Soda (RM14.20) is also a refreshing drink to quench that thirst.

More drinks to check out, Nuts Over Caramel Frappe (RM14.50), Mango Gone Banana Smoothie (RM14.50) and Chocolate Banana Frappe (RM14.50)

The all-day breakfast menu of Eggs Florentine with Smoked Salmon (RM26.50) is executed with perfection. Perfectly poached eggs on a bed of wilted spinach with toast, crowned with luscious smoked salmon and finished with buttery thick hollandaise sauce. The combination befits the breakfast of champions!

The Warm Forest Mushroom, Feta & Spinach Bowl (RM20.00) is another healthy and delicious option that borders on between breakfast and lunch. The vegetarian option consists of a quinoa and almond porridge topped with sautéed warm mushrooms, chickpeas, wilted spinach. Finished with poached egg, whipped feta, sprinkling of sunflower and pumpkin seeds and a spice mix of dukkah, the dish has so much flavours and textures that is very easy to enjoy.

For more familiar classics, there’s burgers and sandwiches for lunch. The Vintage Ground Beef Burger (RM28.90) is a solid dish served with a side of salad. Thick beef patty with beef strips, caramelized onions, cheddar cheese and the usual condiments, the burger made a substantial meal on its own. The only thing I am missing is the fries on this dish.

There’s also the Classic Steak Sandwich (RM28.60). Grilled scotch fillet and beef strips with caramelized onions, aioli, gherkin and veggies on ciabatta roll sounded and tasted yummy.

If you do not take beef, the Jerk Spiced Chicken, Avocado & Mozzarella Roll (RM20) is a healthy option with lean chicken breast nicely dressed in a spiced up creamy dressing with avocado and cucumber on ciabatta bread.

Then there is pasta. Jamaica Blue’s pasta selection may not be a lot but what they serve are pretty good in my books. We were assured that their Traditional Pasta Carbonara (RM22.90) is authentic as it gets. Though it may not be drenched in the usual thick cream sauce that most places serve, this one is simply tossed in lots of olive oil with garlic, parmesan cheese, egg and turkey strips. Not too bad as it doesn’t leave one heavy after savoring it and yet the pasta is full of tasty flavours.

For an unusual note, try the Chicken Laksa Pasta (RM20.90). This dish was a surprising one as it taste so much better than it sounds. The balanced amount of spices hit all the right notes along with the much creamy coconut milk. This is bound to be a local favorite for its distinctive laksa flavour.

Jamaica Blue has quite a few options for desserts like the Dark Chocolate & Walnut Brownie (RM12.00) and Sticky Date Pudding (RM14.00). Both decadent and great for a sweet note, especially to go with coffee.

Besides the desserts, there’s plenty of sliced cakes, muffins, scones, pastries and more for anytime of the day to go with your cup of joe!

JAMAICA BLUE FINE COFFEES

Setia City Mall

LG – 12, Lower Ground Floor, Persiaran Setia Dagang,

Seksyen U13, Setia Alam,

40170 Shah Alam,

Selangor, Malaysia

Tel: +603-3359 2778

Website: www.jamaicablue.com.my

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jamaicabluemy/

Business Hours:

Mon - Sun 10.00 am - 10.00 pm

November 14, 2018

Best Western I-City Shah Alam Hotel Staycation

Stay & Splash Promotion with Hotel and I-City Waterworld Package

Over one weekend, I took my boys for a short staycation at Best Western I-City Shah Alam. I-City has always been on my mind to visit. A ultrapolis that comprises of hotels, theme parks, shopping mall, retails and entertainment hubs, I-City has many things to offer locals as well as tourists. The whole I-City development is all connected to one and offers a space for fun entertainment, shopping as well as residences.

When an invitation came from Best Western I-City Shah Alam for a sneak preview of their coming Stay & Splash Promotion for the school holidays, it was a good excuse to check out what the hotel has to offer in I-City. We arrived at Best Western I-City Shah Alam on a Saturday in the early afternoon with easy guidance from Waze. The hotel has multiple storey car-parks, so parking was a breeze and it’s also complimentary.

This 18-story modern business hotel has 214 guestrooms and suites that is themed in minimalist modern design. Best Western has an all-day dining restaurant that offers 24 room service and a casual café with alfresco seating for guests to dine-in. There is also meeting rooms and banquet services to cater up to 140 guests for business or private functions.

For the coming school holidays, Best Western I-City is offering a Stay & Splash Promotion that packaged a hotel staycation with free admission to the I-City Waterworld theme park. This is a good deal for locals as well as tourists to enjoy a short staycation with family and loved ones during November and December 2018. Read on for the whole package deal at the end of this post.

The Stay & Splash package offers 2 Days 1 Night stay in Superior Room with included breakfast for 2 guests and two free tickets to I-City Waterworld. We checked into our room and we had an additionally added roll-away bed for my little one.

The lobby of the hotel is very spacious with plush bright colored furniture. Staying guests can help themselves to free popcorn and complimentary beverages while checking in. Our check in was a breeze and we head up to level 15 for our room. As soon as the elevator opened, we saw that the hotel provided complimentary childhood treat of Haw Flakes for guests of all ages. A nice touch indeed…

When checking in, guests can also take a pet fish for the duration of the hotel stay for a pet experience!

Our room is spacious and designed with modern minimalist design. While its nothing fancy, the room is pleasantly comfortable with wood floor and furniture fixings. The bed is facing the work space cum vanity desk as well as the tv. Besides the bed, there is the usual phone and digital clock along with notepad and pen.

A key point for me whenever I stay in any hotel is the cleanliness of the room along with the comforts of a firm bed and pillows. Our room has the check points of being very clean and the bed is comfortable enough for me to enjoy my afternoon just resting on the bed, camping in front of the tv. Free Wi-Fi connectivity is solid in our room as well as throughout the hotel.

Besides the bed, there is the usual cabinet for clothes, luggage cabinet, room slippers, mini safe box, mini fridge, basic coffee and tea as well as water facilities.

The bathroom has a glassed panel shower room along with the usual bathroom facilities, hair dryer and toiletries.

Our room overlooks the cityscape of I-City Shah Alam. Since the weather took a stormy turn that afternoon, I was still very pleased in just relaxing in my room till dinner time. For dinner, there is the all-day dining called The View or you can simply head out to the various cafes and restaurants in the I-City space.

After dinner, we strolled over to the various entertainment space like the I-City of Digital Lights Theme Park which is only a 5-minute walk. We also walked past various entertainment hubs that kids and adults can do such as Snowalk, Space Museum, Trick Art Museum, Red Carpet, House of Horror and more.

The I-City of Digital Lights is free entrance, but one must buy tickets for the rides. There is also a kid’s playground nearby. The beautifully lit park is quite enchanting and offers many opportunities for photos.

One highly recommended ride to take is the SpaceWalk where an electric railed bike takes two riders through the digital light park from a high view. It is an amazing experience not to be missed!

After a good sleep, we woke up pretty early to enjoy breakfast at The View. Our plan was to enjoy our breakfast and then head over to the I-City Waterworld to enjoy our free admission package.

Breakfast is decent and satisfying with plenty of international and locals dishes to cater to palates of all ages. There is the egg station as well as a roti station whipping up your orders of eggs of your choices and roti canai to be savored with thick dhal and sambal.

We tucked into nasi lemak, fried noodles along with porridge, toast, sausages, hash browns, baked beans, fresh fruits, yoghurts and more happily along with fresh juices, coffee and tea.

After breakfast, we quickly donned our swim wear and head over to the I-City Waterworld. The weather was sunny and warm, perfect condition to enjoy the waterpark.

Best to get there early as the park opens 10am to 7pm daily. There is the pool for the younger ones with some famous cartoon characters along with various water slides, large tube floaters, wave pool and more. Though the park is not as big as other waterpark, it is still relatively sufficient for the young ones to have a very enjoyable time like mine did. Lockers are available too for those who need to keep their items safe. There is also a café selling snacks and light bites along with drinks to quench the thirst.

Look at who is grinning happily!

After our waterpark, we headed back to the hotel to enjoy the hotel’s Sunday Hi-Tea Buffet promotion at The View. The Hi-Tea starts from 12.30pm to 4pm every Sunday. Adults are priced at RM42 whiles kids and senior citizen gets 50% off the adult price.

The View is very spaciously design as well, offering guests an indoor dining area as well as alfresco area.

There is even a Kids’ Corner where the little ones can color to their heart content with sponsored coloring stationary by Faber Castell.

The Hi-Tea buffet offers a variety of international as well as local dishes. Head straight for the hot buffet warmers for Fried Kway Teow, Nasi Goreng Kampung, Crispy Fish Fillet, Deep Fried Squid, Roti Jala with Curry, Baked Shepherd Pie, Macaroni and Cheese, Fried Popiah and more.

On that Sunday, the noodle station specialty was Penang Asam Laksa and there is also Hainanese Chicken Rice. One can also DIY their own sandwiches from the sandwich station.

Do save room for sweets since its Hi-Tea after all and Sundays are meant to be showered with sweet notes. Cakes, eclairs, mini cream puffs, puddings, jellies, Chocolate Fountain, Ice Kacang, Ice Cream are just some of the desserts to check out. Enjoy the desserts with coffee and tea as well as Teh Tarik!

We checked-out happily that Sunday! The Stay & Splash Promotion is value-for-money for a short staycation in the city over the weekend. Do check that out as it ends on 31 Dec 2018.