Written By : Imran Razib
What makes a wonderful afternoon tea? A good cuppa, house specialty of hand-crafted Bangkok style durian sticky rice and a scenic river view, Alan Teh Leam Seng finds out.
“GREAT Coffee Is Just The Beginning”. This compelling tagline certainly holds true for Blackwood ABC which definitely has much more to offer than just exquisite beverages.
Located on the ground floor of the sprawling Ampang Business Centre complex, offering stunning views of Alor Star’s bustling western corridor, Blackwood offers a wide selection of western as well as local-inspired light meals together with tantalizing savoury desserts even those without the proverbial sweet tooth would find difficult to resist.
Although there are five Blackwood outlets sited at various strategically placed locations throughout Perlis and Kedah, it is this establishment, close to the scenic meandering Sungai Kedah, that receives the most attention each time durian season comes around the corner.
THE IRRESISTIBLE KING
Even before the King of Fruits start to ripen at a related company owned orchard in Jitra, orders start piling up for the outlet’s hand-crafted scrumptious Bangkok style durian sticky rice.
Conceived last year when the pandemic brought overseas travel to a complete standstill, this unique creation has successfully given opportunity to those craving Thai glutinous rice based desserts to sample an equally mouth-watering alternative complete with a local twist.
Available only on Thursdays and Sundays until end of the month, this much sought after savoury dessert is freshly prepared using premium local durians that are far superior in terms of flavour and aroma compared to the Monthong variety commonly used by our northern neighbour.
At the same time, the bluish coloured glutinous rice looks far more interesting than the usual plain translucent version commonly seen in Thailand.
This attractive concoction is achieved by carefully soaking organic glutinous rice with newly plucked bunga telang overnight before bringing the mixture to a slow boil. Known also as blue pea flowers, these blooms have to be as fresh as possible to exude the required vivid deep blue colour.
Also commonly featured in Kelantanese nasi kerabu, bunga telang is said to possess memory enhancing as well as anti-stress and anti-depressant properties. Served together with creamy coconut milk and crispy fried mung beans, this tempting dessert is a sure winner for those who adore pulut durian.
SAVOURY SNACKS
Apart from this popular seasonal offering, Blackwood diners are spoilt for choice when it comes to pairing savoury light snacks with delightful beverages. Right at the top of a rather long list of popular choices are the chicken Bolognese and egg mayo croissant.
Going by just the name, many may brush off the former as just a common run-off-the-mill offering. This general perception is, however, wide of the mark. After just one mouthful, it becomes obvious that the one served here is definitely in a class of its own.
Cooked to perfection, the fibre-rich whole wheat spaghetti is slightly chewy and provides a spring to each bite.
Here at Blackwood, the secret to create good pasta is to ensure there is sufficient water during the cooking process. Then, as the water boils, a little salt is added to increase the temperature as higher heat ensures optimal texture.
Complementing the well prepared pasta is the thick and savoury sauce. Dispensing with the usual ground beef, Blackwood’s highly motivated and passionate team opts for the healthier and leaner chicken meat. Prepared in authentic Italian fashion, the sauce is slow simmered with a selection of organically-grown vegetables, aromatic herbs like freshly harvested fennel, coriander and basil as well as a hearty dash of heavy cream.
While all meal selections go well with the varied beverages on offer, my hot caramel macchiato complements the egg mayo croissant to a tee. The strong espresso’s creamy and sweet taste boosts the decadent filling of freshly mashed free-range eggs and ground parsley while bringing out the full flavour of the soft buttery melt-in-the-mouth pastry.
In a nutshell, Blackwood does live up to its vision of promoting a balanced lifestyle with mouth-watering food amidst an inspiring environment that synergises a truly awesome café experience.
FAST FACTS
Blackwood Coffee and Chocolate @ Ampang Business Centre
Tg-1, Plot 111, Ampang Business Centre
Lebuhraya Sultanah Bahiyah
05050 Alor Star
Kedah
WEBSITE www.blackwood.my
EMAIL customerservice@blackwoodcoffee.com.my
HOURS 10am-10.30pm (Sunday – Thursday), 10am-11pm (Friday – Saturday)
