Sunday, April 5, 2009

In pursuit of healthier living, starting at Bagel N Coffee Station

Sunday AM: In need of greasy, fry-up breakfast to counter effects of last night's pinot grigio. At 9.15AM, Jarrod & Rawlins still shows no sign of life so we proceed to try our luck at Hartamas Shopping Centre.

Fry-ups elusive here too. Does F&B retail mean you start no earlier than the regular mall o'clock of ten to ten? Thankfully, Bagel 'N' Coffee station stands open, bright, cheery and welcoming. Bagels were probably the last thing we had in mind this morning but we decide it'll have to do and step right in. Bagels can't be choosers, right? HA HA HA! Sorry, Sundays are lamecheck-o-meter's days off.

The interior is standard contemporary cafe - liberal use of the warm colour palette, cosy lighting. Air conditioning could do with a service though.

We struggle initially with the menu as the guy who served us basically shoved us the Combo deal menu they had without letting on that there was another menu listing the various fillings that made up either a Super, Deluxe or Premium bagel.

The coffee arrives within minutes, two big steaming mugs. The quaintest thing - coffee comes with a handful of peanuts (salted) and a piece Dairy Milk. We think it's a little strange but we're charmed nevertheless. Biscottis in bulk probably aren't cutting the budget sheets these days.

MS' glorious ode to dairy - Parmesan bagel. Cream cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto and parmesan. I wouldn't touch it, but can understand how lactose nuts would quiver in ecstasy at the sight of this.

MS says it's good, very very good.

I go for the more predictable Classic New York - hold the cream cheese, double up on the horseradish, smoked salmon, cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes and onion.

I am very impressed. Bagels are tricky things - they have to be harder in consistency, but they can't afford to be too hard. This one is lightly toasted with generous, fresh and crisp fillings. A far cry from bacon and eggs but this really puts the whole new health regimen I keep putting off into plausible perspective. That's it, I start tomorrow! Whee!

Bagels here also come with a side of coleslaw each - I love it when I start off the day judiciously ticking off my 3+2 quota! My insides are thanking me profusely for not having found the fry-up.

You can also enjoy a short video about the bagel's origins looped on a TV screen propped up in one corner. I didn't pay it any attention until I finished my bagel and found it quite informative and amusing!

I really hope this place sticks around. It's tough going with the choices available in KL and at this type of pricing (each combo set of Deluxe bagel + coffee is about RM19.90), it's hard to not think about what else you could feed on elsewhere.

Thanks for shouting brekkie, MS! Hope you had fun at the races!

28 comments:

Life for Beginners said...

"Bagels can't be choosers, right?"

Aiks. The lame-o-meter is clocking in hard on a Sunday leh. :P

But here's to healthier living, all week-long (not just weekends) WITHOUT sacrificing the Taste.

Now, if you figure out how, do tell me also, k? LOL

Snow White said...

Hello? Am finally leaving a comment after lurking around for a bit ;)

I've walked pass this bagel station countless times when YogaZone was still around...haven't tried it yet but will put it on my "where to take Mum list" since it's a traffic-free route for me.

The last time I had bagels was in NYC, perhaps it's time to test out the local bagel scene as well :D

Sean said...

hey, wouldn't fogal @ plaza damas have been open for brekkie?

ck lam said...

This is my first time seeing coffee served with peanuts and a piece Dairy Milk but I think it is a good combination as a whole.

gina said...

That bagel sure looks delicious even without cheese! :D

I love lazy Sundays with hot cup of coffee, bagel and chatting the day away.

J2Kfm said...

a coffee with sweet and savoury sides.

and bagel at RM20 per set. wow ... only on Sundays, i tell you. only on Sundays.

worldwindows said...

I like Bagels and used to have them in BKK though limited varieties. Hard to get in KL.

Unknown said...

yes.... it's my first time to see the coffee came with coffee and peanuts. ^o^

allie said...

I never had bagel before :P
Guess in Penang there's not much place offer bagel.. huh?
I saw only one type of bagel in Coffee Bean..cream cheese bagel. I would prefer something less cheesy though.

Selba said...

Wow... the bagels look wonderful yummy...

Eh, coffee with peanuts? shouldn't it be beer with peanuts? hehehe...

minchow said...

LFB, the week just started and already my health resolve is sliding! Eeps!

Snow White, thank you much much for dropping by! NYC and bagels are synonymous aren't they? I don't know if this would quite match that experience you had!

Sean, no sign of life there either. Unless I missed it completely!

CK Lam, it certainly is different! I think unsalted peanuts might make it less strange.

Gina, lazy Sunday mornings are the best! I wouldn't give that up for anything!

J2Kfm, yeah now that it's practical and penny-saving Monday, RM20 for what was basically a sandwich & coffee is waayyy too steep!

minchow said...

Worldwindows, I remember JJs in KLCC food court used to have bagels. Sadly no longer.

Food Paradise, special style only for bagel joints perhaps?

Allie, don't think I've ever seen this in Pg, unless in some hidden bakery somewhere. They're quite painful to make as well.

Selba, yes I got really tickled by the peanuts too. Didn't mind the strange salt & caffeine jolt though.

backStreetGluttons said...

we would say , dry and healthy and of course early

-j- said...

oh i love places like this!! i would have plonked the chocolate into my coffee .. coffe with chocolate!!!

Raynebow said...

Hmm...coffee with peanuts? That's new. Haven't tried bagels for brekkie before and your meal here looked really da healthy type! Coleslaw summore!

Ciki said...

bagels are a good fight! tough and chewy and work out the jaw!

Rebecca Saw said...

hv u tried Bagel station in frnt of TGV in KLCC?

cariso said...

For a lovely Sunday, RM20 is OK. :)

Lyrical Lemongrass said...

Bagels with cream cheese....I was craving for bagels a week ago. Now I know where I can get some (must come with loads of cash).

Food Promotions said...

Its a nice meal to start off the day. The Bagel looks really good. I'm a bread lover.

www.foodpromotions.blogspot.com

HairyBerry said...

i am definitely in pursuit of a tasty bagel like those in this post. peanuts-coffee aside, the bagels are so well combined with pesto and sun-dried tomatoes! the CNY is cool as well.

choi yen said...

Never try bagel b4, tougher than donut huh?

minchow said...

BSG, ooh I love being up early on Sundays, must max max the weekend! The caffeine therefore is crucial!

Duckie, hey good idea. I actually left the chocolate behind!

Raynebow, yes, I was really gunning for the exact opposite - unhealthy and artery clogging, to be specific!

Ciki, yup, only while we still have our youth, energy... and teeth!

Nomad Gourmand, same deal as this joint? I haven't ventured to the TGV floor for yonks! The guy here told me this was their only outlet in KL though...

Cariso, yes, anything for a lovely Sunday! Any other day, RM3 nasi lemak will have to do!

minchow said...

LL, ka-ching! Funny that, only in M'sia can we expect hard bread to be considered premium!

Food Promotions, it was good! I think it's quite the perfect weekday lunch too!

Nic, what, you mean to say you don't share my enthusiasm for the bizarre peanut coffee pairing?? Actually I could use a bagel right about now...

mimid3vils, WAAAYYYY tougher! You really gotta try it to see what I mean!

Julian Si said...

I want BAGELS ... NOW!!!

Ah... so miss the street variety served in New York :-(

ps - Thanks for having me on your Blog List ;-)

"Joe" who is constantly craving said...

haha thats well healthy considering u were looking for a fry up..

kampungboycitygal said...

doncha think that healthy eating comes in a price at kl? subway, bagels, organic food carry hefty price tag. sigh

Babe_KL said...

i loved bagels!!! hopefully will get to try this