orgasmic joy of brownies & bakerlyn cafe

There’s no denying to people that I am a sweet tooth. I have an inkling for anything sugary and high fructose contents in my desserts and chocolate. Let me share you with a childhood memory of mine – I’m the kid who meets the dentist every other fortnightly, and vivid recollections of horrible tooth extractions and tooth grinding. My parents as most Bruneian parents are incredibly indulgent and relax when it comes to their children’s diet. I know that I love the sweet taste, and the high energy I often get afterwards. I was pretty much a hyperactive child with tooth cavities.

I have sobered and refrain from eating deserts on a daily basis but lately, well I guess you could say I have “relapse”. This is partly the reason why, and you will agree with me because this pictures is ever so mouthwatering. Wait till you actually try the brownies.

 

I introduce you Miss Syazwana Monroe’s home-baked brownies.

The outside: Chewy and incredibly mouthwatering, so much so that I could not resist for a taste while driving in my car. The moment you put the brownies inside your mouth, its orgasmic indulgence: the texture which was chewy and crisp on the outside, but the inside: gosh, the moisture and the bitterness of the chocolate was heaven. There are no words to describe what I felt for this incredibly indulgent treat.

 

The aftertaste which is regarded as the definitive quality of the chocolate, is bitter and stimulating to the mind. Its like a rush, yet you feel deeply relaxed. Dark chocolates are scientifically proven to boost the part of your brain which deals with happiness and pleasure. The liberal use of dark chocolate in Syaz Monroe’s brownies makes this one to watch for, it definitely separates this from the rest of the mass-produced brownies available in Hua Ho or bakeries.

Syazwana, your brownies made my otherwise uneventful Saturday and I appreciate the complimentary box of brownies! One box of brownies costs $15, and you can call to order: Syazwana, 8950000.

Also worth mentioning is the day when I visited the newly open Bakerlyn Cafe in Kiulap. The cafe is right above a florist, so you literally can smell the fresh aromas whiffing at the cafe’s entrance. It was the middle of the week, and had a class until 4pm – now that Maurina is working in the same University, so we decided to check out after a long day!

Bakerlyn bakery shop near Vincci, Kiulap is already famous with their donuts and their pricey birthday fruit cakes (their bakers very creative and continually impress me with their skills!). The owners decided to expand their business, and open a cafe! Once inside the cafe, I feel like I am transported to someplace besides Brunei. The theme: the French countryside, with grapes and acres of vineyards.

Although, I do not get the orange paint of the walls which spoils the ambience and the look that the owners were striving for. We ordered for the donuts, since Bakerlyn are famous with it. Unfortunately, this was unavailable which was such a disappointment. 

Why put something on the menu when you don’t serve it? 

Your donuts are one of your specialties and since Bakerlyn Bakeshop is just 3 minutes away, it will not take an arm or a foot to deliver fresh donuts to the cafe no?

Then my eye caught this on the desserts display:

 

And boy! I am not disappointed! The fruits on the top is fresh. This is the fruit roll: very French indeed. Following the theme of the interiors, most of the cakes are French inspired and fusion-esque.

In a way, I am glad that the donuts was unavailable. Hands on, the cake is nyaman (Bruneian word to describe incredibly delicious). Its not too sweet like the brownies which gives you headache from eating too much sweet. The taste is just nice, and the variety of the fruits are worth mentioning. Bakerlyn cafe is worth visiting especially that its different than most coffee cafes, I’d say this one is another category altogether. Its more like a bakery/cake cafe.

Life is more enriching with things like this, monotony is so passe -  Sanctuary Brunei will continually strive to discover Brunei, this kingdom of unexpected treasures. Hope you readers enjoy the journey so far, more to come promise!

Featured on today’s post:

Syazwana Monroe orgasmic brownies – $15 per box

Bakerlyn Cafe Kiulap French roll – $5

See you next generation!

Time surely do fly so fast, and now its March already. And its a certain old friend of mine, Maurina’s birthday just around the corner. I am always mistaken that the 3rd March is her birthday, so this morning I sent a text message birthday greeting.

“Thanks, but that’s another 10 days!!”

Haha. I think I’ve mistakenly wished her happy birthday just around this time last year. March is a special month especially with Sanctuary Brunei since it exactly last year that I get myself immerse to the world of spa. Who introduced me to all this? Yours truly, It was MAURINA.

Maurina & Ideal Kawaii!

So March 2008, I thought it would be a good idea to treat Maurina for a birthday spa treatment of her choice. Back then I can’t drive, so I followed her car and off we went to Kiulap. She chose Pearl Health Care, because they do discounts for members on their birthdays so might as well just fully utilised the birthday privilege. I remembered that we chose the Foot Spa treatment which comprises of the foot soak and scrub with the foot reflexology massage.I really enjoyed my first spa treatment, although now I wouldn’t call Pearl Health Care a spa now that I have experienced a few what Brunei has to offer. Notice that Pearl Health Care was my first ever post in this blog – so now you know why!

Well Maurina, now that I have wished you a Happy Birthday today. I might as well dedicate this post to my oldest friend, Maurina!

We went to the same primary school together. We always sit right behind with each other and always comparing our lunch boxes – which one of us have the latest Disney cartoons merchandise and we shared the same love with Disney songs, I remembered our obsession with the Lion King, Pocahontas and the Hunchback of Notredame. I still remember when we were in Primary 6, just finished our PCE (back then equivalent of today’s PSR) and it was my birthday. She gave me the biggest present ever. In fact, it was the most difficult to unwrapped because she had wrapped the present with plenty of wrapping paper, so when I unwrap the paper another wrapping paper was there, so I had to unwrap layers and layers of wrapping paper before having to know what’s inside.

I have forgotten what she gave to me, but there’s this word that she said and I still remember after all this years.

“See you next generation!”

After getting the 5 As, and getting entry to a prestigious Science college – we had separate paths with her going to a separate school and then just when I thought I could meet her after finishing my A levels, getting into UBD with her. Instead, I got the scholarship to study in UK! Anyway, 4 years forward I got posted to work in a school and to my surprise Maurina is there, wearing a really bright coloured baju kurong and a big smile on her face!

And then what she said 12 years ago have dawned to me – and I feel like “See you next generation” was a promise we’ve made back in Primary 6 – we never met during our high school years or during University but we finally are reunited at a stage in our lives where some people might consider as independent adults. That’s certainly another generation, I’m glad that we finally meet. And of course now, we do have the occasional coffee and spontaneous yoga together.

Happy Birthday Maurina!

“Maurina, Happy Birthday to You

Kau tinggal di Zoo

Makan nasi daging lembu

Tinggal sama kangaroo”

See I still remember that birthday song that you sang to me back in 1996.

Maurina you’ve been such a fun and exciting friend! Happy birthday next week! Will do come to your BBQ or birthday this time around.