KindMeal Food Review: Purrfect Cat Café, George Town, Penang.

This is an impromptu review resulting from an impromptu trip to Purrfect Cat Café , Lebuh Muntri, George Town, Penang. I made the spontaneous decision to download the KindMeal voucher only upon touching down at the Bayan Lepas International Airport for a business day trip. I shall henceforth stifle the temptation to write a review that reads entirely like this: "Meow meow meow, meow meow meow meow. Meow meow."

 

 

I had only a couple of hours to spare before my flight back to KL, but I knew Lebuh Muntri to be within walking distance from where I had just attended a meeting. There is always so much to see in George Town, and every street is filled with delightful gems like these to be spotted by the observant:

 

 

 

 

 

 

In retrospect, it would seem odd that I would pay to visit a cat café. Every mealtime in my home is a veritable cat café experience -- laps occupied and kneaded while you wait, small whiskered faces investigating the contents of every plate and mug. But I am a Crazy Cat Lady, and I do Crazy Cat Lady-ish things.

 

 

It didn't take me long to find the café, housed in a heritage shophouse painted white. It was, I read, officially opened for business in January 2014 and has even received a visit from the Honourable Chief Minister of Penang, who I admire greatly and had not realised was a cat person. But then again, all great people are cat-and-dog persons. Dictators like only dogs because they hope to be worshipped and obeyed unconditionally. Introverts, recluses and existential poets like only cats because the gregarious nature of puppies and dogs scares them. But truly great people love cats, dogs and all animals and embrace the diversity of appearance and personality of all animals (* This is a tongue-in-cheek assessment, mind, so please don't start accusing me of sweeping generalisations and bullshit pop psychology. On the other hand, you can start offering me vast sums of money to write absolute rubbish for Popsugar and Elite Daily).

 

 

Cakes and other goodies gleamed invitingly from illuminated glass dessert display cabinets. Bold hipsterish typography announced "Purrfect" and "Meow". Cat-themed artwork and vignettes adorned shelves and walls. I purred and squinted my eyes in appreciation.

 

 

As you can see, this place is an Instagrammer’s dream. Guests also get to leave their mark – not by way of rubbing their cheek pheromones all over the furniture, fortunately – but by leaving messages on neon post-it notes on a cat-shaped cutout on the wall. I declined to do this in the interest of conserving resources and trees. A blogpost would suffice.

 

 

I informed the affable, bright-eyed young staff that I would like to redeem my KindMeal voucher and they offered me a selection of sweets and savouries to choose from. The cakes look delectable, but as I am making my best effort to go fully vegan, I had to forgo the cakes and opt for air-fried fries and a fruit soda instead.

 

 

 

 

A variety of cakes, most of them bearing an edible Hello Kitty cutout on each slice, were available as part of the KindMeal deal. I don't know if it is just me, but I find it hard to reconcile a love for Hello Kitty with a love of real cats. People love Hello Kitty because she is cute, feminine, subservient and anthropomorphised. She is like an inoffensive puff of marshmallow with cat ears and a ribbon, and therefore presents no threat to human dominance. Heck, she doesn't even have a mouth to argue  out of. Real-life cats, on the other hand, have strong, clever personalities and will let you know very clearly and audibly if they are displeased about something. Real-life cats would shred ribbons and aprons and pretty clothes to confetti. Real-life cats make badassery an art form. And that is why I love them. But I digress. As I am wont to do.

 

 

The original price of the drink+snack set is in the range of RM19.00, and with the Kindmeal 10% discount voucher, the price is discounted to RM17.70. I was informed of the very reasonable House Rules ("No picking up cats, no feeding human food to cats, no food and drink in the cat area, no taking cats out of the cat area, no flash photography, no harassment of cats, no unkind behaviour") and then guided upstairs to the dining and cat area.

 

 

My food arrived soon after. There isn't much I have to say about it. Fries are fries. I usually call them 'chips' but this confuses many people who call 'crisps' chips, so fries they will have to be for this review. These fries were air-fried and therefore crispy and not greasy. There was a lot of it, heaped into an attractive bowl. Ketchup was served to me in a fish-shaped ramekin, which amused and delighted me. It was a nice touch. My passionfruit soda consisted of a flavoured syrup topped up with soda water. Italian soda, yum! Very refreshing and not overly sweet.

 

 

However, everyone knows that you don't go to a cat café for the food, or to talk about whether it was value-for-money to pay RM17.70 for fries and a soda. You are paying not merely for the food or the experience, but also for the cost of maintaining the hygiene, health, safety and comfort standards required of operating a cat café. You are essentially chipping in for the cats' food, vet and grooming bills, and paying for someone to clean the cat litter regularly and keep an air ioniser and purifier running so that you won’t end up eating Pommes Frites à la Cat Poo.

To complain about paying more for a cat café experience would be like going to Carcosa Seri Negara or Majestic Hotel for afternoon tea and then moaning that you could get better kuih at Mak Jah Corner for RM3.

 

 

 

 

I munched persistently through my heap of fries, while staring wistfully at the dozing cats in the cat area, like a child who had been told that she couldn’t go out to play until she has cleared her plate. Still, even the dining area is very tastefully decorated, with low coffee tables and floor-level seating, and cat face-themed cushions in an orderly row. The cat-shaped placard holders and other cat-themed artwork added to the charm and whimsy of this café.

 

 

 

 

 

Once I had finished my tea and washed my hands, it was time to enter the cat area and play with the ten resident cats. They seemed very relaxed and contented, and habituated to human handling. The cat area is what my dream cattery would look like – with lots of places for the cats to climb, play, sit, hide and retire from human contact once they have had enough.

 

 

 

 

 

These shelves are pure genius, although they would probably need daily dusting or wiping down.

 

 

The cats are cuddly and healthy and did not mind taking a ‘wefie’ with me.

 

 

This lovely Bengal-tabby kitty commandeered the Director's Chair for himself.

 

 

 

A scratchy wee couch for this little beauty.

 

 

Asleep in the sun -- every cat's favourite pastime.

 

 

Everything was so clean and comfortable that you couldn’t help but realise that the cats are receiving excellent care. I wonder if the cat café would have room for a rescue cat or two?

I stayed for almost an hour before cabbing it back to the airport for my flight home. From the number of walk-in customers, I foresee that this endearing little place will remain in business for a long, long time. The wide variety of cat-themed merchandise in the lower floor is enough to make any Crazy Cat Lady swoon. I must confess that my minimalist tendencies were temporarily abandoned as I picked up cat-themed merchandise for myself and 3 friends.

Would I recommend a visit to the Purrfect Cat Café in Penang?

 

 

 

If you are an animal/cat lover, by all means, yes. It is a good place to cool down with a well-made Italian soda after exploring George Town in the midday heat, and the cutesiness of the cakes and snacks will offset the fact that the café does not have a very extensive menu. The cats will help you relax and decompress, and leave the heat and bustle of the outside world behind.

Rating:

☆☆☆ 3 stars out of 5 for food.

☆☆☆☆☆ 4.5 stars out of 5 for ambience and service.

Address:

Purrfect Cat Café,

53 Lebuh Muntri, 10200 George Town, Penang, Malaysia.

Tel: 604-261 1197

 

Business Hours: 11.00 a.m. - 9.30 p.m.

 

GPS: 5.419947, 100.335707

 

On Facebook: www.fb.com/penangcatcafe

Farewell, darling Chloe

This is a very difficult post to write, but posting this will give me closure and a sense of finality and completion over Chloe's death.

Chloe was adopted by my former housemate Jake from the SPCA shelter on 9th June, 2004. We were renting an apartment then, and Chloe was his birthday gift to himself. She was a 6-month-old kitten, recently spayed and vaccinated, and full of fun and zest. It didn't take long for me to end up in the role of the primary caregiver. I cleaned the litter, fed Chloe, trimmed nails, gave baths and played with her.

Chloe remained in good health and spirits for most of her life. She was a beautiful, alert and highly intelligent cat. She would watch football with us as a kitten and try to catch the ball on the screen. She could entertain herself for hours, flipping and tossing her toys in the air and catching them with her mouth or paws.

She liked nibbling on lettuce, houseplants and the tips of vegetables. She was formidable at hide-and-seek.

She had agile, nimble paws that could open any drawer or cabinet. She was the only cat I know who will reply with a meow when you call her name and she is not directly in sight. She knew the names of all the other cats, and understood a good deal of human speech. She loved listening to classical music, and being read to.

As the First Cat, she enjoyed certain privileges, including the highest perch in the house, and being served food first. She was given the best care and food we could afford. She mostly ignored the younger cats, although she would occasionally deign to share an armchair with one of them. As neutered, vaccinated, indoor cats, I didn't think I had much to worry about when it comes to their health and safety.

However, in her 9th year, we began to notice hair loss and mouth ulcers that I was unwilling to attribute to stress. I took her to the vet on several occasions and finally, the vet decided it would be prudent to conduct an ELISA test. In April 2013, Chloe was diagnosed as being FIV positive. My world came crumbling down then. How? Why? They are indoor cats, and all my rescues are screened before being fostered indoors. How could it have happened? They are neutered, vaccinated and kept in clean and safe conditions. Plus Chloe is neither a fighter nor a biter. How did she get infected? Was it something that had been dormant in her for a long time, and she is only displaying symptoms now that she is older and her immune system less resilient?

The important thing for me was to keep her healthy, comfortable and safe, and keep the other cats uninfected. I had all of them tested to determine their health status, and thankfully all tested negative on the ELISA test. Chloe kept to herself on her high bookcase perch a lot of the time, and didn't roughhouse with the others, so I knew we could maintain the status quo without endangering the other cats. My former housemate had by then relinquished all responsibility over Chloe, and so I took over her care entirely, taking her to the vet for monthly checkups and putting her on RetroMAD1, a trial drug which had shown promise in managing FIV and FELV.

And so for two years we travelled to the vet every 3-4 weeks, undergoing medical checkups, obtaining the trial drugs, and purchasing other supplements such as Vetri DMG for Chloe's health. It wasn't an imposition for me. I quite enjoyed the time we spent together, although I would of course much rather have a healthy, happy cat than one who is terminally ill. Every few weeks we would visit the vet, get Chloe checked, obtain her medicines, buy her food that she liked and go for lunch at the food court up the street from the vet.

She had good days, and not-so-good days. Her good days were easy on everyone. On her not-so-good days, I would hand-feed Chloe her favourite wet food, Fancy Feast Royale. I would apply coconut oil to her mouth ulcers and gently clean away her drool with warm water. I would play her soothing piano music and stroke her gently and let her know how much I love her and want her to be well.

We moved to the Wee Green Flat in June, and my former housemate did not object when I told him I would be taking Chloe with me. I knew she wouldn't survive a month with him. I'm not even sure he knows what medicine to give her and how much. Chloe loved our new home and like all the other cats, seemed very relaxed, comfortable and confident there. There were lots of surfaces for her to climb and sit on, and cubbies for her to hide in. There were no piles of dusty clutter for her to trip over or fall off. She loved the airy, bright new apartment. She would spend mornings sitting on the window seat, meowing at birds, and evenings by the kitchen sink, drinking from the trickle of cool water from the water filtration system. She ate well, and often had seconds. She gained weight. Her fur grew lustrous again. She inspected and played with all the new toys and scratching posts. The other cats defered to her seniority and never challenged her for the best seats and perches in the house. She was vocal, and queen of the house once more.

Things took a turn for the worse after I returned from my Turtle Volunteer Programme 2 weeks ago. I was away for only one night. My friend Karen came over to feed the cats and reported that Chloe was bleeding from her mouth ulcers again, although she seemed to be eating normally. I fed her only soft foods and Aravind, bless him, promptly assisted me in getting more antibiotics and RetroMAD1 from the vet. It had worked well in the past, and I hoped that it would work again. Chloe's recovery was dubious and very slow. She continued to eat wet food for two days, and then stopped entirely. She was so weak that she fell when she tried to jump up to the kitchen counter. Alarmed, I put her in the big cage that I keep for fosters, to stop her from hurting herself. She did not protest. She looked tired, and her eyes were dull and listless. Her fur looked matted despite regular brushing and all the supplements I have been feeding her. I still had some Royal Canin convalescence formula left over, and started syringe-feeding her several times a day.

The mouth ulcers stopped flaring up thanks to the antibiotics and anti-retroviral medication, but Chloe's overall condition did not improve. I persevered in feeding her regularly, hoping for a miracle, hoping I would still have a few more years with her. She was only 11-and-a-half, and it wasn't unheard of for FIV-positive cats to live 13 or 14 years.

The morning she died, she had difficulty swallowing the formula, and I knew her muscles were starting to fail her. I held her and rocked her and talked to her, but she displayed such evident discomfort that I placed her gently back in her bed. My brave and beautiful Chloe died at 7.00 a.m. on 28th August 2015.

I miss my brilliant Chloe so very much. She was and will always be the smartest cat I know. I am sad she was terminally ill in her final two years, but I am glad we had good memories together -- memories of birthday parties, Valentine's dinners, Christmas presents, games, treats, cuddles, classical music and quality time together. I will remember her first Christmas with us, during which I bought her a train set, which she loved flipping upside down to watch the wheels buzz angrily like a downed insect. I will remember her first pot of wheatgrass, which created such a frenzy of excitement in her that she pulled every blade of grass out by the roots and munched the whole pot bare within an hour. I will remember the 2005 post-Easter earthquake whose aftershock effect in the old apartment so alarmed me that I rushed to the pub with Chloe, and all the other pub patrons made a fuss of her. I will remember how I tried to get her a Season Pass to the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra but was unable to do so only because the ticketing officers had concerns that a cat in the music hall might trigger adverse reactions in those with allergies.

Chloe, you are whole and healthy again now at the Rainbow Bridge. You reign as Queen once more. No more syringes, no more needles, no more ulcers, no more pain. I hope you remember me enough that we can be reunited one day. I will always be your ever-loving mama.

Kindmeal.my Food Review: RGB and The Bean Hive @ Jalan Damai, KL.

"I believe humans get a lot done, not because we're smart, but because we have thumbs so we can make coffee."

~Flash Rosenberg-

 

RGB  and The Bean Hive is another one of those establishments I have heard of in passing but had hitherto no plans of visiting until I downloaded a KindMeal voucher for it.

I decided to stop by for a Sunday brunch on my way to volunteer at the SPCA one Sunday morning, and invited Aravind along. We drove right past the inconspicuous white bungalow which houses the restaurant as there was inadequate signage to distinguish it from the other residential homes in the quiet little area. I would suggest to the management that they improve signage, especially if they hope for more drop-in customers.

 

Juxtaposed against KLCC and other iconic skyscrapers in the background.

 

Unobtrusive and unassuming though the exterior of RGB & The Bean Hive may be, it was certainly not unknown among what I assume must be a loyal and regular clientele of mostly expatriate patrons. A queue had already formed at the counter although it was only 11 a.m. when we arrived.

 

The interior of the restaurant is utterly charming, and the smell of good coffee being brewed filled the air as I sniffed appreciatively.

The clean, uncluttered restaurant is filled with lovingly curated artwork and vignettes and felt most welcoming and cheery.

 

As we queued up to place our orders, I noticed that they have many organic and vegan products for sale, including chocolate bars and eco-friendly merchandise such as reusable coffee cups and coffee presses.

 

The menu surprised me further with its range of vegan offerings, including burgers, cakes and ice cream. Why have I not heard of this place before, and why don’t they advertise more eagerly and enthusiastically to the growing vegan and vegetarian community in the Klang Valley?

I used my KindMeal voucher to order a Hearty Har Har burger and ice lemon tea set, while Aravind ordered the aglio e oglio and an iced latte. We also ordered vegan ice cream – coconut for me and peanut butter for Aravind – since it was a Sunday and all.

We secured ourselves an indoor table due to the heat, despite the fact that the outdoor seating area looked a lot more attractive. Service was fast and pleasant, and the service staff was attentive without being smothering.

A credenza in the corner of the dining area placed extra cutlery, condiments and sauces within easy reach. Aravind believed it was important to have unobstructed access to tabasco sauce, and was happy to be able to help himself to it without having to ask a waiter to bring it.

 

Our drinks arrived first. Aravind’s iced latte (RM11.00) tasted as good as it smelled. Proper coffee, lads, none of your instant just-add-hot-water nonsense. My iced lemon tea was strong, refreshing and tart, the way a good lemon tea should be, and not syrupy and artificial.

 

Aravind’s aglio e oglio (RM15.00) consisted of angelhair pasta, sundried tomatoes, chili-infused olive oil and parsley and came with a side of salad. He sampled some and declared it ‘rather dry’, and then realised that he had forgotten to stir it up. Well, duh! It was one of the best aglio e olios I have ever tasted, with generous amounts of sundried tomatoes. The fine strands of angelhair were coated generously with spicy olive oil, and were delicious paired with the sundried tomatoes and garlic. It was light on the tastebuds and stomach, yet utterly satisfying.

 

The salad consisted of coral lettuce, grated carrots and toasted sunflower seeds tossed in balsamic vinegar, and tasted crisp and clean with just the right amount of sweetness and tartness.

 

My Hearty Har Har burger set (normal price RM21.00, with KindMeal voucher RM15.00) consisted of a sweet potato, bean and pecan patty served in a bun with a side of fries, although the Kindmeal deal voucher stated that it would come with a side of salad.

The burger patty was sweet, with a hint of cinnamon, and reminded me of the sweet potato pies so popular in the American south. It came with avocado relish, tomato slices and fresh alfalfa sprouts. It was surprisingly good, although there were just too many starches on a single plate. I’ve always believed that good vegetarian food entails a variety of fresh vegetables and less grains, starches and processed ingredients. Although alfalfa and tomatoes are excellent additions to the burger, I wish they had given me a side of salad, which would offset the heaviness of the combination of starches. I eyed Aravind’s salad jealously and managed to sneak some of it, not that he minded.

I know this is a really First World problem to have, but there were so many starches on my plate that I felt like I was going to morph into a tuber myself. I am diametrically opposed to food wastage, so I doggedly continued munching on the interminable pile of fries while muttering “Potato!” under my breath exasperatedly. I teach English at a community centre on Mondays, and the best thing about teaching 9 to 10 year-olds is that their favourite curse word is “Potato!”, as in, “You big potato!” So yes, potatoes to you, and potatoes to me, I don’t want to sound ungrateful for food on my plate but I really wish I had been given salad instead.

 

The attentive staff brought us our ice creams next. At RM7.00 a scoop, these homemade ice creams are rich, dense and delicious, despite being dairy-free.

 

My coconut ice cream had a slight nuttiness and crunch to it, while Aravind’s peanut butter ice cream was the perfect balance of sweet and savoury.

Fragrant and flavourful without being excessively sweet, our scoops of ice cream were the perfect way to finish off a relaxing Sunday meal.

While not inexpensive, dining at RGB & The Bean Hive is the kind of weekend treat you want to give yourself. There are many items on the menu I am eager to try out, and the coffee alone is enough to draw me back for a return visit.

 

The casual dining atmosphere is unbeatable, and I hope to return when I am not in a hurry so that I can browse the collection of books in the reading corner. I spied vintage board games as well and would love to come back with a gang of friends for a leisurely weekend brunch.

Families with young children are made to feel very welcome as well, as a bright and cheerful play area has been set up to entertain the young ones. You know, so you can cultivate an appreciation for good food in your children while keeping them active and occupied ;)

I’d give this establishment four stars out of five (yes, I know I am picky), and would raise the rating to four and a half stars if I had been given a salad instead of fries. Viva la veggies!

RGB & The Bean Hive

Address
35, Jalan Damai, Off Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia

Opening Hours
Mon - Fri: 8am - 5.30pm; Sat - Sun: 9am - 6pm

Phone
+ 603 2181 1329

Letter to the Editor: Construction of EKVE will have disastrous consequences

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

CONSTRUCTION OF EKVE WILL HAVE DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES

 

 

It is with dismay and disappointment that right-minded citizens greeted the news that the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) had given its approval for the construction of the East Klang Valley Expressway (EKVE) today (The Star, 20th Aug 2015). This proposed expressway project would have far-reaching consequences that go beyond the boundaries of Ampang and would adversely affect the water supply and air quality of Selangor residents, as well as destroy and fragmentise wildlife habitats.

The decision of the council, which brushes aside the entirely valid concerns of citizen action groups, environmental organisations and the scientific and conservation community, makes a mockery of the concepts of transparency, democracy and participation in Local Agenda 21, which the municipal council and state government claim to be committed to.

It has often been reiterated that the Ulu Gombak and Ampang forests, which the EKVE will cut through, are vital carbon sinks and water catchment areas. The destruction of even a part of the Ulu Gombak and Ampang forests will result in more dry spells and poorer water and air quality for Selangor residents.

Furthermore, once the state government has gone down the slippery slope of forest degazettement, it will find it easier to justify the degazettement and destruction of a wider and wider area, and inadvertently create opportunities for unscrupulous developers, vandals, poachers and profiteers to enter into, plunder and destroy previously inaccessible forested areas.

 

The aforementioned forests are also part of the Selangor State Park, gazetted with the objective of protecting air and water quality, biodiversity and local climatic stability. The state government’s readiness to degazette a state park does not bode well for the future of other remaining green lungs and forested areas in Malaysia.

Proponents of highway construction often rely on the argument that highways will alleviate traffic congestion and thus ultimately improve the quality of life of residents and reduce carbon emissions. This logic is ridiculous, because the solution to the problem of traffic congestion is not to build an ever-increasing number of roads and highways, but to improve the public transport system and improve road safety for public transport users, cyclists, and pedestrians in order to encourage people to choose alternatives to private vehicle ownership. We have the infrastructure for an efficient public transport system in Malaysia, but not the political will to make the system reliable, punctual, convenient and safe. Improving road safety and the public transport system will use less public funds and take less time to implement than constructing more highways and roads.

Since the parties concerned have already given their approval for the construction of the dreaded expressway, any objection at this point may be purely academic.

There is apparently a list of conditions drawn up by the Drainage and Irrigation Department, Public Works Department, and MPAJ’s Planning Department to be adhered to in the construction and management of the said expressway. It is hoped that these documents will be made available for public viewing, and there must be a check-and-balance system to enable citizens to determine compliance with these measures and provide feedback on the same.

If the state government is adamant about proceeding with this expressway project, on behalf of all concerned citizens, I request that at least these environmental impact mitigation measures are considered and implemented:

1. That fences, barriers and wildlife corridors (underground or overhead) be constructed to allow safe passage for local fauna;

2. That filters, ideally helophyte filters, be utilized to control and manage toxic runoff from the paved substrates into the soil and waterways;

3. That a regular cleaning and maintenance schedule be established to prevent waste and debris from entering into waterways and forested areas;

4. That construction materials be sourced locally, and as much as possible, from reclaimed and recycled materials to reduce the carbon footprint of the construction project; and

5. That the project incorporates design elements such as solar-powered lighting and the planting of indigenous trees to act as a noise-absorbing wall along the expressway.

It must be admitted, however, that compliance with all the above requirements is still a weak substitute for scrapping the expressway project altogether. The haste with which approval was given, and the betrayal of trust by the authorities when they had previously assured the local residents that the Traffic Impact Assessment would be made available to them, reflect poorly on the state government, contractor and agencies involved in this controversial expressway project, and raise concerns that the parties concerned will just bulldoze through with this project with equal disregard for human residents and the natural environment.

All state and national efforts to encourage and reward environmental sustainability and citizens’ participation in public interest matters amount to nothing more than greenwashing and lip service if projects that cause significant and irreversible harm to the environment such as the EKVE are approved with such outrageous haste and recklessness.

WONG EE LYNN

COORDINATOR,

GREEN LIVING SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP,

MALAYSIAN NATURE SOCIETY