Olive et Gourmando Montréal

Olive et Gourmando is a a bakery café restaurant that’s located in one of the charming alleyways of Old Montréal. The owners—Dyan Solomon and Eric Girad—first opened the restaurant back in June of 1998, focusing on baked goods and pastries and then evolved to serving daytime food as the place is well-known for today. After 28 years in the business, Olive et Gourmando has definitely became one of the more well-known institutions in Montréal and considered one of the OG of popular brunch places in the city. 

I went to Olive et Gourmando on a Friday morning with my friend who recommended the place as one of her favorite brunch spots and has been here multiple times during her previous trips to the city. She said since it is one of the institutions in Montréal, I have to check it out. So we went, got there around 11 am and there’s already a line of people waiting in front of the restaurant. A pretty common sight she said since the place is pretty popular among the locals as well as tourists. The wait ended up being about 50 minutes long before we finally got seated at one of the small tables inside the restaurant (we could probably get seated a bit quicker if we’re willing to sit at a shared table, but since we wanted a private table, we waited a little longer). 

🍑🍞 Peach Cobbler French Toast (C$23.95) | 8/10

Warm french toast with caramelized peaches, almond crumble, maple syrup, whipped labneh and fresh basil.

The Peach Cobbler French Toast was good, but it was a little bit too sweet for my personal taste. Still finished the whole thing though. 

🍳 Tex-Mex Baked Eggs (C$24.95) | 8/10

Frittata and chorizo sausage in our Tex-Mex tomato sauce. Garnished with avocado, watercress, crumbled feta and tomatillo salsa. Served with garlic rubbed grilled bread.

Tasted a bite of my friend’s go-to order and this was also pretty good. Might also be the healthier choice between our two orders. 

All and all, I think the food here is pretty solid. They have a selection of delicious looking pastries and baked goods too that we didn’t get to try cause we were full (maybe next time). The restaurant itself is pretty cozy with that warm atmosphere of a friendly neighborhood brunch spot. There’s usually quite a wait for a table so make sure you come early or be prepared to wait for a bit. 

 

Olive et Gourmando

Address: 351 Rue St-Paul Ouest, Montréal, QC H2Y 2A7, Canada
Telephone: +15143501083
Hours: Everyday 8 am - 6 pm

Website: oliveetgourmando.com
Menu
Instagram: @olive_et_gourmando

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Satur Hannam • 더 세터 한남

SATUR (세터) is a Korean fashion brand that’s focuses on contemporary gender-neutral everyday wear that was founded in 2020 by designer Son Ho Chul. The name SATUR itself was inspired by what I imagined is a lot of people’s favorite day of the week, Saturday, when you usually have a relaxing and peaceful time to unwind from a busy week. And that’s where their slogan “gift yourself a Saturday” was inspired from. The slogan is also reflected in a lot of SATUR’s pieces that feature simple clean silhouettes with modern designs made with premium materials resulting in luxurious yet comfortable everyday basics.

SATUR Hannam (더 세터 한남) is located on the second floor of the 6-floor Hannam Hwawon (한남화원) building in Hannam-dong (한남동) neighborhood. Fun fact: the building name was actually chosen by the building owner because the interior columns resemble flower petals when viewed from the street. 

I visited this location when I was doing some shopping in the area and the store is really nice. The building structure and the interior are really interesting and the store is actually pretty spacious with products displayed neatly on the racks, making it comfortable for patrons to browse around the space.

 

Satur Hannam • 더 세터 한남

Address: 서울 용산구 이태원로55가길 21 한남화원 2F 201호
Telephone: 0507-1334-6524
Hours: Everyday 11:30-20:00

Website: https://satur.co.kr/
Instagram: @satur_official

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Hey Kuro Green Garden Residence

One of my favorite salt bread brands in Jakarta Hey Kuro just opened their second location at Green Garden Residence last week. What made this location different than their first outlet in PIK is that in addition to their delicious signature salt breads, they also offer a variety of coffee and non-coffee menus that you can enjoy inside their cozy cafe. The cafe is actually conveniently located inside Ola Padel so you can play padel and get some salt bread or coffee from Hey Kuro in one trip.

If you don’t already know, Hey Kuro specializes in savory and sweet mochi salt breads (I believe they’re the first one who sells mochi salt bread in Jakarta). The brand first started in August 2024 by two sisters who were inspired by the food they tried during their travels which led them to experiment with different recipes in their kitchen. Their salt breads is one of their most successful recipes as well as their mochi that is made from scratch daily, making everything taste deliciously fresh.

The cafe has a very nice charming facade with Kuro (the black cat mascot) painted on one of the windows.

Fun fact: Do you know that Kuro means black in Japanese and black cat is considered lucky especially for women and businesses? That’s why the owners picked Kuro as their mascot. Then why Hey Kuro as their brand? Because they wanted to create something that feels friendly and welcoming and something as simple as a ‘Hey’ is definitely one way to conveys that. So when you say Hey Kuro, it almost like you’re casually calling out to a cute black cat you want to be friends with.

I went to the Hey Kuro Green Garden Residence last week during their soft opening. When I walked inside the cafe, one of the owners immediately greeted my with a smile and it felt like I’m meeting a friend who I haven’t seen in a while. What’s funny though, I never actually met her in real life prior to this meet. I got to know her because she follows me on IG from a couple of years back. And then one day, she messaged me about trying one of her products from her other bakery and that’s how we got to talking online. At some point, we also found out that we have mutual friends in real life which was a pleasantly nice surprise. So after all these years, it was really nice to have finally met her at her cafe in real life.

🍞 Mochi Kinako Custard (29k)| 9.5/10

One of my favorite flavors from their sweet salt bread lineup. The mochi (all their mochi actually) has that nice soft chewy bouncy texture that I really like and the kinako custard is also very good. I usually get one of this every time I buy something from Hey Kuro.

🍠 Crazy Mochi Ube (29k)| 9/10

The mochi-style salt bread is really soft and chewy. On the outer part, it’s coated with fluffy ube castella and on the inside there are ube ganache and real ube paste. Not too sweet and tasted really nice. I enjoyed this one.

The interior is pretty spacious, decorated with modern chairs, simple wooden furnitures and shelves and warm lighting that make it feels like I’m hanging out at a friend’s cozy living room.

🌼 Floral Tea (35k) | 9/10

Chrysanthemum Tea, Rosemary

A light and refreshing drink. The chrysanthemum was fragrant with underlying hints of rosemary. The Rosemary was not too strong and actually complimented the chrysanthemum giving it an added layer of flavor and a fun sensory experience. The lightest option out of the non-coffee options if you want something not too sweet and without milk. My favorite out of all the drinks I tried during this visit.

 🍫🥥 Coco-a-Nut (39k) | 8.5/10

Cocoa, Coconut Milk Blend, Cocoa Powder, Sea Salt

This chocolate drink is not as sweet as it looks like actually. They use coconut milk as well so it tasted a little smoother and lighter than the usual chocolate drink. Perfect for one of those days when you crave some sweet chocolate drink but don’t want it to be super sweet. My second favorite out of all the drinks I tried during this visit.

🍵 Macha Nana (60k) | 8.5/10

Ceremonial Matcha, House-Blend Milk with Caramelized Banana

The Macha Nana tasted like a light dessert drink that reminded me of Banana Pudding, but not as heavy or as thick as Banana Pudding though. The banana flavor wasn’t too overpowering so you can still taste the matcha flavor. And the body is light enough so you don’t feel super full drinking one full glass of it.

☕ Kumquat Mont Blanc (55k) | 8.5/10

Batch Brew with North Sumatran Cream, Topped with Orange Zest

If you know me, you know I don’t usually drink coffee. But the barista was saying that their coffee is not too strong and I should try this one and so I did. And I’m glad I did because it’s actually good. The cold brew arabica is not too bitter and strong and the cream was super good. They nailed the texture and the flavor of the cream and the orange zest really brighten up the whole sip. A very balanced drink where everything works together. I’m no expert in coffee obviously but I really enjoyed this one and wouldn’t mind having this again on my next visit.

🍞 Mochi Miso Caramel (35k) | 9/10

(Top Left) One of their new sweet flavors. The miso ganache and salted caramel sauce actually have that salty and sweet flavor combo that makes every bite tasted fun (although it’s still more on the sweeter side than the saltier side). I like the contrasting textures of the softer fillings and mochi inside and the crunchy wheat puff toppings on this one too.

🍞 Truffle Mac ‘n Cheese (35k) | 8/10

(Top Right) New flavor in their savory salt bread lineup. The Truffle Mac ‘n Cheese filling is pretty tasty and generous. I think portion-wise, this was one of the bigger ones and a fairly fulfilling piece of salt bread.

🍞 Flossy Salty (28k) | 8/10

(Middle Right) The chicken floss is actually a bit too spicy for my weak self who can’t handle my spice but it was pretty good. My dad actually ended up finishing the rest of this one. He enjoyed it and also said it’s good.

🍞 Luncheon Crunch (35k) | 9.5/10

(Left one the plate) I’m a sucker for all things with luncheon meat so when I saw they have this one on the new flavors lineup, I was super excited. And yes, it was gooood. The chicken luncheon meat was not too salty and it went well with the salt bread. If you have it at the cafe, they’ll actually give sweet mayo sauce on the bread. But since I took mine to go, I told them not to put the sauce on top so it won’t get soggy. Even without the sauce it was still good for me. Will definitely order again the next time I go visit.

🍹 Floral Pandan (38k) | 8.5/10

Chrysanthemum Tea, House-Made Pandan Syrup, Basil Seed

(Top Right) Sweet and refreshing drink that’s perfect for a hot day in Jakarta. The pandan flavor was fragrant and took center stage of every sip. What makes this drink interesting is that you get that hit of Chrysanthemum flavor at the end. And the basil seed added an extra layer of texture to the drink. I actually enjoyed this one too and I imagined this could also be the perfect drink to have when you play Padel. 

If you’re looking for a salt bread spot that offers coffee and non-coffee menus inside a cozy cafe where you can hang out at around West Jakarta, I’d definitely recommend Hey Kuro at Green Garden Residence.

 

Hey Kuro Green Garden Residence

Address: Jl Green Gdn Residence No.2 Blok C5, RT.3/RW.4, North Kembangan, Kembangan, West Jakarta City, Jakarta 11610, Indonesia
Hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00am - 07:30pm | Closed on Sundays

Instagram: @heykuro.id

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Kiri Matcha & Garden Plaza Senayan

Kiri Matcha & Garden is a new matcha flower cafe that just opened two weeks ago at Plaza Senayan. Located at Level P4 Atrium of the mall (just below the cinema), Kiri Matcha shares their space with Floé Flowers, a premium florist that sells fresh flowers and bouquets. The cafe has a modern, minimalist, Japanese-inspired look and decorated with flowers around the space, giving this whole having-matcha-in-the-garden vibes. Their ceremonial matcha are imported from Uji and Kagoshima and their signature drinks—The Signature Bloom Series—are created with 36-hour infused green tea that is blended with imported floral and fruits. A pretty unique signature menu for a matcha place. They also serve a selection of desserts made by their in-house pastry chef who studied at Le Cordon Bleu that you can order to pair with your matcha. 

Sho Matcha Latte (35k) | 8/10

Stone-milled blend harvest, vibrant mild umami, smooth nutty notes, slight fresh astringency with a clean finish. 

Nice matcha latte. Not too bitter, not too heavy, not too sweet. The tasting note is pretty spot on.

Mochi (29k) | 7/10

Flavor Selections: Matcha Chocolate Walnut, Matcha Red Bean, Houjicha Chocolate Walnut, Houjicha Red Bean 

The mochi was okay. The filling was a little on the heavy side and the mochi was a tiny bit too thick for my liking. 

Signature Basque Cheesecake (85k) | 7.5/10

Brown Butter Crumbs, Brie Basque Cheesecake

The flavor was pretty good, but the overall texture was just a little bit too soft/gooey for my personal taste. I know some people actually prefer this type so give it a try if you like a softer Basque Cheesecake with gooey middle.

Camembert Cheese Tart (75k) | 8/10

Silky Camembert Custard, Parmesan Tart

Nice cheese tart with more texture contrast compared to the cheesecake. I enjoyed this a little more than the other cheesecake. The taste also reminded me of Kaasstengels when I had it.

Misty Jasmine (76k) | 8.5/10

Top grade raw Chinese Jasmine, Homemade Jasmine Cream

The jasmine tea was really fragrant but didn’t overpower the matcha and rather complimented it quite nicely. The mix actually very enjoyable, especially for me who love jasmine tea. The homemade Jasmine Cream was also pretty good. The texture wasn’t too heavy and it’s not too sweet. This is probably the menu I’ll order again if I go back for another visit.

Island Rose No.36 (76k) | 8/10

Australian Dried Tropical Fruits & Rose Petals, Homemade Sea Salt Cream

Similar comments to the Misty Jasmine but between the two, I still prefer the Misty Jasmine a little more just because of my personal preference of liking Jasmine flavor more than Rose. But if you like Rose flavor more than Jasmine, this is definitely the one you should order. 

 

Kiri Matcha & Garden Plaza Senayan

Address: Main Atrium, Plaza Senayan Mall, Jl. Asia Afrika Gelora Bung Karno No.8 Level P4, RT.1/RW.3, Senayan, Kecamatan Tanah Abang, Kota Jakarta Pusat, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 10270, Indonesia
Hours: Everyday 10am-10pm

Instagram: @kirimatcha.id

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Gin Gin Bakery Shop ECO 8 New Menu

If you live around West Jakarta, you’ve probably heard of Gin Gin Bakery Shop, that one kopitiam that’s located in the ECO 8 compound. Gin Gin menu revolves around a variety of typical dishes that one would find in a traditional kopitiam as well as an assortment of cakes and desserts ranging from classic kopitiam baked goods to modern cakes and tarts. The restaurant is spacious, pet friendly and has now become one of the go-to places for the locals around the area.

Last week, I went to Gin Gin with a couple of friends to try their new menus that just launched. In keeping with their friendly neighborhood kopitiam concept, the new menus still revolve around familiar dishes and tasty flavors that remind you of the comfort of home-cooked meals.

Cah Tahu Tauge (35k) | 8.5/10

Simple, straightforward dish with a nice light savory flavors. The seasoning wasn’t heavy-handed and the bean sprouts and tofu were stir fried just the right, making them tender but still retaining that crunchy texture. I’m very picky with my beansprouts (especially the raw ones or the ones with even slightly raw taste), but this one, I actually liked and I kept finding myself reaching for more.

Chicken Chop Curry Rice (75k) | 8.5/10

*With Nasi Porang / Shirataki (95k)
The chicken was tender and had a really nice breading that’s pleasantly crisp and not too hard. The curry was also good. Not too heavy, not too light and it kind of reminded me of the Kari Peng’s curry if you have had one of those before. Although in Kari Peng, the curry is slightly thicker and more gravy-like while Gin Gin’s curry is thinner/more runny.

Mee Sua Kuah Kari Ayam Kampung (65k) | 8/10

The curry broth was also on the lighter side on this dish, reminiscence of Clear Chicken Soto (Soto Ayam Kuning) for me to be honest. The chicken was sweet and tender and the mee sua also has a nice soft silky texture that’s not too mushy. Although it did absorb the broth pretty fast so make sure you eat it soon after it’s served.

Nasi Kari Babi Cincang (55k) | 7/10

*With Nasi Porang / Shirataki (95k)
The curry is actually the same as the Chicken Chop Curry Rice, just different protein on this one. The ground pork itself was good, but the combination of the pork and the curry was just not hitting it for me. For some reason, I like the chicken curry combination better than the pork. BUT, given the low pricing on this one, this could be a good option for a cheap meal or if you’re into pork more than chicken.

Telur Tim 2 Rasa (59k) | 9/10

Steam egg with chicken, mushroom and ground pork in soy sauce. The steam egg was silky smooth. The chicken, mushroom and ground pork were nicely seasoned. Although worth noting, you have to eat the toppings with either the egg or rice because they do taste saltier if you eat them by themselves. But the flavor and saltiness level were more balanced when you eat them with the steamed egg or rice in one bite. Super comforting dish and probably my favorite dish during this meal.  

Osmanthus Tie Guan Yin Milk Tea (42k) | 8.5/10

*Almond Milk substitution adds 15k
Forgot to take picture of this drink but it’s the one on the top right on the photo below. Enjoyed the floral fragrant from the Osmanthus and the milk tea taste was pretty unique and uncommon (in a good way). Could be a little sweet for people who has low tolerance for sweetness, but since mine is not that low, this was still okay for me. 

Misua Kueh Ham Babi (Carrot Cake Style) (60k) | 8.5/10

Eating this dish was like eating fried carrot cake, but with slightly different ingredients. The flavors were pretty bold with that smokey, savory, umami hit. Love the crispy fried shallot/onions they added that gave a nice texture contrast to the dish. Definitely one of my favorites from their new menus.

Since they just released the menus, the restaurant is still taking feedbacks from customers about the flavors so there might be little tweaks here and there in the upcoming weeks for the new dishes. But overall, even as is, the new menus are solid additions to the current menu that they have. A lot of variety for everybody to choose from and that’s also why this place is popular for family meals. Also, they’re currently having a 20% discount launch promo (T&C applies. Check their Instagram for more details) for the new menus until this Sunday (May 3) so go visit Gin Gin this week if you want to use this deal.

 

Gin Gin Bakery Shop ECO 8

Address: ECO 8, Jl. Taman Aries No.8, RT.10/RW.3, Meruya Utara, Kec. Kembangan, Kota Jakarta Barat, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 11620, Indonesia
Hours: Everyday 7am-10pm

Instagram: @ginginbakeryshop

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