Paris’ Cafes Richard Opens its Doors at SkyAvenue in Genting Highlands Malaysia
Paris’ Cafes Richard Opens its Doors at SkyAvenue in Genting Highlands, Malaysia
This is a guest post by our celebrity friend, Mynn Lee. Mynn was a radio DJ from Red FM and Lite FM and now she blogs on her cool travel blog at www.shewalkstheworld.com. She recently visited most of the restaurants in SkyAvenue on Genting Highlands and she wanted to share her experiences with all of us. Her review of Paris’ Cafes Richard is as follows.
During my trip to Paris, what I loved most was sitting al-fresco along the city’s sidewalks, enjoying a cup of traditionally roasted French coffee. I’m no coffee connoisseur, but I do enjoy a good cuppa coffee. So I was delighted to hear that France’s No 1 coffee roaster, Cafes Richard, has chosen our very own Genting Highlands as the location for its first international retail café. No need to travel far for a little taste of France.
Cafes Richard is a French-style coffee roaster. They have been a family-run business since 1892, and have since expanded to a couple of outlets in Paris. Their outlet in Malaysia is located on Level 1 of Genting’s spanking new mall, SkyAvenue. The café is divided into 4 zones – the café (which consists of the bar, the indoor seating area, and the ‘al-fresco style’ area), which can seat 120 customers; and the pretty steel Frangipani ‘flower’ area (in the center court) that can seat about 34. The setup is stylish but still exudes a chill-out vibe – other than the fact that the café is located inside a mall, it does provide a little French feel.
I love the descriptive menu on the coffee beans offered at Cafes Richard; informing customers of the characteristics and taste of the coffee. With choices from all over the world like the Ethiopian Moka Yrgacheffe and the Costa Rica Tarrazu (about RM21) to the high-end selections like the Jamaica Blue Mountain (RM62)– you’ll be spoilt for choice!
After choosing your beans, time to select how you like it brewed. The first slow coffee method is the common French Press. You often see this around in many cafes – you let the coffee brew at your table, and it gives a rich, full-bodied cup of coffee.
If you’re looking for something a little more unique – try the Chemex method. This brewing method was invented in 1941, and is served in an hourglass-shaped flask with a funnel-like neck. The coffee is filtered by bonded paper that removes coffee oil, so you get a pure aromatic coffee that is light with no bitterness. The coffee is then poured into a wine glass. So classy! I got my little finger up in the air as I sipped on my absolutely to-die-for cup of Costa Rica Tarrazu, brewed this way.
You can also try the Syphon or the Cold Drip brewing method that looks like some chemistry project – one uses fire, and the other uses ice. They are both brewed at the bar counter, so if you’re curious, you can witness the process. The Syphon method produces a medium-bodied coffee that is rich in flavour; while the Cold Drip is smooth, and well, best drank with ice.
Of course, if you’re looking for the common favourites like the espressos and the hot milk coffees – it is available too, costing about RM13-RM20. Cafes Richard’s top choice of coffee beans, the Perle Noir (black pearl) is used, and it is 100% Arabica brewed the Cafes Richard way. Frappes, coffee cocktails and mocktails, and tea selections are also available on the menu, along with delicious French food. Cocktails cost from RM35 onwards, and mocktails about RM20+. Genting members get a discount on all menu items, and its written on the menu.
We also had a taste of the Parisian High Tea – what’s not to love of a small ‘cabinet’ full of small savories like salmon, smoked duck, mushroom quiche; as well as desserts like éclairs, cheese cakes and macaroons? 13 treats for you to savor at RM143 for two, served from 2.30pm to 5.30pm.
I really enjoyed my French-style coffee experience at Cafes Richard. It was very educational and interesting learning about the many ways coffee beans are brewed. I loved my cup of Chemex brewed coffee, and would definitely be back to try the many other varieties available at the café. If you love your coffee, and a little taste of the French living; you’ll appreciate what’s on offer at Cafes Richard.
Thank you Mynn Lee for the amazing review, can’t wait to travel with you again. Remember to check out her cool travel blog at www.shewalkstheworld.com
