Read also: 10 Must-Try Street Food in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

There is almost some sort of a cosmic connection between women and high tea.

There’s just something about being able to get together with a few girlfriends over the weekend, sit back, talk for hours on end while indulging in delicious treats - both sweet and savory, till it is time to head home and rest our jaws. While I have tried many different high tea sets - most of them at posh hotels, I have to admit that I’ve never had something as unique, lip-smacking yet so ridiculously affordable as the Bao-Tea-Ful Hi-Tea at Brasserie 25.

Made possible by Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur, Bao-Tea-Ful is a newly launched afternoon tea concept. Instead of pinwheel sandwiches, macarons and bite-size cakes, you will be delighted with baos and tang shui - creations with an oriental touch that deliciously integrate traditional recipes with contemporary elements.

A concept which borrowed a whole raft of inspiration from the reminiscences of the historic neighborhood of Jalan Kamunting, the afternoon tea also inspirited discernible characteristics which could be traced back to the Korean, Japanese and Western cuisine.

Bao-Tea-Ful Hi-Tea, Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur

The fundamental is simple - to create the fluffiest, softest, and most pillowy buns (called baos) and have them steamed to perfection. The following step is straightforward yet crucial: To fill each bao with an assortment of pre-cooked stuffings so every single bite is exciting and bursting with flavors.

Just like peanut butter and jelly, the baos and the specialty fillings here taste heavenly together.

Enjoy unlimited, free flow baos at only RM88 for two people. Simply pick any bao from the list, and don’t stop eating until you drop! Baos are pork-free and highly addictive.

Bao-Tea-Ful Hi-Tea Set Menu

Unlimited choice of sweet and savory baos, a hot pot of Chinese tea for sharing, and unlimited bowls of tang shui (sweet soup desserts) of choice!

Choose any of the following baos:

Bao-Tea-Ful Hi-Tea, Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur

Fried Ice Cream: Fried Bao, Ice Cream and topping

Stylo Milo: Fried Bao, Milo and condensed milk

Cendol

Bubur Cha Cha

Bao-Tea-Ful Afternoon Tea

Brasserie 25, Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur

Website: https://www.stripeskl.com/dining.html
Price: RM88 for 2 people

Unlimited refill / Pork-free

Time: 3pm to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday only

#BaoTeaFul #MeetMeAtStripes

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On the last day of my hasty one-week trip to Sri Lanka, I could not pass on the opportunity to dine at Upali's by Nawaloka - a posh dining spot hailed as the best Sri Lankan restaurant located in the heart of Colombo. Scroll down for Chef's recommendations and to know which dishes to order when you dine at the top restaurant in Colombo!

Read also: 13 Must-Try Food in Sri Lanka

Located in the heart of the capital Colombo, Upali’s faces the serene ViharamahaDevi Park and is adjacent to popular attractions such as the city’s Town Hall and the Nelum Pokuna Theatre. It was rather quiet when I visited the restaurant at 4pm, but as soon as the clock struck 6, the crowd started pouring in and soon the restaurant was filled with chatters and buzz.

This top restaurant in Colombo is run by David Cruse and Upali Dharmadasa - both whom are high profile individuals in the Sri Lankan business community as well as veterans in the hospitality industry.

Website | Facebook

Address: 65 Dr C.W.W Kannangara Mawatha, Colombo 00700, Sri Lanka

Contact number: +94 112 695 812

Opening hours: 11.30am-10.30pm

Brunei may be the only Southeast Asian country to practice Sharia law, but it is one of the safest and the most peace-loving country I have traveled to. Curious to learn more about the different types of local dishes and cuisine in Brunei? Here’s a list to get you started!

6 Must-Try Food in Brunei Darussalam

Nasi Katok in Brunei

Nasi Katok is one of Brunei’s most commonly found dishes. Sold from as low as B$1 (even cheaper in the suburbs), Nasi Katok is a minimalist and undecorated dish consisting of only three components: plain white rice, sambal (chili shrimp relish) and a piece of fried chicken. Despite being a simple dish, Nasi Katok managed to get itself into the franchising business and clinched the title of being a staple food loved by the Bruneians.

Nasi Katok in Brunei

The best Nasi Katok in Brunei

Cheap Nasi Katok in Brunei

Exotic Durian in Brunei

There are a few types of durians that can only be found in Brunei and across the Borneo island, and Durian Sukang (red durian) and Durian Dalit (orange durian) are two of them. While commercially planted durian produces thicker flesh, the durians collected from the deep remote Borneo jungles have thinner layers of flesh and they bear a distinct alcoholic-like flavor. The redder the flesh, the stronger the flavors and the more expensive they are!

Exotic red durian in Brunei

Red and yellow exotic durian in Brunei

Ambuyat in Brunei

Ambuyat is one national dish that surprisingly only very few know about. Created by the Bruneian Malay, this dish is prepared using the interior trunk of a sago palm. The starchy, flavorless and glutinous substance is eaten using a pair of prongs made using bamboo called chandas. To eat, simply and artfully twirl the starch around the bamboo sticks until it becomes a deflated ball, before dipping it into any type of cacah (dipping) or side dishes of choice, such as tempoyak (fermented durian paste), chili sauce, ulaman (raw salad) or curry.

Ambuyat - the national dish of Brunei. Photo credit: Brunei Tourism.

Kelupis in Brunei

Another classic recipe created by the Malay people of Brunei, Kelupis is a type of glutinous rice rolls wrapped in Nyirik leaves. It is traditionally served during wedding ceremonies or special occasions by the Bisaya, Lun Bawang and Lundayeh ethnic tribes as light refreshments, and is available in different varieties through different fillings such as dried shrimp or anchovies, or dipped into a peanut paste or curries.

Kelupis - a delicious Brunei snack. Photo credit: Brunei Tourism.

Cucur in Brunei

Cucur is really just fritters - pieces of cut up items deep-fried and eaten as snacks. In Brunei, cucur plays a huge role in the country’s street food scene and is sold everywhere from roadside food stalls to top-rated restaurants. Can be made into either a sweet or savory snack, they are most commonly made using fruits and vegetables such as bananas, sweet potatoes, carrots or yams, as well as using meat like shrimps. For more exotic varieties, look out for fritters prepared using local seasonal fruits such as durian, tibadak (cempedak), tarap (johey oak) or sukun (breadfruit).

Cucur sold at markets in Brunei

Kuih-muih in Brunei

As Brunei is made up mostly of Malays, the preparation and consumption of kuih-muih is widespread. These traditional snacks are conveniently sold in bite-size pieces, come in different shapes and colours, and are made primarily using ingredients such as rice flour, sugar, coconut cream and tapioca. Examples of the most popular kuih-muih in Brunei are selurut, penyaram, tapai and kuih cincin.

Local snacks in Brunei

As a rule of thumb, most of the dishes in Brunei can be found in Malaysia. If you are accustomed with the flavors of Malaysian cuisine, then you should have no issues dining here!

Malay food is generally mild, slightly spicy and very filling, so you can rest assured that your meals here will be a tummy-pleasing one!

For related travel stories, click here.

A vendor preparing chicken rice at Tamu Kianggeh, Bandar Seri Bagawan in Brunei.

Local food in Brunei