/**/ August 2014 - Travel + Decor + DIY

All Day Lazy Breakfast at Madeleine Café & Boulangerie

When it comes to food, there are two things that are close to my heart, French and breakfast.

There is something about the French cuisine that seems so simple yet very sophisticated. Not too flavorful, yet not too bland and still will hit you directly to the heart.

As for breakfast, Filipinos are heavy breakfast eater. I never skipped breakfast as I feel  that this is the most important meal of the day (some new studies will disagree with this). I love smelling the aroma of freshly toasted bread and newly brewed coffee in the morning.

So, When I received an invitation to try the All Day Lazy Breakfast Promotion in Madeliene Café & Boulangerie, I didn’t even have any second thought--- I said YES!

[caption id="attachment_798" align="aligncenter" width="800"]Madeleine Café and Boulangerie Lazy Breakfast Menu The Lazy Breakfast Menu[/caption]

I remember when I was in France a few years back , early morning for breakfast, we went to the nearest boulangerie and bought a freshly baked baguette and croissant. I really love that experience..oh simple joys (#takemeback).

Check out my previous posts below:

The City of Food Lovers

Boulangerie at Saint Andres de Sangonis

I Left My Heart In Paris

[caption id="attachment_796" align="aligncenter" width="800"]LAZY BREAKFAST SPECIALTIES LAZY BREAKFAST SPECIALTIES[/caption]

Madeleine Café and Boulangerie is a traditional and hip French restaurant located in Dubai Mall over looking the famous Dubai Fountain. The interior of the restaurant mimic a traditional French brasserie. With reddish stained wooden furniture, french windows and doors, the mood of the place will surely transport you to the streets of Paris.

We were welcomed very warmly and ushered to our table. We sat near the window to have a view of the outdoor. We didn’t dine outside as it is still summer here in Dubai (summer for me means ‘ONLY INDOOR OPTION’). Although, I can imagine how beautiful dining outside will be on a much cooler season (I will try that for sure).

As I said earlier, we were invited to try their All Day Lazy Breakfast offer. I must say, it was already passed lunch time..but I will not even argue to get a French breakfast any time of the day.

All Day Lazy Breakfast:

" An à la carte lazy breakfast... for those who enjoy in a charming brasserie-style setting with a choice of excellent breakfast items prepared à la minute." (Madeleine Cafe & Boulangerie website)




[caption id="attachment_806" align="aligncenter" width="800"]Madeleine Café and Boulangerie Lazy Breakfast CHEESE PLATTER CHEESE PLATTER = AED 45[/caption]

I think we ordered almost everything from the menu. Well, you gotta taste everything right? (with a grin smile haha)

Selections


French Toast - Brioche dipped in egg & milk batter pan fried, served with raisins, caramelized banana and honey (YUM!!!)


Croque Madame - Gratinated ham & gruyere cheese sandwich with fried egg, roasted tomatoes, potato and mushroom. (I first tried a Croque Madame in Paris and I must say, this is delish!)


Egg Benedict - Poached eggs on brioche with smoked salmon and hollandaise sauce. (We didn't order this)


Scrambled Egg Croissant - Croissant filled with scrambled egg and served with tomato and potato and mushroom. (We didn't order this also)


Smoked Salmon Scrambled Egg Croissant - Croissant filled with scrambled egg, salmon and served with tomato, potato and mushroom. ( I like the French toast more but my friend preferred this one)


Assorted Cheese Platter (THE BEST!!)


I am a big fan of everything cheese, walnut and jam,  so needless to say that the cheese platter alone won my heart already.

Among all the ones we ordered, my favorite was the French toast. It was very tasty and soft (I love the caramelized banana flavor). My friend’s preference was the Salmon Croissant. It was a rich dish and very heavy.

[caption id="attachment_813" align="aligncenter" width="800"]Madeleine Café and Boulangerie Lazy Breakfast my dubai uae food blog french toast FRENCH TOAST = AED 55[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_812" align="aligncenter" width="800"]Madeleine Café and Boulangerie Lazy Breakfast  smoked salmon SMOKED SALMON SCRAMBLED EGG CROISSANT = AED 55[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_814" align="aligncenter" width="800"]Madeleine Café and Boulangerie Lazy Breakfast  my dubai uae food blog croque madame CROQUE MADAME = AED 55[/caption]

The croquet madame, another specialty and a best seller during the lazy breakfast comes with a serving of fries. It is a full meal itself.

To complement our meal, we also had coffee and an orange juice. I can actually stay all day and enjoy their breakfast offerings. I love idea of serving breakfast till 5pm on a weekend when everyone is too lazy to wake up early.

If you are looking for a place to enjoy a tasty French breakfast, I recommend Madeleine Café and Boulougerie. Aside from their lazy breakfast, they have pastries if you want to satisfy your sweet weekend cravings instead.

Check out other photos in the gallery below:


[gallery link="file" ids="805,803,820,818,817,815"]

Madeliene Cafe & Boulangerie


Located at: Ground Level, Fashion


Avenue, The Dubai Mall, Dubai, UAE


Website: www.madeleinecafe.com


All Day Lazy Breakfast


Available every Fridays & Saturdays


from 10am - 5pm

Backpacking in Germany 2014: Bavarian Escape



So I got a go pro for my trip therefore I was forced to make a video (haha not really, but I don't want it to go to waste). My first stop was in the southwestern part of Germany where I got to experience amazing landscapes and beautiful medieval towns..the crazy German autobahn...and most of all, meeting new people and enjoying some quality time with friends. Here's a 3 min video of what rolled down during the first leg of my summer trip ^^.


 


My Travel Treasures: The Reason why I love Backpacking

If you are looking for photos of landscapes, buildings and even souvenirs, for sure you will be disappointed reading this blog. My very first thought of what I will gain when I travel was to visit famous places that I saw in travel books, TV shows and magazines but during my first semi-backpacking travel in China it all changed. I can’t believe that I even got teary eyed leaving Shanghai.

Backpacking (or traveling solo) made me open to the thought of meeting other travelers and spending time with them. Sharing travel tips and experiences over a cup of coffee (or sometimes a bottle of beer or a glass of wine). Walking side by side during free tours and exchanging random thoughts on the building that you just saw and immediately became brothers and sisters from different mothers. I love this feeling and that one hour/one day that you spent together can spark a  life long friendship.

[caption id="attachment_1954" align="aligncenter" width="800"]los angeles friends backpacking travel wanderlust universal studios Ingvild,Me, Felix, Andre in Los Angeles (August 2013)[/caption]

I have been planning to write about my Travel Treasures a few months back but I thought today, writing and posting this cheesy blog is more appropriate because exactly a year ago, I met a group of travelers in Los Angeles who eventually became one of my closest friends to date and the best travel treasures I ever had. (Travel Blog: Day 1 Hollywood Los Angeles California )

After our day trip in Los Angeles we pretty much stayed in touch. The wonders of social media made it easier for us to update one another of the things that are going on with each other. Some of us continued traveling for a few more months while some came back home. It’s amazing how a simple ‘how’s your day?’ goes a long way…and postcards as well. (the power or snail mails!)

This year, I was so happy to visit 3 of my travel best buddies. Felix from Germany and Andre and Ingvild from Norway.  I must say, this has been one of my best travel trips so far  (more about these trips in my future blogs)

[caption id="attachment_1955" align="aligncenter" width="800"]bergen travel treasures backpacking norway europe Andre, Me and Ingvild in Bergen City Center (July 2014)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1957" align="aligncenter" width="800"]travel friends ulriken bergen norway wanderlust travel treasures Andre, Me and Ingvild at the top of Mt.Ulriken, Bergen (July 2014)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1958" align="aligncenter" width="800"]travel friends wanderlust trolltunga bergen norway Andre and I at the beautiful cliff known as the Trolltunga, Norway (July 2014)[/caption]

Travel Blog: Why Europe? A Look Back At My First Euro-Adventure

As I mentioned in my previous blog that this summer I will be traveling again to Europe. Well, I actually just came back  from that trip and I can’t wait to share my experiences and things that I have seen. It was pretty epic for a short trip. I don’t want it to stop (as most of you will surely feel) but now I am back in Dubai to work and start to dream again of where to go next.

paris travel blog arch de triumph travel blogger

I thought before starting to share my awesome trip, I would like to blog a short story of my first Europe trip. let’s call it a Travel Tuesday flashback.

Two years ago, embarking on my first solo trip in Europe was just a dream. I never thought I will be able to do it. Asians (Southeast Asian in particular) are pretty much not the travel westward kinds. We love to travel but because of all visa applications needed we became confined with our little region (which is really beautiful). So, to travel to famous European spots was a dream come true for a guy like me.

My plan was to go to Paris then travel by train to the South of France (Montpelier and Saint Andre de Sangonis), stayed a few days in Barcelona then fly to Italy to visit Florence, Venice and Rome. It was a good plan and a feasible one I must say.

After getting my visa approved (it was surprisingly easy —-but it took a month) I started thoroughly researching about the places I will be visiting. It was a dreadful period. I was so stressed but my motto was “ginusto mo yan kaya panindigan mo” (you wanted this, so live with it). To cut the story short, although I complained a lot with booking trains, planes and hostels (and all connections), I was able to sort everything out and I was ready to hop on the plane and start my first European journey.

eiffel tower travel blog blogger paris trip europe

My first destination was Paris and I was warned that “people there are cold and really a snob, everything is very pricey, be careful of pick pockets and also people doesn’t speak English so I need to learn basic French.”

Travel Blog: Day 1 Hollywood Los Angeles California

It has been almost a year since my trip to Los Angeles and this blog has been in my backlog list since then. Because I have been blogging about several food places here in Dubai and some other travel locations I’ve visited this year, I haven’t really finished blogging about my US trip (excuses, excuses).  Even though my trip is now a  #throwback thing, I still thought of sharing it because my 2014 summer trip is somewhat connected to this one.

After my trip in San Francisco, my next destination was the sunny and glittery Los Angeles. The plan was to meet my other Dubai Friends who were traveling as well in the US and we will stay together in a motel (that one of my friend’s aunt booked for us). While I was in SF, I got a message from them that they arrived early in the city and they will be staying their first night in a town hours away from LA (and apparently, if you don’t have a car, you cannot follow). The only thing left to do is to book a place to stay at least for a night.

Being a budget traveler, I immediately went to my trusty  www.hostelworld.com and looked for a good hostel. There were several choices but because most of them were in the almost same price range ($50/night), I based my selection on the reviews instead. I chose The USA Hostel Hollywood and I must say I was pretty excited. —-The hostel is located at the heart of Hollywood, walking distance to almost every tourist sites in the city (awesome right?!).

I haven’t been in a hostel since my trip in the US started. We had a hotel in NY, a hotel again in Florida, I lived at a friend’s house in SF and this time I think staying in a hostel will be interesting. I love hostels!!!

I mentioned that I will be staying in this hostel to a friend who is based in California and he decided to stay there as well——yahoooo. This will be fun!

Travel Blog Lost Angeles Hollywood Trip

As I arrived in LAX, my head kept on turning,looking for any sign of a Hollywood celebrity…sadly I was not that fortunate.

The sun in LA was refreshing. Coming from a very cold and foggy San Francisco, I was surprised that I missed the sun. Seeing the sunset on my way to Hollywood, it felt like a Coldplay song was playing on the background and I was on a TV show opening credit or something.

Travel Blog Lost Angeles Hollywood Trip

Travel Blog Lost Angeles Hollywood Trip

Travel Blog Lost Angeles Hollywood Trip

Riding the subway and walking to my hostel I must say was a bit scary. In the US, like in NY and even in San Fran, there were a lot of times that I felt I was not secure. I felt the same thing (even more) in LA. In the train I was scared that it will be my last train ride ever.

Walking along the Hollywood hall of fame made me feel sad seeing a lot of homeless people camping along the side walk. But I guess, not every city is perfect and let’s just hope that the government (and neighborhood) will do something about this.

Travel Blog Lost Angeles Hollywood Trip

I finally arrived at the Hostel, it was not really hard to find. The direction from their website was pretty accurate. The Hostel looks nice. A bunch of travelers already occupied the outdoor lounge area and I must say, I was a bit intimated. It felt as if they knew each another already for a long time. Well, that is the beauty of being in a hostel, but this time (at least for the first night) I was the outcast.