Little Journeyman Cafe.....WOW!

The signage....

"Dad, we have dinner reservations at Little Journeyman Cafe tonight, " Joa Wee, my son said to me as we went on to do what we do during holiday break - more sightseeing and shopping. "Great! Will see you there then this evening." I replied. 

All I know is that the cafe is opened by a young, upcoming, brilliant and talented chef in the name of LJ. I also did not get his full name but I have met him before. 

The entrance.....

Bespectacled, cool and really hip guy with a cheerful disposition. LJ is very respectful, pleasant, soft-spoken and very knowledgable of the food he is serving to his customers. Good attributes for a cafe owner! I got this by observing how this young man attended to his customers and the way he spoke to them from the time I walked into the cafe and when I was in the cafe. I guess, I can't help it as this is my expertise of the work I do for a living. Nope, not a food critic, though but I love food! Come to papa, food!

The interiors.....

Yup! Son did warned me not to messed his best buddy review and I am gonna be as pragmatic and as straight forward as possible even if it hurts. I make no apologies for what I write as I taste food or see things as they are. I guess, bluntly honest is what I do best. I guess, over the years, I've got my share of courting troubles by being blunt as I am but that is not going to change what I am. Still intact and very much the same.

The family......

Little Journeyman Cafe struck me as a really simple, eclectically rustic & classy place at the same time. I must say that I am very impressed with the rustic, soft tone yet very lovely ambiance of the place. The lights played a major part in creating that soft tone. The place makes you feel comfortable and easy. You feel right at home when you get there and it sets you into the relaxing mode. Yes, the place is a little small but quintessentially comfortable and privy in a way.

The bar counter is absolutely practical and the well lacquered boarding stood out indefinitely against the lighting. The flooring at the front was antiquity stuff which was surprisingly beautiful ( especially for an art enthusiast like me ) while the inside marbled tiles were modern, chic and matching with the lights. 

The front facade was very impressive and just the way I love it - an essential mixture of the old and the modern times. You would probably asked why the emphasis on the building and all that details, right? But alas, need I remind you that good food from the chef comes from working in the full embodiment of a great atmosphere and the great heartfelt touch of a great maestro? Everyone knows that when you have a great place to cook and work in , your heart is in the right place. I believed I captured that essence of serenity, good anxiety over the food and the general hospitality of Little Journeyman Cafe. 

Roasted chicken with creamy mushroom and fettuccine

With such a lovely setting in place, the food comes next. The menu list is truly simple. Our orders were simply the roasted chicken with creamy mushroom and fettuccine, salmon panini, smoked duck arrabiatta , salted fish and tuna spaghetti , truffle oil infused french fries , machiatoast topped with rum & raisin ice-cream and pulled pork panini. I truly loved the pulled pork panini which was served to me. 

Pulled pork panini

The caramelised onions and the tender shredded pork snuggled nicely between the bread together with some lovely sauce made it such an experience for me. It was absolutely an explosion of taste in my mouth and I love it. The arugula dressings was just right and french fries were nice side dishes that comes with the pulled pork panini. In my eyes, the hero was the pulled pork panini. Hey, the salmon panini is as good as the pulled pork panini, I tell you! Felicia had this salmon panini and she sings with delight over this! I swear , I did not make this up! It was simply delicious.

Salmon panini

I also took to taste the smoked duck arrabiatta and the truffle oil infused french fries. The smoked duck was perfectly sliced though I would love it to be sliced thinner to enable it to be thoroughly enjoyed especially the oil oozing from the duck layer of fat from the skin and the smoke infused duck meat smell. It's buttery taste and texture made it all such a gastronomical experience. The tomato and the sauce was too sour for my taste and could use a tinge of lowering down that sourness. Other than that, it was a really good dish. Maybe, a platter of smoked duck slices with a nice heap of arugula salad, quartered boiled eggs/quail eggs, croutons and lemon vinaigrette would be a great starter. That's my take on such nice pieces of smoked duck. Yummy!  

Smoked duck arrabiatta

The grand hero of the night in my mind was the truffle oil infused french fries.  Okay, the calories will rise but die die must try, lor. Truly I say to you, this is a real delight. I am still salivating as I write this post. Yup, I am still thinking of it and I really am very impressed with it. I tell you that truffle itself is pretty expensive while the oil would be the same. For a chef to serve such a fare , he must have the heart and penchant for good food & taste. So, thank you, LJ for this treat!

Salted fish and tuna spaghetti

My sister, Lee Lee and son JWee had the salted fish and tuna spaghetti fare. I took a fork spinned of spaghetti and found it to be delicious indeed. Such wonderful amalgamation of salted fish and tuna in a bowlful of goodness. It is quite a daring move to combine these flavours into the dish as salted fish can be quite overpowering. But I must say it is really a stroke of genius combining the salty taste of the salted fish and the ever sweet & meaty presence of the tuna. The tomato. mushroom and arugula dressing made it all a really flavourful punch of goodness.

Truffle oil infused french fries

Machatoast with Rum & Raisin ice-cream...

SYuen ordered roasted chicken with creamy mushroom and fettuccine. It was the very first dish to arrive. Poor girl, we all walloped her dish even before she could taste it herself. She eventually got to eat it as the "vultures" (us) cleared the skies! hahahahahahahaaaaa.......it was that good. The rich creamy mushroom sauce (with cheese , of course ) made it such a delectable dish. The roasted chicken was perfectly seasoned and tasted real good. This dish comes perfectly good with fettuccine. For someone like SYuen who loves cabonara sauce with her spaghetti , this is just perfect for her. Rich, flavorful, creamy and hearty is what I would describe this dish. No second guessing on goodness for this one. 

Front entrance at night....lovely...

Machatoast with rum & raisin ice cream for dessert comes next. The green spread thingy on the toast can be quite daunting for the eyes but once you get round to the taste of green tea, you'll be surprised with the combo of rum & raisin ice -cream. I like the taste but I don't like the look of it. Yeah, it taste better than it looks, absolutely! 

Front entrance....uniquely lovely and relaxing.....

To top off a fine dinner night, I had a cup of Americano coffee. Oh Yeah, it capped off nicely a wonderful night of great food, lovely ambiance and a great family get together for us. ( Lee Lee, JWee, Felicia, SYuen, SLing and myself ). 

I was told that I had missed out of Rachelette dish which is the house speciality of melted cheese on a platter of goodness. I promised LJ and my son, JWee that we would be back and we would try this soon enough. We were stuffed to the brim that night. 

I must say that the size portions of the food served were good and enough. I am particularly irked by proprietors who are stingy on their portions to the customers and also on their herbs, spices and so on. While I am super respectful of the fact that food wastage is a real problem too, I believe that no matter what, good food & right portions must go hand in hand.  I am proud to say that Little Journeyman Cafe food portions are good size portions and good quality food.  I am happy that I could taste every morsel of herbs, spices, garnish or even the aromatics in each dish. I am particularly irked if proprietor cut corners during food preparations as it misplaced that food or that quality of food. I may not be a rich man but I am always overzealous old man over the good food I partake.

So, thank you , LJ & your crew at Little Journeyman Cafe for a wonderful food gastronomical experience at the cafe. Like the famous quote by General MacArthur, " I shall return! " but mine would be " I shall return for more! " In the meantime, Inspire & may your cafe flourish to continue to entice the palate of the food nomads in Penang, LJ!

BTW, if you are wondering if I got a free meal for writing this, you are nuts coz' I paid for every one  of those dishes we ordered including my Americano and I expect no favours except good food!  I do not believe in getting free meal because I believed that everyone has got the right to earn a living including Moody Cow Cafe's RM 26.00 slice of cempedak cake!