16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Indulgent cakes and tarts rule at Foo Foo Desserts
The British toffee date cake with masala chai ice cream is a must-try. (Andrea Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle)
KUALA LUMPUR : You've had a great dinner, and now want dessert. You flip through the menu and it's the same old brownie and a sad scoop of vanilla ice cream.
But not at Foo Foo Desserts. This charming evening café specialises in plated desserts that look as good as they taste.
Established in 2016 by co-owners Chong Kin Foo and Jack Lua, Foo Foo has become a firm favourite among those in the know.
Foo and Lua first met on the badminton court. At the time, Lua was an architect, while Foo had been working in kitchens since the age of 14. When they realised they shared the dream of opening a café, Foo Foo desserts was born.
Chong Kin Foo (left) and Jack Lua have run this café since 2016. (Andrea Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle)
Speaking with FMT Lifestyle, Lua, the more extroverted of the duo, shared: 'I realised that the desserts which Foo makes are nothing that we have seen in the café scene. Usually, desserts come last on the menu. We thought, why not make that the main menu?'
ADVERTISEMENT VIDCRUNCH
Next Stay
Playback speed
1x Normal
Quality
Auto
144p
Back
360p
240p
144p
Auto
144p
Back
0.25x
0.5x
1x Normal
1.5x
2x
00:00
/
01:20
Originally called Foo Foo Fine Desserts, they dropped the 'Fine' after six years to better reflect what the café really stands for: traditional, rustic plates of dessert.
The space itself had a calming atmosphere. If you're with a date, grab a table by the indoor terrace, where sunlight streams through slanted windows.
'With every dessert we serve, you can finish everything. There's nothing on the plate you can't eat, and you will feel full,' said Lua.
That, FMT Lifestyle can attest to. The portions are generous, and no, you won't find any dry ice, edible flowers, or splats of sauce here.
Despite graduating from one of the most prestigious culinary schools in the world, Foo lets his creations speak for themselves – his certificate sits quietly in a corner of the café.
The strawberry tart has been on the menu since day one. (Andrea Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle)
FMT Lifestyle sampled four desserts from the menu, inspired by various countries, and each was a standout.
The strawberry tart with balsamic vinegar ice cream has been on the menu since day one and is Lua's personal favourite. The French shortcrust pastry, crème patissière, red berries compote and slices of fresh strawberries were magical on the plate – light, buttery, and packed with flavour.
'Some people may find the flavour of the ice cream very odd, but when you eat it together with the strawberries, the pairing is really interesting,' Lua explained.
Another standout was the white chocolate panna cotta with stewed pear and peanut praline. The Italian panna cotta was soft and jiggly, the pear warm and tender, and the peanuts added just the right crunch – a full texture sensation in every bite.
Foo's banana cream cheese loaf with baked chocolate slab was rich and comforting. (Andrea Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle)
Hard to pick a favourite, but the British toffee date cake with masala chai ice cream was a strong contender. It came with a generous pour of toffee sauce, and the ice cream rested on a dollop of chocolate crémeux. Warm, cold, spiced, and sweet – perfect for a rainy evening.
And for something a little more indulgent: the banana cream cheese loaf with baked chocolate slab, was well worth the 20-minute wait.
The loaf is filled with cream cheese, topped with berry jam and rich baked ganache, finished with lemon Chantilly and crunchy cacao nibs. Slice into it and you'll see each component – and taste pure comfort.
Oh, and before you wonder – no, surprisingly, nothing was overly sweet. Don't skip the drinks either – their specialty coffee blend is worth a try, and the peanut butter and bean iced coffee was a revelation.
Sit by the indoor terrace for a calm evening. (Andrea Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle)
Having been in the business for nearly a decade, Foo Foo refreshes its menu of nine dishes every few months.
Most desserts are priced around RM30 – quite worth it, considering everything including ice cream is homemade using natural ingredients.
Lua also cherishes the memories they've made along the way. 'We just recently had a proposal here, because the couple also had their first date at our café years ago.'
Despite their popularity, Foo Foo has no plans to expand. 'We love interacting with our customers and having that human connection. Once we franchise it, we will lose that,' Lua shared.
Follow Foo Foo Desserts on Instagram.
Foo Foo Desserts
64A, Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi
Taman Tun Dr Ismail
60000 Kuala Lumpur
Business Hours: 3.30pm-11.30pm (Closed on Wednesday)
