MY first encounter with Little Allegra, a charming hole-in-the-wall bakery in a quiet residential estate in Ipoh, was through its famous cempedak cake, served at a wedding in Kuala Lumpur.

The cake, with its luscious golden fruit topping, had an unforgettable aroma, moist texture, and rich flavour. Unfortunately, during my recent visit to the café, I couldn’t have another slice, as the cempedak used for the cake – sourced from a farm in Penang and the Cameron Highlands – is only available during a short six-week harvest.

Despite this, I was thrilled by the wide array of pastries, cakes, pies, breads, and desserts on display. The bakery’s treats are so popular that they sell out fast – we arrived late morning, and the shelves were already emptying.

We opted for the avocado and egg on a Danish scroll croissant, spinach and chicken quiche, lamb burger, and seafood pie.

The avocado and egg on the buttery croissant, paired with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, was delightful. The spinach and chicken quiche, with its thin, crispy crust and perfectly balanced filling of eggs, vegetables, and meat, was so delicious that I regretted having to share it.

The lamb burger, with its juicy patty drizzled in sauce, layered with egg and fresh vegetables, was equally satisfying. Meanwhile, the seafood pie featured a generous, warm filling of seafood, served on a croissant base – another excellent choice for brunch.

We continued with the savoury part of our meal, sharing the fish soup and the baby spinach and prawn pasta, both specials for the day. The fish soup was a slightly sweet corn stew, served with golden fried tilapia – a special breed farmed in northern Perak with Norwegian expertise for export. The pasta, shaped like little ears, was perfect for soaking up the rich, tangy tomato sauce.

The café’s owner and chef, Julie Lip, regularly brings in unique pastas from Australia. Of course, we couldn’t leave without trying the coffee. The beans, sourced from Kyoto, made for an exceptional latte, with a perfect balance of milk and coffee, and just a hint of bitterness.

The tiramisu was a heavenly blend of chocolate and moist sponge, made with mascarpone and no cream. The raspberry Danish and lemon Danish were also outstanding – flaky, buttery, and filled with tangy raspberries and lemon curd.

Julie, who frequently travels to Japan and South Korea to stay on top of café trends, has converted part of her garden into Little Allegra. “The counter used to be my library,” she said, as we admired the cosy atmosphere and beautiful garden view through the window.

There’s even a small library within the café, where you can purchase and read from Julie’s collection of preloved cookbooks.

Little Allegra is open from Friday to Monday, 8.30am to 4pm, located at 26a Jalan Keliling, Taman Canning, 31400 Ipoh. Tel: 010 041 5722. – September 7, 2024.

* Eu Hooi-Khaw has been writing about food for the longest time, covering all aspects, from restaurant reviews to cooking and recipes, as well as the healthy side of it. She has written for major newspapers and magazines, published the cookbook Fresh Ingredients, and also writes for her website hooikhawandsu.com.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.