When Don and I were in the ambiguous relationship oscillated between mere friendship and more than just friendship, we had a day trip to Fraser Hill to record our audition video for Amazing Race Asia. Before we even had a chance to edit the video, I accidentally deleted it. Anyway, that is not the point. I wanna say that we had a good time chilling out in Smokehouse Restaurant in Fraser Hill and enjoyed their fabulous tea and scones. I was almost convinced that Smokehouse served the best scones in the world.

After dating for several years, I started to realize that most of the ‘best ever’ food that we had during the ambiguous period was just an illusion. When I went back to the same restaurant and ordered the same food, I was suddenly awaken that the food was just far from ‘best ever’. It was the crush that turned everything to be beautiful, including food.

So after few years when I had a chance to visit Smokehouse again in Cameron Highlands, I kinda missed the ‘delusional’ best ever scones that melted my heart once in Fraser Hill.  In order to prove that there could be exceptional case where the food was genuinely good,  I told Julian and Su that Smokehouse serves absolutely fabulous scones. So they agreed to have afternoon tea there. Woohoo……

Checking out the menu

The Smokehouse Hotel & Restaurant is just opposite the golf course. It’s one of the most authentic buildings in Cameron Highlands, which was opened since 1937! Before even my parents were born. It was also one of the most visited restaurants in Cameron Highlands. Most ‘visited’, not the most ‘dined in’ restaurant, ok? Many tourists strolled around its compound to snap the photos with no intention to dine in.  The restaurant was almost empty! You know why? Because the food was frigging expensive! One piece of scone costs RM8.50 and one cup of tea costs RM9! I wonder who actually dine there. Oops… we actually dined there.

The Smokehouse Hotel was opened during Christmas of 1937 by the Englishman Mr. Douglas Warin. Purpose-built in a traditional Tudor style and structure, the hotel is considered to be one of the first permanent buildings erected in the then fairly new Cameron Highlands Hill Station. The name of the hotel was originally known as Ye Olde Smokehouse Inn., a name which until recently, still appeared in all Ordnance Survey maps.

The original establishment had six rooms available for accommodation, and was mainly meant for homesick British expatriates who in those days only returned home once every eight years.

Lobby or Living room of the hotel

There were 3 sitting areas in the living room with comfy couches and a table next to each couch. You can have a light-hearted chat with your friends here after the meal.

English home decoration

You can actually spend few hours here to observe every subtle detail of the house

The Smokehouse provides you with the ultimate in colonial ambiance. Every single space in the house was filled with colonial memories. I’m only concerned about dusk and how to clean it if it was my house.

Antique clock on the wall

The house is priceless in the way they preserve its authenticity and uniqueness. Perhaps the management should consider reducing the price of the food to attract more customers. It’s a pity for a memorable house to sit on the hill without people appreciate it.

The antique vase that now becomes baby toy

She is Su and Julian’s princess, Ms. Chloe! Incredibly cute!

A huge compound of the Smokehouse Hotel & Restaurant

We took a stroll in the garden and took some photos of the flowers. Cameron Highlands is really a paradise of colorful flowers. The flowers in the garden are in full blossom, vying for attention as if they were in competition.

My favourite flowers!

Victoria fountain – I look very short in this picture

Even the hanging lamp is captivating

Pigeon house!! But no pigeon

We then went into the dining area to order gold plated scones and ginseng added English tea.

See… I told you it’s empty

We walked pass the dining room and went into the open roof area with a few dining tables for those who prefer outdoor setting.

There was a white piano sitting quietly under the sun

Occasion visitor

Our food was served. Very cheapskate, 4 of us and we ordered only 2 cup of tea

Don “Shel, do you want milk in your tea?”

Silent…

Don “Do you want milk in your tea?”

Silent…

Julian “She is concentrating on snapping photo of the scones now. She won’t answer you until she is done”

It tastes excellent with strawberry jam and home-made cream. The cream is so smooth that you can even add it into your tea as substitute of milk.

I thought the scones were nice, but Julian and Su thought it was normal. Well, with the rip-off price that they charged (RM8 per scone), people would expect it to taste like abalone (for Asians) and lobster (for Caucasians).

We had very fun chat while enjoying our scones, even though I do look like a monkey in this photo.

Julian was enjoying half of the cup of tea, another half was shared with Su.

Su, very chio mother with her lovely daughter.

English lesson for non Malaysian/Singaporean: Meaning of Chio ~

Take a final look at this beautiful house

~*~*~*~*~

The Smokehouse Hotel & Restaurant By The Golf Course,
P. O. Box 77, Tanah Rata 39007 Cameron Highlands,
Pahang darul Makmur, Malaysia.
Tel : 605-491 1215     Fax : 605-491 1214

Website: http://www.thesmokehouse.com.my/ch.htm

Map

(Map: source from http://www.marimari.com/hotel/Malaysia/smokehouse/index.html)