Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Aussie Tucker @ Swez Brasserie, Eastin Hotel Penang.

The buffet themed "Aussie Tucker" is once again back at Swez Brasserie, Eastin Hotel Penang on the very first month of the year 2014. Reward yourself a sumptuous meal at Swez Brasserie for the start of the brand new year-2014, diners can expect for the carefully-crafted wide variety of Australian delicacies such as Lamington, Tasmanian Black Mussels and Pavlova. "Aussie Tucker" will be available from 1st of January 2014 to 30th of January 2014. 

Many Thanks to Eastin Hotel Penang for extending the invitation.

Prices for the buffets are as follow: *Kindly note that prices for their buffets are being revised for the year 2014*

Lunch: Monday - Friday (except 31st of January 2014)
12:00pm - 2:30pm
Rm 50++ (adult) Rm 25++ (child)

Hi-Tea: Saturday and Sunday
12:00pm - 3:00pm
Rm 68++ (adult) Rm 34++ (child)

Semi Buffet Dinner: Sunday - Tuesday, Thursday (except 31st of January 2014)
6:30pm - 10:00pm
From Rm50++ per person

January Credit Card Promotions:

MAYBANKAD, Standard Chartered Bank, OCBC Bank, CIMB Bank, Citibank and MasterCard Worldwide card members, guests can enjoy 15% discount for Semi Buffet Dinner (Monday to Thursday) and Weekend Buffet Dinner (Friday and Saturday) from 6:30pm to 10:00pm.

For inquiries or reservations, kindly contact Eastin Hotel Penang, Swez Brasserie at +04- 612 1128.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Teapoint Cafe @ Armenian Street Heritage Hotel, Carnavon Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Nestled within the newly opened Armenian Street Heritage Hotel, Teapoint Cafe is a Taiwanese franchised cafe that opened its doors few weeks ago. The humble little cafe offers drinks- coffee and tea at very affordable prices. Flavors are somewhat unique here but the drawback could be the limited space within the cafe, seating is estimated to be less than 6 within the cafe and not more than 15 in total (including outside of the cafe). The little cafe exudes a relaxed vibe and offers a comfortable pit stop for tired tourists or locals to stretch the legs after a long heritage walk around the tourist hot spots at Armenian street. 

Friday, December 27, 2013

Sugar Honey @ Campbell Street, Georgetown, Penang.

I was introduced to this newly opened cafe not long ago, in which their soft opening falls on the middle of December. Sweet Time in Sugar Honey or known as Sugar Honey for short, is located right next to the very famous Moustache Houze at Campbell Street. As the name of the cafe would imply, the quaint little cafe serves mainly desserts, with a medley range of mains, savory desserts as well as some snacks/ nibbles.The cafe has lovely and cozy ambiance to spend some time with your loved ones; service was genuine but after considering all the factors as a whole, the cafe is worth for a second visit but probably more for novelty than absolute taste.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Tean Ean (田园土产) @ Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Georgetown, Penang.

Tambun Biscuits (淡汶饼), Tau Sar Pneah (豆沙饼) or known as the Dragon-ball Biscuits to many, are well-known as the quintessential gift from Penang; not only do tourists often buy them as souvenirs but the locals love the biscuits as well. However, have you ever thought of where to get some decent yet freshly baked Tambun Biscuits? You might be able to find your answer here at Tean Ean (田园土产).

Founded in the year 1995, Tean Ean Local Products took the prominent location of Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah- the corner unit to the junction of Gurney Drive and Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, adjacent to Northam Hotel. Buying (food) souvenirs or gifts has never been that easy as ample parking spaces are available. Some  of the products we get to sample were Tambun Biscuits (淡汶饼), Horseshoe Crisps (马蹄酥) and their (肉骨茶) and I must say that I'm impressed with the quality of their Tambun Biscuits and Horseshoe Crisps. Interested parties can also register for their hands-on Tambun-biscuits baking class.

Many Thanks to Tean Ean for extending the invitation. 

Thai Food @ Old City Food Court, Prima Tanjung, Penang.

I'm sure most people will not realize that there's a food court hidden in Prima Tanjung (well, unless you are staying nearby) and to my surprise, one can actually find some real authentic Thai food at the food court. There are quite a lot of choices in the food court but the two Thai Food stalls stood out to me for receiving the most orders and long queues can be spotted outside the stall. Prices are quite cheap and economical. Helmed by some Thais, most of our orders were just averagely okay but every single dish that we had tasted very authentic. Do try the Lam Mee and Thai Koay Chiap which can be found in the food court too!

Monday, December 23, 2013

Tiger Char Koay Teow (老虎炒粿条) @ Carnavon Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Char Koay Teow, being one of the quintessential dishes in Penang, can be commonly found in any of the coffee shops within the state. However, getting a good one can be really tricky. Talk to any Penangites and the topic can be heated up real quick. Suggestions like Ah Leng Char Koay Teow at Dato Keramat, Lorong Selamat Char Koay Teow, Sister Char Koay Teow or even Siam Road Char Koay Teow will be popped up but little do I hear about Tiger Char Koay Teow.

Along the ubiquitous food street- Carnavon Street, there is this famous Char Koay Teow stall- Tiger Char Koay Teow, named after the owner "Ah Hor/ Tiger in Hokkien". It can be found in a coffee shop known as Ping Hooi Coffee Shop, sitting at the junction to Carnavon Street and Lebuh Melayu. The place will be thronged by patrons during weekends, be sure to grab your seat as early as possible or you might end up waiting for hours. 

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Next Stop @ 1st Avenue Mall, Penang.

**Next Stop at 1st Avenue has ceased its operations until further notice but other outlets remain unchanged.**

Next Stop, a seafood/ fast food concept food outlet tucked within the building of 1st Avenue Mall which is quite eye-catchy to many due to its intriguing and attractive red bus design of the kiosk. Inspired by the Fish N Chips culture in England, Next Stop ought to serve simple yet delectable Fish N Chips, along with some of their signature nibbles; also, their Sorbets are something to die for. Free wifi and seats are available, making it a good place for tired shoppers to have a quick recharge or grab a quick snack to kill time before the movie starts. Next Stop is located at 8th floor (Cloud 8), right next to Stick Arts and opposite to Red Box Karaoke. Overall, I thought some of the dishes we had were just mediocre and some need some refinements, nevertheless, there are still some worth-trying dishes like their Crunchy Squid, Tempura Salmon Fingers and Sorbets.

Many Thanks for Next Stop for extending the invitation. 

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Celebrate Chinese New Year with Gartien Pineapple Cakes

**Due to the overwhelming responses received, the Gartien Chinese New Year limited edition Pineapple Cakes are sold out and limited quantities left for walk-ins only, do contact Gartien for more updated information.**

For a touch of sweet festivity, Gartien is taking on Chinese New Year with panache, offering their fresh and locally made Pineapple Cakes with a whole new artistic design, making the box of Pineapple Cakes a perfect gift for this auspicious occasion. The beautifully designed gift box comes in red and gold colors with an extra element of  the very elegant flower- Peony/ Mudan Flowers (牡丹花) which resembles prosperity as well as adding a festive and welcoming touch. To further adhere to the theme, Chinese Ink Painting of the flowers can also be found on the individual packaging.

Should you are interested in purchasing the Auspicious Gift Box of Gartien Pineapple Cakes, you may pre-order or order via phone (604- 229 0068) or email them directly or you may even send them a private message on their Facebook page. Limited quantities are available and approximately 250 boxes are available weekly:

Week 1: 30th December 2013 to 5th of January 2014.
Week 2: 6th January 2014 to 12th of January 2014.
Week 3: 13th January 2014 to 19th of January 2014.
Week 4: 20th January 2014 to 26 of January 2014.

Every single box of the Pineapple Cakes is priced at Rm 45/ box, should you pre-order (from now onward to 31st of December 2013) now, you are entitle for a discount at a promotional rate of Rm 38/ box. On addition to that, every purchase of 10 boxes, you can either have your postage waived if you are residing in Peninsular Malaysia (if delivery) OR entitle for an additional complimentary box of Pineapple Cakes (for self-collection).

Many thanks to Gartien for extending the invitation.

Dolce Dessert Cafe @ Kek Chuan Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Georgetown has a fair share of cafes serving desserts but now there is another new one on the offer which would make any dessert lovers weak in the knees. Every spot of their funky and creative interior can be a photo opportunity, the cozy yet modish and laid-back ambiance makes the place suitable for gatherings or some sweet talks. There is also an al-fresco section on the side of the cafe for those who prefer a more outdoorsy ambiance. My only gripe was the place serves no mains, only desserts particularly cakes. Choices for the cakes, however, is not extensive but should be good enough to please everyone. Dolce Dessert Cafe is located strategically at Jalan Kek Chuan, the road right beside the infamous Macalister Road Dim Sum.


Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Wan Ton Mee @ Lebuh Melayu, Georgetown, Penang.

Right beside to the T-junction of Lebuh Melayu, Lorong Toh Aka and Lorong Ikan, there is a Wan Ton Mee stall which has been in business for many years. Known to many as "Agogo Wan Ton Mee", the unpretentious stall is famous among the neighborhood. It offers only Wan Ton Mee but the place was throng with regular patrons during my visit. Do avoid peak/ lunch hours if possible. However, the place might not be ideal and comfortable to dine in during a sultry afternoon as the sweltering heat can kill your appetite. Nevertheless, the earnest yet simple Wan Ton Mee is worth-trying if you are around the vicinity. 

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Bibis Fashion & Bakery Cafe @ Kelawai Road, Penang.

Along the bustling road of Kelawai, there is an unassuming bakery cafe that could be easily overlooked by one. As the name would imply, Bibis Fashion & Bakery Cafe is a fashion boutique cum bakery cafe; fashion boutique occupies the left while the cafe is on the right. The cafe took a prominent spot with Gurney Paragon Mall just across the road, its strategic location offers a good place for tired shoppers to enjoy a meal or a cup of coffee and stretch the shopping legs. Their menu is not extensive but they offer earnest and straight-forward daily fresh bakes to diners, some worth-mentioning dishes are Baguette Sandwiches, Egg Benedict with English Muffins, Brioche and Panini Sandwiches etc. Don't forget to check out the array of dessert pastries and fresh brews at the order counter too. The air-conditioned cafe exudes a relaxing vibe, an ideal place to spend a morning/ afternoon with your closer ones.  

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Nation's Barbecue (全民炭烤店) @ Trengganu Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Nation's Barbecue, a newly opened Charcoal Barbecue-concept restaurant which opened its doors few days ago. Situated at Trengganu Road, directly opposite to Sin Lai Lai (新来来) Hawker Center, Nation's Barbecue should be quite eye-catchy due to its iconic location- facing the bustling Trengganu Road. The unpretentious and no frills restaurant serves ala-carte barbecue (no minimum orders required), using their carefully chosen "smoke-less" charcoal, they ought to give diners a comfortable yet relaxing dining experience. Wifi is available and there is an air-conditioned room for the heat-intolerant too. While the foods were not out-of-the-world-good, they were simple and straight-forward; the experience was pleasingly comforting especially with a few closer friends around. 

I foresee that this place is a good option for those who wish to seek for supper or a place to catch up with friends while having some barbecue meat and icy cold chilled beers. It is indeed a wonderful life moment to enjoy all these with friends. Since they (Nation's Barbecue) are very new, more choices and dishes will be added to the menu soon in the future.

*Many thanks to Nation's Barbecue for sponsoring the review.*

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

MM Noodles House (面面俱到) @ Lebuh Melayu, Georgetown, Penang.

It has almost become mandatory for cafes to come out with mural paintings in Penang recently, most of the newly opened cafes have at least one or two unique mural(s) painted and adorned the walls. However, this newly opened cafe has a rather unique and creative mural, a sketch of Penang's Chief Minister- YB Lim Guan Eng. Tucked in the heart of Georgetown, MM Noodles House is located at Lebuh Melayu, offering simple yet heart-warming dishes, one of their signature dishes being Hokkien Prawn Noodles. In fact, I thought the menu was overly simple, it's either a rice dish (daily special) or Hokkien Prawn Noodles. Seating is limited and it gets a little annoying when the customers are queuing to take photos with the mural, almost like a tourist attraction. A relief was the place is air-conditioned and dishes are reasonably priced. A worth-dropping by place if you are around the vicinity.

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Sister Cook (大姐中国沙县小吃) @ Cantonment Road, Pulau Tikus, Penang.

I am sure that many are not familiar with Sha Xian cuisine, a county within Fujian (China) province; Sister Cook at Cantonment Road makes an inaugural move for setting up the business, offering authentic Sha Xian cuisine. Helmed by husband and wife, Sister Cook offers a wide variety of simple and earnest home-cooked China and local eats at very affordable prices.  The comfortable air-conditioned restaurant is a place to look for when it comes to family dinner or a quick lunch as they do offer different set lunches as well as dinner sets. Despite the fact that not all dishes served were mind-blowing, some of the dishes were indeed impressive and I would definitely come back for more! Do check out my recommendations and try them out yourself!

Sister Cook is located along Cantonment Road, adjacent to Maybank Pulau Tikus or few doors away from the famous vegetarian place- Evergreen Vegetarian House at Pulau Tikus. The friendly duo manning the restaurant provides genuine services, as though it feels like an intimate restaurant for us. 

*Many Thanks to Sister Cook for extending the invitation.*

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Noor & Dean's Cafe @ Noordin Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Noor & Dean's Cafe is a newly opened cafe tucked within the building of Noordin Street House, a luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Georgetown. The quaint little cafe with retro interior design as well as the Peranakan antiques adorning the walls, it is possible to feel transported to the olden days. Noor & Dean's cafe has a very comprehensive menu which comprises of many fusion dishes as well as Coffees and desserts. Some of the notable dishes are Gado-Gado, Thai Laksa, Soto Ayam, Oyster Char Koay Teow and many more. The cafe does serve breakfast in the morning too. Prices are slightly on the higher side and their service could be more attentive in my opinion. Noor & Dean's Cafe is located at Noordin Street, known as "Ji Tiao Lor/ Second Road" to the locals; walking distance to 1st Avenue Mall Penang. 

Black Canyon @ Gurney Plaza, Penang.

Located at the al-fresco dining area of Gurney Plaza (facing Chilies, G Hotel), Black Canyon has been in business for quite some time, I wouldn't even notice the place if it wasn't a random walk to that area. Black Canyon is rather quiet during lunch time on weekdays (not too sure about weekends though) which makes me wonder why since they do have an extensive menu and prices are wallet-friendly. It could be due to below-par quality but no, the dishes we had were above average. Maybe they should be more aggressive in marketing? Black Canyon serves Thai food mainly but it appears that they do have an extensive range of Coffee to offer either but they could be more genuine in providing attentive service (only one waiter was serving the customers during my visit). There is also an al-freso section right in front of the restaurant for those who prefer a more outdoorsy ambiance. 


Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Quay Cafe @ Church Street Ghaut, Georgetown, Penang.

Quay Cafe has since ceased its business operations.

The name Quay Cafe should be quite familiar for strict vegan in Penang as this self-service cafe serves vegetarian food only. Diners are expected to place their orders at the ordering counter and to return all utensils as well as cutlery after the meal to the kiosk set up at the corner of the cafe. Its food menu is not extensive but there are more than sufficient choices to please everyone. Its menu includes choice of noodles, rice dishes, as well as local eats such as Laksa, Curry Mee and Mee Goreng. While most of the dishes we had were mild on flavors, this place suits the health-conscious the most and might not be a good place for those who prefer bold flavors. Nonetheless, I thought most of the dishes were too mild in flavors to my liking, not that I am a person who prefers bold flavors but they were literally too mild or even bland for me; although I do support the healthy concept for this no-frills cafe but I am not sure if I am willing to come back for more though.....