Monday, March 30, 2015

Kanemochi @ Lang Hoose, Beach Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Originated from Thailand and first in Malaysia, Kanemochi has set foot in Penang, opening a kiosk at Lang Hoose. Unlike the conventional Mochi, the brand is famous for its Ice Cream Mochi- flavored Ice Cream encased in a chewy-resilient Japanese Rice Cake. There are aplenty flavors available in Kanemochi, some highlights to note are Milk Tea, Green Tea, Yogurt, Milk, Tropical Lime, Melon etc. Great to buy as gifts or to try them out for novelty sake; not quite the thing that you would yearn or crave on a regular basis.

Friday, March 27, 2015

Constant Gardener Coffee @ Penang Street, Georgetown, Penang.

The cafe society in Penang keeps evolving, one of the latest addition to the Penang cafe scene will be Constant Gardener Coffee- tucked within the newly refurbished building of The Chinese Chambers of Commerce along Penang Street. The welcoming snug little cafe was at its soft-launch stage on our visit, their furniture was not fully ready... nor the signage. We saw quite a number of familiar faces there, cafe operators from some well-known cafes not only in Penang but KL too. The baristas in Constant Gardener Coffee know their coffee well, they have been experimenting a few blends, my partner in crime seemed to enjoy their coffee, on both visits (on separate dates). The cafe does not serve main, just an array of desserts sourced from somewhere but it is undoubtedly a great place for coffee and to mingle with peers, especially suitable for coffee connoisseurs. 

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Chaw Choon Dim Sum Restaurant (超全茶楼) @ Raja Uda, Butterworth, Penang.

Despite the roaring food and beverage scene in Penang, one still finds it hard to find a good Dim Sum restaurant; somewhere not too expensive and extremely consistent on the quality. Chaw Choon Dim Sum Restaurant, one of the most renowned Dim Sum specialists at Butterworth, has been drawing enormous crowd to the restaurant. It was our first visit and we were delighted to see such an extensive range of Dim Sum dishes, from the common Cantonese delights to the less common localized-delicacies, all well and reasonably priced. The outlet at Ong Yi How, off Raja Uda is a new branch opened in early 2012. As much as we were impressed with the variety, we thought that it would be better if they could serve their food piping hot instead of room temperature. It was impossible to tell the cost of every single dish but the three of us had quite a number of dishes; with Chinese Tea, the total damage was just a mere Rm 41.60. A similar meal at the island would easily cost more than Rm 50. Air ventilation was good and aplenty of tables available; a good place to enjoy a family breakfast.


Monday, March 23, 2015

Sunset at Nadaba @ Hotel Equatorial Penang.

End the day by chilling out at the newly refurbished bar- Nadaba of Hotel Equatorial Penang where one gets to sit by the pool side, enjoy phenomenal sunset view and listen to live jazz band music (available on Thursdays to Saturdays only). The pool side bar has quite an impressive array of alcoholic drinks, from the conventional beers, wines to specially made cocktails; there will be something for everyone. As one of the opening promotions, Nadaba set to roll out its Sunset Teasers; priced at Rm 48 nett, each order of Sunset Teaser comes with two glasses of alcohol (Beers/ Wines) and a three-tier tray containing local nibbles and delectable snacks. Sunset Teaser is available daily from 5 pm to 8 pm. 

Many Thanks to Equatorial Hotel Penang for hosting us that evening.

Saturday, March 21, 2015

The Chambers [Hotel. Restaurant] @ Penang Street, Georgetown, Penang.

The reconstructed and refurbished building of the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC) is finally ready and a new spade of tenants have moved in the century-old building. One of the notable ones would be none other than The Chambers, a hotel with a restaurant nestled within. The entrance to the restaurant can be found on Penang Street, instead of Light Street or King Street. Traipse yourself up to the second floor and you will arrive at a seemingly quiet and curious place. The restaurant has a classy setting- Chinese decoration with Chandelier, in shades of wooden beam. Traces of antique cabinets, chairs, even Mahjong table can also be seen. On the menu, it gives diners an idea that The Chambers proffers modern fusion dishes, with a Nyonya touch, evidently seen from dishes like Tu Tor Th'ng/ Pig Stomach Soup, Joo Hoo Char/ Stir Fried Cuttlefish with Jicama etc. On the top floor, there's an al-fresco dining area overlooking Padang Kota Lama, and is especially suitable for gatherings on evenings.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Hutton Mansion Wine Haus @ Hutton Lane, Georgetown, Penang.

A leisure evening at a restaurant, swirling a glass of wine would be a nice thing to do, especially after an exhausted day at work. Many budget-watchers are skeptical to order a glass of wine, particularly due to the expensive price tags; however, a 4-course dinner with a glass of wine, all these are possible with a mere Rm 33 at Hutton Mansion Wine Haus. A new management took over an abandoned space at Hutton Lane, reviving the area into a restaurant with a small lodging house. The wine house procures a myriad brands of wines around the world but what attracts us the most would be their extremely affordable set dinner. Daily Set Dinner starts from Rm 33, where diners can choose ONE main from a choice of seven and complete the meal with Salad, Soup, Dessert as well as a glass of complimentary wine. Set Dinner menu changes once a month, please refer to their Facebook Page for the latest menu. Hutton Mansion Wine Haus can be found at the entrance to Lorong Amoy at Hutton Lane.

Monday, March 16, 2015

Goût de France [Good France Project] @ 1885, E&O Hotel, Penang.

Partake in one of the most remarkable food events- Goût de France this March, at the prestigious fine-dining restaurant 1885 housed in the grande dame of the town- Eastern and Oriental Hotel Penang. Goût de France, also known as Good France Project, is one of the most significant food events for French food connoisseurs. More than 150 countries involved, there will be a total number of 1,300 restaurants world-wide participating in this meaningful event. The Good France Project is based on the concept that on the same evening, throughout the world, Chefs of every kind will celebrate the excellence of French Cuisine. 1885 is proud to be one of the two chosen restaurants in Malaysia (the only restaurant in Penang) to initiate the gastronomy event. Have a taste of France by joining the dinner on 19th of March 2015 as extraordinaire Chef Michel will showcase his meticulously designed 7-course Degustation Menu displaying an array of contemporary French dishes. The carefully choreographed courses follow each other like the sequences like a dance, leaving one contented but not full to the brim. 

"The one-off event is not to make money", says Mr. Rainfroy, the Hotel Manager of Eastern and Oriental Hotel Penang. The main objective of the event is to celebrate and honor the merits of French cuisine; on top of that, 10% of the total revenue goes to charity. The dinner is priced at Rm 158++ per person (without alcohol). As for those who wish to have a sip on their premium labels, a top up of Rm 142++ is required. Wines are carefully paired with each course and they are sponsored by Mr. Michael from The Wine Shop.

Goût de France 7-course Degustation menu at 1885
Date: 19th of March 2015
Time: 7 pm to 10: 30 pm
Price: Rm 158++ per person/ Rm 300++ (without alcohol)/ person (with alcohol)

Limited seats available, for reservation and enquiries, kindly contact +604- 222 2000

Many Thanks to E&O Hotel for hosting us that evening.

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Mansion Twenty M20 @ Green Hall, Georgetown, Penang.

Mansion Twenty sounds like a mysterious empty place in need of excitements but in actual fact, Mansion Twenty is a lively space filled with dynamic music, good food and lush alcohols. The newly opened Bar cum Restaurant at Green Hall Road has attracted a huge crowd over the Chinese New Year holiday; the al-fresco dining area has a relaxed vibe, especially suitable for weekend gatherings or catching up with friends; the air-conditioned restaurant, on the other hand, displays a classy and elegant setting suitable for romantic occasions. The menu is limited, with a few choices on Pasta, Poultry, Salad and Seafood. The bill did not come in cheap, so I don't see this place becoming a place for casual outing but towards occasional celebrations instead. 

Friday, March 13, 2015

The Cinnamon @ Hotel Penaga, Georgetown, Penang.

Penang has no shortage of breakfast/ brunch places but it is not common to see restaurants/ hotels offering semi-buffet breakfast, at unbeatable prices. The Cinnamon,  a casual dining establishment housed within the heritage boutique hotel in the heartland of Georgetown- Hotel Penaga at Hutton Lane; offers a comprehensive range breakfast items (ala-carte) along with sides (buffet-style). At the price of Rm 24.90+, diners can opt to choose 5 items on the menu (as main) and get unlimited refills on the buffet items, including home-made loaves, cereals, coffee/tea, greens, yogurt, croissants, fruits or cakes. The restaurant has a retro Nyonya-influenced interior decor, evidently seen from the Peranakan Tiles, Windows and Dining Tables/ Chairs. The semi-buffet Breakfast is available daily, especially suitable for diners with big appetites or someone who wishes to go for variety over quality. 

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

PP Noodles Station @ Bay Avenue, Penang.

It is always a hard decision for budget-watchers to settle the stomach in the shopping mall as a meal in high-end restaurants often costs a bomb. If you are on a tight budget while doing some window-shopping at Queensbay Mall, you may want to have your lunch here, at PP Noodles Station. Simply walk across the street from the exit right next to Starbucks and Morganfield's, you should be able to find PP Noodles Station right in front of you. The Pan Mee-specialist has an extensive menu; while most of them are noodle-dishes, rice lovers will still be able to ease their crave here. The wallet-friendly prices could be one of the valid explanations to why the place is often thronged with regular patrons during lunch hours. Nothing outstanding about their Pan Mee but they offer a great variety of Chili-dips; a great place for individuals who like the burning sensation. 

Restaurant Markus @ Cantonment Road, Pulau Tikus, Penang.

As most of you would probably agree, Penang is in many ways the perfect place to savor a wide variety of International cuisine. The state has seen many openings of new restaurants lately and Restaurant Markus is definitely one of the notable ones. The Italian semi fine-dining restaurant along Cantonment Road is a humble beginning for entrepreneur Mr. Choong and Chef Markus; which explains how the restaurant got its name. The extraordinaire Chef Markus has trained and honed his culinary skills at some prestigious restaurants abroad. Restaurant Markus has a simple yet sophisticated setting, perfect for any formal or informal occasion. The comprehensive menu has more than sufficient items suitable for every palate, we were also pleased with the impeccable services provided by the eloquent staff on our visit. A place that I would love to revisit again in the near future.

Many Thanks to Restaurant Markus for hosting us that afternoon.

Monday, March 9, 2015

Tasty Congee & Noodle Wanton Soup (正斗粥麵專家) @ Gurney Paragon Mall, Penang.

One of the few famous Wanton Mee specialists from Hong Kong- Tasty has set foot in Penang lately, opening the brand's first branch in Malaysia. The One Star Michelin restaurant is famous for its Wanton Mee, along with its wide variety of offerings. The large menu offers many sweet and savory dishes that ensures everyone will find something to tickle their taste buds, regardless of age. Ingredients are procured directly from Hong Kong, However, most of the dishes are priced exorbitantly, probably due to the brand name. Service was attentive and orders were served in a jiffy; a place suitable for family gathering over a simple yet delectable Cantonese meal (if you don't mind the price). "Tasty" is next to Penang On 5, level 5 of Gurney Paragon Mall, Penang.

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Patsa Thai Thai @ Dato Keramat, Georgetown, Penang.

You would have missed Patsa Thai Thai Shop if you have not paid attention to the nearby shop houses... tucked within the heritage houses along Dato Keramat, a stone's throw distance away from GAMA Supermarket. Patsa Thai Thai specializes in serving Thai Boat Noodles as well as some of its proud creations. Rest-assured, authenticity is there as all the recipes are brought here by a Thai Chef, which apparently the wife to the restaurant owner. The menu is small right now but more items are to be added on to the menu in the near future. The restaurant is fully air-conditioned and has a minimalist Thai-influenced decorations.

Many Thanks to Patsa Thai Thai for hosting us that evening.

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Lemon Koay Teow Th'ng @ Kafe Kam 88, Bayan Baru, Penang.

Koay Teow Th'ng may be a common Penang fare, what about Lemon Koay Teow Th'ng? One of the frequently visited coffee houses by the local factory workers nearby the area will be Kafe Kam 88; a real hidden gem in the serene neighborhood. Delectable highlights to note are Lemon Koay Teow Th'ng, Bitter Gourd Vermicelli Noodles, Chicken Rice and Stir Fried Vermicelli Noodles with various add-ons. The humble coffee house is nestled within the residential area of Taman Sri Tunas at Lebuh Raya Mayang Pasir, Bayan Baru.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

C'est La Vie @ Summerton, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

C'est La Vie is one of the new members tucked in Summerton, offering a small menu which comprises of East meets West elements; diners can feast upon flavorful options like Rice Set or Pasta dishes, to sweets like cakes. The interior decor is creative- grass flooring, comfortable couches, love locks over the wall, miniature Eiffel Tower etc. Couples or lovers can even purchase the locks and to have names written on the pad lock as well as to lock it on the wall; which symbolizes ever-lasting love. Also, another reason to visit the cafe is that it offers Buy 1 Free 1 promotion on every Saturday (only selected beverages). C'est La Vie needs to fine tune their menu, offering more attractive dishes to lure the customers' attention; nevertheless, nothing is easy, C'est Le Vie!


Sunday, March 1, 2015

Rustic @ Vantage Desiran Tanjung, Tanjung Bungah, Penang.

A fabulous way to end the weekend is to reward ourselves with plenty of good food but waking up early seems impossible for the younger generation, thus, the brunch culture seems to be the trend right now. One of my recent brunch meet ups with friend was at this newly opened restaurant- Rustic, a sister restaurant of Violet House at Batu Ferringhi. The restaurant proffers a wide variety of Brunch items, as well as their all day long Ala-Carte orders, at very reasonable prices. The setting was simple, spacious yet classy in its own way, no frivolous decorations nor any traces of ostentation; a lovely and comfortable space for your dining pleasure. Rustic is located at one corner lot of Vantage Desiran Tanjung, few doors away from Pizza Hut.

*Kindly note that Brunch menu is only available on weekends, from 9 am to 3 pm.*