Cherry Blossom Thai Restaurant @ Golden Triangle, Relau, Penang.

Ardent fans of Thai food should not be new to the name- Cherry Blossom... a famous Thai restaurant at Sungai Ara. The restaurant has recently relocated and moved into one of the shop lots at Golden Triangle... offering a whole new space to diners to dine-in (suitable for family eat-outs). Not much has changed to the menu, with most signature dishes maintained and slight revision to the prices. We were there during the soft-launch period and the wait was longer than usual... if you would prefer shorter wait, it's always wiser to call in for booking. 

[Travel/ Food Guide] Itinerary to Taipei, Taiwan (台北，台湾) 2019

My last visit to Taipei was in 2016 under the invitation of Taiwan Tourism Bureau and my previous trip before 2016 was with travel agency so I've never had the opportunity to do self-guided tour. For this year, I've decided to make a short trip there and tour Taipei (and neighborhood cities) on my own pace (mode of transportation was mostly train). It was a leisure trip with mostly shopping and food; for this guide, it will consist of some interesting and worth-trying delicacies during the trip as well as some places of interest for sight-seeing. For this trip, we flew Malaysia Airlines via Kuala Lumpur and the flight was smooth with attentive Malaysian hospitality as always (though slight delay for our flight). As for accommodation, we stayed at Leo Foo Hotel (六福客栈) of Zhong Shan district with the closest MRT Station is Nanjing Sung Chiang Station (Exit 7). The place is rather strategic with easy access to many places of interest but the hotel itself is rather old and run-down. The room key was a nuisance (you may google it out) and the bed was not as comfortable as we would have hoped. Not exactly the type of hotel that we would recommend. Nevertheless, do check out the below food list:

Le Loh Mei 你卤味卤肉饭 @ Suntech, Bayan Baru, Penang.

Certainly not a very polite name but Le Loh Mei 你卤味卤肉饭 is a casual eatery at Suntech Bayan Baru. Similar brand can be found at New World Park food court but it has an entire space to itself at Suntech. That being said... the menu is more extensive as compared to New World Park's. As suggested by the name, the place focuses in serving braised goodies but more for braised meat.... presented in the form of noodle or rice dishes. There is not a lot on offer but more than good enough for a casual quick fix... at surprisingly affordable price range. 

Meqrizq By Rizq Bistro @ Bayan Baru, Penang.

An extended branch of Rizq Bistro, one of the famous and well-established Western-Arabic restaurants at Nibong Tebal area; Meqrizq By Rizq Bistro offers some of the best sellers from Meqrizq which comprises of an enviable blend of locals' favorites and Arabic-influenced delights. The restaurant boasts over its unique cooking method, in which some recipes are brought over from Yemen... with some tweaking to suit the local palates. With most Malaysians open to the Middle-Eastern flavors, the proprietor hopes to introduce more Arabic flavors at wallet-friendly prices. Some of the signature dishes of Meqrizq include stringy Cheese Naan, Middle-Eastern spiced Basmati Rice and roasted Chicken etc. Meqrizq can be found at Quartermile, Bayan Baru (next to One Precinct).  

Many Thanks to Meqrizq for hosting us.

No. 9 Noodle Bar @ Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

Previously occupied as G9 Dining House, the cafe has since relocated to Icon City and this existing lot at Maju Utama has been rebranded to No. 9 Noodle Bar.... offering a completely different menu than its predecessor. There are some minor changes to the interior decor as well... with more Chinese embellishments to set the tone. There's also a seemingly drinking bar at the side; with the rather dim setting, the place seems to be more suitable for a drink instead of proper meals. Anyway, the restaurant serves a Chinese menu... combining both local delights and Sze Chuan-influenced spicy Ma-La dishes. As interesting as the menu may seem, we thought the prices are on the higher side. The serving portion seems to be smaller than expected as well. 

La Vie En Rose Patisserie @ Malay Street, Georgetown, Penang.

While Penang has no shortage of bakeries, it is not easy to find some seriously good french pastries like Croissant but with the opening of La Vie En Rose Patisserie, now we can have easy access to some flaky, buttery Croissant. Established in 2016, the brand's main focus has always been Madeleine (French Butter Cakes) and it is said to be the first Madeleine specialist in Malaysia. The brand recently expanded its business operations by opening a new Patisserie at Malay Street... offering better variety of French pastries and sweet treats. The cafe layout may be a little snug but definitely cozy enough for a casual afternoon tea treat. You'll definitely need to check it out if you appreciate good, flaky, buttery Croissant. 

Kwong Chiu Restaurant 广潮 @ Siam Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Kwong Chiu Restaurant 广潮 is one of the few restaurants that specializes in Cantonese-styled stir fries in Penang, the new addition at Siam Road churns out signature dishes like KL-styled Hokkien Mee, Cantonese-styled Char Hor Fun, Fish Head Vermicelli Noodles etc... along with some Chinese side dishes like Dumplings and braised goodies. The place is suitable for family eat-outs... especially with a menu that suits all age-range; the place is also fully air-conditioned if you must know. Items are reasonably priced and the serving portion is most generous, if you are lucky enough to find a parking lot nearby, do give it a try.

Duo Fu Noodle House 多福面馆 @ Union Street, Georgetown, Penang.

More food option for those working in the central business district of Georgetown, Duo Fu Noodle House 多福面馆 is the latest addition to the bustling business district. It offers a simple, straight-forward Chinese menu... featuring some noodle and rice dishes, as well as some Sze Chuan-influenced sides. Accordingly, the Chef comes from Sze Chuan and the proprietor hopes to offer affordably priced authentic Sze Chuan food. But do prepare for the havoc scene during peak hours as orders might get messed up and lackluster service (we were overcharged for 2 items so do check your bills). 

Pynk @ Stewart Lane, Georgetown, Penang.

During the daytime, Pynk offers a healthy brunch menu with a variety of Smoothie Bowls as well as sweet Waffles but when night falls, the place is turned into a lively space that offers a small alcohol menu (with unbelievably affordable Sangria at Rm 18/ 500 ml). There are no proper dining tables at Pynk but only small drinking tables. The place is as straight-forward as it seems; walk in the place and you will be greeted by two friendly residential dogs wagging their tails to welcome your presence. A cozy, quiet little space for an after-meal dessert (more reasons to visit if you are a dog lover).

Winter Joy 2019 @ Queensbay Mall, Penang.

With November month passing by swiftly, the Christmas footsteps are drawing nearer. To share the joy with fellow shoppers, the fashion leading mall- Queensbay Mall is all geared up to celebrate Christmas in a fabulously white, snowy way. Inspired by the excitement of Winter, the mall's Central Atrium is transformed into a magical land covered in thick white snow where one can find Penguins, Reindeers, Polar Bears and snowy Owls gathering harmoniously to commemorate the season of sharing and gifting in their own ways. Apart from the cute animals and Christmas decor, the Snow Shower and interactive floor projection (at the igloo) are some of the main highlights. To make things merrier, the mall management has also arranged a series of Christmas events for the public to partake. Come prepared for a joyful, white Christmas at Queensbay Mall Penang!

Many Thanks to Queensbay Mall for inviting us to the official launching of Winter Joy

Tok Ma Malay Kitchen @ Kimberley Street, Georgetown, Penang.

While there are plethora of Halal choices in Penang, we don't have much to offer when it comes to Halal Cafe but with the opening of Tok Ma Malay Kitchen, our Muslim friends can now have more choices to choose from. Nestled in the newly revamped shop lots towards the end of Kimberley Street, Tok Ma offers Malay dishes in both traditional and creative ways. The menu comprises of a list of traditional Rice sets with some classic Appetizers as well as a handful of inventive Pasta dishes (with traces of Malay influences of course). Given the place is fully air-conditioned, this is one of the few places where you can dine-in comfortably while enjoying good Malay food. If you do not already know, Tok Ma has a presence in Cubo Park, Tanjung Tokong as well.

Xiao Gu Noodles 小姑店 @ Hutton Lane, Georgetown, Penang.

Few weeks before the official opening of Xiao Gu Noodles 小姑店 at Hutton Lane, there was a colorful banner with playful teases hanging right outside the place... vying for attention; netizens have been wondering what the shop could potentially offer. Today, the shop is quietly running its business and to our surprise, it's a place offering Koay Teow Th'ng. While there is only one main dish on offer, the side dishes are equally interesting. The price tag for the noodles is slightly steeper than usual but given that the place is air-conditioned and you get a comfortable space to eat out (with good food), the place is worth a try.

Sweetful Desserts 食糊 by MMI @ Icon City, Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

A sweet addition to Icon City is Sweetful Desserts 食糊 by MMI, the place has been vying for attention over social media due to its colorfully attractive Hong Kong-styled interior decor. The menu offers similar theme... Hong Kong-styled dishes and sweet treats. Though more like a place for desserts, Sweetful Desserts also offers a main menu... some Hong Kong-influenced noodle and rice dishes as well as an array of Hong Kong street food and snacks. Prices are of standard-average but we reckon the place is more suitable for after-meal desserts than absolute meal.

[Hotel Review] E&O Residences KL @ Kuala Lumpur

There is a plethora of options when it comes to short-term accommodation in the heartland of Kuala Lumpur but if you are talking of about a spacious, comfortable suite with full amenities and offers easy reach within the city center's attractions, look no further than E&O Residences Kuala Lumpur. Sharing the compound with St. Mary, E&O Residences is strategically located near to the Raja Chulan Monorail station (a short 2-minute walk) and the mega shopping mall- Pavilion. Getting your daily food supplies can never be easier... grocery supermarkets and fancy restaurants are within walking distance. As for the suites, they are all fully furnished with home appliances... making it ideal for both leisure staycation or business travelers. 

Many Thanks to E&O Residences for hosting us.

HAP Dessert & Toast @ Nanning Street, Georgetown, Penang.

HAP Dessert & Toast... a new addition to the just-opened Macalister Hotel... as suggested by the name, it is a space dedicated to the all important sweet course. Sweet tooths will be glad to know that they have quite a big Kakigori, Toast and Pancake menu; while it does have a brunch menu with mains, the kitchen closes at 3 pm so there will be only sweet treats for late risers. The place has a standard cafe setting... fully air-conditioned and well spaced. Can be a good choice of venue for sharing a bowl of sweet happiness with friends.