Hakka Yin @ Monkey Cup Cafe, Pulau Tikus, Penang.

New business strategy had Monkey Cup transformed into a cafe that serves up all kinds of Hakka delights. The management remains unchanged but with the new introduction of Hakka menu, diners can expect to find some classic Hakka dishes with pronounced flavors here while still enjoying the usual cafe fare. That being said, the place is now suitable for family eat outs with heavy mains and traditional dishes but as far as price is concerned, do expect the rates to be of restaurant-standard.

H.O.M.E. By Martell @ The Penang Rendezvous 2018, Straits Quay, Penang.

For the first time in Penang, Asia Rendezvous is bringing the luxury lifestyle experience to Straits Quay Retail Marina this weekend, happening from 26 July to 29 July 2018. Like Phuket Rendezvous happened earlier this year, the Penang Rendezvous seeks to offer a high-end luxury experience in food, fashion, entertainment, cars, yachts etc. In conjunction to the Penang Rendezvous 2018, Martell, the oldest of great cognac houses, offers visitors a sip-of-luxury cognac experience; the pop up event is known as "H.O.M.E. By Martell" (House of Martell Entertainment).

Curious visitors can take the opportunity to visit H.O.M.E., where visitors can partake in various curiously designed activities- puzzles, optical illusions, unrevealed rooms; at the same time, getting to know more about Martell and its 300-year old brand history through unexpected angles. For those who wish to taste the cognac, one of the better ways is to try the specially concocted classic Martell Cocktails and stay curious! 

Many Thanks to Martell Malaysia for hosting us that evening.

No. 5 Bistro @ Victoria Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Next to Merry Me, No. 5 Bistro is under the care of the same management as Merry Me but it offers something completely different as compared to its sister cafe. Albeit a bistro, it places great focuses on alcohols but it does provide a small Asian-influenced menu featuring snacks and a few choices of mains. The atmosphere however, veers towards a bar with dark, mysterious interior decor. Expect to pay a little premium as prices are on the higher side... playful combinations and interesting flavors; if you are game for Asian-Fusion food with a booze (and would not mind to pay a little more), give this place a try.

Lemon Grass Thai Restaurant @ Carnavon Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Joining the clamoring Carnavon Street is Lemon Grass Thai Restaurant... a new venture by a Thai family. The proprietor runs a Thai restaurant in Phuket but at the same time, expanding their business to Penang. Expect to pay a little more effort when ordering as the servers may not understand English well but rest-assured, the food is most authentic and served by true blue Thais. The interior decor is simple with an industrial touch but the lack of air-conditioners might be frustrating for some. The english menu is not ready (save for the set lunch) so do check with the servers on the special offers. 

Rooster Roast @ The One Mahsuri, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Rooster Roast might give you a hint of what this place serves; the newly opened restaurant at The One Mahsuri dishes out poultry classic... Roasted Chicken but with a local touch. It adopts self-service concept where you will need to place your orders at the counter and wait for your turn to pick up the orders. The menu is pretty simple and direct... choose between Original or Black Pepper and of course, the sides and carbs either. The health conscious will be delighted to know that Rooster Roast offers an array of healthy options like Brown Rice, Salad and Wraps. Prices are unbelievably wallet-friendly, one of the few places that offers delicious Roasted Chicken without putting a dent on the wallet.

Chao Xuan (潮轩) @ Malay Street, Georgetown, Penang.

While Penang has no shortage of Chinese food, Teo Chew delights however, seem to be scarce as compared to other Chinese communities. Chao Xuan (潮轩) is one of the latest additions to Penang's food scene... that specializes in offering classic Teo Chew delights. Step in the place and you will be amazed by the interior decor.... with wooden furniture and red-colored traditional Chinese knick-knacks. On the menu, expect to see a variety of Teo Chew dishes and snacks; notable highlights include Teo Chew Kuih, braised Meat goodies and traditional desserts. While portion is relatively smaller by standard, the prices are quite budget-friendly either. 

Sudio Tre Wireless Bluetooth In-Ear Headphones

Convenience is everything in this fast-paced world and if you are one of those who find wired earphones a nuisance, you should check out Sudio Tre. Sudio, a Swedish brand known for its premium Bluetooth earphones and headphones with studio-quality sound; their designs are mostly simple and minimalist. It's one of the best gadgets you can own for music-on-the-go at a wallet-friendly price tag. It works perfectly fine even if you are exercising or partaking in any active events. The sleek design makes it easy for storage and the battery life is strong enough to last for 9 hours.

Own one now and enjoy 15% discount by using 'KEN' as a discount code (normal price: RM 409). Visit their website at www.sudio.com/my The discount is valid on all of their products. For now, Sudio Sweden is having special promotion- purchase the Sudio Tre and a FREE Sudio Tote Bag will be given as well as free delivery to your doorstep. 

Many Thanks to Sudio for the treat. 

Lee Roast House (李记烧腊馆) @ Raja Uda, Butterworth, Penang.

Opened in March 2018, Lee Roast House is one of the few standalone roast meat specialists in the neighborhood (most can be found housed in coffee shops) of Raja Uda. It has the standard range of meat on offer- Char Siew, Sio Bak, Roasted Chicken and Duck... with some sides and vegetable dishes. Diners have the options to choose between Noodles or Rice to go with the meat. Nothing's new but classic offering that can be accepted by all age groups. Wallet-friendly prices with quality food and comfortable dining space, worth-checking out if you are in the vicinity.

Potters Place @ Acheen Street, Georgetown, Penang.

A stone's throw distance away from the touristy area- Armenian Street, Potters Place offers a vintage, retro platform for diners to enjoy local snacks. Unlike most cafes in town, Potters Place places great focuses on dishing out local delicacies like Curry Puff-inspired pastries and Sandwiches. Do not expect any mains or Western sweet treats here... only a small choices of pastries and sandwiches. But probably not so much on the offering, the homely atmosphere with friendly, chatty proprietor is a great welcoming touch. If you are keen to find out more about Penang or local culture, speak to her and she will be glad to share her stories and opinions. A snug, cozy corner to rest your feet while exploring the heritage zone. 

Elephant In The Room @ Design Village, Batu Kawan, Penang.

Ever since its opening in 2016, Design Village welcome a spate of brands and shops to the mall but they are still falling behind when it comes to restaurants and food outlets. Elephant In The Room, a new Thai restaurant is one of the latest additions to the mall. It has a sleek, clean interior decor sans the unnecessary frills but the menu is relatively small... offering a few Thai appetizers, Rice and Noodle dishes only. Though air-conditioned, we were upset to see plenty of flies flying around; adding salt to the wound, the food lacked the bold Thai flavors.....

Coffee 1911 @ Magazine Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Coffee 1911 is one of the freshies along Magazine Road, joining the same row of shop house as Watercolor Bakery & Cafe; the seemingly quiet and mysterious cafe offers Malaysian- influenced menu, with a mix of the usual cafe fare. The twist is the Malaysian-influenced dishes, expect to see items like Otak-Otak, Nasi Lemak, Hainanese Chicken Rice and Hainanese Chicken Chop etc. The interior decor displays a Peranakan-touch that reminds us on the older days; the use of the red, classic Thermos Flask is especially note-worthy. The lack of air-conditioner however, can be quite frustrating for the heat-intolerant. Same goes to wallet-watchers, the price points are slightly above average.

Chin Loong Claypot Steamboat House (晶隆砂锅店) @ Mount Erskine, Penang.

Chicken Hot Pot is all the rage at most newly opened Hot Pot restaurants in town, the dish is simple and can be easily accepted by all range of diners.... it can be enjoyed as clear soup or spicy 'ma-la' or any other creative variants. Chin Loong Claypot Steamboat House is one of the latest additions to Mount Erskine, taking over Jung Won's place. The menu is rather simple and direct... featuring 2 types of meat Hot Pot- Chicken or Pork Ribs with additional Steamboat items and condiments. Prices are of middle-range but the fact that the dining atmosphere is clean and comfortable (air-conditioned), the place is especially suitable for any family dinners.

Symple Cafe @ Sungai Rambai, Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

Vegans/ Vegetarians are always mindful and conscious about the food they are putting into their bodies and hence, most of them believe in eating right by only using natural ingredients. Symple Cafe, one of the new vegetarian spots at Bukit Mertajam is one such example that practices/ acknowledges the belief. At first glance, the shop appears to be another cafe but with deeper inspection, you will notice that it's a cozily decorated space. The menu is heavily influenced by local eating culture, expect to see locals' favorites like Hokkien Mee, Nasi Lemak, Rojak etc. Diners are however, expect to return the cutlery and dishes to the dedicated corner after the meal (pretty Tzu Chi eh?) Save for the secluded location, Symple Cafe is a comfortable spot suitable for any regular meals or occasions. 

Prosperity Bowl (公鸡碗菜园滑鸡) @ SS2, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

It's easy to find Chicken Rice but it's not easy to find decent poached Chicken... the traditional way. Opened for a little less than 4 years, Prosperity Bowl (公鸡碗菜园滑鸡) has pocketed a few awards across the year; the brand has also garnered an appreciate following. On weekends, the Chicken specialist at SS2 sees relentless crowd... though especially known for its poached Free Range Chicken and barbecued Pork (Char Siew), Prosperity Bowl offers a family-friendly Chinese menu with noodle and rice options. Not exactly the most wallet-friendly choice around but good enough to sate your cravings or a quick meal if you are in the vicinity.

Ippudo (一風堂) Opens @ Gurney Plaza, Penang.

With close to 200 stores in 13 countries, the name "Ippudo" is definitely not new for Ramen devotees and it's not new to Malaysia either... with 3 branches well-established in Klang Valley, the brand has garnered an appreciate following in the country. But today, Penangites need not travel far to savor a bowl of classic, authentic Ippudo Ramen as the brand is opening its 4th branch (in Malaysia) in Gurney Plaza Penang. Occupying the prominent ground floor corner lot, the shop is especially spacious and features a bar with open-space seating area. The menu brings in Ippudo's signature Ramen dishes along with some of the best-sellers under the Ippudo brand. It is noteworthy that the recipes used are standardized globally... the Ramen broth is cooked for at least 15 hours to fully accentuate the flavors. While Ippudo strives to pursue the finest food quality, the customer service is not forsaken as well; all staffs are well-trained according to the global standard. 

Ippudo Gurney Plaza officially opens for business on 2 July 2018.

Many Thanks to Ippudo Malaysia for hosting us. 

Gohaniku by Spade's Burger @ i-Avenue, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Spade's Burger, a renowned Penang brand known for artisan Burgers, has recently launched a new venture.... Gohaniku which is a combination of Japanese "Gohan" (Rice) and "Yakiniku" (Grilled Meat). Gohaniku has a tagline which spells out... "Meat, Rice and Everything Nice", so expect to see an array of Rice dishes topped with meat. Pork lovers would be excited to know that the place offers a great variety of Pork options with only a couple of Chicken choices; look for other places if you are neither a fan of Chicken nor Pork. Prices are surprisingly wallet-friendly with generous portion; nothing spectacular on the interior decor but more to fast-food concept where you place the order and wait for your turn to collect the food (usually within minutes). Apart from the Japanese-influenced Rice Bowls, there are some with local twist (such as Nasi Lemak, Salted Egg variants).

Weng Kei (荣记烧腊) @ Carnavon Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Though the business has been running for a while, Weng Kei (荣记烧腊) does not seem to manage to steal the limelight, the place is overshadowed by its neighbor- Gou Lou Wan Ton Mee (高佬云吞面). Offering almost the same type of food (ie: Wan Ton Mee), it makes it tougher for Weng Kei to contend with the long-established brand. But the fact that it is still standing strong today proves one thing- they have garnered an appreciate following with superior food quality. It has a restricted menu.... it only offers an array of Roast meat... served with springy Wan Ton Mee (no Rice is served if you must know) as well as Porridge. One of the places that I would like to go for a casual, meat-licious meal.