Makan at Sundown @ Design Village Outlet Mall, Batu Kawan, Penang.

Foodies residing near Batu Kawan area or shoppers at Design Village Outlet Mall can look forward to the food event happening this weekend (from 28 Apr 2023 to 1 May 2023)- Makan at Sundown.  The 4-day food festival sees a gathering of some of Penang's best food street food, restaurants, cafes and other emerging food joints. The Makan at Sundown event features over 100 food stalls, with highlights including Penang's proud creation- Char Koay Teow, Nasi Kerabu and a myriad of international delights from Lebanon, Turkey, Italy etc. Not only that, visitors can also expect to find some stalls selling plants, crafts, fresh flowers or even partake in an art class! The event runs from 28 Apr 2023 to 1 May 2023, from 5PM to 10PM at Design Village Outlet Mall Outdoor Car Park. 

Maple Palace Restaurant 美宝阁 @ Georgetown, Penang.

Renowned for its attention to details, Maple Palace Restaurant 美宝阁 has been offering authentic, lip-smacking Cantonese cuisine since its opening more than a decade ago. It is also the de facto go-to place and iconic spot for a refined, classic Cantonese meal in Penang. The restaurant prides itself in using premium and only the freshest ingredients. In recent years, the Cantonese restaurant steps up and introduces more dishes with an elegant, modern twist. Definitely a place where you will find quality, reliable Cantonese cuisine.

Many Thanks to Maple Palace Restaurant for hosting us.

[NEW LOCATION] Bagel's Dream 贝果の梦 @ Campbell Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside are some basic requirements to a good Bagel but Bagel's Dream, one of the bagel specialists in town is taking things seriously, taking their bagels a step further by introducing more and more innovative flavors and combinations. Bagel's Dream was previously housed in Kim Haus at Campbell Street but it has since moved out and they are now occupying the entire lot by themselves. The new location is right opposite to Kim Haus on the same street; offering a bigger, cozier, more comfortable space for diners. Food offering-wise, there are more on offer right now, thanks to the bigger kitchen with better capacity. It is noteworthy that all bagels in Bagel's Dream are sourdough base, other food items are also home-made including the Jams, Cream Cheeses and dips. No Oil, Sugar and Preservatives are used, making them suitable for children or those with health conditions. Pet owners would be glad to know that Bagel's Dream is now a pet-friendly space, on the upper floor of the bake house, guests can unleash their dogs. There is also a special dog gate to ensure the dogs do not roam outside the dedicated area. 

Many Thanks to Bagel's Dream for hosting us.

Le Dux Patisserie @ Beach Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Le Dux Patisserie is one of the latest spots where cake lovers can check out- the Patisserie churns out freshly baked pastries and cakes on a daily basis. The Patisserie is located at Beach Street, right next to Laksa Ong Penang. It opens as early as 9 am but if you are keen to try their freshly baked Croissant, visit the place after 1 PM or call to avoid disappointment.  The interior decor and layout are exactly like any other cafes, there is a display fridge right next to the order counter... showing an array of petite cakes; certain flavors do contain alcohols so do check with the server before placing any orders. Prices are on the steeper side but the cakes commensurate with superior quality.

The Pomelo Restaurant & Bar Rolls Out New Pizza Menu @ The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, Ipoh, Perak.

The nation's best luxury natural hot springs wellness retreat- The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat is merely 20-min drive away from Ipoh city center and offers great facilities to guests to recharge and rejuvenate. But many do not know that the retreat is well-equipped with dining options. The Jeff's Cellar is one of the city's top fine-dining destinations, only did it bag multiple awards; the restaurant also offers unique ambiance and setting second to none. But many do not aware that the retreat has another cozy, casual all-day restaurant- The Pomelo. The Pomelo serves ala-carte buffet breakfast to the retreat's guests in the morning and the all-day menu commences after noon; the restaurant welcomes public to dine-in but early reservation is required to enter the property premise. As for dining ambiance, The Pomelo presents a cozy indoor and al-fresco dining within any one of the three Gazebos that extend over the hot springs. 

Many Thanks to The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat for hosting us.

Beauty In The Pot 美滋锅 @ Gurney Plaza, Penang.

A popular hotpot brand started in Singapore, Beauty In The Pot 美滋锅 needs no further introduction as the brand is famed to all Malaysians and Singaporeans for its nourishing and wholesome broth, its signature Beauty Collagen Broth is the most sought-after hotpot broth amongst all. Hotpot fans would be glad to know that Beauty In The Pot is finally extending its business operations up north to Gurney Plaza Penang! The new outlet is the 4th outlet and the largest outlet in Malaysia and it is the first outside of Genting Highlands and Klang Valley. 

Spanning over 10,000 square feet, the 292-seater outlet boasts of exquisite interior design that is different from the rest of its outlets. The pink princess theme is inspired by the beautiful cherry blossoms that come every early spring. The restaurant's walls and ceiling features pink wave design, with round shape mirror decor from the entrance to the private rooms. There are 3 VIP private rooms available to large group of diners and able to accommodate 12 to 24 diners. Beauty In The Pot Gurney Plaza is set to welcome diners on 18 April 2023! 

Opening Promotion and Highlights:

• Nutritious Pig's Stomach Pickled Vegetable Broth 暖身酸菜猪肚锅: specially made and launched for the grand opening of Gurney Plaza Penang outlet, it will be made available to the rest of the outlets soon. The broth possesses the refreshing acidity of the Pickled Mustard, making it suitable to go with any meat and seafood. The broth is only available for a limited period only.
• Crispy Pork Neck Strips 酥炸松阪猪颈肉: a new item to be introduced, crispy and addictive Pork Neck Strips suitable for appetizers. This dish is ready to eat when served.
• FREE Fashionista Bucket Hat 免费领取时尚美滋锅渔夫帽: 8 different colors of bucket hat up for grabs- spend a minimum of RM350 and above (excluding 10% Service Charge and 6% SST) in a single receipt and you will walk away with a complimentary Beauty In The Pot Bucket Hat (random colors and while stock lasts). This promotion is valid from 18 April 2023 until 31 May 2023 (only for dine-in at Gurney Plaza Penang outlet). 
• Children's Corner 亲子乐园: there is a Children's Corner dedicated to children to have fun while the rest of the family members can enjoy their meal. There's also a complimentary Toy Capsule Vending Machine too! 

Many Thanks to Beauty In The Pot for hosting us

Oyster & Seafood Bar By The Quay @ Straits Quay, Penang.

Oyster & Seafood Bar By The Quay is a place where you get to feast on some freshly shucked, briny and subtle-sweet Oysters in town. The Seafood Bar at Straits Quay is fairly new but words have gone out to the Oyster lovers as the place is known to serve some au naturale Oysters from all over the world. Not only does this modern, al-fresco Seafood Bar offers a good selection of fresh Oysters; it actually dishes out some seafood indulgence where you get to dive your tongue in for absolute seafood sweetness. Some specialties of theirs include Pasta, Paella, grills and Seafood dishes; you can also check out their Wines (they do have a big wine list) to go with the Oysters or Seafood dishes. 

Many Thanks to Oyster & Seafood Bar By The Quay for extending the invitation.

Link Hill Top Restaurant 灵园山顶饭馆 @ Karangan, Kulim, Kedah.

Deep inside an estate at Karangan area, it takes a while to reach Link Hill Top Restaurant 灵园山顶饭馆. From the main road of Jalan Karangan, simply follow the signage and turn in a small, narrow alley. Keep driving along the alley and you will reach the area. The ride might be a little bumpy as the road condition is not very good. The restaurant is found on a hilltop, right next to a flowing stream. On the food menu, it has a Chinese stir fry menu with a big selection of fresh water fishes to choose from. Price points are slightly higher than usual but they commensurate with quality; it's also fun and exciting to explore something out of the norm. 

Meetcha Cafe @ Vervea Batu Kawan, Batu Kawan, Penang.

One of the early tenants at Vervea Batu Kawan (the commercial shop lots next to Penang Design Village and IKEA Batu Kawan) is Meetcha Cafe. Opened in late 2022, the place has quickly become one of the favorite dining spots for the folks working/ staying in the new township. The cafe has a Matcha-focused menu with some Muslim-friendly mains. The cafe runs on the first floor of the building and offers a great, cozy space for caffeine fix; while the space on upper floor is open for dine-in, guests looking to fill up their tummies may proceed to the upper floor where they serve a Western-Oriental menu with grills, Pasta and Rice dishes. Budget watchers would be glad to learn that all items are affordably priced at Meetcha Cafe. For those who are interested, it is possible to host private events at Meetcha premises for up to 20 pax; it is also possible to arrange for private catering and pre-packed meals for corporate events (please reach out to them directly for any arrangements). 

Many Thanks to Meetcha Cafe for hosting us.

[Year 2023] Food Hunting- of Cafes/ Must-Eats @ Ipoh, Perak.

There is no shortage of good hawker fare in Ipoh but the cafe scene is also on a burgeoning trend. A short 1.5 hour drive from Penang will land you at Ipoh- a place filled with Cantonese delicacies and recently, a myriad of new eateries and cafes around waiting to be explored. We recently did our annual foodie trip to Ipoh, trying to excavate some real hidden gems that are only patronized by locals as well as exploring some newly opened cafes. This blog entry records some of the must-try food places in Ipoh (2023 edition). You can also read our older entries here at: 2022 & 2021, 2020 and 2019.

1) Kum Kee "Big Small Leg" 锦记大小脚茶室

Non-Halal

Service Charge: No

Government Tax: No

Address: 798, Jalan Raja Muda, Taman Pasir Pinji, 31650, Ipoh, Perak.

Business Hours: 4 pm to 12 am. Opens Daily.

Contact Number: 012- 512 5219

Yen Batu Kawan Seafood Restaurant @ Batu Kawan, Penang.

Wondering what to eat at Batu Kawan? Check out Yen Batu Kawan Seafood Restaurant, a short 5-min drive away from the Penang Design Village Outlet; the Chinese restaurant has been around for a while, serving those staying in the neighborhood. But the seafood restaurant is not short of diners, the place is often packed on weekends, with regular patrons bringing in family members to dine-in. The menu is quite big, from fresh seafood to affordable Chinese stir-fry options... a place for diners of all age range. You will probably need a navigation system to reach this place, it's a little hidden from the main roads. 

Kejap Food @ Klippa Shopping Centre, IKEA Batu Kawan, Penang.

A relatively new Malaysian brand that aims to revolutionize how typical Malaysian food is served- Kejap Food has finally expanded its business operations in the northern region, opening a dine-in place at the new Klippa Shopping Centre (inside the IKEA Batu Kawan building). The Malaysian brand dishes out Malaysians' all time favorites with 100% Halal ingredients sourced within the country. The brand operates quite a number of drive-through outlets in the nation, the branch up north at Batu Kawan Penang is the first branch in Penang and also one of the 2 branches in the entire nation that offers dine-in facilities. Some of their best sellers include Karipap Panas, Popper Udang, Lekor, Kebab Ayam Buttermilk and Nasi Ayam Sambal Pedas; best of all, all food items are affordably priced. 

Many Thanks to Kejap Food Penang for hosting us.

Recharge and Rejuvenate Your Mind, Body & Soul @ The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, Ipoh, Perak.

A short 20-minute drive from Ipoh city center, the Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat can be found near the luscious green landscape, surrounded by nature and blessed with naturally heated geothermal hot springs... making it an ideal getaway to recharge and rejuvenate. The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat is the country's first luxury natural hot springs wellness retreat offering bespoke, personalized experience. Everything is seamless- from check in to the villa to dine-in, everything is thoroughly planned to ensure top-notch services are rendered. 

Many thanks to The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat for hosting us

Great Tang 九龙糖 @ Jalan Imigresen, Georgetown, Penang.

If you would prefer a change of flavor from the new age desserts back to the old-school classics yet, with a new-exciting element, make your way to Great Tang 九龙糖 at Jalan Imigresen. The place opens at late afternoon and continues to serve classic sweet treats to slightly past midnight. The menu places great focuses on classic Chinese Tong Sui with some modern components; expect to find classics like Red Bean Soup, Gingko Barley, Black Glutinous Rice Soup etc but there are some Hong Kong-inspired sweet treats to challenge the norm. Prices are steep but we were happy with the quality of our orders. 

One Dish One Taste Hot Pot 一碟一味重庆火锅 @ Gurney Plaza, Penang.

One Dish One Taste Hot Pot 一碟一味重庆火锅 is the latest addition to the Penang hotpot scene, the brand specializes in Chong Qing-style Hot Pot, particularly the Ma-La Spicy broth but the brand has created a unique proposition by rolling out a Nine-Square dessert box as well as decorating the whole restaurant with purple Wisteria. Instead of focusing on the Hot Pot, many visitors are more excited to try on the Nine-Square desserts. As long as the guest agrees to pay an extra RM6 fee, he/she is entitled to unlimited servings of desserts (on top of the sauces and dips). As for the Hot Pot, the selection for broth types and Hot Pot raw ingredients is quite standard. A meal here does not come cheap, the bill for the 2 of us came to slightly more than RM240.

Shu Xiang Ge 蜀湘阁 @ The Palazzia, Gelugor, Penang.

An extended branch of Chiow Lin Hotpot (at Abu Siti Lane), it's hard to notice Shu Xiang Ge 蜀湘阁; the restaurant can be found at The Palazzia, a commercial space right next to Jalan Bukit Gambir (down the hill if coming from Jalan Yeap Chor Ee/ before USM). This particular restaurant focuses on Sze Chuan-style stir fry dishes instead of hotpot. The menu is fairly small and it has quite a handful of affordable options (to attract the China Chinese students from USM). But the classics are still available, like the Kou Shui Ji, Shui Zhu Yu or Hui Guo Rou etc. The place is less-accommodating for big groups and some of the items on the menu tend to be not available so if you have plans coming in a big group, do make early reservations.