Kei Rop Pi Cafe 街路边咖啡馆 @ New Lane, Georgetown, Penang.

Kei Rop Pi Cafe 街路边咖啡馆 is a new spot where you can find plenty of popular, delicious Penang hawker dishes in one space. The name is simply a translation from Hokkien, which means "roadside cafe" (refers to street food). The Kopitiam gathers all popular Penang hawker dishes on their menu, notable ones include Michelin Selected Misai Jawa Mee, Tiger Char Koay Teow etc. Apart from the hawker fare, the Kopitiam also offers some classic Malaysian-Western dishes as well as some Chinese stir fries. The place is air-conditioned and offers an al-fresco space for those who prefer outdoorsy ambiance; a comfortable space to enjoy some delicious Penang hawker food.

Chinese New Year Poon Choy and Putien Oyster Festival @ Putien (莆田), Gurney Paragon, Penang.

One of the best ways to usher in Chinese New Year is to enjoy a big Poon Choy feast with your loved ones. The Chinese Treasure Pot filled with a decadent Chinese New Year delicacies has become increasingly popular and eventually, a staple to welcome the auspicious season. For the coming Chinese New Year (the Year of Pig/ 2019), the Michelin-starred brand Putien (莆田) is offering Pot of Goodies, a Poon Choy promotion along with some Chinese New Year packages. Place your orders from now onwards to 5th of January 2019, a 20% discount will be given for early bird orders. Apart from the Chinese New Year promotions, Putien is also introducing its Putien Oyster Festival... featuring 7 seasonal Oyster dishes.

Many Thanks to Putien for hosting us that evening.

Putien (莆田) @ Gurney Paragon Mall, Penang.

Penang has no shortage of great Chinese cooking but many are still excited over the news that Putien, a Michelin-starred restaurant is coming to Penang. The name Putien has resemblance over Putian, a coastal suburb of Fujian, China; like what the name suggested, the restaurant specializes in offering authentic Fujian cuisine. The brand started out in Singapore (in year 2000) but has since grown into an internationally recognized brand with close to 50 branches in Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, China and Taiwan. Over the years, the brand has won numerous awards and the most notable one being the Michelin awards, one of the highest honors in dining... a one-Michelin star in the recent Michelin Guide Singapore 2016 & 2017. The brand carries agricultural produce and seafood directly from Putian, with its array of handcrafted products, Putien is commited to deliver the best it could to the foodies in Penang. Putien's latest addition is located on the 6th floor of Gurney Paragon Mall, right next to Rakuzen and Sushi Zanmai. 

Many Thanks to Putien for hosting us.

Eating in Singapore- One Day Food Trip 2018 @ Singapore

Ranked as the 2nd most visited country in Asia Pacific 2016, Singapore is a global destination for businesses, leisure and because of its minimal import tax and as a melting pot for culture, the culinary scene is very interesting. It has the classic Singaporean dishes that most Malaysians are familiar with, and myriad of international cuisine pouring in, the nation is a great choice for foodie to embark on a food-hunting journey. If your tight schedule only permits a day or half for food, this can be a good guide for you.

Hawker Chan @ Chinatown

Non-Halal

Service Charge: No

Government Tax: No

Address: Block 335, Smith Street #2-126, Chinatown Food Complex, 050335 Singapore.

Business Hours: 10:30 am to 7 pm on weekdays, 8:30 am to 7 pm on weekends. Closed on Wednesdays.

Nearest MRT Station: Chinatown Exit A

[Travel/ Food Guide] Itinerary to London (伦敦), England (英国) 2017).

The capital of England and UK- London is one of the world's most populated cities, the people within the Greater London speaks more than 300 types of languages and it is a great melting pot for cultures. The city has a lot to offer, not only in terms of tourist spots but shopping, entertainment as food & beverages as well. The international food scene is very exciting here but the classic British cuisine is worth-exploring either. The public transportation system is very convenient and tourist-friendly, simply purchase a Tourist Oyster Card and recharge, you will be able to go around without hassle. The daily usage is capped at £6.60 for Zone 1 and Zone 2, which would be more than good enough to explore most tourist attractions. More information can be found here.

Malaysians traveling to United Kingdom need not to apply for Visa (3 months on arrival) and Malaysia Airlines offers direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to London daily. The Airbus (A380) was spacious and we strongly recommend you to pay more to get to the upper deck. It's less-noisy and the washrooms are shared by less people. Despite the long-haul flight, we had a comfortable 13-hour journey. The leg space is huge and the in-flight entertainment is extensive, there will be 2 meals served during the journey but unfortunately, we did not enjoy the food. But the overall experience was okay, good service from the crew. For your bench-marking, we bought our air tickets at promotional rates (from Penang to London)... a little less than RM 2,500. You may now get good prices from Qatar Airways too, soon to be flying out from Penang International Airport.

A Comfortable Stay Guaranteed @ The Excelsior (怡东酒店), Causeway Bay (铜锣湾), Hong Kong (香港)

UPDATE: Yee Tung Heen is awarded a One Michelin Star by Michelin Guide Hong Kong & Macau 2018

Officially opened for business in 1973, The Excelsior (wholly owned and managed by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group) has long stood and well-anchored as one of the luxurious business hotels in the busiest business districts and heart of entertainment in Hong Kong- Causeway Bay. For more than 4 decades, the strategic location has driven The Excelsior as one of the most preferred hotels for business and leisure travelers. Combining finest in comfort, The Excelsior offers the ultimate affordable luxury amongst the hotels in Causeway Bay- not only that the hotel sits on the waterfront of Victoria Harbor and opposite to the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, The Excelsior is also surrounded with shopping and commercial districts of Hong Kong Island (walking distance to Sogo Department Store, Times Square, Lee Gardens and Hysan Place).

Though The Excelsior has a rich history traced back to the 70's, the hotel has undergone major upgrade and refurbishments in the recent years, giving the hotel a modern outlook. The Excelsior boasts over its 869 guest rooms and suites, making it the largest hotel on the Hong Kong Island. With its outstanding service, unbeatable location and full-fledged facilities, The Excelsior makes a convenient yet comfortable temporary 'home' to globetrotters.

Many Thanks to The Excelsior for hosting us.

Tim Ho Wan Dim Sum Malaysia (添好運) @ Mid Valley City, Kuala Lumpur.

One of the much lauded Michelin Starred Dim Sum brands- Tim Ho Wan, has certainly stirred up the interest of many Dim Sum aficionados since its opening in 2014. Relentless queues can still be spotted at all branches across the nation. The highly boasted One-Starred Michelin branch has a standardized interior decor across all branches; the vibe is a reminiscent of those busy and fast-moving Hong Kong Cha Chaan Teng- noisy, narrowly spaced seating and simple furniture. It was more of a fast-food joint in lieu of a upscale Dim Sum restaurant. Food was alright for novelty experience but given the hefty price tags and unpleasant dining experience, we have no reasons to call for a second visit. 

[Year 2016] Food Hunting @ Hong Kong- Lady M Cake Boutique New York and Yat Lok Roast Goose (一乐烧鹅)

On our recent trip to South Korea (only one post thus far, more to come!), we flew with Cathay Pacific and intentionally picked a long transit so we could sneak out for some food (and shopping of course) in Hong Kong. The shopaholic in us convinced that we should go for shopping and thus, the food hunting time was compromised. We did not get to try a lot of food this trip (we only had 10 hours). Also, luck was not on our side, we wanted to try the Afternoon Tea by the One Michelin Starred restaurant- Seasons, Olivier E but was told that the bookings were full and they could no longer accommodate us. Nevertheless, we had Lady M New York and Yat Lok Roast Goose; the reviews are as follows:

1) Lady M Cake Boutique Mille Crepe New York 

Address: 2096A, 2nd Floor, International Finance Centre (IFC) Mall, Central, Hong Kong.

Business Hours: 10 am to 9 am on every Monday to Saturday; 10 am to 8 pm on Sundays.
Contact Number: +852 2295 3308

Service Tax: Yes 10%

Government Tax: No

Wifi Available

Direction: Take MTR to Central Station and Exit A. Cross the famous Central Bridge and walk for approximately 10 minutes walk to IFC Mall. Lady M is on the second floor (a stone's throw away from Starbucks and Apple Store).

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.

One Dim Sum (一点心) @ Prince Edward, Hong Kong.

Another famous Dim Sum place for both locals and tourists will be the one-Michelin Starred Dim Sum eatery- One Dim Sum (一点心). The place is well-known for its inexpensive yet quality Dim Sum. You will usually need to queue during peak hours. Our visit was in the late afternoon (probably 4 pm), thus, we need not to wait and there were quite a few empty tables around. Despite reading many negative reviews on the service, we were treated very well by a friendly staff on our visit. It may be a little tricky to get to the place, from Exit A of Prince Edward/ 太子 MTR Station, walk east towards Playing Field Road until you reach your first junction. Turn left into the junction and you should be able to see One Dim Sum in catchy red signage on your right. Prices are unbelievably affordable for the fine-quality food and gigantic portion; every single order of ours was served piping hot. I will definitely make a visit back to this place again. 

Mak's Noodle (麥奀雲吞麵) @ Jordan, Hong Kong.

Hong Kong has some of the world's cheapest Michelin Starred restaurants. Previously awarded one Michelin Star, Mak's Noodle is especially famous not only amongst the locals but foreigners and tourists as well. The place is famous for its authentic Wanton Noodle that said to be preserving the flavors of the yesteryears. Mak's has also received international spotlights not only from Michelin but other establishments such as CNN-go and many international food reviewers and food journalists either. It is pretty easy to locate the place, exit C2 at Jordan MTR Station and walk towards Parkes Street. You should be able to see Australian Dairy Company followed by Mak's Noodle. Prices may be relatively steeper than other Cha Chan Tengs (Hong Kong Style Tea-Restaurant) but the quality of their Wanton/ Pork-Prawn Dumplings and Noodles were a notch higher as well. 

Ken's tips: Head to Mak's Noodle and order their Sai Yong/ 细蓉. Since the portion would not be too filling, you may always head over to next door for some sweet and eggy desserts or perhaps, some scrambled egg sandwiches as well (Australian Dairy Company/ 澳洲牛奶公司).