Bee Chin Heong Old House Restaurant 美真香老房子 @ Kimberley Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Run by a local tycoon, owner of Bee Chin Heong 美真香... whom is passionate about cooking aside from running his businesses. He sets up a dining space in one of the Old Houses 老房子 (belongs to Bee Chin Heong and painted in pink) along Kimberley Street. Step in the space and you will find yourself surrounded with Chinese antiques and large, wooden dining tables. The place opens for both lunch and dinner but there is no menu for lunch. The owner will cook up whatever available and serves; so the interesting part is... you would not know what's for lunch until you are there (priced at Rm 16 per pax/ 3 dishes with rice and a soup). The menu dinner is fixed on the other hand, and would require advance reservation. There are a few different tiers with the cheapest start from Rm 41 per pax to Rm 220 per pax, depending on your budget. We had a mid range version at Rm 100 per pax....

Dining in a Private Kitchen in the Middle of the Sea @ Aqua Green Fish Farm

Dining in the middle of the sea is no longer a dream nor imaginary right now as one of the largest fish farms in Penang- Aqua Green runs a private kitchen that opens to the public. At a very reasonable price of Rm 120 nett per diner, diners will be welcomed with 5-6 course lunch (subject to availability) and the price includes return trip to the fish farm from Batu Uban Fishing Village. Food aside, we thought the real pull factor was the breath-taking scenery and once-in-a-life-time experience; I mean... how often do you get to visit a fish farm and have a healthy, home-cooked meal there? For those who are concerned, the fish farm is rather "stable" and not "wavy". The open-space dining hall welcomes soothing sea-breeze and offers spectacular view over the Sea (with a side facing Pulau Jerejak). Diners will also receive a complimentary tour around the fish farm while the owner- Sean Cheah, will explain to you how Aqua Green raises the fish. The meal will start shortly after the tour and shall include healthy dishes churned out from Sean's wife- Doris' kitchen; diners can expect at least a fish dish (farmed by Sean) and several healthy dishes (Doris only supports organic and sustainable farmers in Penang, she will cook whatever the farmers deliver to her on that day, subject to suitability). A minimum 6 pax is required for such booking to Aqua Green and preferably 7-day advance reservation (contact number can be found at the bottom of the article). 

Many Thanks to Sean and Doris for hosting us that day.

A Unique Experience with 'Withlocals" @ You Le Yuen (柚乐园), Love Lane, Georgetown, Penang.

Wish to have a different experience on the locals' cultures on your trip apart from the usual sight-seeing? It is not impossible with Withlocals. Withlocals is a great platform for travelers to experience the culture and lifestyle of a place. The online market space strives to connect travelers and locals through food and experiences; learning disparate cultures on unfamiliar place has never been that easy. Not only do travelers get to pick their preferred time, date, hosts and activities but they can customize their experiences according to their own preferences. Privacy is assured as most "Eats", "Tours" and "Activities" are customized to your needs which offer greater flexibility and a superior experience to your travel. For more information about Withlocals, kindly visit their website.

This blog post is brought to you by Withlocals. 

Private Dining- Burmah 108 @ Burmah Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Who would have guessed that there was a private-dining nestled within an unassuming and unpretentious house in the heartland of Georgetown? It took me a while to find the place since there was not any sign board. Burmah 108 is the brainchild of three primary schoolmates- Sharon, Hooi Chin and Chui Lim; the trio invites guest Chefs from other states/ countries to host a private dining events and private cooking classes. Food enthusiasts can also rent the kitchen for cooking demonstrations or dining hall to host any private functions or exhibitions. For more information, kindly inquire within or visit their website at Burmah 108..

As for the month of July (2014), they were pleased to have guest Chef- Chef Ming Siew on board. The event "A Taste of Nyonya by Ming Siew" gives diners an opportunity to savor all the authentic Nyonya dishes and flavors of the yesteryears. Read more information about Chef Ming Siew here.

The upcoming private dining event will be held in August (23rd and 24th of August 2014) and a Penang-born guest Chef- Chef Anderson Ho, who is currently residing in Singapore, will make his appearance. Diners can expect an array mouth-watering home-style food. 

Many Thanks to Burmah 108 for extending the invitation.