Kum Kei (柑记) @ Olive Tree Commercial Lots, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

More options for the factory workers nearby and this time would be Hong Kong Roast goodies. The Hong Kong-inspired restaurant named Kum Kei at Olive Tree Commercial Lots serves a menu dedicated entirely to Roasted goodies- Chicken, Duck and Pork with a few sides such as Dumplings and stir fry dishes. The interior is clean, well-spaced and brightly-lit, seemingly a welcoming space suitable for family occasions (there are a few round tables too) but the menu was not available on our visit (no print outs, mere order forms) and the staff could be more attentive and well-trained. As a walk-in, we were greeted and seated, we found a table and the staff did not bother to introduce or hand over their menu to us. We wrote down our orders and had to take to their cashier, there were two servers behind doing nothing but happily engaged in their own conversation. We love the ambiance of the place- comfortable and fully air-conditioned but the price tags can be hurtful to the wallet....

Morganfield's @ Gurney Paragon, Penang.

Ardent fans of barbecue meat need not travel far from town to get some good variety of smoky goodies. Morganfield's was made famous from its much beloved classic rib but have now expanded to offer many wonderful Western options. Diners whom prefer a more outdoorsy ambiance would be glad to know that Morganfield's at Gurney Paragon Mall offers a spectacular view- wooden, small communal tables overlooking the fountain right in front of the mall and if you are lucky, you might catch the performances offered by the mall in central square. Whether day time of evening, the place is one of the perfect spots to wind down or to catch up over a pint of chilled Beer.

Tee-Bar @ Udini Square, Gelugor, Penang.

Frank Laurent is not the only cafe in Udini Square E-Gate, one of the latest addition would be Tee-Bar. The cafe occupies a prominent corner lot right next to the main entrance of the mall, it has been there for a few months but no mains/ food were offered and recently, they came out with a new menu. But we did not think the menu is a sturdy one, if there was one thing good enough to attract our attention, it would be their Cronuts (available in both sweet and savory versions). There's nothing unique about the interior decor... just a simple, cozy space suitable for a quick meal or to relax your shopping legs. 

Go Noodle House (有間麵館) @ Gurney Plaza, Penang.

An exceptionally popular and fairly casual noodle-specialist hailed from central Malaysia has recently expanded its business operations to Penand and has finally swung opened its doors to the public. Go Noodle House's first Penang branch is strategically located in Gurney Plaza (7th floor/ opposite to SenQ). Beelines of long queues have been spotted for the past few days. The brand has gained strong reputation in terms of quality and wallet-friendly price tags. Go Noodle House is also famed for its signature clear-soup noodles, finished with Chinese Wine. The no-frills restaurant offers a simple home-styled cooking menu that features two types of noodle dishes- Clear Soup and Pan Mee (available from Rm 9.90). We were certainly impressed with the food quality, but we thought their service level could be further improved (or perhaps, the restaurant is still new and the staff lacked of experience and training).

[Revisit] Black Kettle @ Beach Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Ever since Black Kettle joined the Penang cafe scene, there's no shortage of customers. The place has been operating in almost full swing on weekends and we are not surprised. The cafe has been setting the bar high by introducing a variety of high-quality food with impeccable warm cafe ambiance. Located at the start of Beach Street, Black Kettle welcomes visitors with its huge bakery at the front. Keep walking and you will find "jungle-image" adorning the wall with plants perching above; natural lights pour in via the window, suggesting a welcoming hug to visitors. The menu is Western-skewed and offers a variety of Western-Fusion dishes; with their latest addition being the Brunch menu. Whether it's a simple basket of Loaves, a freshly brewed cup of Joe, gratifying lunch item or a simple cake to end the meal, Black Kettle has something for everyone.

A Class Above The Rest- T.K. Seafood & Steak @ Hotel Proverbs (赋乐旅居), Taipei City, Taiwan.

A modern, chic yet elegant building in dark shades- Hotel Proverbs is designed by award-winning designer- Ray Chen; situated in the busiest eastern district of Taipei City, the hotel provides easy getaway to most tourist attractions in town. Not only strategically located, Ray pays great attention to each detail of the hotel room and its furnishings. All hotel rooms are uniquely designed and the furniture is specially chosen to suit the theme. It is a hotel that boasts its own style, design and elegance.

Hotel Proverbs' in-house restaurant- T.K. Seafood & Steak (on the first floor of the hotel) offers an Italian menu with luxury traits. At the entrance to the restaurant, diners will be greeted by a shelf, displaying their house aged Beef. Once entered, there's a huge Seafood Bar displaying an array of fresh, premium Seafood vying for diners' attention. Ambiance-wise, the restaurant's 3-storey tall Chandelier is a class above the rest, exuding a sense of elegance and act as a beautiful charm to keep diners accompany. T.K. Seafood & Steak plays their seasonal card well, the Chef only uses ingredients that are fresh and currently in season; creating layers and dimensions is the favorite cooking style for the restaurant.

Additional Information:
Address: 1st Floor, Hotel Proverbs. No. 56, Section 1, Daan Road, Daan District, Taipei City, Taiwan. 台北市大安区大安路1段56号1楼
Business Hours:
[Breakfast] 6:30 am to 10 am- Semi Buffet at NTD $780 + 10%
[Lunch] 12 pm to 3 pm
[Dinner] 5:30 pm to 10 pm. Opens Daily.

Contact Number: +886 (02) 903 393 008

Many Thanks to Hotel Proverbs for hosting us that evening.

De Pauh Garden @ Permatang Pauh, Seberang Perai, Penang.

Built on a 1.2 hectare of land, De Pauh Garden is undeniably one of the largest restaurants in Penang; the name has earned its reputation since its opening at 2012. It is well known for its myriad of offering that includes local Malay food, Western food, Thai food with a few types of Indonesian cuisine. The huge space in De Pauh Garden is suitable to be used for occasions and events; the restaurant has hosted wedding dinners as well as other celebrations that could fit a maximum capacity of 550 diners at the same time. It does catering as well and has been offering their services to bodies like MPSP and UiTM Penang. Some of their signature dishes are Indonesian Nasi Campur, Curry Fish Head, Satay etc; all are priced reasonably and not grueling to the wallet. If you are stopping by for their lunch, you can sample divine Indonesian favorites and an array of the regulars' favorites in their Nasi Campur fare .The Indonesian-influenced Nasi Campur is available daily from 10:30 am to 3 pm, while the ala-carte menu is available from 3 pm onward and full menu will be available throughout dinner. 

Meet Up Cafe & Bar @ Hutton Lane, Georgetown, Penang.

Meet up @ Grano De Cafe may be almost equally beloved as its neighbor- Secawan and Such for its chic, comfortable interior decor; though not as spacious, the space does have potential to be one of the new hang out places in the vicinity. Grano De Cafe did not manage to launch their full-fledged menu early but they do have great plans on serving brunch items. We were unfortunate, we've only managed to try some of their outsourced cake instead of their freshly cooked dishes. A second visit is required to make further comments. 

The cafe has got nothing to offer on our visit but some pastries and cakes. We saw some familiar cakes, potentially sourced from Moody Cow. We did not want to have that so we ended up with Vanilla Pistachio Mousse Cake (Rm 13). A jelly-like Mousse and Digestive-biscuit base sandwiching a layer of Sponge and completed with a layer of jelly-like Chocolate. It was gently sweetened but we did not like the texture. The Mousse was disappointingly average either; an overpriced and uninspired piece of cake. 

Grano Caramel Macchiato (Rm 13)

Ratings:

Taste: 6.5/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good) *Rated based on the cake ONLY*

Service: 7.5/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)

Ambiance: 8/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)

Price: 6/10 (1-3 expensive, 4-7 average, 8-10 cheap)

Parking: 6/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)

Pork-Free

Service Charge: No

Additional Information:

Address: 158 & 160, Hutton Lane, 10050, Georgetown, Penang. (Opposite to Secawan and such)

Business Hours: 8:30 am to 1 am on every Monday to Thursday, 8:30 am to 3 am on every Friday to Sunday. Opens Daily.

Contact Number: 604- 226 6388

Meet Up @ Grano De Cafe Facebook Page

Design Village Premium Brand Outlet Mall @ Bandar Cassia, Batu Kawan, Penang.

The largest Premium Outlet Mall- Design Village Penang has opened its doors today (23 November 2016) at Bandar Cassia, Batu Kawan, Penang. Batu Kawan is one of the heaviest development zones by the Penang State Government at present, the island expects to receive great spotlight from the media over its vast development in the next few years and Design Village Penang is one of the huge projects. The mall that spans across 24 acre-land houses as much as 97 international brands; the location is strategic... only 5 minutes drive away from the Penang second link bridge (Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge). At present, only 50% of the shops are opened and the mall is expecting to run at 70% capacity in by end of December 2016.  

[Suggested] Travel Itinerary to Taipei (台北), Taiwan (台湾).

The capital of Republic of China (Taiwan) is Taipei (台北), one of the busiest cities in Taiwan. The metropolis is homed to some of the biggest corporations and business centers in the country; it has a great food scene with myriad of classic Taiwanese restaurants and hipster-trendy eats, a vibrant shopping district that would satisfy any shopaholics. The strategic geographical location makes it a great gateway to experience the Asian culture- traditional Taiwanese culture, influences from China (origins of the Taiwanese), colonization from Japan and the recent upcoming K Pop culture. But as far as wallet is concerned, it is more affordable to spend in Taiwan than its neighboring countries. The below itinerary covers some of the best places in Taipei that upholds the nation's culture as well as to showcase the vibrant-busy social activities available. It's always wise to check out Taiwan Tourism Bureau's website in the aid of itinerary-planning before your trip to Taiwan. 

*This post is brought to you by Taiwan Tourism Bureau (台湾观光局)*

*Special Thanks to China Airlines (中华航空) for making it happened*

Fullhouse Egglet @ Queensbay Mall, Penang.

A new business venture under the "Fullhouse" brand, though we are still unsure how the brand got associated with serving the Hong Kong Egg Waffles. It occupies a strategic lot at Lower Ground Floor, Queensbay Mall (previously Chatime); it has a lot of Fullhouse-related merchandise on sale with a couple of seats available facing the "open kitchen". The setup is meant for takeaways so dining-in is not recommended. The place is dishing out 6 flavors- Original, Chocolate, Lemon, Corn, Cheesy-Berry and Choco-Bamon... with starting price from Rm 5 nett.

The Little Journeyman Cafe @ The Museum Hotel, Georgetown, Penang.

Even though the cafe is a little off the beaten track, it manages to attract a great crowd ever since its opening. But what's the pull factor? A turophile might be able to relate. The Little Journeyman Cafe, a tenant in The Museum Hotel, off Transfer Road and right smack in town; offers a small Western menu (with choices of Pasta, Toast and Sandwiches) but people are attracted to one particular dish- melted Raclette Cheese. The Swiss semi-firm salted Cheese is first melted and scraped on a serving of Potatoes; needless to say... that resonates across social media platforms. It may require extra effort to notice the cafe, the exterior is dull and the signage is small but once inside, it offers the standard cafe-coziness. There are limited numbers of tables and chairs though so if you are planning a visit on a Saturday, do make sure that you have secured your seats.

Puppy Pal @ Jalan Song Ban Kheng, Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

A word of caution- only visit a dog cafe if you truly love dogs... be prepared to be welcomed by a foul-peculiar doggy odor, scratched by the wheedling kids or even be licked by them on the face. Puppy Pal at Bukit Mertajam is probably one of the few pet cafes at mainland (if not the only one), it houses a few types of resident dogs- Chihuahua, Schnauzer etc but what we dislike the most at Puppy Pal is the peculiar doggy smell, ventilation seems to be rather poor. Selection is limited at Puppy Pal, with a few types of beverages and some seemingly lackluster mains. 

[Suggested] Travel Itinerary to Tainan (台南), Taiwan (台湾).

Tainan (台南), a city located in southern Taiwan; was once the most prosperous and bustling city in Taiwan. It's historical foot steps can be traced since the Dutch-colonization and during the Qing Dynasty, Tainan was once, the capital and central business district during the Qing Dynasty-era. The strategic location makes the place ideal for sea fright logistics. Ask any Taiwanese on the perfect place to experience the vibrant culture of Taiwan and the answer you will probably get is Tainan. Traditional cultures continue to thrive in Tainan, where the people still value and celebrate important festive seasons. Similarly, the flavors of the yesteryears were carefully preserved; the Tainanese are very particular about their Ko Cha Bi (flavors of the past). There are several traditional delicacies that are native to Tainan and cannot be found in other places of Taiwan. While Tainan is known as the melting pot for culture and myriad of mouth-watering Ko Cha Bi, there are quite a number of new exciting, hipstery and artsy space to explore. 

*This post is brought to you by Taiwan Tourism Bureau (台湾观光局).*
*Special Thanks to China Airlines for making the trip happened.*

Lan Je Steamed Tilapia (兰姐清蒸非洲鱼) @ Raja Uda, Butterworth, Penang.

How about One Fish per person for your meal? That may sound lavish but that's the norm for diners dining at Lan Je's place. The long-established (since 1978) name- Lan Je Steamed Tilapia (兰姐清蒸非洲鱼) from Rawang has finally opened its first branch in Penang (more than 13 branches across the nation)... at the bustling Jalan Raja Uda, Butterworth. It needs no elaborated menu, just a simple one that offers uncomplicated home-cooked dishes with their signature dish- Steamed Tilapia. Freshness is what they believe in and fortunately, the branch in Penang is able to live up that reputation, for serving some of the freshest catch in town. Ironically, the prices are well-maintained at unbeatable-low rate. The name has traveled far and attracted the attention of many gourmands; the past weekend at Lan Je's (Raja Uda branch) was extremely hectic. The restaurant opened at 5:30 pm (for dinner) but the place was already packed to the brim at 5:40 pm. If you intend to make a trip there in the near future, be sure to grab your seat as early as possible.