Happy National Day! Malaysia, 54 years of Independence!

Selamat Menyambut Hari Kemerdekaan yang ke 54 to all Malaysians. Together we celebrate, and live in perfect harmony!

Happy Birthday, Malaysia!

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to All!

Salam Eid Mubarak to all Muslim friends! Enjoy the celebration, surrounded with happy moments, great food and companions and of course be filled with laughter of loved ones and friends!


Could not resist, but I have to post this pretty photo of kuih raya I found on the web… haha… Selamat Hari Raya Aildilfirtri!!!

Burmah Road Wan Tan Mee (Tok Tok Mee), Penang

I will not say that this is the best wan tan mee, but it is definite one of the nicest ones.. It is not your regular darker soy sauce wan tan mee (noodles)… It has light colour gravy, a little starchy due to the noodles.. there are of course 2 versions, the dry and the soup one… but I have always prefer my wan tan mee, dry.

The wan tan mee is topped with the basic wan tan mee condiments, char siu which are not all that great, vegetables (sawi), wan tan (wantons) of course, and due to out of the pickled chilies and no sambal available, I had it with cili padi (bird’s eye chili) instead.

It’s somehow taste very pleasant, not the usually salty ones and the noodles are springy. It actually tasted a little better the last time I had it… and it was years back… but frankly speaking, I don’t know what was missing…

Uncle was busy at work preparing bowls of noodles… he is assisted by his wife and another helper. Not sure if she’s a family member or not. Not many tables available, there are a few placed at the corridor of the shop houses and a couple of tables at the side of the stall. You can share tables with any strangers if you don’t mind.

Current price now is MYR3.00 for small, MYR3.50 for medium and MYR 4.00 for large. Wan tan only with soup is MYR3.00. The stall is located just right behind Apong Guan’s stall, next to Union Primary School and operating from around 11:00am onwards to late afternoon.

The Yummy Cempedak!

Cempedak only bears fruit once a year and the season lasts for at least couple of months to 4 months sometimes, somewhere June to August alongside with the other tropical fruit friends, the durians, mangoesteens and rambutans. It is indeed a Malaysian favourite, be it for breakfast or even tea. This year, I had my fair share of cempedak as I have this uncle selling at the roadside right opposite my place. Best not to have too much of it as it’s kind of heaty.. and may cause phlegm and it’s a high sugar content fruit.

The price ranges from MYR 2 to 15 each. Depends on the “grade”. Cempedak pun ada grade/type. Well, it’s basically thick or thin flesh, and sweet or not sweet la..  bought this for MYR6 cause it has thick sweet flesh… another fruit of the same size costs only MYR2.00 cos it has thin flesh.

Cutting a cempedak open is not a difficult task, unlike the durian with lots of thorns and you need some strengths to pull it open. Best if your both hands are cover with plastic. You need to oil the knife so the the white sap will not stick to the knife, and it will be a hassle to clean up… some goes to your hands.. if the white sap sticks to your hand, it may take a while to go off and best way to remove it it by using cooking oil. anyways, slit the fruit vertically and with all your might, use both hands to pull it open.. and tadaaa…..

You will see golden shining cempedaks still attached to the core…

Have it all removed and kept in a container…. it can be eaten straight away… one medium fruit will have around 30 plus minus cempedak-s…

But Malaysian favourite are those dipped into flour batter, and deep fried to golden crunchy goodness… if you want to eat the seed, best to deep fried it under low fire so the seed will be cooked…  the seed tastes a little like roasted chestnut, harder and not so sweet version… but not too much as it causes wind if your tummy… and the next thing you know.. you’ll be releasing lots of gas :P

Batter mixture are just plain flour with water and salt to taste… you may add some other flour like rice flour for extra crunchiness…

Look at that beautiful yellow colour… yummy…

And that’s the seed, I usually don’t eat them though…

Besides eating it plain of deep fried, some also uses it for making ice creams, cakes and muffins. Some may find the smell a little pungent though..  but to us.. it smells oh so yummy… you can even smell if your neighbour is frying them (vice versa), just like the durian!

Banana Leaf Rice at Passions of Kerala (Innira’s), Brown Garden, Gelugor

There are few branches of Passions of Kerala in Penang. The one I normally patronised is the one in Brown Garden, Gelugor. The other 2 I know off it the one in Service Road (been there twice, and read many reviews of the bad service) somewhere behind Northam Hotel and a nicer outlet in New World Park (if you prefer a nicer dining experience with slightly higher price).

But so far, I have not faced any service issue with them *touch wood*. Regular order will be the vegetarian set (MYR4.50) with sides dishes (priced separately). This round, I went with a few colleagues.

This place is quite packed both during lunch and dinner. And it’s a small outlet, a more manageable one. Food was served up very fast, by first laying the banana leaves on the tables, and then sides dishes are placed very fast on the banana leaves… next comes the rice..

Then, curry are poured onto the steaming hot rice, with papadams distributed, all on a banana leave. It somehow gives more feel to it by eating all everything on a banana leaves… rather than being serves all separately on different plates (it somehow feels more formal, of course more proper)

The side dishes are served shortly… everything happens in fast movements and before you know it… the table is filled with your complete order.

I ordered the chicken masala… a generous amount of chicken pieces with yummy masala curry and the chicken was fresh and tender. I made the right choice.. :D The mutton masala is actually not bad too… and the yummy fried chicken… but tummy is not allowing too much in take at once.. so, a choice must be made, chicken masala that is, and fried chicken the next round and mutton masala another round :P

The other 2 colleagues order fried fish… the fish piece is not that big but my colleagues mentioned that it is nice and flavourful.

Another colleagues ordered the sambal fish, which is also a favourite. It is fried fish cooked with sambal and lots of onions…Good thign we only ordered a side dish each cos we were all stuffed! On few of my visits, we would ordered deep fried battered ladies fingers/bitter gourd/squid. The Indian version of tempura… haha… and it’s more flavourful too as the batter, I believe is mixed with some tumeric and curry powder. Side dishes are actually served in a more “cincai” manner compare to the ones in New World Park, each and every dish are served in banana leaves. But as long as the food is good, presentation does not actually bother me much…

Banana and apple lassi was also good….

  

We were also served milk payasam. It is a rich milk dessert that has creamy texture and comes with cashew nut, raisins, sago, gram, vermicelli(not sure what type of vermicelli though) and with a hint of star anise aroma. Frankly speaking, I do not know how to enjoy this… :P

Today’s special is everyday’s special :P The board has been this way for many years.. haha..

Front of the small humble outlet…

And there’s a hot orange 1969 Ford Mustang for sale outside the restaurant.. hahaha…

Passions of Kerala (Innira’s Banana Leave Restaurant)
5, Lorong Endah 4,
Tmn Brown, Gelugor,
11700 Penang.
Contact: 04-657 8550 (Gary G.V. Nair, Managing Director)
Business hours: 12:00noon – 3:30pm; 6:30pm – 10:30pm (7 days a week)

New World Park Outlet
102 Lot C3
New World Park
Jalan Burma
10050 Georgetown
Penang
Phone: +60 4 2272550

Nasi Lemak Special & Specialty Ice Kacang, White House Coffee (小娘惹 The Little Nyonya Cuisine), Bukit Jambul Complex

I noticed this outlet sometime ago after Sushi King closed down their outlet in BJC (Bukit Jambul Complex), but never once I made a visit. Then I came across a promotion in everyday whereby the nasi lemak is only priced at MYR3.90 nett vs the normal price at MYR8.30++. I love nasi lemak… am a true Malaysian.. :P I thought it’s a good deal and decided to give it a try.

The Nasi Lemak Special MYR 8:30++ (normal price) comes with the basic condiments like peanuts, sambal ikan bilis, half of a hard boiled egg, cucumber slice, some crackers and a piece of fried chicken. The fried chicken of course is not those from the ready made frozen chicken pack, like Old Town’s. This is fresh piece of chicken meat, perfectly marinated… very aromatic.. piping hot from the wok… and the whole portion is actually quite big. Sedap!

I wanted to have cendol but they were out of stock.. so i ordered myself an ice kacang… cos the weather is so hot! It was perfect! Specialty Ice Kacang MYR 5.80++ I have to admit that this is the most expensive ice kacang I’ve ever had… but the portion is slightly bigger than a regular ice kacang… and what I like most about it the texture of the ice… it’s finely shaved ice…. rather than some are quite coarse, this is just nice… melt in your mouth the sweet goodness! And yet, it is actually quite sweet… and does not melt off that fast…

Topped with a scoop if vanilla ice cream.. I actually like it…

White House coffee has actually quite an extensive menu.. it if of course the same kind of concept with old town and few others. The menu though states Little Nyonya Cuisine… their fares are also more to the hint of  Peranakan touch, be it local fares or western fares… drinks though are a little pricey comparing to other outlets of the same concept… food wise is still competitive both taste, selections and price. I read that their indonesian prawns, nyonya seafood rice, tomyam noodles, nasi dagang, curry mee and many more are nice too.. I’ll go try those next time… :D and they serve halal dim sum too.. Bukit Jambul’s outlet is more quiet I guess, not too many people… they have few other outlets in Penang namely Time Square and Tesco Extra Seberang Jaya.

White House Coffee (小娘惹 The Little Nyonya Cuisine)
1-38, Jalan Rumbia,
Kompleks Bukit Jambul,
11900 Pulau Pinang.
04-640 6757

Laksa at Nan Guang Coffee Shop & Huan Chu Leng, Balik Pulau

I made a trip drive down to Balik Pulau to have my laksa fix a couple of weeks back after work.. after the visit to Chuan Heong Cafe, I told myself I’ll be back soon to sample the Nan Guang laksa!

I took a slow drive along Tun Sardon Road after Saturday 1/2 day work and good thing I was early… the crowd was not that much yet until when I was leaving the coffee shop. If you drive along the Tun Sardon Road, when you reach the T junction, Nan Guang is just right opposite the road, next to the old market.

Asam laksa, MYR 3.00. Frankly speaking, I can never really differentiate and tell which is the best laksa…if I don’t complain means it falls under a good category.. I can though, tell what is a not-so-satisfying laksa, and this is certainly not one of it.

It is filled with flavour, with perfect blend of spicy and sour. A glass of ambra and dried sour plum, I can’t remember how much.

The laksa noodles has a different texture though… not the smooth, softer and silky laksa noodle…  but it’s not that slightly coarse texture you taste in the self boiled laksa noodles, or the ones we have in Kedah. it’s like in the middle… springy and not too smooth and silky… more al dente so to say.. haha…

This is siam laksa, also MYR3.00. Same ingredients, different laksa soup. This lasksa soup is a little more lemak (richer in taste) due to the combination of the normal asam laksa soup with some coconut milk and is taste just as good.

It’s not too lemak and thick though, compared to the thai laksa I had in Lee Garden or the ones in Annathai.  They also have laksa with combination of both soup.

Just a little humble coffee shop… but filled with customers…

Their wall of fame… ada gambar Lim Guan Eng lagi…

Stall nicely set up and neatly arranged….

Laksa noodles in the basket… and condiments in the steel compartments…

   The stall gets busier at 2:00pm, so best to be there early…

Something I noticed at most of the coffee shops around that area is they have this bread-like item in the bao(steamed buns) steamers… I’ve never really seen this at other places.. or I never take notice of them(yes la.. I’m a bit sampat lo cops all along I only eat pau and dim sum-s.. I initially thought it’s Malai Koh or something)… To kill my curiosity, I decided to buy some… and asked the coffee shop owner what is it called… I was told it’s called Huan Chu Leng (direct translation from hokkien dialect would be Potato Dragon).. each is MYR0.90.

I learnt that huan chu leng is originated from Taiping and it’s apparently very famous there… but I tired googling and their Huan Chu Leng looks somehow a little bit different… This one I believe is made of potatoes and brown sugar.. it’s originally made in a long loaf, just like mee koo but taste slightly different and has a very slight chewy texture too. on top of it, it’s spread with  brown sugar before it’s steamed and cut into smaller pieces.

Surprisingly, plain but not bad tasting… sedap also… best eaten hot from the steamer!

I bought along a kau yuk/yoke (kou rou) bao (pork belly steamed bun)… Never eaten one and this is my first one…Notice the fats.. I just have to remove it… so the pork belly turned out to be smaller piece after that… but it’s oh so yummy…. the kau yuk is so tender… and the gravy tasted good also.. if only it’s bigger piece of meat and less fat… I forgot how much is this also… around MYR 1 something if I’m not mistaken…

I forgot how much is this also… around MYR 1 something if I’m not mistaken… A lot of different types of bao-s available at the neighbouring coffee shops, and it’s very visible as the who bao steamer with displays are placed at the roadside.

Nan Guang Coffee Shop
67, Balik Pulau Main Road
11000, Balik Pulau
Penang
Business hours : 11am - 5pm daily, closed on every Wednesday except public holidays
Tel : 012 - 428 6235 (Mr. John)

Ramadhan Buffet around Penang for 2011

To all Muslim friends, selamat menunaikan ibadah berpuasa. Wishes all a blessed Ramadhan and May all rejoice & be blessed during this holy month.

And if you are planning for a buffet options for berbuka, here’s a few I am sharing with all of you :)

Traders Hotel
Magazine Road, Georgetown,
10300 Penang, Malaysia
04-2622622 ext 8333

Ramadhan Buffet Dinner 1+1 Free @ RM 89.90 nett/ child @ RM 40.00 nett starting from 1 Aug onwards until 29 Aug 2011.
(  Buy 1 free 1 only applicable for paying adults )
* The above information are subject to changes.
Please do not hesitate to contact 04-2622622 daily between 9am to 5pm for any inquiries or reservation.
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Eastin Hotel
1 Solok Bayan Indah, Queensbay
11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia
Tel: +604-612 1111, Fax: +604-612 1199
Email us : info.pg@eastin.com

Promotion - Ramadhan Buffet Dinner
During month of August 2011, we also have the Buka Puasa "Ramadhan Buffet Dinner" promotion. Our Chef have prepared wide selection of dishes like cold salad, appetizer, herbs, sambal, ulam-ulaman, soup, action stall, Kampung Cuisine, carving stall (Lamb, Beef, Chicken), ice kacang, ice cream, variety of main dishes, beverages and dessert. also we have the traditional gamelan music playing every night.

Price per person is RM 80.00++ (Adult) & RM 40.00++ (Child)

* Citibank credit card we have discount on buy 4 free 1 offer
* VISA card have 15% discount in total billing.
* Eastin Hotel Promotion - Date from: 1st - 7th August & 22th - 29th August - Buy 3 Free 1 (Only selected date status is applicable)

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Vistana Hotel
213 Jalan Bukit Gambir
11950, Bukit Jambul
Penang, Malaysia
Tel: +60 (0) 4 646 8000
Fax: +60 (0) 4 646 1400
Email: vispgweb@ytlhotels.com.my

Celebrate Ramadhan with your family, friends and colleagues at Vistana Hotel Penang. Our Ramadhan dinner price is at RM38.00++ per adult while only RM25.00++ per child.

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Equatorial Hotel
1 Jalan Bukit Jambul
Bayan Lepas
11900 Penang
Malaysia
Tel: +60 4 632 7000
Fax: +60 4 632 7100
Email: info@pen.equatorial.com
Web: www.equatorial.com/pen/

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Berjaya Penang Hotel
1-Stop Midlands Park, Burmah Road
10350 Georgetown, Penang
Malaysia

Tel: + 60 (4) 227 7111
Email: penang.bph@berjayahotel.com

*just in case if your need this flyer, drop me a note and I’ll forward you a copy :D

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Hotel Royal
No. 3  Jalan Larut, 10050 Penang
Tel: 04-2267888 Fax: 04-2266615
Email: info@hotelroyalpenang.com

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Tanjung Bungah Beach Hotel
505, Jalan Tanjung Bungah, Tanjung Bungah,11200 Penang, Malaysia.
(604) - 890 8808
beach@po.jaring.my

Ramadan Dinner by the Sea
Venue: Shores Restaurant
Price: RM38nett (Adult), RM20nett (Child), RM34nett (TBBH Club Member)
** Early bird vouchers available at RM25nett per person. Contact Shores Restaurant for more information.

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G Hotel
168A Persiaran Gurney
10250 Penang, Malaysia
Tel: 604 238 0000 
G4u@GHotel.com.my

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Puncak Mutiara Cafe
Lot 179, MK 3, Kampung Pelet,
14400 Bukit Mertajam,
Pulau Pinang.
GPS Coordinate: N5.41517° E100.45613°
604 - 522 8502 / 522 8503
012 - 5175503 / 012 - 206 5003 /
012 - 286 5363
query@puncakmutiara.com

Ramadhan Buffet
Priced @ RM 49.90 per pax for Ramadhan Buffet with over 40 types of food will be served.. (unless you have earlier bought the buffet voucher)

Contact now for more details : - 012-915-8212 (Afiif)

************************************************************************************* Hard Rock Hotel Penang
Batu Ferringhi Beach,
11100 Penang, Malaysia
Tel:  +60 4 8811711
Fax: +60 4 8812155

 

Will be updating if I come across more berbuka options! :D