OohLaLaBites®...

Spasso... Milano Italian Cuisine

2012-10-23T00:09:00.000+08:00

The first time we walked right up to the door and took a peek. It was empty...no tables were occupied. We decided to go somewhere else to eat. The second time around we walked straight inside. Actually, we have already decided on the place after hearing a few recommendations from friends. I liked what I saw the minute we walked inside...Spasso, an Italian restaurant located in Straits Quay.

As we took our seats, I could not help telling the men (with me) that the place looked sparkling. All so beautiful…done in simple design with a theme of white and stainless steel. I loved the way the tables were positioned. They were quite apart from each other. It was something I always preferred in a restaurant. For me, that gives 'privacy' in dining.

The appetiser we had was a plate of Bruschetta Al Pomodoro (RM18.80). It was a plate of toasted focaccia bread topped with tomato, garlic, basil and extra virgin olive oil. It would be nothing spectacular if not for the focaccia bread. That, I have to say was a good slice of bread.

Porcini mushroom soup

After much debating, (we could not make up our minds), we settled on a bowl of porcini mushroom (RM18.80) soup. I could smell the nice aroma of the soup as the waiter placed the bowl on our table. I took a scoop of the soup. Woo, it had a lot of substance in that it was creamy and thick with chopped porcini mushrooms. The soup had a nutty-woodsy and sweet taste. I took another spoonful and decided I did not like the overpowering taste of the mushrooms and white truffle oil (drizzled on top). The other two loved the soup and kept telling me that it was Italian soup 'for real'.

Chicken Valdostana

A plate of Chicken Valdostana (chicken escalope topped with baked chicken ham and Fontana cheese-RM38.80) and a plate of Chicken Picata (Pan-fried chicken fillet coated with egg and Parmesan cheese-RM28.80) were our next orders.

Chicken Picata

The Chicken Valdostana was just 'so-so' was hubby's remarks. I had a piece and could not agree more. Maybe as Malaysians, we need something stronger. Italian cooking would be bland compared to our curries. (LOL). I asked hubby to add the condiments from the little containers. Shredded cheese, salt and chilli pepper. The Chicken Picata was not too bad. I thought they were like mini omelettes. The capers sprinkled on the top of the pieces added extra flavour. The pasta aglio olio (pasta tossed in virgin olive oil, garlic and ground chilli pepper) was a good combination. Had it been in any form, I think we would be 'jelak'. Do not judge the portion served as little. The three of us could not finish off the pasta.

The stand out of the whole meal (main course) was without a doubt the Pizza Margherita (RM26.80). It looked different from what we had in Italy but the taste was awesome. Being wood fried; the pizza had a smoky, woodsy taste. The basil used was fresh and fragrant. The tomatoes tasted juicy and sweet and lastly...lots of mozzarella. The pizza dough was equally good. It was light and not rubbery in bite.

A cup of Tiramisu

Spasso serve very nice desserts. We had the Tiramisu (RM18.80) and Panna Cotta (RM14.80). The tiramisu deliciously melted in my mouth. I attest... the taste was awesome. The Panna Cotta also deserved two thumbs up. It was slightly wobbly, creamy and good to the last lick. In fact, both deserts were licked clean.

Panna Cotta

Affogato-RM12.80

The Affogato (espresso with vanilla gelato/ice cream) and Cappuccino were both good coffee. There was no scrimping here. The coffee was aromatic and thick (not liquid).

Cappuccino-RM12.80

Spasso has quite a wide selection of other Italian food. Ravioli, spaghetti, etc. There is also quite a wide selection of pizza. We agreed that the staff were friendly and helpful. The chef, an Italian even came out to bid us good bye and good night as we walked to the exit.:o)

SPASSO MILANO ITALIAN CUISINE, Lot 3C-G-2, Block C, Ground Floor, Straits Quay, Jalan Seri Tanjung Pinang, Tanjung Tokong. Business Hours: 12 noon-11:00pm. Tel: 604 8912888. **10% Service Charge and 6% Government Tax.

Las Carretas...Mexican

2012-10-10T23:58:00.000+08:00

"Are both of you game for Mexican food?" was BB's question when asked what he would like to have for dinner. Where I was concerned, I was not game for anything except the bed. We have been on the road since 10 am on that day. We were caught in the heavy traffic in KL. Bumper to bumper driving that was how bad it was. If that was not enough, we spent almost two hours trying to locate our hotel. We checked into the hotel and before I could, climbed into bed for a short nap it was time for dinner.

The restaurant was only a 20 minutes drive from BB's apartment but all thanks to a GPS gadget that knows no shortcut route; we took an hour to reach. Las Carretas is a nice restaurant that serves Mexican food such as Burritos, Quesadillas, Enchilada and many more. The place looked colourful. The displayed wine bottles, candles and other cheesy chintzy items looked cluttered but done in a beautiful manner. There are even plastic palm trees to give that tropical feeling.

Whilst we sat talking and waiting for our food, a basket with tortilla chips and salsa arrived (FOC). A piece of chip and a dip into the salsa...oohlala, the dip was delicious and so was the chip. There was enough jalapeno, tomato and it had a tinge of smoky flavour.

El Presidente (RM25.50)

Our drinks arrived shortly. According to BB, this place served very good margarita. Hubby took a sip and agreed with him.

The glass of Pina Colada (RM16.90) had all three of us disappointed. The coconut used was not of the fresh kind and it tasted ‘old and oily’. However, we have no complaint as to the rum used. It was good and enough. A glass of iced lemon tea (RM5.50) was what I had solely to myself. That was what I needed badly.

As BB bit into his burrito (RM25.90), he raved that there was nowhere else in Kuala Lumpur that served burrito like Las Carretas. As I watched him cut and chew each piece, I have to agree that it must be tasty. I am not a beef person so I took nothing from his plate.

To go with his Burrito BB added an extra order of guacamole dip (RM3). I was slowly nodding off waiting for my food but at his insistence, I took a chip and dipped into the dip. "Holy mole", this is guacamole is heavenly. There was lots of avocado, enough onions, garlic and tomatoes. Then there was this extra ingredient. "There, there I told you so, it is good!" BB piped in. Hubby mumbled (he had some tortilla chips in his mouth) an agreement. Do try this dip if you happen to drop by this restaurant.

Hubby had a plate of braised lamb shank served with pasta (RM39.90). He cut a small piece for me to taste. The meat was so tender and well seasoned there really was no need for the sauce that came with it. The sauce was good though...peppery, BBQ flavoured sauce with some herbs.

I had a plate of Salchicha de Pollo (RM27.90). It was a plate of sausages with some sauce. I thought the taste of the sauce dribbled over the sausages tasted like the sauce on hubby's plate. The sausages had me disappointed. I would expect some gourmet sausages served but it was not to be. They tasted like the frankfurters I bought from the supermarket. I ate only the salad and the chips. The rest, I handed them over to the other two sitting across me. :o)

I forgot to check their business hours but I know that it closes at 10:30pm. The location of Las Carretas : 29 Jalan USJ 10/1F, Subang Jaya, Selangor. Tel: 03-5637 3058. It is in TAIPAN, USJ. The road in front of Las Carretas is a one-way street.**10% Service Charge & 6% Government Tax.

Western Spices...@ Green Hall

2012-09-22T15:43:00.002+08:00

It was an impromptu visit to Western Spices as the restaurant we had wanted to visit was not accessible (road closed). This premise used to house Spice & Rice then Straits Kitchen Restaurant and now Western Spices.

As we stepped into the restaurant, the first thing I did was check to see if I am appropriately dressed. The interior was not all chandeliers but it exudes a kind of classy look. The chairs had drapes of brown and beige right to the ground level. Never mind that we were not properly attired (there was no dress code); all the same the waiter/waitress were courteous. A waiter handed us the menus. There are lamb, chicken, beef, fish, duck and pasta. I noticed there are even vegetarian dishes listed.

After browsing through, both of us opted for the set-dinner. It was a five-course set.

A plate of nachos with homemade salsa was the starter. I forgot to ask if the nachos were homemade. It tasted like packet ones but both of us enjoyed the crunchy bites just as well, dipped in the delightful salsa.

Next was a bowl of yellow coloured soup. I loved the presentation of the soup with the cream on top. The yellow colour and creamy taste had both of us actually saying the same thing...pumpkin soup on our first mouthful. A second mouthful had me wondering. A check with the waiter told us that it was potato and onion soup. A good combination, the soup was delicious.

The plate of Stinco di Agnello-RM68.90 (2 hours oven braised lamb shank served with vegetables and mashed potato) that arrived soon after we finished our soup looked mouth watering. True to its looks, that piece of lamb shank was tantalizing. It lifted easily off the bone, was tender and juicy with a homemade sauce fragrant with herbs. I noticed that the chef used many kinds of herbs in his cooking.

The plate of Grilled Salmon fillet (RM59.90) came served with homemade tomato sauce, mashed potato and vegetables. The fillet came well seasoned, not over grilled and fresh. Dipping a cut piece into the homemade sauce was divine. There was also something different and extra. Another pleasing addition was a piece of crispy salmon skin.

Sean Ooi--performs on Tuesdays

There are also live performances on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays. That sets for a very nice dining ambience.

A slice of cake arrived as dessert. I would say a generous slice considering that it was a set meal. I paid little attention to the taste of the cake. (The pianist was playing beautiful songs and I was engrossed with the music.) All I remembered was it was a pillowy mousse cake. It must have been nice or I/we would have complained.

:o)

If you like food that is European, Italian, Steakhouse, British. etc...then visit WESTERN SPICES, No. 1 Green Hall, 10200 Penang. Tel: 04-2611 553. H/P No: 012-7903318/0127993318. Person/s to contact: Nick Lau/Ally Tan Business Hours: 11:30 am-11:00pm. High Tea time: 3:00pm-5:30 pm.

**6% Government Service Tax & 5% Service Charge.

Bella Marino @ Straits Quay

2012-09-11T18:37:00.001+08:00

Bella Marino Ristorante & Pizzeria...one of the many restaurants found in Straits Quay. The restaurant looked neat and it had a Christmas theme (so I thought) being done up in the colours of the flag of Italy. I was not the only one with that thought as a young boy behind me started singing 'Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells', as he followed us into the restaurant with his parents. His sister sang 'We wish you a Merry Christmas'. I had to stifle a laugh. They both sounded so cute.

The first thing I ranted when we were seated was how close the tables were placed. I think we would have knocked elbows had there been other diners at the next table.

Bella Marino serves Italian food as informed by the staff. The menu has Bruschetta, Frittura D calamari (squid fritters), Pasta, and Risotto, fish, and meat and poultry dishes. Pizzas are also available.

We settled for the Set Meal after browsing through the menu. The Spigola Croccanti Fritti Ana Puttanesca (Crispy friend marinated whole Sea Bass Puttanesca style-RM65)) was not available as in finished. Therefore, we both ordered the same...Spalla D'Agnello Arrosto (sliced marinated roast lamb shoulder served with BBQ sauce (RM49.90). Both of us enjoyed the pumpkin soup. It was thick (not runny) and rich with cream.

The plate of sliced roast lamb shoulder arrived and had a good aroma. As I put a piece of the lamb with some BBQ sauce, I thought it tasted similar to a few other places that served Western style food. Was it not supposed to be Italian food? Anyway, we enjoyed the lamb. It was tasty and tender. The gravy had a generous supply of sliced mushrooms, full with flavour and not too peppery. A big blob of mashed potato was 'hidden' under the pieces of lamb. The only disappointment with the lamb was there was too much fat. By the time I finished the plate of meat, there was a heap of fats by the side. I would say it was equal amount of fats and meat. Even hubby lamented that the lamb had too much fat (even though he had always love his lamb with fats).

For dessert, we were served each a slice of tiramisu. The sight of the slice made me salivate. I love tiramisu. It was quite good. It melted in my mouth. However, I could not detect the ladyfingers. It was only when we turned a little of the cake over did we noticed the paper-thin layer of ladyfinger. That did not make me happy. In addition, the rum and espresso was not there (maybe the cocoa powder overpowered the amount used). It came with the set meal so we thought that we should not expect too much.

We decided to indulge a little more by ordering a helping of Panna Cotta (RM10.90). The Panna Cotta was below my expectation. It was too hard though it was creamy. The generous portion of the lingonberry confiture (I think it was lingonberry) sort of made up for the texture of this dessert.

The coffee ended our meal on a happier note. It was a good cup of Tonino Lamborghini. The Set Meal for the above (minus the panna cotta) cost us RM49.90/pax.

**10% SERVICE CHARGE & 6% GOVERNMENT TAX.

Cheers Western Food...

2012-08-29T23:04:00.000+08:00

Located in a bungalow Cheers Western Food is one spacious restaurant. The dining area comes with upstairs, downstairs and verandah area. It is quite brightly lit and clean. The menu is quite extensive with dishes like Fish Thermidor, BBQ Grilled Fish, Seafood Chicken, Pasta, Pizza and many other choices. We find the place cosy and the staff pleasant and polite.

We had an order of Cheers Homemade mushroom soup (RM8) to share. Mushroom soup has become quite a common soup so to me, it will tell how the food would be like. (Laughters). The mushroom soup did not have us disappointed. In fact, it was at par with a few good restaurants we have visited. Thick with cream (not starch that I detest) and generous amount of mushrooms (shitake); all well blended.

The House Salad (RM7) had us laughing when it arrived. From the picture (in the menu) I thought the sliced thingy were pieces of ham. However, when the plate of salad arrived we found out that they were actually slices of peaches. The house salad was a fruit and vegetable salad. I would say it was not a bad salad as it was a good combination of strawberries, peaches, kiwi fruits and lettuce.

The plate of starters, the Cheesy Cocktail Sausages (RM6) was nothing spectacular. It was just a plate of chicken cocktail sausage served with cheese dip and pickled cabbages. The dip was quite nice though.

The serving of Pork Burger came in the form of a minced patty, topped with cheese and vegetables. The patty was quite juicy and tasty. However, at RM16.50 for that size of burger with chips we thought it was rather pricey.

The order of Cheers Lamb Shank (RM33.50) was a good choice. It was a huge piece of shank that was juicy and tender. The black pepper sauce gave it extra body. The meat was well done and so tender it lifted off the bone easily.

Our plate of Cheers Crackling Pork Knuckles (RM29.50) come 'Thai' style. That would be how I would describe the dish. It was a plate of pork knuckles meat without the bone, a piece of deep fried pork skin and salad. If you do not mind the cholesterol level, bite into the piece of skin. It is awesome with the crispy bite. The meat was tender and deliciously fragrant. We enjoyed the dish. The 'Thai' style description comes from the salad. It came in the form of 'mango kerabu' and pickled cabbage (sauerkraut? nay!). There were even pieces of bird’s eye chilli. There was a little bowl of black pepper sauce but for us, it was good as it is. There was no need for the sauce.

Take the crackling skin away...you see chunks of meat.

I was quite happy when the plate of Cheers BBQ (RM23.50) arrived even though the sight of the rice made me a little unhappy. (I never liked rice in Western style food.) However, it had me disappointed. The ribs were not BBQ-ed. It was pre-cooked and BBQ sauce dribbled on the top of the pieces of ribs. The ribs were tender and melted in my mouth. It would have been quite bland in taste had the BBQ sauce not been dribbled. The mash potato and cauliflower found below the ribs sort of made up for my disappointment in the style of cooking. The rice was cooked (grainy which I loved) and mixed with some herbs. I would say it tasted not bad. :o)

Verandah

Cheers Western Food located at 3-X Jalan Pantai Molek, 10470 Tanjung Tokong. Penang. Tel: 04-8999757. Lunch closed at 3pm. Dinner closed at 11pm. [Opposite Caltex Station)
**NO Government Tax & NO Service Charge.

Springs Town Restaurant...

2012-08-25T15:24:00.001+08:00

When we walked into the Springs Town Restaurant, it was full of people and very noisy. I spell the name correctly; it is Spring with 'S'. Every turn I made, I saw food on the tables. Hmmm... The food on their tables looked yummy. The waiter led us to a tiny table by the wall even though I had called an hour earlier to book a table. I thought why I had bothered to call. I never had a chance to ask the waiter (they looked so harried) how long the place has been in operation. Springs Town Restaurant must have opened recently. It looked relatively new, clean, white and bright.

The waiting time for our food took quite a while. To be exact, it took forty minutes. Luckily, we had a lot to talk about and we brought some reading materials. The waiting was bearable but the din was not.

I do not like 'sweet and sour pork' but we ordered it as the other pork dish we wanted ‘ran out’. When the dish arrived, I have a mind that I would like it. I did and in fact, all of us did. The pork was not the usual minced kind but pieces of pork loin tender and juicy. The sweet and sour sauce was cooked differently. It was not sour until it tasted of nothing but vinegar as in the other places we have patronised. This place cooked it differently. The sourness came from the tomato sauce.

The 'mah poh tofu' (RM10) was superb. The cook pre-fried the tofu and that gave it extra fragrance. It was not too spicy and tasted wonderful. However, we had a little discomfort, as there were chopped pieces of chilli padi (birds' eye) in it. I would recommend that if you have children, to inform the waiter to have these omitted. After a few bites into the chilli, 'smoke' came out from my ears.

We loved the aroma of the fish curry as the waiter lifted the cover of the pot. What we saw had us eagerly waiting to dig in. For a normal order, the curry would come with slices of dory fish fillet. Hubby had it changed to red snapper as dory and his taste buds do not get along. The curry is delicious and fragrant. There were more than enough pieces for the three of us. At RM38 for that pot full of fish pieces, long beans, tomatoes, onions, etc, we thought it was very reasonable. On top of that, the cook uses ground chilli and not chilli powder for the curry. In addition, the fish was fresh.

The roast chicken is Springs Town's signature dish (RM12 for half a chicken). We wanted a whole chicken but what was left was only half and that came from small chicken. The roast chicken was well marinated and the skin was crispy. Even the breast meat was tender and full of flavour. The dip made of chilli oil, sesame seed and others was dazzling. It was the cook's secret recipe. Had we not have an order of curry, I think the dip would be finished in seconds.

The next order was the bayam (green amaranth/Chinese spinach) with three eggs soup (RM8). For all the other places that we patronised, I always had to request that the cook add less water. At this restaurant, I overlooked but it arrived, cooked just right. I loved the sight of the eggs splattered on top of the vegetables and the generous amount of the other two kinds of eggs. There were also slices of fish cake and that contributed some extra flavour. The bayam was not 'too old' and it was a delight for us.

The place was almost empty when we finished our meal. However, there were a few families who walked in at 9:30 pm.:o)

Springs Town Restaurant--113,115 Jalan Seang Tek, 10400 Penang. Tel: 04-2263191
H/P: Raymond--016-4333466. Business Hours: 11:30am-2:30pm. 5:30pm-10:00pm.
**NO Government Tax and Service Charge.

Restaurant Grill House...in Tanjung Bungah

2012-07-12T14:40:00.002+08:00

Restaurant Grill House was formerly located at Gurney Resort Hotel, Persiaran Gurney. It was then, known as RoadHouse Grill. They moved to the present location about one and half month ago. This present place looked better with large dining space and different sections. There is a non-smoking section and a smoking one where the bar is. The menu comprised of many types of Grills, steaks, pizzas, soups...all Western style.

A tin pail filled with groundnuts was served whilst we waited for our food. Country and Western songs were playing in the background. This place exudes a nice ambience. (That is if you enjoyed such kind of music as much as the two of us do.)

You can be a litterbug here. Just throw all your groundnut shells onto the floor. The floor is where they belong as it makes a nice cracking sound when you stepped over them.

The order of iced-lemon tea (RM7.90) came in one large bottle so it really was not necessary to order for two. We shared the tea.

Our first course arrived shortly. It was Caesar salad(RM8.90) and home salad (RM7.90). Both came in generous portions. The Caesar salad had a dressing that was a tad too sour. The home salad was great with a generous amount of French dressing. For both salads the vegetables were fresh and crunchy.

We ordered the cream of mushroom soup (RM9.90) and clear onion soup. The cream of mushroom soup lived up to the word cream. It was thick with cream (not starch) and lots of sliced mushrooms. The clear onion soup (RM8.90) was a joy to the taste buds with ample amount of sliced onions.

I could smell the aroma wafting in the air as the waiter brought our plates of mixed grill (RM38.90) out from the kitchen. A normal plate of mixed grill would consist of beef, lamb and chicken. Since we do not take beef, we had it changed to lamb so our plate came with two pieces of grilled lamb instead of one. A bite into the lamb and we went ooh...la la. It grilled 'well done' yet still tender and aromatic with nary a hint of 'smelly lamb'. I thought the 'sunny side up' egg was a good idea of the chef. The egg yolk flowing over the meat gave an extra flavour. The waiter asked if we wanted tomato sauce or any sauce. Maybe salt? No, we do not need any extra seasoning. It was fabulous as it is. The same goes for the chicken despite it being a piece of breast meat was equally tasty and juicy.

The jacket potato mash was a delightful creamy blob with black pepper added. However, the corn-on-cob was not so. It was tasteless and half cooked. I felt a little oil dribbled and a sprinkle of salt would be nice.

The hot rolls (free) came after we had finished our soup and main course. The waiter overlooked this. Since they were very friendly, the matter did not bother us. Apparently, this is their signature roll. East Roll is what is known here. It was nice with a little salty taste. So, be sure to ask for your rolls if you are having soup

Brownie (RM11.90) made the old-fashioned way was our dessert. It came with a scoop of ice cream. The brownie was good and sweet. I passed up on the ice cream, as the brownie was sweet enough on its own.

Coffee (RM7.90) came in a big mug so we ordered only one mug. After all the food, two cups of coffee would have our stomachs bloat too much. The coffee served is freshly brewed coffee and not of the instant kind.

*There is a promotion running until end of July (will be changed monthly). For a net price of RM55/= you get to create your own menu for a 5-course dinner set.:o)

Restaurant Grill House. No. 1 Jalan Bungah Pudak, Tanjung Bungah, 11200 Penang. Tel: 604-899 4881

Opening hours: 12:00 noon-3:30pm. 5:30pm-1:00am **NO Government or Service Tax.

China House...

2012-06-14T00:23:00.001+08:00

China House, a traditional space of three heritage buildings linked by an open courtyard. That is the description on the calling card. As we walked into the restaurant, I could not help noticing that the building is narrow and long.

The place is brightly lit, neat and simple in design. From the front, it seemed like there is limited seating space with only a few tables. I decided to take a walk deeper and found out that there was another seating area.

The place seemed to be very popular with the younger generation from what I noticed. The second floor of this place houses an art centre where there are paintings for sale.

The courtyard is another beautiful area to dine.

The food menu is not extensive but they do have a wide selection of wine. We ordered a plate of samosa two of each filled with chicken, coconut and water chestnut. A plate of six pieces costs RM25. It was delectable but not super duper. I found the samosa with water chestnut to be rather bland. Luckily, the chilli dip was good.

The chicken pie came with chunky pieces of chicken meat inside (RM30). I liked the creamy style of the filling and called it very traditional. However, hubby preferred it to be without the cream. He said too creamy a filling made him queasy.

The lamb sausages came served with rocket leaves and couscous (RM40). I would love the sausages more had the smell of the lamb be a little less overpowering. It was only two sausages but the couscous sort of filled our stomach by the time we polished the plate clean.

If you loved desserts and still have some space in your stomach after the main course, China House offers a wide array of cakes. They have cakes such as Italian Cream Cheese, Chocolate Devil, and Tiramisu, just to name a few under the cakes with cream section. In addition, under the non-cream section cakes like Panaforte, Condense Milk pound cake, etc.

Both of us could not put another morsel of food into our mouth so we decided to take away a piece of Lemon Curd Cake and a piece of Tiramisu. (RM12/piece)

Tiramisu

Lemon Curd Cake

I personally do not like the cakes. To me, they were just sponge cakes with filling in between. The tiramisu was not what I have tasted and expected though the sponge was soft and light.

China House located at 183-B Victoria Street and 153 & 155 Beach Street, Georgetown, Penang. Opening hours: 6pm-10:30 pm everyday. Tel: 04-263 7299 (along the same stretch as the Bomba) Beach Street) :o) **10% Service charge and 6% Government Tax.

Healy Mac's Irish Bar and Restaurant

2012-06-03T19:18:00.000+08:00

Healy Mac's Irish Bar and Restaurant is a nice place for a chill-out session with friends. The place is quite spacious and with friendly staff. The last time we visited this place was for a drink. We did not have any food but hubby's friend told us we should give the food served here a bite and we did just that when we visited again.

Irish Lamb Stew would be the appropriate choice as Healy Mac's is an Irish Bar and Restaurant. Both of us agreed to the choice. The lamb stew came with chunks of lamb in it. The broth was a bit watery but the full-bodied taste made up for the excess water content. The vegetables were soft but not mushy and it was a joy consuming them. At RM30 a bowl, I think the price was reasonable.

The pork spare ribs that we ordered came in too small a portion. The plate costing RM37 consisted only of four short pieces of ribs. However, the ribs were tasty and quite tender. The mash potato came in huge portions to make up for the lack of meat? (Laughters)

We had the soup of the day. The mushroom soup (RM10) was nothing spectacular. I would say it was just normal but the bread that came with it was fragrant and good.

A glass of cranberry juice and a glass of tiger beer costs the same at RM10 per glass. The next time, I think I will have a glass of beer instead. LOL

Healy Mac's Irish Bar and Restaurant. 3A-G-9 & 10, Straits Quay, Jalan Seri Tanjung Pinang, Tanjung Tokong, Penang. Tel: 604-8903475 :o)
**10% Service Charge & 6% Govt. Tax

12:15am Mee (noodles)

2012-05-27T17:52:00.001+08:00

A walk into Golden City kopi tiam will tell one that this is an old kopi tiam. It is old but clean and brightly lit. You find friendly people here and nice food. For my family, it is a nice kopi tiam to drop by for supper.

The 'mee rebus' (noodles with gravy) is quite extraordinary. I think many will agree with me that when we mention mee goreng an Indian frying comes into our mind. At Golden City, a Chinese woman prepares it. She has been there for as long as I can remember (about 10 years or so). The night we were there hubby had the mee rebus. The gravy that comes with it is very different from the Indian style. The woman used very little potato and chilli boh (ground chilli). In simple words, she did it her own style. Besides the secret ingredient used in her broth, she also served the mee with lots of potato and 'cucur' (fritters) which are crispy and fragrant with deep-fried shallots in them. Something very unlike the 'cucur' normally found. The mee goreng is also worth a mention though we did not have it that night.

The banner hung above the stall says it all. The egg noodles are springy yet do not leave that boric acid taste lingering in your mouth. The black ‘or tau yew’ (thick soy sauce) used is fragrant and does not taste bitter. I always look for these when I eat my plate/bowl of wantan noodles those things. The wantan are ‘real’ ones with meatball inside and not just skin and a speck of meat. With all these present…then I will say it is yummy.

These stalls closes at 12:15 am and that is the reason why I called them...12:15am noodles.

Golden City kopi tiam is located along Burmah Road (opposite APT hair & beauty centre). Near to Rangoon Road and Lorong Selamat junctions in Penang.

Daorae Korean BBQ Restaurant

2012-05-18T14:42:00.001+08:00

We were in the mood and craving for some BBQ style meat. The cleaning up afterwards was not in our vocabulary that night so we decided to dine Korean style. The few of us decided we would go to Daorae for some Korean BBQ.

Daorae Korean BBQ Restaurant is one spacious and clean restaurant. It is a place to be when you want to talk and enjoy without feeling 'suffocated' with the tables placed too closely.

At Daorae there is this huge suction fan placed above the grill. Therefore, we did not have to worry about the ‘greasy feeling’ sticking on our clothes, face, etc. One thing though, when the stove was at work, we did feel rather warm.

YANG-NYUM-DAK-GAL bi (Lean Skinless chicken fillet marinated in Daorae's sepcial soy sauce.

Daeung Gal Bi (Special hand cut back ribs of pork) Served with seasoned sesame oil sauce.

The little saucer of sesame oil sauce

The waiter did all the necessary things. He prepared the stove and placed the meat on it. When the ribs are cooked, the waiter came over and cut them up into bite pieces. For the chicken, the waiter did the same as with the ribs but no cutting as they were already in pieces form. We did not have to do anything except pick up the pieces of cooked meat and…eat. What a wonderful way to have a BBQ session. (LOL)

SOON-dubu-jjigae (Soft tofu with fresh seafood simmered in a spicy broth) served with rice. This is worth a try. It tasted a little like the Szechuan soup but not that sour and thick. The mussels were very fresh and delightfully juicy.

The Korean Pancake (Pa-Jeon) is complimentary with an order of a main meat dish (BBQ)

This is the way to savour the different condiments served. Ask the waiter to replenish when the condiments run out. There will be no extra charge.

Yang Nyum Yang Go Gi (Glass noodles with thin slices of beef) cooked in soup form with mushrooms, carrots, etc. The broth is thick and full of flavours. It was an enjoyable bowl of noodles with glass noodles used instead.

Complimentary dessert (fruits in this case)

DAORAE KOREAN BBQ RESTAURANT, No. 104 JALAN TANJUNG TOKONG,10470 PENANG. TEL: 04-8913616 **10% Service Charge

'Choo-Char'--Kim Hooi Seafood

2012-05-10T15:55:00.000+08:00

I am wondering why I have never posted anything about Kim Hooi Seafood. (It must be the fact that it has become a frequent place to eat for us.) This is a 'choo char' (cook and stir) place in a kopi tiam (local style coffee shop). Kim Hooi Seafood used to be located in Tanjung Bungah (shifted twice within the same area) and shift to its current location a few years back. Overall, I think it has existed for more than 10 years. My family patronize this place for our dinners and some times, supper. I must say the place offers many different kinds of food. All of them are delicious and reasonably priced. You can have dishes like broccoli stir-fry with abalone mushrooms, belachan (prawn paste) deep-fried chicken, roast chicken, etc. The night I took the pictures for this post, hubby and I were there for our dinner.

The stir-fry broccoli with abalone mushroom (RM8) was something I would say, not so ordinary. It fragrantly done and the abalone mushrooms was pre-seasoned and then stirred in the broccoli. It was very tasty and the mushrooms cooked and crunchy (not mushy).

Next was the deep-fried 'belachan chicken' (RM12) all done to perfection. The 'belachan' (prawn paste) powder used was quite a good quality one judging from the taste. In addition, this place uses chicken drumsticks instead of breast meat, which both hubby and I detest. The chicken is deep-fried and the not overdone with the flesh still tender and juicy. The taste...good and aromatic.

The homemade tofu is necessary try (RM6). It is Kim Hooi's signature dish. The tofu is homemade, smooth and soft but not watery. For this dish, the tofu was first deep-fried and then cooked with the scallop and other ingredients. That made it even tastier. This is a dish we never forgo even when we visit just for a plate of fried hor fun. In other words, for our supper.

The deep-fried fish (red snapper) (RM32) we had would be ordinary if not for the gravy dribbled on it. It was very tasty and with the freshness of the fish added it was a dish simple but delicious.

They way the cook prepare the 'lala' (I think it is mussels in English) is wonderful. It was stir-fry with chilli paste not the usual fare but with 'sambal'! I have no words to describe it except delicious. (RM8)

The steamed chicken was quite nice. The pieces of chicken meat were tender and juicy but..I have a complaint. The gravy with Chinese wine in it was a tad too bland. I wished the cook had used a little less water. (RM28)

Lady standing (facing camera) is the boss' wife. Boss does most of the cooking

Kim Hooi Seafood has many other good foods to offer. Give the Roast Chicken, fried mee (mee goreng Chinese style), the yee foo meen (egg noodles fried with gravy) a try, these are my family's favourite.

The satay sold by a young Malay man here is also recommendable. My family loves the satay sold especially the 'kambing satay' (mutton). The meat is tender and well marinated. The peanut sauce that comes with it is filled with peanuts and flavourful.

Kim Hooi Seafood is located inside 2828 Kopi Tiam. It is a one-way street and if you are driving along Perak Road, it is on the left hand side. (Next to a block of flats) Kim Hooi Seafood - Location: (Corner lot) 56-K Perak Plaza, Jalan Perak, 10150 Penang. Closed on Monday. Person to contact: H/P 012-498 8453

A new pastry place...GOLDEN CRUST

2012-04-15T15:04:00.001+08:00

I found a new pastry place in Tanjung Bungah, Penang.

Window to the kitchen

If you decide to dine-in, there is a place to do so. Those packets on the bench...they are mine. (LOL)

A wide array of pastries and drinks

Location: Golden Crust, 598-G-4, Menara Asas, Jalan Tanjung Bungah, 11200 Penang. Tel:016-4228127 :o)
(Located along the row of shop houses near Tanjung Bungah wet Market)

Claypot Restaurant...so homestyle

2012-03-30T17:57:00.000+08:00

Claypot Restaurant has been around for quite many years. I cannot recall how many years but it must have been 10 years or so. The restaurant has a simple and pleasant set-up. A family-orientated restaurant is how I would describe it. Tables and chairs are widely spaced with ample room in between. Good if you have children with you.

I found the food served here as simple and delicious home-style food. It is akin to my grandmother/mother's cooking which, I used to enjoy. That is my description of the food served.

The night Hubby and I were there for dinner, we had the herbal chicken. I liked the dish but Hubby did not find it to his liking. I would like to think that it had to be due to the fact that, he never liked the taste of herbs with rice. I found the portion served was reasonable for the price charge (RM10 for small).

The chicken omelette (RM6) is simply delicious. It was fluffy, nicely done and gravy cooked with mushrooms and onions. It is necessary try.

The stir-fry dou miao (pea sprouts) (RM8-small) was a delight to my taste buds. It was lightly stir-fried with garlic and no lard was used. Some restaurants fry it with lard and instead of pieces of garlic; I always bite into little pieces of lard.

The pot of Curry Lamb (RM12) that we ordered made me went...oohlala! Chunks of lamb pieces were in the pot and the curry was flavourful. The curry was thick with sufficient amount of santan (coconut milk) used. The spices were just sufficient. It was spicy but not too spicy.

The Mongolian Lamb is one unusual dish we tried. It is lamb pieces stir fried with dried chillies, onions and other kinds of spices. It is 'hot' as in spicy hot but it is very tasty. It is a sort of 'dry' dish but I have not tasted lamb cooked in this style.

The Mongolian lamb (RM18) came served with shreds of spring onions, pieces of celery and pastry. It is pastry akin to the one used in the making of 'poh piah'. Everything is placed on the skin then wrapped up and...Bite and enjoy. Ever since we 'discovered' this dish, we have not failed to include it when we buy take-away from Claypot.

Just to mention a few others try their Tung Por Pork (cooked with a little fermented soybean), Hong Bak (a nyonya dish) which very few restaurants cook it well.

Curry Shark.

The steamed kai lan is a personal recommendation. They usually come served--young and juicy.

If you remember, most of us would have tasted steamed pork (most of our mothers would have served it to us). This place does it with chicken and my family loved it.

Claypot Restaurant, 48 Jalan Sungai Kelian, Tanjung Bunga, 11200 Penang, Malaysia. Tel: 04-8997987 (It is located amongst a row or residential houses.) 10% Service Charge-for Eat-In. 0% for Take-away. :o)

Agua @ Straits Quay...

2012-03-26T02:57:00.001+08:00

Whoa, we made the right choice deciding to come here for lunch. That was what went through my head as we walked into the restaurant Agua @ Straits Quay. The tables were neatly arranged and well spaced out. Just what we needed as Mentri Besar and I, we love to eat and talk. There were a few other tables occupied but the atmosphere was quiet. Just what we needed a little ‘privacy’ to talk our heart out as she had just returned from a holiday in NZ.

The Paella dish with a sprig of Rosemary

Agua has an extensive menu namely Spanish, Mediterranean, Italian...and others. Both of us had decided on Paella, which was top on our list. Then for starters, it was a difficult choice. Agua has many kinds. I suggested Tapas. We both agreed on the Jamon Serano (RM23) which is a type of dry Spanish cured ham. We wanted to find out if it really was as what the waiter said. The jamon (ha morn) is imported and tasted good. Both of us were not disappointed as it was very thinly sliced (a feat to do that), it was fragrant and do not smell of porcine. It was gentle but delicious on our taste buds. It has to be imported stuff. We both enjoyed the ham but...I think a few pieces more pieces of baguette and a slightly larger blow of accompaniment would be good.

Jamon Serana (Spanish cured ham)

We ordered the Paella without seafood (there are many different kinds). I am not a prawn person so we had to settle for the mixed meat paella. It was simply...Paella (pah-eh-yah) (RM85.50). A paella that came with mixed meat chicken and pork. There were many vegetables such as long beans, carrots, capsicum, etc. Broad beans were present in the Paella and I wondered if it was of the same kind used in Spain. This Paella is Filipino style. (Philippines was under Spanish rule from 1521 until 1898-source from Wikipidea.) Spanish people do not run the restaurant. MB and I enjoyed the paella. The rice was not mushy. It was cooked and grainy (supposed to be so). The saffron was not overused. The taste was tantalising. Do take note if you intend to try the paella, the price quoted will be times two. It is an order for a minimum of two people. I recalled the same experience we had in Spain.

Dessert! It was something I could not forgo. There were not many choices so I suggested pudding. MB agreed so we ordered the Spanish Bread Pudding (RM16.90) and shared. The pudding was delicious. It was something different as this particular tasted rather like the Traditional Bread pudding kind. However, the basic ingredient bread was replaced with pannetone (a type of sweet bread loaf from Milan). It was just our kind of dessert (with coffee) to finish off our meal.

Spanish Bread Pudding

I thought having a Spanish meal without Sangria (a fruit punch typical of Spain, Portugal and Argentina would be rather incomplete so I suggested we order a glass. We enjoyed the food and the time spent so much, we ordered another glass and shared. The sangria served was just like what I drank in Spain. Be careful of the effect though. After all, it has alcohol in it.
Sangria

The service at Agua is commendable. The waiters (male and female) were polite and helpful. They obliged when we asked for refills of plain icy water. We were not charged for the icy-cold water. One thing though, the last person who we ordered Sangria a second time...kept us waiting for the plain water. Be careful of the alcohol content of the Sangria. It may be a fruit punch but it has a good 'kick'. The pleasant disposition of the waiters (even when we stayed way past lunchtime) made our time spent more enjoyable. A BIG THANK YOU to MB for sharing her pictures with me.:o) AGUA, 3A-G 18 & 19 Straits Quay, Jalan Seri Tanjung Pinang, Tanjong Tokong, 10470 Penang. Tel: 04-890 8668 **10% Service Charge and 6% Govt. Tax

Thunder Tea...

2012-03-18T18:34:00.001+08:00

I read about Hakka Tree (serves Hakka Cuisine) in our local daily and wanted to give this eatery a visit. It took me quite many tries to persuade H to visit the place. The dish I had wanted to try was Lui Ca Fan (I think it is spelt thus). We finally made it there. Located on the concourse area where Tesco is located (Tanjung Bungah), the place looked airy and welcoming.

Naturally, I would have no other than the Lui Ca (translated as Hakka Thunder Tea) Fan (rice). So that would mean I had the Hakka Special Thunder Tea (RM8.90) It was plain rice that came with cabbage, tau foo pok (a type of ingredient made from soy bean), long beans, etc.

Oh, ''This is interesting'', I could not helped from commenting. Everything vegetables. I mixed the rice with all the vegetables that came with the rice. As there was no meat, I 'stole' a piece of oval-shaped meat patty from H's plate. I found the dish to be something delectable and interesting, the mixture of vegetables and others all on the same plate and mixing it up with the rice. Then…Eat!

The bowl of tea that came with the rice was something I would consider 'thunder' to my taste buds. I have never drunk such a tea (soup always go with rice in my household). It is made up of liquid and blended herbs (wonder if tea is in there). I wanted to ask about the tea and the chef would be the bestperson to ask. I decided against the idea, as the kitchen was quite a distance from the dining area. The tea is thick and it would be what I deemed...an acquired taste. The taste was too strong for me. It reminded me of the Chinese herbal medicine that my mother 'forced down my throat' when I was a little girl. I struggled with the tea and gave up halfway. Poor H, he was enjoying his soup when I decided to swap my tea for his soup. I would still say, it is worth a try as then I can say I have tried it if anyone should mention Thunder tea the next time.

H had a plate of Hakka Noodle with salted fish (RM10.00). It was a plate of noodles with minced pork with minced pork (I think this made it Hakka food) and two meat patties. He said it was tasty but not out of this world..so so only.

The soup was not bad. A few pieces of chinese cabbage, seaweed and the taste was good.

Left-Iced red bean & right-Iced Honey Melon

The two glasses of drinks we had; Iced red bean(blendeded with coconut milk) and Iced Honey melon was a disappointment. It was too liquid for the price we paid (RM6.90/glass).

I liked the spoon and chopstick holder...oooh childhood days

Overall, the visit to the place was not that bad. I liked the place, as it was airy and bright. Hakka Tree has quite an extensive menu. I might return to try out the rest on the menu. :o)

Hakka Tree, Tesco Building (Tanjung Bungah), Jalan Seri Tanjung Pinang, Tanjong Tokong, Pualau Pinang. Tel:604-8993887

Can Mano in Barcelona

2012-01-28T16:34:00.004+08:00

We walked from La Rambla to a restaurant called Can Mano. It was recommended by our host. Can Mano is a typical, noisy Catalonian restaurant. It was around 1 pm and the place was packed.

He must be the owner

Waiting to be seated

Kitchen

Menu pasted on wall

Alcachofas (artichoke)-deep fried

Chipirones (Squid)-deep fried

The food we had is atypical of Catalonian food. Our host told us that we must try them. It was fresh seafood coated in batter and deep-fried. The alcachofas (artichoke) was something we had not tried before not even fresh ones. The outer layer was chewy so I had them peeled off. The inner layer was tasty and a delightful way to eat the vegetable. The chipirones would be what I say...try them! It was not common for us to eat it whole including the ink. I remembered my mother telling me to totally remove the 'ink sac' from the squid before cooking. Or...we would all die from poisoning. LOL. It was an enjoyable experience and the taste...loved it.

Boquerones (anchovies)-deep fried

Bread served!

We were each given a roll of hard bread. The bread...erm it was just placed on the table. LOL

The atmosphere was lively and noisy but we enjoyed ourselves. It was not just the food, it was the feeling of 'being there' dining like the Catalonians. Do not be surprised to find a group of singers coming into the restaurant and singing loudly. It is common as whilst we were there, two groups came in and after they finished singing, they walk around, asked for contributions. I was so caught up with it; I forgot to take a picture. (Get your money ready.)

Caramel custard & coffee

When the first picture was taken (above), there was only a couple waiting.

Then...it grew longer...

Longer line...by the time we walked out of the restaurant.

...And longer. It was 3:30 pm when we left Can Mano. :o) Located at 20 Carrer Del Baluard Barceloneta, 08003. Tel: 93 319 30 82.

La Paradeta Born...seafood fresh as fresh can be

2012-01-27T23:57:00.002+08:00

La Paradeta was a recommendation by our host in Barcelona. We were told that most seafood (marisco) would cost us an arm and leg to enjoy in Barcelona. La Paradeta is just the opposite. It is a restaurant that served seafood caught by the owners' boat (that would mean cheaper in prices). The restaurant is also self-service right to the end. That meant you pick out what you want from the many boxes of fish, clams, mussels, etc. Then they are weighed, cooked and served.

La Paradeta is of the relaxed café-style and it is self-service. Diners pick out what they want to eat from the many boxes/trays of fish, clams, mussels, lobsters, etc. They are then weighed and payment made. It would be advisable to order everything at once as the waiting line is usually quite long. We did what the other diners did then went to a table and sat down. The place was quite packed but the waiting time was not too long. Our food arrived in about 20 minutes. The person at the counter waved (she knew hubby do not speak Spanish) and hubby collected the food.

Mixed salad with tuna (back) & Deep fried calamari

mussels

White Tuna

Bamboo Mussels

And...more mussels

The plates of seafood were very fresh. The way of cooking was a surprise to both of us. It was nothing elaborate, just steamed and served drenched in olive oil with herbs. The taste was superb. Hubby wished he had ordered lobster when he ordered the extra portion of mussels. In his words...I could finished off a whole lobster easily. (I am not a lobster person.) The way the seafood was cooked was easy on the palate and digestion. In addition, it was reasonably priced. The whole meal including drinks (2 cokes) cost us €32.35. Do remember to clear the table of your own plates, cups and take it to the counter. It is self-service right until the end. (Plates and glasses, they go to different counters) I wondered if such a system would work in Malaysia. :o)

La Paradeta Born located at : C/ Comercial 7, 08009 Barcelona, Tel. 932 681 939

Coordenadas GPS: 41º 23' 10.50" N | 2º 11' 01.78" E

Conesa...So Good Sandwiches plus more

2012-01-27T17:28:00.004+08:00

No one introduced Conesa (located opposite the Palace of the Generalitat building) to us. We walked around and reached Placa Sant Jaume. There we saw a long line of people outside the shop. The shop was small and did not look very impressive. Out of curiosity, hubby decided to join the line.

The menu pasted on the glass window was extensive. A friendly man translated quite a few items listed on the menu to hubby. Even patatas bravas were on the menu. Tables are limited inside the shop. The day we were there, the place was packed. Even the 'standing style of dining' where there you stand and eat at a table, were filled. We decided to take have our sandwiches packed. It was done simply...putting the two (plus one extra) already wrapped ones into a plastic bag.

The sandwiches are prepared using the easiest method-grilled with no oil. The buns, sausages, meat and others (depending on what you ordered) are placed in their special grill and cooked. The buns and the grill, they are Conesa's trademark. Delicious, Simple and Quick food. It became our 'take-away' food for supper till we depart from Barcelona.:o)

Conesa is located at: Barri Gòtic, Llibreteria 1(Plaça Sant Jaume), 08002 BARCELONA. To arrive there : use Metro Jaume (Line 4)

El-Duero-Madrid

2011-12-31T03:00:00.009+08:00

We stumbled upon this restaurant, we we needed to rest our feet. In addition, we were looking for a few items on our 'food to eat' list. We were looking for bravas and oreja (pig's ears). They have it here.

The restaurant was quite empty at the time we arrived. It was around 3:00pm. As the clock ticked, more patrons trickled in. By the time we finished our snacks, the place was full. I saw that most of them like both of us were there for just snacks. It was near Christmas and El Duero is located near Puerta Del Sol.

The Bravas-alioli was not out of this world. It was potato wedges deep-fried with some sauce dribbled on top. To me, the sauce tasted like chilli with tomato sauce all mixed. There could be some kind of herbs and pepper added too.

The oreja was some experience. I thought the plate served consisted more than just pig's ears. Hubby said it was too oily. There were lots of fats in the pieces of ears and stuff. I thought it was an acquired taste and bite. There is a pungent smell of pork and the bite was slightly hard with the ligaments. It was a new eating experience for both of us eating the ears. I would describe it as quite tasty but not exactly heavenly.

The ensalada mixt (mixed salad) was a great choice. The lettuce, tomatoes, capsicum were all very fresh. There were chunks (yes chunks) of tuna in the salad. It was nothing we have seen in salads served back home (Malaysia).

Don't you think that Spanish people are big eaters. By the time the cordero asado (roast lamb) arrived, we were too full. The plate of lamb came served with rice and potatoes. That was really too much. We asked for it to be packed and we will take it home. I found out that they do not have boxes or containers for the food to be packed. The food was wrapped in tinfoil, placed in a bag and given to us. The waiter who attended to us was very friendly. He speaks all Spanish and we speak only a few words of Spanish (by then). He tried his best to accommodate our requests and was always…smiling. Such was the hospitality of the Spanish people. El-Duero is very popular with the Spanish people and highly recommended.

EL-DUERO located at: C/. Espoz y Mina, 4.
Tel. 91 522 52 02

:o)

Bak Moi (Pork Porridge)....so yummy

2011-11-13T16:35:00.006+08:00

The above (picture) is a bowl of ‘bak moi’ (pork porridge). You can see the many pieces of mince pork. They are so juicy and tasty.

This (above picture) is coarse rice noodles (chor bee hoon) served with minced pork and pig's offal. The piece near the chopsticks (circled) is pig's brain. Yes! Pig’s brain. The piece in the centre, that is pig's kidney, sliced. There is also the pig's intestine, liver and minced pork. Urghhhh...for those who are not used to eating pig's offal. It tastes good actually. The only thing to worry is your cholesterol level.

This is by far, the best bak moi I have tasted. The broth is the yummy part. We enjoyed every morsel of it and even the broth was licked clean! I would think most uses lots of MSG but not this stall. I did not feel very thirsty after the eating. Even if MSG is used, it is minimal unlike others who sell such stuff. By the way, the man cooking, he is the third generation operating the stall. If you intend to try this, this stall is located on the street, Kampung Malabar, Penang. (at the T-junction near Penang Raod) :o)

Rὸu gῠ chά KiNG...'Bak-kut-teh'

2011-11-12T23:31:00.016+08:00

Roh..Roh ku...erm, I had always wondered what the restaurant offered. I am a 'banana' so I could not make out the name. My family and I had walked past this restaurant many times before. Rὸu gῠ chά KiNG a nondescript restaurant situated among a row of shops. We decided to pay it a visit. I had to find out what it had to offer.

We placed our order after looking through the menu. The waiter recommended that we take the Double Value Meal (rm31.90 for 2 pax), and it would be sufficient for us. Right until then we were still in the dark as to the kind of food served. All I knew was it would have meat and vegetables.

All the dishes (small plates/bowls) came in pairs. It was a different kind of dining or so I thought. 'Ewe Char Koay' (deep-fried batter), bean sprouts, and two eggs boiled in herbs. It was so neat; the portion was good for one person per plate.

The aroma of the dish drifted out and reached us before the bowl physically touched our table. "Oh, it is Bak Kut Teh" I exclaimed. Now I know what Rὸu gῠ chά meant. Rὸu gῠ meant (translated meat bone) and chά meant tea. We had a good laugh. Moreover, I thought there was something exotic from the name. The Rὸu gῠ chά (Bak Kut Teh) was good. The meat was tender. It did not seem over-boiled or overcooked. I could still taste juice in the meat. The broth was thick and full of flavor.

The dry version of the Rὸu gῠ chά caught us by surprise. After so many years of eating it in soup form, the dried version was interesting. I thought it tasted like there were some salt fish added. I did not ask. Hubby tasted and told me there were fermented black bean in the dish (he thought). He did not like the taste and thought it was rather over powering. I enjoyed it right to the last bite. The ' deep-fried fu pei' (soy sheet) blended with the thick sauce gave it a very new kind of taste. I scrapped the bowl clean. It ended up with hubby taking the remaining bowl with soup.

Hubby decided to find out if the pastry sold was good. He ordered a plate of sesame roll (rm4.80-two pieces). The pastry was not good. It was tough, soggy and soaked with oil. There was some kind of bean paste inside. We decided not to try any more of the dessert. We were actually quite full by then.

The above is a cute container of 'Kwai Ding Gou' (black herb jelly) and it came with the set. (Free)

The time spent at this restaurant was pleasant. The young waiters were friendly. The place is small but neat and tidy. I would definitely go back for the dry version. Rὸu gῠ chά KiNG is located @ Lot 4-47, Penang Gurney Plaza, 10250 Penang. Tel: 04-2287187 :o)

**10% Service Charge.

BAR B Q...This is Thai Style!

2011-11-01T16:17:00.011+08:00

One round, two rounds...both hubby and I could not make up our minds on what to eat. We were at the basement of Gurney Plaza, Penang looking for food. We made up our mind when a young man who stood outside Bar B. Q. Plaza eatery handed us a leaflet. Oh, BBQ. We trotted into the restaurant and were seated. In my mind (and right until the grill pan was brought out), we had the idea that we were having Korean BBQ.

Bar B Q Plaza looked clean and bright. The interior is simple but attractive. I liked the furniture arrangements. There is ample walking space.

The menu showed wide array of meat, vegetables and many others for the B B Q. Since, it was our first time we opted for the Super Mix Combo (RM33.90) which was an offer item.

"Is this the grill?" I asked. "Yes." Hmmm, this is so different from the other Korean BBQ we visited. "Oh! This is not Korean BBQ. "It is Thai" the waiter replied. What? How we laughed. We did not know what we were having for dinner. The grill pan was first filled with broth and lighted up. This grill pan is quite special. There is a 'longkang' (drain) for the broth. You can see the broth boiling (with bubbles) in the above picture.

A plate consisting of different cuts of meat from the pig (we do not take beef), a few pieces of chicken, calamari, a few meatballs, prawns and shredded vegetables.

We placed the meat on the grill after it was heated. Both of us looked quite stupid, as we did not know what we had to do. Trying to put the vegetables into the tiny 'longkang' without any spillage was quite difficult. In simple words, the groove by the side of the grill was too shallow.

I have in the picture above a piece of lard. See how ignorant we were, we did not know what the two pieces of fats were. Actually, we were supposed to pick the fat up and rub it over the top of the grill! By the time we were informed, the pieces of meat we had placed on the grill; they were all stuck. I had no complaints as I actually enjoyed myself. I told hubby that this is like playing 'masak-masak' (child's play). The broth was nice and with the shredded cabbage added, it tasted even nicer. Other than the yummy broth, the meat tasted ordinary even after the BBQ.

They should have made the 'longkang' of the grill wider. It was not wide enough. The shredded cabbage and stuff were all over the table. By the time we finished, we were nothing but two messy people dining at the table!

The set also included a plate of deep fried (sinful) bacon. I felt so sinful adding extra fat to my waistline. I have to say this, the plate of bacon; not to be missed. We behaved like we (hubby and I) were in a competition eating those tasty pieces of bacon. (laughters)

The picture above showed how the dip should be. Pour the chopped garlic, bird-eye chilli and squeeze the very tiny piece of lime all into the sauce. I almost asked for soy sauce when the piring (small saucer) came with only the garlic, bird-eye chilli and lime. The brown sauce came separately in another small bowl.

A bowl of rice and two glasses of green tea comes with the combo set. Do not be such a fool like yours truly...asking for refill of tea. I was not entertained when I asked for refill. I thought all the waiter could have done was bring me another glass of tea (inform me no refill). He merely walked away and never came back. I got tired of waiting and since we were finishing the food, I made no fuss.

There will be refill of the brown sauce, chili and garlic and the broth. Ask for them when you see the cart (above picture) pass your way. I found that to be rather interesting.

If you feel you want a different kind of dining (for a change) head to B B Q Plaza, B1-05 Basement, Old Wing, Gurney Plaza, Pesiaran Gurney, Penang.**10% Service Charge. 6% Government Tax. Have fun. :o)

Bee Wei Seafood Restaurant

2011-09-29T01:10:00.013+08:00

I could not remember how long Bee Wei Seafood has been in operation. (I did ask but I cannot remember the information now.) All I can remember as I type here is the choo char (stir-fry) is reasonably priced and good. This place is clean (washroom too!). Hubby cautioned me about 'putting' this eatery here. He thinks it will make the owner increase the prices of their food. Hmmm...I sure do hope the owner would not. I believe in this adage 'good things are meant to be shared.' In my case, the good food I have tested and tasted.

We had visited Bee Wei a number of times before for dinner. I find the dishes served are tasty and not expensive. Dishes served here are quite similar to those found in the other 'choo-char' eateries. Dishes such as belachan (prawn paste) chicken, curry fish, sweet-sour pork, deep-fried pomfret, steam-fish, etc.

Tonight we had the yau-mak (small romaine lettuce) stir-fry with 'tau-joo' (fermented bean paste) (RM6). I said plain stir-fry but it came with prawns, my arch nemesis added (especially in vegetables). I frowned but Si Thau Por (lady boss) assured me that they were fresh. Hubby's exclamation, "Just take a look at the size!" left me without much choice. It was deliciously cooked. The look was not that appealing due to the tau-joo but the lettuce was still crunchy. That meant it was not over cooked.

The next order was a plate of marmite chicken (RM9). Hubby was not too pleased with the chicken. He complained that it was a bit dry. I think it was over deep-fried. I liked the taste of the pieces of chicken. Even though the pieces of chicken were a bit dry; it did not bothered me as it added to the fragrance. As, the amount of marmite used was generous. It was simply delicious. I licked my spoon clean of the gravy.

Steamed-fish is a dish hubby will not order unless we are at a proper restaurant. Most of the time as he put it, the fish are 'half-fresh'. We ordered red snapper-teochew chueh (teochew style steamed fish). You would not believe it. Si Thau Por (lady-boss) gave us the assurance that if it is not fresh, we get our money back. That is how fresh the seafood here is. True to her words, the fish was 'juicy fresh'. The teochew chueh fish (fish @ market price RM26) was done perfectly. There were enough kiam chai (salt preserved vegetables), snui puey (salted plums), tomatoes, tofu and others. In simple words, 'kau liau' (full of oomph).

Drive up to Air Itam (towards Kek Lok Si). After Chung Ling School, look out for the Muslim Orphanage on your left (if you are driving up from town). Drive straight after the crossroad traffic lights (look out for an Indian temple ahead). Bee Wei Seafood is on your left as you approached the Indian temple. The picture above shows the Indian Temple.

The above picture shows the road running by the side of Bee Wei Seafood. It is Jalan Satu, Air Itam.

Bee Wei Seafood located at 4J Jalan Air Itam, 11500 Penang. Contact: Sally--012 4789207. Closed once a fortnight on Wednesday at around 11:00pm. :o)**No Govt & Service tax.

Suffolk House Restaurant..

2011-09-24T17:48:00.018+08:00

Suffolk House, ermm...where is it? A shame...I (We) must be to Penangites. All I knew about Suffolk House was it had something to do with Captain Francis Light. Then after Captain Francis Light's death, it became the house of the Governors of Penang. I decided to 'drag' hubby to Suffolk House just to find out where this building is. I heard (from a friend) it had a restaurant inside so the trip was to have lunch. (made a few weeks back)

Ooh, the place looked splendid. A mansion surrounded by lush greens. Photography was not allowed inside the building. We walked around the building. Visitors can take a tour of the building/site at RM10/pax. If you are dining, you would be allowed to take pictures of the restaurant.

Suffolk House Restaurant, Bagan, Eclectic (wonder if it is still there), No. 68 Kelawai Road (ceased operations), The Mansion; they are all under the same owner. The owner (I think) has a knack for colonial buildings. LOL. The interior of the restaurant impressed us. Curtains hung from the ceiling to the floor. The side furniture in white, blended well with the chairs in dark coloured wood. Antique looking mirrors on the wall together with the plants gave the interior the classy look.

The day we were there for lunch the place looked almost empty. There were only two tables occupied. A set menu of chicken (RM46), lamb (RM48) and steak (RM50) was what we ordered. For the set, you have a choice of either salad or soup. Dessert and coffee/tea came with the set menu.

A plate of greens with couscous. Couscous is a type of North African semolina made from crushed durum wheat. The greens with the couscous were something different. It was not common to find salads served this way.

The mushroom soup was good. The way it was served was nice too.

Minced chicken wrapped up in pastry was how my dish was served. I was the one having the chicken. I think it did not strike me in any way. I had no notes on it! (Sorry)

BB had the steak. He did not like the steak very much. So-so was his comment. The steak was not tender enough. Hubby said the meal was not impressive.

We did not end our meal in despair. The last thing served...sweet and delicious. It was bread pudding. That had us drooling!

After lunch, we took a walk over the bridge with Sungai (river) Ayer Itam running below. It was in the afternoon but the walk was relaxing. The decision made to visit Suffolk House not that bad. Hubby did not enjoy his meal. Price as expected (as with all the other outlets) was rather steep. Ah well, this is fine dining. I would say, been there, done that.

Suffolk House located at 250 Jalan Ayer Itam, Georgetown, 10460 Penang. Contact: 04-2283930.

Lunch: 12:00 noon-2pm. Tea: 2:30pm-6 pm. Dinner:7pm-10pm. 10% Service charge & 6% Govt Tax.:o)

** (Read more on Suffolk House...click)